by Lee Wardlow
I raised my head and glanced at Cal. “Cal, what do you need time for? I didn’t see you at lunch…”
“Where were you?” He asked. “I thought you would eat with us.”
I shook my head at him. “When you weren’t outside my classroom like always, I went to the library to study.”
“Abby,” Cal groaned. “You didn’t eat all day. That isn’t good. I’m just trying to support Aiden through this hard time.”
I didn’t acknowledge his statement.
“I feel like right now Aiden needs me. His dad was officially charged this morning with Felonious Assault. Several accounts of child abuse. Child endangerment. His mom doesn’t know if she can afford the house on her social security disability. They have lived there since before Aiden was born.”
I needed him too. Something at least. I guess this was it. This moment on my bed, holding me. He leaned in and his lips were close to mine then he hesitated. “How sick are you?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to go home,” I told Cal.
Cal chuckled at me before his lips brushed across mine in such tenderness that I groaned. He smiled when he pulled away. “That’s my girl.”
“You can’t ignore me completely,” I said.
“I’m sorry. I’m not dealing well with Dad leaving again. Abby he might as well stay away.”
I laid my head in the crook of his neck. “I’m sorry Cal. I don’t like you seeing you so hurt.”
He tightened his arms around me. “I’m sorry that I hurt you too,” he said. “Be patient with me. Let me work through this with Aiden.”
“Fine,” I told him.
It didn’t get easier though.
Chapter 18
As Christmas break grew closer, Tyson drove me to school every morning. Luke and Aiden rode home with him while I rode with Cal. Our relationship had cooled even though we still declared our love for each other.
His focus was on Aiden and supporting him. I tried to be patient. I tried to be understanding but my old insecurities were barreling to the surface.
Johnny was having a Christmas party at the start of our break. Everyone was going including my boyfriend with his two best friends. He asked me to come with Tyson. I told him I would think about it which he didn’t like at all. He wanted me there too. This was a struggle between us now.
When Tyson was ready to go, I was sitting on my bed in my pajamas not going. Pissed that Cal couldn’t understand what he was doing to me.
Tyson stuck his head in the door. “Still not going?” He asked.
I shook my head no.
“Come on Abs. Get dressed and go with me,” he said.
“Why?” I crossed my arms over my chest and waited.
“Because it looks like you are pouting and the one thing you aren’t is a pouter.”
I was livid. I thought I had every right to feel the way that I did. “Fine, I’ll go. Wait downstairs.”
He chuckled at me as I closed the laptop and laid it on the nightstand. In my closet I couldn’t find anything to wear with my skinny jeans. I went to Mom’s room and asked if I could wear her black tight shirt that was off the shoulders. She happily agreed.
It looked good on me. She teased my hair a little giving it volume. Sprayed it with hairspray which I hated. I popped my contacts in and put on some eyeliner and lipstick. I didn’t need much more. I wasn’t letting Mom plaster stuff all over my face this time. I knew she was disappointed.
Then I got out my boots which had three, inch platform heels and made my legs go on forever. I grabbed my leather jacket and met my brother in the entry.
“I’m not sure about that outfit Abs,” Tyson said.
“I’m wearing this or not going,” I told him.
“You don’t have a point to make,” Ty informed me.
“Don’t I?”
He shook his head at me. Then he turned and opened the front door. He followed me out to the driveway where we got into Tyson’s fast Camaro. My brother showed off a little on the way to the party which proved Mom’s point he didn’t need this car. Our parents would have killed him if they saw the tire marks, he had left on the country road.
I was nervous when we stopped in front of the house. I saw a few girls go inside Johnny’s house, dressed just like me but didn’t feel much better. I don’t know why I felt like butterflies swarmed my stomach. Other than the party scene had never been my scene.
“Come on,” Tyson said.
I followed him out of the Camaro. Johnny’s front door was wide open. His parents were in Aspen skiing until two days before Christmas. He was sixteen; eager to have the house to himself. His wasn’t as big as ours but it was nice. At least when my parents went away, they took us with them. Johnny didn’t seem to care though.
He greeted Tyson at the door. Then his eyes widened. “Abby you look hot. Cal is outside with the guys.”
I nodded but didn’t feel comfortable approaching him by himself. “I’ll walk out with you,” Ty said.
Johnny came with us. The evening air was chilly but not as cold as December in Ohio could be. A fire burned brightly in a fire pit in Johnny’s backyard. I saw Cal surrounded by members of the football team, Aiden and Luke too.
He smiled when he saw me but kept right on talking. I approached Cal and he wrapped his arm around my waist tugging me against him. His eyes met mine.
“You look gorgeous tonight Abby.”
I smiled at Cal.
We stood around the fire. I listened while the boys talked for an hour or more about sports, mostly the upcoming National Championship in college football. My feet hurt. I was cold and thirsty. I tugged on Cal’s jacket to get his attention.
“I’m going inside to get something to drink.”
“Okay,” he answered. “You’re okay?”
“I am,” I replied.
I wandered around Johnny’s house. Found the kitchen. Different sodas were lined up on the counter. I poured a glass of Sprite and hovered in the kitchen where it was quiet. I could see through the window where I had left the guys, Cal, my brother, Aiden, Luke and Johnny among them.
Then they walked in. The girls who hated me because I was the nerdy girl. I snatched up my cup and started to leave. Delia and her crew blocked my way.
“Don’t run away,” she said.
“I’m not running away. I was going outside to be with Cal and Ty.”
“So scared,” she said.
I snorted trying to be brave. Feel brave. “Just let me by, please.”
“So polite,” Delia said with sarcasm dripping off her words. She laughed with her friends at my expense.
I stepped to the right. Delia and her friends did too. I stepped to the left they followed. I headed back to the corner putting distance between us which made the girls laugh at me.
I glanced out the window wondering if the boys could hear me above the noise.
The girls advanced and I didn’t know what to do. I was not a fighter and was severely outnumbered. Delia grabbed my arm and shoved me down the hallway. The noise of the party covered my cries for help. I was pushed through the open doorway into the garage. The door shut behind us.
One of Delia’s friends flipped on the light. Delia shoved me. I didn’t know what to do.
Johnny’s car that I had seen at school was the only one in the garage. Delia shoved me again and I tripped on the high heeled boots. “What are you going to do Abigail?” She sneered at me. “All alone and nowhere to go.” Delia shoved me for a third time.
I stumbled but caught myself on Johnny’s car. The next attack came too quickly, I didn’t have time to defend myself. I went straight down to the ground with a blow from Delia. She straddled me and began beating me. My head bounced against the concrete floor. I didn’t know how many times, but it wasn’t long before I lost consciousness.
**
I kept looking around for Abby. I had caught a glimpse of her at the kitchen window. Tonight, I wanted things to be different between us. I knew she was
feeling neglected. I was worried about Aiden. His mother. The effect these trials were having on them.
I was afraid of my feelings for Abby. What if it didn’t work? My Dad coming and going so much had made me insecure. I wanted us to have forever. She was my everything and I had been trying to hold her at arm’s length.
I watched the door. No sign of Abby. I saw both Johnny and Ty looking at me. “I’m wondering where Abby is,” I told them. “She’s been inside thirty minutes.”
The cheerleaders came outside. Delia made a beeline for Luke. He wasn’t interested in her for a change. He extricated himself from her grasp then she tried Tyson. He wasn’t remotely interested in her either. He had been sniffing around a girl in our math class. I thought I had seen her here earlier tonight.
“I’m going inside to check on Abby,” I told Tyson.
He nodded, more interested in talking to Johnny than finding his sister. I guess I understood that considering I had a mess of them myself, but I was worried about her.
I stalked into the house and looked around. Didn’t see her anywhere. Bounded up the stairs and checked out the rooms upstairs. She was nowhere.
I was getting concerned when I headed out front thinking she might be hiding outside. Abby wasn’t a party girl. This wasn’t her scene and I should have thought of that when I asked her to come with Tyson.
She wasn’t there either. I went back into the house. I headed towards the kitchen. The garage door was slightly ajar. I went in that direction although I couldn’t imagine why she would be out there.
I flipped on the light and inhaled sharply at the sight of Abby prone on the concrete floor. Her hair surrounded her head like a halo, but her face was bloody and nearly unrecognizable.
I ran to her side and knelt on the hard ground; she was breathing. I texted Johnny to bring Ty to the garage. Then I called 911 from my phone.
I explained we were at a party at my friend’s house. I found my girlfriend in the garage, beaten badly. The entire time, I held Abby’s hand afraid to touch her but afraid not to. She hadn’t made a sound. She hadn’t moved.
They kept me on the phone while they reassured me that ambulance and police were on the way. I didn’t hear what they said to me. I was focused on Abby. I whispered to her. Telling her how much I loved her.
Tyson ran into the garage and tried to shove me out of the way. I wasn’t moving. He wanted to carry her to somewhere more comfortable.
“Who is that?” The 911 operator asked.
“Her brother,” I explained.
“Don’t let him move her,” the operator declared.
“Ty,” I said grabbing his arm and stopping him from lifting Abby. “The operator said don’t move her.”
He fell to his ass beside me. He stroked her face where there was no blood. “Cal, she’s my twin,” he said as miserable as me.
“I’m going to clear the house,” Johnny said.
“No, he isn’t,” the operator replied. “The police will want to talk to everyone.”
“Johnny,” I shouted as he had made it to the door. “No one leaves until the police say so.”
“Who would do this to Abby?” Tyson asked me.
How could he even wonder?
“Delia,” I replied. “How could you not know that man?”
“You can’t blame her without evidence,” Luke defended her. I glared at him and he threw both hands in the air. I had no doubts who had done this to Abby.
Johnny was standing behind Abby’s head now. He cleared his throat. “The garage has cameras. So does the outside. The living room and great room too. Mom and Dad insisted since they leave me alone so much. They don’t want any illegal activity here. Also, Mom was freaked out by the break-in last year.”
I shook my head. I glanced up at Johnny. “If they did it…it is on camera?” I asked him. I didn’t think we could get that lucky. I thought it would be Abby’s word against Delia and the cheerleaders she hung with.
“Yeah, I think so. I can check the cameras.”
“Wait until the police get here,” I said to him. I didn’t want anything screwed up that would prevent Delia from getting what she deserved.
When they arrived, the paramedics came directly to the garage. They forced Tyson and I back. I hung up with the operator and watched them work on Abby. She was still unconscious. I knew that just couldn’t be good.
When I took a hit on the football field I was out for a minute and the trainer was concerned. Abby had been out for much longer. I ran my hand across my jaw. Who would want to hurt her besides Delia? Her crew followed her direction. My gut was twisting in knots at the thought that they had all ganged up on her.
An officer stepped into the garage, and we turned to look at him. “Boys, I need you in here. We have some questions.”
I didn’t want to leave her. All I kept thinking was how much I had hurt her over the last few weeks and I might not get a chance to tell her how sorry I was.
I needed for her to open her eyes so I could tell her how much I loved her and how sorry I was for putting her last behind Aiden and Luke. I needed her to be all right. Tears gathered in my eyes and I rubbed them furiously.
“Come on son, let them do their job,” the officer said. I gazed at him, recognizing him as a friend of my dad. They had gone to high school together.
I followed Officer Romero to the living room. Delia Art was sitting on the sofa. Her arms were crossed over her chest, so her hands were hidden by her sides. “Hiding something?” I asked Delia.
“Shut up, Calvert,” she sneered.
Another officer had already started questioning Johnny.
“Any drugs in the house?” He asked.
“Only the prescription stuff my parents take. It’s in their bedroom.” Johnny was way cooler than I would have been than I was now. I kept looking in the garage, the door not far from where we were standing.
“Where are your parents?” He asked.
“Aspen,” Johnny replied. “Annual skiing trip.”
I stared her down. Half listening to the line of questions. Mostly not. She didn’t flinch away from my gaze. Delia had no conscious.
“Alcohol?” Officer Robert Henson the partner of my dad’s friend, asked. He was younger than they were by a few years.
“Not that I know of,” Johnny replied.
None of us drank. He always made it clear he didn’t want to know about it if alcohol was brought to his parties. His parents were going to kill him now that this had occurred. There would be no more blowouts at Johnny’s house after this one.
“Anybody see Abigail go into the garage with anyone?” Officer Henson asked.
“No, but his parents have cameras all throughout the house, including the garage. Right Johnny?” I said watching Delia Art’s face drop in horror, rage, then despair. She was caught and she knew it. All these emotions crossed her face and more. I couldn’t wait for her to get hers.
She whispered something to Sandy Heller who nodded. They got up thinking they could slip out while the officers were distracted with questioning us. I elbowed my Dad’s friend. “No one should be leaving now, right?” I asked.
Officer Romero turned and looked at the girls. “Sit down girls.” Officer Jessie Romero was a no-nonsense kind of guy. He had an eighth grader and a sixth grader. Mom always teased him because his wife was about ten years younger than they were.
Delia shot me the finger as she plopped back on the sofa. I didn’t care. She did this to Abby. I knew it without seeing any tapes.
“Todd, watch the kids here. Johnny come with me,” he said. I followed. “Calvert, I did not say you could join us.”
“Jessie…” He raised his eyebrows at me. I dropped my head. “Officer Romero that is my girlfriend in the garage.”
“Son, all the more reason you need to stay here.”
“Please,” I begged.
He sighed at me, but he relented letting me come with him and Johnny. Tyson followed too. We were heading to Johnny’s
dad’s office on the opposite side of the house. “And who are you?” Officer Romero asked.
“Her brother,” I answered.
He shook his head but allowed all three of us into the room. Johnny brought up the cameras behind his dad’s desk. “Why the heavy artillery kid?”
Johnny rolled his eyes. “Our house was broken into eleven months ago. The cameras somehow give my mother comfort plus she feels she can keep an eye on me while they are out of town.”
He pulled up the garage camera on the screen and went back an hour. Nothing was happening. The garage was dark. Johnny fast forwarded the camera’s digital recording ten minutes and we could see the lights were on now. He backtracked to Delia shoving Abby into the garage.
I wasn’t sure I could watch this. Tyson looked even more uncomfortable than I did. It didn’t take long until I was about to come out of my skin as Delia pounded Abby’s face with her fists. I wanted to hurt Delia and I had never hurt a girl in my life.
I turned on my heel when I saw Abby’s head bounce off the concrete for the third time. Her face bloodied by Delia’s persistent pounding. Romero caught me at the door.
“I let you come in here. Now you sit down and stay here,” he warned me.
He shoved me into a chair. I felt Tyson’s hand on my shoulder. Holding on barely like I was. He however couldn’t take his eyes off the screen.
“Son-of-a-bitch,” Romero said.
Tyson and I glanced up to see what Officer Romero and Johnny were seeing on the screen.
The girls were standing over Abby beaten and bloody. They were laughing at her. “Back the image up Johnny,” he told him.
He looked closer at the screen. “Stop right there. Name every one of those girls standing by and watching that one beat Abigail. Start with her, the one throwing the punches.”
“Delia Art,” Johnny told Officer Romero. Then he proceeded to name six other cheerleaders who were her friends. They stood by and watched her do it. I couldn’t wait to see how funny they thought it was when they were cuffed and taken out of Johnny’s house.
“Romero.” We all turned towards the door. An officer I didn’t know was there, looking at us. “Got anything?”