Monsters

RAINEY

I step out of the shower, pulling on a black tank top and white pajama pants. My hair is still damp, so I twist it into a messy bun and head downstairs. I need to grab something to eat before my mom or Jeff show up.

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I wander into the kitchen. A smile spreads across my face when I see it’s a message from Riley.

Riley

I miss Crossview ☹️ I should just run away from home. Bailey is super annoying!

I let out a soft chuckle, looking at her profile picture. It’s a cute shot of her and Bailey, her arms draped over his shoulders in a loving embrace.

I tap out a quick response, still smiling at the picture.

Rainey

Your dp is saying the complete opposite Ry. Lol. You both look so adorable XD

I set my phone on the counter, stretching up to reach the cabinet handle. I rummage around, hoping to find something more appealing than bread or cereal.

I’m craving a home-cooked meal, but with my mom’s preference for takeout, that’s a long shot. My mind drifts back to Ansel’s mom’s stewed chicken, and my mouth waters.

God, Riley isn’t the only one who wants to run away from home.

My phone buzzes again, pulling me out of my thoughts. I close the cabinet and pick it up.

Riley

Lol! He forced me to take that pic btw :-D Anyway, how’s Ansel?

I’m almost certain she’s fishing for information about Alex. I can tell she likes him, but I’m not sure what’s holding her back.

Rainey

Ry, we both know Alex is who you secretly want to ask about lol.

I pick at my nails, watching the three dots that signal she’s typing a response.

Riley

Ugh. You got me. How’s Alex? 😊

I can’t help but smile. I knew it.

Rainey

He’s great. I was at their house today. Do you want his number?

The blue ticks next to my message tell me she’s read it, but she takes a few seconds before she starts typing again.

Riley

Nah. I’m scared of him. He’s way too hot. And hot guys are players. 😞

I want to argue, but remembering Alaric’s betrayal of Sam, I can’t deny she has a point. I sigh. Poor Sam.

Rainey

I get what you mean. But he seems to really like you though.

Ding!

Riley

Yeah…but I saw a few girls checking him out at Club Naked the other night. I don’t know, standing next to him makes me feel a tad bit insecure.

I frown. Riley is beautiful. Her pretty face turns heads whenever we go out. I don’t understand why she can’t see that.

Rainey

Are you nuts? You’re amazing, Ry. Don’t you dare think otherwise!

I realize I still haven’t found anything to eat, and my mom could be home any minute. I set my phone down and head for the fridge.

I crouch down with a sigh, scanning the contents. There’s a jug of milk, some soda, beer, and ham.

I’m not surprised. Jeff drinks a lot, and considering his constant lethargy, the only thing he bothers to make for himself is a ham sandwich.

I can’t fathom what my mom sees in him. He contributes nothing.

The front door creaks open, followed by deep, grating laughter. My blood runs cold. I recognize those voices all too well.

As if Jeff’s presence isn’t bad enough, he’s brought his friend Greg Taylor. They’re two peas in a pod, and my dislike for them is equal.

I consider retreating upstairs, but the rumble in my stomach is becoming unbearable.

Resigning myself to the situation, I grab the ham from the fridge, deciding to make a quick sandwich. I just need to be quiet and fast.

Hopefully, I can sneak back upstairs without them noticing.

“Whoa, look at this place. It’s freaking huge,” Greg’s deep, raspy voice echoes through the house as they enter the living room.

“This is the life, man! You’ve done well for yourself.”

“Well, life’s been good to me. Can’t complain,” Jeff chuckles, and I roll my eyes. Everything here belongs to my mom. He’s not the one who should be getting the credit.

“I’ve got money, but I’ve got to admit, I’m a little jealous,” Greg laughs. “Miranda’s a real catch. Where is she, anyway?”

At the mention of my mom’s name, I tune in to their conversation.

“She’s at work. She’s a CEO, where else would she be?”

“Right, right. I haven’t heard from her since I left the country in 2017. Everything good between you two?”

“Yeah,” Jeff sighs, and I hear the couch creak as he sits down. “But she fucks like an old woman.”

Greg laughs, and I bristle at the crude comment about my mom. We may not be on the best terms, but it still irks me to hear him talk about her like that.

I bite my tongue and keep quiet. They haven’t noticed me yet, and I don’t want to draw their attention. I still need to finish my sandwich.

I spread cream cheese on the bread while they continue their conversation.

“If she’s not satisfying you, find a younger girl at a club or something.

“My dad did that all the time when he was with my mom. He didn’t even miss her after a while,” Greg suggests casually.

“I’m known for that.”

“For what?”

“Picking up girls at the clubs. But I never go for anyone over twenty. Miranda’s saggy boobs have scarred me for life.”

Greg bursts into laughter at this, and I swallow hard. His words are too harsh.

“Hope she kicks the bucket soon. You’ll inherit everything. Make sure she puts your name in the will, Jeff. It’ll be the best thing that ever happened to you. Just think about owning this beautiful house and—”

His voice trails off suddenly, and an eerie silence fills the house. I understand why he stopped mid-sentence and puff out my cheeks.

“Wow. Look who’s all grown up.”

Footsteps echo towards the kitchen, and I close my eyes. ~Please don’t bother me.~

I quickly pop the sandwich into the microwave and set the timer. Greg leans against the fridge behind me, folding his arms over his chest.

“Wow. You’ve grown up well. I like what I see.”

His eyes wander down my body, settling on my thighs. I swallow, shifting uncomfortably as I tap my nails on the counter, waiting.

The microwave seems to be taking forever tonight. I watch the numbers change, feeling Greg’s creepy gaze on my back.

“You’ve got curves now. I’m impressed.”

The microwave hasn’t finished, but I hit stop and take out the sandwich. I’d rather eat cold food than stay in the same room as him.

I slip my phone into my pocket and quickly grab a Seven Up from the fridge. I turn to leave, but Greg steps in my way.

“What’s the hurry, Rainey?”

I sigh as Jeff chuckles from the living room, shaking his head. “Watch out, she might throw salt in your eyes.”

Greg laughs at the comment but doesn’t move.

I glare at him. His smug smile makes my stomach turn as he rubs his stubbly jaw.

“Do you have a boyfriend now?” He shoves his hands into his pockets, rocking back and forth. I see his eyes drop to my chest, and I feel sick.

“Move.”

He tilts his head. “Still got that fire, I see. I haven’t seen you since you were fourteen, Rainey. Be nice.”

I grip the soda can tighter, shooting an angry look at Jeff, who’s smirking from the couch. “Could you tell your friend to get lost?”

My voice is sharp and demanding, but Jeff just finds it funny, smirking.

“He’s right there. You tell him.” He takes a sip of his beer, raising an eyebrow at me.

I try to get around Greg, but he blocks my way, putting a hand on the wall to stop me. I grit my teeth, giving him a dirty look. His face sends shivers down my spine.

He lowers his voice. “Listen. You shouldn’t be messing around with these boys. You need a man. Not a boy. A girl with a body like yours…”

He looks me up and down, a clear look of lust in his eyes. “Shouldn’t be wasting time with a kid.”

I push him out of my way, and he stumbles back laughing as I storm out of the kitchen.

“I should come over more often. What do you think, Jeff?”

I hear Jeff’s laughter as I stomp up the stairs. “You can even move in if you want!”

I enter my room and slam the door behind me. I flop onto my bed, pulling my knees to my chest. Memories start to flood back…of the day it all started.

***

^JUNE 6, 2013^

~Little girls play with toys, right? So why do I feel guilty for playing with my dolls that day?~

~The door to my room creaked open, and I looked up to see Greg stepping inside. The wooden floor squeaked under his boots, his movements sneaky.~

~Greg had visited several times before that day. He’s a friend of both Jeff and my mom.~

~He always brought me ice cream and roasted marshmallows. I was always happy to see him.~

~I gave him a sweet smile, a smile that hasn’t returned since that evening.~

~He closed the door behind him and sat on the mat next to me, looking at the two dolls in my small hands. “What are you doing?”~

~“Getting Suzie dressed. She’s going to the mall with Bella.” I answered sweetly, and he chuckled, resting his elbows on his knees.~

~“Who’s Suzie, and who’s Bella?”~

~I showed him the doll with black hair, and he pretended to be interested, nodding.~

~“This is Suzie. And this is Bella.”~

~“Cool.” He pointed at the doll’s underwear. “I like Suzie’s little…bikini thing,” he laughed.~

~It wasn’t anything special. Just pieces of fabric clumsily sewn together to look like underwear. But I was too young, too innocent to see his hidden intentions.~

~“Oh, it came with the dolls. My mom also bought a few others for them. Want to see?” I reached for the toy kit, but he stopped me.~

~“No, no, it’s okay,” he said, but his hand stayed on my arm too long. “I want to see something else. Can I see?”~

~I looked at him, confused. “What?”~

~He put a hand on my thin thigh. It felt cold and rough against my skin, and I looked down at his hand.~

~“Yours,” he said quietly. I looked up at him, confused, as his hand started to move under my yellow summer dress.~

~“I want to see yours, Rainey.”~

~***~

^PRESENT DAY^

A loud rap on my bedroom door yanks me from the dark corners of my mind. I sigh, pressing my face into my hands. That memory is one of many I wish I could forget.

The knock echoes again, louder this time, and I slide off my bed, wiping the sweat from my brow.

The moment I open the door, my mother storms into my room. I stumble back, staring at her in surprise.

“I’m taking your laptop, your cell phone, everything!” She snatches my laptop from the desk, and I lunge toward her in confusion.

“Why? What did I do?”

“What did you do? You know exactly what you did, Rainey Slate!”

“No, I don’t!”

“Mrs. Cameron called me today!” she yells. “She told me you were in a fight! I’m sick and tired of your troublemaking!”

I press a hand to my forehead, shifting my weight. “Wh-what did she tell you? I was being bullied, and all I did was stand up for myself. What did she—?”

“Why do I always get calls from the principal about you? Do you know how much money I had to give her to get you into that school?

“She didn’t want to take you, knowing why you got kicked out of Freetown. But do you know what I did? I paid her more!”

She thumps her chest. “I fucking paid her more! So don’t waste my goddamn money, or go live with your deadbeat dad!”

She scans the room, probably looking for my cell, which is in my pocket.

“I don’t know what she told you, but I didn’t do anything! I just stood up for myself!” I protest.

“That’s always your excuse. Standing up for yourself. I’m sick of hearing it!

“Can’t you be a normal kid like everyone else? All my friends have normal kids, but I don’t know what I did to deserve a daughter like you!”

I glare at her. “Don’t say that to me!”

“I will say it!” She puts a hand on her hip, my laptop in the other. “I had a rough day at work. I lost a big deal. And your troublemaking just makes it worse!”

She looks around the room. “Where’s your phone?”

I cross my arms, bouncing a leg. “I don’t know.”

“Where is your cell phone, Rainey Slate?!”

“I don’t have it, okay?”

Just then my phone buzzes in my pajama pocket, and I close my eyes. Bad timing, Riley.

My mom steps forward and roughly shoves her hand into my pocket. I don’t have the energy to resist, so I let her take the phone without a fight.

“Just so you know, no Riley and no Ansel!” she shouts, turning my cell phone off.

I narrow my eyes at her. “No. You can’t stop me from seeing them.”

She scoffs. “I can do a lot of things. I am your mother. Riley can’t come over, and you can’t see Ansel. When you think about what you’ve done, then you can have friends.”

She storms out with my laptop and cell phone, slamming the door behind her.

I press my hands over my eyes and fall back onto my bed. I roll onto my side, resting my head in my hand.

I gaze out the window at the night sky, my thoughts drifting back to Ansel. I close my eyes, wishing I could be wherever he is.