Chapter Nine

The next afternoon, Lacey made her way to Abbie’s house for their study date. It was only a few houses along the street but by the time she got there, Lacey’s arms were aching from the pile of books she carried. She dumped them on the floor of the porch and shook her arms before ringing the doorbell.

The screen door swung open revealing a slim woman with greying auburn hair. Abbie was an exact clone, albeit younger. Lacey looked into her rust coloured eyes.

“You must be Lacey,” the woman smiled, “I’m Linda, Abbie’s mother. Please, come in.”

Linda swung the screen door fully open and ushered Lacey into the darkness of the hallway. Lacey picked up her pile of books and stepped across the threshold waiting for a second for her eyes to adjust after the brightness of the day outside.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs Mason. My dad was talking about you on the phone the other night. He said to say ‘hi’.”

Linda continued down the hall. “It’s Ms Mason, honey. I never married.”

“Oh sorry.”

A carefree hand flicked into the air. “Don’t be. I’m not. Abbie’s in her room, last door on the left before the living area.”

Lacey nodded and followed her along the hall, her feet making little sound except for intermittent creaks as she trod on a loose floor board here and there.

“You know, I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you,” Linda said as they walked. “I was great friends with you mother. Her passing was a tragedy.”

Lacey gave a tight smile.

“You look like her, although I can see a little of your father across the brow.”

“Mmm.”

“I missed them after they moved onto the farm. We fell out of touch and our friendship sort of died.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Yes. It was. We had so many plans.” She pointed to Abbie’s door. “But not to worry. Things have a way of working out for the best, don’t they?”

“I guess so.”

Lacey knocked and poked her head around the door. A smiling Abbie looked up from her position, stretched out on the bed with a book in front of her. “Hi Lacey, come in.” She hopped to her feet and skipped across the room to help Lacey with the pile of books.

Abbie’s room was not unlike her own - cream walls, a huge high old-fashioned iron bed with a colourful quilt and worn fringed rug decorating the floor. Abbie had slung scarves over her lamp to add a warm hue to the light and her mirrored dresser had beads and bracelets slung down the side, along with postcards from all the countries of the world that had been pushed into the cracks between the wood and the glass. The only thing missing were posters of celebrities on the walls but given that Abbie had never been exposed to the outside world until recently, Lacey wasn’t surprised.

“You came prepared,” Abbie said, dumping Lacey’s books on the bed. “These weigh a freakin’ tonne.”

“I didn’t know what book you wanted to study and since you don’t have a mobile, I couldn’t text you.”

Abbie grinned and took up Lacey’s forearm. She picked up a pen from the bed and scribbled a series of numbers along Lacey’s skin. “There. My home phone. Now you can call me anytime. Just don’t expect any serious D and M’s, though. We don’t have a cordless and Mum keeps the phone in the family room so she can eavesdrop.”

Lacey studied the purple ink. “Okay. Cool. We’ll save the real discussions for when we see each other.”

The girls settled themselves on Abbie’s double bed and opened a few books. Lacey got out her laptop and Abbie turned to a new page of her pad, writing the date in neat girlish hand.

“So, you ditched the party early last night.”

“Yeah, I should never have gone. I wasn’t in the mood and I felt like a dick with everyone dressed like that and me in ‘picnic on the grass’ gear.”

“Ty kissed me.”

Lacey’s eyes widened. “For real?”

“Yep. Well, the first one was a dare but the second time was for real. He said he likes me a lot.”

“And you like him, too?”

“Heaps. He’s way hot and sooo funny.” Abbie looked thoughtful. “You should have stayed, you know. Zac looked all sad after you left.”

“He wouldn’t care. He has a tonne of girls to keep him occupied. Anyway, like I said, I don’t think it’s totally my scene.”

“You have to give it a chance. The other kids are nice but they won’t put themselves out unless you make an effort.”

“I guess so. Did they give you a hard time when you started school?”

“A bit, but it was more because people thought I was the ‘home school weirdo’ than anything else. Once I showed them I could be as devious as the rest of them, they soon changed their minds.” A secretive smile played on her lips.

“Devious? Like what?”

“Oh, you know, like hiding things from Mum - such as the fact that I have Internet and a Facebook account. When I say I’m at the library she thinks I’m studying but I’m really reading Kat’s magazines. That sort of stuff. Nothing too bad or illegal.”

“Is it absolutely necessary to keep that a secret? It’s pretty minor stuff.”

Abbie leaned across the bed and pulled a stash of lolly snakes from her bedside drawer. She took a couple from the bag and tossed it to Lacey.

“It is if I want a life. Until this year, I’d never heard of MacDonald’s. Can you believe that? Mum had me so closeted that I didn’t even know there was such a thing as iTunes but now I have an iPod and an account. And the Devil didn’t take me away when I turned it on!”

Lacey nodded. “She was probably only acting that way because she loves you and wants to protect you.”

“Yeah. I know. Mum had lots of stuff happen before I was born. I think it scared her a bit and she wants to keep me safe from the things that happened to her. She’s told me a million times that she doesn’t want me to be a single mother like her - like I’d be silly enough to let that happen - that’s why she vets my friends and gives me the stupid curfew.”

“Your Mum hung out with my parents. Dad never told me about anything bad about her.”

“She doesn’t talk about the past and seriously, I don’t want to know. The thought that she had sex once is bad enough. I don’t want to know what else she did. All I want is to be a normal teenager and all she wants is to keep me in this little cottage till I’m eighteen and can be packed off to University and become a doctor. She doesn’t realise that sheltering me from the world could actually be making things worse.”

“You seem pretty up with things now, even with your mum’s tight leash.”

Abbie giggled. “She’s learning to let go a little, I think, and what can I say… I’m a fast learner.”

She was just about comment, when Lacey felt the vibration of her phone from her pocket. She took it out and stared at the screen.

I have something better than any study date.

In the park.

NOW

She didn’t recognise the number - she’d deleted many of her old contacts after moving to town - but from the tone she knew immediately who it was. The hairs stood up on her arm and her hand began to shake. Shit.

Shoving the phone back in her pocket, Lacey began to gather her stuff. “I have to go, Abs.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing. I have something I have to see to.”

“Want me to come?” Abbie looked worried.

“Nah, its fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

*****

By the time Lacey had crossed the road and entered the park, her hands were clammy and a fine sweat had broken out on her brow. How had he found her? It couldn’t be possible, not after all this time.

“Hello Lacey.”

Of all the people she had trusted and been let down by after her mother had died, she never expected to see him again. Ever.

“William.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Not long enough. How did you find me? What’re you doing here?”

Lacey looked up into the chiseled features of her former boyfriend, the one who had introduced her to weed and then coke before dumping her because she couldn’t handle her habit. He was still as handsome as ever. Smoky grey eyes trapped under a dark brow, prominent cheekbones leading to a strong jaw, smattered with stubble. Lacey could remember a time when she’d loved the roughness of that stubble on her skin. At one time, it had been the only thing that could wake her from her stupor.

“You haven’t answered my question,” she said. “Why’re you here?”

“What can I say? I missed you.”

Yeah, like a hole in the head. Without the effect of drugs, Lacey was a wake up to William.

“How did you find me?”

William’s full lips curved. “A friend of a friend.”

Lacey began to count in her mind. She counted the days they’d been apart, the times he’d hit her, the lies he’d told. Anything really. It was either that or punch him in the nose and he was way taller than her, so even if she’d had the nerve it would have been physically impossible.

“Why. Are. You. Here?”

“I’ve been travelling around a bit, doing some business. Heard you were in the neighbourhood. So I thought I might hang around a bit. Catch up on old times. It’s been ages, Lace. I thought you’d be happy to see me.” He gave a fake pout and tried to look forlorn.

“Not particularly. And I’d appreciate it if you’d stay away from my friends and family while you’re here. How long are you staying, anyway?”

William put a finger to his lips in mock thought. “I guess that depends on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a small matter of an outstanding debt, unless you’d like to keep your account open?” He fished a small plastic bag out of his pocket, his long spider-like fingers waving it in Lacey’s face.

Lacey looked at the baggie, filled with crystalline white powder. Suddenly, her mouth was dry and her heart was pumping fiercely. An overwhelming need enveloped her. Was this what people had told her about being tested? It would be so easy to take up with William again. Get back to her old ways.

“I’m not interested.”

William raised a brow. “Oh, such determination. Are you sure about that?”

“Positive.”

He put the bag back in his pocket. His smile seemed evil, somehow. And more conniving than she’d ever seen him. Stepping closer, pushed his imposing figure into Lacey’s thin one. He stared down into her face, his red eyes glinting in the afternoon sun. The silver amulet he wore at his throat sparked in Lacey’s eyes blinding her. She squinted and tried to avert her face but his hands reached out to grasp her chin roughly. “In that case, there’s a matter of money to settle. Fifteen hundred dollars, if I’m correct.”

Lacey swallowed. A chill of terror streaked down her spine. She didn’t have fifteen hundred dollars and she wasn’t about to ask Dad or Aunt Beth to lend it to her. “You know I don’t have that kind of cash.”

“Then we have a problem.”

They certainly did. Lacey knew full well what was coming. “Why do you want it now? It was never a problem when we were together.”

“I was willing to let your debt accumulate while we were together, yes, but now our relationship is over, I’d like my money.”

“But I don’t have that kind of cash.”

“Then, I’m sure the Police would be interested to know that you prostituted yourself in return for drugs. I might just go and tell them.”

“I didn’t! You gave them to me.”

“I don’t think they’d see it that way, do you?”

Lacey’s body wilted in defeat. Her father didn’t need any more pain. “What do you want me to do?”

“Perhaps your new friends would like to buy? I’ve heard tell that some of them like to party in unusual ways. Some of them even dabble in the occult. Or so I’ve been told. A line here, a pill there and I’m sure Satan would be right on their doorstep. You could even make a little pocket money for yourself.”

“I’m not going to deal, William. You’ll have to kill me first.”

“Then you’ll have to find some other way to pay me back. You have until the weekend. If I don’t have my money by then, I intend to go to the Police. Those little sex tapes you made would be all the proof they need. I’m fairly sure one of them even has you taking money before the act.”

Lacey felt the blood rush from her head to her feet. Dizziness swept over her in waves and she fought to stay in control. William could tell the Police anything he liked and she had no evidence to prove otherwise. She’d been lucky to remember what day it had been back then let alone say where she’d been. Whole days had blended together in darkness. If William went to the Police her future would mean nothing. All the work she’d put in, the fences mended would be for nothing.

“William, please,” she begged. “Don’t do this.”

“You have until the weekend. I’ll meet you here. If I don’t see you around town first, that is."

*****

All the way home and all through dinner, Lacey was distracted and understandably so. How in the hell was she going to come up with fifteen hundred dollars? She didn’t have that amount of money in her account and short of selling her body for real she could think of no option that would afford her such a large sum in such a small amount of time. There was no thought that William would relent and give her more time either. While she’d been immersed in his crowd and doing everything he wanted, he’d been more than happy to supply her with drugs but she’d seen his nasty side on more than one occasion when others tried to renege. He was capable of anything to get what he was owed.

As she watched Aunt Beth take her plate away and scrape the leftovers into the bin, Lacey contemplated telling her or Dad. She knew they’d help but neither of them was flush with cash. Aunt Beth had had to replace the roof on the cottage recently and the farm had never been a big money earner for the family. Dad wasn’t rich.

She contemplated asking Zac or Ty. They both had heaps of money and were always willing to splash it around but how did you ask someone you barely knew to lend you that sort of money? There was nothing for it. Tomorrow, she’d have to go to the bank and get all her money out. She’d give it to William and beg for more time. It was all she could do.

*****

The next morning, looking pale and drawn after spending the night Lacey met Abbie for their usual walk to school. For once, she was pleased at Abbie’s incessant chatter. It meant she didn’t have to engage. She had so much more to worry about than whether or not Ty and Abbie were an item or if Cam had secret healing powers.

At the corner of Main Street, when the girls turned and began the hike up the hill to the school, Abbie finally stopped talking and turned to her friend.

“You okay? You don’t look too good.”

Lacey gave a wan smile. “Its nothing.” Hopefully, Abbie would think she was having a bad period or something and let it be.

“You rushed off so quick yesterday. You know, after that text. You looked like you’d seen a ghost.”

A monster, maybe.

“Yeah, sorry.”

A frown spread over Abbie’s face. “Are you sure everything’s alright?”

Lacey sighed deeply. She wanted to share her problem but what good would it do? It would only make Abbie worry. Besides her friend’s mouth hadn’t exactly been sealed shut when it came to sharing gossip about the other kids in town. A ball of tension began to mass itself in Lacey’s chest. She winced and pressed her hand to her throat. It was as if someone was trying to strangle her.

“I’m fine.”

“No. You’re not.”

They stopped at the corner, near the oval. Lacey looked surreptitiously up and down the street. “If I tell you this, you have to swear it won’t go any further.”

Abbie crossed her fingers over her chest. “Not a word will pass these lips.”

“I had a visitor. My ex-boyfriend. It, sort of, gave me a bit of a shock.”

“You mean William?”

“How do you know about William?”

“He was at the house yesterday morning, looking for you. He thought he might be able to make a connection with your mum and mine being friends and all. He’s hot. Mum was quite taken with him and she never reacts to anybody.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“He said he wanted to surprise you. Is there a problem?”

You could say that.

“William’s a drug dealer. He wants the fifteen hundred dollars I owe him - which I don’t have, by the way. And he wants it by the weekend.”

Abbie’s mouth fell open but Lacey was unsure if it was from the fact that she’d just told her that she’d been involved with drugs or that she owed a huge amount of money she had no way of paying back.

“Do you have any money?”

“I have about five hundred in my account but William won’t let me off that easy. Not if I know him.”

“What about your Dad? You could ask him.”

“He’s got no money and even if he did, I don’t want him to know. He’s had to put up with enough of my shit.”

“You could ignore him. Maybe he’d go away.”

Lacey attempted to cover a snort. “Or maybe not. If William’s taken this much trouble to find me, he’s not going to disappear if I ignore him. If I don’t give him the money, he could quite easily ruin my life.”

“Shit.”

“Double shit.”

Abbie reached over, her hand stroking Lacey’s forearm in an attempt to comfort her. “I’ve saved about two hundred. I was going to buy myself an iPod dock but you can have it.”

“I can’t take your money.”

“Take it. I want you to. You can pay me back.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep. I’ll go to the bank on the way home and get it for you.”

“Thanks Abs. You’re a good friend.” Lacey pulled Abbie to her, squeezing her tight. It was so nice to have a friend again.