Hickville Confessions: A Hickville High Novel (3 page)

“Ryan, wake up. We’re almost at your house.”

She’d been awake, but hadn’t given in to opening her eyes. She sat up. The skin on her face felt two sizes too small. Her arms and chest burned. She reached for the spirit towel, but it was too dry now to offer comfort.

What was she going to say to her parents? It was bad enough that she was going to have to convince them that nothing had happened between her and Justin. They were going to freak when they saw her face. She looked at her sopping, soap-caked dress crumpled on the floor. No way was she going to wiggle into that thing. Her only hope was to sneak into the house and change clothes. But as they rambled down the long dirt road to her house, hope flew out the window and dread took its place.

“Your whole family is sitting on the front porch.” His gaze volleyed between her and the house at the end of the drive. “If your dad has a shotgun across his lap, I’m gonna freak.”

She couldn’t tell if he was serious. “He won’t.”

“Is that Austin’s truck? What is he doing here?” He white-knuckled the wheel.

“He works for Dad. He helps with the chores.”

By the time he parked, both of her parents, Mackenzie, Kelsey, and Austin had all risen to their feet and were staring at them. “Stay here. Let me talk to them.”

She got out and reached to the floorboards for her dress and shoes. The jersey hung to her knees, but it was obvious that she wore nothing but panties beneath it. She wadded the wet gown into her arms and plopped the shoes on top.

Her dad stood by Justin’s door. “Son, we need to talk.”

Crap.
They’ve tried and convicted us already.
She stood on the bottom step and looked up at her mom.

“Good Lord, what happened to your face?”

“It’s not what you think.”

Her mom put an arm around her. “Let’s get you in the house.”

Ryan nodded and let her mom lead her without looking back. She heard Justin’s door open and held her breath. He didn’t deserve this.

“What happened? Did that boy—”

“Mom, he saved me.”

“Who did this to you?”

“Let me change and I’ll explain everything.”

Her mom helped her up the stairs, but when they reached the bathroom, Ryan stopped. “I’ve got this.”

“Let me fix you something to eat.”

The junk food she’d eaten had long gone, but she couldn’t think about food now—especially with Justin left to fend for himself with her dad. “Just coffee.”

Her mom nodded. “If you need anything, yell.” She turned and jogged downstairs.

Ryan hung her dress on the towel rack on the back wall of the bathtub. She didn’t let a tear fall until she turned and caught sight of her full reflection. She looked like something from a horror movie. Her lips were swollen and distorted. Her face didn’t even look like her own. Her cheeks burned as the tears fell. She sat on the edge of the tub and gave in to the pain and humiliation of the night.

Kelsey appeared in the doorway. “What did he do to you?”

She looked at her sister, too tired to argue. “It was the Purity Club. They found out—” She couldn’t finish.

Kelsey sucked the air from the bathroom. “How?”

It took most of her energy to raise her shoulders in a pitiful shrug. “I don’t know. Macey said they were cleansing me of my sins. If Justin hadn’t come…”

Kelsey sat next to her and hugged her around the waist. “Come on. Let’s get you dressed. Dad’s giving Justin the third degree.” When they reached her room, Ryan fell on the bed. It would feel so good to just crawl under the covers and sleep away the pain of the night, but she couldn’t leave Justin alone to deal with her dad. She pulled on pajama bottoms and a T-shirt and made her way to the den.

Justin sat in an armchair cradling a mug of coffee, her mom on the end of the sofa next to him. Mackenzie and Austin stood on the other side of the room. When Mackenzie saw her, she covered her mouth and ran to the kitchen.

I look too horrible for my own sister.

“Justin didn’t do anything wrong.” She blurted it out as though he was about to be punished or something.

Her mom rushed to her and pulled her into a tight hug. “We know. He told us about the fountain.”

Ryan relaxed into her mom’s embrace and blew out a slow breath, hoping to stave off the skin-searing tears that threatened. It didn’t work. A few slid down her cheeks, leaving pain in their wake.

Her mom released her and studied her. “What did they do to your face?”

“They used scouring pads to scrub the sin out of me.” She pulled up the sleeves of her T-shirt and held out her arms. “They got my legs too, but not so bad.”

Her dad came into the den from the kitchen and handed Ryan a cup of coffee. “We’re going to file assault charges.”

She wanted those girls to pay for what they’d done, but not at the expense of revealing her past to the world. “No. Dad, please.”

“Somebody needs to pay for this.” His neck muscles bulged with every word he squeezed through taut lips.

Ryan cradled the mug between her hands. “I can’t.”

“Tom, let’s take care of Ryan first. We need to get her to the ER.”

“Those girls are sick.” He paced in a circle. “They should pay for what they did.”

Her mom stood in front of her dad and placed her hands on his biceps. “But we don’t need to ruin their lives. Let’s start with calling their parents.”

“Dad, listen to Mom. Please.”

He gave a single nod. “I want the names and numbers of the girls involved—starting with that bitch, Macey Brown.”

“They have my phone. They have all of my stuff.”

Kelsey piped up. “You’re secretary. Don’t you have the PC roster on your computer?” Ryan nodded and started to get up, but Kelsey put up her hand. “I’ll get it.”

Ryan settled back on the couch. Her face burned. The right side of her upper lip throbbed with pain. Her arms and legs were sore, but nothing like her face. She didn’t get it. No matter how horrible her past was, it didn’t affect them. How had they found out? Why not just kick her out of the club? That was the part that hurt the most. It was bad enough to be outed for her past and rejected, but they’d gone for full-on violence. The image she’d seen in the mirror appeared in her mind.

What if they’d destroyed her face?

*

Justin stepped onto the front porch to give Ryan some time with her parents. Austin McCoy followed him out and leaned on the rail with his arms folded across his chest. “What really happened to Ryan?”

“They went batshit crazy on her.” He rubbed his hand across his face. “God, I thought they were going to kill her. They looked like piranhas going after prey.”

“You didn’t have anything to do with it?”

“Hell, no. Why would you even say that?”

Austin pushed off the rail. “I heard Eric talking smack to Caleb. He said he had evidence that she was—easy.”

“Eric’s a dick.”

“He’s your best friend.”

“Not anymore.” But why would Eric spread a rumor? Granted, he was a first-class bastard, but what would he gain by ruining Ryan?

The screen door squeaked open. Ryan and her two sisters, Kelsey and Mackenzie, stepped out onto the porch. Justin didn’t know the Quinn girls, but he imagined they were about as different as they looked. Kelsey, the oldest, had big eyes like Ryan. But instead of short spiky hair, she had brown hair that danced on her shoulders when she walked. Mackenzie, the youngest, had an athlete’s body. Her dark hair was pulled back, except for a fringe of bangs that almost covered her eyes. He passed her in the hall every day after Calculus. She always looked sad. Even when she smiled, there seemed to be despair in her face. But then, he was intimately familiar with that look—lived with it every day.

Mr. Quinn’s shouting could be heard through the screen door. “You have two choices. You come here to speak with us, or you speak with the police. Believe me, they will be interested in talking to your daughter.” Pause. “Two o’clock. And I expect your daughter to accompany you.”

Ryan let out a shaky sigh. “This is going to be a long day.”

Justin took a step toward her. But she wrapped her arms around her waist and took a seat on the porch swing. He got the message:
A little space, please.

“As soon as Dad finishes yelling at everybody’s parents, we’re going to the emergency room.” She flopped back in the swing and then winced. “I just want to wake up from this nightmare.”

Justin’s arms itched to pull her next to him, to surround her in the safety of his embrace. Instead, he sat in a wicker chair across from her. “My dad is a nurse practitioner in the ER. Mind if I follow you? I’ll talk to my dad. He’ll make sure you get what you need.”

“Thanks. Don’t you need sleep?”

“Later.” And as if on cue, a huge yawn forced its way out.

Austin spoke up. “Dude. I’ll drive you.”

Ryan looked over Justin’s shoulder, her eyebrows raised about an inch, and a distorted smile formed on her lips. “Go Kelsey. About time.”

Justin turned to follow her gaze. Austin stood behind Kelsey, who stood with her back against his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist. Kelsey blushed at her sister’s words, but Austin only tightened his hold. Justin wondered what it would be like to hold Ryan like that. Would he ever be able to wrap his arms around her in a casual way because that was where she wanted to be? Would she feel soft snuggled against him?

Patience, dude.

“Thanks. I can drive.” Justin slumped in the chair and yawned again.

Ryan yawned too. She winced and pressed her fingertips against her lips. “You’ve been up all night. Don’t be stupid.”

She wasn’t afraid to call it like it was. It made him smile. Besides, if he left his truck here, he’d have an excuse to come back. “Okay.”

Ryan’s parents joined them on the porch. Mr. Quinn dangled keys from his index finger. “We’re going to meet with the parents and the girls at two. Justin, if you’re up for it, I’d like you to be here. If your parents want to come, they’re welcome to.”

Shit. My parents? Mom would be a disaster. Dad? He’ll be working.
“I’ll be here.”

Ryan stood. “Are you sure I can’t shower first?”

Mrs. Quinn put her arms around Ryan. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I think it’s best if you don’t. Let them do what they need to do.”

She nodded. “Austin is going to bring Justin. His dad works in the ER. It might help.”

Mrs. Quinn turned to him. “That’s nice of you, but don’t you think you need to sleep?”

“No, ma’am. I’m fine.”

“Okay, we’ll meet you there.” She turned to Kelsey and Mackenzie. “Are you girls riding with us?”

Mackenzie jogged down the steps. “I am.”

Kelsey grabbed Austin’s hand. “We’ll be right behind you.”

Justin followed everybody down the porch steps. He watched the Quinns pile into the dusty Lexus SUV and wondered if it had ever seen that much dirt in Chicago.
Hard to keep it clean when you have a dirt driveway.
He looked at the weathered farmhouse and thought about the designer furniture that filled the den. There was a story there and he had a feeling it had something to do with Ryan. Whatever it was, he’d do his best to keep it from hurting her.

She’d already endured enough pain for a lifetime.

*

Justin jogged ahead of the Quinns to the ER receptionist, Connie, a middle-aged woman with a big smile and a calming voice, who stood as soon as she saw him. “Justin. Looking for your daddy?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Go on back.” The double doors to the department clicked and swung open.

He made his way past the rooms to the nurses’ desk. His dad sat behind the desk reading a computer screen, and looked up as Justin approached. “Justin? What are you doing here?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“I’m a little busy. Is your mom okay?”

Justin shrugged. “I haven’t been home. I need your help.”

His dad stood and motioned for Justin to follow him. “What’s up?”

“A friend is coming in with her parents.”

“And?”

“She was attacked last night. I got her away but… Dad, they messed up her face pretty bad. I just thought you could make sure she got what she needed.”

His dad nodded. “Why didn’t you bring her in last night?”

“She didn’t want to go home. I didn’t know what to do.”

“You were with her all night?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I hope you weren’t stupid.”

“Jesus, Dad. What do you think of me?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. Reflex. I see a lot of stuff…”

Typical—his dad was always in work mode. “Whatever. Can you take care of her?”

“I’ll see she gets the best care.”

“Will she have to wait long?”

“We’re not busy. She’ll go right back.”

“Thanks.” He turned to head back to the waiting room, but his dad stopped him.

“Assault exams take a long time. We have to be thorough. Do you want to crash in the sleep room?”

Assault.
The word hit him in the gut, lending gravity to an already horrible event. “I’m fine. I’m going to go see what’s going on with Ryan.”

He left his dad and went back to the waiting room. That had been the most civilized conversation he’d had with his dad in weeks. The comment about being stupid pissed him off, but at least he hadn’t asked him if he’d kept it covered. Besides, he was too tired and too worried about Ryan to argue.

Ryan was called in to Triage as soon as he returned to the waiting room. He stopped her as she was entering the tiny exam room. “I talked to my dad. He said they weren’t very busy, so you shouldn’t have to wait long.”

Mrs. Quinn put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. “Thank you.”

Ryan just nodded and headed into the room. He watched the door close and longed to be with her. But he didn’t belong. He wasn’t her boyfriend. He wasn’t even a friend. He was just a guy who had pulled her from the fountain and stayed with her. It was time to step back and remember his place.

His stomach knotted. Was this it? Would he always just be the guy who had saved her from the fountain?

*

The nurse was young—probably fresh out of school. She studied Ryan and concern filled her face. “Honey, what happened to you?”