It wobbled with uncertainty in the air, before coming down right next to Rachel. The blonde girl jumped up with a squeal, and sent an evil look to a cheeky smiling Lucy. Ash couldn’t hold in the laugh, as he saw Lucy barrelling towards them.
“Why don’t you aim at the damn goal?” Rachel snapped.
“I did,” Lucy replied smugly.
“What is your problem?” Rachel shouted, as she glared at Lucy.
“I don’t have a single problem, Rachel.” Lucy told her smartly, as she took the blonde girls space next to Ash, who gathered her into his arms, even though she was mud splattered. The other girl grumbled under her breath, before storming away.
“You have got to stop encouraging her,” Lucy scowled playfully at Ash.
“I didn’t do anything, you know that,” Ash protested, as he ran a finger along her side making her laugh.
“I wish you didn’t have to go.” Lucy whispered with a sigh before letting out a growl.
Someone had their phone out across the oval trying to get a picture of them. She sent them her fiercest glare, preparing to chase them down if they continued. They backed away awfully fast, and put their phone away.
Lucy often wondered if her reputation around the town had kept everyone so quiet about Ash. She was grateful that not too many rumours had spread, but at the same time, worry plagued her constantly that her past could come back to haunt them.
“I have to tie up some loose ends on the album, but I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he assured her, interrupting her thoughts, as he squeezed her tighter.
“Doesn’t mean that I won’t miss you,” she said brushing her lips lightly against his.
“Come on you two, either get a room or play some bloody football,” Ren’s voice said dryly from behind her.
“Too late for either.” Ash said with a laugh, as the bell rang.
He stood up, reached a hand back for Lucy, and pulled her up. They walked to their separate classrooms, and she missed him already, as he walked away from her. This weekend would seem unbearably long without him, but knowing that he always came back to her was enough to keep her going.
Music throbbed from down the street, as Lucy drove them to Penny’s ‘party of the year’. She rolled her eyes at the already drunken looking teens staggering around, before turning to her sister, and laying down the usual rules.
“Right, don’t go anywhere with strangers, get your own drink…”
“Stop it, Lou, I know this already,” Penny scowled through the dark at her.
“I’d believe you, if maybe you had worn something a bit more discreet,” Lucy looked disapprovingly at her sister’s mini skirt and tiny sparkly shirt.
“Lucy, it’s a party, lighten up!” Penny demanded, as they walked through the wide-open front door.
Lucy wandered around, trying to look for somewhere quiet and failing. She grumbled to herself when she realised that many people were staring at her. She glared at them all, until they looked away, but she could still feel their eyes on her, as she walked away.
“Where’s your rock star boyfriend?” A girl who she didn’t recognise slurred at her.
“Obviously not here,” Lucy said sarcastically.
“You know that we’re all just waiting until he gets sick of you,” the girl sent her a smirk, and Lucy felt her heart lurch.
“Well good luck with that.” Lucy replied snidely.
She forced her fists to unclench, and made her legs move away from the girl. It wasn’t the first time, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last, of someone telling her that she didn’t deserve Ash. She could only imagine the headlines if she was caught hitting someone. It would make Ash look bad, so she kept putting distance between her and the spiteful girl.
She let out a sigh, as she left the house and sat on the stairs on the front veranda. She hadn’t told Ren or Col that she was coming here, and now she felt alone. It was almost like the days before she had Ash. She grabbed her phone out, and sent a quick text to Ash, hoping that he wasn’t too busy to talk to her. He should be at his apartment by now, and she wished that she were there with him.
"Hey beautiful, miss you already." Ash replied, and Lucy felt happiness gush through her.
"Yep, I miss you too."
"How’s the party going?"
"Bloody awesome, I was thinking of taking up dancing on the tables. What do you reckon?" She asked, and wished that she could see his face for his reaction to that text.
"Hmmm, I want to be at the party to see you do that one."
“Maybe one day soon."
"Will this be dressed, or showing me some skin?" Her body went hot and cold, before she was able to respond to that one.
‘Depends who’s watching.’
"Only me. If any other guy looked your way, they would be in serious trouble. Have to go George just arrived. Text you later."
She let out a sigh, threw her phone into her handbag, and dragged her book out. She needed to stop thinking about Ash. She was deeply entrenched in the words when she first heard a scuffle, but nothing seemed to be causing a disturbance. She went back to reading warily, until she heard the noise again.
“Lucy, you need to come here,” Rachel’s voice shook, as she stepped out of the darkness.
“Like hell, Rachel!” Lucy shook her head, but prepared herself for a fight.
“Please, she said she would hurt my family if you don’t come with me.” Rachel pleaded as she stepped into the light of the veranda. Lucy could see tears streaking down her face, and anguish in her eyes. Fear trickled down Lucy’s spine at the girl’s words.
“Who?” Lucy asked, as she reached into her bag, and picked up her phone. She discreetly set it to record, as Rachel seemed unable to answer. “Who wants to hurt your family, Rachel?” Lucy asked in a low but determined voice.
“Your… mother. Crystal said that I had to get you, or she would hurt them.” Rachel answered shakily. Lucy let out a sigh, and forced the fear back down at the other girl’s obvious terror.
“You realise that if you’re lying to me then you will regret it. I swear to you that I will come into your room, and chop off all your precious hair in the middle of the night,” Lucy warned her fiercely, but Rachel never backed down.
“It’s the truth. She came to my house pretending to be all nice, and then she got me aside, and told me what I just told you.” Rachel babbled, as more tears leaked out of her eyes.
“So, is she here?” Lucy asked trying to look out into the dark.
“No, I don’t think so. I’ve been looking for you, and I never expected you to turn up at a party. She only told me where to drop you off.” Rachel babbled on.
“Okay, this is the plan. I’m going back inside to get my sister. I’m taking her home, and then I’ll go with you.” Lucy ordered, while Rachel paled and shook her head.
Lucy was happy that Crystal acted as cowardly as what she always had. She had used scapegoats in everything she did, so nobody would point the finger at her. This way Lucy could work things in her favour, before having to face her mother.
“Um, she’s not going to like that.” Rachel said fearfully.
“Well, she’s not here to force me to do anything, so I’m doing what I want.” Lucy sent a glare to the other girl, who looked away quickly.
Lucy walked into the house to find Penny. She forced the fear down, as it tried to engulf her. This was not the time to start panicking. Her heart pounded anxiously, and her mind swirled with trepidation. Her breathing sped up threatening to overwhelm her, but she squashed it down as well. She eventually found Penny talking to a guy that she had never seen before.
“I hate to interrupt, Penny, but we have to go,” Lucy tugged on her arm, and Penny gave her an angry, embarrassed look.
“Go away, Lucy!” She hissed under her breath, while sending a smile to the boy that she had just met.
“Get his number, we are leaving.” Lucy repeated sternly.
“Stop it! I’m busy,” Penny pushed agai
nst her fiercely.
“My mother is here somewhere in town causing trouble.” Lucy leaned down to whisper in her ear.
Penny automatically stopped fighting. She smiled apologetically at the guy, and received his number, before following Lucy outside. She looked curiously at the scared, huddled figure of Rachel, but paid her no mind, until Lucy stopped to talk to her.
“What’s going on?” Penny demanded, but Lucy just shook her head, and pointed to the car.
On the drive home, Lucy explained what was happening. It was hard to calm Penny’s initial panic, but eventually she listened. Lucy swung by the police station to check Daz wasn’t there. They didn’t have a lot of time to organise, before Crystal would be getting suspicious. Lucy asked Penny to ring all of her family to explain things, and to make sure that they were home as she drove.
She needed all her family members back up this time. She needed their support more than anything else. The panic when they walked into the house erupted like a loud explosion, only enhancing her gripping terror. She took a deep breath, and forced herself to stay alert and not to black out.
“Will you all calm down?” Lucy shouted at her family, until everything went quiet. “She can be arrested for this right, Daz?” She turned to her brother, who let out an inelegant snort.
“Of course she can, but have you bothered to think about the repercussions here? She could really hurt you, Lou, and I’ll have no way of knowing where you are,” Daz tried reasoning with her.
“What about Ash? Have you told him?” Bill chipped in, and Lucy instantly felt guilty. She was hoping they wouldn’t think of him, she wanted to keep him safe.
“No,” Lucy answered biting her lip. “I didn’t want to worry him,"
“Okay, pass me your phone, and it had better be charged,” Daz muttered, and a puzzled Lucy did as he asked. “Hey, what have you been recording?”
“Oh, just Rachel saying who was causing her problems.” Lucy said, and Daz gave her a thumbs up, before turning back to look at the phone.
“Don’t kill me for this, okay, but I sort of set up a tracking device on here, but never activated it.” Daz ducked, as a furious fist came flying towards him.
“How could you do that? Why were you spying on me?” Lucy threw questions at him angrily.
“Hey, I never activated it, so stop with the hitting,” Daz demanded, as Lucy kept trying to pummel him. “Penny, we need your spare battery for Lucy.” Daz held out his hand to a protesting Penny.
“No way, I can’t live without my phone!”
“Penny, do it now!” Daz commanded in his best stern cop voice, and Penny handed over her phone reluctantly.
“She’s just going to take my phone away from me anyway.” Lucy said with a grimace.
“Yeah, but the tracking device will still be working. Now go and ring Ash.” Daz pointed to the house phone.
Lucy walked towards it with dread. This would not go down too well. She shakily picked up the phone, and punched in his number. It rang and rang, but he never answered. With a sly grin, Lucy pretended to have a full argument with Ash about what was happening. At least this way he wouldn’t have to worry so much. She hung up, and walked back in to where her concerned family awaited her.
“Okay, this is the best that I can do,” Daz handed the phone back to Lucy. “Walk outside, and let’s see if this works.”
Daz picked up his own phone that he had linked the tracking device too. Lucy followed his instructions, and heard a cheer from inside. She gulped in some air, as she took on exactly what she was planning to do. Fear stabbed her roughly, until she pushed it down. This had to work. This has to be the moment where Crystal loses.
She went back into the house overcome by her intentions. She had to say goodbye to her family, and walk away from them to be able to protect them from Crystal. The goodbyes went on for far longer than Lucy wanted, and with too many tears.
Daz had been last. He had spent most of his time on the phone, trying to explain to his superiors about what was going on. He squeezed her tight knowing that this would be possibly their only opportunity to see the woman arrested for her schemes. He could only hope and pray that it worked, and his little sister would come out unscathed.
She walked out the door with her family watching her anxiously, and down the road to where she had told Rachel to wait for her. She got in the car silently, and watched her house fade into the night. Not once, did Rachel speak to her, but she could feel an intense amount of fear coming from the girl.
When they finally arrived, Lucy let out a sardonic laugh. It looked like Crystal wanted their second round to be in the same spot as where she had originally almost killed her. Rachel looked over to her worried, but gestured for Lucy to get out of the car. Rachel followed her into the dark cavernous area of the old feed store situated on the outskirts of town.
Crystal’s breaking and entering skills needed a little more finesse, Lucy noticed, as she walked through the door with a smashed in lock. The relaxing smell of the feed store only aggravated the fear that threatened her again. It seemed that old Bert still hadn't bothered to put a security system in, even after all these years.
Lucy let out an audible sigh, as memories of her ‘accident’ swamped her. Her family had always known there was more behind what Lucy had told them, but she could never bring herself to tell the full story of the horror of that day. The insulting, disgusting words her mother had called her, down to the triumph in her mother’s eyes when she fell. She shuddered almost uncontrollably, until she forced herself under control.
It had been a weekend morning, and Lucy had been down the oval kicking a ball around, while her Dad was busy. Crystal had found her, and demanded that Lucy help her, which she refused, until her mother flashed a wicked looking knife at her.
Rachel had been in Crystal’s car looking petrified and pale, as they drove down to the feed store that time. Bert only opened the shop late on weekends, and Crystal knew that, planned for it even. She had ordered that they search for Bertie’s stash. Everyone knew that the old man didn't have a safe, and that he preferred to hide his money somewhere in the shop.
Rachel had found it, and when she refused to hand it over, Crystal went to hit her. That was when things went a little crazy. Lucy had realised that her mother was bordering on some kind of insanity, which she would never understand.
Lucy deflected her mother’s blow as best she could, and instead punched her, while telling Rachel to run. With the bag of money still in her hands, and terror in her eyes, she managed to get away. Once the other girl was gone, a crazed look had entered her mother’s eyes, as she let loose with a string of insults that Lucy didn’t even know the meaning of until much later.
Crystal had brandished that knife and slashed her daughter under the chin. Lucy had screamed and clutched at her face, as Crystal yelled more abuse at her. Lucy stumbled backwards, and fell onto a bale of hay.
Her mother had never been a good loser, nor did she like anything that would mar what she considered her perfect beauty. When Lucy stood back up with adrenaline flowing through her, and snapped a punch on her mother’s nose, the older woman went ballistic.
Nasty, degrading words spewed from the older woman’s mouth, until Lucy felt her confidence fail her. Her mother used her momentary weakness to savagely trip her over. Crystal had stood over her, telling her that she was an ugly brute of a girl who would never find love. As she slapped and punched her daughter, she reminded her how much she despised her.
When Lucy finally managed to find her feet, very shakily with fear overriding everything else, all she could see was that knife. Everyone had believed that she had fallen down the stairs. Nobody knew that she had actually fallen down two flights after being pushed off both.
Crystal had held the knife threateningly, making Lucy step back, or face the sharp knife. Lucy knew the stairs were behind her, but she could do nothing. She remembered the glorious triumphant look in Crystal's eyes, as she stumbled, lost her balan
ce, and fell backwards down those old rickety stairs
It wasn’t enough for Crystal in her manic state, especially when Lucy pushed to her feet, shaking, but determined. The older woman had laughed, as if it was just what she wanted. The next flight was much longer, the knife much more forcefully pushed towards her, and with a scream, she had toppled almost to her death. She shuddered even thinking about it, and now here she was again, in exactly the same situation.
“What took you so long?” Crystal snapped at Rachel, as they walked into the giant barn like structure.
“I, um, I couldn’t find her,” Rachel managed to stammer.
“Imagine seeing you here,” Crystal’s blue eyes, much like her daughters, pierced through Lucy with evil intent.
“Hard to imagine that you even want to be here,” Lucy retorted, as she tried desperately to keep a lid on her fear.
“Sit down, Rachel darling. There will be no running off this time.” Crystal gestured for the girl to sit, while Rachel whimpered, but did as she asked.
“So, what do you want?” Lucy sent a sneer to her mother.
“I thought that would be pretty obvious. Your lover boy will pay a lot of money to have you back.” Crystal said snidely. Lucy closed her eyes, and forced herself to breathe. There went her ability to keep Ash safe.
“That’s the reason you’re here? Money like usual. You’re such a greedy, disgusting person, and I hope Ash pays you nothing.” Lucy spat the words at her smug looking mother.
“Oh, he’ll pay me, or I’m going to hurt you, and he knows it. Now, give me your phone.” Crystal demanded.
“No!” Lucy answered defiantly, only to feel the sting on her cheek, as her mother slapped her.
“Give it to me, you brat!” Crystal snatched Lucy closer, her fingernails digging savagely into Lucy’s skin. She reluctantly pulled it out of her pocket, and handed it over.
“Find me Martin James number on here.”
Lucy grabbed her phone back, and found Ash’s number, before turning and throwing it at the wall. She couldn’t give a damn about the tracking device; she just didn’t want Ash to know. She cursed when it bounced, instead of shattering into a trillion pieces, as she had wanted.
I Met Her On the Balcony Page 33