“You didn’t know.” My mother says grabbing my hand. “Billy saw his opportunity and took you. That was the only time your father and Stonem became allies and helped each other. They decided to keep it secret because if people found out Roman worked with Stonem they might think he was a rat. Stonem didn’t want to get into trouble with his bosses and he didn’t want the media to find out, besides that’s when his wife got sick and I don’t think she ever knew.”
“So that little girl I was locked up with for three days was Claudia Stonem.”
“Yes and she was there for like a week I think, but Donovan you guys got out. You saved her.”
“We saved each other.” I mumble to myself.
Finally, I let my memory kick in.
It was when we lived here in East Brook. I was mad because my father told me I couldn’t play outside, but I did anyway. One of my dad’s security guards got killed because of me. Billy shot him while grabbing me outside. I remember all the blood and his face when he was shot. I remember being put in a trunk for an hour. I was panicking the whole way. I even pissed on myself. Finally Billy took me out when we arrived at this really old abandoned house. He took me into the basement and put me in a dog cage. I remember being so scared.
Soon I saw there was another cage next to me and it was a little girl with brown hair and gray eyes. She was dirty and she was hugging a bear. She didn’t speak to me and I didn’t speak to her.
Billy would come down stairs and scare us. He burned us with cigarettes on our backs and arms. He would take a kitchen knife and stick it in our cages, laughing at how terrified we were. We got cut sometimes. I remember crying on the floor scared to death. I also remember Claudia grabbing my hand through the bars of the cage and lying next to me. We just stared at each other. Our connection got me through the second day. I remember on the morning of the third day he came down with a larger kitchen knife. I avoided the tip of the knife but Claudia couldn’t. She got stabbed in her side. I remember watching her fall down to the ground, crying. I remember Billy laughing. I was so angry. I wanted to get her out of there. So when Billy came back to my cage with the knife. I grabbed it by the blade end. It hurt like hell but I was determined to take it away from him. He let me have it too. I still have the scar on my right hand from that. I had expected him to come after me but he just took a sip of his bottle and walked back up the stairs. I told Claudia to hold on.
I picked the lock with the knife. Chris had taught me to pick locks. It took me three hours to do it. I know this because there was a raggedy clock on the wall that I always watched.
When I got out of my cage, I picked the lock off Claudia’s. She was still lying on the ground holding her side staring at me. It took me two hours to unlock hers. We snuck up the stairs with the knife in my hand. We snuck through the living room. It was so dirty. It smelled like liquor and vomit. We were almost out the door until Billy stopped us.
He grabbed Claudia from behind and slapped her. I charged him and stabbed him deep in his leg. He screamed like crazy. I ran to Claudia to wake her up. As I woke her up Billy was slowly taking the knife out of his leg. He was walking toward us when I saw the gun on the coffee table next to us. I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed the gun and just pulled the trigger. I remember thinking that it was just like using a water gun. All you had to do was point and shoot. So I did. The first bullet went through his stomach. The second through his chest and the third, fourth and fifth, I can’t even say.
What scared me the most about that moment is that I enjoyed it. I enjoyed watching him die. A minute later, people bursted through the front door. I recognized them as my father’s men. They carried us out and put us both in different cars. The last thing I remember is seeing that little girl getting carried to the car. That was the last time I saw her.
Well so I thought.
“We had to leave Eastbrook because we didn’t want you two to see each other and tell people, so we just moved. You went through therapy and eventually blocked it out. You asked about her a couple of times and we just told you the truth that she was back with her family. I heard she went through a lot of therapy too.” My mother says still holding on to my hand.
“Yeah, well I guess the blocking out part worked.”
“I’m sorry sweetie; we just wanted to protect you.”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to know. She and I don’t talk so it’s no big deal.” I lied. It was a big deal. A very big deal.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Thanks mom for telling me. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I rise out of my chair to leave, but not before telling my mother one thing. “And by the way… you’re an amazing mother.” She slowly smiles at me. I can tell she wants to cry but doesn’t.
Well, I know one thing. This thing between Claudia and I is far from over.
Claudia
What do you do when the guy you have feelings for but can’t be with is standing by your locker at 8 am in the morning?
Well in my case, I should probably just kill myself right then and there...
“What the hell are you doing?” I snap at Donovan once I reach my locker.
“We need to talk.”
“What? I thought last night I made it perfectly clear....”
“When you were kidnapped, you were taken to an abandoned house that smelled like liquor and vomit.” What? “You were locked in a dog cage for a week and fohree days of that week a little boy was locked up next to you.”
I can’t even respond because suddenly Donovan raises his right hand, palm facing me to show me a long scar curved around it.
Everything inside me immediately drops.
“Meet me in the library basement after school.” That was definitely an order from him.
I continue standing there speechless and shaking while all the horrible memories come back to me. Remembering that long week in that basement, where I was locked up, the smile on my kidnapper while he tortured me and the little boy who saved my life.
The same little boy who cut his hand on the kitchen knife trying to take it from our kidnapper, so he could pick our locks for hours.
The little boy that killed our kidnapper.
The little boy with blonde hair and baby blue eyes.
Donovan
I waited ten minutes for her.
She finally peaks around standing in front of me by the shelves of dusty old books. The library basement is for when you have to do a twenty page research paper. So nobody hardly ever comes down here.
“So is this a joke?” She asks me nervously.
“No. When you mentioned that you were kidnapped last night, it’s like something triggered in me. Like all the memories came back because for a long time I blocked them.”
“Me too.” I see her eyes watering up. “I use to have really bad nightmares too.”
“Me too” I tell her.
“Why were we kidnapped, together?”
“The guy that kidnapped us blamed your dad for getting his father arrested and disowning him. He hated my father because his dad loved him. So he took the things that our fathers loved the most. I think he would have taken my brother and sister too, but I was the only one dumb enough to leave the house. Do you have a scar where he stabbed you?”
She slowly raises up her shirt just enough to show the slanted medium length scar on her side. I move closer to her and gently touch the scar. Her skin is so soft while the scare is slightly jagged. I feel her shake a little so I remove my hand. She drops her shirt and wipes her eyes.
“When people ask me about it, I just say I fell on top of a kitchen knife.”
“I say I accidentally cut myself trying to climb a gate.” I’m trying to lighten the mood here so I kind of laugh at my statement.
“My dad told me some crap about how people couldn’t know because of other bad people out there and but I didn’t care because I didn’t want to remember anyway.” I look down at my feet trying to figure out what to sa
y. “But I didn’t really want to forget you.”
I quickly look at her. The way she said it was like she was shocked at her own admission.
“I didn’t want to forget you, either.”
Her eyes go from my eyes to my lips. I know she wants to kiss me and I want to kiss her too.
“Yeah, well.” She says snapping out of her trance. “Thank you for saving me that night and thank you for telling me. I better go.”
I can’t let her go. Not after what we found out.
“Wait.” As she turns away, I grab her wrist.
She looks down at my grip than back up at me.
“Donovan, we talked about this”
“I know.” I release her wrist. “But don’t you see? It’s fate.”
“Fate? Are you Serious?”
“Yes. When we were eight years old, we went through a really shitty thing together. When it was over we never saw each other again and after what I’m guessing some really expensive and crappy therapy, we just decided to shut it all out. Including each other because we didn’t want to face the bad part about the experience. At sixteen we met each other again and we instantly connected like we were meant to find each other or something. Then some more bad shit happens and we get separated again. A year later I come back and our connection is more intense than ever.”
“It’s a coincidence” She quickly says.
“Really? Come on Claudia wake up. You use to believe in fate I know you did. The girl I met at that party did. She believed in love, passion, and fate because I’m guessing that’s what your mother taught you. See you and I keep blocking things out because we don’t want to face the bad part of it all, but Claudia we have to remember the good. Now I know you’re scared. Trust me I’m scared too, but I swear we can do this. We at least have to try.”
“Really? Why?” She frowns
“Because it will make us happy and because you’re strong. I remember we saved each other. I was scared shitless, but this little girl grabbed my hand and sat with me as I cried calling out for my mom and dad. She held my hand for the entire day. She helped me. She and her stuffed animal bear, Griff.”
Her eyes widen at my memory of that goofy stuff bear she held on to.
“Yeah I remember his name. I kept hearing you talking to him. You kept saying “We’ll be fine Mr. Griff.” Then you would look at me and say everything will be fine.”
She looks down again, but I lift her chin up to face me.
“I remember the girl who stood up to her father because she knew he was wrong. That light, I saw in that little girl is still in there. I see it. I know it. Fate has not only played us given our family backgrounds, but it has also brought us together. I mean its life. It gets shitty and hard but in the end it’s all worth it when you’re happy. Now I know there are a million reasons why we shouldn’t be together but I also know there is one reason why we should and so do you.” I pause for a moment just to make sure she is hearing me loud and clear. “Now tonight I’m going be on Cottage Street. It’s a street filled with these huge abandoned houses. There is one in particular, a white house. There will be a light on in the window. I’m going to be there at eight. I’m going to wait for you until nine. If you don’t show up at nine than I swear I will leave you alone forever. I swear on everything. Claudia whatever you decide, don’t show up for me and don’t choose to not show up because of your father. Just make your decision based on what you want.”
With what feels like my last will and testament, I walk away. I leave her with the choice. I made a promise and I will keep it. If she doesn’t show up, it’s over… for good.
Claudia
Cottage Street is twenty minutes away from my house.
That’s all I’ve been thinking about since Donovan’s final plea to me.
I still can’t believe he was that little boy. Hell maybe I always knew deep down. I stare at my clock on my night stand. Its 8:15
“Claudia you okay?” I turn to see Jade leaning against my head board studying me. I told her everything that happened today. She doesn’t think I should go.
“Yeah, I’m good” I lie.
“Claudia you’re doing the right thing. He’s crazy to think this could work. I mean yeah it’s romantic and all that bullshit, but it’s stupid.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s stupid” I sound like I’m reading off a teleprompter. I’m so zoned out right now.
I don’t think it’s stupid though. I think it’s romantic and amazing. I think that it’s epic. I always wanted an epic romance.
“You know he remembered who Mr. Griff was? I mean, Eric has been in my room millions of times, but I swear he never remembered that I even had a stuff bear from my mom.”
“Claudia.” I sense the nervous tone in Jade’s voice.
“I’m just saying, you know? Its crazy how people you least expect, come around and know more about you than your own family. Like he knows my smiles, my annoying habits, hell he knows what I’m thinking.”
“Okay.” Jade slowly says. She scoots up close towards me. “Well, think of it this way. What would your mom have done?”
That’s it. I know exactly what my mom would have done.
“Oh shit, bad choice of words right now. I mean what would your dad would do?” by Jade’s switch I can tell she knows too. “What would Jesus do?”
Okay now she’s just trying to come up with anything.
I stand up from my bed and look at my clock. Its 8:20. God, time is going by fast.
“Claud?” Jade asks staring at me nervously.
“No that’s good, what would my mom do? Better yet what would any girl do? Even you. I mean who wants a gorgeous mysterious guy who looks at you like you’re a goddess every time he sees you? Who wants a guy who probably gives the most passionate and riveting speeches about his feelings for you since Leo in Titanic or Joaquin in that crazy village movie, or the one with him and Reese, or Channing Tatum in The Vow? Who wants a guy that makes your heart beat faster and faster every time you look at him? Who wants a guy who sees inside your soul?!” I finally breathe.
Jade’s eyes continue staring at me showing signs of her being totally freaked out.
“I’m guessing you?” She slowly asks, already knowing the answer.
My answer for her is the biggest smile I’ve had since I saw Donovan in class that day.
“I’ll call you later.” I grab my keys.
“Oh my God! Okay well just be careful please!” Jade yells as I’m running down my stairs.
Oh my God. I can’t believe I am doing this.
Donovan
Its 9:00
“She’s not coming” I say to myself staring out towards the damaged and warn out back yard of the abandoned house I picked for us. Boy am I stupid.
“I didn’t take you for a quitter” I turn around to the sound of the voice behind me.
It’s her. She is standing, before me right now with her hair down and pushed to the side with a cute gray sweater falling off her left shoulder.
“I like the Christmas lights.” She is referring to the Christmas lights I hung up around the windows so she would know.
“Yeah, Emile helped me.”
Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy) Page 13