UNLoved: a bay falls high novel, page 3
He put his hand to his mouth and blew me a kiss.
I hurried to turn and get out of there before my mind and heart and other parts simply exploded.
I made it two steps before someone bumped into me.
It was some guy trying to snag a ball out of the air.
“Oh, fuck, are you okay?” he asked, eyes wide.
He was holding my arm.
“You barely touched me,” I said to him.
“Shit. Still. Sorry about that. Are you sure…”
I saw movement from the corner of my eye.
It was Pres.
With a fist.
Aimed for the guy who bumped into me.
* * *
I jumped back as Kip got out of the water.
“You okay?” he asked me.
“I’m fine. The dude bumped into me.”
Pres swung his foot and kicked the guy while he was down.
The guy started to thrash his arms and legs.
“Fuck you, Pres,” the guy yelled.
“Oh, shit,” Kip said.
I stepped forward and Kip grabbed my wrist. “Don’t.”
Barr joined the fun and kicked the guy in the ribs too.
“How’s that feel, Malcolm?” Barr yelled.
Pres stomped down on the guy - Malcolm’s - stomach.
Malcolm rolled into the sand, face down, but they weren’t done yet.
Barr pulled Malcolm to his feet and shoved him back.
Malcolm put his hands out. “Fine. Whatever. I didn’t do anything.”
“You ran right into her,” Pres yelled. “Look where the fuck you’re going.”
“It’s dark,” Malcolm said. “I was trying to catch a fucking ball.”
“Talking back, Pres,” Kip called out.
I elbowed Kip. “Seriously? The dude didn’t do anything wrong.”
Barr and Pres went after Malcolm again.
Pummeling him down into the sand with their fists and then using their feet to finish the job.
Kip touched my jaw and made me look at him. “He did something wrong. He touched something that wasn’t his. Mistake or not, girl. It doesn’t matter with us. Now you stay put here, I’ll be right back. I have to go join the fun.”
When Kip moved, I grabbed his arm. “I want you.”
“What?”
“I want you,” I said. “Stay here with me. I want you.”
I was doing anything to stop him. And to protect Malcolm. Who was someone I didn’t know at all.
Kip winked. “Knew I’d get you to say it.”
He pulled away, much stronger than me.
He got away and pushed between Pres and Barr.
“Oh, let me have my turn, fucker,” Kip said.
He let out a loud cheer and started to stomp on Malcolm too.
It was pure violence.
That was the only word that came to mind.
Violence.
Because of me.
Because some guy casually bumped into me by accident. And not only that, Malcolm stopped and asked if I was okay. And apologized. Totally harmless. But not to them.
They were the Rulz.
The beating lasted only a handful more seconds before as fast as it started it stopped.
Pres walked to me and stood tall over me.
“Don’t even ask if I’m okay,” I said to him.
Pres took my chin between his fingers like he always did. “I wasn’t going to.”
“I need a drink,” I said. “Am I allowed to do that or are you going to punch the person who gives me the drink?”
With a grin, Pres said, “That’s why I’ll get you your drink, sugar. You just relax. And enjoy the rest of the night. As you can tell, you have nothing to worry about tonight. Or ever.”
Pres winked and went back to the beatdown.
I had nothing to worry about?
No.
Pres was wrong again.
I had everything to worry about.
three
I was never good at math. And I was never good at magic. Trust me on both. The point of math was, well, pointless because everyone had a calculator on their phone or their phone itself could be used to look up anything. As far as magic went, there was a brief moment when I wanted to be a magician. So I saved up for a magic kit, got it, and tried out the tricks on Mom. She called out every secret of each trick and told me to find a new career.
But tonight… math and magic…
Somehow.
Someway.
I turned one little drink from a plastic cup… into… a lot.
A lot, a lot.
So much, so soon that what I had done at that other party (the one where Pres kissed me) looked like nothing.
I was feeling it.
Really feeling it.
Only because the images of the Rulz attacking Malcolm played through my head. And I couldn’t figure out why. Why it hit me the way it did. I had seen fights before. I watched as they beat up Denny because Denny made a few passing jokes about being with me. I even watched Kip fight up at the ditch. This was nothing new. This was nothing shocking.
But…
“Why don’t you let me take this?” Iris asked as she lifted the cup out of my hand.
“Hey,” I said. “That’s my drink, bitch.”
“Yeah, it is,” Iris said. She tossed the cup away. “Now it’s gone.”
“Hey, fuck you,” I said.
“You’re getting too far along here, Ti,” Iris said.
“What the fuck do you care? You love it like this, right? You want to see me like this.”
“Not like this,” Iris said. “Bad enough I’ve got Gi dancing around the fire like she’s never seen fire before.”
I giggled and snorted.
I stepped back and missed a step, which seemed to be impossible to do, but this fake wannabe princess was once again toppling down to her ass. Right down to the sand, falling to my back.
Distance was sort of my only friend.
Anytime one of the Rulz tried to come near me I casually found a way to slip away. Not that I could actually stay away from them for long. They would always catch up. And if they really wanted me for any reason, it would happen.
There was no escaping it.
But I tried.
Which went against my plan all the way.
I pointed to the sky and laughed.
“What are you doing?” Iris asked as she stood over me.
Making a quick move, I grabbed the inside of her left leg and squeezed. She let out a yell and tried to kick at me, laughing, but I had her.
Her leg bent and she was falling down to the sand too.
Of all people, right?
Me and Iris just hanging out.
Me tickling her.
Of course the douchebag perv guys at the fire were watching, praying for that moment when Iris and I would start to make out which would make all their stupid wet dreams come true.
Iris sat next to me, shaking her head. “You must be really wasted to want to be my friend like this.”
“You saw what they did, right?” I asked.
“Of course,” she said.
“That was because of me. That guy… Malcolm… he got his ass kicked…”
“That guy is a loser,” Iris said.
“Loser or not, be real…”
“I am real,” Iris said. “Look, when you’re dealing with the Rulz you need to pay attention. This isn’t a drink fest party. Or a find someone to hook-up with party. Or throw a ball around and jump in the sand party.”
“Then what is it?” I asked.
“An excuse to have you near them,” Iris said. “Or just to see who would listen to them. Nobody knows what they’re thinking. Or why they do what they do.”
“Oh I know why they’re doing what they’re doing,” I said.
Iris and I stared at each other.
She let out a sigh. “What were you pointing at in the sky?”
“You have to get next to me,” I said. “On your back.”
“We’re going to make all those guys hard,” Iris said.
“Good. Then they can go into the water and chill the fuck out.”
Iris laughed.
When she was next to me on the sand, I pointed up to the same spot. “Right there.”
“What?”
“Those stars.”
“Seriously? We’re watching stars together? Exactly who do you want to sleep with?”
“Actually… nobody. How’s that for an answer?”
“That’s bullshit, Ti,” Iris said.
“Just shut up. I thought it looked funny.” I waved my finger like I could draw and connect lines between the stars. “It looks like…”
“Wow,” Iris said. “That’s where your mind is? You’re looking at that in the sky when you have three of those that want you. Instead of drawing a line with your hand, you could touch the real thing.”
“It was a joke, Iris,” I said as I hurried to sit up.
“It never is,” she said.
“Oh, look, I suddenly feel sober enough to tell you how much I don’t like you. You can never just turn the stupid bitch meter down, can you?”
“It ran out of batteries two years ago and I never changed them.”
“I’d rather dance around a fire with Gi.”
“Only because you’re afraid of the truth.”
“Fuck you,” I said.
I tried to get to my feet gracefully but that wasn’t happening. Taking a ten minute breather from drinking didn’t make the rest of the night go away.
Iris was able to stand up much quicker.
“Don’t play that fucking game with me,” she said.
“What game?”
“You know it’s going to come down to one of them,” she said. “There’s no other choice. You think you’re going to lead them on and fuck with them? I don’t believe it for a second. I never did. You’re not an attention whore but you like what’s happening here.”
I laughed. “Wrong again, Iris.”
“Why?”
I shook my head and backed away.
I waved a middle finger at her and turned to go back to Claire’s.
Fuck this fake party thing.
Iris wasn’t having it though.
She chased me right down and got in my face.
“Don’t walk away, Ti.”
“Too late.”
“Don’t be weak.”
“Weak? You and Gi freeze up when they’re around. Why’s that? Huh? What makes you so afraid of them?”
Iris curled her lip. “Where’s the bitch who owned those assholes earlier?”
“You saw what they did,” I said. “I’ve been trying to get that out of my mind. And it’s not working. So now I’m drunk and I still can’t stop picturing it. All because someone bumped into me. They’re crazy. Fucking crazy.”
“So are you,” Iris said.
“Get out of my face,” I said.
I pushed Iris.
“Fight!” someone yelled.
Which was the last thing I needed.
Iris grinned and shoved at my shoulders.
I stumbled more than I should have.
“Bring it… bitch,” Iris said.
I grinned too.
Everyone wanted to see a fight.
I wasn’t going to fight her. She wasn’t going to fight me.
But since everything else was all forced and made up… why not this?
When I made my move to run after her, Kip appeared between us, his hands gently touching my shoulders.
“Whoa, girl,” he said. “What the hell is this?”
I sidestepped and saw Pres and Barr standing on each side of Iris.
“We were just messing around,” I called out. “Having fun. It’s a fucking party.”
Iris stepped back to get away. The bitch went back to the fire, back to Gi, who grabbed her hands and started making her dance.
“Fighting your own friends now, sugar?” Pres asked.
“Hardly a friend,” I said. “Were you going to beat her up too?”
Pres smirked. “Worried about Malcolm, huh?”
“I just don’t get it.”
“You don’t have to, girl,” Kip said. “Now… how about another drink?”
“Fine,” I said.
“I’ll get it for you, love,” Barr said. “Then maybe we can all go for a walk along the beach. Show you some places that are secret around here.”
I laughed. “Sure thing. You know all the right things-”
One step forward and I felt like my ankle jumped out of the side of my foot.
Who the hell twists their ankle trying to walk in the sand?
Me.
So for the night I had fallen down the stairs at Claire’s. Fallen down into the sand. And now twisted my ankle.
More than that, when I twisted my ankle, the pain that went through my entire leg was enough to make me scream and claw for help. My left hand grabbed Kip’s right hand. My right hand grabbed for Pres’s shirt.
“What the hell just happened?” Barr asked.
“Twisted my ankle,” I said.
“Broken?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’m not a fucking doctor.”
Barr lunged forward. He put his hands to my hips and I sucked in a breath.
Heat flooded my entire body.
Surrounded by them… the Rulz…
All the drinks I had had were now playing deadly games with my mind and my heart.
“Here, lower her down to the sand,” Barr said.
He bent his knees and pulled at my hips.
His grip so tight. His grip so commanding. His grip so protective.
Kip and Pres held my arms as I slowly sat back down to the sand with my right leg sticking out.
“Hey, sorry, uh, mind if we talk now?”
I looked up and saw Brando and Maverick standing near Kip.
“Shit, what happened to her?” Maverick asked.
“I’m asking her to fucking marry me,” Barr said. “You’re ruining my moment?”
“Uh…,” Maverick’s eyes were wide.
“He’s fucking around,” Kip said. “What the fuck do you want?”
“You said to come find you,” Brando said.
“We did say that,” Pres said. “Fair enough.”
“I’m good here with her,” Barr said. “You know my take on the game. I don’t give a shit. Pick somewhere everyone agrees on.”
Pres crouched down and touched my chin. “I think you’re better off your feet tonight, sugar.”
“Very funny.”
“I wasn’t being funny.”
Pres leaned and brushed his lips to my cheek.
The smell of his cologne washed over me heavier than the ocean waves.
He stood up and stepped over me.
Kip looked down at me and blew me a kiss.
They walked away with Brando and Maverick.
Leaving me alone with Barr once again.
“I’m always saving your ass, aren’t I?” he asked me.
“I can walk home just fine,” I said. “In fact, I’m done with this party.”
“Yeah, me too,” he said. “Let me help you home.”
“Not a chance,” I said.
Iris’s voice went through my head. Saying I had to choose one of them. Which was a lie. There was no choosing at all. This wasn’t a game for me. For them, it was. They wanted to get something from me that wasn’t there. Something they couldn’t see, touch, taste, and something no amount of money could buy.
“Let’s see this, love,” Barr said.
He stood up and lit a cigarette.
I was screwed.
My head swirled and the beach was wavy thanks to the drinks. And now my right ankle was a little messed up. But I had to do it. I have to prove to myself and to Barr that I could walk my ass home and end this night.
In repeat fashion I climbed to my feet again.
I stood there, hiding the fact that I wasn’t putting any weight on my right ankle yet. I knew I was swaying. I hated myself for drinking what I did. All because of them.
“See?” I asked. “I’m better than perfect.”
I turned and put weight on my right ankle.
“Nope,” I whispered as I put my right hand out as though there was some magical wall waiting for me.
There was no wall.
Just the open beach.
Which meant I was going to fall into the sand again.
Except…
Barr caught me.
The smell of his smoke wrapping tightly around me. His hands with a firm grip as he swung me off my feet, cradling me in his arms.
I looked at his honey gold eyes.
He had caught me.
And his warning from earlier played in my head.
If he caught me… he wasn’t going to let me go.
* * *
“They’re still having drinks, love,” Barr whispered to me. “That’s how these deals go down.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked as Barr carried me along the side of Claire’s perfectly manicured shrubs and long house.
“Yeah. You try to out drink the person,” Barr said. “Get them loosened up to agree to something. There’s a loser in every deal. No matter what. Nothing is ever equal. There is no fair when it comes to this stuff.”
For a second I wasn’t sure if Barr was talking about his parents or about me and the Rulz.
Which proved the point home even more.
They were powerful. All three. I was just some girl. The new girl. The dirty, poor girl. The girl with the junkie for a mother.
“I think I can take it from here,” I said as Barr finally reached the front of the house.
Him carrying me was kind of nice. I put my arms around his neck just to make sure I didn’t fall out of his arms. Not that it was possible. He was big, strong, with a tight hold on me.
“I’m taking you to bed, love,” he said.
He spoke so casual, knowing exactly what he had just said.
My cheeks turned red because I couldn’t help it.
Barr swung me around so I could punch in the code to open the front door.
I laughed.
I didn’t mean to laugh. But I laughed.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“This entire thing,” I said. “This is all fucking crazy, Barr.”
“Yeah, it’s one hell of a moment here, huh?” he asked.
“Something like that,” I said.
