Users

by Andrea M. Alexander

  “You say you’re Ava’s kid?” The girl’s voice sounded like it belonged to a Disney princess. I wondered if anyone ever took her seriously. Even with the gun.

  “That’s right,” I grunted as my cheek was mashed into the ground.

  “If that’s true, then tell me what I got you for Christmas the last time you were here.”

  “Iggy?” I tried to look at her again, but the gun barrel dug into my temple. “You didn’t get me anything.” She kicked me in my hip, the toe of her boot nicking bone. I winced and yelped, “Son of a bitch! It’s me! I swear it!”

  “I did get Cael a gift. If you’re really him, then tell me what it was before I blow a hole in you!”

  “I swear you didn’t get me anything! I was eleven. You hated me. On Christmas Eve you told me that I was on Santa’s naughty list…that Santa was going to sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night, chop my head off, and hang it from the mantle next to my stocking.”

  “What about the Taurus 9mm?” She sounded offended.

  “You gave that to me when I was ten. I still have it...under my shirt.” Someone yanked at my sweatshirt and snatched up my weapon.

  There was a pause that left me imagining being shot and left in a ditch. Then Iggy started laughing. “Let them up.”

  I stumbled to my feet, rubbing the back of my neck. Iggy stopped smiling at the Taurus and handed it back to me. I couldn’t help but stare when I saw her face. Not only did she sound like a Disney princess, she looked like one too. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and the childlike face I remembered had thinned out into a heart shape. She had beautiful lips — the top one slightly fuller than the bottom — and eyes that seemed almost too big for her head. She just didn't look like someone who should be smoothing a hand across the butt of a weapon.

  “You look totally different,” she told me, tipping her head to the side.

  I grinned. “You do too. No more buck teeth and boy hair.” When my eyes traveled down to the soft looking skin above the three undone buttons of her shirt, the guy next to me jabbed the butt of his gun into my ribs.

  “Stop staring at her,” he said, “before I shoot your eyes out.”

  I’d forgotten about him. In fact, I’d forgotten that a half dozen people were standing around watching us with guns pointed at me and Cody.

  Iggy asked, “Who’s that guy?” She used one arm to point her AR-15 at Cody.

  “My best friend.”

  Cody wiggled his fingers and offered a hesitant smile, marred only by the bruise on his jaw. “Hi. I’m Cody.”

  “Where are Aunt Ava and Uncle Daniel?”

  I scowled and shrugged. “I was hoping they'd already be here. I haven’t heard from them in the past couple days.”

  She gave me a lopsided smile. “I’m sure they’ll be here soon. If anybody messes with them, Aunt Ava will kick ass from Maryland to Atlanta.”

  “What makes you think that?” I smiled because of her funny way of speaking and not because her words made me feel better. I thought I hated the southern accent, but Iggy changed my mind. The way she drawled out her words was almost musical.

  “I grew up listening to Kim tell a million stories about your mom. Ava was wicked. She's my role model.” Iggy hooked her arm through mine and tugged me toward the gate. “Did you drive straight through? You guys must be tired.”

  I shrugged. “It wasn’t too bad.” Cody appeared beside me, staring at Iggy. “We have MREs in the trunk. Extra gas and weapons, too. It’s yours,” I told her. Payment for moving in.

  She paused and stepped away from me to look at the blond guy who’d had the gun to my head. “Wesley. Pull the car in and let’s unload the supplies.”

  He frowned and glared at me. Then he grumbled at Iggy, “Aye-aye, captain.”

  Iggy tipped her head and gave Wesley a look that made his frown disappear. She walked over and said a few words, kissed his cheek, and turned away. He smiled and shook his head, then he climbed into my car and we stepped aside so he could drive it through the gates. Then she grabbed Cody’s hand and my arm and tugged us down the driveway. “Lights on!” she hollered. About a quarter mile down, the farm house lit up like a Christmas tree. More people with guns stood on a veranda that ran the length of the place. Even in the dark and from a distance I could see they had modernized and added onto the farmhouse and the barn.

  I said, “You guys built a new wing.”

  “Over the past couple of years, more people started moving in with us. We had to expand to accommodate everyone.”

  “It’s like a hotel. A bed and breakfast.”

  “It’s still a home, just a really big one now. We take care of our own in this community. Good friends are the same as family.”

  She led us through the front door and a foyer into a living room with three sofas and several coffee tables. The baby grand piano was still in the corner, and the old TV had been replaced with a huge seventy-inch flat screen. The walls were covered with pictures of Kim, Iggy, Iggy's dad Chris, my grandparents, my mom when she was a kid, my family, and a bunch of other people I didn’t recognize.

  As the room filled up with men and women of all different ages, Iggy pulled out the piano bench and stepped on top of it. I caught the scent of something sweet as she settled herself. “Okay. Y’all listen up.” She cocked a hip and planted a hand on it. “I’m excited to tell you that my cousin, Cael, and his friend Cody, made their way here from New York.” People started murmuring, probably because they’d heard all about Martial Law being declared in our state. “Last time I saw this kid, he had big rabbit teeth and he fell off my pony because he didn’t know how to ride worth a damn. Of course, I overlooked his flaws because he’s a Yankee.” The small crowd snickered.

  “I didn’t fall,” I interjected.

  Iggy looked down at me. “Yes, you did.”

  I shook my head. “You jumped out from behind a bush and scared Blaze. She jumped sideways and bolted. You wouldn’t let me use your saddle.”

  Iggy looked from me to the others and said loudly for their benefit, “I wouldn’t have done something like that.”

  I raised my voice, “You were really mean. You said only pansies ride with saddles. You spooked the horse, I fell off, and then you started throwing –”

  Her hand clamped over my mouth. “Did I mention that my cousin is a compulsive liar? You guys know how sweet I am.”

  “Sweet as saccharin,” someone offered up and people laughed.

  Iggy smiled and held up her hands. “Okay, well…I just want to ask that you treat these guys like family. Like one of us. And please be on the lookout for my Aunt Ava and Uncle Daniel. They should be here within the next couple of days.” She made a shooing motion. “Sorry about that false alarm. Y’all go get some sleep.” She jumped down, talked to some people, and gave a few hugs before wandering back to me and Cody. “Did either of you want something to eat or drink?” We shook our heads. “Then I’ll show you to one of the guest rooms. You don’t mind sharing, do you?”

  “No. We’re just grateful for a safe place to sleep,” I assured her. We followed her through the house and up the staircase. I watched the way her skirt rubbed against her thighs as she bounced up the stairs with the energy of a child. I glanced over at Cody to find him staring at Iggy’s backside. I shoved him and he wiggled his eyebrows at me.

  At the top of the staircase, we turned into the new wing and Iggy led us into the first room on the left. She flipped on the light to reveal a room big enough for two double beds, two dressers, and a desk with a computer. I tossed my backpack onto the bed covered with an old patchwork quilt.

  Iggy told Cody, “I guess that means you get this bed.” She patted it. “I know it’s catawampus, but you can move the furniture around if you want.”

  “It’s what?” Cody looked confused. “Catty…”

  “Catawampus.”

  “What does that mean?”

  �
�It doesn’t matter.” She faced me and asked, “Is that all you brought? One back pack?”

  “We had to travel light. You wouldn’t believe what a nightmare it’s been trying to get down here.”

  “I saw Manhattan on the news. I’m scared it’s gonna end up like that down here, too. Atlanta's getting bad.” She straightened and winked at me. “But if it does, we’re ready.”

  “Where are Aunt Kim and your dad?”

  “They went to visit a friend in Tennessee to buy a motorcycle and some more ammo. Ammo is getting scarce these days.” She shrugged. “They should be back by tomorrow night.”

  “What kind of motorcycle?” Cody asked.

  “Kawasaki Ninja.”

  “Sweet! Can I ride it?”

  “You know how to ride one?”

  His nose wrinkled. “Kind of.”

  Iggy chuckled. “Okay. Well, we have several motorcycles, and you’re welcome to ride any time we aren’t using them for work.”

  Cody gave her a confused look, but she didn’t elaborate.

  At the door, Iggy smiled. “I’ll let you guys get some rest. Breakfast is served between five and eight. I’ll show you around tomorrow if you want.” She looked at me. “A lot’s changed since the last time you visited.” She held up an index finger. “Oh, by the way. If your eyeballs are floating, the bathroom’s down the hall, third door on the left. See you in the morning.” She breezed out of the room, leaving behind a faint scent of vanilla and sugar cookies.

  “What did she just say about eyeballs?” Cody asked me.

  I fell back onto the bed. “Who knows?”

  He stretched out over his own bed, tucking his hands behind his head and crossing his feet at the ankles. “Your cousin is totally hot, but I can’t understand half of what she says.”

  “I always had a difficult time with that, too. Mom usually translated.” I pulled out my cell and looked at it as if I could make a text appear by staring. I powered it off and then restarted the system, hoping that the icon for a text message would pop onto the screen. No icons. No unread texts or missed calls from my parents.

  Cody said, “Give them time, Cael. They’ll get here. Your mom was a Marine. Have some faith.” After a pause, he suggested, “Why don’t you think about your cousin instead? She’ll certainly distract you from your thoughts.”

  I stuffed a pillow under my head. “Isn’t that incest or something?”

  Cody guffawed. “Hah! You two aren’t really related. But that’s okay. If you don’t think about her, I get her all to myself.” He got up to go stuff his clothes into the dresser drawers.

  I threw a pillow and it hit him in the head. “Stop picturing her naked.”

  “She has a great ass.”

  “I know. But now I’m starting to feel like a perv.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.”

  “Her dad’s a cop.”

  Cody’s eyebrows rose. “That almost ruins it for me. But she’s legal, right?”

  “She’s eighteen. But you still have to worry about jail.” I pointed to his right hand which had a death grip on a big plastic pouch full of dime-sized bags. “Marijuana’s not legal in Georgia, you know.”

  He raised an eyebrow at me before stuffing it into the back of a drawer. “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to smoke it all before her dad gets back.”

  Chapter 3

  Cael

  When I woke up, Cody was already gone. I called my parents’ cell phones and left messages for them, and then I followed up with text messages. After a quick shower, I threw on jeans and a t-shirt and headed for the kitchen. Cody was sitting caddy-corner from Iggy at a table that could fit twelve; he was leaning toward her and grinning like a fool.

  I offered a brief wave. “Morning. Mind if I help myself to some coffee?”

  “Go for it,” Iggy replied. “We keep coffee brewing all day. You missed breakfast though. The guy who usually cooks has to clean and be gone to his other job by nine, so you’re stuck with cereal, instant oatmeal, and fruit unless you want to cook for yourself. Or there’s always peanut butter, if you still like it as much as you used to.”

  I suddenly pictured elementary-school-aged Iggy and me sitting on the back porch with soup spoons, Jif-smeared faces, and empty jars. I could tell by the smile on her face that Iggy was thinking about the same thing.

  “Where are all those people I saw last night?” I found a mug and filled it.

  “A lot of them commute to Atlanta or other cities for work, so they’re up and at it pretty early. Kids are at school. The rest of us work on the farm.”

  I sat down across from Iggy and Cody cleared his throat. “I’m trying to flirt with your cousin and you’re interrupting.”

  Iggy said, “Oh, is that what you were doing? I thought we were talking about the stupid, macho stunts boys pull.”

  “We were?” He scratched his scruffy jaw and wrinkled his brow.

  “You were telling me about your ice hockey games and how you lost your tooth and got a concussion. That’s not flirting.”

  I swallowed a sip of coffee, enjoying the heat. “Looks like you’re losing your touch, Cody.”

  He grimaced. “Must be out of practice.” To Iggy he said, “Guess you’re not impressed by my stories.”

  I mumbled, “Leave her alone. She has a boyfriend.”

  Cody sat back in his chair and smirked. “No she doesn't. We’ve already talked about that. I thought she and that blond guy, Wesley, were a thing. But they’re just friends.”

  Iggy rose from the table. “And on that note, I’ve got leave. Chores.”

  His face fell. “Guess I just don’t know how to charm southern girls.”

  She patted his hand and said, “Don’t worry, Cody. You left a big impression.”

  “I did?” Eyebrows rose with hope.

  “Yeah. In the French toast.” Iggy looked at me and said, “He polished off half the platter all by himself.”

  Cody rolled his eyes as soon as he realized he’d been had. Then he sat back and patted his stomach. “Takes a lot to keep this machine going.”

  Cradling my mug between my hands, I said to Iggy, “You expanded the kitchen too, I see. All modern, stainless steel appliances now. A refrigerator with a built-in TV.” I glanced over to find a news report about some kind of explosion, but the volume was too low to hear.

  Her head bobbed up and down briefly. “It’s less like a farmhouse than it used to be. Your mom will really be surprised. I just hope she’s not upset by how different this place is now than when she grew up in it.” She pushed in her chair. “Any word from your folks, by the way?”

  “No.”

  She bit her bottom lip and hid a worried look. “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Like a rock.”

  “Good. Then I’m gonna put you guys to work today.”

  Cody groaned. “Thanks a lot, Cael.” He asked Iggy, “What exactly will we be doing?”

  “Chopping wood for the fireplaces.”

  “Sounds boring.”

  I shot Cody a warning look and told Iggy, “We're happy to help out.”

  He frowned. But then Iggy offered, “What if I promise to make a big deal about your muscles and act really impressed while you’re swinging the axe?”

  Cody grinned. “Then I’m all over it. Let’s chop down some trees.”

  I gave Iggy a doubtful look. “Just so you know, neither of us has ever swung an axe before. So if you’re going to stand around and admire Cody’s muscles, you’d better stand pretty far away.”

  She chuckled, gulped down the last of her coffee, and went to put her mug in the dish washer. “You northern boys are so helpless.” After propping her hands on her hips and rolling her eyes at us, she said, “It’s time for the tour.”

  Cody jumped up. “Cool. I just have to go to the bathroom real quick.”

  “Meet you out front,” Iggy told him.

  I followed her through the fro
nt door to find Wesley pulling up on a silver and black Honda. He cut the engine but didn’t get off the bike. Instead, he motioned for Iggy to come over. I watched the two of them talk quietly, heads so close together that I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Wesley’s posture relaxed when he spoke with her, and she rested her hand on his shoulder. When he reached up and touched Iggy’s arm, I wasn’t sure I believed what Cody said about them being just friends.

  Iggy was wearing a black boots and a black skirt that swished around her legs. It was warm enough that she didn’t need a jacket, and her sweater hugged her body. She was perfectly built – not like the curvy girls Cody preferred, but toned and slim-hipped like an athlete. Her hair was gold, caramel, or ivory, depending on which way she tilted her head as the sunlight reflected off it. And when she walked back to me, I realized that her eyes were a lighter shade of brown than I’d thought — like whiskey, with flecks of green near the pupils. She laughed, and her cheeks rounded, bringing my attention to the light dusting of freckles across them. It suddenly hit me that I was a little nervous. Iggy made me feel like I was back in high school wanting to impress the hot girl. The feeling took me by surprise, and it must have shown on my face because she asked if I was okay.

  “Yeah. I’m just ready to see how the place has changed.”

  Fortunately, Cody distracted me by bounding out of the house and slapping a hand over my shoulders. “We ready, Iggy? I’m ready to ride a motorcycle.” Cody looked at Wesley and said, “Don’t suppose you’d let me ride the Honda.”

  Wesley didn’t respond. He started the bike, gunned the engine, and took off toward the woods on the other side of the house.

  “What the hell is that guy’s problem?” Cody barked.

  Iggy grimaced. “Sorry. Wes is a little moody.”

  “Moody? That must be the new word for ‘asshole’.”

  “Relax, Cody,” I said. My friend didn’t usually get so riled up by small things, and I wondered if his reaction had something to do with Iggy’s presence.

  “That guy should smoke some weed. Loosen up a little.”

  Iggy smiled. “Hate to burst your bubble, Cody, but Flint took my bike out to check the back fences, so we’re left with horses to tour the property. You can ride the bike this afternoon.”