Were All Animals

by Mima

  People assumed Chase was her boyfriend and that wasn’t such a terrible thing. Other local townies kept away from her, noticing that her ‘boyfriend’ was huge and carried a confrontational expression that turned most cowards away. She hated that she found this endearing, but it made her feel safe. Even her own mother questioned if there was something going on, warning Maggie that he was engaged and therefore, it wasn’t something she wanted to get in the middle of, in any capacity, even if they were just friends.

  “Once he’s married, I hate to say it Maggie, but Audrey isn’t going to want you around,” Her mother sternly warned, showing no compassion in her voice, but more of an ‘I told you so’ arrogance that she hated. “Married people are in a whole other world, especially once kids get in the picture, they tend to drift away. Trust me, I’ve lived it.”

  Her mother didn’t have any friends other than relatives, so that didn’t surprise Maggie. She couldn’t seem to make her mom understand that her ‘old’ generation wasn’t the same and people were more fluid now; in many ways, actually, but that’s something her mother would never understand nor would she try.

  But there was a part of her that had the same worry and this wasn’t because of the division between married and single people, but because Audrey clearly hated her. She didn’t feel welcomed in their home and her one, lone visit, was awkward, especially when she was on her way to the car and could hear Audrey scream at Chase for supposedly staring at Maggie’s ‘perky tits’; something he hadn’t done, but clearly it indicated that she felt competitive with Chase’s friend, regardless of the fact that she was gay. No one seemed to believe that she could hang around with someone of the opposite sex, especially someone as attractive a Chase and not fuck him. It was unreal.

  Now that the fall months progressed into winter, the crisp Alberta air had a distinct chill that was a curt warning of the long winter that was ahead. It was a bit depressing to her, especially when she looked at her own dismal life, then felt guilty for having such a thought when she saw what Chase was up against. Audrey continued to get bigger and bigger and eventually people started to learn she was expecting Chase’s child, something he was neither proud of or wanted, but was full of resentment. His life reminded her of a Greek tragedy she would read about in high school and yet, he did have free will. Could he save money, get his own place? Refuse to marry Audrey? In her mind, these were all still options. Until something abruptly changed her mind.

  It was during a so-called house warming party that Audrey thrown shortly after Chase moved in. Maggie boldly arrived, knowing that Chase was the only one who didn’t view her as the enemy, hoping to show him some support during such a stressful and difficult time. The party was in full swing when she arrived, several of Audrey’s relatives were staring her down, but she arrogantly ignored them, sticking close to Chase, who looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole and die, as his dimwitted mother rambled on about wedding plans. It was kind of redundant, since the couple decided to hold off on any plans until after the baby was born, but it appeared to be her own, personal obsession.

  The only time she left his side all night was when she went to the upstairs washroom, unaware that there was another one off the kitchen that was supposed to be for guests. Audrey must’ve noticed and followed Maggie upstairs because the next thing she knew, the very pregnant young woman was calling her name. Turning around slowly, Maggie would later chide herself for being too slow, too stupid to realize she was being followed, only to be shoved in the bathroom.

  “What the hell are you doing up here? I don’t want trash like you in my bathroom,” Audrey’s deceptive mask was finally removed, no longer the sweet, girl next door that she pretended to be in front of others, her voice was shrill. “But it’s nothing new for you, is it? Going places where you don’t belong?”

  “What?” Maggie finally managed to say something, feeling stunned by the confrontation and unsure of how to react. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I was looking for the bathroom.”

  “You shouldn’t be here,” Audrey challenged her, the bathroom door now closed, Maggie backed up against the shower. “Do you think I want the fucking mistress here, in my house, while I’m pregnant with his child?”

  “I’m not his mistress!” Maggie said, but her voice sounded like little more than a whimper. Suddenly feeling claustrophobic and fearful, she reached out and gave Audrey a slight shove, but was quickly met with resistance when she grabbed Maggie’s arm and twist it. Feeling pain shoot through her wrist, she attempted to fight her off but Audrey’s grasp only became more forceful.

  “Don’t fight back,” She muttered in her ear. “If I get hurt, how will it look to the RCMP? Do you think they will ever let you in if you’re aggressive toward a pregnant lady? Wouldn’t look very good, would it?”

  Tears formed in her eyes and Maggie knew she was right. She was powerless and although she would never tell Chase about this incident, Maggie was suddenly very aware why Chase often said he felt like an animal trapped in the corner; powerless, scared….and ferocious.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Chase was so set on his anger toward Audrey, that he rarely thought about the baby that would soon be a part of their lives. He didn’t go to appointments with her - not that it mattered because his mother was more than willing to do so - nor did he bother to ask questions, touch her belly or even consider if the child was a boy or a girl. It wasn’t that he was heartless, it was more that he blocked the thought from his mind. There was some guilt underneath all the anger, feelings of remorse that would eventually surface, but the crisp winter air somehow was a comfort to him during this bleak period of his life. Perhaps because it subdued his usual fury.

  This was a good thing since the holiday season brought back two women who also knew how to push all his buttons; his sister and Lucy. The first one he expected, but since he no longer communicated with his family, didn’t really think their paths would cross. He certainly didn’t think she would show up at his work, especially considering she appeared apathetic toward him before returning to university.

  To some, a reconnection with a sister who was back for the holidays would be a warm, enriching way to celebrate the season, but Chase felt nothing when he saw her enter the gym on a Saturday afternoon. Her hair was slightly longer, making her appear more feminine, although her face was quite pale, which seemed strange when considering their shared genetics. Their mother was native, while their dad was hardly lily white. Angel had always been the freak of the family; a thought that crossed his mind as she approached him, while he wiped down the machines after a particularly busy morning. He assumed everyone was out Christmas shopping in the afternoon.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything to me, I’ve been gone since September,” She curtly pointed out, as if he were supposed to roll out the red carpet before she arrived. Alone in the room, Chase was relieved that his boss was gone for the day and that the only clients around were in the changing rooms. The holiday season brought feast or famine, depending on what other activities people were caught up in, however, the true fitness geek didn’t allow Christmas to interrupt their usual routine.

  Shaking his head with a slight, apathetic shrug, he merely uttered a flat, emotionless ‘hello’ and continued to work. He avoided her eyes and hoped it encouraged her to leave.

  “You know, I’m not the enemy here, Chase,” She spoke calmly, smoothly, almost as if she was personally hurt by his snub, which was unlike her. His eyes flickered up and he stopped what he was doing and watched her eyelashes flutter behind the dark glasses as she pursed her lips and attempted a faint smile. “I didn’t kick you out.”

  “No, you didn’t,” Chase calmly replied. “But you probably agree with it, right? Think I should just hand my life over on a silver platter to Audrey because of one fucking mistake?”

  It wasn’t until he saw the look of shock on her face that Chase realized how much anger and
bitterness integrated each word. Her eyes reflected how much his disposition had changed over the past few months. Although the old Chase would’ve immediately felt guilt and apologized, his eyes were instead confrontational and he watched her look away and step back.

  “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be responsible, but I don’t agree with what mom did,” Angel quietly replied, her fingers played with the strap of the purse that was across her chest. “She shouldn’t have forced you to move in with Audrey.”

  “They both forced me to move in with Audrey,” Chase sharply corrected her, but this time, she appeared unfazed, almost as if she was prepared for him to be hostile. “It wasn’t just mom.”

  “Come on, you know dad wouldn’t have a say, once mom made up her mind,” Angel playfully attempted to justify their father as if it were an inside joke. Chase didn’t see the humor and shot her a cold glare. “Come on, you know what mom’s like.”

  “Dad has a fucking mouth Angel and if he had a spine, he could’ve stood up to her,” Chase said, standing a little taller, he took a deep breath as a way to control his anger. He wasn’t sure why every female in his life seemed to thrive on pissing him off, but he was starting to view all women the same; the clients, his family, Audrey, the women at the grocery store or at the post office. It seemed like they got some kind of pleasure getting under his skin; always complaining, nagging, never happy. Even the lady at the motor vehicles department snapped at him when he couldn’t understand her broken English. Yet, he felt compelled to be respectful and try to accommodate most, with the exception of his family and Audrey, the very women who fucked him over.

  “Yeah, but you know he wouldn’t go against anything mom decided,” Angel attempted to justify and Chase turned away from her, unable to even look her in the eye. He walked toward the desk and quietly went behind it, hoping that being closer to the main entrance would give his sister a hint to leave. He had no interest in hearing her pathetic argument. It wasn’t as if his father had reached out to him in the past couple of months. “You know how they are.”

  “I don’t care, Ang,” He shook his head and leaned against the desk, purposely looking down his nose at her, a subtle gesture taught to him by Harold, who insisted that intimidation was as much about your presence and stance as it was about your physical size. Technically, Chase wasn’t much larger than a few months earlier, he just knew how to display it differently now and he could see how people reacted, how they slowly inched away or pulled back as if he were an animal that could lash out at any time.

  “But it’s the holidays, let it go, Chase,” Angel replied with a slight whine in her voice that irked him; here comes the manipulation, but wasn’t that what it always came down to with people like her? “Drop in and-

  “Fuck off Angel,” His words were smooth, regardless of the harshness of intent. He had never told his sister to fuck off before and wasn’t sure which one of them was more surprised; her for having heard it or him for having witnessed her response. They were equally surprised, but his bewilderment quickly turned to amusement, as a grin inched his lips into a hesitant smile. “I’m not going over for Christmas, I’m not going to do whatever the fuck Audrey wants, I’m just going to sleep that day and enjoy some peace and quiet. That’s my holiday plans. That’s all I want.”

  “Come on, you can’t keep punishing mom and dad,” Angel attempted to reconnect, but her words only pushed them farther apart, as Chase let out a sharp laugh.

  “Why? They’re certainly not concerned about punishing me,” He was slightly humored by his own reasoning and felt something alert him from the side. The door opened and a client entered, carrying his gym bag, giving Chase a quick nod, his eyes barely grazed over Angel. Most men showed his sister little attention. She was hardly attractive unless someone leaned toward the feminazi look. She wore no makeup, hid her curves and rarely smiled. “You gotta go, Ang, I’m training that guy.”

  Slightly befuddled, she didn’t reply as she walked toward the door. She gave him one, last, puppy dog look; another trademark of the manipulating woman, so completely transparent. To that, he merely grinned and looked away.

  “Hey Bob, how you doing today?” He called out to the client across the room, making sure to ignore his sister as she left the building.

  However smooth he thought he was that afternoon, he certainly didn’t fair as well a couple days later when he encountered Lucy at the mall. He ran in to grab some stuff before the holidays closed everything down and it was in the condom section of the drugstore that she appeared.

  “Little late for those, isn’t it?” Her words were sharp, with a slight ‘Valley girl’ feel behind them, almost as if she were still in high school rather than the real world. She sounded gleeful to rub it in his face and although he would’ve crouched in embarrassment a few months earlier, he now felt compelled to deal with her confrontation. Her long dark hair didn’t hide her thin, unhealthy face, he assumed it was from the nights of partying with her new boyfriend, who was probably just excited to have a young hot piece of ass. Women were so naive when it came to men.

  “It depends,” Chase countered, but she seemed unaffected by his reply and merely smirked as if she were enjoying his personal hell. Another thing he had learned from Harold was that the fewer words you used, the more powerful you became. There was nothing more pathetic than a man that rambled on endlessly like a woman, a chatty Cathy that didn’t have an off button; that was him, once upon a time. “What do you want Lucy?”

  “Hey calm down,” She showed a flicker of discomfort and shrugged off his response as if she didn’t care. “I was just being nice.” He noted how she pushed out her breasts as she spoke, her hand shoved in her back, jean pockets. She looked terrible and he briefly wondered if that was always the case or if Lucy were starting to show signs of her new lifestyle.

  “Whatever, Luc, I gotta go,” He attempted to move away and then, she reached out and touched his arm. He hated to admit it, but there was something about her soft fingers fluttering over his wrist that resurrected every intimate moment they ever shared and for a brief moment, he was a naive 16-year-old boy once again, hopelessly in love with the coolest girl he ever met, the one he never expected would give him a second of attention. He quickly shook it off.

  “Seriously, though, man, how did you get yourself in that mess?” She raised an eyebrow, challenging his eyes, as she stood uncomfortably close to him. It was too intimate and he looked over her head as some slightly dirty piece of white trash walked down the same aisle, eyeballing Lucy and he briefly wondered if this was seriously her new boyfriend. Suddenly, the powers shifted.

  “Hey Luc, we gotta get going if we’re going to catch the liquor store before it closes, doll,” The scrawny man, wearing a green, plaid jacket that appeared to need to be washed, along with oversized black jeans and t-shirt, while his straggly dirty blond hair fell out of an old baseball cap that wasn’t even readable, it was so worn. “Luke’s gonna wonder what’s up.”

  The stranger’s eyes skipped from Lucy - who was now backing off - to Chase. His eyes scanned his body briefly and his lips crept out from under a long, scruffy beard. “Well, who we got here?”

  “This is Chase, my ex,” Lucy suddenly seemed hesitant. Unsettled by the looks that buddy was giving him, he scowled and stared him down. Unaffected, the stranger reached out to shake his hand.

  “Brad Weatherby, but everyone calls me ‘Bud,” He gave an unexpected and yet, infectious grin that left Chase stunned. “And I gotta tell you, if you’re ever interested in working at a bar, well I got a job for you.”

  “What?” Chase was slightly stunned by his comment.

  “He owns a bar over in Mento,” Lucy explained, suddenly appearing awkward and it was clear that she was embarrassed by this guy. “He’s Luke’s cousin.”

  “And I need a guy like you at my bar,” He stood back and seemed unaffected by the awkwardness of the mom
ent, but almost delighted by his discovery. “At the doors, oh yes, those crazy motherfuckers aren’t going to take on someone like you, I’m bettin’ you would knock them until next Tuesday if they did try.”

  “What are you talking about?” Chase couldn’t help but follow along in Brad’s jovial nature.

  “He’s looking for a bouncer,” Lucy attempted to decode the conversation. “He’s having a lot of trouble with some of the locals and he needs someone big like you to scare them off.”

  “Damn straight,” Brad smiled as he continued to nod his head, a self-satisfied smile on his face. “The good Lord always gives you the answer, I was just thinking this morning that I gotta find someone young and strong to watch the door at Rick’s and he’s good looking too, the women will flock to the bar if they see him outside.”

  “Wait, what?” Chase hesitated. “You want me to work at your bar? Who’s Rick?”

  “Oh the bar, it’s called Rick’s because that was the original owner, he’s dead now, but it seemed right to leave the name, you know?” He was surprisingly diplomatic in his explanation and charismatic in his presentation. “Hey, you want a job, it’s yours. We’re open 7 days a week and I manage it, but you don’t gotta work all that much. Any help would be appreciated but the weekends are obviously the busy time.”

  Lucy looked nervous, while Brad seemed unaffected by the intimidating nature that Chase attempted to display. He felt his defenses drop and he was surprised to actually like this sketchy looking character. His mind quickly considered the possibly; another job gave him a way to avoid his home life.