Corn, Cows, and the Apocalypse (Part 1) (17 page)

-…and You’re to Blame-

             
Garrett was not just behind me, but practically on top of me.  He had crept up on me and I hadn’t even noticed.  More to the point, August hadn’t even hinted at it.  I couldn’t help stepping back into August.  She rested her hand on my shoulder.  She probably intended it to be consoling, but I took it wrong and pulled away from both of them.

             
Garrett was impassive as usual.  He appeared to be a little uncomfortable by our meeting, which was understandable since he left me the morning after I slept with him.  I wasn’t expecting to see him again, let alone this soon.  Part of me was overjoyed—probably the part that wanted to sleep with him again, and another part of me was on guard prepared for his attack—probably the part of me that still bore the scars of his “training.”

             
“Garrett,” I managed to say jumping my eyes between him and August.  I didn’t want to reveal anything, but I was concerned that I was revealing everything.  The strange thing was I didn’t even know anymore what I was hiding. Did August already know?  Had she seen the scars?  Did she suspect that I had slept with her brother?  Was she okay with that?

             
“I see you’ve let all my progress go to shit.”  Garrett scolded August, while managing to offer me a healthy share of the glare. 

             
“I had her pre-occupied, besides, no one ever hears you coming, you serpentine bastard.” 

             
Garrett leaned in and gave his sister a kiss on the cheek.  He glanced at me and I gave him a small smile.  Not so big, that he thought me desperate and not too small that he thought I was still mad at him.  I should have been mad, but I was just so happy to see him again. 

             
“Are you competing?”  Garrett asked turning back to his sister.  I felt like a third wheel. 

             
“No, Haden is.”

             
Garrett scoffed.  “You could win this easily.”  He said.  I looked to August to see if this were true.  She averted her eyes.  “You and your damned sword.”

             
“I like my sword.”  She defended.  “It doesn’t run out of ammunition.”

             
“But it can run out of power.”  He said squeezing her ample biceps. 

             
“Same old argument.”  She shook her head.  “I take it you’re competing.”

             
He scratched his head.  “Yeah, I think I might have a shot, no pun intended.”

             
I chuffed at the obscure yet lame joke.  No one joined me and Garrett all but rolled his eyes at me.  I furrowed my brow at him, baffled that he could be this offish to me after seeing me naked.  Wasn’t that supposed to make men happy?

             
“How is she doing?”  He asked looking me over as if I was a car he had recently sold her.  The ache in my chest was more than pain; it was outrage.  I really couldn’t bare this. 

             
“Lenore…” August pronounced carefully in case her brother forgot my name, which seemed entirely possible at this point.  “Is doing…fine?”  Garrett tipped his head.  “She can run now, and her archery skills—“

             
“Did you even test her?”  His voice pitched with condescension. 

             
“Yes, but…she has not responded to my tests well.”  August looked sympathetically at me like she didn’t want to be a tattle-tail, but had no choice.  “She won’t defend herself against me.”

             
Garrett shook his head.  “You’re telling me she let you hit her.”  He offered me a look that told me I was in trouble if this were true. 

             
“Well, I didn’t actually hit, I just…”

             
“August!  I spent three months training her so you didn’t have to do the hard labor.  Of course she won’t defend herself.  She knows you’ll never actually hit her!”

             
“I’m not going to bludgeon her just to see if she learned anything.”

             
“How do think I trained her?”  August’s eyes widened as she tried to rationalize what he was saying.  She even opened her mouth to speak on the point, but she couldn’t address the issue while it was still coming to light.  “I’ll show you what she can do.”  Garrett stalked to me and raised his fist to punch me. 

-Stubborn-

             
It had been decided somewhere along the line that I was in fact, not lazy, but just really, really stubborn.  I’m not entirely sure there is a difference, but it does invoke a better image. 

             
When Garrett came at me, I instinctively tensed, set my feet, and shifted my right shoulder forward.  If I only wanted to get away, I had the option to duck and back pedal.  Those were early lessons though.  Garrett had taught me in the later lessons, to block his punch and take the opening for all its worth. 

             
The danger with that option was his sixty-pound advantage, and his meaty fists were likely to only be slowed by my block.  That is why the upper cut to the chin is best.  The nerve running along the chin is like a shut off switch to the brain.  Pain for me; knock out for him.

             
When he came at me I had already positioned myself to fight back, but between the sour looks he was giving me and the brusque way he addressed me like I wasn’t there, I decided not to give him the pleasure of making me dance any more than I had August.  I relaxed my hands, and tensed my neck for the incoming head volley. 

             
His fist fit hard and I knew it would.  The gasp I heard from August was priceless.  I absorbed the pain as much as I could and looked back at Garrett’s shocked face.  His anger reared and he punched me in the stomach to get a response from me.  All I could do was tense and hope that I had made my point, whatever it was. 

             
“Garrett stop!”  August shouted. 

             
Garrett looked me over settling on my eyes, which were no doubt as angry as they had ever been.  He might have recognized it from the moment right before I smashed his face in.  “You stubborn little b—” His insult was cut off by a tackle from the side.

-Say it Ain’t so-

             
It was true that August was always my hero.  No matter where I was, what I was doing, if I was in danger, she was magically there.  I don’t mean to say that she had super powers—although that could still be debated—but that she was just a very good hero. 

             
In most situations that wouldn’t have changed, but over the last few weeks, Devin had become my number one fan.  He was like a brother, a lover (minus the sex), and a loyal puppy all rolled into one.  I presumed some of the extra attention was out of guilt for leaving me behind, but also, I think he just missed me.

             
At this point, it was a toss-up of which one was going to come to my rescue.  When it was neither of them, I was a little disappointed, yet pleasantly surprised.

             
It didn’t take Haden long to wrestle Garrett down and stick her glock nearly up his nose.  “Don’t you fucking move!”  She shouted at him. 

             
“What’s going on?”  Devin’s run came to a halt beside August.  He looked over the scene: Haden on top of Garrett, August stunned beyond words, and me, doubled over with a bloody nose. 

             
“This fuck just hit Lenore!”  Haden hissed jerking Garrett’s collar.  He laid defenselessly on the ground.  His gun was out of reach under Haden’s knee as she intended it to be. 

             
Devin came at me, but I waved him off me.  I didn’t want to be touched at that moment, let alone consoled in front of Garrett—must be strong in front of the man that hits you.  What’s the difference between bravery and pride again?

             
“Lenore!  Why didn’t you stop him?”  August admonished me.  “I saw you shift.  You were ready for him.  You stopped at the last second.  Why?!”

             
“Because she’s stubborn!”  Garrett yelled.  Haden shifted her gun to cold cock him and I shook my head in disapproval.  She opened herself up.  Her first mistake was not tossing his gun right away.  Her second mistake was staying on top of him.  Her third mistake was moving her barrel away from the target. 

             
Garrett grabbed her hands and flipped her over his head with the help of his strong legs.  Before she could recover, he was up and pointing his gun back at her.  “Looks like I could teach you a thing or two as well.”  He grumbled.

             
“Garrett!”  August scolded and he immediately put away his gun.  It took a little longer for Haden, but eventually she holstered it. 

             
“What the hell is going on?”  Devin asked again not satisfied with the aftermath display. 

             
“I won’t dance for them, and he’s pouting…with his fists.”  I said. 

             
Garrett approached me and Devin stepped in his way.  “You don’t touch her again.”  Devin snarled. 

             
“Garrett, we didn’t need to test her here.”  August objected.  “Why did you hit her so hard, I think you broke her nose?”

             
I instinctively reached for my nose.  It felt swollen.  “Oh man!  I don’t want a bent nose!”  Everyone glanced at me like they couldn’t believe that was the only thing I was worried about. 

             
“It’s not that bad.”  Garrett said eyeing me from behind the wall of Devin.  “If you call off your playboy here, I’ll check it.”

             
“I’ll take care of it.”  August volunteered and came over to look at me.  She raised her hand to touch me and I batted her away.  “Lenore…”

             
“Why are you coddling me now?  The damage is done.”

             
“I didn’t know he was actually going to punch you.  I thought he was just going to scare you.”

             
I laughed hard and loud.  The only person that got the joke was Garrett, but he didn’t join in.  Everyone else looked concerned by my reaction, which made the anger I was harboring that much stronger. 

             
“I don’t mean now, as in right now.  I mean, why are you coddling me after my three months are over?  Your sympathy for my pain is useless.  Your heroics against my abuser are too little too late.  You wanted me trained.  I’m trained.  You just didn’t ask him how he was going to do it.”

             
“Garrett?”  August looked to her brother with the question that Devin never wanted to ask me.  “I told you to go slow with her.” 

             
“We did go slow.”  Garrett moved around Devin to stand behind me.  He was in view of everyone but me.  I tensed as instinct taught me.  “Didn’t we, Lenore?”  I didn’t nod, but I tilted my head to keep his voice in my far peripheral.  “Once we established that we weren’t playing anymore, we made great strides.”

             
Everyone looked to me for the answer.  “You wanted me trained.”  I said flatly turning all their anger for Garrett back on them.  “I’m trained.  Every scar was a lesson learned from a mistake not to be repeated.”  I pulled my hair aside to show the full length of my head scar that went through to the bone.  Devin grimaced at the view.  Haden looked like she was seeing it for the first time.  August just looked down.  She must have suspected it was a hard three months, she just didn’t realize, how hard.

             
“So, thank you for defending me, but Garrett’s fists are the least of my concern.  I imagine this…” I touched my cheek under my eye where the majority of the pain was, “…is the only way he knows how to say hello to me.”

             
I looked back at him.  The expression on his face a little dumbfounded, but not enough for me to feel I’d succeeded in anything.  “Hi, by the way,” I walked off not offering anyone the opportunity to say anything to make me feel better, or make themselves feel better. 

-Dirty Laundry and Dirtier Bathroom Stalls-

             
It’s funny how people will ignore you if they think you are emotionally troubled, but the minute they see your face is beat to hell, they start to worry.  The assumption must be that if someone is truly troubled they would reach out and ask for help, but they never do.  That was perhaps why I appreciated Priest’s offer so much.  He knew I didn’t want to talk, and probably didn’t need to talk, but I did need to cry, even if I didn’t want to. 

             
I got a few looks on the way to the restroom, but in this type of place, it probably wasn’t unusual to see a few black eyes.  As it was, nearly everyone I passed had a gun in there hand or holster.  I wondered if I shouldn’t have asked Haden to come with me, since she was my new hero.

             
I entered the long alley bathroom and did a double take at two women making out against the wall between the air dryers.  At least someone was having fun.  I bent myself over the sink basin and washed the blood from my nose and lip.  It was starting to hurt more and the bruising under my eye was already dark red. 

             
I laughed at my mirror image.  I thought I was done with that.  The two lesbians joined me by the mirror and handed me a paper towel and a freshly lit homemade cigarette.  I took both.  I blotted my face off and noted that their kindness might have been them hitting on me.  I was never sure what the rules of the new world were.  Were threesomes back in, or had they never gone out.

             
“Poor baby, did your man do d’at to you.”  The woman on my left was black and covered in shiny diamonds.  With a little less bling she might have looked elegant.  Her New Orleans accent was a refreshing change to the mumbled drawl I was used to. 

             
“Something like that.”  I said.  Her friend, as white as white could be, with a shaved head, and as many piercings as New Orleans had diamonds, clicked her tongue and tipped her head in sympathy to that.     

             
“You best give up on d’em men.”  New Orleans leaned over the counter to look at me in the mirror.  “D’ey nothing but trouble.  We can give you anything d’at man can, and twice as good, and twice as long.”

             
“Mm-hmm,” buzz cut agreed.

             
I smiled even though I was uncomfortable as hell.  I took a drag off the cigarette and all at once, I realized it was pot.  I hadn’t smoked tobacco more than twice in my life, so marijuana was even more trying to my lungs.  As I coughed, the girls took it upon themselves to pat my back. 

             
“Sorry, I thought that was a cigarette.”  I handed the joint back to them. 

             
“D’at’s okay, why don’t you give it another try.”

             
“Pot is the new cigarette.” Buzz cut added when I didn’t take the joint. 

             
I was well aware that I was being hit on at this point, but I decided that being punched in the face might warrant a little drug experimentation.  I shrugged and took the joint.  Before I could take the hit, Garrett yelled at me from the door.

             
“Lenore, no!”  He marched over scattering the girls and ripped the joint out of my hands, and crushed it on the floor.  He turned to the irritated women and shoed them like they were crows.  “Get out!”

             
They glared back at him, but shuffled out the door.  I stared after them confused.  “Crap, Garrett, since when are you so anti-drug?”

             
“Did you take a drag?!”  He said looking me over for signs of it. 

             
“No—well I did, but I couldn’t hold it.”

             
“Shit.” He rubbed his chin stubble.  “Do you feel okay?”  

             
“I don’t think pot hits you that fast.” 

             
“I’m not worried about the pot. I’m worried about what they spiked it with.”  I looked down at the crushed joint futilely trying to see what he was referring to.  “Those were gang
scangers
!”  He said as if I should know what that meant.  He rolled his eyes.  “Boy you are a country mouse.  They drug women and take them home to rape and molest like live blow up dolls.  Some of them just pimp the women out on the street to whoever is willing to offer good drugs for a nearly passed out woman.”

             
My eyes must have come out of my head, because he put his hand out like he thought he should stop me from running.  “It’s okay though,” he spoke softly. “They won’t come back.”

             
I hugged myself.  Crap what a bad night.  “What do they spike the pot with?”

             
“Roofies, Ecstasy, sometimes just really strong pot.  Just something to make you…pliable.”

             
I groaned and turned back to the sink and splashed cold water on my face.  When I looked up he was watching me through the mirror.  “What are you doing here?”

             
“I came to check on you.  Straighten your nose if necessary.”

             
“I don’t mean that.”  I turned and he moved in to check my nose.  I instinctively tensed at his proximity, but I was more than familiar with his Mr. Fix-It side.  He yanked on my nose, and I cringed at the pain.  “I mean here in the O.  I thought you went back to Chicago.”

             
“I did.  I came back for the tournament.” 

             
I hadn’t really expected him to say that he had come back to see me, but the fact that he still hadn’t acknowledged the relationship we had developed over three months of close proximity, was insulting to my ego…and my heart.

             
“Well, have fun with that.”  I turned back to the sink to fluff my hair.  “I won’t be cheering for you, but don’t assume that it’s because of Haden.”

             
“Don’t be mad at me, just because you wouldn’t defend yourself.”  He scolded.  “August was right.  You were ready for me you just gave up.”

             
“I didn’t give up, you arrogant ass!  I stood up!”  I yelled at him through the mirror.  “I am not going to be your fucking puppet!  Anyway, I’m not mad because you hit me!  I’ve gotten used to that by now.”

             
“Why are you mad then?!”  He asked throwing his arms up.  I crossed my arms and turned around to face him.  My eyes double dog dared him to guess why.  He flushed.  “Look, Lenore, I told you that I couldn’t stay with you.”

             
“That’s not…we can come back to the subject of a fling versus a one night stand, because there is a difference.  What I’m mad about is you didn’t even say hello to me, you asshole.”

             
“I wasn’t sure how to handle you, given how much I’d put you through, including the one night stand.” 

             
“Well, you start out with a greeting, pick your favorite.  Then you ask
me
how I’ve been instead of talking to your sister about me like I’m a lab rat.”

             
“I didn’t want to…August doesn’t need to know about us…I mean what I do is my business.”

             
“Oh, my god you’re such a dick!”  I stomped toward the exit.

             
“Hello, Lenore.”  Garrett said it without ire, and perhaps even smoothly if that was possible with only two words.  It stopped me in my tracks.  “You look well.  Aside from where some dirt bag decided to overstep his boundaries.”  I turned back with a slight smirk.  He was smooth when he wanted to be.  Too bad he didn’t want to be very often. 

             
“You look good too.  It’s good to see you.”  It was good to see him.  I may not have missed the endless training, but I had missed him.