Against All Odds

by E. L. Todd

  “I care about you,” he said firmly.

  “Or is it because you just feel bad for me?”

  “No.” He looked into my eyes as he said it. “I think you have a lot of potential and can do something respectable with your life. You just need a little encouragement.”

  I’d never had a father figure in my life before, someone who cared about me unconditionally. It was an odd sensation. I felt a distant pain in my stomach. “Does Silke know you’re here?”

  “No,” he said simply. “And I wasn’t going to tell her.” He stared at me for a while. “I think it’s best if I don’t mention you. She’s…going through a hard time.”

  I broke her heart. I expected that to happen. But I didn’t feel good about it. “I really love her,” I blurted. “I always will.”

  “I know,” he said quietly.

  “Can you…tell me about her life?” I asked. “That way I can still know her, in a way?”

  “Are you sure you want me to?” he asked.

  I knew she would date someone new eventually. It would hurt but it was also make me feel better. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted to fix all the damage I had caused. “Yes.”

  “Okay,” he said without hesitation. “So, what’s it like in prison?”

  I told him about my daily routine, the food, and Bomb. He seemed to find most of it interesting. Then he talked about his shop, and his son. Apparently, Slade wasn’t exactly thrilled about cleaning up after people, but he started to come around.

  Talking to him was easy, and even though I was sitting in a jumpsuit with handcuffs around my wrist, he didn’t judge me. He looked at me fondly like he was someone he cared about. He respected me and seemed to see something good in me just like Silke did.

  The guard announced my time was over.

  I didn’t want to go back into my cell but I knew it couldn’t be avoided. “Well, it was nice seeing you.” I didn’t realize how nice it was to see a friendly face until he was about to leave. I stood up.

  “I’ll see you next week.” He gave me a quick hug then stepped back.

  “Next week?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I’ll bring a snack this time.” He looked around and spotted the Tupperware of cookies and cakes. “I didn’t know we were allowed to bring anything. I’ve never known anyone in prison before.”

  “You don’t have to keep visiting me,” I blurted.

  “I know.” He crossed his arms over his chest and waited for me to walk away.

  I realized that I had people who believed in me, people who actually cared. I didn’t do anything to deserve it, but I appreciate it anyway. “Thanks.”

  He stayed in his spot while I walked through the bars and down the hallway. I knew he was still standing there until the moment I was hidden from view.

  Chapter Six

  Slade

  “Where were you last night?” I asked at lunch.

  “Out.” Dad ate his burger and didn’t look at me.

  “Well, I figured that,” I said sarcastically. “What were you doing?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Leaving Mom, huh?” I said. “You’ve had enough.”

  “Enough of you, maybe.” He moved on to his fries.

  “What’s with the secrecy?” I demanded.

  He sighed. “I guess there’s no point in hiding it. Silke and Arsen broke up. Your sister is going through a hard time.”

  “They did?” I asked in surprise. I didn’t hear anything. But come to think of it, I hadn’t seen her since graduation even though we lived in the same city. “Why?”

  “He’s in prison for weed possession.”

  I dropped my soda and started to spill on the table. I picked it up and clean up the mess. “What did you just say?”

  “He’ll be in there for a while. I visited him yesterday.”

  “If they broke up, why did you visit him?” I asked.

  “I still care about him. He’s a nice kid.”

  “Um…Dad? Nice guys don’t go to prison.”

  He chuckled. “I think he might be an exception.”

  I lost my appetite now that I knew the truth. I knew Arsen wasn’t the best crop in the orchard but I never suspected he was rough enough for prison. My sister knew how to pick them. From what I remembered of him, he seemed like a nice guy who was soft around the edges. “That’s crazy…does Mom know?”

  “You think I would have told you before her?” he asked sarcastically.

  “Hey, we’re best buds.”

  “No.” He laughed loudly. “We aren’t. Your mother tells me I need to be more of a parent than a friend. I think she’s right.”

  “No,” I pleaded. “Don’t be a Nazi like she is.”

  “She’s not a Nazi,” he argued. “She’s just strict. It’s why you guys turned out so well.”

  I gave him an incredulous look. “Silke’s in love with a guy who’s in prison, and I’m an asshole. You guys failed as parents.”

  He chuckled. “You may be right.”

  I looked out the window as I processed what he said. Silke had been MIA for a while, and now I knew why. She and I weren’t particularly close, but I tolerated her for the most part.

  “I want you to spend time with Silke,” Dad said. “Take her to a movie or something.”

  “Why me?” I snapped.

  “You’re her brother. Be there for her.”

  “She’s got Skye and Trinity for that,” I argued.

  “Last time I checked, Skye was struggling, and Trinity is too busy putting up with your bullshit.”

  “She doesn’t put up with my bullshit,” I said with a laugh. “She doesn’t slap as hard as Mom does, but she’s got some power in her punch.”

  ‘Take her to the movies or something.”

  “Um, I’m broke,” I said. “Unless you want to give me another raise.” I flashed my teeth at him and tried to look as innocent as possible.

  He opened his wallet then threw some money at me. “This is for you and Silke only.”

  I eyed it then looked back at him. “So…was that a no on the raise?”

  “I just gave you one.”

  “It was only for three bucks.”

  “You’re lucky it wasn’t twenty-five cents,” he barked.

  I pocketed the money. “Whatever. I’ll bring Trinity along so I don’t die of boredom.”

  “No Trinity,” Dad commanded. “Just you and Silke. I mean it.”

  “What?” I demanded. “Silke is so boring.”

  “She’s not,” he said. “Get to know her.”

  “You think getting to know her when she’s depressed is the best idea?” I asked incredulously.

  “Do it and stop arguing.”

  I rolled my eyes then mimicked him with a high-pitched voice.

  “If you think your mother can hit hard, you’re in for a surprise,” he threatened.

  I dropped my attitude. “Trinity would protect me.”

  He shook his head slightly.

  “So, what do I talk to her about?”

  He shrugged. “Anything.”

  “What do you talk to her about?” I asked.

  “I don’t know…her life.”

  “But she doesn’t have one.”

  “You’ll figure it out, Slade.” He grabbed our trays then set them on the garbage can. “Not let’s get back to work.”

  “Yay,” I said sarcastically.

  ***

  I texted Silke. Let’s go to the movies.

  Busy.

  I knew she was lying. Doing what?

  Ignoring you.

  Come on, there’s this new action film I want to see.

  Leave me alone.

  Geez, she was such a pain in the ass. I’m coming over. Be ready.

  Slade, no.

  I put my phone down and ignored it when it buzzed. When I arrived at her door, I didn’t knock and picked the lock immediately. After I got it open with my lighter I stepped inside. “The coolest person alive is here to make you
r day awesome.”

  She was lying on the couch. “I said I didn’t want to go.”

  I ran to the couch then jumped on it, my feet hitting the areas that weren’t covered by her body. “Wow, this couch is bouncy. Wee….”

  “Get off.” She tried to push me.

  “Bouncy…bouncy.” I jumped high then touched the ceiling.

  “You’re getting dirt all over the cushions!” She smacked my legs.

  “Then get up, fatass!”

  She pushed me off the couch.

  When I landed on the ground, I moved to the other couch and started jumping again. “Come on, get up.”

  She groaned in annoyance.

  “And please take a shower. You look like shit.”

  She grabbed a pillow and chucked it at me. “Jackass!”

  It missed me by a mile. “Were you aiming for me?” I asked incredulously.

  “Go!”

  “No!” I eyed her hallway. “I’m about to run into your room and start jumping on your bed.”

  Her eyes were wide. “Don’t you dare.”

  I stopped bouncing then looked like I was going to sprint down the hallway.

  “Okay, fine! I’ll go.”

  I smiled in victory.

  “I just need to shower.”

  I waved my hand in front of my nose. “Please. It smells like an old grease fire in here.” Her hair was oily and untidy. Her voice was pale and lifeless. Her clothes were baggy and covered in strains. It looked like drops of chocolate ice cream. She was definitely a mess.

  “Go to hell, Slade.” She headed down the hallway.

  “Hurry up. I don’t want to miss any previews.”

  She slammed the door then turned on the water.

  ***

  Silke was quiet during the walk to the multiplex. Her hands were in her pockets, and she breathed hard like she hadn’t exercised in a long time. My instinct was to make fun of her but I decided against it since she was going through a hard time. “Cool jacket.” I’d seen it a hundred times but I wanted to say something somewhat nice to her.

  “Thanks…” She stared at the ground.

  When we arrived, I paid for our tickets.

  “I can pay for mine,” she argued.

  “I got a raise at work,” I said. “So, it’s on me.”

  “You never pay for me,” she said suspiciously.

  “Hey, I can be a nice guy,” I said, offended.

  “Only to Trinity.”

  “I’m damn Prince Charming to her.” I opened the door and let her walk inside first.

  Another suspicious look was cast my way.

  We headed to the concession stand. “Popcorn?”

  “Sure.” It didn’t seem like she really cared.

  I knew her favorite was Snow Caps so I got her a box. After I had everything, I carried it into the theatre.

  “You paid for all of that?” she asked incredulously.

  “I am a good guy.”

  She wasn’t buying it. She studied my face as found out seats. When she sat down, the air deflated from her lungs. “Dad told you, didn’t he?”

  I handed her the Snow Caps. “Here. Eat up.”

  She sighed then took them. “You don’t have to be nice to me just because Dad made you. I’ll just lie and say you were.”

  I’d never been close to my sister, and I made it my life’s purpose to annoy her. But her words hurt me. “No, I wanted to come.” Actually, I didn’t. But now that I saw how said she was, I didn’t mind being there.

  She opened the box and ate a few.

  “So…you’re doing okay?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve been better…”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  She shook her head.

  “I can’t believe he’s in prison,” I said. “That’s crazy.”

  “I hope he’s doing okay…”

  “I wonder what it’s like in there.”

  “It can’t be fun,” she answered.

  I shoved handfuls of popcorn into my mouth. “You’ll get through it, Silke. Besides, who wants to be with a guy who’s been to jail?”

  “I do,” she said quietly. “But he left me when I went to visit him. He said he wasn’t good enough for me…”

  “Well, he’s not,” I blurted.

  She eyed me.

  “I mean, he’s a good guy and everything but…prison? That’s some serious shit.”

  “I know, but he doesn’t belong in there. He’s better than that.”

  “It sounds like the relationship was doomed to fail anyway,” he said. “I think you’re better off, even if it doesn’t seem like it.”

  “Dad said the same thing,” she said quietly.

  “You know, Dad is right most of the time.”

  She turned to me and smiled. “Did you just say that?”

  I realized the words that came out of my mouth. “I mean, he’s wrong most of the time…”

  She laughed, and her body visibly relaxed as she did it. “I’m telling him.”

  I snatched the Snow Caps back. “Say a word to him and I’m eating all of these.”

  “Okay, okay,” she said quickly. “Give them back.”

  I reluctantly handed them over.

  “I’ll keep your secret.”

  “You better.” I leaned back in the chair and put my feet up. The previews came on and the lights dimmed down. The theatre only had a few people scattered around.

  Silke turned to me. “Thanks for getting me out of the house…”

  “Sure.” I reached for her hand then stopped when I was near it. Awkward and unsure what to do, I patted it like I was trying to kill a fly. “You’re pretty cool.”

  She smiled and tried not to laugh. “Thanks…”

  ***

  “I. Want. Sex.”

  She blatantly glared at me, the annoyance shining in her eyes.

  “I. Want. It. Now.”

  Trinity sighed and shook her head slightly. “Are you a gorilla?”

  “Why?” I asked. “Are you into that?”

  She sipped her milkshake. “One, you aren’t sexy when you do that. Two, there’s nowhere for us to go. Work harder and get another raise so you can have your own place. Then we’ll shack up like snow bunnies.”

  In Cambridge, Trinity and I had sex whenever we wanted. It was a privilege I missed like crazy. Now we were limited by places and parents. We had to wait until everyone was out of the house before we could get it on. Trinity didn’t like doing it at the shop and we were running out of options.

  Then I had an idea. “I know where we can go.”

  She was incredulous. “I’m not going to a motel.”

  “You said that a hundred times,” I barked. “I get it.” I dumped our trash. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “Where?” she demanded.

  “Just shut up and follow me.”

  We headed a few blocks over then walked inside a building. After walking to the eight floor, we reached the door then I picked it with my lighter.

  “Slade…” Worry was in her voice. “Who lives here?”

  I got the door opened easily. “Cayson.”

  “What?” She practically screamed. “We aren’t doing it in his apartment.”

  “Calm the hell down. I know he isn’t home.”

  “This is still wrong.”

  “He won’t even know,” I said. “And if he did, he would understand.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Stop being annoying.” I grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside. Then I pushed her against the door and kissed her neck. One hand moved into her pants and I touched her the way she liked. If I didn’t get her revved up, she would want to leave. After a minute, I seduced her and had her kissing my mouth was desperation. Then I lead her to the couch.

  “Not in his room,” she said.

  I undressed then moved on top of her. “The couch is fine.”

  She grabbed onto me and rolled her head back as I entered inside h
er.

  Having sex with Trinity was my favorite thing to do. I’d pick it over sports, hanging out with Cayson, and eating—any day. Even though I’d been with her a hundred times, every time was new and exciting. She did amazing things to me, pushing me hard and driving me wild.

  “Slade…” Her hands moved into my hair.

  I loved watching her lips part for me, moans escaping her lips. I loved watching her eyes shine bright when she looked up at me. I satisfied her every time, and the accomplishment meant a lot to me. I needed Trinity to stick around. She was my key to happiness.

  The front door opened.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Cayson snapped.

  “Oh my god!” Trinity yelled.

  My back was to Cayson so he couldn’t see Trinity. I kept her body covered with mine. “I thought you wouldn’t be home today.”

  Cayson covered his eyes with his hand and tried to make his way out the door. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I should have been more thoughtful.” He bumped into the wall before he finally made it outside.

  Trinity covered her face, which was beet red. “Oh my god…”

  “He didn’t see you.” I gripped her hips and kept moving.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she yelled.

  “Finishing,” I snapped. “What do you think I’m doing?”

  “Cayson is standing right outside!” She smacked my arm.

  “And he already caught us so we may as well finish.”

  “You’re unbelievable.”

  “I know,” I said arrogantly. “Now let’s do this.” I moved into her hard and fast and circled her clit at the same time. It took me a minute to get her back into it, and another minute to make her come. Then I released myself quickly. “Ah…that’s better.” I immediately got off of her and dressed.

  She sighed then pulled on her clothes. “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life.”

  “It’s just Cayson,” I argued. “Who cares?”

  “I do!” she shrieked.

  “Are you dressed?” Cayson yelled through the door.

  Trinity fixed her hair then glared at me.

  “Yeah,” I called.

  Cayson stepped inside then gave me that look he’d been giving me since we were kids. “Seriously? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  I looked at my watch. “Look at the time, Trinity and I got to run.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door.

  Cayson sighed then looked at his couch. “I’m burning this.”