The General Store: Where Innocence Goes to Die

by A. L. Moore

  “What conversation?” he shrugged, smoothing his short blond hair toward the front of his head.

  A movement to my right caught my eye. It was Mr. Smith unloading several large cardboard boxes into the blue trash bin. He glanced over at us with a frown and turned to the door.

  “I better get back inside,” I said, taking a step toward the store. “Thanks to you, I’m not his favorite person.”

  “Me!” Tyler said in mock surprise. “I’m not the one who partied too hard last night.”

  “Yeah,” I said, taking another step away. “I’ll have to watch that next time.” Giving him a half wave, I turned and jogged to the heavy, green door.

  Wait,” Tyler called. “Can I pick you up when your shifts over?”

  “I don’t get off until close tonight,” I said. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go off with him again. “Besides,” I said as an after-thought, “I wasn’t kidding about Tom being pissed I used him as an alibi.”

  Tyler glanced toward the store. “Don’t worry about Tom. I’ll be out front at nine.”

  ***

  It was only a quarter after eight when Mr. Smith gave me the green light. He didn’t even make me clock out. Did he know I was aware of what was going on out back? Then again, maybe he wasn’t involved in drugs as a side business. Mr. Smith didn’t strike me as a drug pusher. He was most likely just trying to appease my dad about last night by letting me cut out early. Whatever the reason, Tyler was waiting against the curb as he’d promised, holding a shiny, black helmet in his hand. When I wrapped my arms around his waist, I caught the scent of the leather bag strapped to the back of the bike. Fragments from last night started to return. My arms tight around Liam’s hard stomach, the rich scent of leather and Liam’s cologne. My stomach stirred in the best way, and I unconsciously tightened my grip. Tyler sighed and patted my thigh. Great.

  “Where to?” he asked, rolling slightly forward.

  “Where do you usually go?”

  “Everyone is at Robyn’s,” he hedged, “but I thought you might want to do something different tonight.”

  “Robyn’s is fine with me,” I said immediately. The engine’s roar muffled my noisy stomach. Most of the street venders had closed-up shop, but the pub down the road had the most delicious charcoal scent drifting out its doors. “Maybe we could grab a bite, first. I think my stomach has settled enough for food now.”

  “Anything you want, Babe,” he said, shooting in front of a black Ford pick-up truck.

  Thankfully it wasn’t Mason. The man was my dad’s age. He was red faced and moving his mouth angrily. Tyler stared him down, gunning the engine until the man looked away and sped off.

  We stopped for pizza at a small hole in the wall Italian place I frequented with Mason. Most of the booths lining the narrow room were empty, still a mess from the dinner rush. The waiter knew Tyler by name, and we waited less than five minutes for a large pepperoni. Mason and I never got food in less than thirty minutes. The only reason we’d kept coming was because the pizza was hands-down the best in town.

  I was able to hold down two slices with no problem. Tyler ate the rest. He was exceptionally talkative, telling me about the summer he’d worked for Mr. Smith and how much he hated working at the store. I almost asked him when Mr. Smith had promoted him to drug dealer, but I remembered Liam’s warning and kept my mouth shut. Overall, it wasn’t the worst date I’d ever been on. Tyler kept his hands to himself all through dinner and even on the ride to Robyn’s. I’d tried to get him to let me out at the end of the street incase my parents were outside, but he insisted they’d never know it was me. He was probably right. It was dark and I was wearing a helmet.

  The door was open when we got to Robyn’s house. Alec and John were sitting on the leather couch watching a movie on the mounted flat screen above the mantle, and Robyn was draped across Jayson, asleep in the recliner. I looked through the kitchen for Liam, but he was nowhere in sight. His bike was in the drive. No one seemed surprised to see me, so my gun performance at the cabin must’ve broken the ice. I started toward the only empty chair in the room when Tyler squeezed my hand.

  “Let’s go upstairs,” he said, his eyes darting to the steps. “I’ve seen this movie twice already.”

  “Liam and Tonya are in Robyn’s room,” Jayson said quietly, shifting his leg beneath Robyn.

  My heart sank. The sick feeling from earlier overcame me even stronger than before. I turned toward the door, ready to bolt. Tyler had to yank my hand to get me started up the stairs. Liam with Tonya didn’t make sense. I’d seen how he looked at her. I’d heard the acid in his voice when he talked about her. He treated me better than that, and I knew he didn’t like me. When we reached the empty upstairs hallway, I was relieved to find it quiet. Quiet and dark. I did the best I could to keep the hurt off my face, forcing a smile as I followed Tyler into a bright bedroom with pink walls and an ocean canvas hanging over a queen-sized bed. I’d stepped into the beach house of some color-blind old lady.

  I felt defeated and empty inside. Tyler wasn’t part of my plan for the summer, but he was all I had, aside from skipping back across the street. I wasn’t ready for that, so I didn’t protest when he told me to turn the light off. I resisted the urge to run when the lock clicked into place.

  The streetlamp lit the room enough to keep me from walking into anything. “Thanks for the pizza,” I said nervously.

  Tyler ran his fingers across my cheeks, combing through my hair and bringing my mouth to his lips. His mouth moved with experience I didn’t have, but there was no heat. I moved mechanically; my mind was tormented by images of what Liam was doing down the hall with Tonya. Tyler walked me backwards until my thighs bumped the bed. I caught his hand when it slid past my stomach and pulled it back to my mouth, kissing his palm.

  “Slow down,” I said as his lips trailed along my collarbone.

  He pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. A flashing red light started blinking inside my head as he maneuvered us onto the bed. A shirt to the floor was as far as Mason and I usually got before hitting the brakes, but Tyler wasn’t Mason, and he wasn’t slowing. I was starting to freak-out. My heart was beating too fast. My hands fisted at my sides, unsure what was coming next. Tyler moved his hips roughly against me, pushing my head closer to the bed frame. He didn’t seem to notice that I wasn’t moving. Either that or he simply didn’t care. I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst when someone pounded on the door.

  “We’ve got trouble out here,” Jayson said.

  “Handle it,” Tyler snapped, breathing heavy, one hand holding my shoulder to the mattress.

  “Justice’s punk-ass boyfriend is downstairs, demanding to come in,” Jayson said. “He’s threatening to tell her parents if we don’t let him check upstairs for her.”

  “Anna must’ve told him I wasn’t at her house,” I said, relief washing through my body. It felt amazing to be able to relax my legs.

  Tyler huffed, pushing off the bed and jerking the door open. Propped on my elbow I could see Liam, shirtless, in the hall. Tonya nestled behind him, her arms clinging to his shoulders with make-up smeared across her mouth. Liam glared at me on the bed.

  “I’m telling you. She’s not up here,” I heard Robyn’s booming voice coming up the stairs.

  Scrambling off the bed, I planted myself against the wall beside the door.

  “What the hell is this,” Tyler said. “I have to get up early tomorrow?

  “Sorry,” Robyn said annoyed, her t-shirt nearly covering her shorts. “This is Mason. He dates that girl, Justice, from the store. For some reason, he thinks she’s here.”

  Tyler stepped to the side and flipped on the light, revealing the outdated bedroom.

  “Have a look, Sport,” Tyler said, waving his hand across the room.

  I stayed frozen against the wall until everyone moved on to another room. Tyler didn’t come back inside. Instead, he closed the door. I listened as each door upstairs opened and clos
ed, waiting until I heard the front door close before going out of the bedroom. Glancing down the hall, Robyn’s bedroom door was open. Taking a step in that direction, the masochist in me wanted to see if the sheets were rumpled, but the boisterous voices from below moved me in the opposite direction. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I saw everyone lounging much like before. Only now, Robyn was busy watching Mason climb back into his truck. I listened as the familiar engine filled the air and started away.

  “What do you think he would’ve done if he’d caught you with her?” John snickered, throwing a glance at Tyler when Robyn closed the door.

  “We would’ve had to send in reinforcement,” Jayson laughed, mock punching Tyler on his way to Robyn.

  “You should’ve sent him up,” Tyler said. “He could’ve watched me at work, taught him a thing or two.”

  I blanched. The realization of what I’d almost let happen dawned on me like a sledgehammer. I felt sick. The stair creaked when I took the final step to the floor. All eyes turned to me, but I didn’t stop. I jerked out of Tyler’s grasp and headed for the door. Tyler was quicker, pushing it closed above my head.

  “I was only joking, Justice. Lighten up.”

  “It’s not that,” I said, forcing a smile as I pulled on the doorknob. “I need to get home before Anna tips my parents off.” He couldn’t argue with that. With what they were involved in, the last thing they needed was my parents calling the cops.

  “What are you going to tell them?” he asked.

  “Hopefully, I won’t have to tell them anything,” I said, giving the door another yank. “That is, if you’ll let me out the door.” I yanked again until he moved his hand.

  I wasted no time with goodbyes, my feet not slowing as I headed toward the driveway.

  “I’d say he slipped you something again,” Liam’s voice stopped me cold. “But you don’t look messed up.”

  He was still shirtless and knowing whose body his shirt was covering, wasn’t helping with my mood. I scowled at him and turned back toward my house.

  “What were you thinking going into a bedroom with Tyler? Were you even listening to me today?”

  “Yes, I heard you!” I said, angry tears spilling down my face. “You want me gone. Done.”

  His bare feet padded against the cement until he caught my arm. Wiping tears from my face for the second time today, I felt like a blubbering baby. Liam took my tears to mean something else entirely. “Did he hurt you?” he asked, his eyes assessing me from head to toe. “What did he do? Tell me now.”

  “Nothing you didn’t do with Tonya,” I shot back, looking at the smeared pink lipstick on his shoulder.

  I was aware how ridiculous it was to be jealous when he wasn’t mine, but I couldn’t help it. He was sending mixed signals left and right, and it was tearing up my nerves. He didn’t want me here, but he went out of his way to talk to me. He didn’t want me, but he didn’t want Tyler to have me either. He was maddening and worse yet, with the perfume of another girl still fresh on his body, I couldn’t help but notice how incredible he looked.

  “What I do and who I do it with is none of your business,” he said sharply. “I’m trying to help you out.”

  “Well, stop,” I said, wiping my eyes on the back of my free hand, “and let go of me. I don’t know why all you guys think you can put your hands on me.”

  “Because you’re here!” he said angrily. “Stop. Coming. Around. Go home where you belong.”

  “That’s the plan,” I shot back, jerking away so hard I nearly lost my balance.

  I didn’t turn back once as I pounded across the street. The house was dark when I walked in, despite the cars in the drive. I flipped on the kitchen light and grabbed a glass of water, steaming.

  “Is that you, Justice?” Mom asked from down the dark hall.

  “Yeah, Mom,” I called back, trying to steady my hand on the cool counter.

  “You made good time. Did someone give you a lift?”

  “What was that?” I asked, confused. I'd been off work for well over an hour.

  “Mr. Smith just got off the phone with your Dad. He called to apologize for keeping you so late, again,” she explained. “I bet you’re exhausted. He said the store was busier than ever today.”

  Tyler was covering my tracks.

  “Mason was looking for you earlier,” she went on, her slippers sliding against the linoleum as she reached for a glass from above the sink and filled it with water. “He said he hasn’t talked to you in a few days. I told him you’ve been working a lot, but he thinks you’re mad at him.”

  “I’ll call him,” I said, digging through my purse for my phone, right after Anna.

  Closing my door, I dialed her number. Anna answered on the first ring. “What did you tell Mason?”

  “I’m so sorry,” she said immediately. “I tried to call you. I didn’t tell him anything.”

  “Then how did he know to come to Robyn’s?”

  “I was on the phone with Cole,” she explained in a rush, “and I know you said not to tell anyone, but Cole doesn’t live around here, so I didn’t think he counted.”

  I couldn’t take this. My patience had been tried enough tonight. “Get to the point, Anna.”

  “Okay. Okay. I was telling Cole what you told me about those bikers; I didn’t even know Mason was outside the door. He must’ve been in the hall listening, because he was so mad when he came in. I’ve never seen him like that before. He broke my T.V. remote.”

  “What exactly did you say?” I asked, sinking into the bed.

  “Just that you’d hung out with them a couple of times. I think I might have mentioned the kiss, too,” she said quietly. “I tried to tell him you were at the store, but he’d already been there. He said the store was dark.”

  “I have to go,” I said quickly, hanging up and dialing Mason.

  There was no easy way to do it, but after tonight, it had to be done. I couldn’t have Mason running all over town looking for me. Tyler, or one of the other guys, could really hurt him, and the thought of him walking in and finding me with Tyler turned my stomach. I didn’t want Mason to look at me the way he looked at Robyn. I had to break up with him.

  Chapter 9. Steady

  I saw his truck outside Anna’s house on my way home. It felt strange not to be inside with them but liberating at the same time. I knew they were probably talking about me, and I wondered whose side Anna would be on. Mason’s most likely. I couldn’t blame her. I’d confided too much about my new life to her. I’d spared those details with Mason. I wondered if the details would’ve bothered him. He’d taken everything better than I’d ever expected, which I had to admit, stung. He hadn’t argued or sounded upset when I told him it was over. He’d sighed and thanked me for calling, cordial until the very end.

  It could’ve been worse. I was expecting him to cry, and when he didn’t, I did. Crying in Robyn’s drive wasn’t a drop in the bucket compared to the flood that ensued during that phone call with Mason. I wanted to stay friends. After four years, I couldn’t imagine him not being a part of my life in some way, but he didn’t even mention it. I told him he was still welcome to come over, but he said he’d rather not. Josh would be heartbroken. Mason promised not to tell my parents what he’d heard from Anna but said he couldn’t be a part of it. He said he was worried about me, but he’d seen it coming for a while. The only thing he requested was that I not call him anymore. I was still crying on the phone when he hung up.

  I parked Mom’s car in the drive and sat on the front steps. It’d been a long time since I had no obligations. There was no one waiting on my call. I was the one waiting now, waiting on no one. No one came by the store, none of the guys…or Mason. Tyler didn’t even have my number as far as I knew, so he couldn’t call. Not that I wanted to rehash what had almost happened the other night.

  It was going to be a long weekend.

  I trudged inside and stuffed my smelly candy smeared clothes into the washer. I was beginning to
hate sweets. I’d never be able to go in the fudge shop at the beach again, and that’d been my favorite stop. Mason and I had always bought fudge and went to the Cineplex to watch the latest movie when he joined us on vacation. It hurt to think about him. Pushing all painful thoughts aside, I changed and painted on my weekend face, which comprised of eyeliner, and grabbed the car keys.

  Pulling into the crowded theater parking lot, filled with smiles only a Friday could produce, I made a slow lap to check out the movie posters. There was nothing playing I recognized. I circled the theater twice looking for a vacant spot and making sure I didn’t see anyone I knew. Being seen at a movie alone, the day after breaking up with Mason, wasn’t the reputation I wanted to follow me into my senior year.

  I was parking the car when I caught sight of the person selling tickets. My heartbeat painfully against my chest. It was Tyler’s sister, Tonya. I’d never spoken a word to her, but I hated her so much. Every strand on her bleach-blonde-head. I wanted to march over to the window and claw her eyes out. Instead, I turned the engine off and watched as she smiled and passed tickets beneath the window to two middle schoolers. I’d never seen her in a shirt of her own that didn’t leave half her chest on display. She almost looked decent. I wondered if she’d recovered her pants since last night. I would’ve died if I’d been caught in nothing but Liam’s t-shirt in front of everyone, but it hadn’t seemed to bother her. She would’ve probably taken it off right then and given it back to Liam, if he’d asked.

  No movie was worth having to deal with her. I shifted the car into reverse and started to back out when I heard a bike. Hope swelled in my chest as I looked around expectantly for Liam. It wasn’t him.

  Jayson made his own parking space on the sidewalk in front of the ticket window. Tonya waited on the last gaggle of giggling kids before walking out to meet him. Dangling a floral make-up bag from his index finger, he leaned in and kissed her in a way that drew stares from more than just my wide eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He’d seemed so much in love with Robyn. She would be heartbroken if she found out. Not that I was going to tell her. She already wanted to kill me. I backed quickly out of the tight space and headed home.