J.O.Y

by Yalu Taylors

  Shaking myself out of my stupor, I head to the bathroom. I shower quickly and wrap the big fluffy towel around myself. I look at my reflection, the bruising has begun to fade and the split in my lip looks heaps better. I go into Braydon's room, realizing I've forgotten to bring my bag with my clothes in with me. I stand there unsure what to do for a few moments. I'm about to brave the walk, in just the towel, when I hear a knock on the bedroom door. I hitch the towel tighter around my boobs and slowly open the door. Hunter smirks at me, his dimples showing as he holds my bag up. His eyes travel from my face to my toes and back again. I pull the door between us so I’m hidden by it.

  “Thanks.” I mumble grabbing the bag through the gap. Hunter doesn't let go and I frown at him.

  “You have to pay the delivery fee.” He taps his cheek and I laugh. I snatch the bag and quickly shut the door on him. For a few moments, I lean against the back of the door. Kissing any of the guys would be a dream come true, but I have to keep myself from getting attached. Every time I get attached I just end up getting hurt.

  I get dressed quickly and head back downstairs all the guys are sitting at the table a huge spread of food laid out. I sit between Hunter and Braydon and pile my plate with scrambled eggs and bacon. After finishing my plate, I watch the guys as they help themselves to seconds. I sit back with my hands in my lap and Hunter laces his fingers through mine beneath the table. His large hand feels comfortable in mine, so I let him hold it. My mind wanders again to the almost kisses this morning and I can’t help the slight pink tinge that graces my cheeks. Hunter watches me from under his lashes and I feel my cheeks heating even more. Why do these guys get to me so much? I’ve really got to get a grasp on my hormones.

  After everyone is finished, we grab our school bags and head out to the cars. I jump in mine, curious to see who will ride with me today. I peek into the rear-view mirror and watch them. The guys huddle next to Braydon’s Escalade, it looks like they are playing rock paper scissors. Hunter slaps his hand on top of Braydon’s and Zack’s. Zayne and Zack high five then turn to face each other. I can practically hear them counting in my mind. Zayne goes scissors and Hunter holds his fist in a rock. Zayne stomps his foot while Hunter starts walking towards my car. I smile as he climbs into my car. “Rock, paper, scissors? Seriously?” Hunter’s laugh rumbles loudly in the silent car. Shaking my head, I pull out of the driveway and drive to school.

  We pull into my usual spot under the big smokers’ tree and I turn off the engine. I watch as Hunter goes through his bag. We sit in the warm car while we wait for the others to get here. My buzzing phone draws my attention away from Hunter and I fish it out of my jeans pocket.

  Unknown number: Last warning my Love. If you don't want to see them end up like Peter, don't let them touch you again.

  I stare at my screen, my heart beating wildly. “What the fuck!” I shove the phone’s power button, locking the screen. “Tessandra! Give me the phone. Now!” Hunter snatches my phone and exits the car. The fury on his face making me too scared to get out of the car. “Braydon, Zack, Zayne, get your asses here now.” He growls out across the parking lot. They come running over and stand there talking with each other, looking over at me every now and again.

  The guys talk animatedly for quite a while, tears of fear run down my face. My vision from last night playing over and over in my head. I'm lost in the images struggling to bring myself back to reality. All the bloody wounds I saw on the guys. Fear grips my heart, making it harder to breath. Hunter storms over to the car and wrenches the door open. He drops to his knees, his hand landing on my leg. I don't mean to, but I flinch at the contact. He pulls back quickly, his eyes full of hurt and confusion.

  “I’m sorry I yelled T, I’d never hurt you.” I watch torn between reality and a vision as his face morphs into Peter’s, twisting in anger as he stabs Zayne in the back. Reality flashes back into focus with Hunter backing away from me. The strained look on his face has more tears pouring down my face. I try to call out to him, but the vision once more has me in its grasp. I watch unable to do anything as Hunter collapses on the ground, blood seeping from a wound in his chest. The blood spreads out around him, covering the carpet in a thick red puddle. His eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling.

  I see Braydon holding Zack as he tries to stop the bleeding from a stab wound in his chest. Next, I see Braydon and Peter wrestling, trying to get the knife from each other. I watch helplessly as Braydon slumps lifelessly onto the kitchen floor. His hand reaching out in a final attempt to reach something lying in the middle of the kitchen. I turn to look at what they are reaching for and reality snaps back with a vicious shock.

  “It’s me, I’m the one who’s lying in the kitchen. So much blood.” My voice cracks with pain and I look at my hands expecting to see them covered in bloody cuts, but they are their usual pale color. Braydon squats down next to the car, he reaches out his hand, I think he wants to comfort me, but the warning and the visions are too fresh in my mind. “Don’t touch me.” I shout in a panic. I curl up on the seat, rocking myself gently. “You can’t touch me. Please don’t touch me.” I repeat it over and over, I’m not even sure who I’m talking to anymore, but I can’t stop rambling. All the sounds around me fade as the vision once again takes me.

  “Don’t!” I scream as I wake up, my sight is bleary, and I smell Braydon’s musk on the sheets covering me. Braydon rushes into the room, his glowing emerald eyes full of pain and fear. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “Wh. Where are the others?”

  “They are in the lounge room. They’re safe, I promise.” I must look at him confused because he adds, “You were talking while you were out of it. We couldn’t get you to wake up, so we brought you home.” I breath a small sigh of relief that they are safe, but it doesn’t relieve the fear I feel. I’ve never had a vision that hasn’t come true. I hope with all my heart that this is the first but the cynic in me knows what I saw will play out. I will die, and they will too if I stay with them.

  I slowly ease myself up out of the bed and Braydon hovers, he doesn’t touch me, but I can see the want and need to do so in his eyes. I move around him being very careful to avoid all contact and he follows me as I exit the bedroom. I find the others in the lounge room and walk straight up to Hunter.

  “My phone.” I demand. He studies my face for a moment then hands it over. Our fingers brush lightly, and I shiver before pulling away quickly. I turn on my heel and retrieve my bag from the bedroom upstairs. I run back downstairs and see all the guys lined up next to the doorway for the kitchen.

  “Don’t follow me.” I throw the words over my shoulder as I run out the front door. I’m in the car and pulling out of the driveway before they can react. I have to force myself not to look back as I pull my car onto the road.

  Chapter 5

  I push play on my phone, ‘Wash it all away’ blasts through my speakers and I sing as loud as I can. Channeling all my fear and heartache into the angry music. Many thoughts ran through my mind but the one that stuck with me the most was that I didn’t want anyone to get hurt or die because of me. I care too much about the guys and I need to distance myself from them if I have any hope of preventing that vision from coming true.

  I had no destination in mind, but I drove anyway. I must have been driving on autopilot for hours, by the time I pulled over to the side of the road the sun has started to set. My fuel gauge was flashing almost empty and I had no tears left. Only anger. I grab my phone and see fifty-two missed calls, all except two is from the guys. I dial the voice mail number and listen. All the messages from the guys are basically the same.

  “Where are you. Please call us, we’re really starting to worry.” After deleting all the messages from the guys I’m left with two voicemails. My adopted mother rang last night, she left a message in her horrible screeching voice.

  “Peter has had an accident and is in the hospital. We won’t be home when you get there. Stay inside and do your chores.” I delete the
message and listen to the last one. The voice is eerily familiar, but I can’t place who it is. I press the number to replay the message. “I’m glad you listened to me this time my love. Stay safe, I’ll be seeing you really soon.”

  Shaking my head at the weird message I delete it and open the Siri app. After searching for the closest hotel and petrol station, I drive straight to the petrol station and fuel up. Most of my money goes into the tank and I’m left with just over a hundred dollars. I go to the hotel next and talk to the receptionist, he’s really nice and offers me a deal if I pay for a whole week instead of by the night. I accept and hand over the last of my money. It’s only three days until payday. I can make it that long with only one meal from the canteen at lunch time. The hotel room I paid for is pretty basic but it’s better than nothing and basically the only thing I could afford for a whole week. I grab the ice bucket and quickly fill it up, then after pulling out some clean clothes I quickly shower and go straight to sleep. Leaving my worries for tomorrow.

  I toss and turn most of the night, dreams of watching the guys die plague me to the point where I can’t get back to sleep. I get up and using the soap in the bathroom, I wash my dirty clothes, hanging them up over the towel rail. I wander around the small room trying to find something else to keep me busy. After washing the two glasses I grab my phone and surf the internet for adoptions in the local area. After half an hour of finding nothing, I switch the phone off and plug it in to charge. I get a glass of water then climb back into bed. After ten minutes or so of staring at the stain on the ceiling I get back up and grab my phone. Loading an e-book, I lay back against the pillows and lose myself in a sappy romance. Half way through the book, I realize I don’t have an alarm set so I open the clock app and set one an hour before school starts. My eyes feel heavy and I put the phone back on charge before lying down to sleep.

  I’m running through my parent’s house trying to find the guys. I call out to them, but no one answers. As tears stream down my face I run into my old bedroom, the light blue blanket I always keep on my bed is now red. “Where are you guys? Hunter? Braydon? Zack? Zayne? Can anyone hear me?” After looking around I realize the room is empty. A noise sounds out from downstairs and I run down them two at a time. My heart pounds faster and faster in my chest. My hands are shaking as I open the door leading to the lounge room. There’s no one here either. I hear a noise upstairs and run back up. Straining my ears, I stop and hold my breath. Drip, drip, drip. I hear the noise again and run towards it. “Where the hell are you guys?” I quickly pull the bathroom door open but there’s no one here either. Another noise comes from the direction of the kitchen. I shake my head, no. “No! terrible things happened in the kitchen. I can’t go in there.” My whole body shaking in fright, I take a step towards the door and stop as the sound comes again. I know there’s something bad in there, but I need to see it for myself. I stretch my hand out and open the door. A giant wave of blood knocks me from my feet. I scream and some of it enters my mouth. The coppery taste has me gagging as I try to swim through the thick liquid. My body begins to grow heavy and I feel myself sinking below the surface. Closing my eyes tightly as the blood covers my face. My lungs start to burn, screaming for oxygen. I open my mouth, panicking and blood rushes into my lungs.

  I wake from the nightmare, my heart beating like I've just run a mile. Taking a deep breath, I will myself to calm down. “Just a dream. Just a dream. Breathe Tessa, deep breaths.” I don't think I'll ever be able to see blood and not freak out. I'm scared to go to school, but I'm also worried about the guys. I need to know they are safe. I've tried to fight it, but they really grew on me. “Okay I admit it. I like them.” I say out loud to the empty room. “Great now I'm talking to myself.” I get dressed for school and take all my stuff to the car with me. The hotel might have locks on the doors but that doesn't mean I trust my stuff to be safe here all day.

  I pull into the school parking lot just as the bell rings. Hurrying to Math’s, I reach the door just ahead of Mr. Logan. “Running late Miss Young?”

  “Yes, sorry Sir.” I hurry to my usual seat behind Casey and Beth. They both turn around to face me.

  “Is it true? Did the new guys really brake Peter’s arm?” I stare at them confused. In my visions Peter didn’t have a broken arm. If he has a broken arm now, does that mean the visions didn’t come true or does it mean they won’t happen until he has the cast off? “Well Tessandra? Is it true?” Beth’s impatient tone has me pulling out of my own thoughts.

  “I don’t know what happened to Peter, but the new guys wouldn’t do something like that. They are really nice guys.” I feel the need to defend them. They are, after all, my friends, aren’t they? I shouldn’t have come today. I should’ve just stayed at the hotel or tried to get a few extra shifts at work. Ugh work, I hate working on weekends at Target. Maybe I should apply at a diner or something instead. Wow, my thoughts are all over the place today. Mr. Logan starts talking and I try to focus on what he says but my mind keeps wondering off. I can’t stop thinking about everything that has happened this week.

  “Miss Young?” Huh? Did Mr. Logan ask me something? I shake my head, “Sorry Sir, I wasn’t paying attention.” He studies me for a moment then in an annoyed voice he says, “Stay behind after class.” Damn I’m going to get detention for sure. Maybe I should just walk out now and give up trying to get an education. Nah, I want to get into college I have to get good grades at school. I try to pay attention to the teacher for the rest of the class, but my mind still wanders every now and then.

  The bell rings and I gather my stuff and head to Mr. Logan’s desk to wait until the other students have left. As the last one goes out the door Mr. Logan props his hip on the side of his desk. “Is there something going on at home Tessandra?” What? Why would he ask that?

  “No Sir, nothing is going on.” He leans on his arm on the desk, getting closer to me.

  “You know I’m here if you need to talk about anything. Anything at all Tessandra.” His creepiness has me taking a step back. “I heard about your cousin getting into a fight in the hall yesterday. I suggest you stay away from those O’Donnell and Jacobs boys, I’ve heard they are nothing but trouble. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I think you should know that they were expelled from their last school for fighting.” He stands and places his hand on my arm. “Remember, I’m here if you want to talk. Now run along, you don’t want to be late, Mr. Berry is known to get angry at tardiness.” I stare at him for a beat then hightail it out of there.

  I walk into English class, still reeling from the encounter with Mr. Logan. If I hadn’t been so distracted I would have seen it coming but well I didn’t. Peter grabs my arm and drags me off to the side. I’m shaking all over and just stare at his arm. He has a bright blue cast on his right arm from his elbow right down to his fingers. “What happened to your arm?” I blurt out.

  “It’s nothing. Look, I’m really sorry for what I did the other day. I really shouldn’t have hurt you. I was drunk, I know it's no excuse. Do you forgive me?” He reaches out and tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, I flinch at the contact and lower my eyes. Out of the corner of my eye I see Zack approaching. I open my mouth to say something, I’m really not sure what I would have said but Zack interrupts anyway.

  “Come on Honey.” He grabs my hand tugging gently to make Peter release me. To my surprise Peter lets go instantly. His reaction has me second guessing whether or not the guys really would break his arm. Zack leads me to our desks and again positions himself, so Peter can't see me. “Are you all right Honey? Where’d you go last night? You didn’t go back, home, did you?” His questions come out rapid fire. I don’t really want to answer his questions until I find out if they had anything to do with Peter’s arm. “What happened to Peter’s arm?” Shocked I look at him, trying to figure out if he is genuinely curious or if he’s trying to make it seem like they didn’t do it.

  “I’m fine. I don’t know what happened to his arm, but I heard you
guys had something to do with it.” I look at his eyes and notice dark rings. “Did you even get any sleep?” he starts to shake his head then nods instead. His response has me suspicious.

  “We all went looking for you last night. We didn’t get much sleep. Why did you run off like that anyway?” He pulls his phone out and starts texting as I respond.

  “I just needed some space. I stayed at a hotel, I’ve booked it for the week, so you don’t need to worry about where I’m staying.” His phone buzzes and he types out another text hiding the phone under the desk as the teacher tells the class to get on with our assignment. Zack tucks his phone away and we get our work done. We're just finishing our outline when the bell rings. I stuff my books back in my bag and stand, ready to make a quick exit. Zack blocks my path holding his arm out like a barrier. “You have a free period next with Braydon, he's meeting us here.” Placing my hands on my hips I glare at Zack.

  “And who says I want to hang out with Braydon?” Zack's eyes go wide at my attitude.

  “We just thought…” He trails off looking upset. I almost feel sorry for him but then I remember the visions and give myself a mental shake. Stay strong Tessandra, their lives are worth more than that. I give him a shove and push past him.