Only to hear a small shriek in the corner and feel the blow of a backpack in my face.
“Ow, Dolly? It’s me.” I hold up a hand while throwing the backpack on the gym floor.
“Edge?” She runs over to me.
“That hurt.” Dolly’s my girl, so I forgive her, but what the heck?
Jason and Chuckie make fun of me because I’d rather spend time with her than them. It’s not all the time, but most of the time, I would.
We’ve been together our whole lives. See, our moms used to work together in a club, and they were best friends. She’s so small and pretty and she smells like candy or something good.
Her dark brown hair is down. She’s in a dress and she’s been crying. But she stands with her lunchbox still in her hands like she’s ready to throw it at my head.
“Dolly?” She blinks at me with her big brown eyes and drops her lunchbox with a loud thud.
“That was not my fault. You’re supposed to be in school. You scared me.” She glares.
“You missed your award, so I brought it to you.” I shrug and come close to her. Jerking off my backpack, I’m super excited to give this to her. I love seeing her smile rather than cry.
I look around at the muggy gym. Small particles swim in front of my eyes where the sun shines through the windows.
“Here.” I hold out the cheap bubble gum machine to her.
She looks up at me, then the bubble gum machine. “But how?” She wipes at her eyes almost angrily.
I clear my voice and sit down. She looks at me, flops down next to me, and crosses her legs. “I told the principal I was supposed to pick up your award.”
Her small shoulders slump making her look tiny. Like Dolly is small to begin with, but when she curls into a ball, she’s super little.
“Was I the only one not there? Did all the other kids have their families?”
I don’t say anything. She already knows the answer. Geez, why rehash it?
I reach into my backpack for my supply.
“You hungry?” I pull out the stale Wonder bread, then the jar of Skippy along with the paper towels. All I hear is a small huff. “I’m starving. I had to barf in the classroom to get out early.”
“You threw up at school?” Her big doe eyes blink up at me as I slather on a huge amount of peanut butter.
“Had to.” I stuff the stale bread into my mouth. At first, I taste the mold, but then the sweet peanut butter kicks in and I hand a slice to Dolly.
She takes it but looks at it. “Edge? This has green stuff on the bread.”
I shrug. “I’m lucky I got us this. My old man ain’t been shopping in days. I think one of his bitches brought it over.” I smile at her, knowing she hates when I say stuff like that.
“You’re not supposed to say that,” she whispers, taking small nibbles on the end of the peanut butter bread.
“I know but they are.”
“My mom just forgot, even after I reminded her for days.” She puts down the bread. “Edge?” she whispers.
I stop eating and look at her. “Yeah?” Reaching for her hand, I find it’s cold and small.
“There was another man with her, not my dad. It was Gunner.” Her eyes are so big.
“Don’t tell anyone else.” I take her other hand as she clings to mine.
“Okay, they made me promise, but I can tell you. I can always tell you.” One big tear slides down her rosy cheek.
I pull away and reach for my peanut butter bread. I hate when Dolly cries. It makes me feel bad. “You’ve got to remember, Dolly, don’t tell nobody, especially not your dad.” I glance over at her and she nods.
“Because that’s why your mom is gone, right? You told?”
I can barely swallow as I try not to think about that. “Yeah, I told. You don’t ever tell, Dolly.” She scoots closer to me, and I shove the rest of my stale peanut butter bread into my mouth as her head rests on my shoulder.
She sighs. “I wish we had normal parents.”
I lean back against the wall and take her hand, dumping the gumball machine into it.
“Let’s see if it works.”
She lifts her head. “Okay.” She smiles a little and sits up to turn the top. Boom. Out comes a purple gumball.
“It worked. Want one?”
“Yeah, and Dolly?” She plops the gumball into my hand.
“What?”
“You can stay at my house tonight.” She smiles as she turns the red top and the yellow ball rolls out into her hand.
“You know I can’t. Why don’t you come stay with me?” She smiles as she chews her gum.
“My dad might not be back for days.” I start to throw everything into my backpack. “Your mom will get sick of me.” I reach for her hand. “Ready?”
She takes it and again gives me a big smile. “She won’t. She’s got her own stuff. Half the time, she’s in her room.”
“Good,” I mumble. Last thing I need is Dolly’s mom to bitch to my old man. The bruises from my last beating are still there.
I help her put on her backpack and she turns to face me.
“Thanks, Edge.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I grab her hand and pull her toward the window.
EDGE
Fifteen years old
“Dude?” Jason waves his stupid hand in my face. “Wake the fuck up. It’s time to roll.”
My eyes dart around the school parking lot as I look for her. It’s mass chaos, with everyone trying to get out, students everywhere, cars moving in and out, and trucks backing up. “We need to wait a second. Dolly said her practice was canceled today, so she’ll be here.”
A horn blares and I hold up my hand. It’s Chuckie and I don’t want to look at him; otherwise, he’ll make a big deal. I’ve been getting it nonstop about how I’m pussy whipped. The horn blares again as my friends start laughing and booing me.
“You better get your ass in the truck, Edge. I’m leaving.” This time I do turn to him.
“Dolly’s coming. Hold on.”
“Fuck that. She’s always late. You want to stay and wait for her fine, but your old man asked me to bring you to the clubhouse, so I’d get my ass in the truck, man.”
I don’t engage. Although I want to flip him off, I don’t dare. Chuckie’s next in line to be our president. I scan the parking lot one more time. Sighing, I make my way over to the truck.
Chuckie, Axel, Jason, and David are all in the large black Ford Explorer. Chuckie has a thing for cars along with bikes. He likes to deck them out, so the Explorer has chrome rims and fog lamps, which is stupid—we live in LA and don’t need them, but he’s all about the appearance.
“Hey.” I look in the cab. All of them are smoking already except Axel. He’s smoking weed instead of cigarettes.
“You guys go along. I’ll be there later.”
“You got to be shitting me!” Chuckie’s regular good-natured smile is gone and replaced with a pathetic sneer.
“What is wrong with you, dude? You fucking heard me. Get in. We need to roll. No bitch’s cunt is that special.” He snickers. “Especially one who doesn’t give it up.”
“Just, fuck… go.” My face heats with anger as I spit. It sucks being a fucking redhead.
Chuckie stares at me and shakes his head as he blows smoke in my face. “Suit yourself. Your dad ain’t gonna be happy.” He and Axel fist bump.
“Jesus, Edge, grow some balls and fuck some real pussy. You know what… get in and I’ll have Crystal take care of you.” He waits, the truck idling as all of my friends stare at me. I know they feel sorry for me or think I’m weak, but fuck them. They don’t understand.
Turning, I spit again and look at them. “Nah, I’m fine.”
Disgust crosses Chuckie’s face, making me question if something is wrong with me. He shakes his head as he starts to back out and then guns it through the crowded parking lot, causing kids to move and parents to honk.
Shit. He’s right. Everyone’s right I guess. I rub my hands ac
ross my face as the anger builds. My dad is going to freak. He’ll call me gay and whatever else he can throw at me. God, if Dolly would just give it up. But besides kissing and feeling her up, we never get very far.
It was a hell of a lot easier when her dad was living with one of his girlfriends. Now he’s back at Dolly’s house, which sucks. Between school and him, we can’t ever get anything started.
Shark didn’t become the VP by being stupid.
I need a cigarette. I should have bummed one off the guys. Instead I bite my nails as I wait for her.
Finally, the doors to the gym swing open and my heart starts to thud. I drop my hand and rub it on my jeans as I watch her. She’s with a group, and it’s not only her stupid cheerleading girlfriends. No, she’s walking and smiling at the fucking pathetic excuse of a quarterback from our high school. Her beautiful face beams with happiness as she laughs at something one of them says to her. As they get closer, I straighten up and Dolly looks over. She smiles and waves.
This fucking dick of a quarterback acts like his shit doesn’t stink. He’s one of those guys who makes everyone believe he’s genuine then stabs you in the back. I hate him. My fingers curl into a fist. If he lays one hand on her…
“Hey you.” Dolly stops, a small smile on her pretty, red glossed-up lips as she looks up at me.
“Took you long enough,” I snarl, causing her porcelain skin to pinken immediately.
She bites her full bottom lip and glances around at her pathetic friends. “What’s the matter?” She cocks her head, swinging her backpack on her shoulder. “I told you I would be a little late.” Her hand touches my chest and I grab her wrist to stop her.
“We need to go.”
“O-kay… Um, see you guys tomorrow.” She tosses her long dark hair over her tiny shoulder.
“Dolly, you okay?” the stupid quarterback just has to ask. Like he gives two shits.
I pull Dolly behind me as I step forward. I’m tall but this creep is too. Although he’s rich enough to go to private school, he goes to ours because the football coach and the team always win championships, so scouts visit often.
Basically, he’s slumming and I’m about to lay him out.
“Edge.” Dolly’s hand snakes down my bicep and into mine as she smiles and says, “Troy you know my boyfriend Edge, right?”
He looks at me and a sneer forms on his pretty boy face. Everything about this dick is different from me. Starting with the fact that he gets to spend 90 percent of his day with my girl because Dolly is in the magnet program for the gifted and neighborhood kids. Meanwhile, I’m with all the losers. Not that I’m complaining. Give me the thugs any day over these pathetic wastes of life.
“And you know Gabrielle and Courtney.” She raises our hands to the tall brunette and short, voluptuous blond cheerleaders who look at me. The blonde’s eyes travel all the way down my body stopping at my biker boots.
“Um, yeah… Hi.” She giggles.
I look at Dolly whose chin is held high. Her long, thick, dark hair blows in the wind as she grips my hand tighter.
“So, you’re fine… with him?” Troy looks at me as if I’m exactly what I am: a Disciple. And if he doesn’t watch himself, he might not look so pretty come Monday.
“Of course.” She nods and tries to smile, her cheeks flushed with humiliation, which almost makes me want to shake her. Why does she want this or care?
She has me, the club. Why is she constantly trying to get in with the in-crowd when she will always be nothing but biker trash?
“We have a ride.” She smiles, her voice strained but bubbly. “I’ll see you guys in the morning?”
She lets go of my hand to hug Courtney. Gabrielle is already walking away talking on her phone.
Troy lingers for a moment, then says, “Take it easy, Doll. See you tomorrow.”
I say nothing until I can’t see them anymore then turn on her.
“Doll? Are you kidding me?”
The parking lot is pretty much empty, with a few remaining teachers and kids being picked up from sports.
“Oh my God, Edge, stop. He’s a nice guy.”
I almost start laughing. She can’t believe that, can she? But by the stubborn clench of her lips, I assume she does.
“What took you so long?” I snap and run my hands through my hair. Not only do I hate Troy, but the fact that now I have to face my old man makes me lose my temper.
“What has happened? I told you I would be a couple minutes. Just because we didn’t have practice doesn’t mean I didn’t have to hear about tomorrow’s stuff.” She looks tired and her cheeks are still flushed. The thought that I might embarrass her makes me want to shake her.
“Well, we’re screwed.” I tap my thumb on my leg.
“Why now?” She pulls her large backpack off and sits on it so that she doesn’t have to sit on the concrete.
“Because Chuckie’s being a dick and he left.” I look around at our options. We don’t have many. Hitchhiking with Dolly is not happening and I don’t have any cash for a cab.
Mr. Richardson walks past us. He’s my math teacher and is always dressed in expensive clothes with matching ties. Yet the other day when he wore a white shirt that couldn’t hide his dark ink, I noticed a full sleeve on his right arm.
“Mr. Daniels,” he says as he walks by us carrying what looks like a gym bag.
“Hey, Mr. Richardson.” I nod.
“You got a big test tomorrow,” he says over his shoulder. “You two need a ride?” He stops at his dark Dodge Viper. It’s a sweet ride.
“Um.” I look at Dolly who is already closing her history book and standing.
“Sure. Our ride left, so if it isn’t a big deal…”
He clicks his remote and the doors snap open. “This your girlfriend?” He pops the trunk button so that he can dump his bag.
“Yeah.” I guide Dolly next to me. He waits a beat and looks at us.
“What?” I glare at him. Mr. Richardson is cool and all, but if he’s after my girl…
“Are you going to use your words and introduce me?” He shakes his head as he walks to the driver’s door.
“Shit. I mean, this is my girlfriend Dolly.” My face burns. I hate feeling like white trash. Dolly hates it more; she’s always correcting me about manners.
“Nice to meet you.” He opens the door and pushes the seat up for Dolly to climb in. “Good thing you’re petite because there isn’t much of a back seat. Where to?” He starts up the engine, and I look at Dolly who seems uncomfortable.
“You okay?” She nods. “So… your house?”
“Yeah.” She leans forward and rattles off her address.
We spend the rest of the time talking about calculus and why it’s useful. I like Mr. Richardson. Not only is he cool, but he’s a good teacher. I think he loves what he teaches.
As we get close, around two blocks down the street from the house, my face reddens. Dolly and I live in shit neighborhoods. Small houses with dead yards. Nothing but bikes, dogs, and trucks parked outside.
“You can stop and let us off here,” Dolly speaks up. She hates our neighborhood too.
“You guys sure? I can take you to your house.”
“No thanks. Right, Edge?” She tugs on my shirt.
“Actually, Mr. Richardson, this is great. Thank you,” I say.
He pulls over and puts the car in park as I exit and help Dolly climb out of the back seat. “Thank you again.”
“Hey?” He takes a quick look around and says, “You two okay?”
“We’re fine.”
“All right. Make sure you study tonight. I expect you to ace this test tomorrow, Edge.” He nods at Dolly. “Nice meeting you.” She smiles and grabs my hand as he pulls away from the corner.
“Is your dad home?” If Chuckie wasn’t bullshitting me, my dad will be home waiting for me because I didn’t show up earlier.
He gets angry about everything. He’s lost a shit ton of weight and I can tell something’s w
rong. I should care, but it’s hard when he’s so fucking mean. He’s still a big man, and I don’t want to get into it with him tonight.
“Probably. What’s your deal, Edge?” She twirls her dark hair around her finger as we walk.
I open my mouth to tell her the truth then shut it. She already knows I think her friends are shallow, plastic mean girls.
“Stuff’s going on,” I mumble. Her eyes look sad and again, I want to confess that I love her. That all my friends are having sex, and I can barely get a kiss—at least a kiss from her, the one kiss I want.
I look around, making sure no one is nearby as I pull Dolly over by a streetlight.
“Look.” I run my hand through my hair trying to sound normal. “I don’t want you hanging around Troy. He’s fucking bad.”
She pulls back and looks at me, confused. “What are you talking about? You don’t even know him.” She shifts her backpack to her other side and I take it from her, slinging it over my other shoulder as dread and bile churn in my stomach.
“Wait. Do you like him or something?” It comes out slow because right now, I’m figuring it all out. While I have been busy with the guys letting her do her school shit, this motherfucker is moving in on my girl. Dolly is mine. From as early as I can remember, everyone knows it. Everyone.
I reach up and run my hands through my hair again. It’s getting long and I need to have Dolly cut it soon. But first I need to think.
“Edge? Come on… you can’t be serious.” She reaches up and I’m lost looking at the most gorgeous face in the world. Her long black eyelashes and bourbon-colored eyes are what I dream about. Everyone always talks about her long brown hair and her red puffy lips. But for me it’s her eyes—they show me everything I need to know.
We Disciples are raised at a young age to lie and not show any emotion. Not my Dolly. She shows me everything.
“How can you be this stupid,” I sneer, causing her hand to drop.
“What?”
“I said, how can you be so stupid? You need to see this guy for what he is.”
Repent (The Disciples Book 3) Page 3