When Faults Collide (Faultlines #1)

by Claire Granger

  I frowned and looked down, wondering if she was right.

  “The good news, dear, is that because you are in such a new relationship, and both of you are fine without it, we have plenty of time to deal with it. It doesn’t need to be addressed today,” she said, reaching out and squeezing my hand, reassuring me.

  After we ended our session, I had some time before I needed to be at Shine, so I decided to text Blake and ask him if he wanted me to pick up and bring him dinner.

  Hey handsome. I’m finished with Katherine.

  I know you said to come at 7, but since I have some free time I wondered if you wanted me to come a little early and bring you dinner??

  I bit the tip of my thumb and waited on his response.

  Hey gorgeous girl. That would be AMAZING!!

  I’ve missed you today.

  I smiled as the waiter cleared off Katherine’s plate and my empty mug. I got up and left a tip sitting out before grabbing my bag and leaving, shooting Blake a response on my way out.

  I’ve missed you too. :) Gyros okay?

  I rounded the corner, walking past a few pedestrians, making my way to the Greek place on the corner as my phone dinged again.

  Sounds great. See you soon.

  I smiled and put my phone in my bag before going in and buying two lamb gyros.

  I drove down to Shine and got out, making my way through the alley, bag of gyros in tow. I knocked on the door and gasped in happy surprise when Blake flung the door open and picked me up, spinning me around.

  I giggled as he sat me down, kissing the top of my forehead as he did.

  “Hi,” I said shyly.

  “Hello there. I’ve missed you today,” he said, pulling me into a warm embrace.

  He ushered me inside and we sat at the bar to eat.

  He told me about his day; about the orders he had to put in, the bands and managers that he interviewed, and about getting set up for tonight.

  I told him about my day, leaving out the “intimacy issues” talks with Lily and Katherine. We would talk about that later. There was no reason to ruin our evening.

  He was more surprised than I had been about Lily moving out.

  “Are you going to have to get another roommate?” he asked.

  I shook my head, wiping away some yogurt sauce from the corner of my mouth. “No. My dad bought me my house as a graduation present. No rent. The utilities are fairly low, and no way I am putting myself through that. Lily is my best friend and it was still weird when we decided to live together. Bringing in a stranger would mean that I would have to explain my story, even part of it, to them...and I don’t do that. Other than on my blog, that is.”

  He nodded in understanding and then grinned. “Well, I guess that leaves more time for us to hang then.”

  I giggled and leaned in for a kiss. “Yes. Always time for you, handsome.”

  He winked and then balled up the foil his gyro had come in, aiming and shooting it into the trashcan behind the bar.

  The band was at the stage doing sound checks, so I checked my phone and realized it was 7:05. People were going to start arriving soon.

  Blake gave me another kiss and then said he had to run into the office to finish up a few more things and asked if I would be okay.

  I nodded and pulled out my phone to take a picture of the band setting up.

  At #Shine watching #WithinOurChaos set up.

  RVA folks, come down and check it out!

  #ShockhoeBottom

  This was Mandy’s band, so I knew it was probable that she would be there. I pushed the thought out of my mind as people began to make their way in.

  I stayed towards the sides and the back as the place filled up.

  A few minutes before 8pm, Blake joined me and stood behind me, hands around my waist as the band set up to begin.

  The music started and I clapped and cheered with the crowd. The band’s style was in the post hardcore/emo genre and they were good. Definitely raw talent, but a step above a garage band.

  I snapped several pictures and Tweeted throughout the show, and when the show was almost over I could feel someone staring at me.

  I looked around, knowing who I was going to find, and sure enough on the other side of the wall, opposite of me, stood Mandy. Her hands rested on her hips, her dull blonde hair pulled into a ponytail that swished as she turned away.

  I went back to watching the band, putting my hands over Blake’s hands, which still rested on the front of my stomach.

  The band thanked everyone for coming out and everyone cheered, myself and Blake included.

  Blake rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered, “What did you think?”

  “They’re good! Raw and unrefined, but not in a bad way. Like a diamond in the rough.”

  He held me closer and sighed. “I agree.”

  He kissed the side of my cheek and then went to go shake hands with the band and finish up the last bit of paperwork so he could close it down.

  As he made his way towards the band, Mandy rushed over towards him, shaking his hand, then I could see her talking with him and looking at him suggestively.

  This bitch.

  When she put her hand on his arm and rubbed, he pulled his hand away. Not roughly, but still with enough impact that anyone with a brain would take a hint.

  Of course, that’s not who we’re talking about here.

  She put her hand on his back, and that was when I decided that she needed a brief reminder of who Blake was with.

  I slid right in between them, wrapping my arm around Blake’s back, essentially blocking him from her.

  “Hello, Mandy,” I said, making my voice as impassive as possible.

  She pouted some and then said, “So, anyway, like I was saying Blake... call me anytime. I have a few other bands I’d love to bring by.”

  Blake’s eyes darted between the two of us, and I’m sure he could see the contempt behind my eyes.

  “Uh huh,” he responded towards Mandy, wrapping his arm around my back at the same time.

  “Blake has work to do, Mandy. Did you need anything else?” I asked innocently.

  She huffed and then turned around and stormed off.

  Blake leaned in. “What’s up with that?”

  I rolled me eyes. “Long story. I’ll tell you later.”

  He chuckled. “Okay, baby.”

  Blake finished up his work while the cleaning crew and other managers closed down the main room. We all left at the same time and Blake said goodbye to everyone.

  We headed back to the house separately, since we had both taken our own cars, and met on the porch.

  He pulled me into a warm embrace, which I welcomed. There was nothing better than this, I was sure of it. The pull that our bodies made towards each other was calmed in this embrace. All was right in the world when he held onto me.

  He leaned down and kissed me, softly at first and then building into something more passionate. He moved his hand from top of my head down my back before reaching down and picking me up, my legs straddling his hips.

  I giggled and he grabbed my key, unlocking my door, all while carrying me. He kicked the door closed and made his way up the stairs towards my room.

  He tossed me down on the bed and then climbed on top of me, continuing to kiss me passionately.

  As he ran his hand along my cheek I felt his hands shaking.

  Not nervously, more like with fear.

  This confused me, but the confusion didn’t last long when I suddenly felt his arousal through his pants and on my leg.

  Suddenly I was terrified, and I had no idea why. My eyes flew open and I jerked back.

  Our eyes met. He was shaking; I was shaking. We both breathed in and out, just staring at each other, finding our center and our comfort in each other.

  We stared at each other for several minutes before our breathing calmed.

  He laughed uncomfortably.

  “Well, we sure are a pair, aren’t we?” he asked rather morbid
ly as he crawled up next to me and held me against his side.

  Suddenly a giggle escaped me. Then it erupted into full blown, side aching laughter. He joined in and the next thing you know we were both laughing hysterically.

  A tear fell down my cheek and I wasn’t sure if it was from the laughter or from the tragic case of our situation.

  I opted to believe that it was from the laughter.

  I slowly breathed out. “We are so fucked up.”

  He leaned over me and held my face in his hands with a serious expression on his face, though I saw sadness in his eyes. “We are not. We have issues to deal with because of our messed up past. We are not what’s wrong...we are everything right.”

  So we laid there, still in our clothes, not even bothering to get up and change. Everything was okay when we were together, everything was right.

  I just didn’t want to let go.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “So what’s been going on with you, baby girl?” my dad asked.

  “Lily’s moving out...she and Tom are getting married,” I said, biting my thumb nail as I held the phone to my ear.

  “She is? Wow, that’s exciting! How are things going with this boy of yours?” he asked, with an undertone that said he was treading lightly.

  “His name is Blake. Everything is good,” I said smiling.

  “Hm. Well, it better stay good. I’ve got a pistol in the closet and it’s been too long since I’ve had a living target.”

  “Dad! You stop!” I said, laughing.

  There was definitely no pistol and I doubt he had ever even shot an air soft gun.

  “I’ll never stop. It’s my job,” he stated seriously. “Besides, I missed enough years of protecting you. I’m certainly not going to let you down now.”

  I gulped and tried to force myself not to cry.

  “You know, Dad, sometimes I don’t even feel like any of it is real. That probably makes me sound crazy.”

  “What do you mean, honey?”

  “I don’t know. It was so long ago, and it was so completely different than my life here. Sometimes it feels like a big nightmare instead of my reality. Does that make sense?”

  “It does. I think that’s your mind trying to make sense of it all. Have you looked at the box?”

  “No, and I don’t plan to any time soon. Let it go,” I said firmly.

  I had a box of my mother’s things in my closet that I had never looked through. It scared me to death to think of facing that. Nope, it was better buried in my closet. Unfortunately, Katherine and my dad liked to bring it up.

  “Could I ask you a question though, Dad?”

  “Sure, honey. What’s up?”

  “Where did you get it? I mean, did you like, go into the chakala to get her things or did someone give them to you, or what?” I asked softly.

  My dad gasped. I rarely asked any questions about my life there or mom, so I’m sure it took him off guard.

  “No. I wouldn’t step foot in the door. I—I just couldn’t, Ash. I stood outside and a woman brought it down to me.”

  “What woman?” I asked, curious.

  “Oh, um...I can’t remember her name. She looked really rough. Bruises all over. Skinny,” he said uncomfortably.

  “Bruises? Oh...Aati?”

  “Um...yeah. That sounds right. Do you remember her?”

  I began to pick at the thread of my jeans. Oh, did I remember.

  I remembered the first time I saw her, too. I was nine, wandering through the halls of the building looking for Haasita, another little girl who lived there. I walked past Aati’s room and saw her with a client.

  He had her bent over a chair with a small cane in his hand. He was hitting her repeatedly on her backside, but instead of screaming in pain she was moaning and smiling. Suddenly the man threw down the cane and thrust himself inside her. Aati’s eyes rolled back and she moaned even louder.

  I covered my mouth and ran down the hall to find my mom.

  My breathing must have increased because suddenly I heard my dad talking again.

  “Asha? Baby girl? Are you okay, honey?” His voice was laced with concern.

  “Huh? Oh, yeah... I’m fine Dad. Yes, I remember Aati. She actually helped me when Mom died.” I said, shaking off the memory.

  “She did? What do you mean, she helped you?” he asked.

  “Well, the paramedics were rolling her out...after she...um... you know...and they were completely ignoring me. Aati held onto me, and she sat with me until the social services worker arrived and took me to the orphanage.” I began picking my jeans with more intensity. I was going to rip a hole if I didn’t stop.

  “Oh. Well I’m glad you weren’t alone, then,” he said, his voice cracking.

  I suddenly felt my cheek dampen and I wiped away a tear with ferocity.

  “Yep. Well...look, Dad. I gotta go. Blake will be back any minute. I’ll see you tomorrow though, right?” I asked, standing up and beginning to pace across the room.

  “Okay, honey. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”

  “Yep. Love you, too. Bye.” I tossed my phone down on the couch.

  I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that I had an hour before Blake got back. I decided that I needed an extra run today and went upstairs to put on my running clothes.

  I stopped on the sidewalk to choose some music and decided to play my Bollywood playlist.

  I pressed play and let Pritam blare through my headphones.

  I focused on my breathing, putting one foot in front of the other.

  I remembered that night like it was yesterday.

  “Kya apa mujhe samajhate haim?” (Do you understand me?) the social services worker asked me.

  “Vaha hindi nahim bolata,” (She doesn’t speak Hindi,) Aati answered her while rubbing my back.

  I sat on the ground rocking, Aati never leaving my side. They hadn’t even let me hold her one last time, or even see her. Maybe she wasn’t really dead. Maybe this was all just a bad dream!

  The social services worker glanced at my ripped Sari and looked a little too long at the blood and bruise on my face.

  “Apa cota kara rahe haim?” (Are you hurt?) she asked.

  My tear filled blue eyes looked into her eyes.

  “Maim thika hūm!” (I’m fine!) I shouted to her.

  She pursed her lips and shook her head. She walked over to the other social services worker and they spoke. I heard her tell her that I appeared to be hurt, but that I wasn’t being cooperative so it wasn’t their concern.

  It wasn’t their concern because it meant nothing. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have gone out and broken the rules. If I had just stayed inside I could have said goodbye. A girl getting raped in an alley was hardly something new or shocking and it didn’t matter.

  I just needed to stop shaking long enough to remind myself that it didn’t matter.

  It didn’t matter that I was a virgin. It didn’t matter that I told him to stop. It didn’t matter that his disgusting hands felt my virginity and that he raped me anyway.

  It was just another girl getting what she deserved for walking the streets alone.

  It didn’t matter at all.

  “Miss? Miss, are you okay?” I heard someone ask.

  I blinked several times and realized that I was sitting on the sidewalk. How long had I been sitting?

  I blinked again and steadied my breathing.

  “Yeah, sorry. Uh...I’m fine. Thanks,” I said, standing up.

  I cursed myself for having another flashback, and made my way back home, ignoring the good samaritan staring at me.

  I glanced at my phone and saw that I had about fifteen minutes before Blake would be back.

  I ran upstairs and took a quick shower, trying to wash away all of the memories as I scrubbed.

  I put on some silky pajamas, made my way downstairs, and grabbed two beers from the fridge before making my way out onto the porch.

  Right as I sat down, Blake pulled up and ma
de his way to the porch.

  He leaned in and kissed me softly.

  “Hey, gorgeous girl.”

  “Hey there, handsome,” I breathed.

  “How was your day? I missed you,” he said, sitting next to me as I handed him the beer.

  “Good,” I answered quickly.

  He cocked his head to the side and studied me for a moment, but didn’t push.

  “How was your day?” I asked, taking a sip.

  “Eh. You know, same old same old. Bartender quit, a band is pissy that I’m only giving them two nights instead of a whole week. The usual.” He said, shrugging.

  I curled up next to him and he put his arm around me. “Well, my day is much better now, with you here.”

  He kissed the top of my head and I sighed.

  This was better than any therapy ever could be.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The drive to Tyson’s Corner on Sunday was magical. It felt like time had slowed down and we had an amazing time together, just existing in our little bubble. The windows were down in my little Fiat, my black hair swishing in the breeze, his brown curls bouncing at the same time. I drove with one elbow resting on the door.

  We listened to my crazy playlist, with every genre from country to post hardcore to indie to classic rock. We sang along and rocked to the beats.

  We laughed. We chatted.

  It was a beautiful hour and a half.

  It was perfect, and it was us.

  We pulled up to my dad’s house and I grabbed his hand before he got out. My eyes shone with playful joy.

  “Wait! Okay, I have to ask you something...super, super serious,” I said mischievously.

  His eyes shone with the same playfulness as he kissed the back of my hand. “Anything. Do you want the moon? Let me pull it down for you. The stars? Yours. Name anything, and it’s yours.”