Chapter 9

The shadow covered the wall. Dark and familiar. The figure approached him, and immediately fear replaced his sleeping form. Chills ran down his spine, and the room seemed to become unnaturally cold. He was jolted awake when the man grasped his pajama collar and dragged him out of bed. Faintly, he could smell the sour alcohol on his father's breath. He knew what would come next. He had assembled everyone in the living room, including his younger brothers and infant sister, held in his mother''s arms. The twins clung to her leg and watched wide-eyed as their father came back into the room with Jared, knocking him into line.

It was the same every pay day. His father would cash his check and spend the night at a local bar, drowning himself in alcohol before returning home. When he got home, he was pissed and needed to take it out on someone. That someone was his family. It always began this way. First complaining about the present economy, about how money wasn't worth what it used to be. Then came the insults. The verbal assaults and tear jerking stares of contempt were always a part of it. Once he was fully enraged, he would pull out the belt. As a scare tactic, he held it over each of their heads, as if contemplating who to strike first.

But Jared never let it get to the point where anyone but himself was hit. He angered his father by talking back, but that was the only way he could think of to get him to focus on him and not the little ones. He tried to shield his family by telling his mother to take the kids into their bedroom. That's when it would start.

"You think you're better than me, boy?" his old man slurred.

"No, sir."

"You being smart with me?"

"No, sir."

The anger flared in his father''s eyes, and he struck him with the belt. Jared stood there and took it, but he didn't show any emotion or give any indication of being hurt. This angered his father even more. He threw him against the wall, knocking the wind out of him. But he got up fast, wheezing but standing on his own two feet. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction, not yet.

"You stupid, boy? Stay down!"

"Not yet, sir!"

"Not yet, huh? You trying to prove something? You think you're a man? Look at you. You're nothing!"

"Just like you. You must be proud."

"I'll show you proud, smart ass!"

As his fist connected with his face, Jared sucked in his breath, thinking of his mother and siblings. It was better for it to happen to him. At least they had a chance at a normal life. The blinding pain struck him hard, and he struggled to stay standing. But he couldn't give in; he wouldn't. Again, he felt a painful thrust into his stomach and he doubled over in pain. Another blow knocked him to the ground. He held himself, gasping for air. He wasn't finished with him yet. A few kicks to the ribs and one to the face, and he walked away. The blood dripped from his cut eyebrow, and his eyes were already red and puffy. His lungs burned with fire.

The older man watched his son struggle to get up, and he began to cry. He was a monster, but he had no control. So much anger for such a small man. He was pale and skinny. The alcohol had taken him over. It was his life now. His wife, his family meant nothing to him compared to the bottle he held in his calloused hands. Shame marked his forty-two year old face.

Jared tried to stand, but the pain in his abdomen was too strong. He fell back to the ground. He wouldn't let his father see the tears in his eyes, nor see him struggle. He forced himself up, despite the crushing pain coursing through his system. He looked into his father's eyes before he turned back to go to sleep. He wasn't a child anymore; he wasn't going to run to his mother for comfort.

He found his way to his bed and rested his tired body. He didn't bother to clean himself off. He was too tired to do anything. All he wanted was for the hurt to go away. The blood soaked through his baby-blue pillow sham as he lay against his mattress blocking out all sounds, seeing only darkness before him. He feared his life would always be that dark, that nothing could stop the hurt. He feared for his siblings and cried for the day he would leave and would no longer be able to protect them. He ached for the day they would have to go to school hungry and with shame in their eyes. He prayed for the day his father wouldn't come home.

Jared awoke. His hair was a sweaty mess, and his skin damp. His eyes were faintly misty with tears. He looked around the room, realizing where he was. The walls were closing in on him. The room was hot, and he felt claustrophobic. He stood up to go to the bathroom.

The cold water ran in the small sink as he studied his features. He looked so much like the man that had tainted his childhood. Squinting, he shook off the image of his father''s drunken features. He wasn't his father, he assured himself. His father was dead and was never coming back to hurt him again. There was still a part of him, in the back of his mind, that feared he might. There was still that child inside him, still the fear that made him hide when he heard heavy footsteps.

The scared little boy was still very much a part of him, and he hated it. He hated that he had dreams that woke him up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. He hated the fact that his father still got to him, even after his death. What he hated most was that he feared he would eventually turn into him. That one day, he would pick up a bottle and become that man that he couldn't stand.

He splashed some of the icy water over his face. Blinking back the droplets that mixed with his tears, he wiped his face with a towel. There was no way he could go back to sleep after remembering that one event. He made his way to the living room where he found Chloe. She was sitting, reading a book under the lamp light.

Jared walked toward the window and stared down at the bright city lights. He listened to the horns and regular street noises, trying to regain his composure before he faced Chloe. She didn't know about his past, and he saw no reason why she should. Finally pulling his attention away from the city below, Jared sat down in a leather recliner.

Chloe looked up from her book when she saw Jared looking distressed, sitting across from her. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Something like that," he sighed.

"Me either. Listen, we need to talk about something."

"Sure. What?"

"I'm moving out."

"Moving out?" He knew it had been coming. He could tell things had changed between them. Chloe had taken to staying alone in her room when he was home and basically avoiding him as much as possible. It was only a matter of time before she moved on, and he knew it.

"Yeah, I figure I've been here long enough, and it just wouldn't be right for me to keep living here."

"When are you leaving?"

"Soon. I'm looking at apartments tomorrow, and if all goes well, I'll be out in a week or so."

"That soon?"

"I think it's time. But I want to thank you for all you've done for me. I don't know what I would have done without you," she said, taking his hand in hers.

"No problem." He blushed.

"Okay, I'm going to bed now. I have an early start tomorrow. Goodnight, Jar."

"Night, Chloe."

Chloe stood up and rounded the corner until she was out of sight. Jared stayed on the couch and just thought about his life and where it was headed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brady and Brandi came to pick Jared up at eight the next night. Chloe opened the door and was surprised to find Brady at Jared's apartment again so soon. More than that, she hadn't really spoken to him since their encounter at the garage.

"Hey, come on in." Chloe smiled. She sized up the brunette and decided she seemed okay. It was obvious this girl was not with Brady. She was too classy compared to the usual girls Brady associated himself with.

"Chloe, this is Brandi."

"Oh, so you're Chloe." Brandi smiled at her, looking her up and down.

Chloe felt the heat in her cheeks and wondered what Brady had told this woman about her. "That's right." She nodded. She had so many questions but couldn't ask in front of Brady. She didn't want him to know how much it excited her to know that he was talking to someone else about her.

They stepped into the small two-bedroom apartment. Brady immediately went to the fridge and got a beer. Brandi followed Chloe to the living room and sat next to her on the couch. Turning to face Chloe, she grinned largely at her. Brady came into the room and sat down, searching the cushions for the remote.

"Shit, I gotta take a piss. You ladies gonna be all right alone together?"

"Don't worry, Brade. We'll be sure to talk about you and that cute ass of yours."

"Not to mention that horrible attitude," Chloe cut in, less amused.

"You know you want me, Chloe. Why do you even try to deny it?"

"Please!"

"Don't beg. It's so unattractive." Brady laughed as he walked past them and Brandi slapped his butt.

"Can you believe him?"

"You get used to it." Brandi smiled. She and Chloe shared a giggle before Brandi turned to face Chloe with a serious expression on her face. "You know you're not what I expected."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chloe asked, her cheeks on fire.

"Oh, I'm sorry. That came out all wrong. It''s just when Brady described you, he never mentioned how beautiful you were."

"What did he say about me?" she asked, trying not to sound too eager.

"It's not what he said; it's what he didn't say. You really get to him, Chloe."

"I know. Sometimes, he just makes me so crazy. I can't stand how arrogant he gets."

"That's not the real Brady. Sometimes, we'll be laughing, and I'll look at him. And just for a second, I can see the old Brady staring back at me. And then, just as quickly he's gone. He wasn't always like this, Chloe."

"I know. Jared's told me some things."

"Even I don't know everything, but I know that he's still hurting. But when he talks about you, Chloe, that''s when I see it the most. That fire, that caring guy comes out. If anyone can help him, I think it's you, Chloe."

"I think you're wrong. He doesn't even like me. He just keeps pushing me away."

"I know, but you can't let him, Chloe. Please, don't let him. If you knew what kind of guy he used to be, you would never want to let go. He can still be that guy. I know he can, but he needs help. If it wasn't for that bitch, who knows what he could have done?"

"I've tried, but he doesn't want to let me in."

"Don't give up, please. For me and Jared. We need Brady back. I miss him so much," Brandi said, clasping tightly onto Chloe's hand.

Chloe could see the tears forming in her eyes, and for the first time realized how much Brady had meant to other people. She wanted to know more, more of that guy that people were convinced was still inside him. "I'll try my best," she said, smiling at Brandi and squeezing her hand. "How do you know Brady anyway?"

"Lisa was my best friend, but when they broke up, I realized I would rather be Brady's friend than hers. Lisa was always so selfish. Brady did so much for her, and she never appreciated it. We always got along, and so it was only natural that we stayed friends."

"Is that all you ever were? Just friends?"

"Brady always thought of me as a little sister. When they first broke up, he came to me, but I just held him. We were just never attracted to each other, but I see that he doesn't really care these days who he's with."

"No, I guess not."

Jared walked out of his room and caught sight of Brandi. He was truly stunned; she was beautiful.

Brady came back from the bathroom and smiled to himself when he saw Jared's reaction to Brandi. "Jared this is Brandi. Brandi, this is Jared."

Brandi held her hand out daintily, and Jared accepted it, loving the way her peaches and cream skin felt against his. "It's nice to meet you," Jared said shyly.

"You, too. Should we get going?"

"Sure." Jared grabbed his coat and helped Brandi on with hers. They stood in the doorway. "Brady, aren't you coming?" Jared asked.

Before he could speak, Brandi laced her arm with Jared''s and turned to face him. "Actually, I thought it would be better if we went by ourselves. It'll give us a chance to get to know one another. Is that okay?"

"That's fine with me. See ya later, guys."

"Bye," Chloe and Brady said in unison.

"All right. Well, I guess I'm going to go. See ya later, Chloe."

"Oh no, you don't! You're not getting away that easily."

"What are you talking about?"

"There are some things we have to talk about, Black."

"What things?"

"Like us. I want to know what's happening between us."

"Chloe, there is no 'us'. Haven't we been through this?"

"Brady, you can't deny that something is happening. That we have some sort of connection."

"I hate to break it to you, but there can never be anything but maybe friendship between us, and I'm not even sure about that."

"Liar! You know there's more happening here. I can feel it. I know you can too."

"What I feel is my business, and I'm telling you that I see you as a friend and nothing more."

"So all that happened the other day was still part of the game? You didn't feel anything."

"Whether I did or didn't feel anything is irrelevant because nothing is going to happen between us. I won't let it." He sighed, frustrated.

"Why, Brady? Because you're scared?"

"Chloe, you don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm not Lisa," Chloe told him, in a small voice.

"Right! What do you know about Lisa anyway?" Brady scowled.

"I know enough, okay? I know she hurt you and that I would never do what she did to you."

"Whatever!" he said, throwing his hands up. "This has nothing to do with her! Leave her out of it! Look, Chloe, we can be friends if you want to but nothing more. That's all I can offer you," he said, his voice softening.

"Friends. I'll settle for that. For now! But, Brady, there's going to come a time where you're going to want to change your mind."

"Don't count on it, Lane!"

"So, friend, how would you like to help me find a place to live?"

"What have I gotten myself into?" Brady smiled.

They locked eyes.

The phone rang, and Chloe ran to get it. Excited about her and Brady's new friendship, she didn't watch her step and tripped over the carpet. Just when she felt she was about to hit the floor face-first, she found herself wrapped in Brady's strong arms. She looked up at him, her face flushed and her body crushed against his. Slowly, she stood up and fixed her shirt.

"Thanks!" she squeaked.

"Anytime, Lane." He winked.

Brady let go of her, and she moved to the desk, where the telephone was still ringing. "Hello!...Hello?...Heelllooo?" she said, as she began to get agitated by the heavy breathing she heard coming from the other end.

"SOON!" the male voice threatened, and then the line went dead.

Chloe's face fell as she listened to the dial tone in disbelief. All her greatest fears were sinking in on her. They had found her.

"Who was that?" Brady questioned.

"Wrong number," Chloe squeaked out. Her mind was racing. She needed to get out on the town to clear her head.