The Wanderer, page 9
“Sorry for not fitting into your schedule,” Lizzy replied coldly.
“No,” Joe ran his hand through his golden hair, “that came out wrong. I need to know if you’re okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Joe bit his lip and checked to see if anyone else can hear, “Professor Matthews called me and told me about what happened today. He said you missed all three exams. What the hell happened, Liz?”
“I don’t know,” she replied quietly.
“Were you sick?”
She shook her head.
“You can apply for an aegrotat and still have a shot.”
Lizzy’s eyes began to well up. “It won’t make a difference. Even if the aegrotats are accepted, I’d have a mark on my transcript and Oxford wouldn’t take me.”
“Oh, Lizzy.” He cupped her face, “What’s going on with you?” It felt so nice to be back in his embrace, but it didn’t make up for the confusion.
“Why are you being like this?” Lizzy removed his hands. “The things you said … not to mention this whole week. You pretended I didn’t exist. That hurt, Joe. Real bad.”
“I hated every second of it, Lizzy. But I was really cut up and just didn’t deal with it well at all.” They looked at each other and smiled simultaneously. “Anyway, we can put that all behind us now.”
There was intensity to his gaze that made Lizzy feel uncertain. She tried to back away but he pulled her close and brought his lips to hers.
She turned away, “Joe, what are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” He tried again and Lizzy felt so uncomfortable. This wasn’t what she wanted.
“Can you … just … just … stop for a moment.” She squirmed away from his hands and kept him at arms length. “Are you drunk?”
“No, I’m stone cold sober. I’ve been waiting for you to get here.” It was true. He didn’t smell of alcohol. He came towards her again but Lizzy fought his persistence.
“What are you doing?” he asked bitterly.
“Joe, I don’t want this.”
He pulled away and his expression immediately hardened. She could feel the fury coming off him. Finally, he erupted. “Are you kidding me? Jesus, Liz!”
“What have I done?”
“We can do this now.” His eyes seemed to plead and his voice broke a little.
“Do what?”
“Us!” He came back toward Lizzy and took her hand.
“Is this because I’m not going to Oxford?”
Joe didn’t say anything. He went to kiss her hand but she snapped it away.
“You’re thrilled I didn’t get in. You’re over the moon.”
Joe inched toward her, “It’s out of our way now.”
“I don’t believe you!” She was so shocked by his comment.
“Lizzy, it’s us now. No Oxford means another year together and this time we’ll do it right. How it’s always meant to be.”
“No. I don’t want this,” she gestured to the two of them, “I need a fresh start, I need change.”
“For Godsake, Lizzy! Stop pretending.” He was back in her space again. “Of course you want to be with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Why else would you have missed your exams? You realized that we’re meant to be together and that you couldn’t go through with Oxford so you didn’t show up and failed on purpose.”
“No. That’s not what happened at all.” Joe had created a scenario in his head but it was wrong. So wrong.
“Then why did you miss your exams?”
“I set my alarm and woke up three days later.” It sounded so delusional. “Look, I just can’t explain it. I don’t know why.”
“Yes you do! Just admit that you want us to be together.” He wouldn’t let his theory go.
“There’s nothing to admit!” Suddenly Joe punched the wall just to the side of Lizzy’s head. The impact left a hole and her breath got lost in her lungs from the fright.
As he lurked away, he left Lizzy with a foreboding stare and she was terrified of him.
“Are you alright? We saw the whole thing.” It was the couple Lizzy interrupted earlier in the bedroom. “Do you know that guy?”
“Not anymore,” she said stonily.
“Can we get you anything?”
“Yeah,” she replied, “a drink.” They helped her down the stairs and she saw her cup where she left it on the kitchen counter. Strange—it tasted saltier than she remembered. But she downed the whole thing and searched for another.
Lizzy was only two drinks in and already she couldn’t feel her cheeks. Kim continued making her “vodka sodas.” Lizzy had no idea where she put her denim jacket, but that was tomorrow’s problem. Right now everything was tomorrow’s problem. Including Oxford and scholarships and Joe. With her third drink to her lips Lizzy saw him on the couch getting cosy with some skinny blonde.
“Hey Kim!” Lizzy yelled over her shoulder, “Who’s that?” She pointed right at the girl, all social customs gone. Lizzy wanted to let him know he couldn’t scare her. He could punch as many walls as he wanted. She wasn’t going anywhere.
“No way! It can’t be …”
“Tell me who it is.”
“It’s that stuck up, fancy-pants Susanna.”
Lizzy finished her drink and slammed it down on a table. Joe caught her looking and started to play with Susanna’s hair. Lizzy held her ground and continued staring. Joe uped the stakes and brought his mouth to hers.
“Um. Lizzy … are you going to do something about that?”
“Nope,” she answered coolly.
“But she’s kissing your guy.” Kim rested her chin on Lizzy’s shoulder. She didn’t want to get into it so she suggested they get another drink.
“Are you sure, Liz? You seem like you’ve had quite a few.”
“Suit yourself.” Lizzy headed for the kitchen but Kim came dancing in behind her.
“Screw it. Let’s whip up some cocktails and head for the dance floor.” She grabbed Lizzy’s hands and gave her a twirl. Lizzy felt her stomach lurch and second-guessed her tolerance.
“Hold up. I think I need to go to the toilet.” She dashed to the bathroom and took a deep breath, head over the bowl. Nothing. It was simply dizziness. Perhaps she should take it easy. Lizzy looked up at the mirror and couldn’t believe how enormous her pupils were! They were like black basketballs even under the lights.
“What in the world …” She inspected them and splashed her face with water. When she looked up, Lizzy found Susanna’s refection behind her.
“Elizabeth Grace. Trying to wash away the pain, are we?”
“Excuse me?”
“It can’t be easy losing everything around you in one day. Your scholarship, your boyfriend, hell even that drab denim jacket.”
“How do you know about the scholarship? And Joe’s not my boyfriend!” She snapped back at her.
“Not anymore,” Susanna smugly replied.
“You know what princess, he’s all yours.”
She let out a high-pitched laugh that gave Lizzy goose bumps. “Are you kidding? He’s nothing but an insignificant plaything. Something to pass away the time.”
“Are you always such a bitch?”
“Only when it’s deserved,” she answered smoothly and picked at a polished nail.
“What have I done to you?” Lizzy was so exasperated by her bitterness but Susanna just rolled her eyes.
“How stupid can you be? You still have no idea?”
“Please, feel free to fill me in.”
“When will you realize you don’t belong here?” She said it with such conviction Lizzy almost believed her and it wasn’t the first time she’d heard it today. “But we all have to sit tight until you figure it out.”
“Figure what out?” Lizzy demanded.
“Hey! Ice bitch!” Lizzy saw Kim leaning up against the doorway. “Who invited you?”
“I was forced to come.” Susanna looked back at Lizzy with a glare.
“And now you’re being told to fuck off. Get the hell out of my house!”
“With pleasure.” Susanna pushed past and Kim asked if Lizzy was okay.
She tried to answer but her words came out slurring. Lizzy’s eyes felt heavy and she wasn’t sure she could trust her legs to keep her up.
“Lizzy, it’s our jam!”
“Hmm?” Suddenly they were dancing in the dark lounge to some ABBA song. She couldn’t make out the lyrics and nor could she make out anyone around her. The dark figures swirled around like shadows and everything felt lethargically delayed. Lizzy welcomed the sensation, from the fast-paced drama of the day. Without warning she was picked up and lifted onto the shoulders of an unknown male. Lizzy somehow managed to dodge the chandelier and the circle of shadows cheered at her fortuitous miss. They spun around in the lounge dominating the room like a maypole. So much for “not having a big night” she thought to herself. Lizzy felt her balance shift and fell back off the unknown male and into the arms of another.
“Thank you!” Lizzy shouted up at the face as he placed her on her feet. At least, she thought she said thank you. Lizzy felt dizzy and confused. Fresh air might sober her up.
“Kim?” She was lost in the shadows so Lizzy shouted to the crowd that she was going outside. The two strangers said they needed some air, too. They headed across the lawn, past the glowing lanterns and tents and out to the gate. Lizzy couldn’t focus on anything. But she could tell it was cold as she recognized her teeth were chattering.
“Would you like my coat, love?”
“Go on, Tommy. Give her your coat like a good gentleman.” They laughed at each other and Lizzy didn’t get what was so funny. A feeling of uncertainty grew as she noticed how far they were from the house.
“Or would you like something else?”
Lizzy tried to say something but nothing came out.
“Tommy will warm you up.”
She was so woozy from the alcohol but knew that his comment meant something else entirely. Too afraid to speak in case she slurred her words, Lizzy tried to walk away but the strength of the stranger’s grip told her she was nothing more than child’s play.
“There’s no need for that when we can have a party of our own.”
Panic emitted through her body. Now was the time to be stern.
“Ma … ma arm … gives et back.”
Lizzy cringed at her own voice.
“We’re just helping you stay on your feet.” He pulled Lizzy towards him and she tripped into his body. “Tommy, she can hardly stand. The slut’s had too much to drink.”
“Le’ me go!” Lizzy growled at the two figures. She knew she said that loud and clear.
“Now, now, there’s no need to get angry.”
“KIM!” She shouted in his embrace, “S’unone help!”
“Tommy, get her the fuck away from the house.” Lizzy was pulled down the lane and her feet stumbled over beer bottles. This can’t be happening.
She made babbled attempts to say ‘no’ and twisted her arms from his clasp. Her efforts were fruitless so she brought her mouth to his hand and bit as hard as she could. Lizzy’s teeth pierced his skin but she was kicked to the side of one of the parked cars.
“The bitch just bit me!”
Lizzy gasped and heaved from the force of a blow to her stomach. The alcohol counterfeited the pain but she knew it caused damage.
“Give her to me.” Hands gripped Lizzy’s shoulders and her back slammed on the hood of the car. She tried to get up to anything in reach but was bucked down again.
“Keep her down!” The words sent Lizzy into a frenzy of kicks and she screamed till her lungs gave out. But eventually, her body started to lose steam and it was enough to give them a chance to keep her legs steady. One of the men was on top of her and a mixture of dread and remorse filled Lizzy as she came to terms with the situation. She couldn’t speak or move—her body had given up. Tears rolled down the side of her face and she submitted to the inevitable.
Suddenly, headlights flashed over them and the screech of car brakes bewildered the figures. A door slammed and the figure on top of her tried to explain the scene. There must be another person. Lizzy tried to get up but her body felt like lead. She begged the newcomer to help her but her voice was unrecognizable. It shook terribly and choked for air. The figure said nothing. Lizzy’s heart sank. The men let out a sigh of relief and made a comment about joining in the fun.
As quick as lightning, the figure that made the suggestion got a kick to the face. His head rotated almost right around and blood and teeth ejected from his lopsided mouth. His knees gave way and he face-planted into the grass. The monster that was above Lizzy made a dash for it and his pants fell down in the process. The stranger caught up to him and grabbed him by the collar. In the distance Lizzy saw his head being pounded over and over again on the side of a parked car. The monster was a limp puppet but the stranger didn’t stop. He flung him into the middle of the road and stamped right on his exposed genitals. He moaned out like a dying hound, clutching his groin. The stranger shut him up with a kick to the face, which silenced him instantly. The figure stepped back and reshaped his hair with composure. He walked toward Lizzy and picked her up from the hood of the car. In reflex she squirmed from his arms but a familiar smell of pine needles and soap settled her. He delicately placed Lizzy in the passenger’s seat. It was warm and safe and she finally made out his face when he opened the door and the overhead light turned on. His beautiful gold-rimmed green eyes and chestnut hair were enough to distract her from the ordeal that just happened.
“Dean Desmond?”
“Put your seatbelt on,” he commanded.
Lizzy fumbled around for it but couldn’t figure out what to do.
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, “what have you taken?”
Her head flopped to the side and he opened up her eyes and swore.
“You’ve been drugged.”
He fixed her seatbelt as if she was a small child. Lizzy looked down at her fingers and noticed there was blood under her nails. He zoomed down the country lane and once they got to the end of the road he took a sharp left turn.
Despite Lizzy’s questions and confusion, she felt oddly safe and unconcerned about the direction they were going in. Partly because she was so out of it she didn’t really care.
“What happen’?”
Phillip didn’t say anything. He just focused on the road ahead.
“Are you ’kay?” Lizzy slurred and nestled into the side of the car seat, not really sure if Phillip could hear her. He clenched his teeth, exposing a firmly set jaw.
“You’re asking me if I’m okay? When you’re the one—” his tone was livid. “How did I let this happen?”
Lizzy asked herself the same question.
“Fuck!” He banged the steering wheel with his palm and the pound made her jump. “Elizabeth, are you alright?” His still didn’t look at her.
“Mmm,” she replied sluggishly, her head falling across her seatbelt.
“That self-pretentious …” Lizzy didn’t know whom he was talking about but it was clear they made Phillip’s most wanted list. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath.
“Try to get some sleep.” His instructions were gentle but she had too many questions to fall asleep.
“How’ds you know …”
“Please,” he begged, “please, just close your eyes and try to sleep.” Phillip’s voice was tender and Lizzy let her head fall back and tried to relax into the car seat. Surprisingly, her body gave in rather easily and her eyelids began to droop. The spinning stopped and the low hum of the sports car lulled Lizzy into a deep and absent sleep.
Lizzy woke to the smell of ginger. Everything hurt. Her head, her throat and there was a tight ache in her ribs. But where was the smell of ginger coming from? More importantly, where was she? Her eyes opened and she jumped in fright at the small girl sitting over her.
“Li Jing?!”
She put her index finger to Lizzy’s lips.
“What are you doing here? Where am I?”
Her brown eyes were wide and instructed her to be quiet. She thrust a steaming cup of tea in front of Lizzy’s face. She gave it a sniff and found the ginger’s source.
“What is it?”
Li Jing shook her head and placed the china cup to her lips.
“Wait, I—” as soon as she opened her mouth, she tipped the cup and the sweet tea warmed her belly and soul instantly. Li Jing took the cup away and sat quietly waiting for Lizzy’s approval.
“That is wonderful. What is it?” Her face broke into a grin and she put the cup to Lizzy’s lips again. She took another swallow. Although she appreciated her nursing, Lizzy wanted some answers. She tried to ask her where she was again but got nothing. Once she finished the cup, Li Jing placed it on the bedside table and pulled the curtains open. The daylight revealed the room’s splendor. It was beautiful. Lizzy’s eyes drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, framed with gold and deep red embroidered curtains. Dotted around the room was antique furniture. The wooden four-post bed she was in dominated the room and an old washbasin and china jug sat to the other side of the bed. Li Jing walked around the other side and poured warm water into the basin. She came back to Lizzy, turned the plush covers over and she realized she was in her underwear …who undressed her? Did she undress herself? Suddenly, the tiny girl lifted Lizzy under her shoulder.
“Thank you, Li Jing, but I can manage.” Li Jing looked up at her with a frown and persistently pulled Lizzy’s arm over her shoulder. For someone so small, she had impossible strength. Lizzy felt her ribs squeeze and winced in pain.
“Oh, geez!” She shuffled her to the basin, which emitted a hint of lavender. Li Jing steadied Lizzy and she thanked her for the assistance, which she clearly needed. Slowly, Lizzy bent from her hips, careful not to use her ribs and washed her face. Li Jing handed Lizzy a fluffy towel and placed some fresh clothes on the bed for her. She pointed to the clothes then gestured to Lizzy’s body and headed for the door.
