DISCLAIMER: Chapter thirteen, bummed me out, but it had to be done in order for me to further continue the story. Sorry, if you were disappointed or taken back by it. But Sometimes you have to rock the boat a bit to make things turn out alright, I love Victoria, and really dont want to her her, with a passion, once you begin writing, you become so attached to the characters, you just dont want to do anything to harm them anymore, seriously, you just want everything to be fluff, and duff, but in some cases you cant, to carry on. Ever since i've been writing this, its weird, I feel like I personally know the characters, like I know so much about them, how they would react to certain situations, in my mind, they are very much alive, and as odd as it sounds I think about them quite alot. I suppose when you devote your time to something, you are bound to develop feelings for it, and unexpectedly, thats what happened to em while I was writing this it just feels so strange and out of place for me to hurt anyone. But really, I have to stick to the storyline, or it just screws everything up. Anyways, this chapter, is much much much much, more mellow, alot softer than the previous chapter.
The beginning, starts off a day prior coming to the hills, when the girls were back at home. fyi.
I LOVED THIS CHAPTER. AND I LOVE THE FLUFF. SO LEAVE MEH BE 33
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
"And what did he say?" Summer asked surprised, as she buried her hands under the blue silk squish pillow of Victoria's bed.
"That he didnt care." Kelsi replied almost satisfied with herself, as she took the orange nail polish, and traced it along a piece of paper forming tiny hearts.
"Always knew it, so it doesnt bother me."
"Hey, dont get that on my bed." Victoria warned, sticking her leg out to paint her foot on one of the wooden computer chairs in her room.
Kelsi smiles, and pretended to drop the nail polish, and Vicki frowned at her doing so, shaking her head, and going about her business.
"So where exactly are your parents headed to?"
"They're going to jersey for a few days, they told me, I could have Summer and Kelsi over, no parties." She scoffed, a small smile spreading across her full lips.
"NO PARTIES!" Summer mocked shaking her finger in the air,
"No, there shall be nothing of that sort,such hoodlum,and nonsense in this house hold!" Victoria announced in a voice such as a duchesses.
"No sex in the champagne room!" Kelsi blurted out, sending the two other girls let out abrupt snorts of laughter.
Victoria smiled, and grabbed a small black rubber band pulling her hair up into a pony tail, her thick hair, nearly grazing the bottom of he shoulder blades. She picked up one of the curling irons, and placed it under her bangs, curling them below her.
"You look like a pin up girl, who are you trying to impress?" Summer scoffed.
"Myself?" She replied in a low tone.
"Arent you about to go to sleep?"
"I like to feel pretty when I go to sleep!" She giggled sarcastically.
"Oh yeah?" Summer laughed,
"And who do plan on seeing there?"
"No one, im kidding, iam about to take a shower,"
"The why would you get all dolled up?"
Victoria pulled Summer aside, and whispered low in her ear.
"We do have a birthday part to attend too."
Summer glanced over peculiarly at Kelsi, her eyebrow slightly raised, as an
"ahhhh" of realization escaped her lips. Kelsi completely busy with what she was doing, took no notice to the girl bickering about.
Victoria marched off to the bathroom, summer watched her. She stuck her tongue out at summer, and summer rolled her eyes, before victoria slammed the door and the shower started. Downstairs, were her parents, her father, and step mother, packing, getting ready to go to jersey. Putting the groceries away for their daughter, charging her cell phone, and packing their clothes. Assuming she was going to stay home with Summer and Kelsi, they werent the least bit hesitant to leave, if she was in trouble, she could call, her neighbors were right next door, and the noisy bar was as well. The music boomed every night, to get a good sleep you would have to accustomed to the loud life, or you were a no go, you mine as well should have packed your things and left.
The rules that applied there, unfortunately didnt apply so much in the hills.
Lizard had his back pressed against the back tub, starring at the door, his arms folded together, and legs criss crossed, not facing, the Blond that soaked in the bathtub.
She hid under the water, sat there for several moments holding her breath, her brown eyes open, examining everything form the waters point of view. All the items in the bathroom appeared rigid, appeared to be moving. Slowly waving above her. She was calm, under the water, she felt she had no reason to come up. She was clean again, she felt okay. Not loosing any of her battle scars, cut the dirt that encased her body was long gone.
Refusing to wear the clothes she had when she first entered the Hills, and went though the mines the day before, Goggle, and Kelsi were sent to go to the craters, to fetch their suitcases from the car. Lizard also recommended, the blankets, and cell phone.
The reason Goggle, and Kelsi specifically were sent, was because Jupiter felt in order to be this "family" They would have to get along.
Though Kelsi objected, and flat out refused, it was an order. And Goggle was in no positioned to make any sort of act of violence towards her, Jupiter promised threats to whichever of them were to fight.
As far as Summer, and Nina went. The clan found out short after Nina threw up several times back to the village, was not because she was sick, or disgusted by what happened, but it was because she was pregnant. Ripping the gun away from her, Jupiter held her arms behind her back as they walked to the village, demanding, she be fed, and taken care of, he wouldnt risk a "healthy babies life" so he put it. Though it was bound to be someone from the mines, which was the reason he wanted to keep around, for the continuation of the family not as a breeding tool, but to give them another child.
Summer was brought back, and saved by them in the mines, only because, Victoria would not let it be. She would not let her friend be off in the mines alone, and as long as she was out there, she would always run back to the mines, looking for her, to save her, this would have caused her to be raped, or killed, and both nearly happened last night.
Lizard, and Ruby especially would not risk it.
They had found out where she was, by Lizards walkie talkie, which was now back in his possession, they spent all day, trying to figure out where she was, until they heard Chameleons voice, and loud screams over the radio. Which were most likely Victoria's. The set out as fast as they could to find her. Though they were not particularly fond of the other girls, they babied, Victoria and Nina. Nina, was pregnant, and Victoria was constantly drug about, and with Lizard and Ruby. They thought fondly of her becoming close to the two, and hoped for a few "surprises" from her in the future, Lizard, Cyst, and Big Mama, favored her the most. Ruby, was very timid around her, she never neared Lizard, Who always seemed to be with her.
Kelsi, and Summer, were tolerated. Though Kelsi was the one more of use. When put in a life or death situation, she would fight her way through it. Vicious.
She was Jupiter's Favorite, and Rubies, Goggles least.
Summer was just there, a lack of respect, everyone had for her there. But did nothing to harm her.
Victoria pulled up from the water, the small cuts welted across her face, and chest, were only tiny slivers, the water had completely cleaned them.
Her arm, was a different story. Something would have to be done with it, it would have to be sewn, shut somehow, if it was left as it was for so long, the results would not be good.
She huddled her body in a ball covering herself, her hair dripped softly, echoing in the silence. She let out a held in breath, hoping, praying that Lizard would say something to her, but he did not.
The room was filled with animosity.
An unbearable amount of it.
She knew she was wrong, for doing what she did, and in time, she hoped he would forget.
"Y` done." He questioned, though it seemed to her more like a statement.
No response.
She was overwhelmed her trembling had never ceased from that night, she was lost for words. Though there was so much to say, she couldnt say it. She only wanted him to talk, to act. She refused to do either of them.
He grumbled a bit under his breath. Pulling his vest off, and reaching it behind him, making a meager effort to hand it to her, as some sort of towel.
She took it. And pulled it around herself. To her, it was more of a dress then a vest, it came down right above her knees, standing. She clenched it in her hands tightly.
He opened the door, making way, walking out behind her, making sure no one could get a "good glimpse" of her, and walked her inside one of the rooms.
She recognized this one. It was the room she had been in the second time around, Big Mama's with the draped canopy bed, the window had been boarded. He walked around the corner of the room, still pulling the torn curtains over the boards, he looked down realizing he was stepping on something, something soft. He then kicked over, a piece of her long hair.
Her eyes were directly on it, as she ran her fingers through the bottom of her hair.
Her hair was really that long?
And it was cut, not that long ago. She forgot how good it felt, to braid it, throw it up. When she attempted to pull it up, all she got was a nub, not too short, but nothing compared to what she once had.
A few knocks resounded on the door that was shut behind them, she was about answer it, but he strictly pointed his finger at her, and made his way over to the door, Opening it, there stood, Kelsi, and Goggle, Pluto tagged along helping them with the stuff as they lugged it in. The first thing handed to Victoria was the cell phone, and then her luggage, what she had planned to wear when they had got to the part, and what she had planned to wear after leaving and spending four days at a hotel with them, before her parents arrived back in town.
Pluto pranced in giddily, after Goggle, who was being sluggish, and appeared quite upset to be in both Lizard's and Kelsi's presence.
"I got everything,,Besides your car..Its totaled."
Victoria frowned, and looked over to Lizard.
"I know that." She exclaimed softly, before turning away from the group before her, wrapped in Lizards vest, and facing the wall, emotionless. Her face seemed to be preserved in time, the expression she held on it never faded for those moments. Blank, emptiness, completely lost.
Kelsi's face turned white at the sight, she's never seen her so impassive. To not have an opinion, or an emotion about anything, she just watched her as she curled away from everyone in a shell. Completely disinterested.
Kelsi swallowed hard, before nudging the bag towards Lizard. Goggle, and Pluto watched curiously as he rummaged threw it.
"What she wear?" Lizard asked confused. He had dealt with plenty of woman, oh countless numbers. But never in a tentative, or careful way. The thought of being gentle with anyone never crossed his mind. It still made him sick to think about how fragile she was, not just her, but all the outsiders, who were doomed to the Hills forever. You dont get out alive, or you're sent to the mines., The breeding grounds.
Kelsi cautiously approached the bag that Lizard had been going through, and looked aswell, she kept her distance, and kept in mind that he had a short fuse.
"Here." she said, pulling out a dark brown hooded sweater, and tossing it by her.
She only shooed it off the bed with her hand, and resumed back in her position.
Kelsi peered over to the sweater she had tossed so carelessly on the ground. She pulled her hair behind the top of her ear, bending down, and scooping it up in her hands, handing it over to Lizard.
An awkward silence to seemed to fill the room, while she walked over, pulling vicki's cheek over to kiss it, before walking out of the room. Pluto followed, but Goggle remained with Lizard.
Lizard motioned for Goggle to shut the door, and he did.
He sat silently in front of the door, so they could avoid any "intruders"
Lizard plopped down on the bed, zipping up the bag, and tossing it against the ground.
He turned to her, and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Nobody gonna hurt ya." he whispered.
He went to reach for his vest, and hand her the sweatshirt, but she refused by shaking him off her arm suddenly, and pulling her head away to face the pillow.
"We got people ere'" A voice shouted over the radio.
Goggle perked up in excitement, reaching for the handle, waiting for Lizards approval to leave.
"Git em." Lizard waved him off, he had only been pestering them by staying any longer.
A loud slam was heard, and the door clanked shut.
Her fingers shook uneasy underneath her as she gripped the pillow.
"I killed him." she choked out.
"He was tryin t` kill ya." Lizard confirmed, almost in reassurance.
"It's my fault, I went in, I didnt belong in there, he would have still been alive-"
"Happen sooner er later."
"Death natural." he interrupted.
"By a bullet?" she sobbed.
"Ya hadn` done what ya did, you be dead." He once again confirmed.
"Take your life, n it mean nothin`."
Ignoring this, she asked
"Is Nina okay?"
"Pregnant." He responded.
In the condition Nina had been in, there was absolutely no way, she would be able to survive giving birth to the baby, and there was no way of preventing her death, unless they released her, which they were not about to do.
Victoria shot up.
"She'll die!, and her baby too if her mothers not around!"
Lizard nodded his head, in understandment.
"Know that, we take care of her."
"Then what did I save her for! What did I go all the way in there for, if she was going to die anyway! If you let her go, she'll live!"
"N risk havin her tell about us?" Lizard scolded.
Victoria peered into his eyes blankly, he would let Nina die, without caring, they all would let her die. She was suffering, she hadnt ate in a long time it had seemed, she was famished. Her weight had dropped to nearly absolutely nothing, and that was the reason Victoria could not tell that she was pregnant.
She had been abused, and tossed around nearly everyday by Hades clan.
"If she isnt healthy the baby might die too! She scolded angrily
"We take care of her, till i`s born." He shrugged.
"I come in?" A small voice squeaked behind the door.
While Lizard responded with a "no" Victoria responded with a "yes" And the door swung open.
There stood small Ruby carrying the large grey quilt, and pillows on top of her head, throwing them on the bed for Lizard to catch.
Victoria reached for the brown sweatshirt and pulled it over the Lizard's vest, reaching to get some kind of bottoms from her luggage. when she did.
She slipped them on, under the covers, and pulled off Lizards vest, from under the shirt, tossing it at him.
She let her soft creamy fingers slip through the wrinkles of the sweatshirt, pulling it near below the shorts. It was nice to change, after all that time, nearly two weeks spent in those clothes. Two. To her, it was an unbelievable diagnosis, it was unlikely of her to even sleep in the same clothes, better yet wear them the next day.
Lizard tugged on the vest, his gnarled palms also kneading it down, almost mimicking her reaction to feeling soft, unseemed, unstained, clothing.
His had been the exact opposite. Tarnished, lack of color, subtle fridges upon the whole vest. Stains? many, if you looked close, you would be able to see them, faraway they are unnoticeable, they had seeped in so far, and had been left there over the years, they were far to faded to see from far away.
Victoria wondered if he had got the vest from a victim perhaps, Jeb? The Old man at the gas station gave it to him. Maybe, possibly.
With all the people they came across, it would be easy to find a new shirt, or pants, even shoes, But he didnt care. He was free, relentless, rebellious,
he defied everything that was once was the main protagonist to anyone who had come to the hills. Motivated to harm others, and end lives. Hormones tangoed with those unlucky woman to come across him.
None of this bothered him. It shouldnt have, thats what made him, Lizard. Those were the features about himself he most treasure, and others most feared.
These atavistic, and mournful traits, are what completed him.
Yet there was another side of him, that seemed untouched, in a way unnoticed, or unprovoked. A different side, that no others had lived to see, or begin to recognize. Victoria had, she'd seen it, and she had also watched it slip away, the fleeting of joy she felt when she witnessed such, was uncontainable, but he seemed to had forgotten it, when the moment had passed by, when all was done and over with.
"Ruby, get yer stuff." He instructed sternly.
"Where we go?" She had asked bubbly, seeking the least bit of affection form her older brother.
Instead while he received, he gave none. HE was not about to repeat himself, and didnt feel there was a need to explain himself. There was no need to justify anything to her, she was a small, tender headed, stubborn little girl. What was there to explain to her? And what was there for her to understand.
"You too."
He motioned to Victoria.
Confused but not obliging she got up, rising slowly to stand behind Ruby, Pulling up her boots. She had almost forgotten how nice the cotton felt aginst clean skin.
"Dont wancha` here when they catch em." He stated honestly.
She felt an arguable wave pass through her stomach, like she was going to say something, but it would be best she decided, if she did not. HE was what seemed like, was trying to be courteous of her feelings as of that moment. She wondered, if she hadnt gone through what she did last night, would he still care? Would he still be doing what he was doing now?
"Easy there`." He said lifting on of her arms over his shoulders.
She felt helpless, she couldnt function her arms correctly, and also was finding it hard to walk straight. She didnt want Lizard to have to lug her around, like some lost child, some lost puppy. Though the first analogy would be true. Hadnt he done enough for her already? She had thought to herself. Even at times when it wasnt even necessary for him to, he could have left her there, it was not his obligation to go after her constantly. And yet he did.
"I can walk just fine." She stated, letting go of his arm, and attempting to stand proudly, and boldly. She was not one to give in easily, but she surly was, when the moment he let go, and stepped back to let her have her way, she collapsed, recklessly on the ground.
He gave off a little smirk, And once again picked her up.
"Y` oughta` be lucky you still alive."
"You cant carry yerself t` save your life."
She scoffed deniably to his words. In her eyes she could carry herself just fine, it would take sometime, and some rehabilitation, but if she truly wanted to she could.
"We go the the craters?" Ruby asked excitedly.
Lizard merely nodded his head, dragging Victoria out the door.
Lizard toyed impatiently with the radio of the black van. He had turned the channel several times, trying to get a good signal. No success.
When Victoria offered to help, he shot her down, insisting handling one of the radios was just a simple as handling the radio he carried with him. His soft grey hair, prickled against the dashboard, as he worked his fingers endlessly on the radio. Turning every knob, and pressing every button. Becoming a bit more frustrated everytime his "prior knowledge" On radios faile him. He began to hit the buttons a little bit harder. Slamming his fists down in annoyance.
Victoria cringed at the thought of him dismantling her dashboard, and radio too, she did want to be able to use to car in the future, sometime, or so she hoped.
"It will be easier, if you'd just-" She spoke in a soft voice monitoring his behavior and all the buttons he had pressed. Ruby sat back in the end of the van, watching her brother diligently working at the buttons. Unfortunately it did not work.
Victoria reached out for the knob, for sound, but he slapped her hand away.
"Don` touch!" He growled. He certainly had wanted to figure out how to work her benevolent item on his own.
She herself, liked to be persistent, but she detested that in men. Lizard was the same way as most men, though so different. They way men could never seem to accept any advice or take directions. They just strive to be independent.
As soon as Lizards blue pools left the veiw of the area, and looked for something to bash the radio with. She shot her hand out pressing on the volume knob, and in came static. He bobbed his head up slowly, disappointed.
"Told ya not t` fuckin touch.." He enunciated slowly. Feeling slightly defeated by the power of a sixteen year old girl.
"I just wanted to help you, thats all, you seemed to be struggling." She let out straightforwardly.
"The fuck I was.." He grunted.
"I was-" He began to say before Ruby cut him off in the back set with
"Exploring! Liza never seen one o those before!" She exclaimed delightedly.
"Shut `t." He warned. Causing her to slink back in her seat wide eyed.
Victoria messed with the channel a little bit, not getting any clear stations, any that she could like at least.
When it came to a channel, that came out almost clearly, with a slight hint of fuzz. He pressed his hand down on hers, moving it away from the knob.
"Leave it." He stated.
Victoria was a little mind boggled and surprised, and small timid, unsure smile spread across her face.
"Johnny Cash?" She questioned enthusiastically.
"Ya know im`?" He retorted nearly enthralled.
She shook her head,
"no, his songs, this one at least."
"Love, is a burning thing!" Ruby sang like a dove from the back seat, rising to her feat for a slight dance, opening the door, and popping out on to the sand, to proceed jigging a little.
Victoria tilted her head back and forth slightly, whispering the lyrics.
"And it makes, A fiery ring,"
She crawled out of the van, over to Ruby who was letting the rhythm send her into a dance of her own. She limped over to Ruby, and ruby took her hand, entwining her small fingers in Victoria's, spinning around like the little child she was.
"Bound, by wild desire, I fell into a ring of fire;" Victoria sung out happily, as Ruby danced along beside her.
She swayed her hips back forth with Ruby, every now and then taking her hand, and kicking up sand as they danced.
Ruby now and the threw up her skirt as a curtsy, and this would send Victoria, into a pit of happiness.
She had never felt so at home, dancing with a little girl, to johnny Cash, its something she would have done with her little sisters back at home.
Picked them up, and they'd be asked to be twirled or swung in the air, and adoringly, fond of them, she did as they asked.
Lizards sat back, the car door was open, and he sat on the seat with his arm hung out the window, leaning back, and observing them dance.
"Y know how ta dance,?" He asked curiously.
"No!" She denied as quickly as possible, though he was already, out of the door towards her.
"Lived bout` three of yer lifetimes..Know a lie." He declared.
"No, I really dont," She once again repeated.
"The taste, of love is sweet, when hearts, like ours beat;" Chorused inside the car, making its way loud and clear outside, loud enough to dance, and sing all long too, without feeling strange.
"Course ya dont." He said, grabbing her by the waist, and gloved hands knitting between hers, as he moved her hands in the air for her to dance.
"Could spin ya, butcha` might break." He teased.
Ruby smiled shyly seeing her brother close to another female, happy, content, and dancing. This time, not by force.
"Not like you know how to dance!" she teased him provocatively.
"Maybe not." He admitted, placing his hands on her hips as they swayed back and forth together too the music.
She grinned at him.
"Good faker though." He exclaimed, taking her hand in hand, placing her arms around his neck, while they remained close together, dancing to the last thing she'd thought she'd dance with anyone to, Johnny Cash.
Her blond hair blew over her tinted rose cheek bones, as he slowly, and gently twirled her around him, pulling her back in his arms.
She felt like, she was in the fifties, with all the pin up girls who wore the beautiful dresses. She bet they danced, and fell inlove to Johnny Cash, he was probably an idol to them back then. So without all the urban, and everyone around her, would it be okay for a girl like her to do the same?
"I fell for you, Like a child; Ohh, But The fire went wild" Johnny sang on.
She was happy. For the first time in a long time, she was truly happy. After all that she had been through, or was going through, in this moment, had it all paid off? For something so sweet, something so unexpected, and out of the ordinary to happen to her. Something so touching, so lovely, and so endearing.
And that something, was happening to her.
She gave a large smile, infact the largest smile she had felt she had ever given all by herself, without anyone provoking it.
She slid her fingers into his short, bristly grey hair, and gave him a tender peck on the cheek.
She felt, in life, there was nothing more to ask for, then to be with the ones, and currently the one you care about.
Right now.
And, dancing, to her now favorite, beloved artist. Johnny Cash. memories, like this made life last a life time.
"I went down, and the flames got higher;"
"And it burns, burns, burns, The ring of fire,"
"The ring of fire;"
"The ring of fire;"