Author's note: This chapter contains graphic violence and cursing, so if any of those things aren't your cup of tea I suggest you skip this chapter but don't give up on my story please. I'm grateful for all of my supporters without them I wouldn't have gone this far. Thank you.
"Thanks, Carl." I take the bag full of pastries that Carl just weighed and priced, paying him with a ten dollar bill. Pulling out a chocolate croissant and munching on it, I hum a familiar tune. Nevertheless, my life refuses to go smoothly because I happen to bump into a poor girl. Soon enough, we're both on the floor scrambling for our respective treats.
Picking up a plastic wrapped blueberry muffin, I hand it over to the innocent victim of my bad luck. "Here you go. I'm really sorry. Honestly, I'm such a klutz at times when good food is around."
"It's no problem at all." The girl looks up from the floor and my face freezes. Just my luck. Kurt's present girlfriend is the one who witnesses my fall from grace. "It's nice to see you again, Rebecca. How have you been?"
"Nice to see you too, Dia. I'm fine. Sorry, but I'm naturally clumsy like this. If I sneeze in one room, a vase will break in another room for an inexplicable reason." I chuckle to hide my mortification and my hands scramble wildly to cover up my red face.
To my surprise Dia laughs with me. Even Dia's laugh is delicate and girly. That really isn't fair. "Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?"
"Sure, why not?" There really was no way to avoid it since she probably heard me tell Carl that I'm not busy at the moment. Shrugging, I take a seat across Dia who hands me a cup filled with steaming green tea. In an awkward silence, we both observe each other discreetly.
Today on a crisp early autumn morning, Dia is garbed in an expensive velvet dress along with wool socks that stuck out of her black flats. It was not an entirely elegant look but with her manners and grace Dia could make a potato sack look like Grace Kelly's wedding dress. Hovering near her is Gina, whose presence heaps on another layer of tension. Presently, where I stand with Gina is unknown as she acknowledges me with a curt nod and even talks to me but her demeanor is never entirely friendly. Though I suppose forgiving me for not intervening when she needed me the most is out of question, it's been eight years already. If a person can't learn to forgive and clear her heart in that amount of time then her heart can only fill up with anger and hate. Although, I can't blame her for hating half the girls in Flower Bud with burning rage even people like Eve and Ellen. None of the girls, including me (in fact, I might be the most undeserving since I dragged her in that mess), really deserve her forgiveness at this point but Gina doesn't help with her aloof attitude.
"Do you enjoy sweets?" Dia smiles and nods towards my bag overflowing with treats.
"Yes, my friends all happen to think it's a vice of mine. How about you?"
"I'm not a particular lover of sweets but I do occasionally eat the odd blueberry muffin or two." Not to be rude, but Dia doesn't look like she eats much. Her fine features are sharpened by her skinniness while her limbs appear to be bony. Even her chest is flat and childlike. Okay that last part was bitchy but compared to her I feel like a greasy cow. To be accurate, I feel like a greasy, stumbling cow with an ex-girlfriend complex.
Practically reading my mind, Dia pats her flat stomach. "I know it looks like I do not eat much but I have no interest in food. I think it is mostly a waste of time."
For some odd reason, I blurt out. "Oh, I love food. In fact, if I didn't care about my growing waist I would spend every waking moment eating something. Sometimes I take a shower chewing gum to take my mind off of food."
Dia giggles friendly and both of us relax for a moment. "Rebecca, you do not have to worry about your waist at all. You are positively beautiful if you do not mind my saying." At the last statement, a glint in Dia's green eyes forms and there's an edge to her voice.
"Thank you." Nervously, I set down the cup that was formerly suffering under my steel grip. "Do you like Flower Bud? I know you moved here from another town awhile ago."
"Yes, my old town was nice but I felt compelled to leave. Restlessness overcame me, I suppose." Dia stares into her teacup with intense interest and wonder.
"Well, I hope you find the townspeople here welcoming. I grew up with most of the villagers and they're like family. I think that in time we will all become part of your family." Cheerily, my voice falters. I want to cheer up Dia since she appeared to be incredibly heart broken when she spoke of her home town. Her shoulders sagged and her eyes were wet; my comments only upset her further. Gina protectively puts an arm around Dia and tells me that it is time for them to leave. We all bid each other good bye and leave the shop one after another. Looking over my shoulder one last time, Dia gives the impression of being a wounded sparrow—broken with despair and sorrowful.
"Rebecca, fancy meeting you here!" Joe greets me like I'm a rock star and my mood lightens up. His toothy smile, spread from ear to ear, gives me a warm feeling and his hug, strong arms engulfing my skinny body, reminds me that I'm not a completely horrible person to have a friend like Joe.
"Joe, what brings you here? Here to see your sweetie?" Cheekily, I wink and espouse another terrible pun, "Or are you here to get some sugar?"
"Actually, I am." Joe says, his smile growing nervous. "Newsflash, Rebecca, I've already heard those before."
"Aw. And here I was, thinking I'm Richard Pryor." Sarcastically, I pull a face in mock despair resulting in Joe laughing.
"At least you don't resemble him in appearance. Don't get me wrong, he's a decent looking guy but hardly suited to wearing skinny jeans and a blouse. Could you imagine?" In unison, we crack up at the thought of a grown man in skinny jeans cursing.
After a few minutes of laughing at something no one else would find funny, I ask, "Aren't you going in? Katie isn't going to wait forever and if I were you I'd hop on that train fast. It isn't ordinary to have such a smart, funny, and cute girlfriend."
Joe's left eyebrow raises up in suspicion. "Did she put you up to this?"
Surprised, I admit defeat. "Half-and-half. How do you know?"
"Five other people told me the exact same thing this morning. This is worse than an actual war because at least then I get a gun. Geez, I'm being ambushed left and right." His face looks frustrated like a child who was denied a toy.
"I'm sorry, it's just that Katie's been a good friend to me since I've been here and she really likes, no probably loves you. She has a heart and no one wants to see it break, okay? So listen to your big sister, treat her like a princess." Lightly, my hand lifts up his face so his eyes meet mine.
"Okay. It's not like I'm not, you know."
"Have you met yourself, Casanova?" Jokingly, I punch his arm causing him to wince.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means watch out for yourself and for Katie, okay. Your big sister is worried about you. I mean, really, are you even eating anything healthy?"
"Yes, I am. Holy goddess, since when did you become my brother?"
"Since you were born, you little punk." I ruffle his hair to his dismay. "Look, I'd love to stay and chat but Eve is pregnant and hungry. Not the ideal person to deal with but I'll live. I'll see you at the bar later, alright?"
"Alright, bye Rebecca. Send Eve my love."
"Will do, Joe. Will do." Funny how moods change but talking with Joe has been a relief because for once no one is accusing or feeling awkward. It'll always be a brother-sister relationship and for that I'm grateful because no matter what I do he won't push or reject me. The Harvest Goddess has practically cursed me but at least she had to the humanity to give me some one that loves me, someone who brings light to this dark world.
On my way home, I hear a commotion coming from a field nearby and my curiosity is immediately aroused. Taking fast strides towards the noise, I can start to make out some of the sounds.
"Yeah, get it good!"
"Ha ha, this is the funniest shit ever!"
Suddenly, a deep feeling sinks into me and something urges me to speed up. Running, towards the uproar I can see the two idiots making noise. Jesus. It's Bud Wilson and one of his friends, Rob, I think. They're kicking at something and laughing cruelly. Yelps of helplessness cry out and my feet leap renewed with adrenaline. Bud is in a hysterical laughing fit while Rob continually kicks at something. To my horror, Bud suggests something that is beyond cruel.
"Hey, let's see if this little feller can swim." Bud picks up a scruffy, beaten puppy and grins at his rat-like friend.
"Yeah. I've always wanted to learn how to doggy paddle." Rob's lips pull back to reveal thin, yellow needles that supposedly are his teeth. That's it! These filthy rats are going down!
"Step away from that innocent dog! You mangy low lives! What did it ever do to you, scummy cretins? Touch that poor creature one more time and I'll shove my foot so far up your ass, you'll taste rubber!" I shriek, confronting the startled duo. Startled but unafraid.
"Those are some ugly words coming out of a pretty mouth. That little rat pissed on my shoe and thought he could get away with it." Bud leers as he holds the puppy by the skin of its neck and out of my reach. He's playing with me as he keeps raising the frightened, limp puppy out of my reach while I attempt to save it. "Your punk in shining armor isn't here to save you, princess, so what are you going to do about it?"
"I don't need anyone to save me. You're trash and I'm the garbage man. You do the math." Balling up my fist tightly, I muster all my strength into this one punch and aim it carefully. Ready set go. My fist makes contact with his nose and I hear a sickening crunch. Blood spurts out every where and Bud cries out in pain, letting the puppy go free. Ok, I didn't mean to do that. Honestly, I really didn't mean to do that. Shocked, I back up and bump into Rob, who angrily pushes me to the ground.
"You, little bitch. Who do you think you are?" Rob slaps me across my face, hard, and spits in my face. He puts his face close to mine and I could smell the alcohol rolling off his tongue. "I'll teach you a lesson. Stupid bitch, you never learned not to mess with men? Oh, I'll teach you good."
He raises his hand again but before he can do a thing both of my feet spring to action, propelling my feet to his chest I knock him off of me. Quickly, I scramble to my feet and search for the puppy urgently. My search ends abruptly when my back is knocked back down by Bud's powerful kick. Forcing me to stay down, Rob rests a knee into my back, pressing deeply until I feel like my spine is going to break in half while Bud kicks me in my ribs mercilessly. Swiftly, Rob lifts me up with my arms locked under his strong, vise-like grip. Bud smiles evilly and for the first time, I'm scared for my life.
"Oops, looks like we lost our puppy. Rob, what do you think we should do with the one we just found? Do you think she wants to play?" He chucks my chin playfully and instinctively, my body writhes in disgust.
"Go to hell, you dirty little sack of crap!" This time it's my turn to spit and it splats against his grimy face perfectly. Except I regret doing it since in return, Bud's fist slams into my face. It feels like some one threw a bundle of bricks at my face. Instantly, I cry out feeling exactly like the puppy.
"Aw, the puppy doesn't want to play. Too bad," His rough hand jerks my face roughly to meet his, "Listen to me, I will make you regret ever messing with me, got it? I will make you wish that you were in hell, you little slut."
"Eat my shit." I kick out furiously; hoping one of them makes its mark. Mockingly, I smile smugly, "Too scared to fight someone your size? You're nothing but a yellow bellied drunk. By the way, didn't your mom teach you not to hit women or at least not so weakly? Also, if you ever hurt another innocent creature, again, I'll make you wish you ate my shit!"
He throws another furious punch, which nearly knocks me unconscious, and growls, "Don't bring my mother into this, whore. Or I'll knock out all of your teeth and make you eat them."
"Try me!" I scream angrily. I'm not going down without a fight. Out of nowhere, I bite one of Rob's arms, who proceeds to nurse his stinging wound freeing me in turn. Dealing a swift but powerful kick to Bud's family jewels, I bring him to his knees and I give Rob the same deal. The puppy yelps again and I find it behind a bush. The poor thing is terribly weak and squirming in pain. Carefully, I pick it up and cradle it in my arms. Hearing their cries behind me, I run for my life and the puppy's, whose seem to be fading.
"Please don't die, little guy. Just a little bit longer, please wait." The puppy's breathing has become shallow and quick. Spying the local clinic, hope sprouts like a flower albeit a weak and pitiful one. My legs are weakening and my vision is starting to blur. I'm so close just a bit further. Please. Harvest Goddess, don't do this to me again. First my mom and now this innocent being? He may be little but damn it he deserves a life doesn't he? I'm a couple feet away from the clinic when my vision completely darkens and my body smashes into the stone ground pathetically. Crawling towards the door with the puppy in tow, I begin to realize how dismal my efforts are. I'm not going to make it and neither is the poor puppy. However, I can make out a voice, calling out to me frantically and the hope blooms with new energy.
"Christ, Rebecca, what happened to you?" My shoulders are being shaken hysterically and I can feel tears drip onto my face, mingling with my own.
Weakly, I push the puppy into the hysterical person's hands and croak, "Save him, please. I can't live with myself if I lose him. I can't go through that again, please."
Before the person can respond, everything blacks out and I can only hope that the puppy is saved. Dear Harvest Goddess, please don't do this to me. Don't make me live with this again.