by Quinn Loftis
“Let’s get this over with Swift,” I grumble, as I tug him forward.
“Eager for the dancing or the groping?” He murmurs.
I laugh again and it feels good. I’m not better, but with Trey, in this moment I feel a brief reprieve from the inner turmoil that’s been a steady storm inside of me.
I hear Natalie calling my name as we cross the parking lot to the school gym. I see Bobby next to her looking very sharp in a suit with a collarless shirt and vest.
Trey was wearing a suit, but instead of a tie he was wearing a bolo that had a turquoise and silver piece in the middle. He had left his hair unbraided and it shone brilliantly under the moon light.
“Let’s go get our dance on,” Natalie sings, as we meet them at the door.
Trey pulls me onto the dance floor as a slow song begins to play. Not many people are dancing, but he doesn’t seem to care. I wrap my arms around his neck and he pulls me close. As I look up at him, I can’t help but relax slightly, as the safety I feel in his arms washes over me.
“What are you thinking about?” He asks me.
I feel heat rush to my face just as I always do when he catches me in a moment of utter adoration.
“How safe I feel with you.” I admit.
His lips curl up in a crooked smile, and he leans down and kisses me on the forehead.
“Good, I want you to feel safe with me.”
We dance like that, just looking at each other, stealing kisses every now, and then for several songs until they finally put on something a little faster. We take that as our cue to step off the dance floor.
We find Natalie and Bobby sitting at one of the decorated tables. Natalie has her feet propped up in Bobby’s lap while he rubs them.
“Ugh,” she groans, “those freaking shoes are killing my feet.”
“I told you not to put them on so early,” I remind her.
“Didn’t ask you, just let me complain,” she frowns at me.
We hear a commotion coming from the front doors and turn to see Carter Evans, Amber, and their followers come staggering in. It’s extremely obvious that they’ve been hitting the drinks already. When they catch us looking at them, Carter gives me a smirk. It’s one of those looks that you know means something is up, and it’s not going to be good.
I grab Trey’s hand and pull his attention from the group.
“Hey, so have you had enough dancing?”
He glances back over at Carter and then back to me, “Yeah, I’m ready if you are.”
“Where you guys headed?” Bobby asks as he slips Natalie’s shoes back on to her feet, much to her chagrin, based on the frown on her face.
“We were just going to hang out at my house, you guys want to come?” Trey asks.
Bobby looks at Natalie, “You good with that?”
She nods, “I just want to be out of these shoes for like, ever.”
Bobby laughs as he stands up and swings her up into his arms. “I guess I’ll just have to carry you.”
Natalie squeals and I smile at them. She is so happy and I’m glad to see that, to know that she has someone who isn’t a constant mess in her life.
As we’re walking out of the gym, I pull on Trey’s hand, “Hey, I need to step into the ladies room.”
He nods, “I’ll wait for you.”
As I’m walking out of the restroom Natalie and Bobby, come rushing back in from the parking lot.
“They have a death wish,” Natalie growls.
My heart plummets, because I know who they are. Trey takes my hand and calmly walks out of the gym. His long strides are difficult for me to keep up with and I find myself nearly skipping. I can hear Natalie cussing a blue streak behind me, and when my eyes land on Trey’s truck, I understand why.
“Oh my,” I can’t even finish, because I’m speechless. Trey’s truck has been totaled. The windows have been smashed in, the tires slashed, and obscenities spray painted all over it. I feel Trey’s grip tighten around my hand. I remember back, to the glimpse of his anger I saw when I was still at Mercy, and I know that things are about to get ugly.
“Bobby,” Trey says through gritted teeth, “Please, take the ladies home.”
“Why don’t I let them take my car and I’ll stay with you?” Bobby suggests.
I clear my throat and pull my hand from Trey’s. “If you think that I’m leaving you here, then you have another thing coming.”
Trey’s eyes flash with anger and his lips tighten, “You are not going to witness what I’m about to do.”
“I know you’re angry about your truck Trey, but it’s not worth getting into trouble.”
Trey lets out a humorless laugh, “You think I’m angry about my truck? No Tally, it’s not the truck that has Carter Evans life in danger. It’s what’s written on the truck.”
I turn my head back towards the truck and look more closely at the words sprayed across it in black paint. My eyes widen as I see the words damaged goods on the hood. My breath catches in my throat as I glance down at my glove covered arms. Someone knew. Someone knew what I had on my arms and I don't know how. But then my mind flashes back to the girl who had found me in the bathroom with a blade in my hand―Amber.
Chapter 23
“My father once told me that a man who cannot control his anger is one of two things: either he’s flippant and uncaring of the feelings and safety of others, or he has been pushed beyond reason, because someone he loves has been hurt. As I stare at the words on my truck, words that the girl I love has carved into her arms because of pain most of us can’t imagine, I am a man who has been pushed beyond reason, I am a man about to lose control.” ~Trey
“Tally,” I attempt to keep my voice as calm as possible, because she is not who I am angry with, “please take Bobby’s car and go home.” Her body is rigid with frustration and determination.
“I will say it one more time, just so we’re clear,” she takes a step closer to me causing her to have to tilt her head back a little further, “I am not leaving you.”
I’m seriously considering picking her up and putting her in the car. And, just as I’m taking a step forward to do just that, I hear my name.
“Trey!” I turn slowly, and as I do, I push Tally back behind me.
Carter Evans and his devout followers are making their way towards us. I nearly laugh when he stops a good twenty five feet away. Smart man, but still beyond stupid, if he thinks staying that far away is going to keep him safe.
“So good of you to save me the trouble of having to drag you out of the gym Carter,” I tell him calmly, “I do thank you for that.”
There’s something to be said for the type of rage that brings about calm behavior. It seems to terrify others more than a raging fit. I watch as the blood drains from Carter’s face. I begin to take slow measured steps towards him, and silently thank the group around him who are holding him hostage. Carter is a coward, but he’s also proud, which means that he won’t run while his friends are all standing here watching him.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that you are unhappy in your life,” I continue as I walk closer, “because you seem to have a death wish.”
“You must have me confused with your girlfriend,” he spews the words at me as if they are acid in his mouth.
“You see, there you go again, opening your mouth, and proving me right.” I’m standing less than a foot away from him now, and his eyes are beginning to betray the fear that is prancing just beneath the surface. “You want to die.” I say slowly, with punctuation after each word, and then I grab his throat before he even realizes what is happening. I drag him forward so that our faces are less than an inch apart and stare into his eyes. I want him to see death, to know what it looks like to stare into the face of someone who could kill him if it was what needed to be done. I wasn’t really going to kill him, not yet anyway. He had yet to physically harm Tally, though the emotional harm he and his cohorts had done, might actually be worse. But it would be easier to justify murder
if it was in defense of a victim. As it is, I cannot justify killing him, so I will settle for humiliating him as well as give him a physical reminder of why it would be unwise to continue to pick on my girlfriend.
“You are going to apologize to Tally,” I look back over his shoulder at the faces that watch in rapt attention and sick delight. Vultures, all of them, they look on as one of their own is being dealt with and, instead of jumping to his aide, they salivate at the mouth for the blood they hope is going to flow. I meet Amber’s eyes, as I say my next words, “And, since I can’t hit a girl you will take Amber’s punishment for her part in this.”
I release his throat. He takes a quick swing at me, but I quickly grab his arm and pull him forward and around wrenching his arm behind him. I pull up so that the arm is straining the shoulder and causes Carter to have to walk on his tip toes to relieve the pain. The fight is abruptly gone out of him, aside from cussing under his breath, and informing me that I would be sorry.
“You can’t prove I did anything,” he growls at me.
“I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone. I already know who did it.” I push him to his knees in front of Tally, and when he starts to struggle, I grab his hair in my hand, and pull until he is looking up at her.
“Apologize to her.” My voice is calm, despite the boiling fury building inside of me.
“You want me to apologize to her for trashing your truck?” He asks me through clenched teeth.
“No, I want you to apologize for what you spray painted across the hood of my truck.”
Carter’s eyes flick towards the truck, and then back to Tally, who is staring at me like I’ve grown a third head.
“I told you to go,” I remind her.
“And I told you I wasn’t leaving.” She crosses her arms across her chest, and then looks down at Carter.
“I didn’t paint those words, Amber did.” Carter’s voice is beginning to shake.
“And, I told you that you would be taking Amber’s punishment for her part in this, because I don’t hit girls.” I turn to look at Bobby, “Could you grab the pair of pliers out of the glove box in my truck please?” Bobby doesn’t even flinch, just goes and gets the pliers and brings them to me without a word. He’s watching the group behind me, making sure that no one decides to stick up for their leader.
“Now, you are going to apologize to Tally,” I tell Carter. “Or, I’m going to break your fingers one by one. Bobby could you please come hold his arm out for me?”
When Carter makes no move to apologize, I wrap the pliers around the knuckle of his ring finger on his right hand and begin to squeeze. I see the moment the pain registers on his face as sweat breaks out across his brow.
“Wait! Stop, okay I’ll apologize.”
I let up on the pressure, but I don’t remove the pliers from around his finger.
“I’m sorry Tally,” he tells her, and there is a slight smirk on his face. “I’m sorry that you’re in desperate need of attention, and so you tried to off, AHH!” The sick crunching sound of Carter’s knuckle buckling under the pliers is drowned out by his scream. I hear the gasps behind me, and the murmuring that follows, but tune it out as I stare down at the now broken Carter Evans.
“That was a dumb thing to say.”
He tries to jerk his arm back, but Bobby is holding it firm.
“You broke my damn finger, you jack ass,” he screams, and his voice is strained with pain.
“I told you that I would break your fingers one by one, did you honestly believe that I was bluffing?” I look up at Tally and feel my face soften at the sight of her. “Baby, please go home. Let me deal with this, and then I will come see how you are.”
I don’t think she is going to agree, but when she glances down at Carter’s crushed finger something in her eyes changes.
She nods slowly and her shoulders slump forward as exhaustion seems to wrap around her like a blanket. “Okay, but you had better come see me tonight.”
I watch as Nat takes her hand and they head to Bobby’s car. Apparently, Nat and Tally leaving is a cue to the group behind me, and they begin to head back to the gym, either because it’s not as interesting as they hoped, or they can’t stand the sickening crunch of bones. Whatever the reason, it’s fine with me. The fewer witnesses, the better.
Within a matter of minutes Bobby, myself, and Carter are the only three left in the parking lot, not even Amber had stuck around to back up her man.
“I told you once already that if you didn’t leave Tally alone that I would make sure you would never forget your high school years, that they would forever be branded on your skin. Had all you done was vandalize my truck I would have let it go, after all what other behavior can I expect from a child, but you had to bring my girl into it, that was your mistake.” I take the pliers from the broken finger and move onto the next and with a squeeze. I break that finger as well.
Carter slumps forward as he bites back a scream. His body is shaking with rage and pain and I imagine that if he had a gun he would probably shoot me.
“I’m tempted to break all of your fingers, because then you wouldn’t be able to hold any form of utensil, writing or otherwise, but I’m hoping two will get my point across. It’s your senior year Carter, try, and use what little brain cells you have left, and heed my warning, stay away from me and Tally. Leave her alone, completely. I won’t tell you again.” I release his finger and glance at Bobby. He releases Carter’s arm.
Carter climbs to his feet and takes a few steps back. His eyes meet mine briefly, and then drop to the ground.
“It’s not like I’ve physically harmed her man, you take things way too serious.”
“Are we clear Carter?” I ask, without acknowledging his ignorant statement.
“Yeah, we’re clear. Just stay the hell away from me.” He snarls, as he begins backing away.
Bobby and I stand silently watching, as he backs all the way to his car, and then climbs in.
“You think he’ll tell someone?” Bobby asks me.
I shake my head, “No, he’s not about to admit that he got dealt with. Even if he did, I won’t deny that I did it. There are many things that I will turn the other cheek about, but not when it comes to hurting Tally. She’s hurt enough for one life time.”
I look back at my truck and realize that I have no way to get to Tally’s house.
“I texted Nat, she’s coming back to pick us up. She said she just dropped Tally off.” Bobby must have read the look on my face when I glanced at my trashed vehicle.
~
“How are you?” I ask Tally, as we stand on her porch. By the time Natalie dropped me off at her house Tally was changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and was patiently waiting for me outside.
“Worried about you,” she admits, and the look on her face confirms her answer.
I pull her into my arms and close to my chest. “I’m fine. I’m sorry you had to see that, and I hope you know I would never hurt you.”
She pulls back and looks up at me, her brow furrowed and mouth tight. “I know you would never hurt anyone you didn’t think deserved it. Trey I know your character and I know you were just defending me.”
“I know, but I can’t deny that I have a temper and sometimes it’s hard for me to get a hold of it. I just don’t want you to ever be afraid of me.” I watch her face carefully looking for any contradiction in her body language or expression from her words. I don’t see any.
“I love you,” I tell her, as I lean down and kiss her lips gently. “You need to get some rest and I need to go cool off.”
She lays her head on my chest and wraps her arms around me tightly. “Thank you Trey.”
This time it’s my turn to pull back and look down at her, “For what?”
“For thinking I’m worth it.”
Chapter 24
“I live in this constant state of confusion. I’m grateful for Natalie and Trey, but at the same time, I hate that they must endure the crap that come
s with all my crap. Not only do they have to deal with my emotions, but now they are dealing with the prejudice and utter asshole-ness of those who just don’t know how to handle someone who is different. I’m so torn over wanting them, needing them in my life and yet I feel as though I am condemning them to a life they don’t deserve.” ~Tally
It’s Sunday; it’s been two days since Carter and his cronies destroyed Trey’s truck and humiliated me with my own words. I haven’t seen Trey, he’s been working, but he’s called and checked on me several times and each time he called, I had to bite my tongue to keep from crying or begging him to never leave me. Yes, I am just one big ball of warm fuzzies. In all honesty, I’m beginning to get on my own damn nerves.
I’ve debated going and visiting Candy, but I just don’t know if I can handle seeing her so weak and weary. So instead, I sit at my window and watch the wind blowing the trees and the world going on even as I am crumbling on the inside. My mom has checked in on me, and keeps asking about the dance, and I keep side stepping around the topic. My dad, well, he’s still being an ass, so I just pretend he isn’t here.
It’s just one of those days where I find myself with too much time to think, when I really don’t need to be thinking.
My phone rings and I answer it without bothering to check who it is.
“Hello,” I say.
“Tally?” Candy’s voice comes through the ear piece. She sounds off, as if she’s been stretched too thin, and I immediately know that something is wrong.
“Candy, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”
“Where is Trey?”
She uses his given name, and that’s when my stomach hits the ground.
“He’s working, why?”
“The hospital has been trying to get a hold of him. His,” her voice cracks and I hear her breath catch in her throat. This is so unlike Candy, and it’s beginning to really scare me.
