Fourteen

AIDEN

Fuck!

I was so close. So, fucking close.

I had her, in my arms for the entire morning, and just like that – poof!

She's gone. Literally running out the door.

I can't even make it down the stairs before the door swings open and she is rushing out into the yard, making a bee-line for the bus station.

My feet stop at the edge of the stairs of the porch, watching as her figure disappears around the corner, never looking back.

I shouldn't have left the bathroom door. I just wanted to get my phone and try texting Tammy or Scott. I disappeared for 10 seconds, and she was already out the door and running.

Why the hell did I say that? What is wrong with me?

Everything was going perfectly. I had the most mind-blowing night, and the pleasure continued through till morning, when I woke with her in my arms, her soft skin sticking to mine, a reminder of the special night we spent together.

All my hard work had finally paid off; just for me to crush it before we could even have breakfast together. This was supposed to be a weekend for us. Everything went according to plan; I told her my true feelings, she didn't reject them and we actually skipped several steps in my plan.

Why did I have to go and mess it all up?

She was finally telling me her story, and I could feel the trust washing off her and flowing into me as she recalled every detail of the horrendous memories she's endured, all for me.

Of course, I didn't make hiding it easy, but I needed her to tell me, I had to find out what is going on, and see the scars of proof.

But like always, I couldn't keep my anger in check, and I blurted out the first thing on my mind. Though I know I could never get violent with Avery, that doesn't stop my mouth from vomiting hurtful shit when I'm enraged.

After I pace my room a thousand times, I reach for my phone and call Tammy. She is the only person who will listen, and will probably have a solution, or at least an idea of what to do next.

Usually, it takes her 5 seconds to answer her phone, because she's mostly on it. This time, I'm almost certain it's about to go to voicemail when she picks up.

"What do you want?" she asks, her voice having an unusual edge to it.

I take a second to think if I've done something lately to piss her off.

"What's with the tone? You alright?"

She lets out a deep breath. "You're looking for Avery, aren't you?"

Is she seriously psychic? "How the hell do you know that?"

"Because she's here, and we've been talking about you."

Wow, leave it to Tammy to tell you exactly what you need to hear. That soothes the anxiety I've had since she left. Dan could be out there, looking for her, and I know she has that fear in the back of her mind, which twists the dagger already planted in my chest, knowing she ran away with that fear still there.

She would_– rather be anywhere but here.

"Is she okay?" I ask.

"You don't want to know what we're talking about?" Tammy asks, the shock evident in her voice. She is always down to gossip, but I don't have time for her Mean Girls attitude.

Don't ask how I know about that movie.

"Can I talk to her?"

I hear Tammy pull the phone away from her and start whispering, their voice coming out muffled through the covered speaker. I roll my eyes and wait with impatient anxiety for them to finish.

"Look Aiden, I don't know what's going on," she says, her voice wavering in and out a little, like the phone is bouncing. Is she leaving the room? "Avery texted me out of nowhere and asked if she could come over and talk. I had a feeling it was about you or something you had done, but I can tell there is something more bothering her, but she isn't telling me."

I let out a breath of relief. "Don't push her to tell you, Tammy. She can't, it might honestly kill her."

"What the hell does that mean?"

I roll my eyes again. I do this a lot around her, it seems.

"Don't push it Tammy, I'll tell you one day when I can. For now, can you clear your weekend plans and ask Avery to spend the night, I know she won't ask and I don't want her going home or anywhere else."

I try and hide the panic in my tone, but Tammy being Tammy, she picks up on it right away.

"Aiden, what is going on? Why are you acting so weird?"

What am I supposed to tell her? The girl I'm madly in love with is getting beat by her own flesh and blood, and I want to hunt down the man and give him a taste of his own medicine?

She would freak out and immediately tell Avery.

"Can you please just keep her there and make sure she's alright? You're the only person I trust her to be with," I ask.

I hear her pause and think about it, wanting to pester me more, but she knows she isn't going to get anything out of me. "Alright, fine. But you owe me some sort of explanation about this, Aiden Thomas."

"Okay, I promise. I'll text you later for an update on Avery, and tell her if she can, please call me." I hang up before she can say anymore, and before she hears the swell of emotion that hits me.

I'm glad Avery is safe and somewhere where Dan won't get to her, but my heart is torn that she won't answer my texts or calls. In a way, I meant what I said, but I didn't mean for it to come out so harsh.

It sounded like I was judging her for the way she is dealing with her crap life, but who the hell am I to do that? I know one of the reasons, if there is more than one, why she is staying is because of her mother.

She loves her.

Like I loved mine, and if my life was hers, I would do anything to protect my mother. I would've never left her behind to deal with a monster on her own.

Maybe she is trying to escape. Maybe she does have a future plan to get her and her mother out of there safely. I never asked, I just jumped the gun and went right with how I was feeling in the moment of anger, like I always do.

And like always, it bites me in the ass.

At least this time, I'm not locked up.

This time, I'm going to do things differently.

I'm going to hunt him down, and make him promise to leave town and never touch either of them again, or I am prepared to get myself locked up again.

For Avery and her safety, I'm willing to do anything.

And if she cares that deeply about her mother, then so do I.

Running into my closet, I grab a change of clothes and try to formulate a plan in my head at the same time. I want to confront Dan, but I want to do it where I know he isn't going to lose control.

It's Saturday, which means if he does go out anywhere, it's probably on Saturday where the bar drinks are cheap and the service in bountiful.

I take my chances and search up a few bars around Avery's area. I know this early in the morning he isn't going to be there. If he is searching for Avery, he's going to be around either the school or places he thinks she has gone.

How can you look for a missing person, who never leaves the house? She has no favorite places, that I think he knows of, and as far as he is concerned, no place to hideout other than the school she attends every day.

He never let her go anywhere, except here, and he's never been to my house. It isn't hard for him to get my name and information from the school, but it's obviously closed on weekends. So, until Monday, he is shit out of luck.

What would he do then? Where would he go? Or would he wait it out and get drunk at a bar all weekend, to wallow in his self-pity and growing depression?

I'm going with the latter, which means I have to wait it out.

I have nothing better to do than wallow in my own self-pity, and I'm not in the mood to have my own pity party. I wander downstairs to get something to eat and maybe lose myself in mindless TV or video games for the morning and afternoon.

I keep my phone tucked into my pants pocket, hoping it will go off with a text or call from Avery every time it rings. I grab a bowl of cereal and whatever juice I can find left in the fridge, and plop down on the couch, flipping over to Netflix on our smart TV.

I put on some documentary about the world's most dangerous animals and try to drown my thoughts in videos of scorpions and sharks, slightly fascinated about the creatures that roam our earth, many I have encountered already.

A few hours go by, and I still haven't heard anything from Avery. I want to call Tammy and ask her what's going on, if I can talk to her, but I know the answer is going to be the same.

They're talking about me, and no. I don't think my heart could take another rejection. She has made it clear she needs space. I'm just hoping with that, she will come back and let me explain properly.

I can't lose her just as I get her. Everything I did to get to this point, would be for nothing, all because of my big mouth.

I reach the end of the first season of the show and turn it off, getting up to stretch my limbs and legs, and return my bowl to the kitchen. I place it in the sink and reach for the tap to soak it, when I hear a loud bang on the door.

My hand pauses and I wait, hearing another bang. My father would've walked right in, and Avery or Tammy would never knock like that. No one else I know would, either.

Who the hell is at the door?

I slowly walk over as the banging continues, and hear someone shouting as I approach the door, but I don't recognize the voice as the words slur together.

Squeezing the handle, I rip open the door with a glare, but it quickly turns to shock.

Dan is standing at my door, clearly smashed.

"It is you, I'd remember your smug face anywhere," he says, leaning against the doorframe as he sways slightly. "She's here, I know she is. Where the hell is, she?" His voice rises and he bumps his chest to mine.

"Get the hell out of here, Dan. Avery isn't here, and I'm not telling you where she is." I push him back lightly with my arm, trying not to stir him, and in turn stir up myself. The last thing I need is this breaking out into a fight on my front lawn.

Then again, nothing exciting ever happens around here, maybe people would appreciate it.

"I see she's told you, huh? I knew she would open that mouth eventually, she could never be trusted, but her damn mother..." he trails off and looks down, before right back up into my eye. "You fucked her yet? Yeah, I can see it. Make sure it stays that way, or else she'll run off with some other man, just like her whore mother. That's all they are, a couple of slu–"

My hand is forming a fist and rising before he has a chance to mutter the word. I hear the crunch of his nose before I feel it under my knuckle, his cry ringing out as he backs away down the porch.

"You son of a bitch! I'll get you for that," he screams and tries swinging back at me, but almost stumbles, his arm limp as it soars through the air, missing me by a long shot.

I step out of the way and he goes tumbling into the house, crashing into the bottom of the stairs. Before he has the chance to get up, I grab the back of his jacket and throw him out the door and onto the porch again.

The edge of my vision starts to go black, and I try to push it down, but when I see his sneering face, it makes me think of Avery and the way he looks as he beats her helplessly. All for what, because he's angry?

That doesn't give anyone the right to beat or hurt anyone or thing.

But if that's how he thinks things work, then fine.

We'll play by his rules.

With no warning; I black-out.

***

The sound of sirens snaps me back, and I look down. Dan is a bloody heap on the lawn in front of me, his eyes swollen shut, his mouth and cheeks smeared in his own blood and a bit of mine from my knuckles.

What the hell have I done?

I did it again. I blacked out and almost killed a man.

Just like before, it won't matter if this man rightfully deserves it.

There is no where I can run, someone around here must have called the cops while I was beating him, they already saw my face and my house. The cops at least know where I live, from the first time this happened.

I'm screwed. They're going to send me back to juvie, with an even harsher sentence since this is my second offense.

What is Avery going to think? What is my father going to think? He's going to kill me, and Avery is going to leave me for good.

My head starts spinning and my stomach churns. I barely make it to the grass before I empty my stomach all over it. I'm not sure if it's because of the fear of going back for possibly longer, losing Avery, or a harsh mix of both.

I feel like I'm going to pass out, the sirens now clear in my ears as the cars pull around the corner. I want to run, but my legs tremble beneath me and I fall to the ground, narrowly missing the puke pile in front of me.

The car doors slamming mimic the banging of my heart against my chest, the shouting around me drowned out by the roaring in my ears. I don't feel the hands on me until I'm being lifted off the ground and carried away, the shouting getting louder.

I hear them reading my rights as they arrest me, though I can't hear under what charges. Attempted murder? Manslaughter? Is he dead, alive? I never checked, I could barely see if his eyes were even open from how bloody and swollen his face was.

I will forever remember that face, and instead of feeling pride like the first time, I'll feel shame and regret, knowing Avery will probably hate me once she finds out that Dan knows she told me everything, and then I beat him to a pulp.

Because of my stupid actions, and a little bit of fate it seems, she is at even bigger risk. Dan knows she spilled, which means he is going to get her back for it before she has the chance to tell anyone else, like the police.

He knows I won't say anything, and if I do, it doesn't matter. I've been arrested for this once before, they aren't going to believe a word I say, and if this carries to court, I'm sure Dan can come up with a pretty good sob story to nail me with.

He doesn't need money or power. No one is aware of what goes on inside of that house, at least no one who is able or willing to testify.

They shove me in the back of the car, just as an ambulance arrives and two paramedics rush out to check on Dan. I remember I left the front door wide open, and I don't even have my shoes on.

I'm sure my father is going to be real proud when he sees me.

It's just a matter of time before he hears, and so does Avery.

What is going to happen then?

***

When I arrive at the station, they take away my phone and wallet, going through it to check my identification, then bring me through to get my fingerprints and mugshot taken. I follow behind like a zombie, tempted to walk in front of them and do it all myself, already having gone through this twice; once at the station, another time at the juvenile detention hall when I first arrived.

"Well, would you look at this. Seems this isn't your first time in here, is it son?" The officer sitting at the desk opposite of me says, as his eyes gleefully scan my files. "Even more interesting, says here you were arrested for the same exact crime. You beat another helpless man to death two years ago, is that correct?"

He puts the papers down and grins at me.

"You just read the fucking paper, what the hell do you think?" I sneer, resisting the urge to spit in his face. "Can we just get this over with?"

"Come on, son. You already know the process, you're still under age for another few months, so we have to call your parents." He picks up the small stack of papers again and flips through them.

"Says here your only parental guardian is your father, Eric Thomas. Where is he right now?" he asks, and I debate not telling him, but chances are since he already has my father's name, it won't be hard for him to pull his phone number from his public record.

"He's in Vegas on vacation, won't be back till tomorrow night."

The office nods, putting the papers down again and leaning forward. It gives me a clear view of his name tag; Officer Griffin. I'll remember that name for later.

"We have no choice but to call him and interrupt his precious vacation time. I'm sure he will be thrilled to hear what his son has done, yet again. You can wait in the holding cell, while we contact him."

I am being lifted out of my seat before I can blink. "Wait, hold on! Don't I get a chance to say why I did it? Tell my side of the story?"

Officer Griffin rolls his eyes. "What could you possibly say against what we witnessed? You beat a man, Daniel Reynolds, to a pulp on your front yard. We can already piece it together from what we saw, we have all the evidence we need"

"That isn't right, you have to take my statement. I'm not denying I beat him, but that doesn't mean I don't have a very valid reason why. By law, you have to take my statement before you lock me up, and give me at least one phone call."

He mutters something under his breath and walks back over to his desk, motioning the two guards holding me to sit me back down as well. He takes out a pen and a pad of paper from his desk, then gives me a bored look, his dull brown eyes boring holes in my face.

"Alright, out with it. Why did you do it?"

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. He sounds like he doesn't believe me before I say anything. But this isn't for me; it's for Avery. This is my chance to get her out of that hell hole.

That, and I have no choice now. Dan knows she told me, he is going to hurt her regardless, I need to make sure I do everything I can to prevent that.

"Dan Reynolds is beating his wife and daughter, and I have full proof of it. I go to school, and are currently in a relationship with his daughter, Avery Reynolds. She has told me everything and showed me the scars and bruises on her body from where he's hit her, burned her, cut her; you name it."

This makes Officer Griffin frown, and he actually writes down what I hope is everything I'm saying. "Is there anything else?" he asks, dimming my hope a little.

"Yes, loads else, and Avery can probably tell you it all. The only reason she hasn't come to the authorities about it, is because she has done it before and he was let go with a slap of the wrist. Check his files, he moved her about a year ago, maybe more, you have to have something on him."

At this point, my tone is pleading, begging them to believe me.

I try and decipher the look on Officer Griffins face, and even the officers behind me, to see if there is a shred of them that might believe what I'm saying, enough to open a case at least, to look into it.

"Why would I lie about this? I admitted to the crime, lock me away for however long you want, but I am telling the truth. The only reason I beat the living shit out of that man, is because he does the same to his family. Please, at least look into it. I will plead guilty and take whatever sentence I get, if you just talk to Avery and her mother."

I see Officer Griffin's eyes flicker up to the other two, then back down to me. He runs a hand over the stubble on his chin and narrows his eyes.

"If the family moved here from another city, and he hasn't been arrested or convicted of anything here in Athens, then chances are there isn't anything we have on him besides public records, like an address, place of work, you get what I mean," he says.

"What if he was convicted in another city, but still in this state? Something big enough to be put on his permanent record? Would you have access to that?"

He seems to mull over it, then nods. "Yeah, it would follow him wherever he goes, the moment he registers for a house, license plate, piece of property etcetera."

"There's a huge chance he has been convicted before; can you at least check his files? See that I'm not completely lying that there is something wrong or off about this guy?"

Officer Griffin lets out an annoyed grunt. "Will it get you to shut up and make my job a lot easier?"

I nod. "Yes, I will do anything you want, I just ask that you believe even just a fraction of what I'm saying."

"Alright, geez. I will look into Dan and his family, but after I call your father and let him know we have you locked in a holding cell, and you will remain quiet while you are in there, and not give me any reason to come in there and whip you like a rented mule."

He points a finger at me, and though I feel no intimidation from the look of the pudgy hand, I nod viciously and pretend to lock my mouth and throw away the key.

The two officers lift me up out of the chair once again and carry me down a dimly lit hallway. There is a steel door waiting for us at the end of the hall, with a keypad lock next to it. One officer breaks away to discreetly enter in the code and the door clicks unlocked, the other one opening it.

Surprisingly, they walk me through, rather than shoving me. Last time I went through this scenario, I had been treated aggressively by all the officers who had handled me from the moment I had been arrested.

I was never 'roughed up' like they show in movies and videos on Facebook, but I wasn't handled gently like I am now. I was practically shoved through every door, cuffs so tight against my wrist I was afraid the cuts around my wrists would leave scars.

"Wait, can I make one phone call?" I ask, spotting a payphone as we make our way through the processing area to another door.

The guards stop and stand on either side of me, sharing a look like they're communicating silently. I steal the chance to look at their name tags; Hennesy and Matthews. Neither of them ring a bell from the previous time I was arrested, thankfully.

When they don't answer, I try and persuade them, "you can listen in on the conversation the entire time. I just want to call my girlfriend and tell her where I am, so she doesn't worry. You did take my cellphone away."

Officers Hennesy shrugs and motions with his head to Matthews. They lead me over to the payphone and place me in front of it, finally releasing me to put a quarter in. I quickly pick it up and dial Avery's number, silently thanking myself for memorizing it.

It rings a couple times before she picks up, her voice hesitant. "Hello?"

"Avery, it's me Aiden. Please, don't hang up, I have something really important to tell you and it doesn't exactly involve what happened earlier but it also does." The words spill out of me, and I hope she is able to understand the majority of it.

Her voice still sounds hesitant, like she isn't sure it's me. "Uhm, okay. What's going on, Aiden?"

I let out a breath and shoot the guards a look. They're watching me like hawks, not even pretending to not listen. No point in trying to hide anything.

"I'm at the police station, something happened."