Wench With Wings

by Cassidy, Rose D.

  “Sorry, did I catch you at a bad time?”

  “Lately it’s always a bad time, who’s this?”

  “I’m Mrs. Buell. I’m assuming Ms. Sirona let you know who I am?”

  “Well, you’re assuming wrong. Like I said, lately it’s always a bad time and she’s the reason why.”

  “Hm…Might I ask why?”

  “Oh, let’s see. She changed my world, changed my plans, than stomped on my heart when she changed her mind.”

  “Now, Mr. James I hope you don’t mind me being blunt as you just were, but she does have that affect. I know her well so I do assume she might have warned you and yet you might not have listened?”

  “Yeah, yea I guess. Sorry, so who are you?”

  “I am Ms. Sirona’s lawyer and now yours courtesy of the women that stomped on your heart. Though I would have to say that I don’t think she meant to do that. I have never heard her tongue twisted and when she asked me to take care of you the way I would her, she was, quite to my surprise. I am aware, if you know what I’m saying, of your situation that occurred last night. If you could just stop in to my office at 3654 Main St. today to sign some papers, I’ll get started.”

  “Why? Why would Trey do this for me?”

  “Mr. James you might think the worst of Trey right now, but she always, no matter what, takes care of the people she cares for. I know she might not think she is capable, but if you feel she stomped on your heart than you must love her and you must know that she cares a lot for the people she surrounds herself with. She specifically picks them and the way I see it is she must think you’re worth it.”

  “That’s just it, she doesn’t want me around anymore. So, I guess I’m not worth it.”

  “Maybe not now, but I heard the edge in her voice as she spoke of you. It was harder for her to let you go than you think. She has battles with herself, if you’re worth it, she’ll see it.”

  “Well spoken, you do know her quite well, but I don’t think she’ll see it, not this time anyway.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. It does depend on you and your patience. When will I be expecting you?”

  “You won’t be. I can’t let her pay for this.”

  “She has already paid for me to be your lawyer and I do not give refunds. I have much pull in the system, I am the DA and the best in town to get you off, hopefully scott free and with your record I’d say you need me. Now please, so that I don’t catch hell from Trey, when will you be in?”

  “Fine, give me ten minutes. I’ll be there.”

  “Thank you.”

  He ended the call with a curse as he slammed his phone to the counter. No matter how hard he tried to get her out of his head and heart she finds a way to make him love her that much more. He knew she didn’t do it specifically for him, but just knowing that she would go to more lengths to keep her people happy and the fights going without trouble and at her cost, made his heart grow just a bit more. ‘The lawyer was the frigging DA, Trey must be paying some serious cash to have the best,’ he let that sink in. He could tell even how much more when he walked into her office and saw just how expensive it looked in there.

  Mrs. Buell told him, after he signed some papers, that she knew about the fights and what Trey was doing and that she would take care of his charges as if it was a charge of Trey’s. She had his faith, he could see how much Trey meant to this lady which only proved to him more that people cared for her deeply and he wasn’t wrong to do the same, but he still wasn’t good enough for her. It broke him a bit more, but it also reared up the anger he felt. He wanted to head to the bar and beg the bottle to make him forget, but he was too pissed.

  He stormed through the front door of her shop and stalked straight to her in her chair. He glanced at the clock and noticed it was the time he normally would be here and then back at the waiting room to see two people out there waiting, he shook his head trying to shake out the thought that maybe she was waiting on him. He was too pissed to even think it, yet here she was sprawled out in her chair with her eyes closed. “Fuck,” he cursed low enough for only her ears, but it was only his he was aiming at. Her eyes flew open and she jerked up right in her chair. He grabbed her hand to pull her up and tow her upstairs. “We need to talk.”

  “No, damn it Ayden. Let me go. I don’t have time for this shit I got work to do. Let. Go.”

  “Don’t have time my ass, you were just sitting there and this is my time anyway.”

  “No it’s not, not anymore.”

  He swung her into her room and slammed the door behind him, “Than why were you making people wait? Don't answer that. Why the fuck did you pay a fucking lawyer for me?”

  “Oh come on. I didn’t do it for you. I did it for the girls and the fights and if you must know I did it for the other guy you got caught fighting with too. So, fucking get over yourself.”

  “I think your just trying to pay me off so that I won’t talk, you think I would, don’t you?”

  “Seriously? Get over yourself, you had nothing to do with it at all. I would have done it for anyone who got caught.” She took a step closer to get more of the point across, but then he took a step closer because he wanted to see her eyes; lies up close.

  “Yeah? Would you tell your lawyer to take care of them the same as she would you? Did you tell her that about the guy I fought or was that just special treatment for me?” She didn’t know how to answer that and as the seconds ticked by her heart rate picked up. He huffed and shook his head in disbelief with a cocky half smile. She still felt something for him and that, was not what he wanted at the moment. He wanted her to deny it, to get pissed and send him away. He needed some kind of closure. “I’m done, Trey. You threw me away for the last time. So whatever you got going on don’t give me any special fucking treatment. That is what you wanted, for me to go. So stop fucking with me, my fucking pathetic heart can’t fucking take it.”

  He turned around shaking his head and walking away. She grabbed the bottle, through down a shot, screamed than pounded her way back down the stairs. He heard her, but ignored any thoughts of meaning toward it, instead he sprinted down the road and headed to the bar. Considering any kind of school work was out of the question at the moment he would grab a few drinks and ask for more hours at work. His boss bitched, but he at least got the chance to add more hours, if he worked up to it.

  A couple weeks past with them still separated. They haven’t seen each other except for the couple times she came into the bar and they flat out ignored each other. He picked up more hours at the bar, but seemed to spend more on getting drunk trying to forget about her. She worked her ass off giving tats, but never filled his time in with another client, she would just sit in her chair and close her eyes, just like she did that night when he came in. All the girls knew why she did it, but when they would say something to her about it she would just get pissed and say she needed a damn break and that was all. She didn’t want to believe he was the reason so she blanked out her mind as she sat there at that time. It was the only time she had nothing in her mind at all. Classes for both of them where still a struggle, neither one of them could put forth the needed effort, but they still at least managed passing grades.

  When the third week rolled around Trey finally started questioning herself, finally started to think instead of blocking it all out with a bottle of Jack and a joint. She knew she couldn’t keep mopping around, she knew she would have to face the facts. So she basically listed them.

  One; she knew she couldn’t leave the fights anytime soon, she would have to see it threw, for everybody else, not for herself; or at least that is what she told herself. Still she questioned why or if she could let them go. It’s something that’s always been a part of her life, but was it time to leave the past in the past? What would she fill it with if she did?

  Two; she had to figure out her major. Did she want to switch it back to just art and live alone painting and having a gallery like her Grams? Or did she want to keep going with phycology and hel
p women? That made her feel good, but only because of her past with her father and did she truly want him to dictate anything else in her life?

  Three; The tats where always her thing, but she did enjoy the guy’s pain a little too much because of what her father was, so was that even hers? She really didn’t know. Basically it was a part of her Gram and a part of her father and it was a creation of both that became hers truly. But, it still was everything about the past.

  And four; the one she never got past other than a single word; Ayden? Was all that was. She didn’t know if she missed him, didn’t know if she made the wrong choice letting him go, but she also wasn’t ready to think about that at all.

  Her past is what created her and everything that she now knows. Would she have to give it all up just to move on? Could she leave behind everything she has ever known?

  All she knew was there was a hole in her life. She hasn’t had a fight in quite a few weeks. She hasn’t ran in just the same amount of time. She had to sell a couple of her Gram’s paintings. School wasn’t being focused on like it should be for the amount she was paying for it. And her father was kicking her minds ass in every other thought she has. The only thing that was going somewhat right was the fact that she had more clients and she was at least making enough to support her house and her habit; Jack and Joints, something she only did after a fight or a few shots just to let loose. She knew even that had to slow down soon and so did the girls along with them trying to get her to talk. She knew she was avoiding them just as much as she has been avoiding all these questions that have been running ramped through her head; she missed them. At least she thought that’s what this new feeling of hers was. The only other time she felt some what this way was when her Grams was gone.

  When the third week rolled around for Ayden it was just…well worse. Yea, he was working more, but he was also consuming more alcohol. Nothing like drowning in sorrow, it was more like sinking in quick sand just waiting to die. Knowing the only person that can save you is a million miles away or at least that’s what it felt like with Trey; that’s how far away from only him, she was. He had to get over her and the only thing that made since was to replace her. So he waited until a girl finally came around that somewhat interested him. He had to get pretty smashed to get up enough to ask her to come home with him. He barely made it to the front door, her helping him as they both laughed about it while stumbling through into the living room.

  “Oh, hell no,” Joslyn yelled, “you scank, can just trot your nasty ass right back out that door.” Dane grabbed her around the waist before she could physically remove the girl.

  “Babe, stop. Trey’s the one that don’t want him anymore.”

  “Oh, that is bull shit and you know it and you,” She swung back around to Ayden who just stood there, “you can just wipe that fucking smile off your face. You know she still wants you, still loves you so just stop this fucking charade and go fix it. She’s a fucking mess without you.”

  “Ya know, ya just killed my buzz and all I wanted to do was take this pretty little lady,” He wrapped his arm around the waist of the girl that stood next to him looking quite dumb founded, “to my room and have some sweet loven’ because Trey sure as hell never loved me no matter how much I loved her. You heard her say she isn’t capable just as much if not more than I have, so if she’s so messed up it aint my fault. So mind your damn business, Jos.”

  “This is my business.”

  “Wait what? Did you really just say you were only giving me loven’ because the girl you love won’t. Seriously that’s just wrong I’m out of here.” The girl spun around and slammed the door on her way out.

  “Fuck, Jos. Now look what you did. Damn it. I just want to get over her, can’t you see that. I’m just trying to move on.”

  “Don’t. Fight for her.”

  “Don’t you get it? I have been forever and still she don’t want me. My heart can’t fucking take it anymore.”

  “Stop being a coward, asshole and grow a set.”

  “Babe…” Dane tried saying to get her to stop. He knows Ayden and what Trey did to him was completely fucked in his book and he’s tried explaining that to her, but apparently it still hasn’t sunk in yet.

  “Coward? Coward? She’s the damn coward and you know it. She’s the one that’s afraid to even try to love me.”

  “She does love you.”

  “No she fucking don’t.” He stalked off to his room and slammed the door hoping to slam Joslyn’s words out of his mind. He wants no part of any of it at all anymore.

  The next day as Trey walked into the shop and caught sight of the girls she knew something was up just by the look of pity on their faces when they looked up at her.

  “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t want your damn pity.”

  “It aint pity, Trey. It’s concern. I’m sorry, but we need to talk.” Gwen says ushering Trey up the stairs. “Jos will take care of the shop while we do so.” They walked out to the deck and sat at the patio set.

  “Fine, hit me. What’s fucked now?”

  “Sadly, you Trey. I don’t know much about your past other than what happened with your dad on Christmas…”

  “Wait let’s get this straight first, he aint my dad, he’s just some ass that calls himself my father.”

  “Okay. Please just hear me out okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “You know I like all my facts before I even do my thesis, but considering you’re a complete mess I figured I’d let it go and just go with what I know. I see you pulling away and none of us want that. Your amazing, Trey. You’re stronger than I ever imagined and after Christmas it just proved to me how much more you are. I don’t know what kind of childhood you went through, but by what I saw it had to be pretty rough, but yet you pulled through, you became a great…no an amazingly wonderful leader. You give so much too so many girls, confidence, strength, belief and I could go on with one enormous list, but that is not the complete point. The point is no matter how much you want to walk away from all this, away from your life, you just can’t. You would not be as wonderful of a person if it was not for what created you. You could walk away from all of what you have accomplished, but what would be the point. You’re great just the way you were. You’re a spectacular artist, you might not be a therapist yet, but really you already are and your great at it, you run two very successful businesses, you’re a very talented tattoo artist. Not only are you a great fighter, but also a great trainer. I’d understand if you would want to give up the fights, but why give up something you’re so great at and why let that make you give up on everything else that you’ve accomplished. Someone once told me that you’re the queen, our queen and everyone that follows you is like your loyal army. There is almost a good two hundred people including the spectators that look up to you as if that is who you are, the one that leads them. You started a movement almost two years ago that has proven to be the most wonderful thing ever.

  “What I think is that you’re having a problem with accepting the past as what created you. I’m sure it was all shitty, more than I could ever image, but what I’m positive about is that past of yours brought me you, created the best person that I will ever meet in my entire life time. You’re completely unique and I’m sure that even if I searched this entire world I still would not find another person anything like you. I am more than blessed to have ever known you. I see you slipping from me, from the girls and especially from yourself and call me selfish all you want but I don’t want that. I want the person that I’ve known for the past two years to always stay in my life because you changed it, you changed mine. You made me be a better person, you made me see how different people can really be. And you will make me succeed with so many more girls that I will teach, that I will help to get them to see it as you do, as the way you have made me see it. I need you in my life Trey and so do the girls and everybody else that you have greatly influenced these past two years.

  “Now that all that is said, I only hav
e one more topic. I’m sure it will piss you off, but I need to say it so I’m just gonna come out and say it. You love Ayden. I know you don’t think so, but you do, you really, really do. And he truly loves you too. You guys are meant for each other, you’re perfect for each other in so many ways. You two balance each other out completely and utterly perfectly. You might not think that you are capable of love, but you are, Trey. To prove it to you just think about all the stuff us girls have done together. What you’ve done for us and so many more. You have a bigger heart than anyone that I have ever met. You are selfless and always put everybody else first before yourself because that is how much you care.

  "With all that said I want you to not drink away your thoughts tonight and instead just sit here and think about everything that I’ve said. Jos and I will run the shop tonight. So if you need me than I’ll be down stairs or just a text away. Okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  Gwen stood up and walked away while Trey sat there a bit stunned. So much hit her in that that there was just no way she could not sit there and think about all of what’s been going on lately. She knew she accomplished a lot in these past two years, but what she didn’t know was that what made her truly happy and stronger was the fact that what she did for everyone settled in her heart and made her proud of herself. She was always proud, but not like this, not because she was capable of caring as much as she did and with that thought she leaped up and ran down the stairs and out the back door.

  She felt like she was flying as she flipped, kicked, spun and jumped as she ran for the first time in to damn long. She stopped in front of the door that her feet, no her heart led her to and with that thought she caught her breath and walked through. She stopped dead at the sight of him flirting back with a girl across the bar from him. She couldn’t breathe. He turned his head as if searching for something and when his eyes found hers, he stopped dead, unable to breathe. She gave him a crooked suggestive half smile while she walked in almost slow motion over to him, she leaned over the bar, gripping his neck in her hand to bring him closer and kissed him, pouring with the most emotions she was capable of; he drank in the love. She moved back a fraction of an inch and gazed in his eyes letting him see the truth in what she just gave him, a few moments went by then she whispered, “Hey.”