Escaping Trouble

by Dee Bridle

  She sniffed again, and in a soft, protected voice, said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  She looked out to nothing in particular.

  I nodded and lit up a cigarette for myself and said, “Okay.”

  We were both silent as we smoked our cigarettes together.

  Someone needed to be hurt over this. I solved a lot of my issues with my fists, but anyone who hit a girl deserved some serious suffering of their own. Preferably done by me.

  “So, maybe I can give you my number and you can call me if you ever need me,” I said into the silence.

  I needed to put it out there, to let her know I could help her if she needed it. Especially with the sort of trouble that left the type of bruises she had on her body.

  “I don’t have my phone anymore,” she said butting out the cigarette on the brick work beside her.

  I huffed and gave a slight shake of my head.

  “Just say you don’t want it. I’m a big boy. I can handle it.”

  “I’m serious. It was stolen yesterday, along with everything else. My phone and all of my money.”

  “By the person who gave you those bruises?” I asked aiming for calmness but failing miserably.

  She looked up at the sky and let out a deep sigh.

  “What are you doing here right now with me?” she asked instead.

  “Thought it was obvious,” I said inhaling my cigarette. “Sitting here with a friend and having a smoke.”

  “You’re not my friend.”

  “Ouch.”

  “I don’t have friends, Noah. You can’t be my friend,” she said rubbing her wrist.

  She was pushing herself away from me, but I wouldn’t let her. I was way too interested to just let her go and accept her no-friend policy. I was going to have to work hard with her, and I was ready for the challenge.

  “My mum’s actually a nurse, and I can get her to look at that if you like,” I offered casually, looking at her wrist.

  She turned and set her beautiful green eyes on me, and I felt the hit in my chest. I could see the fire in them, mixed in with a big heap of vulnerability and despair. There were secrets in there that I suddenly wanted to figure out. She was beautiful, and I wanted to be her friend like nothing else in the world.

  “Why would you do that?” she asked faintly. “What’s in it for you?”

  “Well, unlike yourself, I think we are friends, and that’s what friends do. They look out for each other.”

  She looked away from me and back down to her wrist. I followed her line of sight and then saw her bruised knuckles on her right hand.

  “You punched him?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  I nodded and said, “Good, but I guess it didn’t keep him down for long.”

  She didn’t answer me. I wanted to know exactly what had happened, along with his name and address. Actually, fuck the address. All I needed was a name. She only hid her face again, down on her knees, and I felt her despair.

  “I can fix this for you, Ivy. Just say the word.”

  “No, you can’t,” she murmured. “Everything is just fucked.”

  “I can get a phone for you by this afternoon,” I said pulling my phone out and texting Will.

  “I don’t want anything from you,” she murmured.

  “I know that,” I said with a shrug. “But I’ll do it anyway.”

  “I won’t take it,” she said lifting her head up again.

  “Yeah, you will,” I said continuing to text Will.

  “I can’t pay you back.”

  “It’s stolen, relax,” I lied.

  She rubbed at her wrist again and kept silent while I sent my text to Will. I hid a smile, knowing she had accepted it with her silence. First problem fixed, now onto the second one.

  “So, I’ll take you to see my mum now if you like.”

  “No, I’m okay,” she said with a frown.

  “Ivy, you’re in a lot of pain, and even if it’s not broken, she can at least wrap it for you.”

  “I’ve got a lecture.”

  “No shit,” I said with a chuckle as I got up. “Me too. Come on, I’ll bring you back within the hour.”

  She sat there for a moment longer and then put her good hand in my proffered hand and let me pull her up. I took her bag from her without a word and started to walk away, knowing she wouldn’t take any more help from me.

  As I reached my Jeep, I unlocked it and put both bags in the back seat. I went around to open the door for her, but she stopped me.

  “I’ve got it,” she said, not meeting my eyes as she opened the door and climbed in herself.

  I suddenly noticed the bruising on her neck and paused, wanting to check it out and see just how badly this fuck wit had hurt her. This guy, whoever he was didn’t deserve to be walking after the bruising he had done on this girl. All I needed was a name, and I would make him eat through a straw for the next couple of months.

  I realized she was looking at me as I stood there staring at her, deep in thought with her door still open. She then pulled some hair over her face, covering her neck from me.

  “Seat belt on, Rocky,” I said, closing her door.

  I had to get a grip on this situation and move forward with care. If I came on too strong, she would be gone. I got in and started the engine.

  “My fist might be bruised, but I can use it again,” she warned.

  I only laughed as I reversed out of the car space. It was the hottest thing she had said to me yet. I drove towards home in the silence, only wanting more from the sexy and tough girl beside me.

  Chapter Four

  Ivy

  I knew I was in trouble as the houses started to become bigger and were located behind large gates. He lived in Toorak and I wanted to get out of the car and run far away from him. I knew there was something else about him, other than being a bad ass. He was well spoken and had manners for one. I hated myself right now for the position I had put myself in. I had spent years running from the large mansions with their even bigger secrets, and I was now meant to be worlds away. He was delivering me right back into it all, and I had no idea of his intentions. What did he see when he looked at me? Did he pity me or really want to be a friend?

  He was soon pulling up to a house with a long driveway, and then he parked in front of a large garage with a unit on top. He turned the engine off and jumped out, the door closing behind him. I took a deep breath. What would his mother think of me? Why the fuck was I doing this?

  He suddenly opened my door.

  “Let’s go, Rocky.”

  “I’ve changed my mind,” I said.

  “Come on, Ivy, my mum is cool. You have nothing to worry about.”

  I turned to look at him and wondered just how he knew what I was always thinking. I still wanted to run, but the throbbing in my wrist was becoming unbearable. He just stood there, patiently waiting for me to get out of the car.

  “You live in Toorak,” I stated.

  He shrugged and answered, “Don’t hold it against me.”

  “Noah, I live nowhere near here,” I blurted out.

  He needed to know that I lived on the opposite side from here.

  He shrugged again, saying, “So?”

  “This is not happening,” I muttered under my breath as I got out and crossed my arms.

  He had the upper hand with his patience and apparent awareness of me. Having a response for everything and seemingly having already worked me out made me feel unsure of the entire situation. He was obviously used to winning, and I was suddenly curious to find out if this guy had ever lost at anything.

  “This way,” he said heading to the main house. “The unit’s my place.”

  “Oh,” I said looking back at the large place above the garage. “Is it just you who lives there?”

  “Zac and Ava have a room there, but they have their own place,” he said. “Will lives there most nights too.”

  “The mohawk dude?” I asked looking at the glistening
blue pool as he led me to the back door of the main house.

  “Yeah.”

  “Noah, darling, didn’t you just—“

  “Hey, mum, this is Ivy. Can you help her out by taking a look at her wrist?”

  A beautiful blonde woman appeared in front me. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail, and her kind eyes met mine. Everything about her was understated and very classy.

  “Sure,” she said with a smile. “Hi there, Ivy.”

  “Hi,” I said, quickly looking down at the floor.

  She had smiled directly at me, not even fazed that a girl covered in tattoos was at her house wanting her help. She seemed kind and not at all what I expected.

  “Come and take a seat, and I’ll get my kit,” she said leading me into the kitchen.

  I looked around at the large kitchen as she disappeared into another room and took in the pure elegance of it all. Everything shined and looked amazing. It had been a lifetime ago since I had sat in such a kitchen.

  “Drink?” asked Noah going to the fridge.

  I shook my head, but watched as he opened up a mineral water for me anyway. He placed it in front of me as I sat on one of the kitchen stools. I glared at him, and then took a sip as his mother came back into the room.

  “So, what happened, darling? You have a bruise on your cheek, too,” she said touching it gently.

  My eyes unexpectedly welled up with tears at her soft touch and the concern in her voice. I was going to lose it. I quickly blinked it all back, forcing my walls back up.

  “She was hunting in the wild and this big bear came out at her,” said Noah, meeting my eyes.

  He had seen my emotion for that split second and was deliberately lightening the situation with his humor. He was keeping my life a secret, and I looked away, my heart thumping uncontrollably. This guy seemed just too damn good to be true.

  “There are no bears here, darling,” said his mum with a knowing wink to me.

  “It was ferocious apparently,” he continued on. “She fought back with the bruised right hand, but her left wrist is the problem,” replied Noah.

  I took a deep breath, not knowing whether I wanted to laugh or burst into tears. Either was unacceptable, as I looked over at him leaning against the counter, looking like a bad boy model as he sipped his drink. I wanted to thank him for making up the story and making light of something dark and painful to ease my discomfort. Come to think of it, he had been doing that since the day of the muffin. I knew if I let myself start to enjoy it, I could clearly become addicted to him.

  She took my sore wrist and rubbed her fingers over it, assessing the area. She asked where it hurt the most and what movements I could do.

  She smelt nice, almost comforting, and I didn’t know whether it was her shampoo or perfume. I had a sudden need to move closer to her and feel the warmth she seemed to be freely giving away. I supposed some mothers did that, without wanting anything in return.

  “I don’t think it’s broken, but it’s heavily bruised. You need it wrapped and to rest it for the next couple of days.”

  I thought of work and knew that would not be the case. I had to work, regardless of the situation. I watched her wrap it with a white bandage, taking her time and giving it her utmost care.

  “Do you have any painkillers at home?”

  Home. I didn’t have anything but a ripped sleeping bag at my so-called ‘home.’

  “I’ll get her some,” said Noah leaving the kitchen.

  She finished wrapping my wrist and then proceeded to make a sling. This was not going to help tonight at the bar.

  She gave me a concerned smile and asked, “Did you report it to the police?”

  “No.”

  “Are you a friend from college?”

  I nodded. I guess Noah was a friend now, whether I liked it or not.

  “Be good to him,” she said with a wink as he came back into the kitchen with the painkillers.

  I got up from the stool, feeling a little panicked but trying not to show it. This was all too much for me to deal with, and I was losing the ability to cope with it all. This entire situation was all too normal and nice, and it grazed at the scabs of pain inside of me. I couldn’t be good to Noah, because everything about me was bad.

  As if sensing the change in me, Noah pocketed the painkillers and said, “We need to head back, mum. We’ve both got lectures to get to.”

  “Off you go,” she said with a smile. “Nice meeting you, Ivy.”

  “You too,” I said quietly. “Thanks for helping me.”

  “Anytime.”

  I followed Noah back out and went to his car in silence.

  “Want to see my place first?” he asked, stopping on the first step leading up to his door.

  No I didn’t. I didn’t want to see any more of this awesome guy. It was all too much. I didn’t answer as my blood pounded in my ears.

  “It will make it easier if you come in willingly. Your fate has already been decided,” he said with a smirk.

  I looked over to him in question.

  “I’m going to chop you up into bits and store you in my big freezer,” he explained.

  The pressure of the pounding in my ears started to disperse and I tried to hide a smile. He was doing it again. I went over to him waiting on the steps and then followed him up in silence. I tried not to focus on his T-shirt that was stretched tightly across his back and the definition of muscles it was unfortunately covering. He was wearing dark low-rise jeans that only highlighted his excellent shape further and I couldn’t look away. The guy was perfect, and I had no idea why he was wasting time and a supposed friendship on me.

  He opened the door and motioned for me to go in before him. I stepped in to see a large cool place with beer bottles covering every available surface.

  “Excuse the mess. Had a few friends over last night,” he said walking in and starting to clear the bottles.

  I didn’t care about the mess. It was a cool place and I liked it instantly.

  “My room is there, Zac’s is over there, and the couch is Will’s,” he said from the kitchen.

  I heard the bottles clanging as he put them in a bin and looked around the walls at all the music posters. I liked the same bands as him and wondered if they helped him to get through things like they did with me.

  “Music is our thing, and we see a lot of bands,” he explained. “Helps with everything in life, I guess.”

  There he went again with the whole knowing what I was thinking thing. I nodded and continued on to the kitchen, looking at more posters.

  “I need a coffee. Want one before we go back?” he asked turning his coffee machine on.

  I hid a smile, and he saw it instantly.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You’re this bad ass guy with a coffee machine,” I said looking away from him and concentrating on the tiled floor.

  I felt his eyes on me and I suddenly hoped I hadn’t hurt his feelings.

  “Bad asses have to drink coffee, too,” he returned.

  Not the bad asses I knew.

  I watched him making the coffee and stepped over a little closer. I spotted a photo on the fridge that was held up by a naked woman magnet. I recognized them all on the beach somewhere laughing and sticking their fingers up to the camera. A blonde girl I didn’t recognize was next to Noah with her tattooed arm around his neck. She was the only one I hadn’t seen before. Was she a girlfriend? Would I find her stuff in his bedroom? Hang on, what did I care? Where was I even going with this?

  “Here,” he said passing me a black coffee. “Will drank all my milk this morning, so it’s the only option.”

  “Thanks,” I said taking it from him.

  “So you live far from here?”

  I sipped my coffee and nodded, “Very far.”

  “I’m sure it’s not that far,” he said, knowing we weren’t talking about distance as much as the different lives we led. “So do you drive or tram it in every day?”

  “Tram,�
�� I said, thinking about my money situation and wondering how I would pay for my transport now that my money had been taken. I would have to dodge the ticket inspectors again. I would also have to see if Glory could pay me a little earlier.

  “So who do you live with?” he continued.

  I gulped my coffee and burnt my throat with the scorching liquid. I turned away and looked at the photo on the fridge again.

  “Who’s the blonde girl?”

  “Zac’s sister,” he answered without pause. “So, who do you live with?”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged, and said, “I’m interested.”

  I didn’t say anything, because I couldn’t comprehend as to why he would have any interest. My life was private for a reason, and I couldn’t forget that.

  “So are you and Zac’s sister an item?” I rushed.

  “Hell, no. She’s like a sister to me,” he said sipping his coffee, his eyes not moving from mine. “Why won’t you tell me who you live with?”

  “I don’t understand why it’s important,” I returned.

  “I want to know who I’m up against when you go missing,” he smirked. “You know, when you’re in my freezer.”

  I shook my head and said, “That would be no one.”

  “No one would care that you were chopped up in my freezer?” he asked taking another sip of coffee. “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Well, believe it,” I mumbled. “What’s with all the serial killer references anyway?”

  “I could be a bad ass serial killer who likes coffee for all you know,” he returned.

  “I pissed you off with that coffee comment, didn’t I?”

  He shook his head.

  “You didn’t piss me off. I am a bad ass. What’s more telling is that you don’t seem worried in the slightest.”

  “You don’t scare me,” I said.

  “And why’s that? How do you know that I don’t have dangerous intentions?”

  “You just don’t.”

  “Only someone who has been around creeps all her life would think that,” he said with narrowed eyes.