by Bella Jewel
Flick.
I feel a tug at my heartstrings. When I was younger, I decided I didn’t like Alarick. It was too much of a mouthful, so I started calling him Flick. It stuck, and everyone knew him as that. I just didn’t know he still kept it. I always figured once I left, and after everything that went down between us, the last thing he’d want was to be called Flick.
A name the girl who left and broke everything gave him.
“I never meant to hurt him, but things were out of control and Mom died, and I just couldn’t cope. He and I, we were in a bad place and it was making everything so much harder.”
“Fair enough, but you could’ve at least left him a number to call you on. Not just disappeared without a trace.”
“Did he ever look for me, Cohen? Because I’m fairly certain he didn’t. I’m certain that he let me disappear without a trace,” I whisper, my voice hurt. “I wasn’t the only one let down.”
Cohen nods. “Look, it’s none of my business. I’ll help you with Magnolia, but when it comes to Flick, I’ll be stayin’ out of it.”
“I respect that,” I say, giving him a weak smile. “So, you said Magnolia was running with some shady people. How shady are we talking here?”
“They’ve been a problem in this town for a while now, and we’ve been doin’ our best to sort it out, but Magnolia and her friends have been spending a good deal of time with them. I am certain Magnolia was chasin’ after the top dog there for a while, I don’t know, but she is definitely hanging with the wrong crowd.”
I exhale. “Then the sooner I find her and get her out of it, the better. I haven’t heard from her, though, and I’ve been unable to get through to her. I don’t know where to find her, or even to start looking.”
“We’ll start at that house, go from there. Someone will know where she is. She’s probably just hangin’ out somewhere, we just have to find out where.”
I nod, glancing down at my tea. “Well, thanks for helping me out, I appreciate it.”
I look back up at him and just as I do, the front door opens and Alarick walks through. His stride is determined and a little angry. He barges in like he owns the place, but the moment he sees me, he comes to a complete halt and his anger turns to outright rage. “What the fuck?”
Cohen is already standing. “Calm down, Flick. She had nowhere else to stay.”
“She shouldn’t fuckin’ be here.”
“It’s my place, my call,” Cohen throws back at him, his voice stern. “You got an issue with her, I don’t.”
Alarick’s face tightens and his eyes slowly move toward me. I hold his gaze, glaring at him because damn him. Damn him for acting like I wasn’t here when I went into his studio today and damn him for acting now like I don’t exist at all. I don’t deserve to be treated like this. If he has a problem with me, then he needs to say it, otherwise he needs to stay the hell away from me. It’s a fairly simple choice.
I have enough to worry about.
“Oh, you’re going to look at me now?” I mutter, crossing my arms.
“I have nothin’ to say to you, Briella. You shouldn’t be here, you don’t belong here, and you’re not welcome.”
“Says who? You? You’re the only one. Everyone else doesn’t have an issue with me being back.”
“Leave,” he grinds out, taking a step forward.
“Fuck, calm down, Prez. This doesn’t need to get ugly,” Cohen says, stepping around the couch to get closer to Alarick. “She’s here lookin’ for Magnolia, then she’s leavin’. I told her I’d help her. Doesn’t need to bother you.”
“Magnolia is a fuckin’ wreck and chooses to be that way, she’s wastin’ her time.”
“I’m right here!” I cry out, standing. “You could at least speak to me.”
Alarick swings those deadly eyes back to me and growls, “Magnolia is a fuckin’ wreck. You’re wastin’ your fuckin’ time. Go home.”
“She’s my sister, I’m not leaving until I’ve made sure she’s okay.”
“She’s choosin’ her life.”
“This ain’t helpin’ anyone,” Cohen says, putting a hand up. “Bri isn’t leavin’, Flick. You can’t make her. Best if you avoid contact until she’s found out what she needs to.”
Alarick looks to Cohen, and growls, “You know how I feel about her.”
“I know.” Cohen nods. “I fuckin’ know, but she’s my family too and I’m not goin’ to kick her out because you two have issues. Gotta respect that I’m makin’ my own mind up about this.”
“She doesn’t come to the club, she doesn’t come to my studio, she stays the fuck away from me. Clear?”
My heart aches at his words. It feels like it’s slowly sinking down into my chest.
“Clear,” Cohen agrees, his voice rough.
“We need to talk outside,” Alarick growls at him, then turns and storms out.
“Well,” I exhale softly. “This is all going very well.”
Cohen looks to me. “It’ll be okay.”
Then he follows Alarick out the door.
I very much doubt that.
“BRIELLA, IS THAT YOU?”
I narrow my eyes at the girl sitting in the corner of the café, and then smile when I realize it’s Karen.
Karen was Alarick’s first girlfriend, and they were together for a few months before he dumped her after receiving the attention from way too many gorgeous girls. Not that Karen isn’t gorgeous, he just wanted to see what other options he had. Typical young male.
“Karen?” I beam, walking over. “You’re still in town!”
She laughs and stands, “I am, crazy I know.” She throws her arms around me. “I never thought I’d see you back here.”
I roll my eyes dramatically. “Me either. I’m here to find Magnolia, have you seen her about?”
Karen purses her lips. “Actually, I did see her a little while ago. She was hanging out with this guy, I forget his name, but I think it’s like Brad or Brock, something like that. They were fighting on the street, and he kind of grabbed her and pulled her into his car. That was the last I saw her. I don’t know where she’s living, but I did let her friend Phoebe know when I saw her in town. So hopefully she checked on her. Have you not heard from her?”
“Not for a few weeks,” I mumble. “I’m worried something has gone wrong. It’s not like her to at least send me a text. She’s usually really good with checking in. Do you think that man she was with could have done something to her?”
Karen’s face goes a little pale and she looks worried. “Oh, gosh, I didn’t think of that. I thought they were just having a fight. I thought it was her boyfriend. I should have said something ...”
“No, no, it’s not your fault, Karen. I just worry she’s gotten herself into some trouble. You don’t happen to know where she works? Or even where he works? By chance?”
“I know she works just out of town at a butcher. I can give you the directions. I don’t know where he works, but I do know he’s friends with a guy I know, I can give you his number and maybe you can track him down? I’m happy to help, I’m not working at the moment and need something to distract me.”
“That would be amazing.”
“Have you caught up with Alarick since you’ve been back?”
I snort, shaking my head. “Alarick and I aren’t on speaking terms.”
“Really?” she frowns, pursing her lips. “That’s so weird. I always thought you two were super close.”
“We were once, until I left. He wasn’t happy about it. It’s a long story.”
“Oh. Makes sense. Though he doesn’t tell me much so I wouldn’t know. You know what he’s like. A silent man.”
“You still see him?” I ask, shocked.
I didn’t think Karen still had anything to do with Alarick since they broke up when they were just teens.
“Here and there,” she says, rolling her eyes but I can see the hurt in her face. “When he’s looking for a good time.”
Oh.
“You should tell him to go find it somewhere else; you’re way better than to be someone’s booty call.”
She smiles at me. “Sit, have a coffee, it seems we have a great deal of catching up to do.”
I shrug, happy to oblige, and sit. We get chatting about our lives and how they’ve gone in the past five years. I tell her about a man I was seeing for three of those five years, but I broke up with him a couple of months ago. He didn’t take it well, but it was for the best, especially since I’ve got Rupert now. Nobody needs to be hung up on me while I’m dealing with that.
“So you’re single and ready to mingle?” she wiggles her brows. “You know there are a good deal of hot guys around this town. Especially in that club of Alarick’s ...”
I chuckle. “I don’t think so. Those men ... they’re like my brothers. Sort of. Uncles maybe?” I laugh. “I don’t know. I’m staying with Cohen at the moment. Until I can find Magnolia.”
“Ohhh, Cohen. Isn’t he lovely?”
“He’s not too bad.”
“You’re lucky. I’d love to just bathe right in the middle of all those boys.”
I laugh. “Well, they did pick the best-looking men I’m sure.”
“And their names?” she points out.
“Right?” I laugh. “What’s with their names.”
“It’s like they picked the gods from all over the world and brought them here to join the club. Mykel, Samson, Kendrick ... I mean come on. Can anyone get hotter names? Then you have Cohen and Alarick.”
“Well, they sure know how to set themselves up.”
“Anyway,” she says as she slaps a twenty on the table and stands. “Let’s go and see if we can find your sister.”
“Sounds good to me.”
We leave the café and Karen offers to drive to save me trying to follow her. I agree and we get in her car. It’s small and red, but it’s super clean and nice. Just like her, really. She’s such a nice girl. She was, even when I was younger and she would be over visiting Alarick. She’d always defend me to Sissy and she’d always come and talk to me or hang out with me.
We drive out of town and turn down a few streets until we arrive at a butcher. Karen parks and we both climb out. I scrunch my nose up as we walk toward the large building. I hate how these places smell. We walk into the large, well-laid-out show where two people are working behind the counter. Fresh trays of different meat are in display cabinets, and it’s a pretty nice shop. I make note to come back and buy some stuff for Cohen.
“How can we help?” a young man asks, smiling at us over the display cabinets.
“Actually, I’m looking for Magnolia,” I tell him. “I’m her sister and I’ve been unable to find her. I was hoping she would be here.”
He frowns. “Mag hasn’t been in for over a week. We’ve tried to call her, but she won’t answer. I went around to her place to check on her, but some guy answered and told me she doesn’t live there anymore. I’m not too sure where she is, sorry.”
Dammit.
I smile at him, and ask, “That’s okay. Do you happen to know the name of her boyfriend? I’m trying to find him in hopes of finding her.”
He ponders it for a moment, but the girl beside him jumps in and says, “Brock. His name is Brock.”
I look to her, and she stares at me, her eyes scanning over me. “You’re her sister?”
“Yes. Do you know where Brock lives or works?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know.”
“Right, well, if she shows up here, I’d appreciate if you could give me a call.”
I borrow a pen and paper and write down my number, and then Karen and I leave.
“Well, that gets us no closer to her.” I sigh when we’re in the car.
“I’ll call my friend; we’ll see if we can find Brock. We’ll find her, don’t worry.”
I hope she’s right.
Because it’s starting to feel like something could be very very wrong.
I don’t like it.
At all.
6
THEN – BRIELLA
“Ew, why would you want to do that?” I ask Alarick, sitting on the end of his bed as he dresses for his eighteenth birthday party tonight.
He’s got some really pretty girls coming, and he told me he’ll be hooking up with at least two of them.
“Why wouldn’t I?” he asks. “I’m a man, and I like girls.”
“Can’t you just pick one? What about Karen? She’s so nice.”
“I like Karen, but she’s too nice. I need someone a little wild.”
I scrunch my nose up. “You hang around the club guys too much. You’re just like them.”
He laughs, buttoning up his shirt. “Well, it will be mine one day. I might as well start getting used to it.”
“You’re not going to hang around with all those girls that are always there, are you? They’re yucky and they are always with different men.”
He raises his brows. “You shouldn’t be paying that much attention to those girls. Don’t you ever be like one of them.”
“Why, isn’t that the kind of girls you all want?”
He walks forward and leans down, looking me right in the eye. “No, it isn’t. Those girls are the ones the men take because they’re easy and they’re cheap. They hang around the club to be used. You’re not going to be one of those. You aim to be like an old lady, respected and treated proper. Like your momma.”
“I hate that you call them old ladies. It sounds ... icky.”
He chuckles and stands up straight. “It’s a privilege to be someone’s old lady.”
“I know, but I just don’t like how it sounds.”
“Well, you don’t need to worry about it because you’re never going to date anyway.”
I laugh. “Are you going to stop me?”
He nods. “Fuck yes I am. Now, go and get changed for the party. And don’t drink anything unless you open it yourself. Understand?”
“Mom said I have to go inside at seven anyway. That sucks because I want to hang out with you guys.”
“Listen to her. She’s your mom and she knows what’s best. You don’t want to be hanging around a bunch of drunk teenagers.”
“I do, it looks like it’ll be fun. Plus, Karen is going to be there, and I like her.”
“You’re goin’ in at seven,” he tells me, his voice stern. “Now go and get dressed.”
“You’re no fun since you turned eighteen.”
He laughs as I stomp out of the room.
“See you at the party!”
I smile as I walk out.
I like Alarick.
A lot.
“UGH, LOOK AT THE BRAT. Why is she even here?”
I try to ignore Sissy as I walk past and head toward Karen who is sitting with another friend of hers, Janae. They’re talking and giggling about something, and as soon as I approach, Karen smiles. She’s always welcoming. Even though I’m younger than her, she never makes me feel like I’m in her way. Like I’m some sort of annoying little sister type.
“How are you, Bri?” she asks when I sit down on the chair beside her, glaring at Sissy who is giggling with her friends and pointing to me.
“Why does she hate me so much?” I ask, huffing and crossing my arms. “I’ve never even done anything to her.”
“Because she’s spoiled and stuck up and she needs someone to bring her down a few steps so she’ll stop walking around like she owns the world,” Janae says, glaring at Sissy.
“That’s better than I could have put it.” Karen laughs. “Don’t let her get to you, chickie. She’s a bitch.”
“She goes out of her way to tease me. She never even tried to like me.”
Karen puts her arm around my shoulder and gives me a small hug. I glance over at Alarick who is talking to a gorgeous girl named Abbie. All the guys like her, because she has these super big boobs and a bouncy butt. That’s the only way I can think of to describe her. Sometim
es, when I look in the mirror, I wish I looked more like her. Instead, I have this weird blond hair and eyes that are way too big for my face. They’re not even a nice color, they’re like this weird blue. I have stupid freckles on my nose, and I don’t have boobs.
Not yet, anyway.
I wish they’d hurry up.
“Time for you to go inside, honey,” Mom says, walking over to me, looking perfect in her black dress with her hair tied up in fancy twirls on her head. “It’s getting a bit too full-on out here.”
“Okay,” I sigh, standing. “Can I watch TV a while?”
“Of course, just stay away from the party, okay? I’ll come up and check on you soon.”
I say goodbye to Karen and Janae and walk toward the front door of the house. I’m about to step in when Sissy calls out, “Have an incredible sleep, brat.”
I don’t look at her, I just keep walking inside and up to my room.
I have a shower and wash my hair, taking my time before getting into my nightgown, rushing to my bed, and launching in. I don’t bother to turn the light on because the television will be on in a moment. I don’t realize until I’ve thrown myself under the covers, that something isn’t right. For a moment, I lie there, half under, wondering if I’m imagining things. When I move, just a touch, I realize I’m not. There is something cold, and foamy, and really, really smelly in my bed.
I move, groaning at the yucky feeling all over my body, and I turn on my lamp.
I look down and under my covers is loads and loads of shaving cream. So much of it, I don’t know how I didn’t smell it when I came into the room. I look down at myself and I’m covered in it, big blobs of white foam sticking to my body and my hair. Tears burn under my eyelids because I know who did this. I let a tear slip, and then another one, and then I get angry.
I get so angry.
I’m so sick of Sissy being so mean to me.
I stand, covered in foam with tears still running down my cheeks and I storm into her room. I open her drawers and throw all her clothes out, I tip everything over and in doing that, I come across a diary. I flip it open and read the pages, laughing at the entries about boys. She wants to be cruel to me, I will fight back, just like Alarick told me too.