Desolate (Riverband #2) (16 page)

I had a slight concussion, but after my dad assuring them that he’d keep me up and watch me closely they agreed I could go home. I hurt everywhere. However, in a few minutes I probably wouldn’t feel anything. Not with the medicine they just gave me. “Daddy, is Garrett okay?” I asked quietly.

Havock hadn’t been allowed in. Only dad, and if he hadn’t been the Mayor, they wouldn’t have let him in or have allowed him to take me home this soon.

“Garrett is fine. Just going to be sore and bruised up.” A tear fell down his cheek. “How did you two survive that, Reese?”

“I think my powers saved us,” I whispered. “I think that’s why I’m so drained.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “There was a witch there, dad. That’s what caused the wreck. He was in the road and he threw power at us. It’s what flipped the truck.”

“We’ll discuss that later. I will call your mother’s father. I haven’t spoken with him in years, but under the circumstances, I’m sure he’d like to help.”

I was confused.  He always told me my grandfather was dead.

“I don’t want to think about the fact that he’s alive right now. Can we just go eat and discuss all this when my meds kick in?” I asked as I got off the bed. “And after I see Havock. Please?”

Dad sighed heavily then nodded.  “Alright.”

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you, daddy.”

HAVOCK

I waited at the entrance doors for someone to come tell me how Reese was. They wouldn’t let me in with her.

Her dad came out and scowled at me. “I’m letting you give her a ride to the house. She has a concussion so you can’t let her fall asleep. They gave her meds that are making her tired but she’s to stay awake.”

I nodded and avoided looking at him.

“I’ll pay you to stay away from her. I know you want out of Riverbend. Name your price,” he said quietly so no one would hear.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten. I took a deep breath and thought about Reese instead of punching him in the face for saying that.  I wasn’t in the state of mine to deal with bullshit.

My dad came over and started talking to him, thankfully.

Reese came out and smiled softly at me. She had bruises on the parts I could see of her chest and her neck.  She also had a bandage on her head and her eyes looked glazed. “Hey.”

I hugged her carefully. “Hey,” I whispered into her hair.

Garrett walked out and mom and dad flocked to his side.

I pulled away from Reese and walked over to Garrett. I hugged him.

“Whoa, is Havock Satterly giving his big bro a hug?!” Garrett laughed.

“Don’t get used to it.”

Garrett nodded towards Reese. “Get her home. She needs to rest.”

I told dad I’d be home later.  I was still having a hard time talking to mom.  I then helped Reese out to my truck.

When we got to her house, I helped her to the couch and sat beside her.

Her dad sat annoyingly close in the chair beside the couch.

“Dad what about that dinner?” Reese asked pointedly.

“Ordered pizza.” Mayor Johnson smiled.

“Dad. I could always go to my room and lock the door or you could give us a few minutes. I’m too sore to do anything,” she said with the same mock smile.

He groaned and stood. “Half hour.” He then walked out of the room.

Reese looked at me seriously. “How are you?”

I played with her fingers and shrugged. “Not in the mood to talk about it. I’m still trying to figure out how you and Garrett made it out of the wreck alive.”

“I think I did it. But I’m not for sure. It’s all a haze.”

“Whatever happened, I’m glad it did.”  I kissed her softly. “I couldn’t lose you or Garrett.”

“I love you, Havock.”

I tried to smile, but I couldn’t. How could she truly love a guy who was so bad a girl would abort his baby just to not have to deal with him? I felt sick to my stomach. “Love you too, Princess.”

I stood. “I need a cigarette.”

She grabbed my hand. “Havock,” she said, looking into my eyes.

“Reese, let me go,” I said through a clenched jaw.

She nodded and let my hand go. She tried to hide the hurt with a soft smile.

I went outside and texted Jude to let him and Selena know how Garrett and Reese were.

After I smoked I went back inside.

Reese looked like she was asleep on the couch.

I went over and touched her face. “Princess, wake up. You can’t sleep.”

Her eyes opened slowly. “But I’m so sleepy.”

“But the doctor said no sleeping.”

I moved hair out of her eyes and kissed her forehead.

“Then why’d they give me medicine that makes me sleepy? That’s stupid,” she slurred as she tried to keep her eyes open.

“To take away the pain.”

She scrunched her eyebrows. “What pain?” She smiled at me then touched my face. “You’re sexy.”

I laughed. “You’re drunk.”

“But I don’t drink.” She tilted her head at me. “I like your ass,” she whispered then giggled.

“And I like yours.” I rubbed my nose against hers. “You’re my saving grace, Princess. Only you could make me smile when I’m pissed beyond belief.”

“And you’re my knight in a little dented armor. My Prince Charming. The only one who makes my life mean anything.”

“Some bitch murdered my baby,” I said before I could stop myself. We were having a moment, and I was ruining it. “Am I that bad? What is it that you see in me that no one else does?!” Tears burned my eyes.

“No, you are amazing! You tell people the truth no matter what. You protect those you love and fight for what you want.” She cupped my face. “And that girl is a coward. She used you as an excuse not to take responsibility.”

“Do you know who she was?”

I shook my head. “No, and I think it’s better we don’t. We can’t change what she did. No matter how much we wish we could.”

I thought about everyone I had been with.

“I’m gonna find out.”

She sighed. “I know.” She ran her hand through my hair. “I’ll help.”

I kissed her as the doorbell rang.

“Pizza!” Her dad said too happily as he walked to the front door.

She groaned. “I just want privacy,” she whispered.  She went to move then stopped. “I’m too numb to move.”  I helped her sit up.  She put her hand to her head and moaned. “I don’t like how I feel.”

I laughed. “And I love the way meds like that make me feel. Too much.” That caused her to give me a sour look. I smiled a little. “You’re so cute when your face gets all scrunched up when you get mad.”

Her dad came in with plates and sat in-between us.

~~~

Her dad let her walk me out to my truck.  I laughed.  If that man only knew the things I’ve done to his daughter in this truck.  I messed with my lip ring while I let my Princess get lost her thoughts.  I almost interrupted her but she looked peaceful, like she was figuring out her life.  There was something about the cool breeze at night and being under the stars that made her start thinking.

I sat on my hood and lit a cigarette. I looked at the new tats I acquired while she was gone.  I was covered.  My arm, legs, shoulder. . .I looked at her when she looked at me.

She traced one of the tattoos that was peeking through a hole in my jeans. “I think I want one.”

I laughed.  “Where?”

“On the back of my right shoulder.” She looked up at me.

I pulled down her shirt just enough to look for a good spot.  I touched it with my finger.  “Here?”  I kissed it.

Little goose bumps appeared on her skin and she shivered a little. “A little lower.” Her voice had taken on a different tone than before.

I smiled a little and pulled her shirt completely off her shoulder.  I kissed lower.  “There?” I whispered.

“Ummm...maybe...maybe not.” Her voice had turned into a purr.

It was so hard to hold back when I was near her.  It only took one look for her to completely consume me. I smiled.  “Be good, Princess. Daddy is watching out the window,” I whispered against her ear.

She groaned. “I don’t want to be good.” She turned in my arms and her eyes locked on mine. “I’m freakin’ eighteen years old. I don’t care anymore. I miss you so much.”

I finished my cigarette and flicked it onto the pavement.  I looked at Reese.  I searched her eyes for any doubt about us.  There wasn’t any.  I wondered if she could see any in mine.  How the moment I saw my mom with another man, it shattered all of my hopes that true love really existed.  Anger overflowed inside, and I couldn’t shake it. 

I slid off my hood.  “I need to go home.”  I did it again. I let my feelings get to me, and I shut down on her.  But I needed to go.  I couldn’t tell Reese what my mom had done.  She looked up to her. 

Reese grabbed my hand stopping me from getting into my truck. “Havock, talk to me. Tell me what’s going on?” She looked at me worriedly. “Are you getting bored with me? I could change some things up.”

Bored? Princess was delusional. “I have homework,” I lied.

She let go of my hand and hurt flashed across her face. “All right.”

I kissed her but she didn’t kiss me back.  “Love you.”  I looked at Mayor Johnson who was now on the porch.  “Night, Mayor.  Promise I won’t partake in any shenanigans tonight.”

“Go home, Havock.”  He shook his head and I caught him laugh a little.

“Love you, too,” Reese whispered before going inside.

REESE

I fingered the necklace I had made for Havock as I waited by his truck. We hadn’t talked since last night. I knew something was wrong, but I wasn’t going to push him to talk to me. When I pushed, it just locked him up more and pushed him further away from me. I looked down at the necklace I held in my hand. It had a shield on it that had the words, “My Prince Charming and Knight in somewhat dented armour.”

He was my prince charming, my world even when he wasn’t really talking to me. I rubbed my eyes as they began to burn. The several nights of no sleep were catching up with me. I sat on the tailgate of Havock’s truck and smiled when he walked over to me.

“Hey, sexy.” I knew my smile wasn’t as bright as it could be, but I was worried about Havock and tired. Really tired. Plus, between the comments that the other students had made and my three art pieces being messed up by someone, I wasn’t in the mood to fake a smile.

“Hey.”  He kissed me.  Here lately we’ve both been having to force smiles.  “Does your dad still think you’re out with real friends and not me?”

I scoffed. "No, he knows I'm with you. We got into a huge fight about it." I shrugged. "I don't really care anymore." I handed him the necklace. "This is for you."

He looked at it and lightly touched the words engraved across it.  He tightened his fist around it and smiled.  A real one.  “Thank you.”

I ran my hand through his hair. "No matter what, Havock, I love you and will always love you."

His smiled stuck for a bit but not as long as I wanted or needed for it to.  We got into his truck and he hung the necklace from his rearview mirror.  “What do you want to do before we go to my house for dinner?”

"Well, Garrett wanted us to meet him and J's and hang for a bit, but that wasn't ‘till four." I looked at the clock and saw it was one thirty. All the seniors got out early today. "So..." I tapped my chin. "What to do till four."

He cranked his truck.  “We’ll just go to J’s early.  I’ll text Jude and Selena to meet us there.”  He got out his phone and texted them. He put his truck in drive.  He didn’t make me scoot closer like usual.  He turned up his radio too loud for us to talk over it.

I was so confused and hurt. Which was never a good thing. The radio suddenly changed songs. Weird. I looked at it as “Fuckin Perfect” by Pink started playing.

He looked at it funny then at me.  He turned it down.  “Did you just change that?”  He pointed at his eyes. “With your mind or something?”

I shrugged. “Maybe. I was thinking of that song and how it reminds me of you.”  My control over my powers sucked. I couldn’t use them when I tried and when I did, weird shit like what just happened happens. I looked back out the window.  I heard the shadows whispering to me. I closed my eyes to try and push them away. The song changed again. It changed to an Evanescence song.

Havock slammed his palm against the power button.  It was completely silent except for the roar of his old engine. We pulled up to J’s and Selena and Jude were waiting out front.

I got out without saying anything and hurried inside. I went to a booth and sat down. J came over and sat down across from me. “What’s up? You look depressed.”

I shrugged and looked at the menu. J got up when Havock, Jude, and Selena came over. “So, what do you guys want?” she asked as she took her order book out.

“What do pregnant teenagers usually order?  Do they order weird things or normal things?  You know what?  Just give me something that will make me puke so bad that I puke this parasite inside my stomach out!”  Selena slammed the menu J handed her down. 

J cocked an eyebrow at her. “Too much information, Selena.” She looked at everyone else.

I caught something in Janet’s eyes. She was furious at Selena. I wondered if anyone else saw it or if it was only me. I looked out the window as thunder crashed. “I didn’t know it was supposed to rain today,” I said as I looked back at the menu. “Can I get one of your stuffed burgers?”

Janet nodded. “What do you want in it, Sweetie?”

“Surprise me.” I gave her the menu then looked back out the window as everyone else ordered. There were dark clouds forming. So weird. 

Jude tried to put a comforting arm around Selena, but she shrugged it off.  “Don’t touch me!  I don’t need your sympathy!  And I can’t stand the way you smell!  For the duration of this pregnancy, please don’t wear that cologne!”  Selena scooted further away from Jude.

Jude looked at Havock and I. Selena rolled her eyes.  “Get over it, Jude.  And I’m sure Janet is pissed because Torrid is back in town. Whatever.”  Selena rested her head on her hand.

Havock leaned close to me.  “Torrid Nixon, her brother.”

I scrunched my eyebrows. “Why would she be upset about your brother?”

“Because she’s a stupid bitch.  That’s why.  He goes off to fight for this damn screwed up country and when he got back, she was with someone else.  I almost boycotted this place, but Jude and Havock always find a way to drag me in here.”

Havock was putting salt on the top of his hand and licking it off while he didn’t listen to the conversation. 

“That doesn’t sound like Janet.” I knew she wasn’t an angel, but it didn’t sound like her to be with another guy while with another. I looked towards Garrett as he walked over and sat down.  He was still bruised a little from the wreck. 

Havock never acknowledged that he sat down.  Actually, Havock wasn’t acknowledging anyone.  I looked at Selena when she started to talk again.

“Janet is a bitch who can cook.  Nothing more.”

“Whoa, be careful, Selena.  Janet is Garrett and Reese’s friend.  Respect that,” Jude said.

Selena started playing with a straw instead of answering him.

“Maybe I should go sit with my other friends,” Garrett said as he took the salt shaker away from Havock.

Janet came over and put our food down. She glared at Selena. “Your brother and I broke up before he left. I don’t know what Torrid told you, but I don’t cheat.” She then walked off and went back into the kitchen.

I looked back outside as it started raining. So weird.

~~~

I looked at Havock as we pulled up to his house for dinner. “Havock, can I ask you something?”

“Hmmm?”  He held an unlit cigarette between his lips.

I chewed on my bottom lip. “Are you interested in going to prom with me?”

He took it out of his mouth and never lit it.  He looked at me.  “Sure.”

My face lit up into a bright smile. “Really?” I asked in a squeal.

He shrugged.  “Yeah, if that’s what you want.” He put the cigarette back between his lips.

Before he could light it, I moved so I was straddling his lap. I took the cigarette out of his mouth and kissed him, deeply.

He kissed me, barely, then moved me off his lap.  “We need to go inside.”  He took the cigarette from me and got out of his truck.

Open his glove box, sweetie.  There’s plenty of crack in there to snort.  That’d be an easy death.  An over dose.  Take a peek.  It’s there under all of his college acceptance letters he plans on burning so no one will see he actually applied to some.  Don’t believe me?  Look.  Just a little look.

My hands shook as I actually opened his glove box. I couldn’t stop myself from looking. I looked out the window.  Havock was smoking a cigarette with his back to me.  I moved around some envelopes.  Harvard, Princeton, Berkeley. . .I swallowed hard when I saw the crack.  There.  In Havock’s truck.  I slammed the glove box shut.

And you thought you could help him.  You’re not helping anyone, Reese Johnson.  You’re dead weight-bringing everyone down with you!

I swallowed hard again and got out of the truck. I walked over to Havock. “You ready to go in?” I asked, my voice shook.

He put his cigarette out and we walked in.  Johanna was putting the plates on the table.  She smiled when she saw me.

“Reese, sweetheart, can you go grab the napkins?”  She asked as she set a plate down where I usually sit.

I helped her finish setting the table, then we all sat down to eat.  Havock put his hand on my thigh under the table which shocked me.  I didn’t expect him to do that with the way he had been acting.

Mr. Rick smiled at Garrett.  “I think it’s pretty awesome that I get to see both my boys graduate on the same day.  I guess it’s good you were a sickly kid and had to repeat a grade, huh Garrett?” 

Garrett shrugged.  “Ummm, sure?”  He laughed. “Pass the corn, dad.”

Johanna smiled at all of us.  “This is nice.  All of us together.”

“Is it mom?”  Havock snapped at her.

I didn’t look at Havock. I had a feeling that whatever had been bothering him was about to come out. I put my hand on top of his and played with his fingers.

Mrs. Johanna wiped her mouth on her napkin.  She went to bring her fork full of food to her mouth but it dropped.  She stared at Havock.

“What is it mom?  Can’t stand the torment of your secret?  Is it eating away at every fiber of your conscience?”

“Havock, not here.  Not now,” She begged.

“Then when, mom?!” He yelled.

She shook her head as tears fell.  Mr. Rick and Garrett looked at her oddly. Mr. Rick took her hand, but she yanked it away.

“Havock, stop!  You’re upsetting her!  Whatever it is can wait until after dinner!”  Mr. Rick yelled.

Havock pushed his plate away and bit his lip as he laughed coldly.  He stood forcefully from his chair.  “Upsetting her?!  You don’t know what upset means!”  He grabbed his head like he was going insane.  “I feel like my fucking brain is about to explode from all of the bullshit!  I can’t take this shit anymore!  Going through the motions like our life is anything less than perfect is getting so damn hard!”

Havock pointed at Mrs. Johanna.  “She’s cheating on you, dad!”

Garrett’s mouth fell open.

I stared at Havock in shock then looked at his family. I looked back at Havock, understanding now why he had been so distant. On top of dealing with my shit, he was having to deal with this as well.

Mr. Rick looked at her.  He was so broken.  “Johan-” He couldn’t even finish her name.

She started bawling.

Havock looked at everyone until bringing his attention back to me.  “I can’t do this anymore.  None of it.”  He stormed out of the house.

I swallowed hard understanding completely. “Garrett, can you give me a ride home?” I asked quietly.

Garrett was in shock.  He finally nodded and stood, clearing his throat. 

We got in his truck.  He didn’t drive.  He just sat there staring at his steering wheel.