Page 70 of Pretty Broken Things

“Yeah, I’m sure you were all really concerned. I bet you scoured the entire campus for me. I’ve been gone for months,” I reply.

“Well, I thought we’d hear from you after we survived an assault by Raven’s dad,” he starts to say.

“Who the hell is Raven?”

He sighs. “I forget how out of the loop you are. You mentioned that Alice wasn’t her name, and you were right. Her real name is Raven, she’s the daughter of a crime lord, and Jackson goes by Sin but his name is actually Jackson. They were in hiding because her father wanted to sell her in some marriage contract to a skeevy old dude. So that should catch you up.”

“And there was an assault? I assume her dad found her then? You said you survived, so what exactly are you calling to tell me? I’m glad everyone survived. I’m sorry you had to go through whatever happened, but I don’t see how this is my business anymore. You all turned your backs on me. You know that I’m not the evil shrew Ford has been painting me as, yet you are as bad as he is. Let’s call it as it is. You pretend to be my friend when it suits you, but if Ford hands you a knife you won’t think twice about plunging it into my back.”

“Fuck, you’re wound pretty tight. I actually did want to check on you. I thought you’d be interested in hearing what kind of badass Raven is. She took out several of her father’s men with a bow and arrow. I’ve seen her throwing knives too. It reminded me of you back when Ford taught you how to shoot out in the desert.”

“Yeah, hearing more about her makes my day,” I grumble. The truth is I don’t dislike her, but that doesn’t mean I like her either. She and I hurt each other, and I’m not sure either of us can ever move past something like that. But I don’t blame her.

“Well, then maybe you’d be interested in hearing that she and Sin ran off and eloped,” he mentions.

“Mmm, well pass along my congratulations,” I say.

“That’s it? She’s not in the way between you and Ford anymore,” he presses.

I exhale out my frustration and take a moment to breathe. A trick I’ve learned in therapy. “She never was in the way. I don’t know why you insist on pushing this. I think you want Ford and I together more than he ever did. It’s time we all let that idea fade.”

“So you won’t come back?” he asks.

“Not unless something really bad happens. In fact if you ever see me in Playa again, you should assume I’m there under duress,” I insist.

“Well, I’m glad to hear we meant so little to you,” he grumbles.

“You mean as much to me as I ever did to any of you. Have a nice life, Shane. I hope we never have to speak again.” I hang up the phone.

Little did I know at that moment I would soon have to eat those words.

* * *

After my phonecall with Shane, I start ignoring random phone calls. A few days after he and I spoke, my phone starts ringing every few minutes. Benji is in the other room, probably ironing his socks, or whatever sickeningly perfect men do for fun.

I did check it earlier just to make sure it wasn’t my mom, but I didn’t recognize the number and it was from a California area code. I plan on letting it go to voicemail again, but Benji answers it for me.

At first he’s his usual upbeat self, but I can hear the panic in his voice. “She isn’t strong enough.”

I creep closer to where he’s standing, and ask him, “What am I not strong enough for?”

He doesn’t want to give me my phone, but he knows I’m going to find out eventually. “Please don’t do it. For once, Tessie, choose yourself.”

Now I’m really worried. “Benji, give me the phone.” I hold out my hand.

“Please,” he implores me one more time as he puts the phone in my hand.

“Hello?” I greet like I’m asking a question.

“Oh thank god you’ve finally answered.”

“Tracy?”

“Listen,” she sounds rushed and afraid. “I don’t have much time. I need you, Tessa. Lydia fell for this abusive asshole, and I tried to get her to leave, but now I’m stuck too. If I leave he says he’ll hurt her. Tessa, they know stuff about all of us. They know that Ford and Shane have made some new friends, and they know that you are Ford’s weak spot.”

I snort. “Yeah, well they’ve got some seriously outdated information.”

“Now isn’t the time for jokes. The guy Lydia got mixed up with, Kyle, is a complete asshole. He’s got a massive obsession with some chick named Raven. He thought he could use us to get to Ford, but I guess the plan changed. I don’t know, but they’ve settled on me getting you to help.”

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