Disclaimer: Same as in Chapter 1. Enjoy!
She Knew Him When ...
"Shane Pierce, you're a big, fat jerk!"
Body swiveling from where she'd been skipping rocks since lunch, Sarah Wellington looked up towards the sound of her older sister's voice. She didn't have to search long as three teenagers crashed through the woods, irritation lacing the air around them.
The girl, Sarah knew as her older sister. "Terrific Trish" Shea jokingly dubbed her. And being that she was "terrific" in every sense of the word, who was going to argue with it?
With her shoulder-length mahogany curls and light steps, she chased after the other two boys who were obviously picking on one another.
One was short, wearing the gawkiness that came with early adolescence. More than likely he always would. He was throwing snide comments at the other boy, who was managing to keep a good distance ahead. Tall, already bulky for his age with sandy hair and a strong, hard jaw, he turned at the sound of her sister's voice to give her a withering look.
"One, anyone's bigger than you, Trish. Two, it's called MUSCLE-"
A snort of laughter erupted from the shorter, dark-haired boy. Towering over him, the other boy glowered, then shoved him. Hard.
"Go ahead, J.D. Laugh it up. I can add a fat lip to that black eye."
"Like to see you try, Shane!" J.D. taunted, his wiry frame easily ducking as the taller boy swung at him.
"Henry!" Trish shouted. Her dark curls bounced as she jumped back, and out of the way of the brawl. "Jimmy!"
The two boys quickly appeared with another girl, slighter and pale despite the constant sunshine. Sarah squinted at the group, her boredom quickly forgotten as the tension mounted.
But then, things were always tense when Shane and J.D. were around one another. Or Shane and anyone for that matter.
Anxiously dancing on her toes as the scene unfolded, Sarah wanted to call to them. But she didn't want to risk the patronizing looks or the annoyed sighs that always followed when she showed up with Trish.
"Come on, J.D.," Henry grabbed his younger brother's arm, pulling him back. His voice was quiet as he spoke again. "It's not worth it."
"That's right, J.D.," Shane jeered. His lips twisted into a smirk. "It's not worth getting into a fight you can't win."
"Don't think so, island boy?" J.D. shouted over Henry's shoulder, nearly jumping up to be seen as Jimmy moved in front of Shane.
"Know so, summer kid," he spat. "You don't know these woods like I do. I could find you in my sleep-in the dark-and still kick your ass!"
"Yeah, well last I counted I have four friends willing to back me up. How many do you have?"
Shane's face visibly tightened and though his stance seemed to relax, without warning he lunged forward, beyond Jimmy and past Henry as he slammed into J.D. The two went down, fists flying.
"Shane, stop it!" Abby Mills was shouting at the older boy as Henry and Jimmy tried to wrestle the two apart. "You're hurting him!"
"Good!" Shane's snarled. "Freak punk-oomph!"
"That's enough!" Jimmy shouted, gripping his friend around the waist, pulling hard. His hair fell in his face, making it hard for him to see. "Damnit, Shane, stop!"
"J.D.!" Henry sounded angry as he yanked his younger brother back, shoving him past Trish and Abby. "Come on, man! You want mom and dad to freak out when they see you covered in scrapes, bruises, and God knows what else?"
J.D. didn't answer, but glared at Shane. He wiped a smear of blood away from his mouth, then spat on the ground.
"You can get cleaned up at my house," Abby offered softly. Henry threw her a grateful look. "Mom's playing canasta with a few ladies from the church. And Dad's…"
"At work," Trish said ruefully. "That's a great idea. Henry?"
"Just a minute," he said, raising his finger. He walked closer to Jimmy, but not one step nearer to Shane. He seemed to want to keep his distance. "You don't touch my brother again, you got it? You have a problem with us-deal. Because we're here for the summer-every summer. So get over it or find a new hobby, because whatever this thing is? It's getting old, Shane. Real old."
Shane sniffed as he touched his mouth gingerly.
"Whatever. No, don't, Jimmy," he pushed his friends hand away. "I'm done here. I'm gone."
"Good." Jimmy looked back at Abby, carefully backing away. "Go cool off, Shane. I'll see you later."
The older boy didn't reply as he stalked off, leaving the others feeling drained from the fight.
"Is J.D. allright?"
Trish whirled, surprised to see her younger sister there.
"Sarah!" she exclaimed, hugging her. "Don't tell me you saw all that?"
"I was down there," she replied, looking down at the stream. "That happens a lot, doesn't it?"
"With guys like Shane around, yeah." Henry moved closer, his mouth in a tense line. "Unfortunately."
"Henry." Trish's voice was a soft warning. Catching it, he sighed.
"Don't worry about it, Sarah. J.D.'s fine. He comes from good, strong Dunn stock!" He finished his exclamation striking a strong-man pose. "Grr."
Sarah laughed at his antics while Trish smiled fondly. Pleased, Henry let out his own laugh and joined them, looking down to Sarah.
"Shane's not a good person," he told her. "He likes to pick on people because it makes him feel good inside. I don't know why. But if you remember what bad people are like, as you grow up, you'll be able to separate the Pierce's of the worlds, from-"
"From the Dunn's," Trish finished, making Henry smile at her.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." He then tweaked Sarah's nose as he moved past the sisters. Trish looked at him quickly then back at her younger sister.
"Don't forget." She laid a gentle hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Daddy wants us back at the Candlewick for dinner at six."
Folding up her left arm towards her chest, Sarah pointed to the silver and blue face of her watch.
"I set the alarm this morning. I'll be back by 5:30."
"Ok. Great." Trish smiled brightly over her shoulder at Henry. He was waiting patiently by a heavily knotted tree. A warmth seemed to fill his eyes as he looked back at her. Jimmy and Abby had already run off in J.D.'s direction, leaving just the three of them.
Turning back around, Trish's hand brushed down Sarah's arm, taking her hand to squeeze it as she started back. "I'll see you then. And please, please don't get into trouble. You know how worried Daddy gets about you running around by yourself. Besides, I don't want anything happening to my favorite little sister."
"Yeah. I know." Sarah licked her lips quickly, pushing her hair behind her ears. "But you know, I wouldn't be running off by myself if I could come with you guys."
"You'd be bored," Trish laughed as she reached Henry's side. They shared a look. "Trust me, Sarah. We're not doing anything exciting. Maybe when you're a little older-" Her voice broke off with a squeal as Henry tickled her.
"Hey Sarah," he said, all dark eyes and hair, friendly and benign as he gave her an easy smile. "There's a campfire tomorrow night near the bluffs. Sherriff Mills promised ghost stories and Abby's mom always brings s'mores. They're killer. You can hang out with us then. Sound good?"
"Sounds good," she echoed softly, returning his smile a little shyly. Henry's smile broadened and he nudged Trish down the path a ways.
"Cool." Trish gave her a quick wave as Henry threw back at her, "Be good!"
Sarah waved at their retreating figures, listening to the two chatter as they ran to catch up with their friends.
"…so good with her."
"Yeah, well, as you've seen, I know what it's like to have a younger sibling."
Sarah looked after them wistfully, wanting to go with them, but when she glanced down at her watch, she knew she'd wasted enough time wishing and whining to herself. She'd go find her own fun. Just like she did every summer.
Cheering up at the thought of a new adventure, Sarah took off in her sneakers, running through a well-used trail. She jumped over logs that were suddenly fire-breathing dragons and ducked under branches that became the gnarled hands of wicked witches, itching to catch her by her long, dark hair.
She played for hours and was so caught up she didn't even hear the other person coming until they bowled right into one another, knocking each other flat onto the forest floor.
There was a moment of utter stillness, then a violent rush of movement to her left.
Sarah had to take a few deep breaths as she rolled over. She'd landed hard-harder than the time she'd belly-flopped at the pool. Inhaling sharply as she pushed herself into a sitting position, she could hear the other person muttering angrily. Her eyes blinked rapidly to rid themselves of tears. Her hands were hurting.
"Jesus H.- watch where you're going!"
"I'm sorry." Sarah started to apologize as she carefully brushed damp earth from her jeans with the back of her hands. Then she began taking in her scraped palms. There were cuts, and they were starting to bleed.
"Ah, hell."
Sarah stopped her inspection and stared up into the very sour face of one Shane Pierce.
"Should have known it was you."
"I said I was sorry," she repeated more firmly. Her fingers flexed around her palms as she stood up. They were really starting to sting. "I was playing-"
"Like I care." Shane picked up the hat he'd dropped and pulled it over his hair. "Get lost, menace."
"I am not a menace!" Sarah snapped, annoyed that her eyes were filling with tears once more. "But my sister and Henry are right about you. You are a big, fat jerk and you're bad!"
Unexpectedly, Shane's bruised lips parted in a true grin. It almost made him look friendly. Almost.
"Whatever, kid. You look like a mess, you know that?"
Sarah bit her lip in response. She could only imagine how she looked. But her injured pride and hands temporarily left her silent.
"Hello? Princess, you in there?" A large hand waved itself in front of her face, startling Sarah.
"I hurt my hands," she answered, holding them out for him to see.
Breathing loudly through his nose, the much taller boy turned around to leave.
"Well, boo hoo. Go cry to Daddy," Shane tossed over his shoulder. He was brushing leaves from his shirt as he walked on. "You've made me late for work. My dad's gonna be pissed."
"I didn't mean to run into you. But I can't go back yet." Sarah ran to catch up with him. Her breath coming out in soft pants as he tried to evade her. "I promised I wouldn't be so-"
"Stupid?"
"Careless," Sarah frowned up at him as he stopped abruptly. Shane looked as if he were going to say something, but he took a hard look at her and seemed to change his mind. Instead he nodded his head over his shoulder. It was a terse, jerky movement.
"We have a first-aid kit on the boat. You can clean up there."
"Thank you," Sarah mumbled.
Shane didn't comment, but walked on in stony silence down the path to the marina. He took long, easy strides that she had to keep up with, but she did it quietly. One of the boat houses came into view, letting them know they were almost to their destination when Shane glanced at her over his shoulder.
"You sure you're a Wellington, kid?"
"I don't understand," Sarah replied, her face clearly showing her puzzlement. Shane shrugged as he grabbed a nearby basket and anchored it on his hip.
"I mean, you're just as annoying, don't get me wrong. But your mom and sisters, they act, you know, like girls. Dress like 'em, too." His look in her direction spoke volumes. From the top of her tousled head to her scuffed up feet, she didn't exactly fit the typical Wellington mold. "They're more…refined."
"Oh. That." Sarah understood quickly, sidestepping some rope as the Pride and Joy came into view. "Mother says I'm too high-spirited to wear the clothes she used to buy me. I'd ruin them really quickly and it would get Daddy upset, so I don't wear the nice clothes unless it's necessary. Mother told me that I shouldn't worry about it, I should enjoy myself and live life!" A small smile touched her lips and she shrugged. "Shea says I'll grow out of it when I'm older. Whatever that means."
"It means you're not a lost cause," Shane translated, his tone dry. "One day the duck will become a frickin' swan."
"I'm not ugly!" Sarah shouted, clearly understanding the implication. After all, what moron didn't know the story of the Ugly Duckling. She stomped her feet against the dock angrily. "You take that back, Shane. You take that back right now!"
Surprised by the burst of temper, the older boy slowed his stride and turned to peer down at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Look, kid, don't get all bent out of shape. I didn't say you were beat over the head with the ugly stick. I'm just saying you're not like your sisters, that's all. Or your mom. It's not necessarily a bad thing." The corner's of his mouth twitched a little. "Even if you are still a menace to yourself and others."
Sarah's mouth fell open to protest, but he was already walking away, laughing.
"Where is your mom anyway?" he asked when she caught up. He stepped onto his Dad's boat smoothly, taking her elbow to help her on. He squinted up into the sun as he gauged the time. "Haven't seen her yet this summer. She go on a cruise around the world or something?"
Sarah's expression clouded over as she was seated on a small chair.
"Mother's sick."
Rummaging through a bench, Shane nodded absently. Kicking the basket aside, he moved onto the next one, finding the elusive object.
"Yeah, my mom had the flu a few weeks back. Summer bugs suck." He stood back up with the first-aid kit in his hands. "But she got better. She's back to ragging on my dad and me to keep the business going."
"My mom isn't going to get better."
Shane's breath hitched sharply, the softly spoken words catching him off guard. He fiddled with the kit a little awkwardly before sitting down in front of her. Silently he took out the items needed for her to clean her hands, then shook his head.
"I'll do it," he snapped, when she reached for the peroxide. "You just…just sit."
There was nothing but the soft lapping of the water against the boat and the occasional murmur of conversation from passing fishermen as Shane cleaned out Sarah's wounds.
She was surprised at how careful he was being. The peroxide felt worse than a hornet's sting, but her pain was eased by the fact that he was being very gentle.
His face was intense as he finished, carefully wrapping her palms with gauze before taping them closed. Running a hand over his head, his hat came off, exposing his sandy waves and a bruise from the earlier fight.
"Sorry about your mom." Sarah looked up at him in surprise. He shrugged, looking down at the knit hat in his hands as he turned it around. "That sucks, too."
"Yeah," she agreed quietly. "It sucks."
A bark of laughter erupted before he could stop it. Shane shook his head, offering the younger girl a water before moving to sit down beside her to look at the horizon.
"It'll be ok, Sarah. Things will be bad for a while, and you and your sisters will still be annoying as all hell," he smirked at the severe frown on her young face. "But it'll be ok. Eventually."
Sarah looked back up at him. He was thirteen, angry at everything it seemed, and most everyone said he was a bad person. But for some reason he was being nice to her. Could a genuinely bad person be this thoughtful? Shane Pierce, she decided then, was a very strange, unpredictable boy. And that was ok. Not bad.
Her eyes drifted back to the water and she closed them, inhaling deeply, taking in the salty air. She enjoyed the soothing movements as the boat rocked, and in that moment agreed that things would be all right.
She swallowed hard. They just had to be.
"Thanks, Shane," she sniffed, wipping at her eyes as they opened.
A hand patted her head softly, rubbing the hair on top.
"Sure thing, kid. Sure thing."