Bullies Love and Lies

by liberty freer

  “Emma’s right,” Ryan says from the front passenger seat. “He’s getting exactly what he wants.”

  “So, you want to do nothing?” Sully says.

  “Yeah, act like he doesn’t exist,” Ryan says.

  “Exactly,” I say. “We go about our business. If Jones comes to pick me up for school, he can sit his ass out there. I won’t even acknowledge Jones when Robbie picks me up for school. When he sees he can’t get to you through me, he’ll back off.”

  “If I put him in the hospital, he won’t be able to do shit,” Sully says with a grin.

  “But then you’ll be in jail,” Brent says. “It’ll be hard for Mr. A to make that go away. Jones has money too. His dad’s the state general or governor, or some shit like that. He could push for charges.”

  “I think it would be easier if Emma changed schools,” Sully says, pulling into Silex’s driveway.

  “I’m not doing that.”

  “If things get worse?” Sully asks.

  “They won’t,” I say.

  Sully glares at me in the rearview mirror as he turns the truck off, his eyes telling me that he doesn’t believe that.

  Chapter 31

  As soon as Robbie and I pull up to school, Jones is there waiting for me. He tries talking to me like he isn’t some revenge-obsessed psycho. I blow past him, not looking at him at all. The rest of the school day goes by quickly and without any run-ins with Jones.

  At three, Sully’s out front, waiting for me. I hop in, and Sully leans over to kiss me.

  “Hi,” he says in his deep baritone. “How was school?”

  I know what he’s asking. “Jones didn’t bother me, and school was great.”

  “He didn’t try talking to you?” he asks as we pull out onto the road.

  “He tried this morning, but I ignored him, and he gave up. So, are we headed to Arden’s?”

  “Yeah, headed home. You can call it home, Emma.”

  “I do, I think.”

  “You always call it Arden’s. It’s your house too.”

  I pull the opal necklace from my backpack and clasp the chain around my neck. I finger the smooth stone and smile.

  “Where’d you get that?” Sully asks.

  “Arden got it for me on my birthday,” I say, glad that I can be truthful about it.

  “It looks good on you,” he says, taking my hand and threading our fingers together.

  We pull into the garage, and Ryan and Brent climb out of their car that’s parked next to the Mustang.

  “Dad’s here,” Ryan says, nodding to Arden’s black Mercedes. “We thought we should all go in together.”

  “What’s the plan?” Brent asks nobody in particular.

  “Convince Dad we aren’t drug- and sex-addicted teens,” Ryan says with a roll of his eyes.

  Sully throws his arm over my shoulders as we follow Ryan and Brent through the door. Arden’s sitting at the bar with his laptop and a cup of coffee. The sound of the door has him looking our way. His serious expression instantly transforms into a wide smile.

  “Hey, Dad,” Ryan says.

  “Hey, guys,” Arden says, getting to his feet.

  “We’re here to talk,” Sully says formally. “Should we move into the living room?”

  “Sure, Sully.” Still smiling, Arden moves his focus to me. “Hey, Emma. How are you, kiddo?”

  “I’m good, Arden,” I say, my voice trembling because I feel so emotional. It’s like we’re all teamed up against him.

  Sully pulls me closer, kissing the top of my head. It’s comforting until Arden’s eyes widen.

  By the way, Sully and I are having sex. We might be dating, but I’m not sure since we haven’t discussed it. Yeah, this isn’t going to go over well. How did I not think about what, or if, we were going to tell Arden?

  Sully and I take the love seat, Brent and Ryan the couch, and Arden the recliner.

  “Is something going on between you two?” Arden asks, looking between me and Sully. “Are you together?”

  “Yeah,” Sully says, putting his arm over the back of the couch behind me.

  Eyes wide, Arden says, “That’s surprising. When did this happen?”

  “Emma and I bumped into each other at the mall when she first moved here. We had lunch and then a date… Things progressed after that,” Sully says, dropping his arm to slip it around my waist.

  “I… I don’t know… Hm,” Arden mutters.

  “What’s the matter, Dad?” Sully chuckles.

  “Is this what the birth control…” Arden rubs his jaw. “I don’t know what the protocol is for this. You’re living in the same house.”

  “We’re adults, Dad. Sex is normal, right? You’ve always said that,” Sully says with a shit-eating grin.

  “Sex is… Well, I have said that.” Arden clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably. “Okay, so you two are dating.” He nods his head, looking off in the distance. “You’re dating,” he says with confidence, then frowns. “Are you sure you should be dating?” Arden focuses on me. “Emma, do you think you’re ready to date?”

  I shrug. “How does someone know when they’re ready?”

  “Speaking to a counselor is a start,” Arden says.

  “I have a life coach,” I say, telling him what Lucy told me to say. “I meet with her every day at school.”

  Arden smiles. “That’s great, kiddo.” He leans back in the chair, looking more relaxed, and then he grins. “You’ve never had a girlfriend, Sully. Congratulations, Son.” His eyes bounce between all of us. “So, you all home now?”

  “Yeah,” and “Yep,” are said in unison.

  “All right, well, Mary is gone for a few more days, so I figured we could order pizza.”

  “That was easy,” I mumble to Sully as Arden gets to his feet. “I thought he’d lecture us about drugs and stuff.”

  “I think we threw him off,” Sully whispers back, his lips brushing against my ear, causing tingles to shoot down my spine. “And he might be a little desperate to have us all back home.”

  “Dad,” Ryan says. “About Rachel—”

  “Ryan, I don’t want to get into it with you about Rachel or any woman. We’ve had this discussion too many times.”

  “Yeah, but you’re shit at seeing gold-digging manipulative bitches for what—”

  “Ryan.” Arden chuckles. “I can see just fine. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to have to associate with women like that. And besides, I’m seeing someone.”

  We all give Arden our full attention as we wait for him to elaborate on this secret girlfriend. He doesn’t, so Ryan and Brent both ask, “Who?”

  Arden rolls his eyes. “Robin.”

  “Robin? She moved to—”

  “Arizona.” Arden nods. “She moved last year, but she travels for work. We see each other when we can. She’s been in California for the past month. Anyway, you don’t have to worry about me.” He yawns. “Let me grab my phone so I can order the pizza.”

  “Arden.” I wring my hands together in my lap. “If you don’t mind, I need to speak with you alone for a second.”

  Sully stands, bending down to kiss the top of my head. “Brent, Ryan,” he says, motioning for them to follow him. “Let’s grab the bags.”

  Arden sits back down, smiling at me. “I’m glad you’re home, kiddo. What do you need to talk about?”

  “I’m glad too. And… I talked with my friend from back home. She told me that Jeff was arrested a couple days after I left. I think it’s safe now.

  He frowns. “Oh, you want to go back?”

  “I’m not sure. I’d like to visit, though. Maybe for fall break.”

  “I want to be truthful with you. Emma, I’m the one who tipped the cops off. I understand if it’s upsetting, but I had to do it.”

  Bile burns my throat. “I didn’t want to think it was you. I was hoping he got arrested for another DUI, or maybe he got into a bar fight. He’s been in plenty of those.” I cup my hands over my face. Feeling the
couch dip, I look over and see Arden’s moved to sit next to me, but I need space, so I get to my feet.

  Arden stands too. “Emma, I’m sorry if it hurts your feelings, but he’s—”

  “You think it hurts my feelings?” I wrap my arms around myself. “Arden, he’s going to think it was me. He’s going to be so pissed.”

  “He won’t know it was you.”

  Feeling angry, I fist my hands at my side. “You can’t know that. He has connections too. He’s in a gang, Arden. He’ll find out.”

  “Emma, morally I had to report him. He’s a predator. If he hurt another girl, it would be my fault.”

  “Hey, what’s going on? What’s the matter?” Sully asks, dropping our bags by the stairs and coming to my side. Ryan and Brent are both looking my way, but they don’t come forward.

  I wipe the wetness from my face, but more tears fall.

  Arden shakes his head. “Why don’t you give me and Emma a minute?”

  Sully’s hand rubs up and down my back. “Want to go downstairs?” Sully whispers in my ear.

  “Emma,” Arden says. “Hey, kiddo.”

  My eyes bounce between everyone before I focus back on Arden. “I know you were doing what you thought was best. I’m not mad at you. I’m just...” A sob escapes. “This isn’t good.”

  “What’s going on?” Sully asks more firmly this time.

  “My uncle… Not my real uncle. He’s going… so mad,” is all I’m able to get out. I take a few deep breaths. I do not want to break down in front of everyone.

  “Are you worried he’s going to hurt you? He’s in jail,” Arden says. “He can’t get to you from there.”

  Sully’s hand stills on my back. “Why are you asking her that? Did someone hurt her?”

  I squeeze my eyes shut. Did he hurt me? Not physically. Emotionally he did.

  “What’d he do?” Sully grinds out. “What happened?”

  I lean into Sully’s chest. “He tried to sell me,” I whisper.

  Sully strokes my hair. “What, baby? What do you mean?”

  I feel my face flame with heat. “My best friend's uncle took me on vacation and tried to sell me to his friend. I think they were involved with human trafficking.” There, now he knows the truth. They all do. “I got away. I ran into Arden, and he brought me here.”

  Sully holds me tighter. “You’re so brave, baby,” he whispers near my ear. “I’m so glad you got away.”

  “Jeff’s going to think I called the cops.” I turn to Arden. “What’d you tell the police? What are his charges?”

  “He won’t know a call led them to the arrest.” Arden clears his throat. “I told them a little bit about your situation, but I didn’t say names. They’re still investigating, but I heard they found a lot of evidence that will put him and his friends away for a long time.”

  “What’s a long time? If he gets five years, he might really only do two, and th—”

  “I was told he’s looking at twenty-five or more.”

  I wasn’t expecting that. I lean against Sully, feeling my head swim.

  “Let’s go downstairs,” Sully says, wrapping his arm around my waist.

  I nod and then let him pull me downstairs. I don’t spend time appreciating the size of his room or how everything goes together perfectly. My eyes are trained on the massive bed. Sully must understand, because he pulls me down to lie with him. I bury my face in his chest while trying to not hyperventilate. If Jeff thinks I snitched, he could tell my secret. Maybe that will prove that I didn’t tell on him because I don’t want him to tell on me.

  “Sully,” I say with my eyes closed. “I need to tell you something.”

  “You can tell me anything,” he murmurs.

  “I might have killed someone,” I say into his chest.

  Sully caresses my back. “Why do you think that?”

  “Because I did. I stabbed him, and I think he died. Jeff knows about it, and if he thinks I called the cops, he could tell them what I did.”

  “Is there any proof that you stabbed him?”

  “I left the screwdriver in him when I ran, so my fingerprints were probably on that. He was alive when I left. He’s either in jail or dead.” I peek up at Sully. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I did it?”

  “I think if you stabbed someone, then you probably had a good reason.”

  “I did. It was self-defense.”

  “Okay.” Sully says, softly stroking my hair. “It’s okay. A stab wound from a screwdriver probably wouldn’t be enough to kill someone. You only stabbed him once?”

  I sit up. “Just once, but it’s not okay. You were right before when you said you guys didn’t know me.” I wipe the wetness from under my eyes. “I’ve stolen. It started with things I needed, and then I was stealing all kinds of stuff—bracelets, purses, candy. I’ve cheated. I’m a cheater, Sully. I kissed a stranger when I had a boyfriend. I broke up with my boyfriend a few days later, but I still cheated. And, I pretended to have a boyfriend who lived out of town. That lie lasted almost two years.” I shake my head. “I’m a liar, a cheater, and a thief.” I groan. “And how could I forget, possible murderer. God, I’m the worst.”

  Sitting up, Sully chuckles, but seeing my furious expression, he quickly swallows his amusement. “It’s okay. We all have a past. I’ve done crazy shit too.” He laces our fingers together and brings the back of my hand to his mouth and kisses it. “The past is forgotten, okay?”

  I shrug, still feeling guilty.

  “Everyone has a past, Emma. You can’t let it define you. Our pasts and mistakes are how we learn and grow. I think you’re growing into an amazing person, and I can’t wait to see more.”

  Smiling, I wipe away a tear. “You’re Danny Tanner Jr.”

  Sully smiles. “Who?”

  “Arden reminds me of Danny Tanner from Full House.”

  With a smile, he tilts his head to the side. “That show with the dad, uncle, and kids? The one with the Olsen twins?”

  I nod. “I used to love that show. I remember thinking that was how a real family was supposed to be. A loving parent, family meals, and siblings who were always there when you needed them. The first time I had a family meal at a dinner table was here. When I was growing up, we had a table, but we didn’t eat at it. I always wondered what it’d be like to have a family meal at a real dinner table.” I laugh. “Ryan ruined the fantasy for me. My first family meal royally sucked.”

  Sully laughs. “Sounds like Ryan. I used to beg my parents to give me a brother. After they died and my aunt told me we were moving in here, I was so excited to be a big brother. Then I met Ryan, and he was a horrible little shit.”

  I smile. “But you did get a brother in the end.”

  “Yep, I got two, and you have us too.”

  I nod and drop my head to his shoulder. My eyes widen. “Wow, your room,” I say, finally appreciating it. Three walls are painted dark gray, while the wall in front of the bed is an ocean mural. The beach is rocky and the sky gray. It reminds me of the beach by my aunt’s house in northern England.

  The bedsheets are white, the blanket light gray, and the pillows a mixture of gray, white, and dark blue. The headboard resembles driftwood and matches the dresser. A weight bench and weights sit in the corner by the door.

  “I seriously love your room,” I murmur. I fall back against the pillows. “I thought the bed upstairs was the most comfortable bed ever, but nope, yours is.”

  Sully laughs and pulls me against him, but a knock at the door has him up a second later. He winks at me before swinging the door open.

  “Dad sent us down to tell you the pizza’s here,” Ryan says.

  Brent and Ryan both avert their eyes from me when I look at them. “This is one of the reasons I didn’t want to tell anyone,” I say. “It’s bad enough that I get those looks from Arden.”

  “What are you—”

  I hold up my hand, cutting Ryan off. “Don’t act like you’re not feeling sorry for me.”

>   They both shrug, and Brent mumbles an apology. There’s an awkward silence and then Brent says, “What was the other reason you didn’t want to tell us?”

  I shrug. “I guess I feel stupid for being in that situation. I was embarrassed.”

  “We don’t think you’re stupid,” Sully says. “It’s not your fault.”

  “That guy is fucked in the head,” Brent says. “Definitely not your fault.”

  “Thanks, guys,” I mumble.

  “Want me to bring a box down?” Brent asks. “Arden got three double pepperonis and two sausage and bacon.”

  I nod. “Sure.” I glance at Sully. “I’m good with either kind. You?”

  “Sausage and bacon,” he replies.

  Ryan clears his throat. “Hey, Emma. I’m sorry that I—”

  “I get it, Ryan. If I had to deal with a lifetime of Rachels, I’d be wary too. Let’s just move on.” And never talk about this again, I think.

  He nods. “Cool. We’ll go grab that pizza.”

  Sully wraps me in his arms. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “I hope so,” I murmur.

  Chapter 32

  The rest of the week goes by in a blur, but I’m starting to think Sully’s right and it will be okay. Things have been going better than ever at Arden’s since everyone is getting along. It’s starting to feel like a home.

  On Friday, I walk out the doors of school, expecting to see Sully parked out front like usual, but he isn’t there. I rifle through my bag, trying to find my phone to call him, but it’s gone.

  I sprint back inside, checking the rooms I was in today, and then back outside to retrace my steps. My phone’s gone, and my friends left ten minutes ago. I stayed later than usual to finish a piece of pottery I’ve been working on.

  “Hey, you need a ride?”

  I turn to see an unfamiliar boy. “No thanks. I’m just down the road. I can walk.”

  I watch him curiously as he stares blankly at me with muddy-brown eyes, the same color as his short hair. He zips his blue jacket up and then turns to walk toward the parking lot.

  “That wasn’t polite.” A hand wraps around my mouth, and I’m secured against a solid chest. “And walking home alone wouldn’t be safe.”