by J. A. Owenby
“Stop it! Get out!” I yelled.
Mama reached out and grabbed my arm. I tried to jerk away from her, my heart pounding, but she only tightened her grip.
“You can either be quiet and leave with us in a peaceful manner, or I’ll drug you again and haul your ass right outta here,” Mama said quietly.
A chill shot down my spine at the calmness of her words.
“Let go of my arm,” I said loudly.
Mama tightened her hold and pulled me closer to her.
“Patsy, get her purse and a change of clothes. No one will even know she isn’t here since it’s Christmas break. Lacey, you’ll spend Christmas with your family.”
I tried to tug my arm away as tears continued to stream down my face.
“No,” I whispered. “I won’t go.”
“And the crazy thing is that you think you have a choice in the matter.”
I struggled against her, but Mama had more strength and weight on her side. I sat on the floor and tried to make it more difficult as Mama dragged me out of my room and down the hallway. Patsy followed with my purse and clothes.
I glanced around the hallway, but no one was there. Where was Xander? What time was it? I squeezed my eyes closed and prayed for him to show.
Mama pushed the button for the elevator and jerked me to a standing position. “If you try to run or scream, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life,” she hissed.
The ping of the elevator made my breath catch. The doors whooshed open, she pulled me in, and the doors slid back into place. My heart pounded as we descended. We walked out of the elevator, and I scanned the now-empty lobby. Mrs. Walters wasn’t even at the front desk.
I racked my brain for a way to escape, but once Mama had made up her mind, it was nearly impossible to beat her. I’d learned that the hard way.
Patsy pushed open the front door of the building, and we stepped outside and into the drizzle. Some students were walking across the distant edge of the parking lot, but they were too far away to help me. Mama pulled me toward a blue Buick and unlocked it. I took a deep breath and screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Lacey!” a voice thundered across the parking lot.
“Xander, help! Please!” I yelled as he ran toward me.
“Hey, what the hell is going on here? Let her go,” he said and grabbed Mama’s arm. Mama released me, and I pulled away from her and stepped toward Xander.
“Get me out of here,” I hiccupped. “Please, just get me out of here.”
“You need to leave before I call the police,” Xander said to Mama. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if I see you again, or I see you near Lacey, I’ll call the cops.”
Mama glared at him as she turned and got into her car.
“That wasn’t smart on your part, Lacey,” Patsy muttered and got into the passenger’s side of the Buick. Xander wrapped his arms around me as they pulled out of the parking lot.
“Are you okay? Who the hell were they?” Xander asked. Worry spread across his face as he waited for me to answer.
“I need to get back upstairs,” I said, ignoring his question.
I willed my body to calm down, but it wasn’t working. I trembled against him.
“Okay, I’ll take you up there,” Xander said as he tightened his arm around me and guided me up the sidewalk and into the dorm.
I opened my door and glanced around. If it hadn’t been for Xander, I wouldn’t be standing in my room at all.
I covered my face as sobs ripped through me. Not only was I not safe anymore, but she was also no longer two thousand miles away. Mama was in Eugene.
Xander pulled me into him and held me while I cried.
“What can I do? I don’t know how to help,” he whispered.
“You can’t,” I said between hiccups. “I’ve tried, and nothing’s worked. I ran, Xander. I lost everything and moved across the country, and it didn’t work.”
I didn’t dare look at him. I hadn’t sobbed like this since Mama locked me in her bedroom. I knew what my ugly cry looked like, and I couldn’t stand for him to see it. I pushed away from him and walked out of my room, down the hallway, and into the bathroom. It amazed me how fast the dorm had cleared out for the break. Xander, Mama, and Patsy were the only people I’d seen in a few hours.
Ten minutes later, I returned to my room and found him sitting on the floor.
“I’m sorry, Xander. I just don’t think I’m up to going out tonight.”
He studied my face as he stood up, straightened his broad shoulders, and clenched his jaw.
“I don’t know what happened, but you’re not staying here,” he said, rubbing his neck. “You’re obviously terrified of those women, and I don’t want to leave you here alone. Are any of your friends here during the break?”
“Yeah. George is going to stay with me later tonight. He’s at his parents’ house right now.”
“When’s he coming by?”
“In a few hours,” I replied.
“I know it’s not a date, but what if you and George came over to my house tonight? I have some guest rooms, and maybe being in a different place with your friends will help you feel better. You can figure some things out─whatever those things might be.”
“I couldn’t impose, and . . .”
“What?”
I held his gaze. His typical mischievousness had vanished; he was serious about helping.
“You can’t save me. No one can,” I said and bit my lip.
As my words sank deep into my soul, I walked to my desk and brushed my hair. I couldn’t stand for him to see me like this.
“She took my purse and some of my clothes,” I muttered as I shook my head. I squeezed my eyes closed, unable to process what had just happened. I sat down and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My green eyes were red and swollen. Xander stood behind me, his brow furrowed and his arms crossed in front of him.
“Shit,” he said and ran his hands through his hair. “Listen, I’ll take care of it. I’ll get your purse and clothes back. I don’t want you to worry about it.”
“How? I don’t even know where she is . . . somewhere in Eugene,” I said and turned toward him.
“I have connections—let me take care of it. I’ll need you to tell me who they were and what the hell they wanted, but we should get you situated first. Then you can tell me what I need to know.”
“That would be amazing if you could get my stuff back and I wouldn’t have to see her.” A small amount of relief washed over me at the thought of it.
“For now, call George at his folks’ house. At least this way I’ll know you’re safe tonight.”
“I’ll call him and see what he wants to do,” I said as I picked up the phone.
Chapter 9
The air was thick with tension when George entered my room. He took one look at my red, swollen eyes and walked over to me, grabbing my hand. He didn’t even bother calling me Hillbilly.
We silently followed Xander out of the building and into the parking lot. “My truck’s over here,” he said, leading us to a new, black Chevy pickup.
George and I glanced at each other as he unlocked the doors. We handed him our backpacks, and he placed them in the back of the extended cab.
“Hop in, you guys. There’s room for everyone in the front,” he said as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
I slid in next to him, and George took the window seat next to me.
“This is a beautiful truck—is it yours?” I asked softly, worried that I was being nosy.
“Yeah, my grandma passed away this summer and left me her house, and . . . well, I’ve got money for a while if I’m careful,” he replied.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. What about your parents?”
“My parents are in Europe. I don’t see them often, but they call every now and then. I lived with Grandma for the last four years so I could afford to go here. I miss her a lot, but she was in so much pain. She fought cancer for several years.”
“Yeah, I know how hard that is,” I replied, frowning as the sadness of those memories washed through me. George placed his other hand on top of mine.
Xander turned on the radio, and we rode the rest of the way without talking. We followed a road I wasn’t familiar with and headed out of Eugene toward Springfield. It felt like we’d been driving for an hour, but only twenty minutes had passed when we pulled onto a gravel road and drove a few more minutes before parking in front of a two-story, beige bungalow. Black trim surrounded the windows and planters were strategically placed at the corners of the porch.
“This is home,” he said and turned off the truck. George and I slid out the passenger side while Xander grabbed our backpacks from behind the seat.
I glanced at George and silently thanked him for being there with me. I didn’t know anything about Xander, and I was a little nervous. We walked up the front steps and followed him into the house.
“Wow,” George said as we stepped into the foyer, which had beautiful wood floors. I tugged on his arm and motioned for him to check out the wainscoting in the dining room. My eyes wandered into the living room next, where I noted the crown molding, and the beautiful stonework around the fireplace.
“Yeah, she’s a beaut,” Xander said as we followed him down the hallway and into the kitchen. He placed our backpacks on the table, opened the fridge, and pulled out a few beers.
“No thanks,” I said as I scrunched my nose at the thought of the taste.
“Not a fan of beer, I see?” Xander asked, smiling for the first time all evening.
“I am. Thanks,” George said as he accepted one.
“Well, I’ve got something else for you then,” he said and opened a kitchen cabinet.
“I’m okay, really,” I said.
“No, no, you’re not anywhere close to being okay, so no arguing,” he said and pulled down a bottle of rum.
“Lacey, you like rum. It’ll help you relax some,” George encouraged.
I nodded as Xander proceeded to make a drink that contained half rum and half Pepsi.
“This should help,” he said and smiled.
I took a sip and winced.
“Wow! That’s a little strong,” I said as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Thank you,” I added. “None of this was necessary.”
Xander waved me off and picked up our backpacks again.
“Come on, I’ll show you the guest rooms,” he said.
George elbowed me as we followed him up the stairs.
“My God, that ass,” he whispered and fanned himself. I covered my mouth and stifled a giggle.
“George, you can have this room,” Xander said as he opened the door to a small, but beautifully furnished, bedroom.
“Lacey, I’m going to give you the bedroom in between George’s and mine,” he said as he opened another door and placed my backpack inside it. I noted the queen-size bed and dark hardwood furniture. A bright-colored area rug spanned the room. I wondered why anyone would want to cover such beautiful wood floors.
“The guest bathroom is across the hall and there’s one downstairs as well, so you guys make yourselves comfortable.”
“Wow, I don’t have to run down the hallway in a towel tonight. I’m kind of excited,” I replied.
“Well, we certainly do not want to see that,” George piped up.
“Speak for yourself there, buddy,” Xander said, laughing.
The familiar flush crept up my neck and cheeks, and I took another drink and hoped they wouldn’t notice.
“Why don’t we go downstairs and get something to eat,” Xander said.
“Or maybe another drink,” I replied and smiled. “I think I started feeling better about two sips ago.” I giggled.
The guys laughed, and we made our way downstairs and settled into the living room. Xander grabbed the rum and Pepsi, sandwiches, and chips.
The rain pounded against the windows, and I settled into the love seat as Xander built a fire. George took a handful of chips and situated himself into the couch with his beer, which left the seat next to me available. Xander didn’t pass up the opportunity.
“How’re you doing?” he asked.
“I’m okay, thank you,” I said and raised my glass.
“Lacey doesn’t really drink, so we might want to ply her with water as well,” George said. “My Hillbilly is a lightweight.”
“Hillbilly?” Xander barked out a laugh.
“Seriously, George? Like I wasn’t having a shitty day already,” I said and glared at him. It was one thing for him to tease me, but not in front of Xander.
“It’s okay, Lacey, I won’t tell anyone, and I certainly won’t call you that,” Xander said as he chuckled.
The fire crackled, and I took another sip of my drink.
“My mother,” I said and stared into the flames.
George and Xander looked at me and waited for me to say something else.
“The women in the parking lot,” I continued. “One was my mother, and the other one was her girlfriend. I moved here to go to the U of O—I was honest with you about that. But I also wanted to start over and leave the past behind. I thought it would work, but here she is . . .”
“Wow, that is so messed up. I’m sorry you had to deal with that shit,” George said.
“Yeah. No one should have to go through that,” Xander said.
“Welcome to my life,” I said and sighed. “Let’s change the subject.”
Neither one of them pressed me for any additional information, and that was all I was going to share anyway. George cleared his throat and broke the silence.
“Do you miss football?” George asked Xander.
“Yeah, sorta crazy it was my last year,” he said and ran his hand through his hair. “I love the NFL, though. Steve Largent is kicking ass again this season for the Seahawks. That’ll keep me focused on football for a while. I’m off to the real world next June though, no more classes or teachers. That’ll be when it really hits me. It’ll be a bit weird, but I’m excited about getting a job and starting my career.”
“Mmmm, a job,” I said and held up my empty glass. “I should get one of those too. I saved enough money to last me a year while I got adjusted to a new, well, everything, but . . . yup.”
“How ya feelin’ there, Lacey?” Xander asked. He didn’t bother trying to hide the amused expression on his face.
“Better, like, much better. Can I have some more, please?”
“Sure,” Xander said and reached for my glass.
“Thank you and your amazing smile,” I said and peered up at him.
Xander grinned as he walked out of the living room and into the kitchen.
“Water—she needs some water too if you don’t want her puking on your gorgeous floors,” George called after him.
“George, you’re right,” I whispered loudly. “He’s totally hot! And nice. Like, what the hell, right? Just pick us up for the night. And what a house!” I squealed.
“Lacey,” George said as he slid into the seat next to me. “Shhh, girl, you’re all sorts of wasted already.” He laughed.
“Oh God, my neck doesn’t hurt anymore either. It’s a miracle. I should drink more often. It melts the stress away,” I said as my head rolled to the side and I smiled at George. “I love you, George. I really do.”
“Yeah, I love you too, Hillbilly, and that’s why I’m here. I don’t know what happened to you tonight, but I’m really glad Xander had you call me. I’m here,” he said as he took my hand.
“I wish straight guys were as sweet as you. They might get laid more often,” I said.
“Yeah? I’ll keep that in mind,” Xander said as he entered the living room with another rum and Pepsi and a big glass of water.
“Shit,” I said as my cheeks flushed bright red. I reached for the rum and Pepsi as Xander
placed the water on the table for me.
“Don’t worry, George, her drink is mostly soda this time. I didn’t realize she wasn’t a drinker.”
“Thanks. Yeah, last weekend was the first time I ever saw her drink, and it wasn’t much.”
I leaned my head back and listened to George and Xander talk. The fire crackled, the rain pattered against the window, and the rum flowed through me. It was enough to completely forget everything bad that had happened in the last year. All the hell, the struggle to appear happy, and the constant hole in my heart—it all slipped away.
Chapter 10
“Lacey!”
George nudged my shoulder, and my eyelids fluttered open.
“George? Where am I?” I asked and gripped his arm.
“You’re okay, I’m here. We’re at Xander’s, in his guest room. You fell asleep, so he carried you up here. You had a nightmare. Are you okay? You said you were trapped, and it was hard to make out the rest, but I could’ve sworn you said you were going to die.”
“Holy shit, I didn’t,” I whispered and covered my face with the blanket. Then I pulled the cover back down and peeked at the clock. It was two in the morning.
“Hey, what’s going on?” George asked, nudging me.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and peered at him in the darkness. George had proven to be a good friend, and hopefully one I could trust with my past. And if Mama was staying in Eugene, I would need my friends.
“My mom’s sick, and I don’t mean physically sick.” I sighed as the memories flooded back.
“You mean mentally ill?”
“Yeah. I tried to get her help last year, but she didn’t want it,” I said. “Things ended badly, and when I say badly, I mean she drugged me and kept me locked up for almost two weeks. I wasn’t allowed to go outside or to work, school, or anywhere else. My boyfriend at the time was in the military, and I was supposed to take his mom and brother to visit him. When I didn’t show, his ex-fiancée and his best friend drove them instead. Then, for some stupid reason, Walker thought I’d cheated on him, and he broke up with me. We were engaged. I dunno. I’m probably not making a lot of sense.” I sighed.