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2
Dean
“Yo, Parker, I need a favor,” I yell after one of my brothers, just as he throws his leg over his bike.
“You’re friends with some of the dipshits in this hell hole. I need information, and I need it like yesterday,” I tell him, determined.
“Alright, man, what kind of information?” he asks curiously. I knew he would agree, even not knowing the favor I need. We would all do the same for each other.
“I need to find out who was in the art room last night or early this morning. Someone messed up a painting, and I want to know who the fuck it was,” I say, throwing my leg over my own bike.
“Since when did you start taking art?” he asks me, confused.
“I didn’t. Can you get me the information or not?” I ask, not wanting to explain why the fuck I need it.
I know if I tell him, the whole fucking group will know and be ribbing me for it within the next hour. Sometimes they're worse than chicks when it comes to this kind of shit.
“Yeah, I’ll ask around. See what I can find out. You coming to the clubhouse?” he asks me, cranking his bike.
“Nah, I need to cool off. I’m going for a ride. Then I need to head home and check on my mom. I’ll see y’all out there later, though,” I tell Parker as he gives me that look that says, ‘why do I bother.’ Parker and the rest of my brothers can never understand why I keep checking in on my mom the way I do. As usual, I ignore his expression as I start my bike and pull out.
We go our separate ways, and I ride around for hours just needing to think and dreading going home. I try to push thoughts of Rissa and what happened today to the back of my mind. I’ll have more than enough time to sort all of that out later when I get to the clubhouse. Right now, I need to focus on that damn trailer and what I might walk into.
I wasn’t kidding when I told Parker that I needed to check on my mom. Even though she’s been a shitty mother my whole life, she doesn’t deserve to get beaten on by that asshole. For as long as I can remember, not only would my dad beat me for just existing, but I would also come to my mother's defense whenever he started swinging his fists toward her.
When I was younger, I always hoped that she would stop the drugs and realize what he was doing to both of us and just leave him. That never happened. There were days she would just sit there and watch while he beat on me. On really bad days, she would actually laugh while it was happening. Never once did she do anything to stop it. The only reaction I ever saw from her growing up was her anger when she ran out of money to buy more drugs. I stopped hoping that she would end the violence and leave him just like I’ve stopped hoping that she loves me. A real mother would never sit back while her child was being abused.
When it gets dark, I finally head back toward the trailer park. If I'm lucky, I just need to get in and get out without confrontation and make sure she’s still breathing. As much as she doesn’t deserve it, I won’t change who I am. The minute I step into the trailer, just like every other time, it starts.
Fucking great. So much for wishful thinking.
“You think you can just come and go into my house as you fucking please, boy?” my dad starts in.
“Look, I just need to grab some clothes. Stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours,” I tell him, walking toward my room.
He must not have had much to drink today because he rushes at me on somewhat steady feet. He pulls his arm back like he’s going to hit me, but I’m not ten years old and helpless anymore. To his surprise, I dodge the oncoming hit easily as I rear my head back and head-butt him square in the nose. He goes down hard while holding his face and rolling around the dirty living room floor.
“You fucker, you broke my nose,” he yells as blood seeps through his fingers.
“I told you to stay out of my fucking way. You won’t ever lay a fucking hand on me again,” I growl down at him.
“I want you fucking gone. Out of my house. You will never step foot in here again, or I’ll shoot you between the eyes. Should have gotten rid of you when I had the fucking chance,” he says, still rolling around the floor.
I don’t bother responding. I head to my room, gather what little things I have in there, and leave without another fucking word. I’ll stay at the clubhouse as long as it takes just to get out of this fucking dump and make it to graduation. When I make it to the clubhouse, I notice everyone is there except Alec as Joey and Landon head out.
“Hey, brother, we’re heading home if you need anything. We have to work tomorrow after school, so we’ll see you later,” Joey says, walking out into the woods, his brother right behind him.
I head to the very back of the clubhouse, where I have my own little area set up with a cot. I’ve spent more nights sleeping here than I can count. For years, I’ve been coming here and spending more nights than I ever spent at home in that shitty trailer. At least here, I get a decent night’s sleep compared to that hell hole. I’m tired and ready for this day to be over. All my brothers have seen the look on my face in the past. They can all tell that they need to just leave me be. I know as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’ll be out like a light. Surprisingly, that’s not the case, and I can’t stop my mind from racing.
The minute I close my eyes, I see her. Beautiful Rissa—short stature, brown hair, glasses, and a paint-stained apron. It shouldn’t be sexy, but to me, it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. No reason to fight it or deny it. I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that her spell was cast. She’s not exactly someone I ever dreamed of ending up with when my fantasies were going full force, but I sure as fuck am not denying the pull I feel toward her. I finally fall asleep, only to dream of Rissa and her cute scowl with that intensely focused look on her beautiful face.
The next day I get to school early for the first time in, well, ever. After a dream-filled night with my beauty, it seems I have a new mission in life. I woke with a new determination; I knew in my gut and heart that I needed to find and protect Rissa. If anyone so much as looks at her wrong, I swear I’ll kill them. My first stop is the art room. After what happened yesterday, I assume she spends most of her time there, but it's empty when I peek into the room.
Taking a minute to think about where she could be this early in the morning, I attempt to narrow my search. I decide she’s probably a genius, so that doesn’t leave me many choices. Rissa doesn't just look smart and cute with those glasses on, but she probably is just as smart as she seems. Unfortunately, when I get to the library, she’s nowhere to be seen. The only other place I know to look for her would be in the cafeteria. Classes don’t start for another thirty minutes, so the school halls are basically empty. I’ve heard people like to hang out in the cafeteria before classes, although I wouldn’t know. These days, I’m lucky if I actually make it to my first class on time.
The minute I walk into the cafeteria, my eyes find her. She’s sitting at a table near the farthest back wall, curled in on herself. After taking a moment to assess the situation, I know why. Standing over her is Eric Wilson, one of the football jocks, and two of his buddies. I can’t hear what they're saying, but knowing them, it’s something fucking vile. I swear, if they are gearing any of their slurs Rissa’s way, I’m going to murder them all. I storm toward her, not caring that I’m knocking into people the whole way. Right now, my concern and focus are on Rissa. All l I see is her looking down and totally defeated, which makes my blood boil. I hear Lexi say something, but Eric’s next words stop me cold.
“She’s so fucking stupid. This bitch can’t talk to anyone. She can’t even look me in the eye when I talk to her. Fuck, she can’t even fill out this simple form for the prom court. What’s a hot piece of ass like you doing hanging around with someone like her?” Eric asks, turning to Lexi.
