by Sam Crescent
“Do you want me to?”
“I don’t know if I should get you to beg me to let you go, or to ask for more.”
“What is it you want to do to me?” she asked.
Before he got a chance to respond, they heard the front door of the beach house open up.
Drake tensed and quickly climbed off her.
“Who is that?” she asked.
She lifted the bedsheet just as the doors to the bedroom opened.
“I’ve found them.”
Pru recognized the man as Drake’s father. She couldn’t recall his name but the look he gave her would stay with her forever.
Seconds later, they were joined by Drake’s mother.
“How … disappointing,” his mother said.
“What the hell are you two doing here?” Drake asked.
“We got a tip and believe me, I’m pleased we came. You have to learn to choose your weekend’s entertainment more wisely. We don’t need you making a mistake like this.”
“You need to leave. I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“Your daughter is in here.”
Much to Pru’s embarrassment, her parents walked into the room. They looked pale, annoyed, and again, disappointed.
“I’m so sorry,” her father said, looking at Drake’s mother. “It won’t happen again.”
“Be sure that it does. My son doesn’t need to mingle with the likes of your slutty daughter. If I see her near my boy again, there will be consequences.”
Pru felt sick to her stomach. She’d never been in the same room as Drake’s mom and now, she was even happier she hadn’t before. This was so embarrassing and humiliating.
“Get your clothes on, boy. We’re taking you home.”
“Everyone get the fuck out,” Drake said. He took a step back and Pru kept the blanket wrapped around herself in the hope of trying to protect herself. She was shaking so badly. No woman should ever have to go through this. Not with her parents to see, or anyone to see. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her.
She’d lost her virginity, and this had to be the worst experience of all.
“Drake, watch your language and how you speak to me. We’re only doing what is best for you. One day, you will see that,” his father said.
“What will I see? I didn’t invite you here.” Drake stepped up to her side, taking her hand. He wasn’t shaking or nervous.
She wished she could say the same. Her nerves were getting the better of her. She wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole. It would certainly make life a little easier.
“It’s a good thing as well. Do you really think we want you mingling with these … these people?” his mother asked. “It’s bad enough we have to put up with your damn parties and those boys you call friends.”
“Without them, you couldn’t keep an eye on me. They’re not my friends.”
“Yes, look what good it has done us. We should’ve known something like this was going on. You may leave,” his father said, looking at her.
Drake held her hand a little tighter. It would seem she wasn’t going anywhere, not unless Drake said so. “She’s not leaving. You all need to leave, now.”
“Son, need I remind you, this place is mine. It has our name on it, not yours.”
“I’m still your son and last time I checked, your public image meant more to you than a place near the ocean. A place you rarely visit since it’s too secluded to have your image in the paper with all the bullshit you like to pretend you do.”
Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t believe this was happening to them.
“Take your daughter and leave before I call the cops for trespassing,” his mother said to her parents.
“Shut the fuck up, Mom. No one gives a shit about what you’ve got to say.”
“Well, young man, they better because if you think I’m going to let this little tryst slide, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“You’re not going to stop us from being together.” Drake squeezed her hand, and rather than show any weakness, Pru stood beside him even as she glanced at her parents. She saw the fear in their eyes. They were afraid of Drake’s parents, and she knew it wasn’t without cause.
She didn’t know what to say or do to make this any easier for them. She loved Drake and had been willing to just let this all slide and not have a life with him once graduation came around. But now? What was she going to do? It seemed impossible.
His mother laughed. “Oh, you stupid, darling boy. You have no idea how ridiculous you sound.”
“I don’t know why the whore and those … people are still here. Take your daughter and leave,” his father said.
“She’s not going anywhere,” Drake said.
“Look, son, you think you’ve got the upper hand here, but you don’t. You’re nothing in the scheme of things.” His father turned to look at her. “If you think for even a second you had a chance of getting our money and our name, we would never stoop so low as to give in to scum like you.”
“I didn’t,” Pru said. She hated how wobbly her voice sounded. This was so unfair. Why couldn’t she have the strength and confidence to stand at his side and to tell them all to fuck off?
His mother burst out laughing again. “Oh please. I recognize a slut whenever I see one. I bet you’ve been spreading your legs for all the rich kids. It won’t do you any good. Rich men don’t go for fat little tramps who’ll have any dick.”
Pru couldn’t believe her parents weren’t even standing up for her. They weren’t defending her. Looking at them again, she felt so alone and lost. They were her parents. They should be on her side, and yet, they were just there, waiting. They didn’t want to be here with her.
Were they embarrassed?
Ashamed?
She couldn’t believe it, and yet, looking at them, she didn’t know why she would think they would love her unconditionally. She was eighteen years old and could have sex now, and do a lot of other things, and yet they were treating her like a disgrace.
“You won’t talk about her like that,” Drake said. “She’s not you. She’s not either of you. You don’t know what a good person looks like because you surround yourself with the vilest of people. Pru, she’s better than you.”
The only person willing to defend her was Drake.
She felt the tears well up, but she wouldn’t let them fall. Not here, not now.
His mother sighed and his father chuckled. “Okay, it looks like we’re going to have to teach our boy a lesson.” His mother looked at Pru. “You really think this girl will ever fit into our world?”
“I don’t want her to fit into our world. I want her for myself,” Drake said. “She’s a good person. I love her.”
She smiled up at Drake and they shared a moment, but it was so brief. “You should let me go,” Pru said.
“Finally, at least one of you sees sense,” his father said.
“I’m not going to let you go. We can do this together.”
“My parents are afraid, Drake. I can’t do this to them. Your parents run everything in town. They fund the shops, the mall, everything. They have created jobs with their factories, and have sway at the bank. My parents can’t afford their debts, not if they make them pay.”
“Yes, I would listen to her. You see, Drake, if you don’t let your slut go, I will make sure that not only is her little family run out of town, but she also won’t finish school. She won’t have any future, and well, when no one can get a job, they always end up on the streets. And I can tell you that’s exactly where your little family is heading, Prudence,” his mother said with a smile.
She had never met anyone so cruel in all of her life. They didn’t even pretend to be any different.
Drake had bullied her, but this was a whole new level of mean. His parents would ruin her life and her family’s just because they could. She didn’t even know if she could stand to be in the same room as them.
“Don’t let them win,” Drake said to h
er.
Then to his dad, he said, “I’m not giving her up. If you do what you say you do, I’ll make sure everyone in the world knows what monsters you really are. Let’s face it, the only reason you’re still relevant is because they believe all the lies you manipulate the papers with.”
His parents looked at each other and smiled. “Son, you’re not exactly in your right mind. You do well at school, but you’ve always been a troubled young man.”
Before her eyes, Pru watched the couple go from looking all-powerful and in control, to seemingly filled with sadness and at a loss. Their performance was outstanding, and if anyone else had been watching them, they would feel for them.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing but it was the Connors, and they didn’t care enough about her or her parents to even pretend what they were doing. They meant nothing to them.
“No one would believe you, son,” his father said. “Just do as we tell you, and stop this.”
****
How could this have happened so quickly? His parents didn’t even know where he was half of the time and yet, here they were, telling him what to do. Drake held Pru’s hand like it was a lifeline and in truth, it was.
He didn’t want to let her go. His parents were wrong for making him do this.
Even a quick glance at her parents told him there was no chance of them helping. They turned a blind eye to his parents’ manipulations.
Running a hand down his face, he still kept a hold of Pru. Once again, his parents had all the power while he didn’t. If he went against them, he had no doubt this would be bad for Pru and her family.
“They’re right,” Pru said.
“What’s that?” his father asked.
“You’re both right.”
Even as he fought to keep hold of her hand, Pru broke away from him. “I mean, come on. Why would I really want to date him?”
Drake frowned. “Pru, what the fuck are you doing?”
“I’m being real, for once. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy being fake. I’m not a fake person, but you were so easy to fool. It’s almost too funny how quickly you fell for it. I’m kind of shocked, really. You were always this big deal at school. All the girls practically falling over themselves to be with you. I figured I wanted a piece of the pie and what better way than making you fall for me. I have to admit though, you’re not worth this effort. Sorry, you’re not.” She pulled away from him and looked at him. She shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll get over it.”
He stared at her, knowing she was faking this. She had to be.
“You were just so easy. Always looking for love rather than just accepting the fact it’s not going to be coming to you. No one will ever love you, Drake.”
“Now, I think you’ve made your point,” his father said.
Pru pulled away from him and turned on her heel to leave.
Drake watched her go, knowing deep in his heart this was a performance for his parents. He had to believe that, even as a part of him had to wonder if what she said was true.
Don’t be a dick.
She’s trying to help.
Don’t fuck this up.
He turned back to look at his parents who had smug grins on their faces that he wanted to wipe off. They were happy to see him suffer and it pissed him off. They were going to find out one day that taking him on would be their biggest mistake.
All of his life, he’d hated his parents, but those feelings, they didn’t even begin to come close to how much he despised them at this very moment. He wanted to hurt them, to make them pay for what they had done. To watch them suffer, to hear them scream and beg him for forgiveness.
“You see, son, love is just a fucked-up mess. You’ve got to learn to keep women for one thing and one thing only, fucking.” His father snorted, shook his head, and left the room.
“Drake, as soon as she’s gone, get your ass home,” his mother said. “I don’t want to have to deal with taking the trash out anymore.”
Pru’s parents were still waiting.
He stared at them, and for some reason, he was so incredibly disappointed in them.
“You didn’t fight for her,” he said.
“You shouldn’t have brought her out here,” her father said.
“Neither of you gave a fuck about what my parents said.” He couldn’t believe he was looking at her parents. “Get the fuck out.” He turned on his heel and went toward where Pru was.
“We would advise you against talking to our daughter.”
“She’s not your daughter. No parent would let another speak about their child like that.” With that, he slammed into the bathroom.
Pru was nearly dressed. She pulled up her jeans and he saw the tears in her eyes. He pushed the door closed, he didn’t have to wait long before she threw herself into his arms.
“I’m so sorry.” She whispered the words against his ear.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not, though. It’s really not. I saw they were being serious and I panicked. I shouldn’t have said the stuff I did, but hearing them, seeing what they were doing to you, knowing they wouldn’t back down, I had to.”
“It’s okay.” He ran his hands down her back just basking in holding her. His parents were wrong about her, about him.
“It’s really not okay. I shouldn’t have had to say or do any of those things.” She pulled away, cupping his face. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to keep on doing what we do best. Seeing each other without them knowing.”
“Someone knew we were here, Drake. Someone told them. I don’t know who. We’ve been so careful.”
“It could have been someone in town. My father’s not exactly a faithful man.”
“What if it’s not? What if someone back home knows and this is their way of getting payback?”
“Then they’re in for a world of pain when I find them. No one messes with what I’ve got. Your parents are still waiting outside.” He scowled, hating the fact he’d done nothing. His parents came, ruined everything, and left, and he’d let them.
“What are we going to do?” she asked.
He didn’t like how helpless she looked. “I’m going to deal with this.”
“How?” She pressed her hands to her face and groaned. “We should have known this wasn’t possible.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth. Look what’s happening here. My parents are outside waiting to take me home, and yours, they didn’t even stick around to see you leave. I don’t know what’s happening right now and it’s kind of freaking me out. What do we do? I have no answers.”
Drake didn’t know what to say to her. He felt the panic rise up.
They both froze as there was a knock on the door.
“Come on, you two. We can’t let you stay in there forever. Hurry up,” her father said.
His anger once again rose to the surface. He couldn’t protect either of them from inside a bathroom. “How can they even call themselves your parents?”
“Drake, they can’t do anything.”
“Don’t justify their actions. Not to me. Not right now.”
“I’m not trying to. I’m really not. This is so hard, watching them as your parents talked to me like that. Other than you, no one has ever treated me like that. I…” She stopped talking and he watched her return to crying.
It broke his heart to see her like this. “Please don’t cry.”
“We’ve got no way of winning this. No way at all. I don’t know what we’re going to do,” she said.
“You keep repeating that.”
“Because it’s the truth. What can we do?” She rubbed at her chest. “I feel like all of this is hopeless. We’re on our own. No one is ever going to help us.”
He couldn’t bear to have her like this. It hurt him to see her sound so helpless.
What can you really do?
Your parents are going to destroy every single kind of happiness you ha
ve.
He pulled her to him, kissing the top of her head and just breathing her in.
“You know there’s nothing we can do. We’re all alone,” she said. “I can’t believe they called me a slut.”
“You don’t listen to them. Not ever.” He pulled away, cupping her face. “Look at me. What I did to you before, I want you to forget all of that. My parents, they don’t know what they’re talking about. They’re fucking idiots.”
“But…”
“No buts. Don’t listen to them. They want to get inside your head and destroy who you are but we’re not going to let that happen. You and me, we’re going to stay strong.”
“You were right, Drake. We can’t win this. You’ve got to let me go.”
His parents had taken everything away from him, and it seemed they weren’t done with ruining him even more. Any kind of happiness, no matter the size, they were always there, set to ruin it for him, and he couldn’t handle that. Not anymore.
Gritting his teeth, he shook his head. “No, I’m not going to let you go. Not now, not ever.”
“Drake, we both know there’s no use in fighting this. They’re the ones who will win in the end.”
“Not if we fight back.” He didn’t know why he was having such a huge change of heart over this, only that he had to do something now.
“Drake, there’s no point,” she said. “It’s fine. We both knew this was going to happen in the end. It only stopped now, rather than later. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” he said.
Her parents were still waiting, and he couldn’t think with them close, willing to take Pru away.
“This isn’t over,” he said. “Tell me you don’t want to leave me, leave us.”
Tears fell down her face and he tried to wipe them away but they just kept falling.
“Please, don’t cry.”
“I can’t help it. I don’t want this to end between us but I don’t know how we can save this. It’s so hopeless.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“What?”
“I don’t believe what we have is hopeless. Do you trust me?” he asked.
She frowned at him. “What are you going to do?”