“Because I wanted you to be my first kiss,” she softly replies.
Fuck me. Now, I wish I’d saved my lips for hers alone.
“C’mon you two, Dad’s getting all growly because he’s hungry. You two can do the lovey-dovey, kissy-wissy shit later,” Ralynn comes over to get us. “The rest of us are suffering while waiting for you two to get your shit together. By the way, it’s about damn time,” she walks away, shaking her head.
“Looks like we’re needed,” I whisper to her.
“Seems that way.” I let her slide down my body. She grabs my hand and pulls me to where everyone is waiting in the parking lot for us to join them.
Maysen
I can’t believe he’s finally admitted that I’m more than just a friend. I’ve been waiting for this day for years now. My heart is beating rapidly in my chest and I feel like butterflies are swimming in my stomach.
“Earth to Maysen,” Lily says, waving her hand in my face.
“Hmm...what?”
“I was asking you if you wanted to go with us girls to the movies tomorrow?”
“Umm..we’ll see, just depends on what Maddox has going on.”
“And here we go. Maysen is no longer her own person, she needs her man’s okay to go out with the girls,” Ralynn jokes.
“Give her a break, Rae, this is all new for her. She’s been hopelessly devoted to Maddox for years. It’s not her fault it took him so long to get his head out of his ass,” Lily speaks up for me.
“Aww, he’s reclaiming Maysen,” she says, with her hands over her chest, while fluttering her eyelashes.
“Ha-ha,” I say.
“Ooh, that’s a good one,” Lily states, as she and Ralynn give each other a high-five. I’m glad I am the brunt of their jokes.
No one knows, but I’m on the fast track to graduating early. Thank God, because Stephanie and her band of misfits have made my life even more of a living hell. I was called into Mrs. Welch’s office one day and she told me that she was going to call my parents. I love her to pieces because when our junior year teacher left, she took over. But I told her I’d handle it. I did not want my parents involved, because then the entire MC would jump on board. Of course, my way of handling that bunch of brooding vipers has been to ignore them, which hasn’t worked very well. My folks still don’t know that the broken arm I got from falling down the stairs was because I was pushed. I never said a word.
I am worried that she’s not going to take my words into consideration and contact my parents anyways. I hope I’m wrong, but she’s extremely suspicious of all of my injuries that seem to happen at school. Hell, nearly the entire school was witness to her walking by and ‘accidentally’ tripping me to where my head landed into the lockers. It caused a huge bump to my head and gave me a headache for days.
We get to the farmhouse, Maddox’s grandmother Hazel’s residence and all jump out of the car. I rush to his truck to meet up with him since my dad refused to let me ride alone with him. He grabs my hand and we head towards the barn where the celebration is to take place. I’m in awe when we step inside. They’ve got a buffet set up in one section, a dance floor was brought in and they even hired a DJ to keep the music going.
“C’mere for a second,” he says to me, pulling me down the horse’s stalls and into a storage area. “I can’t go another second without doing this.” He pulls me close and leans in before he touches his lips to mine.
Fireworks.
Rockets exploding.
As his lips caress mine, he draws me even closer and swipes his tongue across my lower lip, causing shivers to course through my body. The sensation of his tongue brushing across my lips causes me to open which he takes advantage of.
Before I know it, our tongues are dueling and all I want is to be alone with him. I can feel him against my abdomen and suddenly, I wish I had read my mom’s books because I’m in way over my head.
When we break apart, I’m having a hard time catching my breath. “Wow,” I can’t help but say as I place my fingers over my lips. They’re tingling, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before and I want it again.
“Yeah, wow,” he responds, leaning over and pecking my lips. This isn’t anything like our previous kiss, but it’s just as special and heart thumping. “Your lips are entrancing, they’re sweet and puffy and I can’t seem to get enough.”
Can I swoon now? Because this is the most romantic thing that’s ever happened to me in my lifetime. “We’d better get back before my dad comes marching in here and demanding we join everyone.”
“If we must,” he sighs. Yep, I’m feeling the same exact way. I would prefer to stay here all night with his lips touching mine, but reality is that my dad will come looking for us, and I don’t want to lose my boyfriend right as I get him. I want to do a giddy dance...I have a boyfriend! And to top it off, it’s the man of my dreams...my Maddox.
He looks into my eyes before stating, “It’s always been you, Maysen,” before taking my hand and lacing our fingers together. We walk back to the party and I’m feeling light as a feather.
The weekend flies by and before I know it, we’re heading back home. The entire drive back, Maddox and I are texting each other about how much we miss each other and can’t wait until he’s closer so we can spend more time together.
The smile never leaves my face.
Not one time.
Sitting in my room studying, I’m surprised when my mom knocks and then sticks her head in saying, “We need to talk. Come to our room, please.” Fuck. I don’t like the look on her face, not at all.
I walk into my parents’ room worriedly wringing my hands together. What could they want? Did I do something wrong? “Mom, Dad?” It’s been a couple of days since we got home, and I am missing Maddox something fierce.
“Come have a seat,” Mom pats the side of the bed next to her. Dad looks fit to be tied, and I can’t for the life of me figure out what I could’ve done to warrant that look on his face.
“Need to have a chat,” he says as he crosses his arms over his chest. This is not a good sign!
“Did I do something wrong?” I nervously chew on the inside of my mouth. It’s a nervous habit I’ve had since I was a little girl.
Dad raises his eyebrows at me, “Wanna tell us why the first time we hear about my little girl being bullied is from a teacher and not from you?” he emphatically replies, pointing to his chest. The look on his face has guilt eating me alive from the inside out. “And before we continue, I wanna make it clear that I’m angry about the situation, not at you. I am, however, upset that you didn’t come to us.”
“You taught us to handle our own issues,” I quietly whisper.
“Not like this!” he shouts out. The little girl in me wants to run over and seek comfort from her father’s arms. “This is dangerous territory, Maysen. Those fucking twits could’ve done more than break your arm when they pushed you down those stairs. They could’ve broken your goddamn neck!”
“Hatch, baby,” Mom tries to get his attention. “Calm, remember?”
“Fuck that!” he slams his hands down on his thighs. “That’s my daughter!” he all but roars.
“Mine too!” Mom hollers back, and I’m looking at my exit point wondering if I should leave and let them hash this out. Bolting seems like a really good idea. Yep, I start slowly stepping backwards, trying not to make a sound.
My dad’s head swivels in my direction and his eyes narrow. “Not one more step, Maysen-girl.” I nod my head feeling like a bobble doll, not willing to piss him off any more than he already is. I’m not sure who he’s more angry with, me for not saying anything, or the kids who’ve made my life a living hell ever since I entered the doors of Endicott.
“Yes, Daddy.” I try to muster as much innocence as I can with those two words. He looks down at the bed and I can see that he’s doing his counting thing he does when he’s trying not to lose his patience when it comes to one of us kids.
“Now, explain w
hy you felt it necessary to hide this from us?”
“I wasn’t hiding, Daddy. I was trying to do what you’ve all taught us to do and handle the situation myself. I swear, I have it under control and don’t need you or my uncles stepping in to rescue me.” Mom smiles at me, but ducks her head to hide it from Dad.
“I’m proud of you for standing on your own two feet, Maysen. But sometimes, you have to ask for help...especially in situations like this,” Mom says in her soothing mom’s voice.
“Your uncle is waiting for us to contact him so he can take your statement and file a report on that broken arm incident,” Dad interjects.
“That was last year!” This is exactly why I didn’t want to report this to them. They take things to a level that isn’t needed. I’m guessing that the incident in the lunch room was Mrs. Welch’s last straw. Those bitches poured drinks over my head and humiliated me in front of all of my peers. I had to be taken to the gym to shower. Thank goodness I had a spare change of clothes in my locker! I begged and pleaded for her not to tell my parents, but I guess she just placated me while I was a basket case.
“The timeframe is irrelevant. Finding out that you, our daughter...was pushed down a flight of stairs was the highlight of my fucking day. And before you say one more word, the call came in during church, so your uncles all know as well.”
Fuck! This isn’t good, nope—not at all. My uncles are good men, but they’re all bikers through and through. They protect all of us with everything in them and I don’t want to know how they reacted. Especially my Uncle Braxton. “Um, how did that go?” I ask, my curiosity getting the best of me.
“Nan was pissed when she stopped by and saw the damage that was done in the clubhouse.” I bow my head, because I can just imagine them all going cavemen and taking their anger out on all the poor innocent furniture.
“What damage?”
“Chairs, mostly,” Dad states. “She heard the sound of chairs being thrown and yelling when she came into the clubhouse and banged on the door until Law opened it.”
I groan because that means that Nan as well as all the aunts now know. “Maddox tried to get me to tell y’all,” I whisper. Now, I wish I’d taken his advice and spoke to them about the issues I’ve been having with this trio of bitches.
“Then why didn’t you, sweetheart?” Mom asks, her voice far calmer than Dad’s is, although that’s deceptive when it comes to her. She’s loud and vocal, but when she’s upset with something concerning us kids, her voice gets quiet.
“Because I was ashamed. I couldn’t understand what I had done to have them treat me the way they do! I’ve done nothing wrong to them, I’ve always been nice and used my manners like y’all taught us, but it didn’t matter. I was trying to get through until I graduated.”
“Maysen, do you know the statistics of kids who are bullied?” Dad questions. I look at him and can see the concern on his face.
“No, sir, I don’t.” I’m guessing Dad’s done some research because he looks like he’s bearing down for a long lecture.
“Nearly thirty percent of kids from middle school to high school are bullied every year. And many of them contemplate suicide with a small percentage actually succeeding. Do you know what that would have done to us?” The devastated look on his face that something like that could’ve happened to me breaks me.
My tears are flowing down my face at his words. “Dad, never once have I ever thought about ending my life. Never,” I whisper. “Yes, it’s been awful, but I do have some friends and we stick together.”
“Well, your teacher has suggested we put you on the fast track program. According to her you have enough credits that if you take summer school, you can graduate early. Is that something you’re interested in?” Mom tilts her head to the side waiting on me to answer her.
I think about what Mrs. Welch has offered. To get away from Stephanie and her minions, I’d do just about anything. High school hasn’t been a bed of roses at all, even with my friends. I’m always looking over my shoulder. “Yes. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to make that happen. I’m sorry. I should have come to y’all, but I really thought they’d give up after that first year when I ignored them. Plus, I have made some really good friends there, and they stick by me as best as possible.” I will never forget the way they rallied around me the first time and have tried to stay as close to my side as they possibly can.
“Honey, this is a serious issue and no offense to you or your friends, but you’re all just kids.”
“What will happen when Uncle Chief takes my statement?” I ask. I’m worried about them coming after me but I should have remembered, my family pretty much runs this town because of all the businesses so I’m sure the school will do whatever it takes to keep them happy.
“Those girls have been suspended and Mrs. Welch has informed their parents that this isn’t the first incident where they’ve bullied you. Plus, she mentioned that someone came forward after the lunchroom incident and told her they saw you being pushed.”
I wrack my brain, but the day my arm was broke is a blur. One minute, I was leaving my friend Meg at her locker and heading down the stairs to my next class and the next, I was waking up in the ambulance. The only reason I knew I wasn’t my usual clumsy self was I heard Stephanie say, “Have a nice trip, see you next fall!”
“Meg?”
“Yeah, honey, Meg. She told Mrs. Welch she wished she had spoken up sooner, but apparently they’ve been bullying her too and she was scared and worried about retaliation.”
“I don’t blame her. They’re kind of scary.” In a plastic barbie doll sort of way. I have to hold back my giggle, because that’s what we all refer to them as.
“They’ll know the meaning of the word ‘scared’ by the time Chief and Law are done with them,” Dad announces. “Now, go get your shoes on so we can get this statement taken care of, young lady.”
“Yes, Daddy.” He pulls me close and I bury my head in his chest. The emotion I can hear in his voice has me crying, yet again.
“It’s our job to protect you, Maysen. I didn’t do that when you were little and when you came to live with us, I swore then that you would be protected like you should have been all along,” he whispers to me.
I feel Mom come up and wrap her arms around me from behind. “We love you, Maysen.”
“I love y’all too.”
Maddox
I’m laying in bed reading when I get an incoming text message.
* * *
Maysen: I had to give a statement to Chief.
Me: What? Why? What’s happened now?
Maysen: My parents found out I didn’t fall down the stairs but was pushed. All because my teacher called them because of the lunchroom incident.
Me: What lunchroom incident, Maysen?
Maysen: Oh, did I not mention that to you?
Me: No you did not! I’m FaceTiming you now.
* * *
I see her beautiful face fill my screen. “Explain,” I command, or should I say growl.
“Well, you see,” she stops, biting the inside of her mouth letting me know I’m not going to be happy with this story.
“Don’t stall, Maysen. It’s just pissing me off.” When she finally finishes telling me about what happened, I’m steaming. I have to set the phone down on the bed and take some calm, deep breaths.
“Maddox? Are you still there? The screen went black.”
I pull it back up and look at my beautiful girl. “I needed a minute, it was black because I laid the phone down on my bed.”
“Oh,” she stammers. Her voice gets quieter and I realize that she needs me to support her, despite being upset that she didn’t do something about these bitches long ago.
“You’re my girl, Maysen. Finding out that those bitches are doing that to you pisses me the fuck off, but it scares me for you, too.”
“Well, no more worries on that end.” Her eyes are downcast which makes me curious about that particular statement.
/> “What do you mean? And look at me, please.” I sit up in the bed and relax against my headboard. I smile when her head pops up and her eyes dilate when she notices I’m shirtless.
“I’m going to be graduating early,” she takes a deep swallow, “but apparently one of my friends saw her push me when I broke my arm, so with that and my statement, Uncle Chief has filed charges against them. Plus, the lunchroom incident got them all suspended.”
I grin at her words. “Couldn’t happen to a better group of vindictive cunts.”
“Maddox! I cannot believe you used that word around me!” I shrug my shoulders, because honestly, that was me being nice.
“Baby, that’s what they are.”
“Um, there’s more.” What else could there possibly be?
“What else is there? They’ve been suspended, sounds like they’ll be brought up on charges, so what else could be going on?”
“Uncle Law is filing a lawsuit against them for the bills and for something he called punitive damages.”
“Good, hopefully it teaches them a life lesson. One, don’t fuck with one of the MC kids and two, there are consequences for every action. I don’t feel one bit sorry for them, and you shouldn’t either.” I know her, and she’s been sitting on this letting the guilt eat her alive.
“When are you coming down again?” she asks. I’ll give her that play, she’s ready to change the subject.
“This Saturday after my meet.”
“I wish I could be there,” she states.
“Unless you can talk your dad into bringing you up here at the butt crack of dawn, you know the rules, Maisy-Daisy. I gotta come to you.”
She sighs and I grin. I’ve kept to Hatch’s rules because I don’t wanna get on the wrong side of my future father-in-law, although if I’m being truthful, DJ scares me far more than Hatch does. “Okay, so whatcha wanna do when you get here?”
Reclaiming Maysen Page 3