by Vi Lily
“You’d do that for Ogre?” I’m amazed, honestly. All this time, thinking Alex is a jerk, a big, scary monster, and he’s really just a closet animal lover.
But he shakes his head. “No, I’m doing it for you. So that you don’t cry,” he adds. A look crosses his face like he’s just said something he didn’t mean to. And regrets it.
“Ogre will really appreciate it. So do I,” I hurry to tell him so that he doesn’t get embarrassed by his admission, which I’m still reeling from. He’s doing it for me? Wow. Just effing wow.
“Breakfast is ready,” Steve interrupts us as he puts a platter of bacon and a bowl of scrambled eggs on the island. He then goes to the fridge and pulls out a container of yogurt and a small bowl of cut-up fruit.
Alex steps away from me to get plates and utensils and then we eat in silence. I’m shocked when I manage to eat two strips of bacon, a scoop of eggs and almost a whole piece of toast. Steve barely eats either, and I wonder if that’s because of his obvious drug use. He’s not as bad as Devon — yet — but you can tell that he’s a lot thinner than he should be for his large build, that the drugs are affecting him.
Of course, Alex the Alp eats what must be the equivalent of ten eggs, since Steve and I had maybe one each and I know he scrambled a whole dozen. Plus, he eats four pieces of toast, a pile of bacon and then he starts in on the yogurt and fruit.
I stare at him, wondering how one person could eat that much. He catches my look and I swear his cheeks turn pink. Blushing? Scary Alex Johansen blushing is absolutely the last thing I thought I’d ever see. It’s kind of freaky.
Steve laughs, because he sees my look and his brother’s embarrassment. “He always eats like that,” he tells me. “Growing boy.”
My eyes widen. I can’t imagine how much more Alex is going to grow. He’s already six foot three and weighs in at two hundred fifty-seven. I know this, because his weight and height are public knowledge since he wrestles. Plus, I might have sort of stalked him at one time, when he first came to Athole and I thought he was pretty amazing.
That was before I thought he was effing scary.
And now I’m back to thinking he’s amazing, especially since he’s willing to take me across town to check on Ogre. In a snowstorm, nonetheless.
I glance outside and see that it’s still snowing. I sigh then, thinking maybe it’s not such a good idea, that I’m really asking too much.
Turning back to Alex, I’m shocked to see that he’s already eaten the whole container of yogurt and almost all the fruit but spy a strawberry in the bowl and snatch it up. Strawberries are my favorite.
I bite into the fruit and want to moan. It’s been forever since I’ve had a strawberry. They never serve them at school because it’s a known food allergen or something. The fruit is tart since it’s out of season, but still… pretty heavenly when you’re desperate. I don’t get fruit often.
I wonder about the lack of fruits and vegetables in my diet. I’ve been kind of worried about my health, to be honest. Obviously, there’s the malnutrition, The school lunches are pretty awesome, but I always concentrate on eating as much of the meat and carbs as I can. Lord knows I need the protein and energy. By the time I get a few bites in, I’m too full for the vegetables.
While I’ve always tried to do the “doggy bag” thing and save what I don’t eat for later, it’s kind of hard with vegetables in sauce or dripping with cheese or butter. The school chef is some French gourmet dude and nearly everything he makes is floating in sauce or dripping. So, I have a definite lack of veggies, which I’m sure
I don’t get a period anymore either. Not for the last year or so. Not that I’m complaining, especially with the lack of hygiene options in my life, but I thought it was weird. At first, I figured I had some weird cancer or something, so I used the computers in the school library to do some research and found out that when a girl gets below a certain body fat she’ll quit menstruating. That was a relief, and a concern.
My teeth are also a worry. I haven’t been to the dentist in years. I religiously brush them, but I rarely have toothpaste. I’ve been using salt from the packets I get at school and honestly, my teeth and gums feel and look pretty good. But still… I need a checkup.
I look in the bowl and find another strawberry but this one is sweet, and I actually do moan this time at the deliciousness.
The room has gotten quiet, more quiet than it was. I glance up to find Alex and Steve staring at me. I have no idea why and my face heats up. Steve laughs as he stands and starts grabbing empty dishes.
“I’ll do the dishes,” I say as I slide off the stool and instantly collapse against Alex when the pain hits me again. Dammit!
“Like hell you will,” Alex growls at me as he wraps an arm around me to hold me, then once again gently picks me up.
“I got this,” Steve says as Alex carries me out of the kitchen. “You two kids have fun!” he calls after us in a “mom voice.” I smile.
Chapter 2
Y OUR BROTHER is funny,” I tell Alex as he carries me up the stairs. He glances down at me with a frown.
“He’s a douche canoe,” he grumbles. I don’t agree, but I don’t argue. I think Steve is funny and I sense a kindheartedness in him. Even though he’s on drugs, I don’t feel the same viciousness in him that Devon has, which I always blamed on the drugs. Maybe with Devon, it’s just part of his nature.
Alex carries me into the master bathroom and sets me on the vanity again. “Do you want a shower before I wrap you?”
I shake my head and my face heats again as I think about him joining me.
“No,” I blurt out, “like I said, I had one last night.”
His eyes stray to my hair again and he pulls another lock of it between his fingers, letting it slide along his palm. I can’t help but shiver, because it’s seriously sexy.
“It’s a lot lighter than I thought,” he murmurs.
“You said that already,” I whisper, wondering at his fascination with my hair.
“Hmm,” he grunts. I’m starting to think he’s some sort of woodland creature with the noises he makes.
Alex seems to shake himself then and he starts to lift my shirt. My hands fly to stop him. Annnddd… of course, I hurt myself again. This is getting seriously old.
I manage to keep my wince to myself, but I blow out a huff and by the look on his face, I know he knows. He cocks a dark blond eyebrow at me and does the same thing he did yesterday with trapping my arms in the t-shirt.
He’s quick to wrap me, which I’m grateful for. I mention it to him.
He makes another grunty sound. “Lots of practice. Lots of injuries.” He doesn’t elaborate, but I assume that, being a wrestler, he does get hurt a lot. Although with his size, I can’t imagine there are too many people capable of such a feat.
Alex tells me to call him so he can carry me back downstairs when I’m done “bundling up so we can go check on Ogre and get back before the second wave of the storm hits.” I had no idea we were expecting a second wave. Considering how much snow has already hit the area over the past day, it’s crazy to think we’re going to get more.
As I lace my boots — which is damned hard when you’ve got broken ribs, let me tell you — I think about the fact that I’d be totally screwed right now if Alex hadn’t rescued me. I wouldn’t have had anywhere to go since that witch at the gas station threw me out. I mean, I don’t blame her, since I was sleeping in their bathroom, but she could have been a lot nicer about it.
If Alex hadn’t by some miracle been there at the time, who knows where I’d be now. Out in the storm somewhere, frozen under a tree or something. They’d find my body in the summer and no one would have any idea who the heck I was.
But he did find me. He took care of me, is still taking care of me. The fact that he was in the right place at the right time seems an awful lot like… fate.
I shake myself from my stupid thoughts and “bundle up” as best I can in my too-small coat, deciding to for
go my beanie because it’s dirty and now that my hair is clean the thought of putting that thing on makes me cringe.
Ignoring Alex’s order to call him — simply because I tell myself that I’m not completely helpless and I’ve certainly been injured before, maybe even worse than this — I walk down the stairs. There’s a series of decorative mirrors on the wall lining the staircase and I catch my reflection.
I’m reminded of how ridiculous I must look with the seriously oversized sweats and t-shirt coupled with a coat that was made for a young girl. I look like I shopped in the discards bin at a thrift store.
I mentally shrug; who cares how I look? It’s not like I’m trying to impress Alex… I’m not trying to impress anyone. That’s what I meant. Not just Alex.
Alex is talking to Steve in the living room and Steve looks pissed. I catch part of the convo.
“...your friend. Seriously, I wanna kill him—” he sees me then and stops. I wonder who and what they’re talking about, but Steve’s scowl turns to a smile that looks a bit too forced when he sees me.
“I made up a doggy bag for your doggy,” he says as he holds out a plastic grocery bag. I step forward to take it, but Alex snatches it from his brother. He then picks me up again, ignoring my “I can walk” mumbling. Steve hurries to get the door and I cringe when the cold air blasts us. I notice someone has shoveled the walk to the driveway, even though it’s still snowing.
Alex somehow manages to juggle me, the “doggy bag” and open the Ram’s door, which thankfully he’s had warming up. I wonder how much gas he’s burned so far leaving it running like that.
And then I wonder if I’m always going to be concerned with such things. The constant fear of being without.
He drives slowly and again, like yesterday, no one is on the road. I feel a bit guilty at that, that I’ve made him come out in this, but then I remember that Alex offered. And Ogre needs help.
And I still need help, although I really hate to ask. But I have no choice. “Um, do you think you can take me to my house after we see Ogre? I need to get my clothes and my school tablet and uniform.”
I’ve been worrying that Devon will find the tablet and sell it and I can’t take the chance of losing it; my parents bought it when they enrolled me at the Academy and we use those instead of books. If something happens to it, or I lose it, I’m royally screwed.
Alex glances at me. “You don’t need it yet. You’re not going to school this week.”
Um, what? “What are you talking about? Of course I’m going to school!”
He shakes his head. “Nope. I gotta release from Doc that gives you a week off for recovery. I’ll turn it in to the office tomorrow.”
Not once since my parents disappeared have I missed school, at first because I figured I couldn’t exactly call myself in and I didn’t want any questions about where Mom and Dad were. But for the past year, it was because that would mean I’d miss my only chance at food.
I guess I don’t have to worry about that any longer, thank God… and Alex… but I still can’t risk the authorities questioning my absence. And my parents’ absence.
“I can’t miss,” I tell him. At the scowl he throws my way, I hurry to explain. “I mean, aren’t the office people gonna question another student turning in an excuse? I’ve managed to stay under the radar all this time after my parents took off and I only have until December before I’m eighteen and don’t have to worry about it.” I suck in a deep breath after that rushed explanation and am instantly sorry I did when my ribs scream in protest.
Alex glances at me again. “Don’t worry about it. Gotta friend in the office. I’ll give it to him. No questions asked that way.”
He must mean Ben Penn. I know he works in the school’s office. In fact, I assumed at first that it was him who had leaked that video of Beth and his dad since it went out by text message to all of Athole’s staff and students, but then I figured that didn’t make any sense. It would be like hanging yourself to do put that out in public view.
I relax and nod. I’m still not happy about being bossed around, but honestly, it will be really nice not to have to move too much. Lounging around in Alex’s super comfy house for a week sounds like a great idea.
Homework won’t be an issue either, once I get my tablet. All the teachers email assignments daily as reminders since apparently snobby rich kids can’t be bothered to take notes. I can keep up with all my work as long as have the tablet.
I tell Alex that, and remind him that I still need to get my school uniform for next week and he frowns at me. “We’ll get you new stuff. New clothes too.”
“What? Why?” I ask, shocked. I mean, come on… He’s talking crazy, as far as I’m concerned. No one has taken care of me in… well, hell, forever.
“Cuz if I get anywhere near your jackass brother, I’m gonna kill him,” he growls and turns to look at me. My eyes widen at the look on his face. He’s back to being the guy I dodged at school. Ran around corners to avoid. He’s not kidding.
Wow. Just wow.
“The tablets are easy to replace,” he continues as he looks back to the road. We’re barely creeping along, and I’m surprised that the plow trucks haven’t been out. But then again, maybe they have, and it’s just snowed that much more.
“We’ll get you some new uniforms. And clothes. And whatever girl crap you need.”
I sit in silence, thinking about all he’s telling me. He knows I don’t have any money, so that means he’s saying he’s going to buy all the stuff he mentioned. For me. Which means I’ll be even more in his debt than I already am now. I don’t like it, not one bit. But… what the hell are my choices?
Before too long, he once again pulls up on the wrong side of the road, next to Ogre’s yard. I don’t make the mistake of jumping out again. Lesson learned the hard way. Alex nabs the bag from the floor by my feet where I put it to keep it warm, because I figure the poor dog could use something warm in his tummy.
I watch for him but can’t see over the snow. There has to be close to two feet now from the storm, and it’s piled so high in the yard I can barely make out the top of the doghouse.
“Stay here,” the bossy jerk-but-still-a-good-guy tells me as he yanks the door open. He leaves the engine running so I still have heat, which I’m grateful for. But it also makes me feel even more guilty, because Alex is leaving the warm vehicle, going out to freeze his butt off on my errand.
I watch as his long legs plow through the snow. Even though he’s super tall, it still hits him just below the knees. I doubt I would have been able to walk through it.
He stumbles when he apparently hits the curb. It’s so hard to tell where anything is. But thankfully, he doesn’t fall and reaches the fence.
“Here boy!” he yells, calling Ogre, obviously not caring if that jerk old man hears him. Alex probably figures that he’s not going to come out in the weather just to yell at someone for talking to his dog.
He calls a few more times and whistles. I’m starting to get worried and wonder if maybe Ogre won’t come out because he doesn’t know Alex. My hand moves to the door handle, but I stop when I see Alex stiffen, then he drops the bag he’s holding and he freaking climbs the fence.
My jaw hangs open as I watch Alex scale a chain link fence that sways under his weight. It’s obviously not well-built, I mean, duh, it’s only protecting a junky yard no one would try to steal from, and I’m worried it’s going to crash down, taking Alex with him.
And why the hell he’s climbing the fence is beyond me. I mean, if that old man with the shotgun catches him… an involuntary shudder courses through me and my heart pounds against my abused ribs.
I don’t want Alex getting hurt, or worse, especially considering it’s for a dog that doesn’t belong to either one of us. But that doesn’t really matter, does it? Ogre’s a helpless creature in need. And Alex seems to be the man for the job in this case.
Alex reaches the top of the fence, then drops down to the other side and practical
ly runs toward the doghouse in the deep snow. I mean, you can’t really run when thick, heavy wet snow is impeding you, but Alex manages somehow.
He disappears for a second and then I see him stand with something in his arms. I realize that it’s Ogre and my heart pounds even harder. Alex wasn’t near the doghouse, so that means the poor dog was outside, in the snow. And freezing cold.
This time, my heart just about stops.
I watch as Alex messes with the dog’s chain, then seems to give up and instead throws the freaking chain over his shoulder, taking the weight off poor Ogre’s neck. Alex then trudges back the way he came, toward the fence. Except, this time, he’s also dragging a car tire that probably weighs another forty pounds. While carrying a huge dog. Yeah, Ogre is a lot skinnier now, but he’s still a large dog.
There’s no way he’s going to make it over the fence. He’s strong, yeah, but no way. If it was just a matter of the weight, then I doubt he’d have a problem. But he’s got to somehow climb a fence while carrying a dog and lugging an anchor behind him.
Not gonna happen.
I scan the fence perimeter and see a gate on the street perpendicular to the one we’re on. I glance back at the shack to make sure the old man hasn’t come out to blow giant holes in us or anything. No sign of life, thankfully. I pull the door handle.
“Over there!” I shout and point toward the gate. I start to get out, but Alex yells at me to stay where I am. For some reason, the tone of his voice makes me obey.
I’m tense as I watch him turn and make his way across the deep snow with the limp dog in his arms. At this point, I think I’m more worried about Alex than Ogre. That crazy old man surely had to hear us by now and is probably inside, reloading.
It seems to take Alex forever to get to the gate and then even longer to open it. I wonder if it has some sort of lock or what, but after a few minutes, he gets it open and walks out, leaving it pushed open.
Of course, I think it takes a lifetime for him to walk back to the Ram, where I’m waiting. I still have the door open and I open my arms to receive Ogre, but Alex shakes his head.