Chapter Seven

It was ten minutes before lunch when she parked her car, and Rory hurried to the girls' room.

She looked down and wanted to whoop for joy. Blood streaked her underwear—she'd started her period. “Thank god,” she whispered before digging in her backpack for a tampon. After washing her hands, she went to senior hall and grabbed her books for her first class after lunch—Advanced Biology. Then came French with Dalen.

She saw Korith walking toward her and met her halfway. She filled her in on the latest event over the first part of lunch. They had decided to stay in the activity center with the freshmen and sophomores rather than risk running into Dalen or Jeri somewhere in town, where most of the juniors and seniors spent their lunchtime.

The first bell rang to signal the end of lunch, and Rory parted from Korith. “I'll see you in dance,” she said morosely, dreading French. Advanced Biology passed too quickly, and Rory dragged her feet until she was almost late for class. She opened the door and scanned the room for a desk. There was an empty one on the far side of the room from where Dalen sat and she headed for it, but Perry beat her to it, flashing a wicked grin.

The only other place to sit was in front of Dalen, and she took the desk reluctantly. It was a test day, and she struggled to focus on the questions as she waited for Dalen to do something. When he didn't touch her or talk to her, she grew more worried rather than relaxed. What game was he playing at now?

When the bell rang, Rory put away her pencil, leaving a few questions unanswered. She grabbed her stuff and hurried out of the classroom while Dalen was chatting with Perry. Rory threw her books in her locker and hurried down the hall to class. She'd emerged into the uncovered walkway outside and thought she'd avoided Dalen when he grabbed her.

Dalen was pulling her with him. “Let go of me,” she hissed. “Korith will let the teacher know something's wrong if I'm not in class.” He ignored her and tossed her over his shoulder. Several students milling around thought they were just playing and laughed. Rory beat her fists against his back, but he didn't seem to notice.

At his car, he dumped her inside through the driver's side and sat down before she could scramble away. He locked the doors with the master switch, and she'd have to crawl across him to disengage it. No way was she going to do that unless she had no other choice. “What do you want?” Rory demanded.

“To talk to you. I haven't seen you all day,” he said in a reasonable tone. He started the car. “Put your seat belt on,” he admonished. “I swear, Rory, you can't take care of yourself for shit.”

Rory complied, hands shaking. “Where are you taking me?”

Dalen laughed. “To the park. I have to be back in time for football practice. I don't have time for anything fun right now.”

“It wouldn't be fun,” Rory hissed balefully.

He ignored her and drove without looking at her until they got to Hudson Park. He flipped a left turn without his signal and skidded into the parking lot. To her surprise, he opened the door and pulled her out with him. Maybe he didn't have anything too sinister in mind, since they were in a public place. Two mothers with small children were within shouting distance of the place he picked to sit.

They were under the shade of a giant oak tree, and he was leaning against it. Rory stood there with her arms crossed, and he tugged her down into his arms. “Let go of me,” she ordered and struggled against him. He tightened his hold until she could barely breathe. She continued to twist in his arms until exhaustion sat in and she gave up. Once she relaxed he loosened his hold, but still held her with enough strength that she couldn't escape. “Why are you doing this to me, Dalen?” she asked in a defeated tone. “You must know that I don't want to be here with you. If I wanted to be with you then you wouldn't have had to drug me the other night.”

Dalen rubbed his cheek against the soft hair on top of her head. “You’re just scared,” he whispered. “No one's ever loved you the way I do, and you don't know what to think. Don't worry, baby. I won't give up on you.”

Rory tried to suppress her tears. He was crazy, he must be. She'd just told him she wasn't interested, and he was responding by telling her he wouldn't give up on her—as if she were the one with the problem. “I don't love you, Dalen,” she said, renewing her effort to reason with him.

He laughed. “I think you do, but you won't admit it. Still, even if you don't love me now, you will. You won't be able to help yourself.” His hand cupped around her breast. “We're going to be together forever.”

Rory jerked away from his caressing hand. “I don't want to be with you Dalen. I hate you,” she screamed. The two women with their children looked over and started gathering their things. Rory watched helplessly as they left as quickly as possible. Terrific, she'd scared them away, leaving her alone with Dalen.

Dalen gave her a sad look. “Why are you hurting me, Rory?” he asked, puzzled. “If you stop fighting it can be so wonderful for us.”

“I'll never stop fighting,” she vowed as he ground his lips against hers.

He tangled his hands in her hair and jerked her head back. “Where were you this morning?” he demanded silkily.

Rory swallowed. “I took Carson to the hospital,” she answered. “You broke his nose,” she added scathingly.

He smiled. “Good,” he whispered, pulling her hair until tears stung her eyes. “If he continues to come between us, I'll make sure he loses his job and his mother loses hers.”

Rory believed he could do it, but she wouldn't be cowed by him. “There are other jobs. It would be the best thing for both of them to get the hell out of Hudsonville.” It was becoming more apparent all the time that Breckridge had been misnamed.

He kissed her once again before lifting his head. His eyes glittered darkly. “Then I'll kill him the next time he gets in my way,” he said casually, as if they were discussing the weather rather than someone's life. Fear settled heavily on her, and she started crying. He pulled her into his arms and held her while she cried. She regained control of herself and lay rigid against him. It was official, Dalen Hudson was insane.

“We have to get back,” he commented. “I have practice, then your brother is meeting me to go out with us this evening. I'm going to find a cute cheerleader to fuck him. He'll be eternally grateful.”

Dalen stroked her hair. “Your family will be so intertwined with mine that you'll have no choice but to give up this silly fight. Just give in and accept our love. You'll be happier than you can believe.” He kissed her once more before rising to his feet and taking her hand. “Our dads are doing business together, and your brother worships the ground I walk on. Your mom will be won over shortly and then it will be just you—alone. Think about it.”

Rory walked with him back to the car and took a seat in the Porsche. She sat in silence while he drove them back to the school and when he parked, she looked around. Korith was standing at the top of the stairs, searching frantically. When she saw Rory get out of Dalen's Porsche, she looked sick. Rory started walking toward her, but Dalen jerked her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Several people nearby cheered as he released her. “I'll see you, baby,” he whispered and strode in the direction of the gym.

Korith skirted around several people to meet Rory. “What happened?” she asked softly. “When you weren't in class I panicked.”

“Let's go to your house,” Rory suggested. She and Korith walked together to the parking lot and got in their cars. Korith's was a three-year-old Mazda in a soft shade of gray. Rory followed behind in the black Mustang, though her mind was not on driving. She parked behind Korith's car and followed her inside. They had the house to themselves so they sat at the breakfast bar, eating orange slices, while Rory filled her in. “He's crazy,” she finished sometime later. “When he threatened to kill Carson, I knew he wasn't joking.”

Korith shook her head, scared for her friend. “I don't understand,” she whispered. “He's never done anything like this before. Once he's scored with a girl he moves on.”

“He thinks he's in love with me,” Rory reminded her morosely. “He's trapping me on all sides.”

“You have to tell your parents,” Korith said decisively. “They have to be prepared. You can't let them get any more tangled up with the Hudsons, Rory.” She touched her friend on the shoulder. “Besides, they can protect you and Carson if need be. You can hire a bodyguard or something.”

Rory nodded miserably. “I know, Korith, but I'm scared. I don't want to tell them what he's done to me and still trying to do.”

“I understand completely, Rory. After he raped me, I felt ashamed and dirty. My parents had just died that summer, and I couldn't bring myself to tell Uncle Thomas and Aunt Dottie. I carried it in silence for too long. Don't become like me,” she begged.

“I'll tell them tonight,” she promised. Rory stayed with Korith until Dottie and Thomas came home. She talked with them for a little while before heading for the door. Moriah was coming in as she was leaving. “Hey,” she said.

Smiling, Moriah returned. “Hey.” She cocked her head to one side. “Umm...could you tell Ricky it was nice to see him today?” She giggled and bounced away before Rory could agree to.

Rory walked out to her car and thought about checking on Carson but wanted to know more before she warned him about Dalen's threat. She drove home as it was getting dark and parked in front of the sidewalk, not bothering with the garage. She ran into the house, eager to find her mother and confide in her. Together they could tell her dad. “Mom,” she called out. “Where are you?”

Rory skidded to a stop when she came into the living room and saw Dalen sitting on the love seat. Her parents were on the sofa, and Ricky was curled up on the floor. “Hey, sis,” he said. “Where ya' been?” He obviously wasn't curious really; just making small talk.

Rory started trembling and had a hard time finding her tongue. “I was visiting a friend,” she explained as she edged her way into the room. It was so very tempting to pour out the whole story right there with Dalen sitting on the love seat, looking so smug. She restrained herself, already having decided her mom alone would be a more receptive audience initially. “I saw Moriah. She asked me to tell you she had fun seeing you this afternoon,” she said inanely. Ricky brightened considerably before turning a beet red.

Dalen rose from the love seat and walked toward her. Rory squeezed her eyes shut and dug her nails into the soft flesh of her palms. When he hugged her, she wanted to scream but she managed to stand passively. “It's about time you got home,” he said in a light tone but his eyes were steely. “We've been waiting a half-hour.”

“I didn't see your car,” she commented as he pulled her to the love seat with him. If she had, she would have kept driving.

“Your dad insisted I park it in the garage. He didn't want it to get damaged if it rains. That's what the weatherman is predicting. Sorry I took your spot,” he added.

“It's fine,” she responded through bloodless lips.

“We should start dinner,” Leigh commented, patting Dan on the leg. “Would you care to join us, Dalen?”

“I'd be honored,” he answered courteously.

Rory bounced up. “I'll help you, Mom,” she offered.

Dan chuckled. “No, we'll manage, but thank you.”

Rory grimaced as her parents left the room. Sundays and Mondays were Maria's days off and her parents fixed for themselves those two days. Why did they have to abandon her to make dinner—and then they just had to invite him. She wouldn't be able to choke down a bite with Dalen at the table.

She was counting on Ricky playing referee, but he dredged up some previously unknown shred of tact. “I'm going to make some calls,” he said with a suggestive grin. “See you at dinner.”

Rory sat tensely by Dalen until she was sure Ricky was out of hearing range. “What are you doing here?”

“I dropped your brother off and came in to see you. Since you weren't home, your parents invited me to wait. I've been having a chat with them.” Dalen put an arm around her and pulled her closer. “Who were you seeing this afternoon?”

It annoyed her to have to tell him, but she was afraid to let Dalen think she had been with Carson. “Korith Bursey,” she gasped out as he licked her neck. She wanted to die at that moment. “Not that it's any of your business.”

“You do know she's a lesbian, don't you?” he asked before kissing her. Rory locked her lips closed and tried not to gag. She finally went limp, just so he would stop.

When the forced kiss ended, she said, “She's not a lesbian. You should know that better than anyone, after what you did to her.” She glared at him and he shrugged.

“That was a long time ago,” he dismissed. “It's in the past, and you don't have to be jealous. She never meant anything to me. No one before you has meant anything.”

“You're disgusting,” Rory whispered. “As if I'd be jealous! I don't care if you screw your way through the girls’ volleyball team. I'd prefer it if it would make you leave me alone.”

Dalen slapped her across the mouth, just enough to sting. “Watch your mouth,” he admonished. “You shouldn't talk like that.”

“You don't like swearing?” she asked innocently.

Shrugging, Dalen pulled her even closer. “Not particularly—especially in women. It's vulgar.”

Smiling sweetly, Rory got really close to his face and said with relish, “Fuck off and die.” His face tightened and she braced herself for his reaction. Dalen grabbed her wrist and twisted viciously. She cried out softly but didn't pull away. He would just hurt her more if she did.

Leigh came into the room, looking unhappy to see them curled up together. “Dinner's ready,” she announced, and they rose from the love seat to follow her into the dining room. Dan had insisted on using the best china, though it seemed ridiculous to her. Imagine pulling out the china for a high school boy. If he broke one of her glasses, Dan was in big trouble.

Dalen conversed easily with her family, playing polite young man to the hilt. Leigh seemed to warm up to him by dessert, and Dan was clearly impressed. Ricky seemed enthralled with Dalen and determined to copy him. Rory was the only one not basking in his glow. She'd pushed the food around on her plate all through dinner but barely ate a bite. Dessert was a chocolate cake with fresh raspberries, normally her favorite, but she didn't even pick up her fork.

Finally, after dinner, Dalen announced he had to leave. Dan and Ricky protested while Leigh gave him a serene goodbye. Resentfully Rory trailed behind him to the garage, hitting the button to raise the door. She remained silent and turned to go back in when he jerked her into his arms and kissed her vigorously. When his tongue invaded her mouth, she gagged and bit down instinctively.

“Blood,” he showed her as he dabbed at his tongue with his finger. She could taste it in her mouth and it made her want to vomit. “You're certainly wild tonight,” he commented before sliding into his Porsche. He lifted his hand in a wave and backed down the driveway. Rory only waited until he was barely out the door before pushing the button to lower it. She felt much safer when the door was down, locking him out.

After a minute, she walked into the house and went straight upstairs. After brushing her teeth repeatedly, she filled a tub of hot water and soaked until the tension in her muscles slowly drained away. Doing mundane things relaxed her, so she shaved her legs and washed her hair. Afterwards she wound the heavy mass in a towel and secured it to her head. After rubbing lotion into her legs, Rory wrapped another towel around her body and went into her bedroom.

She sat at the vanity table and selected her favorite color of nail polish. Rory polished all her fingernails then bent forward to polish her toenails. She screamed a little and whipped around when someone touched her back. Leigh frowned at her. “You sure are jumpy,” she commented. “I guess you didn't hear me knock?”

“No,” Rory answered after her heartbeat slowed. “I didn't realize you were here.” She took time to finish her last toenail before screwing the top on and returning the bottle to the drawer. She didn't feel like talking about what had happened to her after enduring an hour with Dalen. She just wanted to crawl in to bed and forget the whole world existed for awhile. “Did you need something?”

“I just wondered if you and Dalen have patched things up?” Leigh inquired.

Rory shrugged and sat on the dainty chair in front of the vanity table. She studied the ruby of her toenails, noticing that the light reflected back was distorted. Sort of like her relationship with Dalen. To the world, it looked fine but in reality, it was a living hell. “You'd have to ask Dalen about that. He seems to think he can make all my decisions for me. I'm not sure if we're happy, but I'll let him know you asked,” she answered bitingly.

Leigh sighed. “That’s what I thought. You seemed cool towards him and he was too eager to please. I just want you to know that whatever you decide to do, we'll support your decision.”

Rory laughed. “Yeah...okay,” she answered. “I'm sleepy now, Mother.” Shaking her head, Leigh bade her goodnight and left. Rory slipped off the towel and put on a heavy fleece sleep shirt. She couldn't seem to stop shivering, so she crawled into bed and even turned the dial of her electric blanket on low. Finally, she realized she wasn't cold but frightened. Still, she did not warm up and did not turn off the blanket. It was a long time before she slept that night.