Page 32 of Whizz

“I told her to stay away fromyou.”Butch ran a hand down his face.He looked old, withdrawn, andsad.“I didn’t want her to hurt you, and yet you got hurtanyway.”

“I’m not going to let anythinghappen to her.I can’t let her go.”

“Do you love her?”Butchasked.

“I don’t know.I don’t know if Ilove her, but I know I don’t want to lose her.”Whizz took a seatin the corner as Butch turned the television off.

“You’re not angry with whatI did.”

“When it first happened I waspissed.I was so angry and hurt by what I thought of as yourbetrayal.It wasn’t as bad as I first thought, but people diedbecause of it.I know what happened.Lacey told me, and Cheryl toldus the rest.You should have come to us.They were idiots forkeeping it a secret.”

“They’re all deadnow.”

“Yeah.”

“How’s Laceydoing?”

“There are times I think she’shandling it.Then there are other times she looks like she isfalling apart.”Whizz sat back in the chair, taking in Butch’sform.

“She’s been through a lot.I’mpleased she didn’t die.Out of all of them she made the mostsense.”

Whizz stayed silent.Sometimes wordswere not necessary.

****

Lacey opened her eye to see a little boystaring at her.No, it was a baby boy.Stretching out her arms, shecaught sight of a woman she knew as Prue sitting, holding the boyon her knee.

“It’s about time.I reallythought I was going to have to throw a fit to wake you up.I’vebeen bored out of my mind, sitting here watching you sleep,” Pruesaid.

“What are you doing here?”Laceyasked, seeing the door to the room open.The hustle and bustle ofthe house filled her senses.What was Prue doing in herroom?

“Whizz has gone to the hospitalto see Butch.He asked me to take you out shopping.Guess what?Angel’s coming along withus.We’re taking the kids with us though.”Pruekept talking.She turned to a baby voice as she talked to Markus.“Tell Lacey that she has got to come.”

Sitting up in bed, she held the blanket toher chest.Beneath the covers she was naked.Whizz had helped herwash her body then carried her through to the bed after drying her.She didn’t want Prue to see her naked.

“You’re naked.We’ll leave youalone until you’re dressed.I’ve got a feeling Markus is going tohave it easy to pick up pussy.”Prue stood, leaving theroom.

“Oh, Angel left you clotheson the chair in the corner.”

The door closed behind her, and Laceythought she had entered the Twilight Zone.Pushing some hair offher face she glanced over at the clock to see it was past ten.Sherarely slept in anymore.Last night she’d been so exhausted thatshe’d passed out cold.Her last memory was of Whizz curling aroundher as she lay on the bed.Pushing the blanket off her body, shegrabbed the clothes then entered the bathroom.Her eyes didn’t lookred and puffy.Staring at her face, she actually looked refreshed,which scared her a little.She’d been in The Skulls’ clubhouse, andyet she looked better for it rather than worse.

She went to the toilet, did herbusiness,andwashed her hands before brushing her teeth.Lacey dressed in thedenim skirt and white maternity shirt that Angel had let her use.This would be the only time she wore maternity clothes.

Don’t do it, Lacey.It’snot worth it.

Walking back into the bedroom, she puton some sneakers after brushing her hair.

“Are you done yet?”Prueasked, speaking through the door.Opening the door, she stared atthe other woman.

“I’m done.”

“Come on.I’ll feed youfirst.Whizz wants me to keep an eye on you.”

She followed behind Prue as theywalked downstairs.No one stopped this time to stare at her.Ithelped that Prue kept talking about everything andanything.

“Where did she go?”Hardyasked.

They entered the kitchen to findHardy, Gash, Nash, and Steven talking.Angel was feeding her son asEva was dealing with a temper tantrum from Tabitha.

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