8
The drive was slow and long and I was still very unsure of where Mr. Bowers was taking me. He couldn't take me to jail, could he? Surely, he didn't catch Henry and I bluntly in the act? I thought of asking but I thought against it. I was afraid he was going to start yelling or blow up and shower me with racial slurs. I stared out the window at the many trees that we passed. We had purposely driven far out into the forest so no one would find us.
"So here's what's going to happen." he finally replied and looked at me through the rearview mirror. His eyes were tired and old, but also blunt and hard. "I'm going to drop you off at home… and you will never hang around my boy again." I stared at him for a moment in thought scanning the ground for an answer before feeling my face sour up in a frown. I looked up at him and shook my head.
"No." I said and his eyes shined with rage.
"Look, girl. I don't know how long this thing between you two has been going on, but it stops right now." he said aggressively and I just shook my head. This man, this human man, did not know what we had gone through years back. He does not know about the blood magic Henry performed to bring me back to life, to bring my spirit back to my body. There was no way in hell I was going to lose him now.
"You can go fuck yourself." I said and now the car came to a screeching halt and my body jerked forward some due to the unexpected stop. Mr. Bowers is out of the car quickly and the passenger side opens and I am pulled out from the car and forced on the side of it.
"Just who the hell do you think you are!" he snapped and I just stared at him feeling my adrenaline rushing.
"A girl who loves your son." I said and he scoffs.
"You don't know love. You're both kids. This is just a phase, a disgusting phase." he says. I shrugged.
"And why is that? Henry is a boy and I am a girl. Would you rather he dates a boy?" I asked and he gripped my cheeks hard and pointed at me with hard eyes. Oh yeah I struck a nerve big time.
"Shut your goddamn mouth. My son doesn't need your kind in his life. I will never approve of it." he said.
"Why? Because of my character or because of the mere color of my skin?" I asked and he just stared at me furious. "Go on say it. I'd rather hear it from an honest racist than one who is in denial." His lips curled into a snarl before he backed away and just placed his hands on his hips and paced some. I shrugged at him now.
"Do you have any idea what goes on in Henry's life? He's doing so well in school and he hasn't gotten into trouble." I said.
"Oh and I supposed I should have you to thank for that?" he snapped and I shook my head.
"No. That's all Henry. He chose to get himself together… but I will say maybe it's the company he's kept that has encouraged him to want to better himself. Isn't that what you want of your son?" I asked and he just shook his head as if blocking out everything I was saying. He marched up to me again and pointed at me once more.
"I catch you near my boy and I will put out a restraining order against you. I will do whatever I have to. Don't test me." he said and I just looked down some before nodding.
"Yes sir." I replied quietly. He nodded satisfied and opened the door for me and I got back in. The car took off again. The car pulled up at my home after fifteen minutes, and I got out of the car and stopped for a second and looked back at him.
"You know the son always mimics the father." I said and he squinted at me.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" he asked and I just shook my head.
"Nothing." I said and turned and walked up the stairs of the house and got inside. If there was anything I was sure of, I was sure that Officer Bowers still had a thing for my mom. Like his son, he didn't believe in his own bullshit. I walked inside and saw mom coming from the kitchen.
"Hey honey… are you okay?" she asked and I nodded.
"Yes. Tired from my walk." I replied softly and she nodded.
"Okay… well I have some news. Your grandma isn't doing so well. She's had some chest pains in the last few weeks." she informed and I looked at her with more concern.
"Is it serious?" I asked and she shook her head.
"We don't know. So I am going to pack tonight and take a trip to Louisiana and visit her and your Aunt Deva first thing in the morning. I know you still have school so you'll stay here," she said. I blinked at her words. So I'd have the entire house to myself. "Now that means you'll be alone for about a week or two, but you know my rules. No boys, drugs or parties." I nodded.
"Yes ma'am. What about the bakery?" I asked.
"It'll be closed until I come back I'm afraid." She said.
I only sighed and nodded and moved off to my room. Great more stress. I stripped and got in the shower and just stood under the shower head. The water was warm and nice, but it did not calm my nerves. All I could think off was Henry. What was his dad going to do to him? What if they have a fight and Mr. Bowers hurts him worse than ever? I ran my fingers over my hair feeling fresh tears fall from my cheeks from everything that's happened today.
And today was still young. Once I was clean, I took my car and drove to Mike's place. I know I should have probably gone to Beverly's place and cried on her shoulder, but I didn't want to cry and I didn't want to deal with another girl's emotion especially with the love triangle that's going on with her, Bill and Ben. We were both sitting on his porch. He was in basketball shorts and a white wife beater.
"Damn, a restraining order?" he asked and I nodded slowly.
"Yeah." I said and he blew out some air.
"That's rough… he didn't catch ya'll doing it did he?" he asked. I shook my head.
"I don't think so. But I don't even think he believes his own shit. I mean the way he spoke to my mom, he digs her." I said and he shrugs.
"That's the world of a white, heterosexual male. They feel they can change how they feel and expect everyone to be okay with it." he said. I closed my eyes feeling tears fall down my cheek.
"It's fucked up." I said and he nodded wrapping his arm around me and pulling me into him.
"It is." he agreed. "But hey you can go back to sneaking around again." I nodded slowly hating the thought of not being able to hold Henry's hand or kiss him when I want.
"It's bad enough my grandma is sick so my mom's going to be gone and then I saw this thing-"
"Woah woah woah, you're mom's going to be gone? Like out of town?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yeah." I replied and he shrugged, eyes sparkling.
"Okay so we should get the gang together and just relax at your place, watch some movies, pop some popcorn. Leave the stress to the adults." he said and I shrugged.
"I don't know. I told my mom I wouldn't have people over." I said and he gave me a look.
"Girl come on these are our final years together before we have to all separate and go to college and do other things. We HAVE to live it up. Now that that crazy clown is gone, it's time to party… maturely." he said and I just chuckled at him. We heard screeching and saw a car speed up and stop in front of Mike's house. We both stood up and saw it was Patrick and Vic.
"Woah! What's going on here?" Pat yelled out with obvious suspicion. I rolled my eyes and Mike just groaned and annoyance.
"These guys." he muttered.
"I am talking to my friend. I assumed you have heard?" I asked trying to keep my voice down as the two boys exited the car. Pat was a lot taller, with clearer skin and deviant eyes. His hair was still shaggy and just barely passed his shoulder. Vic kept his blonde cut, and still had an innocent baby face. Pat shook his head.
"Heard what?" he asked crossing his arms. I looked down with annoyance feeling my hands curl into fists.
"Henry's dad caught us… he said I couldn't see him anymore." I said hating the fact I have to repeat myself. Both Pat and Vic's eyes widened and looked pained.
"Oh shit." Vic said and I nodded slowly.
"Yeah." I said.
"What his old man say?" Pat asked.
"He said if he catches us together he is going to put a restraining order out against me." I said. Both boys shook their heads and groaned.
"Well we were just about to go to his place. We should get over there make sure his dad doesn't go too crazy on him." Pat said. I nodded already thinking of that.
"Yes please." I said and both boys nodded and sped back to Pat's car. They hopped in and drove off. I closed my eyes and shook my head at the thought. Mike nudged my shoulder some.
"Well if you have nothing else to do, I was going to go meet Bill and the others at the lake. Want to ride with me?" he asked. The thought of being around my friends gave me great comfort and I nodded.
"Yeah sure." I said and followed him over to his car.