Building on Lies

by T. Banny

  On Friday afternoon, Ro and I drove to the Amtrak station in New Bedford, a town about an hour away. I would leave my car in the station parking lot, and we’d take the Amtrak to NYC.

  “ Why aren’t Em and Ana riding with us again?" I asked Ro, as we took the highway to New Bedford. From New Bedford it would be about a four hour train ride to NY.

  “ They left yesterday, Nellie," Ro replied. “ I told you already”.

  “ Did you? I forgot," I said. I was forgetting a lot of things. It was like my mind was in a thick fog, and I couldn’t get my thoughts straight.

  “ Yeah, honey," Ro said, patting my hand. Ro was driving, because she didn’t trust me. She said she didn’t feel safe being in a car with a walking zombie.

  “ Nellie, couldn’t you have worn something nicer?" she asked, glancing at my faded jeans and my faded gray sweatshirt.

  “ We’re just going on the train. What’s the big deal?" I said.

  “ Nothing. But girl, at least brush your hair! You look like a wreck," Ro said, frowning. “I’ve got a hairbrush in my bag, use it. And maybe put on some lip gloss?”

  I sighed, and dug in her pocketbook for a brush. I ran it through my hair, and winced as I pulled through a snarl.

  “ Nellie, have you combed your hair at all today?" Ro asked, amazed.

  I giggled. “ I haven’t combed it in like two days”.

  “ You’re a slob," Ro said, shaking her head.

  I stuck my tongue at her, and brushed my hair as best as I could.

  Ro put on the radio, and we sang along to some oldies. I felt a little bit better than I had in a while. Maybe I could get through this…

  Ro missed the exit for New Bedford.

  “ Ro that was the exit for the Amtrak station," I told her. “ You missed it, you’re going to have to get off at the next exit”.

  “ Did I? Shoot," she said, but she didn’t look particularly concerned.

  “ Well, you said the train leaves at 2, and it’s already 1:45. We might not make train," I pointed out. “ Do you have the schedule somewhere? Let me see how long we have to wait for the next one”.

  “ It’s in the glove compartment," she said.

  I looked around for it, and noticed she flew right past the next exit, as well. “ Ro! That was the exit we needed to get back to New Bedford! We’re going in the wrong direction”.

  She didn’t say a word. She kept driving as if she hadn’t heard me.

  “ Ro!" I cried. “ Are we not taking the train in New Bedford? Are we taking it somewhere else?”

  “ Hush, Nellie. Just let me drive, OK?" she said.

  I was too tired to argue. I leaned back, and watched the trucks on the highway.

  Ro got off the exit in some little town I’d never heard of.

  “ Why are you getting off here?" I asked.

  She pointed to her gas tank. “ I’m almost on E”.

  “ Are you kidding me, Ro? You’ve got a half a tank there," I said. “I know my car is old, but trust me, it’s still good on gas”.

  “ You know me, full tank or nothing," she said, then she pursed her lips together. She turned a corner, and spotted a gas station. She exhaled, as if she were relieved.

  She pulled into the gas station, but didn’t stop at a tank. Instead she pulled my car next to an SUV looked very familiar.

  It was Ty Sutton’s Range Rover. I looked at Ro, shocked.

  “ What the hell is going on, Romina?" I demanded.

  Ty got out of his truck and came up to me. He had a set expression on his face.

  He opened the back passenger door and grabbed my overnight bag.

  “ What are you doing?" I cried. I turned back to Ro. “Ro, what is he doing here? Where are we?”

  “ Nellie, Ty will explain. Just go with him," Ro said, giving me a determined stare.

  “ Ro, I am not going any where with him!" I snapped. “ Are you for real?”

  Ty opened my door, and yanked me out. “ Listen, Nellie. Here’s how it’s going down. You’re getting in my truck, and we’re going to take a drive. Ro is going to drive back home to Egg Cove. Without you.”

  He closed the door, and Ro pulled away so fast she almost drove over my toes. I could almost smell the rubber burning.

  “ Beautiful, get in the car," he said, opening his truck, and throwing my bag in.

  “ Ty, I’m not going anywhere with you," I said, angrily.

  “ So, you’re just going to stand here in a strange town? In a strange gas station? Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  I stood there, glaring at him.

  “ Think about it, Nellie," he said, rubbing his chin. “Pretty girl, at a truck stop in a nowhere town. Sounds like a bad horror movie. You’re best bet is to get in the truck with me. I’d hate to hear they found you in a million pieces in the woods somewhere”.

  “ That’s disgusting, Ty" I said. “ But I’ll be fine. I’ll just call a cab from my cell.” I reached for my purse, then cursed when I realized Ro had driven off with it in the front seat of my car. My cell phone was in my purse!

  Ty leaned in close to me. “Yeah, looks like you’re not calling anyone, Nellie-girl. It’s going to get cold and dark soon. I’m giving you to the count of ten before I decide to just leave you here and drive away myself”.

  I swallowed hard, not sure whether to believe him. I didn’t want to test it. I got in the truck.

  “ Where are we going?" I snapped when he got in beside me, and started driving back to the highway.

  “ We are going to a small town in the mountains called Bare Hill. Doesn’t sound very promising, I know. But they have these artisan workshops up there, where they make stuff, like coffins and chairs. I don’t know. My eyes kinda always glazed over whenever my brother talked about it.” Ty looked at me and shrugged like he wasn’t all interested.

  “ I can’t see him, Ty," I said softly. “ I just can’t.”

  “ Well, Nellie, there’s not much you can do about it since I’m at the wheel. Unless you decide to jump out in the middle of the highway, or something," he said, cheerfully.

  “ Ty, it’s not a joke," I said, and I felt my throat closing off which meant I was going to be crying soon. “ It still hurts too much”.

  “ Nellie. He’s falling apart. I’m worried about him," Ty said, his voice turning dead serious.

  “ I’m sure he’s fine. If he’s at this workshop, then he’s doing what he loves," I said, wiping my tears away. “ Trust me, I know Chan. He’s doing what he loves”.

  “ If you know Chan, then you must know this workshop is probably the only thing keeping him going. You must know how much he loves you," he said, quietly.

  “ Ty, Chan loves Samantha. He told me at Winter Dance she’s a huge part of his life. He broke up with me to be with her!" I yelled. Then I took a deep calming breath. “Please, turn the car around Ty. Take me home”.

  “ I really wish I could do that, Nellie. I like you a lot. You’re a really great girl," he said.

  He paused. “ But I love my brother more. And I like the guy he is when he’s with you. And I’ll do whatever I have to do to see my brother happy. Even if it means kidnapping the girl he’s crazy about”. I was about to say something more, but he cut me off by turning on the radio.

  “ Sit back and relax, Nellie-girl," he said, grinning at me. “ Enjoy the scenery”.

  “ You’re crazy," I said, but I sat back in my seat.

  It was a beautiful drive through the mountains. The trees were bare, but it was still breathtaking. We drove past several valleys, tucked deep in between rising blue mountains.

  “ Chan must be crazy driving up here. I hate the mountains," Ty grumbled.

  “ Are you serious? This is so beautiful," I said, gazing out the window. We were driving up a narrow mountain road, trees on both sides.

  “ You know how you hate spiders? I hate heights," Ty admitted. “ I always have nightmares I’m about to drop off a cliff, and the only thing stopping me from falling
is this one little twig. I’m holding on by my pinky and the twig is like this close to snapping”. He snapped his fingers for emphasis.

  I laughed. “ I don’t think that’s ever going to happen, Ty”.

  “ Just like I don’t think you’re ever going to be eaten alive by a spider," he countered.

  That made me laugh even harder. “ OK, fine. Chan is afraid of heights, too, and he’s up here”.

  “ Well, he can handle it. I can’t," Ty said, with a shrug. “ I don’t claim to be a brave guy, you know”.

  He put on some hip hop music, and started dancing to it. He opened the windows and started blasting it.

  “ Ty!" I screamed, putting my hands over my ears. “ What are you doing?”

  “ It’s Jay Z! This is the only way to listen To Jay Z on a mountain drive to the middle of nowhere!" he yelled over the music, turning it up so loud I was sure half the mountainside could hear it.

  I just shook my head. Ty Sutton was definitely crazy. We drove about an hour more, and then we reached signs for Bare Hill. Ty programmed his GPS, and began to follow the robotic instructions.

  “Looks like we’re close." he said. “I’m surprised I even have a signal so far from civilization”.

  We turned down an even more narrow road, and Ty had to drive carefully over the dirt and gravel. We reached a sign that said Bare Hill Artisan Guild and Centre.

  “ This is the place," Ty said, as we drove past some cabins. They looked kind of rustic, like they had no electricity or indoor plumbing. Definitely not a place your average A-boy would hang out.

  We reached the main lodge, where there was a sign said “Registration and Visitor Information” and Ty told me to wait in the car. “ I’ll run in and ask where Chan is. See if he’s in a shop or in his cabin or something”.

  I nodded, and Ty hopped out of his truck. I tried to steady myself. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see Chan. I just kept hearing his voice in my mind telling me he thought I’d be better off with Joaquim.

  Ty came back. “ OK, they told me he should be coming out of one his classes now. We’ve got to drive just a little way up to reach his cabin”.

  I clasped my hands together to stop from wringing them together.

  Ty reached out, and held them. “ It’ll be fine, Nellie”.

  “ You’re going to stick around, right, Ty? In case he doesn’t want to talk to me?" I asked him, nervously.

  “ Sure I am," Ty said reassuringly.

  We drove past several cabins, and then Ty turned down another dirt road. We saw Chan before he saw us. It was bitter cold, but he was walking shirtless, his muscles sleek and strong and glistening with sweat. His hair was stuck to his forehead, his shirt and jacket were in his hands.

  He looked so sexy!

  “He doesn’t walk around like that all the time, this workshop must be bringing out a different side of him" Ty said, winking at me. Ty looked over at me and frowned. “ I don’t think you’re going to take your top off, but maybe you might want to put some lipstick on or something”.

  “ Ty, shut up!" I said, but I did run my hands through my hair.

  Ty stopped the car, and rolled the window down. Chan came up to the window, a huge grin on his face.

  “ What are you doing up here, bro?" he asked Ty, excitedly. “Are you going to join one of the workshops I told you about?”

  “ Uh, yeah, no," Ty said. He leaned back so Chan could see me. “I brought you a visitor, actually”.

  The grin disappeared off Chan’s face when he saw me. I couldn’t read his expression. He’d gone all poker faced, what he always did whenever he didn’t want his emotions to be read.

  “ How far away are you? You want a ride?” Ty said, as if it was perfectly normal he’d brought his brother’s sorta kinda ex girlfriend up to see him. “ And put your shirt on, man. It’s freezing cold, and I don’t want to see your nipples”.

  Chan swiftly put his shirt on, his face still expressionless. “ I’ll walk.”

  “ Suit yourself,” Ty said, and rolled up the glass. He started the car again, and kept driving.

  “ He doesn’t want to see me, Ty. He doesn’t want to talk,” I said, my words catching in my throat.

  “ Yeah, seems like doesn’t it?” Ty agreed, and I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.

  We stopped in front of Chan’s cabin. It was a little larger than the ones we’d seen when we first came in, but it still looked primitive.

  “ Looks like Chan booked the luxury model”, Ty joked. He parked the car, and got out.

  He opened the door for me, and I got out reluctantly. We looked down the road. Chan was still a good distance away.

  “ You going in?”, Ty asked, pointing to the front door of the cabin.

  I shook my head and took a step back. The place looked like spider’s paradise.

  “I brought you two cans of Raid because I sort of suspected this place would look like this”, Ty said. “ Aren’t I the greatest?”

  “ Maybe me and Chan can talk in the truck, like before at the bowling alley” I said. “ I’m sure it won’t take long. He doesn‘t look at all thrilled to see me”.

  “ Yeah, but still, let me get the Raid in case he wants to go inside since I’m here and I’m not going to hang out in the cold while you two talk”, Ty suggested, going back to the car. He opened the car, and then , before I could say another word, he peeled out, just like Ro had done earlier. I almost thought he was going to crash into some trees, he drove away so fast.

  “ Ty!”, I shrieked. “ What are you doing? Come back!”

  But he kept driving. He stopped only once. He got out, ran to the back of his truck, opened the trunk, and threw my bag onto the path, along with some aerosol cans. The Raid! Then he zipped back into the drivers seat and tore off.

  All I could do was stare at him, shocked. He’d left me! Alone! Alone with his brother who looked like the last thing he wanted to do was talk to me!

  Chan stopped and picked up my bag, and the cans of Raid from the dirt. He walked up to me, holding the bag over his shoulder.

  “ I swear I didn’t plan this, Chan”, I said, quickly. “ I thought I was going to New York with Ro and Ana and Em. And then Ro and Ty kidnapped me and brought me here, and my cell phone is gone and-”. I stopped talking because I was babbling and probably making no sense to him.

  “It’s fine”, he said, shortly. He handed me a can of Raid.

  “ Are there spiders in there?”, I asked, shakily.

  He shrugged. “ I don’t know. I didn’t notice. But either you come in, or you stand out here in the cold.”

  He didn’t wait for my answer, he just walked to the cabin. He took a key and went in, leaving my bag by the door.

  Whatever! If he wanted to be a rude, insensitive jerk, then fine! I’d sit outside. I didn’t need to talk to him. I was so angry I started to shake even more. I pulled my bag away from the door and dragged it away. I opened it up, hoping there was a possibility I was wrong and I’d left my cell in it, and not in my purse.

  My cell wasn’t in the bag. All I had were the clothes and toiletries I’d packed for my supposed trip to NY. I would strangle Ro when I saw her! I figured I could walk back to the main lodge and ask to use a phone. I’d call Ro to come and get me. Or if worse came to worse, Joaquim. I wasn’t going to hang around a place with a guy who didn’t want me around.

  It was cold, though, and I was tired. The awful, sick feeling I’d been having ever since Winter Dance was back. I sat down on top of my bag. I didn’t want to walk anywhere. I was drained. I just wanted to curl up and sleep.

  I looked around for Chan’s Mercedes. I didn’t see it. Just woods all around, and some more cabins in the distance. The whole place looked like there were spiders lurking…under trees, in the dirt. I shivered again, and now it was with cold, anger and fear.

  Chan opened the door. “ Nellie, get in here. It’s too cold to be outdoors”.

  “ I can’t”, I said, not bothering to tur
n around and look at him. “You know how I feel about spiders”.

  “ I just checked the place. I don’t see any spiders”.

  “ It’s OK. I’m going to walk back to the main lodge in a minute. I’m just…resting”, I said.

  He came out of the cabin and lifted me up into his arms.

  “ Chan, put me down!”, I shrieked, even though it felt good…so good…to be in his arms.

  “ Stop yelling, Nellie”, he said, turning sideways as he walked into the door.

  “ Then put me down”, I spat.

  “ Fine!”, he said, and dumped me onto a small bed in the corner of the room.

  I held the can of Raid straight out in front of me, as Chan walked back out to get my bag.

  The cabin was basically just one room, although I did see a door I suspected was the bathroom. It had a small kitchen area with a fridge, stove, sink and microwave. There was a small wooden table with two chairs, a worn leather sofa, and the bed I was sitting on. The floors were made of unfinished wood, and the walls were clapboard. It was cold and drafty, with a brisk pine smell that seemed to enhance how chilly it was.

  I couldn’t believe a boy like Chan, who lived in a luxurious nine bedroom home with an in-ground pool, entertainment room, and guest house, would stay in such a chilly rustic cabin. It was proof of how much he loved to work with wood.

  I could see his duffel bag in a corner, and some books about woodworking on the table. There was no TV, not even a radio.

  “ You hungry?”, he asked, abruptly. He sat down on one of the chairs, and started drumming his fingers on the table.

  I shook my head. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten a full meal, or even wanted to.

  Silence, except for Chan’s fingers drumming, drumming, drumming.

  “ So are you having fun?”, I asked, because I didn’t know what else to say. Chan and I always had so much to talk about. And if we didn’t talk, we fell into a comfortable silence. But we’d never had this huge gaping quiet between us.

  “ Yeah. It’s great”, he replied.

  “ You’re making coffins?”, I said, and I couldn’t believe I’d said that. It was one of the things Ty had said as a joke on the drive up.