Trailer Park Princess

by Steele, Delia

  My granny always said “An apple a day keeps the doctors away” I wish she were here so I could ask her what I need to eat a day to keep the trash bags away. Have I mentioned how bad I hate Ashley and her Hoe-bag posse?

  Chapter Ten

  Staring at my reflection in my majorly busted full length mirror, which by the way, is super glued to my wall. I look a mess. The dress is hung back in the plastic bag for safe keeping but my face is a mess, my hairs ok but needs brushed, and I am just standing here trying to figure out what Toby sees in me. I throw on an old Nirvana tank top and a pair of boy short bottoms and make my way down the hall to the bathroom to brush my teeth before crashing, when I hear the door open. I figure it’s only Carol so I go ahead and brush my teeth, wash my face, and pull the bobby pins hidden in my hair. Finally refreshed and ready for bed it’s been a long day. I decide to grab a glass of water, which ends up being my mistake. “OMG what’s wrong with her?” I gasp to the nasty bagged out looking trucker standing over my mom while she is half sprawled on the couch passed out. They just had sex or well maybe he did, he must be into that weird dead like sex, because she is out. It’s obvious though, I mean she has eww JIZ on her face and he is still struggling to get his zipper up grunting and all. I freak out but I can’t show it. I grab my glass fill it and turn back to him pulling out a little Mandotude. “What ev’s Dude can you just lock up if you’re not staying with her” I turn against my better judgment and walk to my room. Thank God Thax isn’t home. I lock my door, not that it matters because this cheap falling apart thing, it’s like closing a card board box lid. I hear him stumble around and grunt some more and I think he is gone. I finally lay back and start to relax, when my door handle jiggles. I shoot back up jerk covers around me up to my neck and my eyes bug out “what?” no reply but the door bust open and in front of me is the trucker guy. He looks like a firecracker coming undone. He is unraveled wild eyed and crazy. He needs to shave and his eyes are sunken into the dark bags underneath so bad I can’t even tell the color. But he has a reckless soul I can tell that. He advances and I ask again “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” pissed that my voice actually cracked. With a husky voice that proves too much liquor and smoking all he gets out is “YOU” and then he is on me. I try to shove away but he is too big. I let out a scream and his hand clamps over my mouth. “Your mom is a zombie fuck, boring, but you baby will be a wild little jack rabbit” with one hand over my mouth and his body weight on me I am helpless. I refuse to cry. He reaches around and he grabs my ass squeezing “I think I will take this to” he isn’t graceful due to his inebriated state of mind so when he tries to undress me he had to almost get completely up and move his hand from my mouth. If I can just kick him I can make it out of here. I know the drill but he has my foot trapped under his thunder thigh damn it. So I build up all my strength to jerk and when I do I let out a torn shrill at a decibel a bat could here. He throws his hands over his ears and I kick him off me with all my power. I make it to the hall before his hand catches my foot and I fall. Right as he is about to overpower me again shorts down now, oh no he is so close. He falls limp. I look at him confused when I see a hand extend over my head and I peek up into the most gorgeous creature, I am sure ever walked the face of this planet. Holy cow! Breathe His skin is the color of coffee after adding creamer and his eyes are huge almond shaped and deep blue. His hair is short and jet black with a messy on purpose look. I can tell even under the jacket he is built. I take his hand and he pulls me up and it’s like flipping a switch I break down. Tears covering my face “Thank You so much you saved me” I let out in a jumbled mess. He just wraps his arms around me and tells me it’s ok he is here. He who though? I must be in shock from the smell wafting off of him because when he says “Well do you?” all I can muster is a “HUH?” he rolled his eyes so hard, I bet he could see his brain. “DO.YOU.HAVE.SOMWHERE.YOU.CAN.GO.TONIGHT.?” oh that’s what he asked. “No if you will help me get him out on the porch I can lock up though it will be fine ok?” he looks like I just slapped him. “No, that is not OK. He just tried to rape you, what if he wakes up? No either you leave or I am calling the cops to come get him.” I can’t let him call the 5-0 that means dhs and Carol’s knocked out. I won’t lose Thax. “I don’t have anyone or I would go, and no cops ok? None.” he looks torn “Ok, you can go with me, you will be safe and I am just a few lots down.” I knew I had seen him before. I don’t argue, I just grab my chucks as we pass by the sofa and jerk them on as we step through the door. Shoot its cold out here. He must notice because before I can say a word he has his coat off and wrapped around me, leaving him in a sleeveless pink Floyd tee. MEXICAN JUMPIN BEANS his arms are toned and good night at the tattoos. WOW! That’s about as much thought as I have trying to keep from falling. I mean falling to the ground. Between the cold and my nerves, I can hardly move. Next thing I know he has me picked up toting me in his arms like a bride “It’s ok your barely mobile and at your speed I may freeze to death” he starts to sprint and I notice his smile, his teeth are perfect like braces at tween age perfect, and white… my my how white your teeth are, the better to nip me with. I should be ashamed but I can’t help it right now, this guy was literally my hero. I may worship the ground he walks on the rest of our lives. Making it through a door I quickly realize his place is nicer than ours. Well Cleaner with better belongings. I see a little body snuggled up on the sofa. He makes his way over kisses his forehead, tucks the cover in, reaches over and clicks the TV off. Turning to me he puts his finger over his lips telling me quiet and to follow him. I’m standing here looking around his room. He pulls a hoodie out and hands it over “You’re froze solid, put this on. Do you need sweats?” I shake my head no and plop down on his bed, which is just a box spring and mattress on the floor. He flips on the radio low and turns with sweats in hand “Hang on” and steps out. When he comes back in, he has his shirt still on and the baggy sweats yum. STOP IT!! TOBY TOBY TOBY “So where am I sleeping since your sofa is taken? And where’s your mom?” he looks sad but none the less he answers “Well first you’re sleeping here, where I know your safe. I won’t touch you I swear, I will make a blanket bed in the floor and second she isn’t here, it’s just me and my 2 little brothers. Ones in the room and the other, as you seen, is knocked out on the sofa in a cartoon induced coma” he laughs at himself which is adorable. He doesn’t scare me at all. He saved me from Monster Trucker. “You don’t have to sleep in the floor, as long as you sleep with your clothes on.” he changes the station on the radio, to play newer music, I was enjoying the oldies and well the new stuff made me think about Toby and how he may react to all this. Oh well I am safe tonight and that’s what truly matters. “By the way, I’m Rome” he sticks his hand out again. I reach for it, shakily “RORY” he smiles that yep you guessed it panty dropping smile again “nice to meet you now scoot over your hogging the bed” we both burst out laughing. I turn my back to him and cuddle under the sheets and man do they smell good. “Thank You Rome” he keeps his back against the wall singing low “I will wait …I will wait for you” and I can’t help thinking, he has a wonderful voice. I turn back over and I can see his face just barely from the street light outside “I love your voice, don’t stop till I am snoring!” I chuckle fading out with a yawn. Next thing I know his hand is in my hair scratching my scalp and he is singing.

  The sun on my face wakes me and I have no clue what time it is. I go to stretch but quickly realize I am hooked inside …OMG…. Rome. I try to get up without waking him. How in the world did we get enter twined and wrapped around one another? EPIC FAIL he opened his eyes blinking wildly and man he is still beautiful. A smile spreads across his face. “Good Morning Rory.” he lets me go and sits up.

  “Let me get the boys started and I will walk you back over. I want to make sure the guy has left.” he goes on to fix bowls of cereal and start the TV, with 2 very wild happy little boys maybe 4-7 years old bouncing around his knees squealing. The whole scene is amazing to watch “Ok guys I am going to wa
lk her home and be back in 5, if you need me just holler from the porch and I will be right here” turning back to me he smiles when he sees I have found the stash of suckers. YUMMY! I hold one up and he laughs “Yes Rory, you can have one.” I pop it in and make a sweet throaty moan “Uh these are heavenly, these are my kryptonite just so ya know, & Dude seriously come off one of those orange flavored vitamin C’s in a pouch.” all I get from him is an explanation, one that I should have really asked for last night. “Those suckers are what saved you last night. I been trying to quit smoking and I substitute it with those, however I still like to sit outside and get fresh air while I think and finish one. I had just walked out when I heard something between a plea for help and a siren going off. It took me a minute of running between trailers to pin point yours and thank GOD above, your door was unlocked.” I sat stunned unsure what I was suppose to say “Thank you again Rome, really. I am very lucky you were out there sucking down my kryptonite.” I giggled and swung my sucker in his direction. This leads into us pushing each other, because he tried to snap at it. “Who is this Whome?” the youngest little brother asked. “She’s a friend” he gave me a wink and picked up the boy, sitting him at a lap desk in the floor. “Her’s purdy.” he giggled. I busted out in a full on belly laugh “Thank You kind sir” I said while ruffling his messy bed head.

  Still in my boy cut shorts and Kurt Cobain tank, wrapped warmly in a very large Rome hoodie, we started walking towards my house. “You know Rory for a girl almost.. You know… you aren’t very upset.” (Silence, was that a cricket?) After a few seconds I decided to just be very honest with him. I mean the first time I meet him, I slept in his bed, and wear his clothes so why not. I haven’t even done that with Toby. “That’s because this has happened so many times in the past, I can’t even count. I just got comfortable here and forgot how to play the game.” Well that’s not going to sit well, so I continue, after seeing his quizzical glare. “I usually drop Benadryl in their beer, so by the time mom is knocked out they are to. It’s always worked but I forgot last night thinking he would just leave” almost home, I didn’t realize he was so close, we are both walking slowly. “You need to be more careful. What’s your number? I will text you and you save it. If you ever feel like you need saving, just call me, ok.” I know my face has a more than friends look on it but I don’t mean for it to. Rome is untouchable to me. Older, HOT, bad boy, baggage, and yes Toby. “Thank you so much.” I say as I key in my number. He leaves me only after checking the house to make sure I am alone. Carol stumbled past us as we went up the steps, the trucker is also gone, and likely states away by now.

  Chapter Eleven

  A few weeks, since my crazy attack, have passed and the big nasty winter war is in full effect. Snow is on the ground and its freezing. I hate January. Cold and oh yea it’s my birthday. Its ok, no one knows! “I know Toby, yes the whole day I told you I have like 8 loads to do. YES TOBY! If I don’t who will? Thax needs clean clothes and my uniforms are all filthy. It will be fine, he saved my damn life Toby, he isn’t going to hurt me. JUST STOP IT!” I look up to see Rome walk in the washer mat with 2 baskets in hand and 2 rug rats at his feet, I smile. “Whatever Toby, I don’t have a maid and the boys are going to play. I need to get done. K, love you to. I’ll text soon as I am home. O….K…. BYE!” smacking the phone down on the counter where I am folding a load I can’t help but growl. “Problems in Paradise Princess?“ Rome giggles while chunking clothes in the wash. “ Psht yea, apparently I’ve traveled to Rome.” I laugh and look over at him, golly miss molly this man is freaking amazeballs. He cooks, cleans, works, and does the laundry, everything. “I don’t know Rome. For real, he is the nicest guy ever, he is grateful you were there, but now he hates we are friends. He says I hang out with you more than him and Mando. I call bullshit on that because I work more than anything. Plus it’s not my fault he won’t stop here, for Christ sakes, I have to jump from a moving truck. At least you hang out at my house.” I look over at the noise coming from the 3 boys playing with cars in the floor. Although Thax is older than they are, he enjoys them like crazy! He says they are like little brothers. “I mean he can’t get over us being friends. I told him you’re like a big brother but his jock strap is all twisted about it.” We both laugh like we always do about everything and leave it at that. He pulls out his MP3 player and flips it on. We listen to music, he sings along, I dance around, and we both do laundry. He helps me with mine once his is done. It took like 4 hours to finish it. Then we all lug a basket back towards the trailers. We fix the boys all a sandwich and listen to more music. Carol hasn’t been home in like 4 days and I doubt she makes an appearance today with it being a weekend.

  I am dancing around to a song, Rome’s brought over his guitar strumming along to it, and then out of nowhere he starts signing it. My heart melts. He has the voice of an angel. I wish Toby could see him the way I do. I feel like GOD sent him to me. He has very quickly turned into my best friend. So why do I eye his fingers moving across those strings and catch myself licking my lips? I have to mentally bitch slap myself. He makes life easier. Toby is my best friend but he will never accepted my life, I’ve slowly figured that out. I don’t have a choice to live here. We can’t all live in Spring Lake with a huge gate and entrance guard. I have never judged him for his money but I feel he has always judged me for the lack of mine. The song ends “Rory, you move to the music like you feel the beat. Have you ever tried to play anything?” I grin because it’s one thing I never talk about, but hey it’s Rome so it’s easy “Actually I play the piano, I just don’t have one.” then out of nowhere the rug is jerked out from under me, all the air leaves my lungs, I freeze when I hear Thax “Rory are we eating birthday cake later?” oh no please please let Rome have missed that. “No Thaxton, we are not!” I bitch out at him. I feel bad instantly but dang him for that. “It your birthday Princess?” not sure why but it never bothers me when he says that, anyone else would get their head cut off for that crap. “Yea but don’t go there Rome it ain’t like that for me.” I walk away. Birthday’s have always been crap, in my world. Dad’s don’t show up, gifts are nonexistent, and Carol yea her! “How old are you?” he is curious “18” gasp fills the air “FUCK me, you just now turned 18? I thought you were older, where are you all day if you aren’t at work?” Hand on hip, check “I go to school all day, then I work at night, why?” pshtt “Wow Rory, I just thought you had 2 jobs like me, does your mom work or help out?” I roll my eyes at that. “Nope, I take care of us. Amandolette’s parents pay me fairly and give me extra shifts. I make good tips, however Thax does require a lot.” Then I plaster on a smile and say “Can we please dance some more?” Rome is thinking hardcore and doesn’t really here me. He is typing fast into his phone. “Hey Princess, Can you watch the boys for about 30 minutes? I need to run down to the bar and help Red unload for tonight.” I smile glad the awkward moment passed. Rome is the one person I never want to fight with. And with a quick kiss on the top of my head, his signature leave move, He was gone.

  When he came to pick up the boys and had a keyboard in tow. I, of course, wrinkled my forehead and tilted it sideways trying to figure out what he was doing. “Stop that you look like a puppy in the window.” he clipped as he set the board up. “Why is that here?” I point at it like I had never seen one. “Well first I want you to play it for me, and then I want you to play it with me. But mostly because, it’s your birthday present, goofball.” he said matter of fact, and queue it, there’s that panty dropping grin again. Good thing he is like a brother to me or Toby may have to worry. “You shouldn’t…” “Shut up Rory! It was free so please take it. Red bought a new one for the club and was going to toss it, I asked, he said ok. The end” so I did what I knew was right and it just happened to be how I felt. Clapping my hands together, squealing, doing something like the running man and moon walk rolled in to one with a twist of fist pump in it, I ran straight at Rome almost knocking him over. I leapt into his arms wrapping mine around hi
s neck for the biggest hug I ever gave anyone. “Thank you so much Rome it’s just perfect!” without another word I dropped down to the arm of the couch and touched a key. It wasn’t a baby grand but it was mine, and I let my fingers do the talking. Somehow I ended up playing a beat I knew he would never recognize because it was one I wrote. I decided to add in a few words and check his reaction. I meant for Toby to hear it first but maybe Rome could help me per-fect it for him.

  “If I were you , I’d fall in love with a girl.. like me…. Because in just one look…. I’d see…. I’m the kind of girl that could love you in whole… I would love you with every….thing…. that I…… am….. I always shoot for the moon… even if I get distracted by the stars…. And if loving you was a mistake…. I’d accept that and let my heart break!”