Bruises of the Heart (9 page)

"Oh, that country school. You must absolutely detest it there with nothing to do and all of those farm children. I'm sure that you'll be happy when the year is over," she said, as if we "farm children" were carriers of the plague.

"It is very small, but the benefits outweigh the fact that there is very little to do there. I hope you have a good time today," Will responded.

"Oh, I'm sure that I will. Your parents' parties always provide some very entertaining moments. It's nice that those unbelievable accusations of a few months ago haven't put a damper on your spirit. I see Jane over there, and I must know how that daughter of hers is doing."

With that, we were suddenly alone and I felt like I had been emotionally beaten. The few times I had tried to extricate my hand from his so I could escape the stares and comments of so many, he had only held on tighter. Now, as Will towed me to the garden, I wanted nothing more than for a big hole to open up at my feet so I could jump in and pull the earth over my head. Anger, embarrassment, and resentment were bubbling to the surface.

He finally stopped at the same bench we had sat on earlier, only now I didn't find it very peaceful. "Now that that's over, we can spend a little time alone before we need to make another appearance for dinner," he said, acting as if nothing had happened.

I stared at him for a moment, trying to order my suddenly scattered thoughts. Was he just oblivious to the embarrassment I'd just endured at the hands of people he knew, and who apparently knew him very well? Or did he just not care?

"I'm not going to dinner. I was just ridiculed and embarrassed by all of those people and I'm not going to go and pretend that it didn't happen and endure more of it. Is that why you invited me? So you could show me off and let everyone tell me what a stupid little town I live in?"

Will's face had gone from disbelief to anger by the time I had finished. I tried to remember the way out of the garden back to the safety of the patio, but I was having a little trouble thinking at the moment, probably in part because of the alcohol still making me feel funny. Will was slowly standing up from where he'd been seated on the bench, and I was slowly edging my way back toward what I was hoping was the way out.

Before I could even turn to run, he had hold of my arm in a grip I was sure would leave a bruise before the day was over. He stared into my eyes and I cringed away from him, even though I hated doing it. His eyes were on fire and his face chiseled from stone. I had a sudden image of him in a black hoodie, but I pushed the confusing picture from my mind. Now was not the time.

He leaned very close to me, grabbing my chin so I had to look at his face, and whispered forcefully, "How dare you question my motives for bringing you here? Yes, I wanted to show you off to my parents' friends, but that's because I love you, not because I wanted them to embarrass you. Now, you are going to dinner. Because I will not allow you to embarrass me."

I felt him sink his fingers further into my arm and I gasped from the pain. He smiled, as if assuming that by hurting me, he could make me agree with him.

"I'm sorry that you made me hurt you. I didn't mean to, but I really want you to stay for dinner. Come on, we'll go back to the party and see how soon dinner will be."

Again, I was towed out of the garden. I was trying to figure out a way to leave the party and not end up with more bruises. I didn't believe him when he had sort of offered an apology for hurting me.

"Have the two of you been hiding in the garden this whole time? I was just coming to find you," Grace said. "Will, I need you to go quietly announce to our guests that dinner will begin shortly. Some of them have wandered away here and there."

I took the opportunity to speak in front of witnesses. "I'm sorry, but I can't stay for dinner," I said, feeling Will's hand tighten around my wrist. "My mom is going to come and pick me up so Will doesn't have to leave the party."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope that you had a good time while you were here," Grace replied.

"Yes, thank you."

"Well, we'll see you again soon then. Will, the guests. I'll see Victoria out."

Will stiffly turned away and went to gather the guests, but the look in his eyes gave me a chill.

Grace escorted me as far as the kitchen. I hurried through the rest of the house to the front door. I had my cell out and was dialing my mom by the time I stepped off the bottom step. I thought if I made it to the street I would be safe.

My mom answered the phone just as I reached the end of the drive. I must have run down the whole thing and hadn't even realized it. "Victoria? Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, but can you come and get me? Will and I had a fight and I don't want to stay here."

"Of course I'll come and get you."

"I've already left and started walking toward home. I'm sure that you'll see me."

"Well, you could have waited at his house for me to come and get you. I don't like the idea of you walking home, even if it is only part way," she said, sounding concerned. I heard the truck start in the background and knew she was already on her way. I blew out a breath of relief and the tension in my belly started to ease a little bit.

"Honey, are you sure that you're okay? You sound upset," my mom said.

"I'll be okay," I said, ending the conversation, but keeping my phone in my hand.

It wasn't a complete lie, but it still wasn't the whole truth, either. I hated lying to her. She'd made sure we had a very open relationship so I'd feel comfortable telling her anything, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to tell her about what had been happening with Will. I was too embarrassed I had let myself get into this situation, and I needed to be the one to get myself out of it.

I turned to look over my shoulder at the sound of every approaching car, nervous it would be him. Then I heard a car approaching and it was slowing down.

My heart was hammering in my chest and I started to walk faster. I thought about kicking off my sandals and running, but with my luck I would end up falling flat on my face. I heard a horn honk and then someone yelled my name, but it wasn't Will's voice. I looked over to see a truck, with the one person I never expected to see sitting behind the wheel.

Noah was looking at me with a confused expression and I was able to give him a small smile. I walked over to the curb where his truck was idling and peered in through the open window.

"Are you just out enjoying the fresh air? Do you need a ride?" he asked.

"No, I called Mom and she's on her way to get me. What are you doing in Fairview?" I asked, confused.

"I had to run in to pick something up for my dad. Seriously, what are you doing?"

"I had a fight with Will," I said, not wanting to share any details.

"I can't say that I'm not happy about that," he said with the same half-smile that had always sent my heart racing. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Like I said, I called Mom and she's on her way to pick me up. I told her that I was walking, so she'll be here soon." I smiled back at him genuinely.

I heard another vehicle slow down. I assumed it was my mom and she had seen me, but as I looked to the back of Noah's truck, I saw a shiny black car and knew things had just gone from bad to worse.

Will got out and slammed the door shut so forcefully that the car wobbled. I felt rather than saw Noah get out of his truck and circle around the front of it to stand slightly behind me. I felt better with him there, but I also didn't want him to witness or get involved with what might happen next.

"So this is who you called to come and get you?" he yelled. "I can't believe that you would do this to me. First you embarrass me by running out of the party, and now I come to find out that
…
what? You're cheating on me behind my back?"

I was shaking my head during his whole speech and hoping things wouldn't escalate from where they were. "No, I called my mom to come and get me. Noah was driving by and saw me walking. He was just wondering if I needed anything. There's nothing going on, I swear."

"Yeah, right. No wonder you couldn't wait to get out of there," he said, starting toward me.

I instinctively started to back up and bumped into Noah, who grabbed my upper arms so I wouldn't fall. I winced from the pain his gentle touch had caused, and he noticed. "What's wrong? Did he hurt you?" Noah hoarsely asked.

I shook my head, not taking my eyes from a still-advancing Will. I perceived him to be the real threat at the moment and I didn't want Noah getting hurt.

"You need to stop right where you are," said Noah, stepping around me. "It's obvious that she's scared of you right now and I would love to know why. Then maybe I'd have an actual reason to beat the crap out of you."

"Noah, stop. It's okay."

"No it isn't," he said, never taking his eyes from Will. "I've seen you change since you started seeing him, and not in a good way. I've already told you how I feel about the past, but this right now doesn't feel right. You can't honestly tell me that you feel safe."

I just looked over Noah's shoulder since he still hadn't turned around to look at me. He was staring at Will.

For his part, Will had stopped when Noah had told him to. Now he was looking even angrier, though I couldn't understand why. Then he took a few steps forward and my heart seized.

Noah mirrored his steps. I threw my arms around him to keep him from going any farther, while looking over his shoulder to gauge Will's reaction. Noah put his hands on mine and took two steps back. I expected him to pry my hands away, which he could have done easily, but he didn't.

"What, you're going to let a girl stop you?" Will taunted. "Are you afraid to actually see whether or not you could beat me up?"

I felt Noah tense and I squeezed him in response. He instantly relaxed again and squeezed my hands to reassure me.

I heard a door slam and then footsteps quickly approaching. I tentatively looked over my shoulder to see my mom running to where the three of us were standing. "Hey, what's going on here? What are you two boys arguing about?" She shot me a look full of concern and confusion.

I let go of Noah, confident he wouldn't do anything more with her here, but he continued to hold one of my hands. I was confused, but still too worried to think about it right then.

"There's no problem here, Mrs. Williams. I was just asking a few questions," Noah answered.

Through clenched teeth, Will said, "Yeah, we were just discussing something is all."

"Should I conclude that 'something' was my daughter?"

Noah and Will only stared at each other, and the look I was receiving from Will should have ignited me on the spot. I felt guilty standing with Noah, but right then I didn't really care. I felt safe, and I knew I wouldn't feel that way if I were standing next to Will.

"I'll take it from your silence that you were. I think that both of you boys need to get back in your vehicles and go home. Victoria, go get in the truck. And Noah, I'll follow you back to Centerville," she said.

"Victoria, I'll be calling you later. We need to talk," Will said before he slammed his car door and, with wheels screaming, whipped into a U-turn and headed back to his house.

"Does he drive like that when you're in his car?" she asked in full mom mode.

I shook my head, unable to find my voice. Will's parting promise had sounded more ominous to me than it probably had to anyone else. Noah put his arm around my shoulders and walked me to the truck.

"I hate to tell you this right now, but I think that we should talk, too. Call me when you're ready to do that," he said, and then he closed my door.

Mom waited for Noah to start back toward home and then she followed him the whole way, just like she'd said she would. I wasn't sure if she thought he would turn around and go do something, or if she had some other reason.

The drive back to the cabin was silent, but after we'd walked up onto the porch, she went to sit on the swing and I knew my reprieve was over. I went over to sit next to her, mentally dragging my feet the whole way.

"Victoria, I don't even know where to begin. What happened?" she gently asked.

I took a deep breath. "I told you. Will and I had a fight, and so I left and called you. Noah was driving by, he stopped and we were talking, then Will showed up and everything got all confused."

"That is incredibly lacking in details and you know it. Why were they discussing you so heatedly?"

"Will jumped to the conclusion that I had called Noah to come and get me. He said something that Noah took exception to, and it got a little out of control is all. Really, there's nothing to worry about."

"Okay. Victoria, I
…
I need to ask you something, and I don't want you to be angry. It's just something that I think you need to give some thought to."

"What is it?" I asked warily.

"You have two boys who obviously care about you a great deal. I know that Noah hurt you a lot and Will is the one who made you happy again…" She stopped.

"But?"

"But you need to decide who you want and then let the other know in no uncertain terms who your choice is."