I watch him leave, not sure what’s going on.
Kelsoe points to Andrew. “This will be bad. Just watch.” He turns to me and sneers.
Who the fuck does this guy think he is? “Chill out. I’m not staying.”
“You already stayed the night, and you look pretty comfortable.”
My eyes shoot to Andrew. “I slept the whole night? You didn’t wake me?” I jump up. “What the fuck, Andrew?”
He shrugs. “You were tired. And you can call me Drew,” he says.
“So, Lenny.” Kelsoe says my name like he knows it’s a lie. “I asked around about you. Your boss at the grocery store had plenty to say, Alena Marshall. Homeschooled and an only child.”
Andrew laughs. “Aw, she lied about her name. I kind of liked Lenny.”
I move forward, getting right in Kelsoe’s space. “You had no right. My life is none of your business. You need to back off.”
“You come here, to my home, with your lies. Little homeschooled girl with a stepdaddy. Is that why you ran away? You mad your parents got divorced?”
I narrow my eyes, and he laughs. My hands ball into fists, itching to make contact with his arrogant mouth.
He licks his lips, revealing a neon green tongue ring. “The only place a bitch has here is on her knees. What you say, Red? You going to be kneeling?”
Andrew’s eyes widen. “Fuck, Kelsoe, what’s your problem?”
“She needs to go home,” he says, not taking his eye off me. “Mommies and Daddies split up, sweetheart. It happens every day.”
Chris places his hand on Kelsoe’s shoulder. “You should probably go cool off.”
He shrugs it off, backing up towards the front door. “Fuck you guys. She’s all yours. Her mistakes are on you.” Kelsoe turns and storms out the house.
“Lenny, he’s just pissed you have tits.”
“What the fuck?” I scrunch my nose up at Andrew’s weird reasoning. My chest rises and falls rapidly. Kelsoe’s words have affected me. He’s not that far off. Things at home weren’t so bad when my parents were together, and I am pissed that I have a stepdad. Big deal that I have to pay rent. At least I have my own room there. I’ve seen kids that have it way worse.
“He has issues with women. Ignore him and stay. I don’t think it’s a coincidence you’re here,” Chris says.
“Definitely stay, Lenny.”
“Why would I stay? That’s weird, guys. You’re just offering a stranger a bed?”
“That’s what this place is.” Andrew points to Zack who’s sitting at the table on his phone. “Zack needed a safe place, so we took him in. His parents are shit, but that’s a story for another time. I’ve been friends with Kelsoe since first grade, but I came to live here permanently about four years ago.” He nods to Chris. “Chris and his older brother, Adam, came to stay about two years ago. There are a couple others that live here too. This is a safe place for people who need it, and I think you do.”
Andrew takes my hand away from my mouth. I was chewing on my nail again. It’s a hard habit to break. The word ‘safe’ gets to me. That’s where Kelsoe’s wrong. My house isn’t safe. David uses any excuse to hit me. He hits my mom too, but she stays.
“What do you say, Lenny?”
“What’s the catch?”
Andrew frowns. “Huh?”
“What do the people that stay here have to do? Sell drugs or something? I’m not selling anything, and I don’t have any money.”
Chris clears his throat. “Nobody sells drugs. We all help gardening, cleaning, cooking, building. Bob owns a construction company. Most of us work there so we can pitch in financially. Ramsey works at a tattoo shop—”
“He runs that shop and’s in the process of opening his own,” Andrew cuts in.
“True,” Chris agrees. “Ramsey has mad skills. He’s been drawing since before he could walk. Kelsoe’s got the construction gig down ’cause his dad used to drag him around while working. Kelsoe doesn’t do the building part anymore. He mostly makes sure everything is running smoothly. I work construction part-time, and Kelsoe and I run a side business.”
“What Kelsoe says is true. I have a mom, stepdad, and a room. I’m not like an orphan or anything.” And I’m better off on my own.
Chris chuckles. “We all have parents. No immaculate conception here.”
“If your home isn’t safe, then stay,” Andrew says.
“This is crazy. Where would I even sleep?”
“The main house has an extra room, or you could crash on my couch.”
“I would have my own room? Lock on the door?”
Andrew grins. “Of course. Let me show you.”
≈≈≈
I’m in the blue house; it’s what they call the main house and where Bob, Kelsoe, and Zack sleep. I didn’t see much of it as Andrew led me to the room I’m in now. Lying in an extremely comfortable full-sized bed, I stare up at the white ceiling. I roll onto my side and stare at the white wall. The dresser is gray, but some of the paint is chipped at the corner, revealing purple. A black lamp sits on top.
I roll onto my back again. I’ve been lying in this bed thinking about what I should do since I got to this room hours ago. My first thought was to leave out the window and not look back. Something's stopping me.
A knock at the door sounds, and I wait for the person on the other end to try the doorknob. Another knock. I reluctantly get up from the bed. I don’t want to see anyone, and I didn’t want to leave the comfort of that bed. I take a breath before swinging the door open. Andrew’s on the other side.
“Just wanted to tell you, feel free to get anything from the kitchen.” His eyes soften, and he smiles. “You doing okay?”
He looks like he genuinely cares. “I’m fine,” I say a little too harshly.
He backs away “I’ll let you rest.”
I close the door, locking it before lying back down and going over my options again. Face David, keep running and eventually face David, or stay here? If I stay here, word will get out, and David will show up. I’m going to have to face him eventually, and if I keep putting it off, I’m going to make him even angrier. Looks like there’s only one option.
With my bag over my shoulder, I climb out the bedroom window. I sneak through the yard, hoping I don’t get caught, which is stupid. I roll my eyes and straighten. I don’t need to feel whatever I’m feeling right now. Guilt, maybe? I push it down.
“I knew it.”
“Shit!” I whirl around with my hand over my heart. “Andrew, fuck. You can’t sneak up on people like that.”
“Why, Lenny? Why won’t you stay?” Andrew asks, sounding defeated. His shoulders are slumped, and his lips are pulled down.
The guilty feeling rises, threatening to make me feel bad for this person I barely know.
“You know.” I shrug. “I have a mommy and a stepdad who I’m sure are missing me so much.” I smile. “Like Kelsoe said, I’m just a spoiled little bitch. I need to go.”
“Bullshit.”
I sigh. “I’ll just bring trouble.” I tug on a lock of my hair. Might as well be honest. Maybe Andrew will back off. “My stepdad, David, thinks I owe him two hundred bucks. If I don’t go, he’ll come here.”
“David can’t hurt you here,” Chris says from behind me.
I turn to face him. “No, but he can make me leave. I’m only seventeen.”
Chris shrugs. “He can’t make you leave. We’ll handle him.”
I laugh. “I don’t need you to handle my problems, and why do you want to? You don’t know me.” I cross my arms over my chest.
Chris mimics my movement. “You telling me that if you had extra space for someone to crash who needed it that you’d turn them away? Would you turn Zack away if he landed on your doorstep bloody and broken?”
I uncross my arms. “Of course, I wouldn’t turn him away. So, that’s all this is? You’re trying to be nice guys, helping people? Are you willing to risk what you have here on me? I’m a minor. If David
calls the law, I’m gone, and someone here will be getting in trouble for harboring a runaway.”
Chris rubs his jaw. “How long until you’re eighteen?”
“September fifth.”
Chris shrugs. “That’s less than two months away.”
Andrew drapes his arm over my shoulder. “My birthday’s September first. I’ll be eighteen too. Kelsoe’s is at the end of August, but he’ll be nineteen. Crazy our birthdays are so close. We can all celebrate together.”
I step out of his hold, briefly wondering if we went to the same school when I was enrolled. “So, you see, if he finds out I’m here, he can make me leave.”
Chris nods. “And the state can place you into a group home or a foster family. I get it. I know the drill. Not a problem. Like I’ve been saying, you are safe here. I promise. You’ve seen your room, but let Drew show you the rest, then make your choice.”
“Quit pressuring her. She doesn't wanna be here. You’re all drooling over a nice ass. It’s pathetic.”
I want to roll my eyes to the back of my head. That asshole is relentless. He really hates me. I turn around to face him.
Kelsoe’s eyes are narrowed and trained on me. “Let her leave.”
“So, she can end up like my sister?” Chris says.
Kelsoe stops walking. His fists clench at his side.
“My mom’s boyfriend beat my sister to death, Lena. She’s dead, and that’s what will happen to you if you leave.”
Fuck. That’s not fair. He’s using his dead sister. I look to Kelsoe ready for him to give me an out. His eyes cut to me, hatred burning in them, and then he turns around and walks off. Just my luck.
“Sorry about your sister,” I whisper.
“So am I. Let Drew show you around.”
Andrew smiles at my defeat.
I roll my eyes as he leads the way.
Chapter 5
Andrew holds his arms out wide. “This beautiful property here is what we call the compound.” He gives me a serious look. “Only a selected few are allowed. Always ask permission before bringing someone new.” I give him a tight smile, and he continues. “First, you have to meet two important members of our family.” He winks. “Pepper and Karma.”
His flirty grin has my stomach twisting. Andrew is a hottie, a very clean hottie. I can totally picture him modeling for, well, anything. Unlike Kelsoe who looks like a gang member. Kelsoe’s got this “I don’t give a fuck” vibe that I’ll admit is hot. He probably has women dropping their panties at his feet. Chris has a similar vibe, but he’s not a dick.
“Hello, Earth to Lenny.” Andrew waves his hand in front of my face. “You listening?”
With my hand behind my back, I tug at a piece of hair. “Spaced out for a second.”
“S’okay. Anyways, Kelsoe’s had Karma for ten years and Pepper for three. The dogs are family. Loyal.” He grins. “Just like all of us here.”
He cups his hands around his mouth and calls both their names. The dogs come running over from the woods to sniff at my feet. The brown one is the first to start licking my hand.
“That’s Pepper. He’s a little more friendly than Karma.”
As if on cue, the black one, Karma, backs away from me.
Andrew bends down, stroking the fur on Karma’s back. “It’s okay, boy. She’s a friend,” he tells the dog. He stands, brushing nonexistent dirt from his designer jeans. “They won’t mess with you now that they’ve met you.”
I run my hand through Pepper’s soft fur. His tongue hangs out the side of his mouth, and his eyes close. He looks harmless. Karma slowly approaches and then lets me run my hand over his head a few times. He seems wary. I get it. It’s not smart to trust people right away.
“The property goes for about two acres in every direction from here. I think Bob said it’s ten acres total.” He rubs the top of Karma’s head before pointing towards the gravel road. “There’s a chicken coop up there. We lock ’em up at night, but they free range during the day. The dogs chase off any predators. You could pitch in by checking for eggs.”
“I’m going to earn my keep by collecting eggs?” I hold back a laugh.
Andrew doesn’t hold his back. “That and other things. Come on. I’ll show you the garden. It’s a work in progress. You know anything about gardening?”
“Nope. I’ve never even had a plant. Sorry,” I reply as we head towards the back of the blue house.
“That’s okay. We have some books if you wanna learn. We’ve kinda been putting it off. The goal is to produce a good portion of our food.”
“Really?” I scrunch my nose up at Andrew.
He gives me a lopsided grin. “Really. What?”
“I don’t know.” I look him up and down. “You’re so clean. I don’t see you getting dirty, and Chris and Kelsoe are,” I tap my chin, “let’s just say that they don’t look like the gardening type.”
Andrew laughs. “Maybe, but hey, at least we’re trying something new.” He shrugs. “Better than never trying. And last year, we had snap peas and tomatoes to last a while.” He rubs his neck as we stop in front of a wide patch of dirt. “We kinda put it off this year.” He points to the far corner where a row of vines climbs up netting attached to poles. “The snap peas are going strong. We determined those were the easiest to grow.”
I stare at the pathetic garden and try not to laugh. I don’t think there’s much helping this, at least not by me.
“Maybe after I graduate next year, I’ll have more time to work on it.”
“You’re still in school? I was wondering when you mentioned your age.”
“Yep, and I’m the quarterback of the football team,” he says proudly. “What about you? You drop out? I haven’t seen you there.”
“I don’t go. You the only one here in school?”
“Yeah, just me. Everyone else dropped out or graduated already. Except for Zack. Not sure what’s going to happen in August with that.”
I shift my weight from side to side. “What’s next on the tour?”
He points to a small structure that’s situated under a group of trees. The dark green wooden walls blend in well with the surroundings. The roof is black, and the windows are lined with black trim.
“That’s Adam West’s house, Chris’s brother. You might want to avoid it; he’s kinda a whore.” Andrew pauses and looks me up and down with a smirk. “Unless you're into that, Lenny.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll avoid the whorehouse.”
Andrew waves me on. “Follow me to Ramsey’s place.”
Ramsey’s house is situated in the woods, several yards behind Andrew’s. I remember seeing part of it when I first arrived. It’s more extravagant than the others with floor-to-ceiling windows along one side and a screened-in porch on the front.
“Wow. This is amazing.”
“Ramsey’s constantly upgrading his place. He doesn’t like to sit still. Ramsey’s a little crazy but in a good way.” He laughs. “He kinda looks like a real-life giant. He’s a couple inches taller than Kelsoe, and he’s built like a motherfucker. He’s got all this curly brown hair. It looks a little wild, but it suits him. Ramsey Romero is not one to fuck with.
“Where’s he at?”
“Work. He loves working or should I say drawing ’cause that’s what he does.” He scoffs. “He loves tattoos; he’s covered in ’em.” Andrew points to another log cabin home close by. “That’s Tyler’s, but Chris has taken it over since Ty’s in college.” Andrew stops walking and looks at me with a smile. “So, whatcha think about it so far?”
“This place is…interesting.” My forehead wrinkles as something occurs to me. “Only boys stay here?”
“Yep, not that we have anything against girls. We just haven’t come across any that needed help.” He smacks his forehead. “I forgot to show you the garage.” He points to the metal building near the road. “That’s where we keep the bikes that Kelsoe and Chris fix up. If you ever need a tool, that’s the place to look.”
&
nbsp; “Tools. Got it.”
“Last stop is the river.” He points to the area on the property where the trees are the thickest. “Follow me.”
I do, and he leads me to the end of the property. The drop down to the river is about fifty feet. I notice the metal skiff next to a tree.
“How do you guys get the boat up and down?”
“Pulley.” He points to wires and metal attached to a tree.
“Okay. How do you guys get down?”
“The ladder.”
Sure enough, there’s a rope ladder anchored into the dirt. It’s long enough that it reaches the rocky riverbank. Even if I would have followed the river down this far, the houses are far enough back that you wouldn’t see them from the bank.
“I think this is the coolest part of the tour,” I tell him. Having property on the river has always been a dream of mine.
Andrew grins. “Yeah? Does that mean you’ll stay?”
I sigh. “Listen, I get why you want me to stay.” I roll my eyes. “You think I need help or something.” I look him in the eyes. “But tell me why I would want to stay when I’m completely free out there.” I point towards the river. “There’s nobody to answer to or to tell me what to do. Out there, there are no rules. I can just be me.”
Andrew nods and then shakes his head. “You’re wrong. You’re forced to hide because of the actions of others. That’s not free; that’s confined.”
I narrow my eyes, staring at him like he just cut me wide-open without me realizing he had a knife. I laugh nervously feeling weirdly mixed up. “Let’s just agree to disagree. Honestly, if you want to risk it, I’ll take the bed and food, but I will be saying I told you so when David or the law is knocking at your door.” My stomach sinks at the decision to stay. It’ll just be for a few days, I tell myself.
Drew picks me up, hugging me to his chest. “I knew you’d choose to stay.”
He even smells clean. Like fresh rain with a hint of mint. I laugh and shove him away. “Get the fuck off me.” I give him a lazy smile. “Don’t get attached, Drew,” I say, using the name he asked me to. “This is temporary. I won’t be staying in Neverland with you Lost Boys forever.” Despite trying not to, I like Andrew. I don’t want either of us getting hurt when I leave. Better to set him straight now.
Found by the Rivers Page 4
