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“Thanks. Did you need something? Do I have to give another statement? I’ve told you and the FBI all I know. Plus, the trial is over.”
The sheriff shakes his head. “No, nothing like that.” He exhales a hard breath. “Look, this is hard for me to say.”
My stomach drops. “What is it?”
“We, that’s to say everyone in Reverdale … we think it best if you … got out of town for … for our safety.”
I blink, then blink again. “What?”
“Look, these bikers, they’ve been scaring the citizens and we’ve been getting calls. People are scared.”
I shake my head in incredulity. “But you’re the sheriff. Can’t you tell those bikers not to come back? Kick them out of town?”
“No, I can’t. They haven’t broken any laws.”
“Uh, what about fucking loitering?” I ask with attitude.
He shakes his head again. “That gets a ticket at the most. And they seem to realize that because they don’t loiter where they can get ticketed.” He blows out another breath. “I’m up against the wall here, Finn. I’m up for reelection in a few months. I have to show everyone I’m doing something.”
“Show them you take care of the people who voted for you!” I say, jutting my body forward. “I voted for you! I’m a citizen in this town, Sheriff Tate! What about me?”
He doesn’t say anything, just holds my gaze as if I’m meant to just do what he says and not cause a fuss.
I knew no one would have my back here. They barely did before I was kidnapped, now I’m treated like a pariah. The only people that treated me the same are Gordon and Sy. Other than the fucking reporters and my new biker friends, no one has come to visit me. Sy came by when I got back initially, but she had to work, and I don’t fault her for that. She tried. No one else though.
Sheriff Tate must see the panic on my face because he says, “Hey, I have a few favors with some people. I can see if I can get you into a program, somewhere safe until you can figure something out.” He looks towards the window, where there’s sure to be a biker.
“No. It’s fine. I got myself into this right?”
The sheriff shrugs, like I really did ask to be abducted. “At least let know me when you’re heading out. I can drive you to the edge of town, make sure you’re safe.”
Yeah, because that would do me some good. If the bikers mean to hurt me, they’ll just wait until no cops are around to do it. “I’ll be fine. I have a few friends in St. Louis I can call to stay with. They’ll keep me safe.”
He looks relieved and that pisses me off. I cover my anger with a fake smile and stand up, signaling I’m done with his company. “I’ll be out of your hair in no time.” That was one last dig since Sheriff Tate has been balding and wears this terrible toupee. His face turns red, but he just dips his head and leaves.
Guess I have to get packed.
Two days later, everything I want to take with me is packed into the back of my car. The rest, I leave. My mother can take care of it. Not like she’s doing anything else.
I stop by Sy’s salon to tell her goodbye. She cries on my shoulder, telling me she’ll give me one last cut on the house. “I heard about Sheriff Tate running you out of town. Not everyone complained to him.”
“You didn’t complain,” I correct her as I take a seat in her chair. I’m sure the entire town clutches their pearls when they hear that chopper engine coming down the street, those angry looking bikers infiltrating this small, idyllic town.
She sighs and finishes my cut. “I’ll miss you, Finn.”
“I’ll miss you too. I’ll be right in St. Louis. If you’re up for it, visit one weekend.” I say this, but I know she won’t. I’m pretty sure her boyfriend is one of the people that complained to the Sheriff and he’ll put his foot down on her visiting. Not to mention she has a salon to run. It’s safe to say I’ll lose touch with the only friend I’ve had in Reverdale for years.
Getting into my car, I huff a laugh, not knowing how to feel right now. It’s been a long time coming, me leaving Reverdale. I should have done it years ago. I wish I had left on my own accord, not because I was basically told to get the fuck out before we’re overrun with bikers. It’s bullshit, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Either I leave, or the people here will drive me out. They already hate me and treat me like shit because I’m gay. I can only imagine how insufferable they’ll be when they think they’re in danger because of some bikers hanging around.
The people here don’t like change. Seeing bikers riding around every day for months when we would see maybe one a year is a change they can’t sit with. Especially being seen because the town’s only gay kid decided he would be nice to a stranger that looked like a criminal and the stranger was an actual criminal that kidnapped him. If you let them tell it, it’s because of how I flirted with him that he kidnapped me. If I wouldn’t have been forward, he would have let me go. Even though I didn’t flirt with Rax.
Much.
Shaking away that thought, I back out of my spot and aim my car towards the highway. Just before I turn off onto the exit, I toss my cell out of the window, getting rid of my last tie to Reverdale.
The drive is long. I have to keep myself busy with the radio—since I tossed my phone and don’t have my playlists—checking my printed directions and going over my next move in my head. I just need to get to where I’m going, then I can go from there.
I don’t reach my destination until well after midnight, but the lights are still on. I really regret throwing my phone out of the window, because I didn’t get a chance to tell him I was on my way. Not sure how me popping up will go over, but there’s nothing I can do about that now.
