Popularity Rules

by Shamika Lindsay

  I let go of her face and stepped back slightly, brows furrowed. “Why does this feel like a breakup?”

  Avery rolled her eyes but grabbed my hand. “You are the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. And I won’t lose you,” she said fiercely, matching my gaze, silently promising me and I didn’t doubt she would keep the promise.

  But it scared me, terrified me even. I couldn’t imagine her putting herself in harm’s way to protect me. Before I could speak she reached up on her toes and pulled my head down to my level, planting her lips on mine. I knew it was a diversion and I wanted to get my thoughts out but, after a few seconds, I forgot all I wanted to say. She pulled me closer and I smiled slightly, ignoring the finality of the kiss. Pessimism wasn’t going to help anything. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer as if she would vanish with a poof if I didn’t hold on tight.

  “Ahem,” a voice behind us called. I pulled away from Avery to look at a man with a teetering pile of snacks under his arm, gesturing to the fridge with a raised brow. “It’s much too small in here, trust me.”

  Instead of looking sheepish like I felt, Avery stepped away from the fridge and grabbed my and in hers sidling up to me. “Sorry about that,” I mumbled, leading her away from the back of the store.

  On the way to the front, Avery grabbed some snacks from the shelves and a couple bottles of room temperature water. When I looked at her quizzically, she shrugged. “You looked mortified. I wasn’t going to go back down there.”

  I rolled my eyes and pulled her close to kiss her forehead. “Sorry if I am private.”

  “It comes with the territory,” she replied, giving me a cheeky grin.

  We headed to the cash register to ring up the items and I wanted to stay in the mini-mart forever, in this moment with her, not having to face the inevitable because though she said she really liked me, I was pretty sure I was feeling that on steroids and I couldn’t let it go. The sun was slowly moving across the sky, casting shadows behind us, the sore spots on my face were beginning to throb a little more the staler they got. I didn’t know how we would explain this to Avery’s parents when they would look worst a little later in the day or even tomorrow.

  The ride down the road was mainly quiet, interspersed with little tidbits of conversation from random discussions on the radio. I know we were both on edge but decided not to focus on it, it was better that way—easier. I even managed to look on the brighter side of Marc’s situation, though it was increasingly hard to find as time passed. And as soon as I thought of one, it morphed into something terrifying happening to him. Pretty soon, it was gnawing at the back of my mind, that Marc put himself in absolute danger, for me.

  I wanted to call him again, but Avery managed to convince me that it wasn’t a good idea. I’d only get angry again, which I knew I couldn’t deny. But as we neared our destination (according to her words), I couldn’t resist checking on Marc, I couldn’t let the sun set and not know if he was back home safely. I dialed the number, with the stickiness of the cinnamon roll that had long gone coating it. My fingers made marks on the screen and I resisted the urge to get upset at something so small.

  Once again, I put the phone on loudspeaker, the ringing reverberating throughout the car. On what would’ve been the final ring, the phone was picked up but for a couple seconds, I heard nothing.

  “Hello?” I demanded, letting up a little on the gas, my brows furrowed. When there was no answer I tried again, “Marc?”

  I counted to five and waited until the line crackled and disconnected. I laughed darkly, without humor and maneuvered the car around a corner, saying nothing.

  “You okay?” Avery asked, after a moment.

  I decided not to answer but dialed his number again. This time it answered on the first ring and the entire car was filled with Marc’s voice, though it lacked the usual exuberance this time around. “Jason.”

  I couldn’t say anything for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. “Are you okay?”

  There was a pause and another crackle. “The connection’s bad but I’m fine.”

  He didn’t explain further so I decided to prompt him. “What happened?”

  “He was following us, Jason, I know that for a fact. It was exhilarating after the initial terror wore off, but shortly after I hit the mountains, it was like he all but disappeared. I waited out up here for a little—and yes before you say it, I know, it’s stupid. But he never showed. I called Joshua who was trailing me, and he said he hadn’t seen him in a while.

  “How does someone vanish like that? It was almost like he was never following us…” he paused and exhaled deeply. “All I know is… he’s coming. Get ready.”

  Chapter

  XXXIII

  It was dusk when Avery confirmed we were five minutes away from her home. I was drained in every sense of the word and I just couldn’t wait to get out of Marc’s car which seemed even more suffocating and small as time passed. After his call, neither of us said much. We were left to our thoughts as we mulled over his words. We knew this would happen, in fact, we wanted it to happen. But the fact that it was happening—so quickly even, put me on edge. I wasn’t even sure if there’d be time to approach the police because I knew Elijah was not going to give up easily.

  The neighborhood that we turned into had well-manicured lawns and strangely coordinating fruit trees at the front of them. It seemed as if the vehicle we drove in stripped the houses of the pristine fervor as we passed. I slowed down to appreciate the huge walls encasing houses that held a huge expanse of land. Safe to say, I was shocked. We often say we should never judge people, but the truth was, we all judged someone every day, regardless of if it’s done in a negative or positive light. And truth be told, I may have judged Avery way more than I’d like to admit.

  I stole a glance at her as we came to a stop at an intersection. She had a half-eaten bag of crisps in her hand tightly and her face was twisted in embarrassment. I didn’t understand, a majority of the people I knew would’ve stood tall if they lived in a community like this, but instead Avery looked as if she wanted to run and never look back. I couldn’t take my eyes off the houses raised on little hills from the road that had lights propped on the walls beside the iron wrung gates. Though they were all so strikingly similar, the differences between them were uncanny.

  “Right here,” Avery mumbled, gesturing to a house on the right. Where the gate was one of wood, encased with intrinsic designs and iron twists raising to the sky. I let out a low whistle. This was even more exorbitant than I had expected. Though not much bigger than the other houses, it certainly stood out, but maybe that was simply because I knew Avery lived there.

  I watched as she dialed a number and numbly mumbled ‘I’m here’ before the gate slid away almost instantaneously. I suddenly felt more nervous than I thought possible. Who knows what her parents would think of me? Especially now that I had a black eye that was swelling uncontrollably. Instead of staying there, mulling over the barrage of thoughts in my mind until the gate closed, I turned in, maneuvering the car up the small path that led to the house. It looked regal in the fast-approaching night sky, the hues of orange and yellow, mixed with purple highlighting the high walls covered with white and grey. I parked the car a few feet away, sighing as I turned off the engine.

  “This is your house,” I said after a low whistle, it wasn’t a question.

  “This is my house,” Avery echoed, watching my expression. “What’s with the face?” she asked quietly.

  I looked at her, squinting a little, in an attempt to see the past but also the future in one gulp. “It’s just…, I feel like you didn’t tell me this because you thought I would…,” I trailed off, I couldn’t finish, I didn’t know what to think.

  “Would what?” she asked curiously. When I didn’t reply she sighed. “You know, it’s not like I could easily mention in a conversation, ‘Hey, my parents have a ridiculously gigantic house back home.’ And I didn’t want you to judge me.�
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  “I wouldn’t judge you,” I muttered unconvincingly. Yes, I would and yes, I had been.

  Avery pursed her lips at me. “I didn’t have many friends here,” she mused thoughtfully. “I think they all assumed I was a snobby rich girl. It’s a stigma you can’t really break, even when you constantly move around.”

  “I can’t imagine you as a snob,” I said with a chuckle. I paused and tried to figure out what I wanted to say. “Avery, you haven’t told me anything about your parents.”

  She sighed and released her seat belt. “I was trying to hide everything about who I was, I didn’t want there to be the possibility of you hurting me.”

  “I wouldn’t,” I replied empathically as if the mere thought of it would hurt me.

  Avery grinned and her ocher eyes met mine with intensity. “I know, and that’s what makes this so hard.”

  Before I could ask her what she meant, she hurried from the car, lightly closing the door behind her. I followed suit, trying to match her pace as she made it up the path to where the brass looking doors stood out from the home’s muted background. The chill of evening picked up as the sun drifted beyond the horizon and I noticed Avery’s slight shiver as she knocked on the door (strange but I didn’t say anything). Normally, I would’ve done something to compensate for the lack of warmth, but I had no idea who her parents were. I liked my head perfectly fine where it was positioned on my body.

  The door swung open and a lady stood in its midst, her eyes misty behind her glasses. I took in every inch of her features in one look, not wanting to stare. She looked like the combined older version of Avery and Reena alike, with curly hair and bronzed skin. I watched as a tear slip from her eyes and I took a step back, hoping not to intrude on this intimate moment. She took a step forward, her eyes trained on Avery, her flowy dress swirling around her knees as the cool breeze took ahold of it.

  Avery sniffled and whispered, “Mommy,” to which she faintly murmured in return, “Baby.”

  I stood off to the side awkwardly while they hugged. I understood her mother’s apprehension and obvious relief of seeing her daughter unscathed, knowing what she had to deal with and what unscrupulous characters had followed her in her attempt to make a run for it. After what felt like an hour, they pulled apart, both discretely wiping their tears. Now I see where Avery got it from, her reluctance to show emotion.

  “Who is this?” her mother asked thickly, finally looking at me. I noticed her eyebrows raise significantly as she took in my swollen eye. I saw her grip on Avery tighten as she inclined her body in front of Avery in a protective Mama Bear stance.

  “This is Jason,” Avery said, looking at me up from under the shield of her hair. She seemed so much more reserved now, it was hard to believe this was the same loud and outspoken girl I had gotten so used to.

  Her mother eyed me skeptically. “Elijah…?”

  “No,” Avery exclaimed quickly. “I mean yeah, he’s the cause of the black eye. But, Jason…, Jason is a good guy,” she commented, looking at me, into the depths of who I was and nodding, as if it was all that she was certain of.

  Her mother opened her mouth to reply, but before she could the heavy-set doors opened wider and revealed her father in the midst. He was tall and brawny, his hair slightly thinning at the top, clad in a button-down shirt and slacks. I immediately noticed how business-like he looked from one glance at him and quickly averted my gaze to her mother’s confused look. In my peripheral vision, I noticed him step up beside his wife and gave Avery a tight-lipped smile. Avery, in turn, pulled on her sleeve awkwardly and barely glanced at him.

  “No hug for me, Avie?” he asked, the warmth in his voice taking me by surprise.

  Avery let out a breath of air and barreled herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, evoking so many emotions I could hardly keep track. I could understand their reactions wholly. Because even though Avery was only gone from them for a few months, they must have faced so much turmoil wondering constantly if she was okay, if there was anything they could’ve done to help. That made me wonder myself why they hadn’t done anything and if they had, what had they done because evidently, it wasn’t enough. I wanted to ask, but something about her father made me think better of it. Some things were better left unsaid.

  They pulled away and her father looked at me, measuring me with his eyes. I immediately straightened my stance and my entire posture felt rigid. “Jason,” he mused thoughtfully, looking at me, or at my black eye, I wasn’t entirely sure.

  “Mr. Sanchez,” I mumbled in response, trying my best to meet his gaze but failing miserably.

  “What happened to your eye?” he asked bluntly, taking a step closer to me but keeping a hand protectively around Avery’s shoulder.

  “One of Elijah’s…, er… friends,” I choked out.

  He stuck one hand in his pocket and stared at me for a moment before nodding. Before he could speak, I made sure to add, “He shot my father.”

  His eyes widened significantly, and he stepped aside gesturing to us to come inside even though his guard was clearly still up. Who wouldn’t be apprehensive? Knowing what his family had gone through, I was just glad he let us out of the increasingly cold air. Once inside I let out a breath of air, though not as extravagant as the exterior, it still shone—literally. The lights from a chandelier in the high ceiling reflected off the marble floors and the mood lights interspersed around the massive expanse of crystals were warm. I decided that it was probably weird to be gaping at the house, so I turned my attention to Mrs. Sanchez who was watching me curiously.

  “Your father,” she started tentatively, “Is he okay?”

  I averted my gaze and rubbed the back of my neck warily. “I’m not exactly sure.”

  “Yet you’re here, with Avery?” her father asked, with a raised eyebrow.

  I floundered around for words, to say something that wouldn’t have me looking stupid. But as it stood, there was nothing that could possibly save me from that, I had accomplished that over and over all by myself. “If Elijah goes away, I think that’ll make my family more comfortable.”

  Mr. Sanchez looked at me quizzically for a while before chuckling lightly to himself. “There is no going away for Elijah. This is bigger than Elijah and way bigger than you. You should have stayed out of it.”

  “But I am in it,” I said, against better judgment.

  Instead of replying, he eyed me for a moment before smirking and shaking his head. I really wanted to know what was going on in his mind, but at the same time I actually didn’t, what I didn’t know wouldn’t kill me—I hoped.

  Avery spoke up for the first time since we got into the house. “They were business partners, Elijah’s parents and mine.” Her father looked around abruptly, narrowing his eyes at her as she spoke. “Of course, I got involved with him without knowing. And then… when the gang was getting out of control, they told me. As I said before, it’s not only about Elijah, all of us are in this mess, except for you.”

  I didn’t even get a chance to speak before her father chimed in. “There’s a thing about power you don’t understand. When you get a taste of it, you want more and more. Elijah grew up around that—around the power that they had and he used it to his advantage. We got out of the arrangements after we found out… where the money was coming from but by that time, he had his claws around Avery dragging her into it.

  “I’m not sure of what are the details of what you have going on here but just be mindful that taking down Elijah isn’t the end. Think of him as the bottom of the stream, it seems cool and inviting at first until it lures you away to the deeper river to drown you.”

  He paused and ran a hand over his face before continuing. “You two can get settled and we can discuss the other implications later.”

  I nodded, it wasn’t a request or a suggestion, we were going to get settled, whether we liked it or not. Avery moved from his side and took my hand to lead me through the pillars to our right. I conceded and let her pull me
along whilst her parents watched us with intrigue. The other room we walked through had high ceilings and high walls with gold trimmings to match but they were bare, like a museum—cold and impersonal as if no one lived there, quite full of antiquated furniture but so empty.

  She led me to the backyard that had spongey grass that she sank on, pulling me down with her as soon as she was comfortably outside. “So, what do you think?” she asked with a grimace.

  “Your parents?” I asked rhetorically. “They were… nice.”

  Avery rolled her eyes at me and sighed. “Do you like the house?”

  “It’s big.”

  She chuckled and playfully pushed my shoulder. “I hate it; I’ve always hated it. I don’t think they realize yet how much I hate it. All the money they wave around every day that’s supposed to make everything better makes it worse. I used to see all the kids with their parents and wonder what it was like to just have them pay attention to me instead of their businesses for once. That’s what Elijah’s parents did all those years ago and continue to do, that’s why he felt so invincible because he knew that no matter what stupid stunt he pulled, someone would pay for it.

  “This isn’t about Elijah or the gang; it’s about power-hungry maniacs like my parents. If Elijah’s parents hadn’t raised him to think that popularity and power make everything better, then he probably wouldn’t have turned into a psycho! And if they…if they didn’t try to bribe my affection with material things maybe I wouldn’t have drifted so far from what I knew was right.”

  I listened numbly. “Do you blame them?”

  Avery was thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t, I willingly got involved with him when everyone was practically screaming at me not to. This is on me. I can’t blame them for things I caused myself.” She pulled my hand into hers and ran her hand over the lines dancing across my palms. “I keep waiting on the other shoe to drop and for you to run screaming into the night. What are you waiting on?”