Page 12 of Overdue

“Nah, I thought we could get to know each other better over here. You know, away from the crowd,” Billy says with a shrug. Oh, okay. I’m not completely sure about this, but it’s my first real party. Maybe this is how it’s done. Soon, we’re by the cars parked end to end along the road.

“We do that so we can get out quickly if we hear the cops coming,” Billy says.

“Oh.” I don’t know what else to add to that. I guess it doesn’t matter what I say. Billy spins me around so I’m facing him. He pins me against the nearest car. I don’t like this.

His mouth is suddenly on mine. I try to protest, but that just allows him to push his tongue inside my mouth. I push against him, but he doesn’t budge.

Then he’s gone. Just like that. I’m standing against the car when I slowly open my eyes. Billy is lying on his back in the middle of the road. What’s happened? Billy quickly scrambles to his feet, screaming obscenities.

I know it’s not the most adult thing, but I don’t want to be a part of this anymore. I close my eyes and cover my ears. Fine, I’m not as mature as I thought. If every party involves some older guy trying to shove his tongue down my throat, I’ll pass.

“I said, get in the fucking truck!” Someone grabs my forearm and drags me toward the end of the line of vehicles. I open my eyes to see Billy bent over in the middle of the road holding his nose. If Billy’s over there, who’s dragging me away?

I scream and swing my fist at whoever has the vise grip on my arm. My fist is easily blocked. Before I can try again, I’m thrown in the front seat of another truck. No. Is this how women go missing? Will my parents wake up in the morning only to find me gone? My mind races. I need to remember everything I can about my abductor in case I get free.

Taking a deep breath, I look over at the driver’s side to the man next to me. I stare into the angriest set of blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Reed. My breath whooshes out all at once. This isn’t an abduction. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but at least I know I’m safe. Reed would never hurt me. Not physically anyway.

“Pull down your goddamn skirt,” he growls, staring at my thighs. His tone makes me jump. I struggle to pull the extra material from around my waist. It’s no use. The belt is holding it fast.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he growls again. That steely glare is pointed right at me. I can feel the tears threatening. I hate to cry. “Do you want to be labeled a slut through high school? Do you know what could have happened to you out here by yourself?” The first tear rolls down my cheeks. “I find you at one of these again, I’ll bend you over my knee and redden your ass myself.”

“Why are you being so mean? I didn’t ask Billy to kiss me. Is that why you’re mad?” Now I’m ugly crying. Great. Reed will never let me live this down. Why did he have to scream at me? It’s Billy he should be mad at. “Are you mad because I had a beer?” He spins to face me with a scowl, and I flinch. “I didn’t even finish it.”

I can see he wants to say something. Instead, he takes a deep breath. He holds both hands up like I’m some skittish colt. Slowly, he slides one hand behind the seat to pull out a roll of paper towels. He tears one off to hand to me.

I imagine I look like a horror show. No doubt the makeup I “borrowed” from Eliot is now smeared all over my face.

Reed starts his truck and pulls onto the road. Billy must have wandered back to the party since he isn’t still standing in the middle of the road. We drive in silence all the way into town until we reach my house.

I don’t even look at him. I hop out of the truck before Reed can come to a full stop. I’m jogging toward the side of the house when I hear his voice.

“Where are you going?” he hisses. He takes hold of my arm and pulls me to a stop. We’re standing in the middle of the front yard. My parents will catch us if we don’t hurry. I don’t want to be grounded for sneaking out believe it or not.

“I snuck out. I have to climb up the trellis on the side to get back in.” He can’t possibly be this dense.

“Yeah, I figured. You’re not going to have to worry about that for a while.” He spins me around and marches me to the front door.

“Please, Reed,” I beg, wrestling to get out of his grip. “They’ll ground me.” Duh. How is he not getting this?

“Good. Then I don’t have to troll every party in town every weekend looking for you.” He pounds on the front door, tightening his hold on my arm. I’ll have a bruise there in the morning. If I live that long.

Mom answers the door with a smile. It quickly turns to a scowl when she takes in Reed and his stupid death grip on me.

“Hello, Mrs. Caraway. I brought Austen home from the party out at the beach.”

Mom’s eyes narrow as she glares at me. Odds are high, I’ll be in my room for years.

“Thank you, Reed,” she says.

Without another word, he turns and walks back to his truck. I slink into the house trying to not make eye contact with Mom. Every bad word I’ve ever heard flies through my brain as I try to decide which one fits Reed best. The wanking douchebag? I’m not sure what that is, but it sounds appropriate.

Mom grounds me for the last two months of the school year. I heard Billy showed back up at school with two black eyes and a busted nose. He claims he doesn’t remember where he got them.

Eliot’s giving me the silent treatment. I can’t tell if it’s because I stole her makeup and clothes, or because I had two boys fight over me at a party. Eliot never goes to parties. Maybe she’d have boys fight over her if she did. As for Reed, he’s ignoring me, which suits me just fine.

* * *

There’s a faint knock at the door. I have a wet spot on my calendar. Did I fall asleep at my desk? That’s pathetic.

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