Serenity (17 page)

“Oh my,” his mom blew out.

Ren pulled her hand back, cradling it in her other arm. “Just tripped. No big deal.” She let out a strangled laugh.

Jolin’s mom straightened. “Well lucky for you I’m a nurse so I can clean you up like new.” She put on her happy work face. Jolin’s mom worked in the ER and the children’s trauma unit of the hospital, which unfortunately made her voice turn into a kindergarten teacher whenever she was taking care of him.

“I’m fine. Please don’t bother.” Ren backed away but stepped on Jolin’s foot, which had her turning around and backing into his mom. She was like a caged animal.

He took her shoulders and leaned in. “She isn’t going to let us get anything done until she looks at your hand. Let’s go in the kitchen and get something to drink and snacks for studying.” He directed her through the entryway and into the kitchen then settled her on a stool by the counter.

“Really I’m fine,” she repeated.

Jolin’s mom appeared with a first aid kit while he headed for the fridge.

“It looks like it’s pretty clean so I’ll just put some peroxide on it to kill any extra germs. His mom set a towel under Ren’s had and poured the liquid over her opened knuckles.

“Holy shit,” Ren yelled and yanked her hand away. When she realized she cussed in Jolin’s mom’s face, she turned bright red. Stuttering, she tried to apologize. “I am so sorry… it just sort of flew out. I’m sorry.” Her gaze went from his mom back to Jolin. He couldn’t help it, and he started to laugh. His mom joined in and pretty soon so did Ren.

“Don’t worry. Jolin can be pretty colorful when he wants to.” His mom pulled Ren back to the stool and used a cotton ball to dab at the cuts, blowing on the wound. Jolin rolled his eyes and began to get some chips and popcorn ready for studying.

“So, what are you guys studying?” Mom started her casual quest for information.

“We’re lab p-p-partners.” Jolin cringed when Ren sent him a distressed look over his mom’s shoulder. “For b-b-biology.”

“Are you staying for dinner? I’d love to have you.”

“I don’t want to intrude.” Ren lifted her hand so his mom could wrap clean bandages around.

“I love meeting Jolin’s friends. It’s spaghetti night, and I always make too much.” She chuckled to herself.

“We end up eating it for the n-n-next week,” Jolin agreed and wrapped an arm around his mom in a half hug. “It’s a sure fire way to get Dad to stop by though.”

Jolin’s mom smiled. “That it is. He runs by on Tuesdays to get my famous spaghetti and check in on Jolin. But I can send left overs home with you this time.” My mom brightened at the thought of feeding another. “There. All better.” Mom patted Ren on the shoulder and went to the cupboard, pulling out a pan to start dinner. “Ren.” She hummed to herself. “What’s your last name?”

“Diaz.” Ren stood and grabbed her book bag from the floor. She shot Jolin another look, pleading with him to save her from his mom.

He smiled, but didn’t move to help out. Maybe his mom could get more information from her.

“Serenity Diaz,” Jolin offered but regretted it almost instantly when he saw the pained expression on Ren’s face.

“I prefer Ren.”

He could almost hear the wheels in Mom’s head spinning.

He decided to help her out a little more. She knew something but was having trouble pulling the memory out. “We went to elementary school t-t-together.” Jolin grabbed the bowl of chips and soda and lightly pushed Ren out the door toward the living room.

From inside the kitchen, he heard his mom’s soft voice. “Oh. Serenity Diaz.”

He’d track her down later to figure out what she remembered.

Serenity

Monday, October 21

4:00 p.m.

It was clear Jolin’s mom was trying to figure out where she knew Ren from.

Ren knew.

Ren figured it was easier for her to remember an already grown woman than it was for Jolin’s mom to try and place an eight year old, nine years later. Ren’s hair was blonde and stringy back then. Lacking the rainbow of colors she enjoyed now. Not to mention her black eyeliner, piercings, and tattoos. But the name would ring a bell soon enough. Names drugged out hippies choose for their kids tended to stick in peoples’ heads.

Ren appreciated the kindness she showed when she fixed her hand. She was equally kind helping Ren in the hospital all those years ago. She sat with her during the exam… and after, when the cold policewoman asked Ren questions she didn’t understand. His mom held her hand and tried to explain what the police wanted.

Ren shouldn’t have punched Quill the other day. She knew better. Punches always left her in more long term pain than him. This certainly wasn’t the first time they’d had a knock down drag out fight and probably wouldn’t be the last.

Jolin placed a laptop on the coffee table in front of them and slid to the floor, situating the drinks on each side of the computer and the chips on the floor next to him.

“C-c-come on I’ll introduce you t-t-to the Orangutans.” He tugged at her pant leg. “Come on.”

Ren slid to the floor next to him. The computer screen lit up, and he scrolled through some sites until he found what he was looking for. Then he grabbed his soda, a handful of chips, and settled in. She glanced over then grabbed her own drink. She rarely drank soda. Water was free. So was the coffee at The Perk. The bubbles reminded her of a time Quill and she shared a Coke on the front porch of a visitation house. Initially they’d been placed in different foster homes, but they were brought together a few times a month.

Jolin nudged her with his shoulder, breaking her daydream. “That’s Chen Chen. He’s my favorite. He looks after the little one.”

“They’re cute.”

“Yeah but don’t be tricked by their looks. Pay attention to the system they have. They were released into a sanctuary after being raised by humans. Now the research team is watching to see if on their own they can develop a hierarchy. A system from scratch.”

She couldn’t help but smile. Jolin hadn’t stuttered once when talking about the monkeys.

He glanced at her, looked away then snapped his head back to stare at her. ‘You’re smiling.”

Ren’s smile slid away at his words. She brought the can to her lips and turned her attention back to the show.

“You’re exquisite when you smile.”

“You want Elizabeth back. Don’t be dragged down by the peasants.”

Jolin frowned and turned back to the computer screen.

Ren closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn’t get compliments very often. In fact the last one she got was from Brock on her excellent blow job abilities. Usually compliments were followed by requests. She held his words tight. Hoping he wouldn’t disappoint her and ask for something in return. Nice words came at a high price. But he didn’t say anything more. Except to ramble on about the orangutans.

After three episodes, Jolin’s mom finally called them to dinner.

They had a small dining room between the kitchen and the living room. Plates were set out and silverware was neatly lined up on napkins. The smell took her breath away. She hadn’t eaten a real meal since her grams died. In fact, she hadn’t really eaten since the hamburger Jolin bought her the other day.

“Sit. Sit.” Jolin’s mom ushered them to the table. Jolin sat across from her and his mom sat at the head of the table. Plates were passed around and his mom piled noodles and meat sauce on her plate along with garlic bread. Quill would die for this meal. He loved garlic bread. She’d barely taken her first bite when his mom dropped the first bomb.

“Did you call to let your mom know you were staying? I’d hate to have her worried about you.” She spun noodles on her fork.

Ren swallowed then answered. “She won’t worry.”

“Ren’s a t-t-twin.” Jolin happily added information to the conversation.

“Oh really. What’s
his
name?” Ren could hear the effort in her voice. She was trying hard to keep our secret.

“Quill.” Ren was losing her appetite.

“Tranquillity,” Jolin piped in. Ren shot him a nasty look, but he was oblivious to what he was doing to her insides. “Weird huh.” He shrugged.

“My mom was a little eccentric.” She tried to smile, but it froze before it made it all the way to her cheeks.

Jolin met Ren’s stare from across the table and winked at her. He must have noticed the strain on her face because he stopped adding information to her resume. She hoped he understood how uncomfortable he was making her.

Dinner conversation moved to their project, and the opportunity to talk about orangutans made Jolin’s face light up. He was extremely passionate about these animals.

Jolin’s mom smiled easily and really listened to him when he talked. Ren didn’t say much through the meal, she was enamored by the banter between Jolin and his mom and the connection they had. Finally, Jolin stood and gathered their plates. “Mom c-c-cooks I d-d-do the dishes. That okay with you?”

“Yeah. I’d be happy to help.” Ren was eager to pay her back for the food in a much more conventional way than Brock required.

“While you two clean up, I’ll wrap some of the leftovers for you to take to your brother. Then I need to get ready for work.” She leaned into Jolin and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “It was nice meeting you Ren. I’d love to have you over again.”

“Thank you for everything, Mrs. Daniel.” Ren’s words held more appreciation than his mom would ever know.

Jolin cocked his head toward the kitchen. She followed.

He filled the sink with soapy water, immersing the plates in the suds. “W-w-want to wash or d-d-dry?”

Jolin’s sleeves were pushed up to his elbows and hidden under the warm water. Absently Ren ran her hand over her covered knuckles. “I better dry.”

“Yeah you shouldn’t get the b-b-bandage wet.” He smiled over his shoulder and went to work.

They didn’t talk much while he washed and she dried. He hummed softly to himself as he scrubbed.

When they placed the last plate on the shelf, she checked her watch. “I have to be at work by eight.”

“Not a p-p-problem. I told you I had you c-c-covered for the night.” Jolin wiped the left over bubbles out of the sink then folded the towels.

“Thank you for c-c-coming.” He leaned his elbows on the counter.

“I need to go.” She started to walk away, but Jolin caught her arm.

“Why are you scared of me?”

Ren snorted. “I’m not scared of
you
,” she lied. She was terrified.

“Yes you are.” Jolin released her. “Let’s g-g-go.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” she repeated, following him. One day he would find out what she’d agreed to do. That’s what she was afraid of.

Jolin

Monday, October 21

7:30 p.m.

They got to The Perk with plenty of time to spare. He parked off to the side of the store front and turned off the engine. “We should d-d-do this again t-t-tomorrow?”

Ren shook her head. “I have to work after school.”

He tried not to show his disappointment. “Are you going to the football game?”

Ren snorted a laugh. “No.” Her response made it sound like he was crazy for asking.

“What? It’s the all-American p-p-pass time.”

“Isn’t that baseball?”

“At our high school it’s the Friday Night Lights. The feel of the c-c-cold air on your face and the b-b-band playing p-p-pep songs. The cheerleaders….” He let his monologue trail off when she shot him a dirty look. “Sorry. I know that’s a sensitive area.”

“They are horrible people. I won’t apologize for saying that. I know you date one of the hellcats.”

“Dated. We aren’t together anymore.”

“Not by your choice.” Ren sighed. She was being a bitch. “I’m sorry she hurt you.”

Jolin shrugged. He wasn’t really sure he was hurt. More like pissed she wanted to use him and probably never really cared about him in the first place. “She didn’t want to feel bad for not caring I got hurt.”

“That’s cold.”

“Yeah. Akeo is helping me see I was just as b-b-bad before the accident. I’m in counseling with him.” Jolin laughed.

“You weren’t that bad.” She tried to sound sincere.

“You aren’t that great of a liar. But thanks for trying.”

“Will you play again?” Ren asked.

He shook his head. “She said she couldn’t date me if I didn’t play. It’s like a rule in the creed of cheerleaders. Said I was ruining her chance at homecoming.”

“I’m sorry. About the football. It means a lot to you.” It started to drizzle.

He shrugged again. He hadn’t talked about his accident with anyone. Elizabeth broke up with him before he even had a chance to process it. “What d-d-doesn’t k-kill you makes you st-st-stronger.”

Ren turned and smiled at him. Not her megawatt smile, but enough of one that his heart felt like it was being squeezed. “Yeah?”

“That’s what they s-s-say.”

“Well sometimes the killing gets a little close. Maybe it would be easier just to give up,” Ren muttered.

“What happened to you Ren?” Jolin whispered.

“Hanging out with me is killing your rep.” Her words surprised him.

She wasn’t going to tell him what happened. He still had his doubts it wasn’t Quill, but she wouldn’t rat him out.

“I d-d-don’t have a rep anymore.”

“But you want it back.” Her gaze flashed up at him, challenging him to disagree.

“Not like I have much choice anymore.”

“But you’d do anything to get it back. You’d do things you knew were wrong to get your place in the school back.” He expected her words to be accusing but instead they seemed to be explaining something, something he wasn’t clear on.

“Yeah. I did. But I don’t want to go there again. It’s better to take what I get and not lower myself to the level needed to pull myself out of social suicide.”

“Yeah. The crowd seems to dole out who’s in and who’s out…who’s the school slut. Who’s not worthy of their time.” She laughed dryly.

He didn’t know how to react to her calling herself a slut. It was one thing to have the cheertators call her one, but another when she embraced it. He never paid attention to the stuff they said. And now he didn’t believe most of it. What they said about him was wrong so he assumed most of their Intel was wrong. Elizabeth spread rumors about his holier than thou reputation because she didn’t want it to get out they were having sex. If his image was tainted, hers would be, too. But it wasn’t him. Jolin wasn’t a troublemaker, but he certainly wasn’t on his way to the priesthood. Everyone thought he was the second coming. At least until the accident.