Chapter Five

At the house, Rory was watching television in the family room. She was showered, dressed, and looking much better. “How are you feeling?” Leigh asked as she touched Rory's forehead. She felt cool and her coloring was much better.

“I feel a lot better.” Her nausea had abated a few hours ago, and she was no longer hurting inside. She was dreading school tomorrow and she knew Leigh would let her stay home if she wanted, but it would just be that much harder to go back later. “I think I'll be able to go to school tomorrow,” she added before Leigh could ask.

Leigh stroked her cheek and perched on the arm of the sofa. “That’s good,” she murmured as she tried to delicately broach the subject on her mind. “How serious are things between you and Dalen?” she probed.

“Not serious at all,” Rory assured her. “I don't even like him, mom. He follows me around and won't take no for an answer. I told him I don't want to be with him, and he laughed it off.”

“Be patient,” Leigh advised. “From observing his dad today, I'd say he's been raised to regard women as objects. It may take him some time to realize you're serious, but he'll eventually get the message if you remain firm.”

Leigh was acting like the mother she used to be, and Rory laid her head against her mom's chest. She was so tempted to confide in her mother and tell her the whole mess but Leigh added, “Just be gentle, sweetie. You don't want to hurt him, and we don't want to have problems with his father. I guess we're going into business with him.”

Rory grimaced and pulled away from her mom, who'd become a pod-person again. It seemed as if her own parents were trying to help Dalen get her. What was wrong with everyone? She stood up and ran from the room. Of course she wanted to hurt Dalen, she mused as she ran through the kitchen to the garage, feeling the need to escape. She wanted to hurt him so badly he’d never recover.

She couldn't help wondering how her mother would react if she returned to the house and told her everything Dalen had done to her. Would she still advocate being gentle with him or would she go on the warpath? Two years ago, Rory could have answered that question confidently, but not anymore.

Rory had no idea where she was going, so she headed to Moriah and Korith's. She parked in front of their house and knocked on the door, but no one was home, so she walked across the street to Carson's house. Rory climbed the creaking steps and knocked timidly on the rusting door. A thin woman in a nurse's uniform opened the door. “Is Carson home?”

“He's lives upstairs above the garage,” she said around her dangling cigarette and closed the door. Rory shrugged and climbed the stairs to Carson's apartment. She knocked and waited for him to answer, hugging herself. He opened the door finally and she smiled shakily. “Is this a bad time? I can come back.”

“No, it's fine,” he answered and moved aside so she could walk past him. Rory looked around his small apartment that was sparsely furnished, except for his instruments. Everything was clean and orderly except a drainer of drying dishes that he apparently hadn't had time to put away yet.

“I came to say thank you,” she told him awkwardly as she took a seat on the bed, “For helping me last night.”

“How did I help you?” Carson asked bitterly as he sat on the bed beside her. “I spent the week acting like a prick. If I hadn't ignored you, I would have known you didn't like him. I could have protected you.”

She shook her head. “No you couldn't, Carson, because I didn't tell anyone. I just tried to ignore his behavior and trivialize it. I even pretended it didn't mean anything instead of following my instincts.” She licked her lips. “Why did you ignore me?” she asked timidly.

“Because I thought you were using me to play a game with Dalen. I was jealous.” He blushed. “I liked you from the moment I saw you struggling with your lock, and I got really angry when I saw him giving you a massage in French class. You seemed to be a willing participant, and I decided I wasn't going to be used by you.”

“I like you too, Carson,” she confessed, blushing. “But I don't know...if...when...oh you know what I mean.” Tears leaked from her eyes as she struggled to express herself.

“I know, Rory,” he assured her, wiping at the tears. “He's messed everything up.” Carson took her hand and rubbed his thumb along the palm. “At least we can be friends.”

“I'd like that,” she said tremulously. He hugged her gently, and she raised her head, noticing her mouth was inches from his. His head descended slowly and the bed rolled. Suddenly, it was Dalen's face she saw, above her, pinning her to the bed as the waves of the waterbed made her stomach heave. She was back in that moment with Dalen, and she cried out, twisting away.

“What's wrong?” Carson asked gently as he dropped his arms. “Rory, can you hear me?” Her eyes swam back into focus slowly. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “I don't know,” she whispered brokenly. “I had a memory there. I'm sorry, Carson. I know you would never hurt me.”

“Well, I have homework,” he said awkwardly. “And the band's coming over for a practice session later. We have a gig in L.A. Saturday night.”

“Can I come?” Rory asked impulsively. “I can get some friends from L.A. to come, so there will be a few more warm bodies in the audience,” she enticed.

“Sure,” he agreed with a shrug and gave her the name of the club where they would be playing. “If you want to ride with us, be here at six-thirty sharp, Saturday night.”

“Okay,” Rory agreed easily. “I'll see you tomorrow at school,” she said as she walked out the door and down the steps.

Carson watched her get in her car and leave with a heavy heart. Damn Dalen Hudson to hell, he thought viciously.