Chapter 1:
Once Upon a Time
I really hate to sound cliché, but
hell, once upon a time really is the best way to start a story. When somebody
says the words ‘once upon a time’ you know you’re in for a ride. And well,
there’s really no other way to describe what happened to me. So, that being
said, once upon a time on my 28th birthday, I just knew trouble was headed my
way. Can’t exactly explain it but from the minute I woke up I just had this
un-nerving feeling in the pit of my stomach.
It was a Thursday, not that it
mattered, and I got dressed for work same as I always did. I quietly snuck out
the door so as not to disturb the sleeping dragon in the room next door. She
was so wasted that she’d drunk herself into a coma the night before and surely
wouldn’t remember exactly what happened. Nor how much she owed me one.
Before I walked out I quickly checked
my make-up in the mirror. Not the kind of make-up girls put on to make
themselves pretty. Well, the same kind I guess, but I only used it to cover up
what I could of the fresh bruise across the left side of my face. You see, Dad
showed up last night and got a little physical with mom before I got home from
work. The damn bastard gets off on beating helpless women. You could hear the
commotion from the entrance to the trailer park. Nothing says welcome home
like, “Suck my dick bitch before I break your fucking face.”
I heard mamma whimpering for help as I
walked inside. Daddy bloodied her up pretty good this time. “Get the fuck out.”
I said coldly when I found them.
Daddy forced a smile at me but we both
know the prick is afraid of me and he instantly stepped away from my mom. “You
gonna stop me darlin’?” He slurred through his drunkenness, “We all remember
what happened the last time you did that.”
“Yeah, you’re a fucking big shot,
beating up 14 year old girls and drunk women. I’m not afraid of you.” I said
standing my ground.
That’s when he flew at me. He must
have been piss drunk this time because in the last 24 years he’d never had the
balls to try it. He really surprised me; caught me off my guard. That’s the
only reason he got a shot in. It was a good one too. Knocked me on my ass, the
bastard, I’ll be popping the Excedrine for a week now. I got up quick enough
though and it didn’t take much to lay him out after that, two or three punches
is all. Then I dragged his ass into the back of his own pick-up truck and
hauled him down to the sheriff’s station. We’re on a first name basis over
there. All I had to do was hand the clerk my daddy’s keys and they knew. My
face was starting to swell by the time I got there so Daddy will be in jail for
a good week this time.
Anyway, fast forward back to the next
morning, my birthday. I had a massive headache and my face was throbbing. I was
surprised as how bad it looked. I didn’t know how much a face could swell. I
think maybe he cracked my cheekbone but I sure as hell can’t afford a trip to
the ER for an x-ray just so they can tell me to go home and take some asprin,
so I popped a couple of painkillers and went to work. I was running a little
late so Danny and John were already workin’ on Mr. Thompson’s old Ford. Piece
of shit car was in our shop more than he drove it but he was old school and
refused to drive anything else.
I breezed past them heading straight
for the office barely hearing the shit they were giving me for being late. I
knew they were joking but I just wasn’t in the mood. I slammed the door shut
behind me and poured myself a cup of coffee. I didn’t come out of the office
for nearly 20 minutes. Thy guys had known me long enough not to bother me and I
was grateful for the privacy. I may be the toughest girl on this planet but
even I can’t be strong all the time.
I never cry, ever, but that morning
was the closest I’d ever come to it. Not because of what happened the night
before, but because I was just fucking tired of all the shit. No matter what
happened it seemed that shit was always waiting for me somewhere and for the
first time in my life I felt like I just couldn’t keep doing it. But I had no
choice and I knew it. I also knew that if I stayed hold up in the office for
more than a half and hour the guys were bound to break the door down, so I
sucked it up, finished my cup of coffee and taped up my hand. – I may have
cracked a knuckle or two last night as well but shit, that pain was good pain.
I pulled my long dark ponytail through
my baseball cap and let out a deep breath as I met their curious eyes for the
first time. Danny saw my face and his eyes filled with anger. “I’m gonna kill
the son of a bitch! You tell me who did it Cin! Was it Hank? I’m gonna kill the
fucker!”
You have to understand, Danny is very
protective of me. The night my dad nearly killed me, I went to his house for
help. He was always kind of sweet on me and I was so insecure. I needed to feel
safe that night and that’s exactly how Danny makes me feel. He cleaned me up
and then held me all night long. It was the most violent and yet the most
tender night of my life. I lost my virginity that night. Danny and I tried to date for a while but we
really are just made to be best friends. He’s the big brother I never had.
“He’s in jail, alright? Just relax and
don’t worry about me, I guarantee he feels worse than I do right now.” I said
forcing a harsh laugh as I showed him my bandaged hand.
John grabbed my hand and examined it
closely. He was clearly upset but it wasn’t anger like Danny. His was more
worry. John always worries. Not just about me, but about everything, although I
suspect he worries about me the most. John is the most girlie of the three of
us but that ain’t sayin’ much. Some days I have half a mind to accuse him of
being in love with me but because of my history with Danny, he’d never say it.
One night when I was 17 and Danny was
dating this tramp from the town over one, John and I got a little too drunk and
well, like I said, I’ve fucked ‘em both. Danny and I had long since been over
but that didn’t stop him from being a jackass and over reacting about the whole
thing. He gave John his first shiner and then didn’t speak to either of us for
at least a month. Eventually we all got over it and decided that sleeping with
each other should be a thing of the past. We’ve been like siblings ever since.
“You sure you’re ok?” John asked me knowing
I probably wouldn’t tell him even if I wasn’t.
I simply nodded and Danny broke the
awkward silence before it could begin. “Alright then, this piece of shit’s not
going to fix itself.”
“I got this one boys. I feel like
beating the shit out of something. You can do the 50k tune up on the Toyota.”
Danny and John didn’t question me.
They both knew better than that. Besides, I was by far the best with a mystery
and Mr. Thompson’s Ford was always a challenge. The guys left me alone to cope
the only way I knew how, by getting’ dirty under the hood of a car. Like I told
you, cars just come easily to me. It’s like I’m in my zone or something when
I’m tinkering with an engine so I happily leaned far over to see if I could
figure out what was wrong with her today.
I heard the familiar sound of Pete’s
tow truck roll up the drive but I didn’t bother to acknowledge it. I was in no
way ready to deal with that son of a bitch today. The pervert practically
drools every time he sees me. His breathing gets all heavy and then he hurries
back to his truck as if we don’t all know what he’s doing under the steering
wheel. Fucking hick.
John went out to greet the frequent
client and I heard the sound of unfamiliar voices. Three of them, male.
Definitely not from around here. City boys. My curiosity was peeked and I
glanced over my shoulder trying to get a look at the strangers. There was a
tall blonde. By no means fat but definitely a little on the stocky side. Not
really my type at all. He walked with his chest slightly puffed. I bet he’s a
cocky little prick.
He was joking around with a – Hello,
what do we have here? Shaved head, tattoos, big brown eyes and a rock hard body
showing through his tight white tank. Everything about him screamed trouble.
Nothing wrong with getting a little city boy every now and then, DAMN! I felt
myself getting a little hot so I quickly focused my attention back on the car.
Wait, there was three. Didn’t I say I
heard three voices? I turned back around but the only person still there was
fucking Pete, undressing me with his eyes. Fucking pervert. I shot him a
warning look. Danny saw the trouble behind it and quickly stepped in before I
beat the shit out of the fat fuck. God I hate that man! Danny shooed him off,
no doubt to go jack off to some twisted fantasy involving me. I went back to
work having completely forgot all about the strangers that had arrived with
him.
I was still fuming over Pete and never
heard the office door open. Before I knew it Danny was dangling a set of keys
in my face. “Ever had the pleasure of a Beamer before?” he teased as if I
actually make love to the cars or something.
“Fucking city boys and their fucking
Beamers! Expensive pieces of shit ya know.” I spat without looking up. “What
fucking rich prick drives his BMW around a shit hole like this?”
“That would be my best friend.” I
heard someone smirk, “And he’s really partial to his ‘piece of shit’ so I’d
appreciate it if you would take as much care of it as you do this fine looking
ass of yours.”
My fingers clenched into fists at his
comment about my ass, but when I felt the stranger’s hand reach out and grab a
handful I lost it. “What the fuck!” I screamed.
I whirled around and without warning
punched the guy’s fucking lights out. Danny must have seen it coming but made
no attempt to stop me. In fact if I hadn’t done it I’m pretty sure he would
have. I shook my head in shame disgusted by how easily he went down yet it
still brought me satisfaction. “Fucking city boy!” I smirked as I stepped over
the blonde nearly twice my size lying in a daze on the greasy concrete.
I stormed off to the office before I
could do more damage. I’m pretty sure I heard the fine motherfucker laughing
about the whole thing, but I didn’t stop to find out. I swung the office door
open just as John was coming through it with the third and final city boy. The
one I hadn’t yet seen. They scared the shit out of me and I screamed. “Jesus
fucking Christ!”
I’m not sure why but the poor stranger
nearly froze when I yelled. I don’t know if it was fear or surprise or what but
it was almost pathetic. This guy seemed different from the cocky prick on the
ground and the fine fuck who seemed to think he was don juan or some shit. No,
he was different. Shy or something. He stood only an inch or two taller than
me, which for a man is a fucking short. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin, like
he was part Mexican or some shit. But not like any Mexican I’d ever seen, his
features were soft, pampered. Maybe he was gay?
Whatever the fuck his deal was, he
seemed confused as his eyes shifted from me to the blond. “He’ll think twice
before he grabs a woman’s ass again.” I explained before I slammed the door to
the office shut for the second time that day.
I kept myself busy in the office with
random paperwork until the fuckers left the shop. Honestly I should have
thanked him I guess. I really did feel better after I hit him and it made for a
good laugh the rest of the day. “You workin’ Hal’s tonight?” Danny asked me
before I left.
I actually laughed at the ridiculous
question. “You can’t be serious. Kentucky’s playing Duke. Everyone in the
fucking town is going to be there tonight.”
Danny smirked realizing the stupidity
of his comment. Small towns take their college basketball very seriously. “Just
don’t kick anyone’s ass if we lose.”
“You know I can’t promise that.” I
teased him back
Danny and John both seemed glad to
have me back after the shitty day. John grinned wickedly. “What’d ya say we
close the shop tomorrow and get piss-ass drunk tonight in honor of Cin’s
birthday?”
“Fuck ya!” Danny hollered.
“Close the shop? You mean take a three
day weekend?”
“It’s my fucking shop. I can close it
whenever the hell I want.”
“And the city boy’s Beamer?”
“Let the mother fuckers wait!” John
smirked.
I love John. He’s really the fucking
greatest sometimes. I may complain about my life a lot but I really do have the
best friends anyone could ever ask for. He saw the smile creep over my face and
that was that. Within ten minutes the shop was dark and a sign written on a
large greasy piece of cardboard hung in the window reading: shop closed ‘till
Monday due to some serious fucking hangovers. I smiled when I saw the “Happy
fucking birthday Cin!” added at the bottom.
Maybe today wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
***