Page 23 of Lost Soul

“You don’t need to worry, pretty girl.” Jessie’s face turns a little more serious as he shakes me off.

“Yeah but that cop must know stuff, he’s always sniffing around the club.” I’m not gonna give up that easy. Jessie should know that by now.

“Roswell’s kinda on our side.” Jessie shocks me almost silent.

“What?” my voice comes out a squeal, and he laughs at my reaction.

“Your dad’s a clever man, Hay. We’ve always kept our trouble out of town, and if we hear about anyone else bringing any in, we eliminate the problem. And more effectively than the local PD would be able to.”

“So, you guys kind of run town?” I’ve always known that people fear the club, I never realized how much power they actually had.

“Sure do, pretty girl.” Jessie treats me to that boyish smile that never fails to make me melt, and he lets me take control of the music while he drives me to college. Now feels like a good time to bring up Maddy.

“You can tell Daddy I won’t need a ride home until later tonight, I’m going to Maddy’s after school.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” he questions, stopping at the lights.

“Yeah, how else am I meant to find out about her for you?” I ask, watching his eyes roll.

“So what you got so far?” he gives in to curiosity.

“Okay.” I twist my body to face his, wanting to see his reactions “So, her mom’s single, no Dad in the picture. Mom clearly works hard, I’m guessing to pay Maddy’s college fees. No siblings. Maddy is totally single and apparently doesn’t do the whole boy thing. Oh, and she has shit taste in music,” I reel off all I know just as he parks up on the curb outside campus.

“I’ll get someone to pick you up from hers at seven.”

“I’ll call you when I’m ready,” I tell him, and wait for the irritated smirk to make its way on to his face.

“Do you always have to be so damn awkward?” He lets out a long breath.

“Would you love me if I wasn’t?” I tease, stepping out of the truck on to the sidewalk.

“Probably not.”

I slam the door and rush off to join the group of girls that hover at the entrance. They all stare at Jessie as if he’s some kind of god before he pulls away, and where I can’t exactly blame them for looking, it still pisses me off.

Classes seem to go so slowly, and I have to admit to being ever so slightly looking forward to hanging out with Maddy. We arranged to meet outside the entrance, and I get there before her. To pass some waiting time, I take out my phone and do my usual scroll through social media. I don’t take much notice of what’s going on around me, but I do catch a glimpse of the guy who’d hit on Maddy Saturday night when he passes with some of the football team. I try not to stare too hard, but when I see the state of his face, my jaw goes slack.

One of his eyes is forced shut due to swelling, his bottom lip split, and his right arm is cradled by a sling. Whoever got to him had done a good job, and I don’t have to think too hard or for too long about who it might have been. Blondie who had talked to me at the party notices me looking over, and when my eyes meet his, he quickly avoids them.

“Hey,” I hear Maddy’s voice call from behind me, and I turn to see her prancing down the steps. Her ponytail bobbing on top of her head and eyes full of enthusiasm to see me.

“God, today has dragged… Come on let’s get out of here,” she says, wrapping her arm into mine and leading us off campus. And I pretend to myself that I didn’t notice not having to fake the smile I give her back.

We walk the short distance to her house, talking about mindless stuff, the sort of shit that isn’t gonna help my plan but will build the pretense of friendship. She asks me about the club and for some reason I don’t lie to her like I do to everyone else. I tell her how I get left out of everything and how I don’t get to go down to the club unless there’s a family event, which was rare. She still seems impressed.

“So what are they like? The bikers, are they really as bad as everyone says?” she asks as we get closer to her house

“Honestly? They’re probably the most dangerous, vile men you’d ever have the displeasure of meeting, but to me, they’re just my daddy’s friends.” I shrug. It’s boring, but it was the truth. I’ve spent the last four years living among them, but I still don’t know anything about them. Other than Jessie, Skid is about the only one that speaks to me, and that’s only because Carly invites me over to their cabin for dinner sometimes.

I hear music as we step onto Maddy’s street, and I’m surprised when I realize the music is coming from her place. We follow the noise through the front door and into the kitchen where we’re greeted by a tall, thin woman, who pulls a large pot out of the oven. Her red curly hair is piled high on top of her head, and I’m taken back by how she’s dressed. The skirt she wears is far too short, her huge tits are crammed so tight into her vest top that they spill over, and she wears so many bangles on her wrist that she jangles when she moves.

“Oh hey, girls.” She smiles wide. “I gotta go to work. Made you a little something for dinner later… You must be Hayley.” She looks me over as she places the pot on the counter, then pulling off her oven mitts, grabs me for an unexpected hug.

“I’m Marilyn, Maddy’s mom. I’ve heard so much about you.” I glance over her shoulder to Maddy, whose face is glowing redder by the second.

“Pleased to meet you too, Mrs. Summers,” I manage, her hug crushing me so tight I can hardly breathe.

“Oh, Marilyn, please. Mrs. Summers makes me sound old.” She stretches out her arms, holding me in place so she can examine me. “You’re beautiful…” she declares before letting me go again.

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