NOT SO Special: a bay falls high novel Read online

  There were only two times I confronted one of my mother’s boyfriends. And each time my mother paid dearly for it.

  But I felt different now.

  Just knowing Hil was nearby…

  I put my finger in Chester’s face as his eyes went wide.

  “What the fuck did you do to her?” I yelled. “I swear if you caused this, I will kill you.”

  “Belle,” Jo said to me. “Take a breath.”

  “Whoa,” Chester said, showing his hands. “I wasn’t even in the car. I had nothing… whoa…”

  “I don’t fucking believe you,” I said to Chester. “I know how this story goes. Start telling me lies and I’ll start breaking your fingers.”

  Jo cut between me and Chester.

  “I’m going to go get a coffee,” Chester said.

  He slipped away and I stared toward him, my teeth gritted tight.

  “Who is this Belle right now?” Jo asked.

  “I’m tired of it all,” I said.

  “Not the time for this though,” Jo said. “Come on. You can see her. Just stay with me.”

  Jo surprised me when she grabbed my hand.

  When she walked, she did so with purpose and attitude. Anyone who saw her knew her. Nurses and doctors got out of her way. She gave orders and people listened. It was completely fascinating to see.

  She opened the door to a room and nodded to me.

  “She should be awake,” Jo said. “She’s on meds though. She’s not out of the clear yet. She got lucky this time. You have a couple minutes before they take her away.”

  “Away? For what?”

  “Have to keep running tests, Belle,” Jo said. “She’s going to be in here for a few days, at least. There’s internal issues. Just have to make sure it doesn’t turn into anything serious.”

  “Internal…”

  “Trust me,” Jo said. “I’ll do everything I have to do. You’re not supposed to be here. So get in there, give her a damn hug. Gently. Then get out. Before I end up getting into trouble for real.”

  I snuck into the room.

  It didn’t seem like a normal hospital room.

  Something right between a triage room and a hospital room.

  My mother was flat on the bed, her neck looking squished into a position that only allowed her to look up. It was for her own safety though. There were cuts and bruises on her arms. And her face…

  I covered my mouth, swallowing hard.

  “Mom,” I whispered.

  Her eyes instantly fluttered. And opened.

  “Belle.”

  “I’m here. How do you feel?”

  “Like I got into an accident,” she said. She offered a weak smile.

  “What happened…”

  “Lost control,” she said. “Just a bad day.”

  “Bad day? What does that mean?”

  My mother shut her eyes and a couple of stray tears fell down her cheeks.

  “Wasn’t paying attention like I should have been,” she said. “Just lost control. Next thing I knew I was in an ambulance. It was just… so fast… Chester and I were arguing… I left… I…”

  I touched my mother’s hand. “It’s okay. Stop talking if it hurts. Jo is out there. She’s kicking ass for you.” I laughed. “She’ll have you out of here in an hour.”

  My mother tried to smile. “I’m lucky to have her still.” My mother strained her eyes to look at me. “How are you, Belle? Are you okay?”

  Well…

  “I’m perfect,” I said. “I can’t stay in here long. Jo said she could get in trouble.”

  “Okay. I’ll be fine. They’re just running tests. You know doctors. Always worried.”

  “Right,” I said. “Always worried. Just rest and feel better.”

  “Is Chester here yet?”

  “Yeah. He’s out there too.”

  My mother smiled.

  Was this part of a sick game?

  They argue. She crashes her car. Now she’s happy that he’s here…

  I swallowed down every emotion I felt.

  “Let me go talk to Jo again,” I said to my mother.

  Her eyes were starting to shut again.

  I wiped the corners of my eyes as I exited the hospital room.

  Jo was with two doctors.

  Everyone talking in their own doctor language.

  I just stood there.

  Jo saw me and hurried toward me.

  She touched my back. “Looks worse than it is, Belle. She’s going to be fine.”

  “Huh?”

  “So far, all scans are good. Just a lot of bumps and bruises. They’ll take the neck brace off next. Get her into a room for observation. Another round of scans for tomorrow. As long as nothing changes, she’ll be able to leave.”

  “Okay.”

  “That was a nasty accident. They had to draw blood to test for… drugs and booze.”

  “You don’t think…?”

  “I don’t know,” Jo said. “Doubt it. But the way it all looks…” Jo sighed. “I thought the worst when I saw the pictures. That’s why I texted you. I could have waited.”

  “No,” I said. “I’d be pissed at you then.”

  “Okay. Good. Speaking of pissed… remember our conversation about being stupid?”

  I felt my face turning red.

  Jo’s face went from stoic and doctor-ish to mean bitch.

  “About how I got here,” I said.

  “Yes.”

  “I…”

  I wasn’t sure how to explain Hil.

  “Just do me a favor. Get them and get out of here, okay? I’ll keep you posted on your mother, if anything changes. There’s no reason for you to hang around here anyway. And I hate to say this, but she’s got her boyfriend here. She’s the same Michelle as always.”

  I nodded.

  In other words, she’s choosing Chester over me. And that’s why you feel guilty for telling me about the accident, Jo. You thought maybe she and I were going to have some bonding moment. Why? So I’d leave your house?

  Those words were chased away when something hit me.

  “Wait,” I said. “You said… Them?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Who…”

  “I don’t know,” Jo said. “There’s three of them waiting for you. I didn’t realize you were bringing bodyguards. And I really hope those aren’t the ones involved in whatever happened with Hagan…”

  Before I could say anything else, Jo turned and started calling out orders again.

  I turned and looked at the room where my mother was.

  I didn’t want her hurt. I definitely didn’t want to go.

  But she didn’t want me there.

  Plus…

  I picked up speed as I ran down the hallway.

  When I turned the corner, I let out a yell.

  And there they were.

  All of Them… waiting for me.

  * * *

  “How is she?” Hil asked first.

  I looked at Uly and Ash.

  They looked pissed.

  Yeah, well I was pissed too.

  “She’s okay,” I said. “She’ll be out tomorrow. Hopefully. That’s what Jo said.”

  “What happened, doll?” Uly asked.

  “Car accident,” I said. “She wasn’t paying attention. She might have been drunk or stoned. I don’t know.” I rubbed my forehead. “Fucking Chester…”

  “Who’s Chester?” Hil asked.

  “Her new boyfriend,” I said.

  “He caused the accident?” Uly asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. She said they had an argument. She left and got into the accident. Of course, she wants him here. That’s how this goes. So he’s waiting down the hall until he’s allowed to be with her. This will be a big moment for them.”

  “That’s fucked up,” Uly said.

  “And you’re sure she’s okay?” Hil asked.

  “That’s what Jo says,” I said. “I have to trust in her, I guess. I just…�
��

  Ash turned and walked away.

  I laughed as tears filled my eyes.

  “Yeah, fuck you too then,” I said.

  “It’s okay, doll,” Uly said.

  He stepped toward me and I put my hand out.

  “I’ll take you back to BFH, beauty,” Hil said. “So you can get your stuff and your car.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Thanks.”

  “I can give you a ride too,” Uly said. “Give you a chance to think. Or shut your eyes.”

  I stepped back.

  Were they competing for me now? Was Uly trying to sell me on getting into his car instead of on the back of Hil’s motorcycle?

  I opened my mouth.

  Then I heard someone scream.

  A man.

  “Help! Help!”

  A thud echoed.

  Uly and Hil looked at each other.

  “Shit,” they said at the same time.

  They ran.

  So I ran with Them.

  Right across from the elevators, there was Ash.

  Holding Chester against the wall, lifting him off his feet.

  Chester’s shoulders and neck were crunched up, sweat pouring off his face, his lip bleeding.

  “Take my wallet, man,” Chester said. “That’s cool. Just don’t…”

  Chester looked and saw Uly and Hil.

  “Oh, fuck,” he whispered.

  That’s when I pushed between Uly and Hil.

  “Belle,” Chester said.

  “Shut him up, Ash,” I said.

  Ash jammed his right fist into the bottom of Chester’s jaw.

  That made Chester yell, but he stopped talking.

  “You did this to her,” I said to Chester. “And if you ever hurt her again, I’ll let these three do whatever they want to you.”

  “Whoa, wait a second, beauty,” Hil said. “You don’t know what this guy likes. So let me clarify quick. If you do anything to hurt Belle’s mother, we’ll make you disappear.”

  “And nobody will come looking for you,” Uly said.

  “Got that, Chester?” I asked.

  “Fuck. Yes. I didn’t…”

  Ash turned and threw Chester down the hallway like he was a toy.

  He then walked toward Chester.

  Chester kicked back and covered his face.

  But Ash was done.

  He turned the corner and was gone again.

  Ash took the stairs.

  I took the elevator with Uly and Hil.

  Standing between two of Them.

  Biting my lip.

  Missing the third one of Them.

  Wanting all of Them.

  three

  My mind wouldn’t stop playing what Ash had done.

  I spoke.

  He took action.

  It was that simple.

  And there wasn’t an ounce of hesitation from him either.

  As Hil and Uly kept asking questions, Ash turned and went to find Chester.

  The sight of him holding Chester by his shirt, off his feet, not saying a word, spoke louder than anything…

  I had a shitty night of sleep.

  The expensive coffee didn’t help either.

  And neither did Jo’s note she left on the counter.

  Your mother is doing well. Will get released today. Lots of rest in her future. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll handle it on the $ side.

  I still couldn’t figure Jo out either.

  One second she was telling me she wasn’t my mother, friend, caretaker, blah, blah, blah and then the next second she was bailing my mother out of personal stuff.

  I left the house and went to face another day at BFH.

  Today Uly was waiting for me like he always did.

  Standing on the curb, smoking a cigarette, sunglasses hiding the truth in his dark eyes.

  I pulled into the parking spot and Uly flicked his cigarette away and walked away.

  I sighed. “Fucking great. Nice to see you too.”

  Apparently I was still supposed to make a decision.

  Who to choose.

  Again… for what?

  Then I had what Lizzy wanted me to do.

  And with Danica supporting the idea, it really started to make some sense.

  Break into Principal Werthwood’s office and get their files.

  It was sort of hard to believe there would be anything in the files that would be worth the risk… but…

  I swallowed hard.

  The band. The music. The necklaces. The rings. Penelope.

  Ash… his mother…

  If all of that was in the files, then it was definitely worth the risk.

  I sighed as I climbed out of the car and went into the building.

  Lizzy and Danica were waiting for me at my locker.

  Lizzy hugged me.

  Danica just stared.

  “Sorry about your mother,” Danica said.

  “She’s fine,” I said. “She’s going home today. It looked worse than it was.”

  “Are you sure?” Lizzy asked. “That’s scary.”

  “I’m used to it,” I said. “And… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you both. I mean, right away. It all happened so fast. I was expecting the worst. But…”

  “But you had Them,” Danica said.

  “It wasn’t like that at all. Hil kind of appeared…”

  “And then Uly and Ash did the same,” she added.

  I looked at Lizzy for support.

  There was none to get.

  “I know,” I said. “I didn’t expect to see Them.”

  “That’s the point,” Lizzy said. “That’s what they’re going to do to you. That’s why you should do what I said.”

  “I’m thinking about it,” I said. “Do you know… never mind. I’ll figure this all out. I didn’t expect to get a text from Jo about my mother. Okay? I swear I had nothing to do with Them showing up.”

  “You said she’s going home today?” Danica asked.

  “Yeah,” I said.

  “Are you going to visit or whatever?” Lizzy asked.

  I shook my head. “She doesn’t want me there. Just… it’s a disaster. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  “That’s fine,” Danica said. “We better get going.”

  The last g on going broke off. She grabbed for Lizzy’s hand.

  Lizzy looked flustered.

  Danica and Lizzy turned and walked away.

  I lowered my head and sighed.

  They were pissed at me and I didn’t completely understand why.

  I turned and let out a gasping yell as someone was right behind me.

  Ash.

  Which explained why Danica grabbed Lizzy and bolted so fast.

  I looked up into his amber eyes.

  Silent.

  Tall.

  Those tattooed arms…

  Driving. Me. Fucking. Crazy.

  But his eyes.

  “Ash… I…”

  He turned and walked away.

  He cut down the closest hallway and was gone.

  And I stood there alone, listening to the bell ring, letting me know I was late too.

  Which seemed so fucking fitting for my life.

  Too late for everything it seemed.

  But in a way, that made me completely fucking free.

  * * *

  “Are you okay, Belle?” Miss Whitaker asked as she reached for my hand.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Your mother…”

  “Complicated.”

  “Alive?”

  “Yes.”

  “I heard…”

  “Let me guess. Ulysses.”

  Miss Whitaker nodded. “He never tells me those kinds of things. I may have pestered him a little. You left in such a hurry, I was worried.”

  “You owe me one.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You snooped,” I said. “My turn to snoop.”

  “About?”

  “You and Uly had an argument i
n here. I saw it.”

  Miss Whitaker stood up. “Not going to happen, Belle.”

  “Why not?”

  She walked to the window.

  She didn’t answer me.

  “I also heard you used to read poetry,” I said. “So what was it for you? Poetry? Stories? Novels?”

  Miss Whitaker looked back at me. “Who are you right now? Questioning me?”

  “You pried into my personal life,” I said. “Through Uly. What the fuck?”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  “Come on, Lake…”

  “Using my name against me now? That’s cold.”

  “Don’t let me down,” I said.

  Miss Whitaker walked back to her desk. She sat down. “I did a little of everything, Belle. I had a collection of essays that got the attention of some big name agents. My plan was going to be to get into novels. But things changed. After the essays, I went the poetry route. It was freeing. Fun. I had some money and I did what I wanted. Yes, I read poetry. I went to every open mic event I could find. My first book did okay. The second one never really came to me. And when I tried to switch to novels, it was all but too late.”

  Miss Whitaker turned her head and looked to the window again.

  She tightened her lips and swallowed hard.

  “As far as Ulysses goes, he was right,” she said. “I was seeing someone and it didn’t work out. I let it go too far in my head than what reality said it was. That’s the heart of a writer for you, I guess.”

  “And Uly got mad at you?”

  “He means well,” Miss Whitaker said as she looked at me again. “That’s the heart of someone who lost a lot and doesn’t want to lose even more.”

  “You two looked really mad at each other.”

  “Rightfully so,” she said. “He was mad that I didn’t listen. I was mad that he couldn’t understand that I was hurting a little.”

  “I’m sorry that happened to you,” I said. “That Brendan wasn’t who you thought. Sucks when that happens.”

  Miss Whitaker laughed. “Look at us. Like old friends. Talking shit on guys.”

  “I haven’t said a thing bad. I’m not involved with anyone.”

  “Right,” Miss Whitaker said. “Right.” She leaned back in her chair. “So, how’s the ten pages coming along?”

  “Fine.”

  “Liar. You haven’t even started looking.”

  “But they’re there.”

  “Write something for me right now,” Miss Whitaker said.

  “You do the same,” I said.