Magnolia's Fall From Grace

by Zara Teleg

  “Maggie Grace, nothing you can say would bore me. I’ve never met anyone like you before.” I lifted her chin with my knuckle and made her sparkling green eyes meet mine.

  She allowed them to stay there only a moment before looking down. “I’ve never met anyone like you before either.” Her voice was no more than a whisper that was nearly drowned by the crickets singing all around us.

  She swallowed hard when my knuckles traced her jaw. “Tell me everything.”

  Maggie shivered, turning her head. “My parents are very, uh…”

  “Strict?” I chimed in.

  “Yes, that too. They have a plan for me. As if sticking me into a Catholic boarding school for girls for the past four years isn’t enough, they want me to go to school locally and just spend my time at the country club, grooming me to marry a man they both deem appropriate. My mother has teased me about marrying Spencer since we were kids. His mother and mine were sorority sisters. The older I got, the more I realized they weren’t joking. If I say I’ll skip college and marry him today, Atlanta would be in a whirlwind of wedding preparations, the likes of which you can’t imagine.” The words seemed to leave a bitter taste on her tongue.

  I couldn’t believe how her parents could just marry her off like this, like she was some…property. How could anyone not see how very special she was?

  “That’s their plan, but what about yours, Maggie? What’s your plan?” I asked. She paused for a second, like it was the first time anyone had ever asked her that question, then she smiled.

  “I’ve bought myself time with going to college. They couldn’t deny a full scholarship. And then I’m going to be the best doctor I can be and help as many people as I can. I think that would make me very happy, Vincent.”

  I looked at her in awe. She was really something else. What the hell was I doing here? She was way out of my league. My eyes trailed up from her long proper dress to her sun-kissed shoulders and those perfect lips still speaking words that I was too entranced to hear. She didn’t belong here among the MC. I felt like the Big Bad Wolf leading her astray. It was as if the saintly lady on her gold necklace, shining in the last of the sun’s rays, was judging me. I shook my head and knew I had to get her out of here. She probably thought we were all trash. She grew up in a country club and I in an outlaw motorcycle club. There was no way this could end well; better to not even try to start. A small pain flared in my chest, disappointed that I knew I had to stay away from this angel for her own good.

  “Come on, Maggie, let’s get back to the party.” I jumped down from the hood and offered her my hand.

  By the time we walked back to the party, everyone was gone. Sparkles of stars dotted the darkening sky. Vicious was walking down the hill holding the hand of his wife, Holly. Now, that girl belonged. Teased to perfection, Holly’s hair, dark makeup, and red lipstick went perfectly with cutoff black shorts and her black bandana tube top. Heavy black leather motorcycle boots were on her feet, and silver bracelets covered both her arms almost to her elbow.

  “Vicious, where did everyone go?”

  “The Crevice.”

  “Well, um, I guess we should head there.”

  “What’s the Crevice?” I could hear the hesitation in her voice as she asked.

  “Our nighttime swim spot. I haven’t been there in years.” I filled a new cup of beer and offered her a soda from the cooler.

  “Maybe I should wait for Shannon here?”

  Motorcycles revved in the distance. There was no way I was leaving her here alone.

  “Come on, you’ll be fine. We’ll find Shannon, and I won’t let anything get you.”

  Maggie and I followed the path until we reached the wooded area. It wasn’t easy to navigate under the moonless sky. I relied on the sound of voices that carried.

  “Are you sure this is safe?” Maggie held my shirt as we maneuvered through the trees and brush.

  “It’s not much farther.” I picked up a long, thick stick to push the tall grass out of our way. The chatter grew louder as we approached. Light from a fire blazed through the trees. Small groups were drinking, laughing, and singing.

  “Is that safe? Aren’t there gators?” Maggie’s eyes bugged out as she watched several people entering the water naked. She quickly spun to look in the other direction.

  “Maggie, relax.” I could see she didn’t want to be there. It was so obvious this was a mistake. “We’ll find Shannon, and I’ll walk you back. I guess tonight was not a great idea.”

  Her face fell. “I guess you’re right. I am ruining your good time.”

  “Hey.” I lifted her chin. “Don’t say that. I asked you to come because I wanted you here. I want to get to know you.” I forced her to look in my eyes.

  “There you are.” A heavy arm fell on each of us, the scent of whiskey heavy as he slurred.

  “You going to get naked and swim with us, Maggie Grace?” Viper pushed down on Maggie’s strap.

  “Hey! Hands off, brother.” I flung his arm off her shoulder.

  “Relax.” Viper put his hands up and backed away.

  “You’re missing out, the water’s great. Little Miss Too Good For Us is a buzz kill.”

  Maggie’s eyes glistened. She pulled the strap back onto her shoulder.

  “I’m ready to go, Vincent.”

  “Maggie, they’re just drunk. Ignore them.”

  Viper took off his boots, pulled off his jeans and shirt, but left in his boxers. He dove into the water, disappearing under the blackness.

  Maggie tugged on my arm, pointing to the trees that were across the water. “Isn’t that your friend, Mongo?” She pointed to the boy who was high on a branch, beating his chest. Viper popped up nearly on the other side, a group of girls cheering him on.

  “That looks dangerous.” Maggie’s eyes stayed on Mongo.

  “I don’t think he’ll jump.” I shook my head, watching him waver on the branch.

  “Mongo, get your sorry ass down from there.” Sissy came out from the woods.

  Mongo beat on this chest. “I’m the king of the bayou!” He grabbed a vine as his balanced wavered, causing us to gasp. He was at least twenty feet up.

  “Maggie, wait here. I gotta talk him down.” I took off down the bank, weaving through the groups yelling at my friend to get his drunk ass down. Sissy’s voice was echoing mine as we watched him step farther out over the water. “Mongo, stop!”

  He bounced on the branch holding the vine, slurring out again, “I’m king of the bayou!”

  Sissy’s voice cracked in a loud shriek as Mongo lost his balance and slipped from the branch, falling into the water below with a huge splash.

  I couldn’t hear anything. I ripped off my boots and dove where his body surfaced, unmoving, facedown in the water. Viper and I reached for him, pulling his body to the closest bank. Sissy was frantically yelling, pushing us out of the way, and banging on his chest.

  “Oh my god, Mongo, wake up!” Viper yelled.

  Tara’s friends were screaming for her to help. Then I saw Maggie swimming toward us, her long dress floating around her. My eyes shifted back to Tara, who refused to get in the water. I ran to the edge of the water and pulled Maggie’s arm to help her out.

  Maggie, the shy girl, pushed us all out of the way and began forcefully shouting instructions as she knelt beside Mongo. “Give me some room to work. You, call 911, right now!” she yelled.

  She tilted his head back and started doing compressions on his chest. Leaning over him, pinching his nose, she placed her mouth over his and blew into his mouth. Sissy kept holding my arm, crying. Maggie did chest compressions again. Everyone was yelling and swimming over. Again, she blew into his mouth. She did this a few more times, until all of a sudden, Mongo’s body jerked and he began to cough water out.

  I felt a surge of relief. “God, Mongo, you scared us, you fucking drunk bastard!” I sighed.

  But Maggie kept working. She ripped off her drenched dress over her head. “Give me your knife!�
� she shouted. I flicked it open. She took the blade and swiped it across the material of her dress. She pulled off a long strip and began to wrap Mongo’s head in an attempt to stop the bleeding. I hadn’t seen it pooling on the ground from the back of his head. Maggie helped him turn to his side and slapped his back gently as he coughed, expelling the rest of the water. Maggie looked up at me with blood on her hands. “He needs to get to a hospital.”

  Mongo groaned, reaching for the bandage. The sound of a four-wheeler echoed, lights shining through the trees. Vicious skidded to a stop, one of the other kids jumping off the back. He must have gone for him when Mongo fell.

  “You can’t move him. He might have a neck injury. You need to wait for an ambulance.” Maggie shouted as the boys surrounded Mongo about to lift him. Maggie spread her arms and leaned over him protectively.

  “They’re on the way,” Vicious said as the faint sound of sirens became louder, and soon enough, the EMTs got him on a stretcher and into the ambulance.

  “You…you saved his life,” Viper said to Maggie before he hopped on the back of the quad. “Thank you.” He bowed his head to Maggie as the quad began to move.

  I smiled with relief. If Maggie hadn’t been here, I would have lost my friend tonight. I took her hand in mine. Before I could speak, Sissy jumped between us. She launched herself to Maggie, hugging her tight, sniffing, her black makeup running down her cheeks.

  “Thank you, Magnolia. I’m so sorry for being rude to you.” Sissy finally let her go and took both Maggie’s wrists into her hands. “Can you forgive me?”

  “Sissy, it’s fine.”

  “We are going to be friends, Maggie Grace. You have to come back here, okay?”

  I could see how happy her words made Maggie with the smile that bloomed on her face.

  “Look at her granny panties.” Tara pointed and laughed. Maggie’s eyes grew wide as she realized she was standing there in her bra and panties, being embarrassed by that little bitch again.

  Sissy pulled the shirt over her head and handed it to Maggie before diving into the water, heading toward Tara like a gator stalking prey.

  “Come on, my fishing shack is right down that path. I’ll take you there and get you some clothes to change.”

  We waded back across the water where Tara was getting a reaming from a furious Sissy. Her face was in utter shock as Sissy spat obscenities in her face.

  I held Maggie’s hand, leading her down the path. I had a million words running through my head for the girl who was always surprising me.

  I took the keyring that was attached to my chain. “One sec, I keep it locked.” I opened the wooden door to my shed. I flicked on my lighter, igniting the kerosene lantern that I kept inside. The light grew, illuminating the small room. Maggie looked hesitant when she saw the small bed in the corner.

  “Maggie, come sit. I keep some things here. I can give you clothes to change into.” I unzipped the duffle I had left here last week.

  Maggie was walking around the cabin, her eyes taking everything in. She picked up a half-carved pipe off the table and inspected it. She pointed to the tools that sat next to it.

  “Who whittles?” Her finger outlined each line of the rough dragon.

  “I do.”

  I chose the largest shirt I had and a pair of my sweatpants, handing them to her.

  “Thanks.” She cleared her throat.

  “My granddaddy taught me when I was young. He was quite famous for his woodworking around our parts. Then he moved down here.” I shrugged my shoulders like it was nothing.

  “You’re talented. Do you sell your pieces?”

  “I have given a few pipes to club members over the years. I just do it when I can’t sleep.”

  I turned my back and waited for her to change. I stole a glance when she pulled the wet tee shirt over her head. Maggie’s body was perfection. She tugged on the dry shirt and the sweatpants that drowned her small frame.

  “Maggie, I don’t know what to say.” I placed a hand on either side of her face. “You were so brave, the way you didn’t even hesitate and jumped into action. I wish I could’ve done something.”

  “It was only CPR. Anyone would have—” Her eyes shifted to the ground as they always did when I looked at her.

  “But they didn’t. You did, Maggie. If you weren’t here…” I lifted her face. The flame from the lantern danced in her eyes. I could almost feel the tremble in her body as I began to move my face close to hers.

  “Vincent,” she whispered as I inched closer to her plump lips. “I can’t…” she tried to say.

  I studied her face. “Have you ever been kissed?”

  She shook her head no, looking at her feet before lifting her head slightly to look at me through her lashes. At that moment, I wanted more than anything to give her a first kiss she would remember.

  “Can I kiss you, Maggie?”

  She nodded and all my hesitation disappeared. My lips brushed softly on hers. Her lips opened to mine and the very air around us seemed to become electrified. All the noise of the bayou seemed to quiet, leaving me to hear just the beautiful sound of the nervous breath she took between innocent kisses. When she opened her mouth, I savored her sweet taste. She practically brought me to my knees with the gentle way she wove her fingers into my hair. Her body loosened, falling against mine. The purity that radiated from her illuminated as the intensity of our kiss grew. I savored every touch as her fingers went over my face and down my neck. I didn’t want her to let go. Unfortunately, the sound in the distance broke the spell and she practically jumped away.

  “I shouldn’t have.” Torment was evident in her eyes, but it didn’t matter because our time was up. The ATV revved through the woods, stopping outside the shack.

  “Venom, you guys decent?” Viper’s voiced joked as he tapped at the door.

  Chapter 7

  Magnolia

  I lay in bed awake for what felt like hours, staring at the top bunk, thinking about the day’s events. The tips of my fingers found their way to my lips several times, caressing them with the same softness I felt when Vincent’s lips touched mine.

  I couldn’t explain anything that happened at the party. Jumping in to save Mongo, peeling off my dress, allowing myself to sit with Vincent alone first in the sunset and then the kiss in the little fishing cabin. My heartbeat quickened just at the thought of Vincent’s lips on mine. It was surreal. I felt like I wasn’t in my own body. I knew I shouldn’t have let him kiss me, but I couldn’t help myself. My heartbeat thumped in my ears when he closed the space between us. There was something so sincere in his eyes, but there was also darkness I sensed. It was ever-present and just below the surface. I saw it that day when the boys from town jumped us. It was rage stirring in him. I didn’t know how much of him was good and how much was dark, but it was something I was ready to find out.

  How could it be wrong to want to be around him? To enjoy his kiss, his touch? And if it felt so good, why was it wrong? Why did my belly do flips every time his eyes caught mine? Surely God would not give us this overwhelming attraction to someone we weren’t meant to know.

  I couldn’t think anymore. I shot up, flinging the sheet off me. Dawn was brightening the sky. I needed to go to my spot under the cypress where I could clear my head. I was only in my sleep shirt and shorts, but no one would see me at this hour. I slid my feet into the flip-flops that sat by the door and crept out quietly so as not to wake Shannon. The purple and orange sky reflected off the glass panes of the door as I quietly closed it before hopping off our tiny porch and disappearing into the trees.

  I spread out my blanket and took a few breaths before I clapped my hands together in prayer. My conversation with God usually came easy, but the guilt I felt over the thoughts I was having about Vincent made me not know what to say.

  I gave up quickly. I opened my journal and began writing about yesterday’s events. I wrote feverishly, not wanting to leave out any detail. The kiss I shared with Vincent lit a fire in m
e. I felt like I had been numb my whole life and now I was finally able to experience what it was to feel. My senses were heightened. I heard every insect in the bayou at that moment. I could smell the thick humid air like never before.

  I jumped when a throat cleared. My hand flew to my chest as the figure stepped from behind the trees.

  “Jesus, Vincent. You scared me to death,” I yelped. “What are you doing out here?

  “Sorry if I frightened you. I was awake. I didn’t want to go back last night after dropping you and Shannon off. I take walks when I can’t sleep.”

  All the times I had come here and felt someone watching me, was it him? “Have you seen me here before?” I made space on the blanket and let him take a seat.

  The bob in his throat gave me my answer before he did. “Um, uh, I have seen you here before. But I never wanted to disturb you. Why do you come out here, and all alone?”

  “To pray, to journal, to think.” I smoothed the edge of the blanket.

  “Pray?” Vincent’s face scrunched up.

  “You don’t pray?” Devotion was such a big part of my life. I couldn’t imagine not having God’s ear, especially when I found myself lost.

  “You mind?” I shook my head no as Vincent put a cigarette to his lips, lit it, and inhaled deeply. “I was raised not to believe in imaginary deities. We make our own destiny.”

  “Well, that’s not how I was raised, and I couldn’t imagine not having faith in my life. I mean, I’m not closed-minded. I was raised Catholic, to my mother’s dismay. She is a Southern Baptist, but my father is a devout Catholic. I think everyone kind of discovers what’s right for them. I need to believe I have angels watching over me.”

  “Is that why you wear that?” He pointed to the gold medal around my neck.

  I lift it away from my neck so he could have a better look. “This is the Blessed Mother, not an angel. And the girl kneeling is St. Bernadette.”

  He looked confused, taking another long drag from his cigarette.

  “You really don’t know anything about religion?”

  “Nope. My family is atheist. My father believes in nothing. He says live fast, ride free, because once you die, you are just worm food.”