Serenity (24 page)

“I’m beginning to think we never have anything under control. My life went to shit with one play in a football game.”

Ren glared at him. “Mine went to shit the day I was born.” She got up and went over to a table with a crusty coffee maker.

“Why do you have a case worker?” Jolin finally asked.

Ren poured some coffee into a paper cup and turned around. Her posture was stiff. It looked like she was getting ready for a fight. “Quill and I were taken away from my mom off and on since we were eight. She signed her rights away when we were about twelve. We are wards of the state. When you screw up, they call your parents. When we screw up, they call the State Department of Kids that have been Screwed Over.”

Serenity

Monday, October 27

7:00 p.m.

When Quill calmed down, the police agreed to release him. Their social worker had to come in and sign a release, since even though their mom was back, she wasn’t a legal guardian. Jolin waited patiently in the waiting room while they went through the paperwork.

Quill and Ren sat next to each other in a cold room too small for the size of table it housed. He had yet to look at her. She knew he was pissed she didn’t tell the police what actually happened.

“I hoped things would be okay with you two after your grandma died. I hadn’t heard anything and the school said your grades are staying up.” Betty, the case worker, flipped through a thick folder that held Quill’s information. An equally thick folder with Ren’s name sat beside it.

“It was. It is. It was a misunderstanding,” Ren said quickly. She felt Quill’s gaze bore into her.

“You don’t agree?” Betty addressed Quill’s look.

“Everything’s fine,” he finally muttered.

“I wonder how the confrontation was between you and Mr. James, yet it appears Ren somehow got the worst of it.”

“Caught in the crossfire I guess.” Ren shrugged. Ren snuck a look at Quill. His knuckles were split open from punching the man’s face, and he had a swollen lip from the one lame punch the guy had gotten in. They had to make a united front otherwise the system would move them into another foster home. Or more likely a group home. Neither of which they wanted.

“Quill. Mr. James has decided not to press charges. He accepts it was a misunderstanding.” She sighed. “The two of you are almost eighteen. I’d like to get you there without having to put you back in the system. I’ll sign you out. But understand I’m here to help you. I can’t do that if you aren’t telling me everything. I don’t like that you have let your mother back in the house.”

“We didn’t really have a choice,” Ren mumbled.

The case worker looked from Quill to Ren then sighed again when they didn’t offer any more information. “Okay, you guys can go.”

Quill stood up fast, his chair hit the wall behind him, but he couldn’t get out of the room until Ren moved. Her chair and the table boxed him in. He stared her down. Slowly, she looked up at him. Ren’s lip trembled, and her eyes brimmed with tears but they wouldn’t fall. She didn’t cry. “I thought he was…”

“Fuck,” Quill said under his breath before he grabbed Ren by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug. “I know.” Was all he said before guiding her out of the room.

Jolin jumped up when he saw them coming.

“Why is he here?” Quill growled.

“He’s my lab partner?”

“What?” He clenched his teeth and directed the question to Jolin. “Why are you here?”

Ren turned and placed her hands on Quill’s chest. “He’s okay.”

Quill shook his head then pushed past her to get to Jolin. “Daniel.” He nodded.

Jolin nodded back. “Quill.”

“You here for her?” Quill challenged.

“One hundred percent.”

Quill raised an eyebrow, his expression mirrored the expression Ren gave him so often. “Don’t fucking use her, or I’ll kick your ass.”

“Never.”

Quill moved closer, lowering his voice, “Take care of her.”

“I’m trying to, but she’s not easy to convince.”

“Don’t give up on her. She doesn’t think she deserves to be treated with respect.”

“Shut up, Quill,” Ren snapped.

Jolin smiled at her. “I’m hoping to wear her down.”

Quill patted Jolin on the shoulder. “Let’s blow this place.” Quill led the way out the door.

They’d been at the police station for hours and it was dark by the time they left. Ren called work and told Natalie she wouldn’t be in. She checked her watch. She could still make it, but didn’t have the energy to even think about work. Jolin waved his hand out to encourage her to go through the door.

No one spoke in the car. Quill’s energy bounced around and she knew the minute they got home, he would get in his car and either go to his mystery girlfriend’s house or a party. Although it was a week day, so a party might be hard to find. Either way, he was going to get stoned or drunk.

That’s what he did. Bailed on her when she needed him most.

When Jolin pulled into the driveway, Quill hoped out. Ren ran after him. “Quill.”

He stopped, but didn’t turn around. The cold bit into her bare skin. She’d left the blanket lying in the car.

“Quill don’t go.” She touched his arm, but he moved away.

He turned around and ran a hand through his hair. “Look, I get it. I know why you lied, and I know you had to. But our life sucks and it isn’t fair he’s going to get away with it. It isn’t fair you have to live like this.”

“Life isn’t supposed to be fair.” Ren grabbed his shirt sleeve. “Thank you. I know what would have happened if you didn’t show up. If you wouldn’t have been there. Thank you.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. Quill took her in his arms. They were twins, but he was taller than her. He buried his head in her hair. Quill was always quick with hugs and affection. Mom didn’t give love to them, just her boyfriends. Ren tried to make up for it, but physical contact was hard for her.

“I got to go.” His voice was tight. He needed a release, and Ren couldn’t help him.

“Don’t miss school.” She turned on her parent voice.

He waved her off and got in his car. She stood in the middle of the driveway, not sure where to go from there.

“Ren?” Jolin walked up behind her.

She spun around, having forgotten he was there.

“He’s leaving you here alone?” Jolin’s gaze swept over her body covered only in the blood soaked tank. His eyes stopped on her arms.

She pulled her arms around herself trying to conceal her exposed skin, but he’d already seen the scars.

“Jesus, Ren, what happened?” Jolin’s words held a disgust. One she didn’t want to deal with tonight.

Ren looked at her feet, shaking her head, then walked past him toward the house.

Jolin followed. “Hey. Ren.Stop.” He grabbed her, stopping her before she could get in the door and close it in his face. “Ren. You can’t stay here alone. I won’t let you stay here alone”

Her gut clenched at his words. “Go home, Jolin. I’m not in the mood for paying off debts tonight.”

Jolin

Monday, October 27

8:30 p.m.

Her comment confused him at first. Until Brock’s drunken rant at the party connected with their argument in the hallway.

“Shit. Can’t you just accept my help? I don’t want anything from you.” Jolin dropped his hand and walked back down the sidewalk. “Not everyone is a dick.”

Ren stood on the porch, but didn’t take the opportunity to go inside and lock him out, she seemed to waver, not sure what to do.

He turned back to her. “I don’t want to …” He didn’t know how to finish the sentence.

Ren closed her eyes. Her shoulders slumped.

He knew she wanted him to go. To leave her to figure out what to do next. But his feet wouldn’t take him out of her driveway. He wanted to be the one person who wouldn’t desert her.

“You could come in for a little while. Just until I…” she whispered.

“I’ll stay as long as you need me.” Jolin walked past her into the house.

It was a disaster.

“I’d like to say it doesn’t usually look like this but I’d be lying. I stay upstairs.” Ren walked past him.

He followed her, looking back over his shoulder at the mess. There were food cartons and beer cans everywhere, and what he guessed was the remnants of drugs.

Ren went a few steps down the hall and turned into a room. Across the hall was the bathroom. The tile floor was splattered with water and blood. Smears of hand prints were across the wall.

“Scene of the crime?” he asked, cocking his head back at the bathroom.

Ren grabbed the sweatshirt Jolin loaned her and pulled her arms through the sleeves, covering the speckling of scars and bandages exposed by her tank top. She shrugged at him. “Sorry I didn’t have time to clean up.”

She ran her fingers through her hair and tied it in a messy ponytail. The chunk that had been sheared off hung loose in her eyes, too short to reach the band holding the rest of her hair. She kicked off her boots and sat on the bed, pulling her legs into her body while leaning against the wall. “Go ahead and ask.” She yawned.

“Ask what?” Jolin leaned against the door frame trying to keep a safe distance. He wasn’t sure where solid ground was between them.

She waved her hand. “For some reason you’ve been pulled into the shit that comprises my life. I owe you for that. Go ahead. Free questions.”

He shook his head. “You don’t owe me. That’s what lab partners do. It’s like written in the handbook. Page fifty-four I think.” He brought his hand to his chin, tapping it in thought. “Yep article seven.”

Ren’s tiny smile inched at her mouth.

“Are you hungry?”

Ren relaxed and the smile he’d been waiting for finally came. Her eyes were sad, but it was a start.

“Wait, second question. Please tell me you don’t like fruit on your pizza.”

“That isn’t a question.” She giggled a little.

He was in trouble. Any doubt he could keep himself from falling hopelessly in love with this girl was mute. It was too late. She had a hold on his heart and it scared the shit out of him.

“Still requires an answer, so I think it can loosely be defined as a question.” He teased, pulling out his phone. “My treat. What do you want?”

“I’m not really hungry.” She snuggled her feet under the blanket on the bed. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, showing her exhaustion. He couldn’t help himself and moved across the room to where she sat. Her gaze met his, her eyes held so much emotion it tore at his heart. He crawled onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. Pushing her head to his chest, he stroked her back, rocking slightly. At first her body was stiff and tight, but the longer he held her, the more relaxed she became, finally melting into his side. Jolin scooted up and leaned against the wall, pulling her tighter into the crook of his arm, resting his chin on her head.

“So, I’m your stutter cure?” she mumbled into his chest.

“I guess. For some reason my head relaxes around you. Well not always…” He shifted uncomfortably as the thought of their first study date crept back into his head. “You distract me.”

She snuggled into him, her body starting to shake. He didn’t stop his hand from drawing circles on her back. He was afraid if he changed anything, she would pull away. She wasn’t making a sound, but black dots from her tears were appearing down the front of his sweatshirt.

“Fuck,” Ren said into his side. “I don’t cry.” She pushed against him and tried to get up, but Jolin held tight and pulled her into his chest.

“Stop. You’re okay.”

She fought for a second before conceding and letting herself relax again. She pulled the sleeve of the sweatshirt over her hand and wiped it across her face. Sniffing loudly.

“I don’t cry,” she repeated.

“There’s nothing wrong with crying.” Jolin lowered his face into her hair, breathing in her scent. She smelled fresh. Like a stream but girly at the same time.

“Did it hurt?” she asked. “When you got hurt?”

“Hey, I got the free question prize you didn’t.” He chuckled. He tried to calm his body when he moved his arm to pull her closer. This was not the time for her to feel his attraction for her. Sexual contact didn’t scare Ren. From what he’d learned in the last few days, she didn’t hesitate to take a guy’s dick in her mouth…to let herself be used. It was sincere affection she couldn’t handle. Letting him see her vulnerable and exposed was jarring. Ren… without her costume of clothes and make-up was telling. It let him see into her soul. Where he may have questioned her presence in his thoughts before…he now knew walking away from her was not an option.

“You can’t stay here. Come to my house. I’ll get pizza, set you up on the couch.” Jolin rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

“No.”

“I’m not letting you stay by yourself. What if they get out?” He let out a breath. “Wow, it feels so good to just be able to talk.”

Ren scooted to the edge of the bed. “Looks like your cured. Don’t need me anymore.”

“Grab some stuff and let’s go,” He directed her. Then moved to sit behind her, placing a leg on each side, he encircled her in his arms, speaking into her neck. “You’ll always be my cure.”

She froze in his arms.

“Come on. I’m starving.” Jolin let her go and hopped of the bed, clapping his hands. Ren jumped. He softened his voice and kneeled in front of her. “Please come home with me.”

Ren closed her eyes and blew out an unsteady breath. “Just for tonight.”

Ren walked out, leaving him alone in her room. Jolin straightened and looked around. Her room was neat, but the furniture was sparse. He wandered around touching small items that held some importance to her. A few small tattered photographs sat against the window sill. He lifted one to see Quill and Ren standing awkwardly in front of a house. He put it down and picked up another that held an older woman…her grandma maybe. Then he picked up a faded blue rectangle of paper. It was an invitation. He pulled it closer and looked at the date. It was his birthday. He turned it over and saw his name written in a scrawled crayon stroke across the back.

“Holy shit,” he said under his breath. He’d invited her to his tenth birthday party, and she saved the invitation. He stared at the paper—she hadn’t come to his party. It was the day the police came and took her away.