Tainted Love

by Stacy Claflin

  Mr. Archer’s mouth formed a straight line. Some kids snickered.

  “Fine. But I’m going to check with the nurse’s office. If your arm isn’t infected, we’re going to have a talk during detention.”

  “Great.” Ava gathered her things. She was pretty sure that privacy laws meant the nurse couldn’t tell the teacher anything. “Thanks.”

  “Your homework is still due tomorrow, start of class. Same as everyone else.”

  “Okay.” She met Braylon’s gaze before rushing out of the classroom. Before reaching the nurse’s office, she stopped in the closest bathroom and went into a stall. At least she could check the texts there.

  Her mouth dropped open. Forty-two new texts, and a new one came in as she stared at the screen. They were all, unsurprisingly, from Mason. She started deleting them without reading them. More came in as she worked.

  Finally, Ava couldn’t take it anymore. She responded.

  Ava: Stop!!!

  Mason: Finally a response!

  Ava: Leave me alone!!

  Mason: After u meet me.

  Ava: Never.

  Mason: Then ill keep txting.

  Ava: I’ll block u.

  Mason: Ill find u.

  Ava: U want 2 end up in jail?

  Mason: I won’t.

  Ava took a deep breath. She’d promised Dad she wouldn’t engage, but what was she supposed to do when he wouldn’t stop?

  Mason: Still there?

  Ava: Go. Away.

  Mason: Cant. Already here.

  Blood drained from her head.

  Ava: Where?

  Mason: Near ur school.

  Ava: Liar.

  Mason: Nope.

  She stared at the screen.

  Mason: Ur wearing a blue shirt & black pants.

  The phone fell from her grasp. She struggled to catch it before it hit the nasty floor.

  Mason: Now do i have ur attention?

  She struggled to breathe. He’d watched her walk from the bus to the school doors? Or worse, had he seen her at home? Did the psychopath know where she lived?

  Mason: Dont ignore me.

  Her heart raced, and she struggled to hold the phone.

  Ava: What do u want?

  Mason: Just 2 talk.

  Ava: Yeah right.

  Mason: Im ur brother. Whats the problem?

  Ava: U really have 2 ask?

  Mason: Im not gonna kiss u again. Not now.

  Ava: Right. Cuz im not going 2 meet u.

  Mason: But I came all this way.

  Ava: U shouldn’t have. Go c mom.

  Mason: I will, but first cu.

  Ava: U do realize my dads a cop?

  Mason: But Parkers dad isnt.

  Ava: Yes he is. Ur stupid.

  Mason: No. His dad is in jail. Ur the stupid 1.

  Ava’s mind spun. Was he saying Dave was also Parker’s dad? That wasn’t possible. Mason was older. Born before Mom and Dad married, when Mom was with Dave.

  Mason: Still dont believe me?

  Ava: Ur wrong.

  Mason: Nope.

  Ava: Leave me alone. I have 2 go 2 class.

  Mason: Meet me after skool.

  Ava: No.

  Mason: Hanna’s wearing a purple dress.

  Ava: Are u threatening her??

  Mason: Not if u meet me.

  Ava’s blood boiled. What was she supposed to do? Mason could really hurt her little sister. And what if he was right about Parker? Would he tell Dad? Dad would be heartbroken.

  Mason: Hello???

  Whatever Ava ended up doing, she would have to delete all of these texts. Maybe keeping the ones where he said he knew what she and Hanna were wearing. That was good proof of him threatening her. No way she was going to let Dad or her brother see the ones he said about Parker.

  Mason: Hanna’s playing tetherball right now.

  Ava: Fine. I’ll meet u.

  He sent a string of smirking emojis.

  Mason: Good. Look 4 a txt l8r.

  She didn’t respond. He didn’t, either. Why would he? After taking a minute to calm herself, she stuffed her phone at the bottom of her bag before leaving the bathroom.

  Mr. Archer stood outside, tapping his foot and crossing his arms. “Have a nice time at the nurse’s office?”

  Ava stood taller. “That’s where I’m going right now.”

  “What were you doing in the bathroom?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Don’t get snarky with me.”

  She held back an eye roll. “I had to pee. Now I need the nurse to look at my arm.”

  “What happened to your arm?”

  Ava groaned. “My brother shoved me.”

  “Into a cheese grater?”

  “Cement.”

  “Why were you in the bathroom so long?”

  “I don’t think this is an appropriate conversation, Mr. Archer.”

  “What are you hiding?”

  “Nothing!”

  His scowl told her he didn’t believe her.

  “I need the nurse to look at my arm.”

  “Okay, but you have detention after school.”

  She stared at him. “For what?”

  “Because I said so. Don’t be late.” He walked away.

  Ava rubbed her temples. How was she supposed to secretly meet Mason and be in detention at the same time?

  Changes

  Jess finished her second cup of coffee, not that it helped—not with as little sleep as she got the night before.

  In the next room, Sammy wailed.

  “I’ve got him!” Willow called.

  Jess closed her eyes. “Good girl! Thanks!”

  After the last week she’d had, it was tempting to think life would be easier with a guy. Someone to help with everything. But she knew better. Men really don’t help, don’t get involved. A man would rather sit behind his phone and let the woman do all the work—helping the kids, housework, anything. Her dad, her mom’s boyfriends, and Jess’s ex-boyfriends all proved that point time and time again.

  No. She was definitely better off without a man. Who needed that kind of stress? At least the way things were, she didn’t have anyone criticizing how she took care of the kids or house. Not only that, but she had one less person to clean up after. As hard as things were now, the bright side was that she didn’t have to worry about any of that.

  Men. Who needed them? Not Jess.

  She poured herself some more coffee, took a few sips, then went to check on the kids.

  Sammy sat on Willow’s lap, his face tear-stained. Daisy was nowhere to be seen.

  “What happened?”

  Willow rubbed Sammy’s hair. “He and Daisy crashed into each other, and then he fell over and started crying. She ran off, thinking she did something wrong.”

  Definitely didn’t need the critical voice of a man around here.

  Jess reached for Sammy, who eagerly went to her arms. “You okay?”

  He just sniffled.

  “Can you check on your sister?”

  Willow got up and left the room without a word.

  Jess snuggled Sammy. “Did you hit your head?”

  He shook his head no.

  “Did you hurt anything?”

  Sammy held out his left hand. The little finger was swollen and red.

  Her heart raced. The last thing they needed was a trip to see a doctor. It was for the same reason she couldn’t put them in daycare or school. No legal documentation. They also didn’t have health insurance, but that would’ve been pointless. The kids couldn’t see a doctor. Not without raising questions.

  Connor came to mind, but she shoved him from her thoughts. She couldn’t think about him now. It was too much, especially with all the hate comments she was getting online.

  Jess
looked at the finger and asked Sammy a few more questions about it. Didn’t seem to be broken. Probably just landed on it funny. No need for a doctor. Or a husband. Especially not a husband. If she had one, he’d probably be yelling at her right now for allowing a kid to get hurt. Men were about blaming, not trying to make things better.

  Willow came back. “She won’t leave the bedroom. Says you’re mad at her.”

  Jess took a deep breath. “I’ll talk with her.”

  “I can hold Sammy.”

  Sammy clung to Jess.

  Jess readjusted him. “It’s okay. I’ll hold him. You can keep watching your show.”

  Willow shrugged then plopped on the sofa.

  “It’s not that he doesn’t want you,” Jess reassured her. “He’s just hurt and wants his mom. That’s all.”

  “It’s fine.” Willow aimed the remote at the TV and pressed a button, changing the channel.

  Jess went to the girls’ bedroom to speak with Daisy. By the time she was done, all three kids were smiling. She finished her coffee and watched them sitting together with pride. She chastised herself for allowing the thought about needing a man. Who was she kidding? She didn’t even need one to get these kids. Really, this was the ideal situation.

  Minus the online drama. That she could really do without.

  She set her empty mug on the side table. “Who wants to go to the new arcade?”

  The girls both turned her way, eyes wide with excitement.

  “Really?” Daisy asked.

  “You’re going to let us?” Willow covered her mouth. She’d been wanting to go more than the others.

  Jess nodded. “I think today is the perfect day for it.” And besides, it was a fairly long drive to get there, so if anyone recognized it once she posted pictures in her blog, they wouldn’t be able to figure out where they lived. She would have to make it more of a habit, going places that were an hour or more out. Maybe even have some overnight getaways. The kids loved staying in hotels.

  The social media circus would settle down before too long. It was only a matter of waiting it out. People would get bored and move on when the next big piece of drama hit. Something new always came about. It might take a few weeks, but people would forget about her.

  Hopefully that Alexander guy would give up. He kind of worried her. There was something about him that struck her as different from the typical Internet hater.

  She shoved him from her mind and started packing for the outing. All she needed to do was show people there was nothing to worry about. That everyone was getting up in arms about nothing. Just a single mom who liked to blog about her kids. What was wrong with that?

  The kids ran around, packing snacks and other necessities for an outing. Jess grabbed a baseball cap and stuck it on her head. Then a thought struck her. People would be on the lookout for her kids, thanks to all the online drama.

  “Hey, let’s cut our hair before going out. Willow, did you still want to color your hair?”

  Her eyes lit up. “Are you going to let me?”

  “Yeah, I was just waiting for the right time. Today has that feel, don’t you think?”

  Willow stared at her in disbelief. “Really?”

  “Let’s do this. I ordered the color weeks ago.”

  “I can have a pixie cut?” Daisy asked.

  Jess hated to chop her long hair, but drastic times called for drastic measures. “Sure. I found some videos online I can follow.”

  “Yippee!”

  Sammy rubbed his eyes.

  Jess picked him up. “I’m going to lay him down for a nap, then we’ll set up our own personal hair salon.”

  The girls squealed.

  Jess’s stomach knotted. Hopefully the hair changes would be enough. If the haters didn’t ease up as quickly as she expected, she’d really have to start getting creative.

  Unbending

  Ava sat under a fire extinguisher in a hallway kids never went down. She needed to text Mason with privacy.

  Before she could even start her message, Braylon sent her a message.

  Braylon: Where ru?

  Ava: Running l8

  Braylon: Want me 2 grab ur lunch?

  Ava: Sure. Cu soon.

  She added some heart emoticons for good measure before turning back to the conversation with her irritating and pushy half-brother.

  Ava: We’re gonna have 2 meet l8r.

  Mason: Nope.

  Ava: I have detention b/c of u!

  Mason: Not my fault.

  Her blood boiled. She was probably going to end up punching his ugly face after school. It was inevitable.

  Ava: Is 2. U wouldn’t stop txting me.

  Mason: Not my concern.

  Ava: If u want 2 stay off my dad’s radar it is.

  Mason: I don’t care abt him.

  Ava: Cop, remember??

  Mason: Look at Hanna playin’ tag. She’s so happy. H8 2 spoil the fun.

  Yep. She was definitely going to punch him. All the way into next week if possible.

  Mason: Still there?

  Ava: I can’t get out of detention! Thx 4 that btw.

  Mason: Find a way. Im watching her.

  Ava: Fine! Somewhere public.

  Mason: Nope.

  Ava: Yes. Or I’m telling my dad everything.

  Mason: U wouldn’t dare.

  Ava: Want 2 try me?

  Mason: U better chill b4 we meet.

  Ava: Public place.

  Mason: That coffee shop by ur skool.

  Ava: Fine.

  Mason: Dont b l8.

  She didn’t bother responding to that one. He’d want the last word, anyway.

  Braylon sent her another text, wanting to know where she was.

  Ava sent him a quick text, then rushed to the cafeteria and scarfed down some tasteless school food before it was time for her next class.

  The rest of the day went by in a blur as her mind constantly went back to Mason. She was going to have to delete all those messages before her dad saw them. Not only that, but she’d have to keep her meeting secret and explain not only why she had detention but why she’d skipped it.

  Dad was so going to ground her. But what other choice did Mason leave her? Ava couldn’t risk him doing anything to Hanna. She was only nine—still a baby in so many ways.

  Maybe Ava’s determination to protect her sister would win her points with Dad. But not the fact that he wanted her to stop texting Mason.

  What if she actually got her dad involved? Fessed up to everything that was going on and let him show up at the coffee shop? Then at least she wouldn’t get in trouble for missing detention. She’d still have it, but she wouldn’t dig herself deeper into trouble.

  But Hanna… If Mason saw their dad show up, he might be able to slip away and get to Hanna first. Make Ava pay for not doing what he wanted.

  No. She needed to handle this herself. It was her fault for not blocking his number in the first place. Now he was threatening Hanna, and he was crazy enough to follow through. She couldn’t risk pissing him off and sending him to her little sister.

  Ava would never forgive herself if that happened.

  “Earth to Ava.”

  She turned to Braylon and slammed her locker shut. “Yeah?”

  “What’s going on? You’ve been in your own world all day.”

  “Tired, I guess. My arm hurts.”

  “That’s all?”

  Ava shrugged.

  He held her gaze. “I feel like you’re shutting me out.”

  “I’m not.”

  “There isn’t anything you’re keeping from me?”

  She looked away. “We’re not married. I don’t have to tell you everything.”

  “So, you are keeping something from me?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.”
>
  She sighed. “Family stuff is really complicated right now. That’s all.”

  “Because of the engagement? Your brother acting out?”

  Ava chewed on her lower lip. “Something like that.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  She glanced at a clock. “Warning bell’s about to go off. I need to go.”

  “Ava.” He gave her puppy-dog eyes, which made her stomach flip-flop. “You know I’m only asking because I care, right?”

  “I’ll text you after school.” She rushed past him.

  He grabbed her shoulder. “Wait. This isn’t about Mason, is it?”

  Her stomach tightened. “I can’t be late for class. I already have detention.”

  “Is it Mason?”

  She didn’t look at him. “I have to go.” Then she raced away, forcing herself into the middle of a crowd, ensuring he wouldn’t be able to follow her. And it worked. She made it to her classroom just as the final bell rang, and Braylon wasn’t in sight.

  By the time her last class ended, her stomach was tied in more knots than the necklace she’d recently lent to Hanna. Speaking of Hanna, Ava needed to get to the coffee shop before Mason thought she’d skipped out on him and he headed back to the elementary school.

  She headed for the back of the school as most kids flooded for the front to load onto buses or go to their sport practices.

  “Ava!” called a male voice behind her.

  She hesitated. But only for a moment. There was no time to lose. No time to even look back and see if it was Mr. Archer or Braylon, or someone else completely.

  Ava burst into a run. Footsteps thundered behind her. She ran faster, her heart threatening to explode from her chest. Nobody was going to keep her from that coffee shop. She’d let Mason kidnap her if it meant keeping Hanna safe. Ava knew how to get out of being held captive. She actually liked the thought of having the chance to beat the crap out of her half-brother.

  The footsteps behind her grew closer. She was almost to the door. Then she only had to get across an open soccer field before she reached the road. Once there, she would be halfway to the coffee shop.

  Just as her palms made contact with the metal bar to open the door, fingers brushed her arms.

  “Fire!” That was what her dad had taught her to scream if she was ever in trouble. People would run to help put out a fire. Not so much if someone was in other kinds of danger.