Serenity

by Ava O'Shay

  The large arms of her assailant grabbed her mom around the waist and pinned her against the wall in a rough embrace, stopping her foot from connecting. His hands dove under her mom’s shirt as he took her mouth in a loud and sloppy kiss. Ren rolled to her knees, thanking God he put his sexual intentions to work on her mom. Wrapping her arms around her middle, she tried to keep the hysterical sobs threatening to erupt from coming out. She needed to get out while they were occupied with each other. The loud grunts coming from them told her she had some time. Struggling to breathe, Ren half crawled, half stumbled down the stairs, grabbing her bag on the way out door.

  She ran two blocks from her house before she gave herself permission to collapse to the curb, trying to calm the gasping breaths raking her body. The coolness of the pavement slowly soaked into her skirt, drawing her back to her reality. She checked her watch and found it was already four thirty in the morning. If she walked to school she could get there by five and the weight room would be open for the football teams’ Saturday morning workout. She could take a shower and maybe get something to eat. She checked her bag for the money Brock gave her. It was missing. When the boyfriend pulled her upstairs, her mom must have taken it. With a sigh she got up, wrapped her arms around her bruised ribs and headed through the early morning drizzle to the high school.

  Jolin

  Saturday, October 19

  4:30 a.m.

  “So how ya feeling sparky?” Akeo was way too energetic for four thirty in the morning.

  “Shut up.” Jolin slid into Akeo’s car and pulled his hoodie over his head.

  “So, is your adorable crappy mood due to the consumption of an unlimited number of beers in zero point two seconds or the fact you did the nasty with your ex?”

  “Ke let it g-g-go.” Jolin scrunched down in his seat.

  “Wait? You’re asking me to let something go? Do you know me?” Akeo turned in his seat to look at Jolin. “Let me introduce myself. Akeo Dodson. Your friend who never lets it go.”

  Jolin had to laugh. Akeo never let him off the hook.

  “So, did you bump the ugly? Tap that chick? Get a little?” Akeo looked over at him again. “Sell your soul to the devil for popularity? Wait…sell your sex for popularity?”

  He punched Akeo in the arm. “Jesus, Ke, shut up.”

  “Did she reinstate you to the asshole club? Did you fuck your way back to the top?” Akeo wasn’t going to stop.

  “No. She fucked me and t-t-told me we were still br-br-broke up.”

  “Dude. Harsh. She used you man. You were used for sex. That’s majorly screwed up.”

  “Dude. I’m majorly sc-sc-rewed up.”

  Akeo pulled into the dirt parking lot of the warehouse. Jolin’s car sat lonely and deserted in the vacant lot. Jolin looked straight ahead, his hands squeezed together, then released. He knew he was about to get one of Aeko’s famous lectures.

  “Look, I don’t want to go all girl on you, and it’s early, and I didn’t leave my balls at home, but Dude, you got to wake up. You’re desperately trying to regain a popularity that was, from the start, fucked up. The social dynamics of high school are not the real world. You’re ready to sell yourself to get it back but once you walk out of the school no one—I repeat no one— is going to care. I’m watching you struggle to find a place, when what you need to do is figure out who you are without a group of plastics with their nose up your ass.” Akeo turned on him. “Ren. She has a real life. A life that has little to do with our school. Most of the student body has more important things to worry about than who wins the game on Friday and you can’t put Homecoming King on your resume. You need to have something more important. Don’t sell yourself short, Jo. Don’t expect a night of hide the sausage with the Lizard to give you back something you never had.”

  Jolin blew out a breath. “Wow, Ke. Are you my d-d-dad? Dr. Phil maybe?”

  “Fuck you, Jo. Get out.”

  Jolin’s sarcastic response didn’t go over well. “Look Ke. I know what you’re saying. It w-w-was a moment of weakness. I won’t go b-b-back. C-c-come to the gym? I’ll buy you breakfast.”

  Akeo shook his head. “I’d better. I have to find my manhood after that rant.”

  “You never lost it K-K-Ke. You’re wiser than your y-y-years.” Jolin fist bumped him before climbing out of the car and trudging through the muddy parking lot to his own.

  Jolin was cleared by the doctor to start light weights, and Akeo agreed to be his spotter. Not to mention personal counselor. Jolin needed to be a better friend.

  “Hey Daniel,” came a round of voices from the team. Jolin nodded hellos, the exclusion of Akeo in the round of welcomes didn’t go unnoticed. Jolin stripped his sweatshirt off and led Akeo to a vacant corner to work with some light weights. His shoulder complained at the strain he put it under, but it felt good to be back in the gym. The smells and grunts from the team were a welcome feeling after his evening of uncertainty. In the weight room he could put everything from the outside world out of his mind. Akeo’s fatherly rant was right. Whatever was going on in the high school had little to do with the events in the real world. It wasn’t like Elizabeth could put popularity on a job application.

  “So, the doctor cleared this?” Akeo’s hands hung under the bar, waiting to see if Jolin would need his support for the last rep. Jolin sat up and wiped his face with his shirt.

  “Yeah. Light weight for a few d-d-days then whatever I feel c-c-comfortable with. I’m d-d-done for t-t-today. You good?” Jolin looked at Akeo who hadn’t even broken a sweat.

  “I’m here for you. Lifting isn’t my thing. Whenever you’re ready, I’m good to go. I see breakfast looming in my future.”

  Jolin laughed.

  They left the weight room and headed to a row of lockers outside the gym. The school could remove his status as golden boy, but they couldn’t make him move out of his locker. The row of lockers were designated for the football team. A special group housed by the trophy cases and decorated by the cheer-tators before each game. It was as if they wanted them to know the team was exclusive. Even when the season was over, they kept the lockers. The basketball team used the ones in the P.E. locker room. Jolin gathered his stuff and slammed to door.

  “I can go to the gym next week and see if we can get back some strength.” Akeo planned as they headed down the hall to the parking lot.

  Jolin saw Brock head into the weight room. “I’ll be right back.”

  Akeo tilted his head back and groaned. “Stop already.”

  “Just a m-m-minute.” Jolin held up a finger and back peddled through the door. “I won’t do anything st-st-stupid.”

  “You already are.” He heard Akeo yell.

  Jolin spotted Brockleaning back on the bench. Jolin slid in beside him, acting like he wanted to spot him. “Hey, Brock.”

  “Hey, Daniels.”

  His mouth twitched to correct him, but he let it go. Everyone wanted to add an “s.” It was annoying.

  “I hear things are going well with your lab partner?” Brock winked.

  He wasn’t sure what to do with a wink, so he ignored it. “Not as good as the rumors tell.”

  His expression changed, but before Jolin could figure out why, Brock turned back into his cocky self.

  “So,” Jolin started. “I saw you and R-R-Ren out.” Brock grabbed the weight bar. Jolin put his hands under it to spot him.

  Brock let out a loud grunt and lifted the bar off the supports. “So.”

  “Didn’t know you were friends.” Jolin tried to be casual but figured he just sounded like a stalker.

  “Not exactly. She rents from my dad. You interested in spending more time with her? I could arrange it.” Brock’s voice was tight as he pushed the weight up. Somehow this conversation seemed to have turned into a transaction.

  “No, that’s okay. I c-c-can handle m-m-my own arrangements.”

  He placed the bar on the supports and sat up, rubbing his thighs. “I don’t think so.”

&n
bsp; Jolin took a step back. “So you’re her landlord and her p-p-personal assistant?

  “With Ren. If you need anything, you go through me.”

  Jolin would have laughed if there was any indication he was joking. But there wasn’t.He shook his head. “No I d-d-don’t need anything. Just my lab p-p-partner.” Jolin left Brock to lift on his own and headed back into hall.

  If he needed anything? To go through him? What the fuck? Ren and him never even spoke, why would he have a clue about her? Wouldn’t Quill be the one I should talk to?

  Jolin returned to Akeo more confused than before. “That was the c-c-craziest c-c-c-conversation I’ve had.”

  Akeo swallowed. “If it was with Brock, I can’t imagine it not being crazy. He’s a crack pot.”

  “Seriously. Listen and t-t-tell me if I’m r-r-reading more into it than there is.”

  Jolin and Akeo walked toward the exit. “Brock said if I needed anything from Ren to go through him. What’s the deal with him and Ren? Is he seriously stalking everything I do?”

  Akeo gave him an ‘I told you so look’.

  “Okay. I’ll s-s-say it for you. I’m a s-s-self-centered asshole. What have I been m-m-missing here?”

  “First off everything isn’t always about you so if he is involved with Ren it doesn’t mean he is stalking you. Second, I think you need to talk to Ren if you want specifics.” Akeo was a master at evading.

  “She’s not going to t-t-talk to me. She’s my fucking lab p-p-partner and she doesn’t even want to be that.” Jolin ran a hand over his hair.

  Akeo grabbed his arm. “Leave it alone, Jo. I told you it wasn’t a good idea. If Brock’s involved, there’s some nasty shit going on.”

  “I thought she was your fr-fr-friend.”

  “No. We roll with the same crowd sometimes, but we aren’t friends. If you paid attention to anything…”

  Jolin cut him off. “I know I’m an asshole.”

  He shook his head. “She doesn’t have friends. She doesn’t do friends.”

  “I’m her lab p-p-partner.” I emphasized the final words.

  “Is that code for something because you keep saying it, and I’m not seeing much lab work going on?”

  Jolin shrugged him off and headed down the hall.

  “Joli.” Elizabeth emerged from the girls’ weight room.

  “Oh God,” he groaned.

  “Don’t do screw Satan if you aren’t willing to take your penance for your sins the next morning,” Akeo muttered.

  Elizabeth’s expression briefly registered irritation either at being groaned at or she’d heard Akeo say the word screw, either way she brushed it off and replaced her plastic smile. “I heard you were lifting this morning. When will you get cleared to play?” She bounced on her toes when she talked.

  Did she always used to do that? God it was annoying. It seemed like she was about to throw her hands in the air and start spelling random words.

  He shook his head. Then leaned in, bringing his lips close to her ear. Her breathing sped up. “I had major brain bruising, Liz. I’m not ever getting cleared,” he hissed. “Not that it’s any of your business. Remember we aren’t getting back together. What I do isn’t your fucking business anymore.”

  Elizabeth gasped and Jolin headed out the far end of the gym. He heard Quill before he saw him.

  “What the fuck were you doing?” Quill yelled. Ren stood in the middle of the hall, letting him rip into her.

  She looked like a drowned rat. She was wearing the same outfit as last night, but she looked like she had walked here from the party.

  “I had the rent. What do you want from me?”

  Jolin admired the way she stood up for herself. It was kind of hot.

  “How, Ser-ren-ity? How the fuck did you get the money?” Quill leaned into her face, saying her full name in low menacing syllables.

  “It doesn’t matter. I don’t have it anymore. She stole it.” Her voice was small. “You were supposed to pick me up from work.”

  “This isn’t my fault,” he said. “And it matters to me. You can’t sell it to one and not the other. God dammit, Ren. I told you I’d get another job.”

  “I’m not selling anything. This wasn’t my fault. I didn’t do anything.”

  “That’s what you always say, but it keeps happening.” His words sliced through the air like a knife. “You’re going to screw everything up again.”

  Without warning, Ren pulled her arm back and punched Quill in the jaw, taking him to his knees. Once he was down, she kicked him. Jolin froze at the violence she wielded. She didn’t say a word. Not a cuss word, not a scream. It was scary watching her silently come undone.

  Jolin ran at her not even realizing Akeo was right behind him. He grabbed her around the waist and twisted her away from Quill.

  Quill was up and ready for a fight as soon as her attack was interrupted. Akeo put his hands on Quill’s chest, pushing him back as he tried to get at Ren. “Hey there big fella. We don’t allow hitting girls in our neck of the woods,” Akeo tried to lighten the mood while fighting to get Quill under control, a steady stream of insults coming from Quill’smouth.

  “Get her out of here Jo,” Akeo grunted.

  “If you don’t want to be treated like a whore, don’t act like one!” Quill’s voice faded as Jolin threw Ren over his good shoulder and carried her into the wrestling gym. The floor of the room was covered in mats, and he tossed her kicking form to the ground. She landed with a thump and didn’t get up. He could feel the anger coming off her and had a few bruises to confirm she wanted to go a few more rounds.

  “Are you okay?” Jolin finally asked. She sat up and flipped her hair out of her face. Her normally impeccable make-up was smeared, dark circles under her eyes. A patch of dried blood was smeared down her hairline.

  “Why can’t you leave me the fuck alone? Dammit, Jolin, stay out of my shit.” Her voice was hoarse, but she wasn’t crying.

  “I’ll stick around until things calm d-d-down.” Jolin leaned against the door hoping Akeo was working his magic on the other side.

  “I’m fine. We fight. We get over it.” She shrugged. “We’re twins. That’s what they do.” She looked up at him. The black smear he thought was makeup was actually a bruise.

  “Quill? He did this to you? He’s mad about you hooking up and he hit you?” Jolin tried to piece together what had just gone down.

  His comment earned him an angry glare.

  “I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on here.”

  “Why do you keep showing up?” Ren asked.

  “I was lifting.”

  “Last night?” she accused.

  “Coincidence?” He cringed, guilty as charged.

  She stood up and readjusted her shirt or skirt. He wasn’t sure what it was. “Do you have extra clothes here?”

  “What?” Her question caught him off guard. “Yeah in m-m-my locker.”

  “Can I borrow them? I haven’t had a chance to change, and I don’t want to be wearing this all day.”

  Jolin could see many reasons why she wouldn’t want to be wearing her outfit, but he was kind of sad to see her out of it. She was smoking hot even if she was deflated by the rain.

  “Yeah. Come on.” Jolin held out his hand. She gave him a “hell no” look so he dropped it and instead opened the door for her. Akeo and Quill were gone, so he led her back to his locker and started to dig for something that didn’t smell like an animal had died in them.

  Jolin handed her a pair of grey sweats and pulled his hoodie over his head to give to her.

  “No. I don’t want that.” She held up her hands and backed away.

  “It’s okay. My letterman coat is in here.” He held up the black and orange coat. “Unless you’d rather wear this?”

  She snorted. “No. I’m not wearing your coat.” She grabbed the sweatshirt. Jolin watched as she, in some magical girl way, changed into sweats and a hoodie, creating a pile of her clothes on the floor, without ev
er showing a glimmer of skin. Her breath caught when she’d lifted her arms, and he wondered if she was hurt more than was visible on her face.

  “Wow,” Jolin said. “It’s like you have super powers.”

  She gave him the look he was beginning to think was reserved only for him, the “what the hell” look.

  Ren wrapped her hair up into a messy bun and shoved her clothes into her messenger bag. “I’ll get your stuff back to you as soon as I wash them.” She paused. “I really appreciate your help. Thanks.”

  Jolin’s words got stuck in his throat. She looked so broken, not to mention all warm and cozy in his sweats. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and crawl into bed. She stuck the cuff of the sweatshirt in her mouth, then swiped it under each eye, removing most of the drizzled make up, and making the bruise more obvious.

  “Did Quill do that?” He asked again, pointing at her eye.

  “What?”

  “You have a black eye.”

  “God dammit I hate that woman,” she muttered. “People should be like dogs and get fixed before they can reproduce.”

  Jolin relaxed a little. At least it wasn’t Quill’s doing but he kind of wished it had been. He at least could have kicked Quill’s ass for laying his hands on Ren. He wasn’t sure how to kick her mom’s.

  “Hey,” Akeo’s voice echoed down the empty hall.

  Jolin watched both Akeo and Quill walk toward them. He moved closer to Ren in case he needed to step in again.

  Quill’s demeanor had completely changed. When they got close, Quill rested his hands on the back of his neck and shook his head. “God dammit.” Quill looked up at Ren, who was frozen next to Jolin. “Nety.” Quill’s voice cracked. “Don’t do this. Don’t let her make you do this. Things can be different this time. We’ll be okay.”