Sand dollar

by Hollye Davis

  The rest of the day they talked about Kim’s interest in Cole. They laughed uproariously about how hard Kim was trying to win his attention. She and Aunt laid on advice that they had no right to give, however Kim seemed to listen avidly. It was a good weekend.

  This was the week that Edwin might come home. Excited didn’t even begin to describe how she felt. Britney was still giving her a lot of grief but she learned the less she reacted the more pissed she became. It became sort of a perverse pleasure not to even acknowledge her. Britney would call out names and she would smile at someone and tell them what a cute outfit they were wearing. Sometimes Cloe would flirt with Britney’s boyfriend in her science class. Unfortunately, he was very receptive and although this pissed Britney off some more, Cloe was worried that her boyfriend might misinterpret her intent. As far as Britney was concerned, she knew she was poking an angry bear but she didn’t care, she had Jeff, Cole and her friends. She didn’t need to disappear. She needed to make HER disappear.

  At lunch the table was always full of laughter and people. She sometimes wondered how their table was labeled. Would it be the eccentric group, the art table, or the loser group? Whatever it was, it was her group of friends that she had made by herself. She was proud of it giving her confidence she had sorely been lacking.

  Stabbing a leaf of lettuce she was entertained by Tom and Aaron who were debating the merits of acrylic versus oil when she noticed Jody didn’t look too good. The girl was too pale and she was clutching her stomach. Standing up, Cloe walked around the table to ask her if she needed some help. Jody’s eyes were wet with tears when she whispered, “It’s my period.” Cloe nodded Kim over.

  “Let’s get to the bathroom, okay Jody?” Cloe suggested, helping her rise. They gathered up their half eaten lunches and backpacks and made their way out of the cafeteria into the hallway with Jeff trailing them. Jody gave her a pleading look and glanced back at Jeff. Getting the message, Cloe grabbed Jeff’s arm and led him a few feet from Jody to ask him to let them be alone for a minute with Jody. He didn’t look like he was going to listen until she whispered, “Listen Jeff, it’s a girl thing and you don’t want to get involved.”

  He sent a horrified look at Jody and he went back to lunch.

  They were nearly to the bathroom when Jody cried out in pain sliding down the wall of lockers to the ground clutching her midsection. Tears streamed from her squeezed eyelids while she and Kim sat down next to her. Cloe put her arm around her allowing Jody to lean into her.

  “Honey, we need to get you to the nurses office, this isn’t normal,” Cloe brushed away the hair falling into Jody’s eyes.

  “I don’t want to go to the nurse’s office,” Jody cried.

  “Jody, something is terribly wrong, you need to go,” Kim pleaded.

  “I don’t understand. Why don’t you want to go?” Cloe asked quietly.

  “Because they’ll find out,” Jody sobbed. Cloe exchanged glances with Kim who shrugged.

  “What will they find out?” Kim asked.

  Jody looked at Kim and stated plainly, “That I was raped.”

  It was a simple statement but it sent a shockwave all the way through her body.

  There wasn’t a sound in the hallway while they three sat in various stages of disbelief, shock, and pain. What could be said?

  Cloe’s eyes began to fill with tears and Kim was struggling as well.

  “Oh God Jody, how, when?” Kim sputtered out.

  Jody looked off. Tears dripping down her cheeks, Jody’s eyes became unfocused. When Jody finally spoke, Cloe didn’t breathe for fear the sound would distract her.

  “We lived in Hawaii and there are all these underground tunnels there,” Jody spoke in a eerie tone without inflection, he words came haltingly, “We went to the park. It was just a couple of us girls. We had to take the tunnel home. In the tunnel, they were waiting, two guys,” she held up two fingers, blinking a tear down her cheek, “They raped us both and said if we told anyone they would kill our family. I was only 12, and I believed them. I never told anyone until now.” Then her face crumpled and she busted out crying.

  Cloe blinked blankly at the gunmetal gray locker. Her perfect sweet Jody was raped. Those assholes raped her. She could commit murder right at that moment and shook with the anger of it. But she couldn’t and she never felt more helpless. Not even as she was being beat by her father or when her grandmother came after her with a bat did she feel this helpless.

  It was at this moment she realized they were all broken, every single one of them. The illusion of being normal was just that, an illusion. She was abused but never raped, Jody was never abused but raped, and Kim had been neglected all her life. If the three of them have endured these horrific events, then there must be others. They have gone through their lives struggling and they do the best they can do. Some people’s adversities may be less than others but it doesn’t make them any less significant to that individual.

  She hugged Jody tight, told her that everything was going to be all right and that she had them to help her through this. Kim had broken down in sobs and yet for once Cloe was able to control her crying, it was if another force took control. She knew they needed to get Jody out this hallway and they needed to get her to the doctor’s. The only way out was through the nurses’ office and they needed to find away to convince Jody.

  “Jody,” Cloe started calmly, “we need to get you to the nurse’s office because if we remain here we will be trampled by the crowds. We don’t need to say anything to the nurse but that you are having horrible cramps. I’ll call your mother and tell her to come and pick you up. You need to tell her about what happened because you need tests to make sure that you are okay. We can’t lose you, you are too important to us. Promise me that you will do this for us?”

  Jody tearfully nodded allowing Cloe to take a huge sigh of relief. It is going to be a painful road, but roads to healing often were. She needed to remind herself of this.

  They helped Jody rise off the floor then flanked her as they escorted her to the nurse. They kept to their word and didn’t tell the nurse what was wrong. They also stayed with her until her mother arrived. Jody promised she would tell her mother what happened so they would take her to the doctor right away.

  On the way home she and Kim sat quietly. The only time they spoke was when Kim asked if she could stay the night, which of course she eagerly agreed. They talked about Jody when it was late at night. They had viewed Jody as the unbroken one – how could they be so deceived?

  Jody didn’t come to school the next day but she did call them to tell them everything was okay. Her mother totally freaked out but calmed down enough to get Jody some counseling, which was why she wasn’t coming to school. Her mother also took her to the doctor’s and had some tests done that afternoon. Jody would let them know what the results were. She and Kim suspected she had a sexually transmitted disease but they were afraid to say their suspicions out loud. After learning about Jody, Britney became so trivial Cloe didn’t even try to ignore her, she just did. She didn’t make a point to say anything, she just didn’t. She didn’t flirt with her boyfriend. She just went to her classes and paid attention. She wasn’t disappearing - she was living. It was a day of contemplation and arranging priorities.

  It was as if Britney sensed the change in her and therefore gave her shove when Jeff wasn’t looking. Cloe didn’t react but instead gave her a long hard look and then left. She may have to reassess her plan for Britney. The girl just won’t let up and neither were her attacks. She could not live her life allowing people to walk all over her.

  There are days of sunshine and then there are days so full of light and joy it made all the previous days dull in comparison. –Cloe’s diary

  Chapter 9

  Indescribable Joy It was Friday and all she wanted was to go home. However, she was delayed after her final class by her teacher, who was yammering on about some assignment she did, according to the teacher, “poorly.” Cloe was shocked si
nce she had always worked hard on every single assignment she had done. Grades had always been and were important to her. When the teacher showed her the paper Cloe became livid. Someone had swapped her paper with something almost illiterate. When she told the teacher as much, the teacher stared at her skeptically. After realizing she wasn’t getting anywhere with what the teacher thought was an excuse, she asked her if she could redo the assignment and luckily the teacher agreed. Not the best alternative but better than getting a failing grade ruining her GPA.

  When she emerged out of the school she was about thirty minutes late. She hoped Cole and Kim wouldn’t be too mad or worried, but when she didn’t see him or his truck in the parking lot, she was the one who became worried. Vaguely remembering the public bus-stop off the school property, she began to head toward it. But before she got very far she noticed Britney hanging out with her gang of cheerleaders directly in the path to the public bus.

  Cloe stopped carefully gauging the distance back to school hoping Britney hadn’t spotted her yet. However, in the process she noticed a familiar black Mercedes parked off to the right. A guy with a hoodie over his head and dark sunglasses was leaning casually on the car looking her direction. The air began to crack around her when she recognized him, his lean body…him. Her heart pounded, blood rushed behind her ears, and although she wasn’t positive it was Edwin yet, her knees nearly gave out at the possibility that it could be him.

  Cloe began walking toward him when Britney called out, “Hey loser, looks as if your ride ditched you for that weird friend of yours.”

  Cloe ignored her and kept heading in the direction of the black car.

  Britney yelled again, “Hey loser, I’m talking to you!“ But Cloe didn’t care because the closer she got to the guy the more she became positive it was Edwin.

  About twenty feet away he opened his arms and she dropped her bag and took off in a dead sprint. She landed into his embrace and was shaking so violently he probably thought she was deranged.

  She took in a huge breath filling senses of him, of her Edwin.

  The feelings that were rushing through her at that moment were indescribable. Her heart beat so fast she thought it would pop out of her chest.

  He buried his face in her neck, “I came as soon as I could. I’ve missed you so much. I never want to go through that again.”

  “Oh God, I’m glad you are here. I’ve missed you,” she cried, leaning back to kiss him passionately. He eagerly devoured her as she opened up to give him everything he sought, everything she needed.

  Then the voice from hell broke in ruining their reunion.

  “Oh look, you upgraded from your trailer trash cowboy,” Britney said from somewhere behind her.

  Edwin glanced up and said “Fuck Off,” which sounded awesome in his British accent.

  Britney stepped closer, “Who do you think you are talking to?“ she screeched.

  Before Edwin could answer the back doors of the Mercedes opened where Christoph and Duke emerged. Cloe had to look at them twice because they were nearly unrecognizable. Both wore similar hoods as Edwin with equally dark sunglasses giving the impression of something ominous or cultish. In fact they looked like gang members. Her mouth flopped open when Cloe noticed Christoph had a cigarette dangling out of his mouth as he sauntered to Britney. A mere foot away he poked her in the shoulder with his index finger,

  “You tell Cloe sorry, Beeootch.”

  Her mouth fell further open at Christoph’s uneducated thuggish accent. Snapping her jaw shut, Cloe turned her face into Edwin‘s chest suppressing a laugh. Christoph was convincing but to her it was hilarious. When she got herself under control she turned back around to see Britney back off a few feet as Duke, who wasn’t going to be left out and looked as if he was going to pull a gun from his pocket, said to Edwin, “Let me put a cap in her boss.”

  Britney’s eyes widened, mumbled a “Sorry,” turning on her heal and ran to her friends who were watching from a distance.

  Edwin reached down and kissed her lips sweetly before moving to open the door for her. As soon as she was seated she busted out laughing. After everyone else was situated, Cloe turned around,

  “God it’s good to see ya’ll again,” wiping the laughter tears from her eyes, “I’ve missed you so,” and tears of laughter turned to tears of joy and relief.

  Edwin held her hand tightly as pulled out of the school parking lot. She scooted closer, leaning her head on his shoulder.

  “When did you get in?”

  “About an hour ago,” Edwin said.

  “You came straight to the school?” She raised her head to meet his gaze.

  “Of course. Christoph and Duke didn’t have a choice, I was their ride and there was no way I was going to waste one second before seeing you.”

  Cloe tilted her head sideways to speak with Christoph and Duke, “I would say sorry for inconveniencing you but when it comes to Edwin, I’m very selfish. Thanks for the sacrifice though.”

  “It’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it,” Christoph answered. He looked tired as he watched the scenery out the side window.

  Cloe put her head back down on Edwin’s shoulder closing her eyes. His soft hoodie and clean smell would have lolled in her sleep if she wasn’t so excited he was there…for real. When he slowed down she opened her eyes long enough to notice he was puling into a parking garage. Edwin parked near two cars that she assumed where Christoph and Duke’s.

  Christoph leaned down from the open door, “We’ll see you guys Saturday night at the fire.” He shut the door.

  In all the excited she had forgotten to thank them for what they did with Britney. She grabbed the door handle and vaulted out. Edwin gave her a curious look when she shouted to him, “I’ll be right back.”

  She ran to Christoph first and planted kiss on his cheek before turning to Duke doing the same thing.

  “Thank you for what you did back at the parking lot, you guys were totally awesome and convincing. You should think about a career in acting.” She was baffled when they both busted out laughing. They held onto each other, then holding their guts as they continued to laugh so hard that she was beginning to think their little trip elsewhere might have addled their brains. She backed up to Edwin’s car and fumbled for the handle. Once the door was open she slid in, glancing one more time at the still laughing duo.

  “I don’t get how that is so funny,” she commented to Edwin.

  “They’re just idiots.” Well duhh, obviously but still…

  Edwin reached over placing his hand on her thigh as he drove off eliminating all thoughts of laughter. It would have been enough but he wasn’t content with having it lay there. No, he was lightly caressing her bare legs with his fingers, trailing from her knee to the bottom of her shorts, sometimes dipping a bit higher. It was driving her insane. She decided to retaliate by leaning across the seat to nibble on his neck, to his ear. She was rewarded with his hand tightening on her thigh and him driving a bit faster. She nibbled as her hand traveled up his chest, down to his pants, brushing him…there. She was so involved in their mutual lust that she was shocked when he threw the car in park, turned to her and captured her mouth in a frenzied kiss.

  He unbuckled her seatbelt, dragging her into his lap, all the while kissing her with an urgency she wasn’t able to comprehend. Edwin groaned, mid-caress of her breast and pulled away from her slightly. Setting his forehead against her,

  “Let’s go upstairs before we give the neighbors a show, shall we?” His voice trembled slightly belying the calmness of his words. She nodded and fumbled for the door handle once again.

  Once outside, Edwin snatched her hand and led her up the stairs, well more like pulled her up the stairs. She inserted her key, turned the knob and pushed her way into the empty, or what she hoped was empty, cottage. No sooner did the door close behind Edwin that she was in his arms kissing him as he kissed her. He had her shirt off before they cleared the entrance-way, she had his shirt off before they made i
t through the living room. He was working on her bra in the hallway succeeding with it before they walked through her bedroom door. Both their pants were unzipped and off before they landed in the bed completely and totally anxious to feel each other, become one.

  Later, when they had completely exhausted each other, he held her so tightly she felt if he let go she would fall apart.

  “I’m sorry that I wasn’t gentle,” she tilted her head back to see his worried expression, “I can’t seem to control herself when I’m around you. I know I’ve said this before but I never want to be a part from you again.” Her heart squeezed pleasantly because she couldn’t agree more.

  Nothing else was said as Edwin quickly succumbed to sleep, he must have been exhausted after traveling from London, not to mention jetlag. She watched his deep even breathing, admired his well-formed chest, admired everything about him but she couldn’t sleep.

  After a few minutes she carefully dislodged her body from his and slipped into the bathroom to take a hot shower to calm her down. He was still sound asleep when she emerged. A feeling of rightness entered her as she tilted her head to view Edwin sleeping in her bed. Grabbing her cell phone from her backpack, she walked into the living room to call Kim. She had assumed Cole picked Kim up but in all the excitement she forgot to verify it with Edwin. She dialed Kim’s number, the phone barely ringed before she answered it.

  “Hey Kim, are you okay? I didn’t leave you behind did I?”

  “No, what do you mean? Cole picked me up, said that you had another ride coming. You did have another ride coming?” Kim asked anxiously a little panicked.

  “Yes, Edwin is back in town.”

  “Oh thank God, Ohhh, you mean Edwin, the boyfriend, is back?!” Kim’s excitement brought a smile to Cloe’s face.

  “Yeah, he’s asleep in my room now.”

  “Oh good grief, I imagine you exhausted him out”

  Cloe blushed.

  “Whatever,” she mumbled as Kim laughed.