Boys Like You by Jaye Pratt

 

I had another nightmare. Still the same one, leaving me with a horrible feeling in my gut. I try not to let it show, though. Mumma B has enough on her plate without me to worry about too, so I just keep to myself.

It’s still early, and the others aren’t up yet, so the kitchen is nice and peaceful.

“Hey,” Rory says from behind me. “Nice Pjs.”

“Hey. I’ve taken to stealing the shirts you guys leave here; they smell like you. It helps with my anxiety after a nightmare.”

He takes a seat across the table and looks at me as if he has something to say. I see his cogs ticking over, something washes over him, and he snaps out of it. “Are you okay?”

I nod, but he doesn’t look convinced. He reaches out to touch my hand and I pull away. I don’t know why, I’m just jumpy today.

“Was the nightmare really bad again?” he asks.

“I don’t remember. It’s really just darkness and an empty feeling. Then when I wake up, the feelings are all still there and I need to puke.” He moves around the table and makes me stand, pulling me into his body. It’s like a floodgate is opened and I start to cry, wrapping my arms around his mid-section, holding the back of his shirt between clenched fists. I don’t move, and for those few moments, everything feels like it will be okay. When I pull away, he places both his hands lightly on either side of my face. His hazel eyes full of empathy look down into my tear-filled eyes as he wipes the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. I don’t know why, but I get the feeling he wants to kiss me.

My heart races. He drops his hands and takes a step back, I do the same.

Five guys trying to be friends with a girl, this is going to end badly. I shake the sound of Levi from my head. He always seems to be the voice of reason.

“I set up a phone for you.” The moment we had quickly over, he hands me the phone, and I thank him. An awkward silence falls between us, and I know it’s because of the connection we both felt. Perhaps if I leave the room, we can pretend it didn’t happen.

“I’m, ah, going to take a shower. Be right back.”

He nods, pulling his phone from his pocket as I disappear down the hall. I’m showered in record time. Despite my ribs still being tender, I manage to squeeze into a pair of jeans without crying out in pain. I match it with a white singlet top and a black off-the-shoulder jumper and my low-cut converse, since I only have one pair of shoes.

When I slip back into the kitchen, I can see Rory is back to his old self. He shows me how to use the new phone before we leave the house.

Rory helps me up into his car and pulls out of the driveway. He keeps looking over at me but every time I look his way, he turns his full attention back to the road.

A song comes on the radio and he turns the speaker up a little, singing along to the words I take out the new phone he gave me, go into the camera app and record him singing and laughing. He looks so free.

Leaning in close, I snap our first picture together, making sure to save it and make it my screen saver. I then send it to a group chat Rory set up with the others.

Mercer: So pretty. Not sure about the dude in the background

Rocky: Hey!!! Ror is a good looking dude.

Levi: : )

Maximus: Nice, you look amazing today by the way.

Me: OMG I can talk to you, Maximus

Rocky: Oh no, now he will never shut up. You had it good, JD

Maximus: Screw you

Me: It’s a bit soon

Me: Oh, you were talking to Rocky ; )

Levi: Damn, the girl makes a sex joke

Mercer: You will fit in fine

Rocky: I think I’m in love

Me: Talk to you guys soon, Rory is looking at me weird

Maximus: That’s just his regular face

Me: I knew you would be funny. Okay I’m getting off. He’s reaching for the phone and I don’t want to die.

They all send back a collection of okay and winky faces.

“Sorry, I was being rude.” I smile.

“What did they say that made your face light up like that?” Heat creeps up my neck as I blush.

“It was Maximus. I just never expected him to respond, since he doesn’t talk. It was stupid.” He looks over at me and then back to the road.

“He has never even texted with anyone really besides us, our parents and Mumma B. The only reason he does online gaming is because he has a different identity. Maybe one day he will fill you in on why he doesn’t talk to anyone but it isn’t my story to tell, my story isn’t so bad, my mum took pills and drank a lot, she ended up in a court ordered rehab, my father likes his whores more than me, so I ended up in care for six weeks and that is how I met all the guys. They were at Mumma B’s a lot longer than I was, my mum shouldn’t be home, if she is just don’t let her get to you.”

I start to freak out and send a text to the group again.

Me: How bad is Rory’s mum on a scale of one to ten

Rocky: 11

Mercer: Try 100

Maximus: She calls me mute

Levi: She has her moments. We just smile at her and walk away.

Me: I’m nervous

Mercer: Don’t be, Rory won’t put you in a shitty situation

“Addicted already.” Rory laughs.

“It’s going away now, promise. I’m here to spend time with you.”

We head into an estate, one that is way different to where Mercer lives. This is full of houses that are massive, each on big blocks of land, no one house is close to another. We pass gated houses, most with black metal fences.

We pull into a driveway, and Rory leans out his window to punch in a code. The massive wooden gates open. My mouth gapes as I take in my surroundings. It looks like a rainforest. Large reflective windows cover the front of the house.

Rory parks and comes around to help me out. I take each of the three steps one at a time, while Rory clears them all in one go before unlocking the front door. I’m instantly hit with the smell of Lemon and bleach as the door swings open. We both slip off our shoes before walking past the entry. Everything inside is white; the tiles, the walls and as we walk further into the house, I notice even the furniture is white.

“What’s with all the white? Does your Mum have OCD?”

“Nope, just a bitch. Our maid pretty much spends her day wiping over everything.”

A beautiful woman walks in with a scowl on her face, and I assume she heard what Rory just said. He ignores her, taking my hand. Her sharp eyes wander from my face down to our adjoined hands, her heels clack against the tiles as she makes her way over to me.

“Seems you’re not so different from your father after all,” she drawls.

“They do say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I wonder when my pill popping will start.” She sucks in a deep breath.

“Gold digging whores will only get you so far, Ror, at least with Cindy, you know she isn’t after your money, she is a good girl.” Rory’s hand squeezes mine.

“Money is exactly what she is after, Cindy is my friend, end of story so you can keep your fantasies about us being anything more and her promises that you can stay here with us.” Her face is void of emotion, probably from all the Botox.

“She is from good breeding. Gutter trash has no place here.” Rory steps closer to his mother, his jaw working. She laughs in his face. “Did I strike a nerve?”

“Talk about JD like that again and you can pack your shit and leave.”

“Don’t worry, son, I’m leaving anyway. You can continue to slum it in my absence, but don’t think for a second your father will allow this either. He may have his whore, but he is still married to me.” With that she walks out the door. I can tell Rory is embarrassed by his mother’s outburst, so I laugh to try and ease the tension.

“The guys were right about her.”

He laughs with me. “You’re not bothered by what she said?”

I shake my head. “Why would I be? I trust you, and what she thinks about me is irrelevant. Maybe I am gutter trash or maybe I’m not. Do you care?”

“No.”

“Well good. Now show me around this mansion.”

He moves our joined hands to his lips and kisses mine. My skin bristles with goosebumps at the contact. If he notices, he doesn’t say anything, just leads us through the house, hands still interlocked. Through the window, I can see a kidney-shaped pool with a waterfall and massive boulders lining the far side. Palms and small shrubs sit behind the rocks, giving the illusion of paradise.

Like the rest of the house, his bedroom has large windows overlooking the backyard. Against the back wall of the room is a bed that looks like it floats off the floor.

I take in the floor beneath my feet. “Your room has a weird set up. I feel like I’m going to fall through the floor.”

“My father had it designed for me.”

“I love the windows. Can people see in?”

“No, not at the moment, but every window has controls. There is a button with the light switch, you can push it and then you can see both in and out.”

“So cool,” I say, taking a seat on his bed. It’s so soft, I feel like I’m lying on a cloud. He lets me know he’s getting changed into his riding gear, I mumble something about marrying his bed, he just laughs and goes into his closet.

“I’m never leaving this bed and you can’t make me,” I call out loud enough that he can hear me from in his closet.

“No complaints from me.” I laugh at his comment. “I think Mumma B will come hunt you down though, or the other guys.”

“They will have to carry me out kicking and screaming.”

He doesn’t reply this time, he just walks out of the closet, dressed in a black and white pair of motorbike pants with Fox written down one leg, his long sleeved shirt is matching.

“When your ribs heal, you’re coming riding with me. I’ll even get you some riding gear in your size.”

“Really? Can you teach me how to ride a motorbike?” I beam.

“As long as you don’t tell the guys. I don’t want to sign my death certificate.” He chuckles. “Come on, let’s go, I want to show you my bikes.”

He leads the way to a massive garage off the side of the house. It’s hard to miss the red mustang with a black stripe up the front when we walk through the doors. He calls it his “guilt gift” from his father for missing his son’s seventeenth birthday.

Along the back wall are four dirt bikes. He goes for the green one. Kicking up the stand, he pushes it outside. We follow a path that leads us behind the pool. Hidden behind the house and trees is a massive motorbike track; there are huge dirt mounds which look strategically placed, at different heights and angles. It looks amazing. When I’m seated on a log by the side of the track, he starts up the bike with a loud roar.

He smiles at me and pulls his helmet over his head. He revs the bike a few times and takes off to the first dirt mound, getting some major air. My heart beats fast waiting for the bike to hit the ground safely. Dirt and dust kicks up around him as he rounds corners and flies over dirt mounds. It’s fascinating to watch. On his third time around, he comes closer to where I’m sitting, dirt spraying up at me. I laugh and wipe a few chunks of mud from my face. He starts adding some tricks to his jumps, and I wonder who taught him since his parents don’t seem the type.

I almost jump out of my skin when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I promised Rory I would put it away but when I see it’s Beth, I know I have to answer.

“Hey, Beth, what’s up?” I miss what she says as Rory comes flying around the track. “Sorry, what was that?” Her laugh sounds through the speaker.

“Rory must be showing you his talent. That boy will go places.”

“He is good,” I agree, my eyes following him as I talk.

“He really is.” She beams. “Anyway, I was calling to let you know I will be out most of the day. The kids have a health check and dentist and we have a playdate. Are you okay to hang out with the boys today?”

“Sure, I’ll be fine,” I say, watching as Rory comes around again.

“Before I forget, your therapist's office called, and we made an appointment for Friday. They had nothing sooner. I added it to the calendar. Any of your appointments will be on the yellow sticky notes.”

“Okay, I’ll see you tonight.”

Rory pulls up and kicks out the stand before removing his helmet. His hair is crazy, sticking up all over the place.

“Are you okay?” he asks, taking a seat beside me. I hook my pinky finger around his.

“I will be. I have therapy on Friday and I suppose I’m worried about how it will go.”

“It may not seem like it yet, but everything will be okay. You have us, and we will be there with you every step of the way.” He leaves his pinky hooked in mine.

“You’ll all be back in school soon, and then I’ll be alone.”

“I could get you into school easy, even with no ID. My mum and the principal have a thing; pretty sure she’s been on her knees for him on many occasions.”

“That’s gross, and a horrible thing to say about your mum.” I slap him on the arm.

“It’s true.” He shrugs

“So I could go to school?”

“We would need to get approval from Marlene, but I think we could get Mr Cole to help with that, he is very persuasive.”

We talk about what his school is like. The thought of being around them all day gets me excited. There is still a week of holidays left, but he’ll email his principal and see what he can work out, even if he has to blackmail him.

A whistle catches my ear. I turn and see Rocky running towards us, while Levi, Maximus and Mercer trail behind.

Rocky isn’t even out of breath when he stands in front of us, he says hello, holds out his hand towards Rory, who reluctantly hands over the helmet.

“Go slow. If you get hurt Rick will have my ass.” Rocky agrees and gets on the bike; the others join us sitting on the log.

“Rory says I should be able to go to school if we can get Marlene to sign off on it.” I blurt it out and they all turn to look at me.

“Hell yeah,” Mercer says.

“Is that a good idea?” Levi asks, his voice full of concern. I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be.

“Of course, it’s a good idea,” Rory says, turning back to watch Rocky.

“We need to think about everything. What if it’s too much for JD? What about us getting attached? What if JD remembers who she is and is taken away? I know we’ve all had years of therapy, but can you all handle that?”

A silence falls over everyone, the dirt bike’s engine the only noise in the air. Rocky pulls up beside us, pulling the helmet from his head. “Why do you all look like someone kicked your puppy?”

“Levi is being a party pooper,” Rory snaps, taking his helmet from Rocky and getting back on his bike. With a few revs, he takes off, leaving a cloud of dirt behind.

“I still have no idea what’s happening,” Rocky declares.

I stand, dusting my jeans off. “Rory said he could get me into your school after the holidays as long as Marlene signs off on it.”

“That’s an awesome idea,” Rocky says, clapping his hands. “So why is Rory pissed?”

“Levi expressed his concerns about my health and your attachment to me. It could set off a chain of reactions, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing.

“He’s wrong. You’re not going anywhere, JD, you just wait and see.” He steps forward and kisses my forehead. I wish I could be as sure. “Who’s getting him off that bike? I’m hungry.” I look at the guys and they all stare at me.

“What? I didn’t piss him off,” I state, placing my hands on my hips.

“You’re just so much better looking than we are. Usually if we piss him off, he’s on that thing for hours,” Mercer says, standing and dusting off his black jeans. I can’t help but check him out in his skin-tight, white shirt stretched over his pecs.

I gulp. “That’s debatable.”

Mercer smirks at my obvious perving. Rocky leans in and whispers in my ear. “Just wait until the weather warms up.” He laughs at himself.

“Let’s go to the house while JD gets Rory,” Levi adds, standing.

I watch as Rory does a few more laps of the track before I walk out on to the centre, hopefully far enough back that he can see me and not run me down. As he approaches, he starts to slow down and comes to a stop beside me. I watch as he removes his helmet. “Did everyone leave?” I shake my head no. “Didn’t think they would, I just wish Levi would relax. It’s like he forgets. I went back to my parents and I stuck around.” Another good point.

“I don’t want to hurt any of you, and even if I do find out who I am, I’ll still want to be friends with you.” And I mean it. They couldn’t get rid of me even if they wanted to.

“So, you still want to come to school with us?” he asks.

“Yes. What’s the point in sitting around just waiting for my memories to come back? If I’m repressing my own memories because of trauma, sitting around trying to force them back won’t work.”

He holds out his hand. “Want a lift back to the house?”

I take his hand and give it a squeeze. I lift my leg carefully; I still have a slight pain in my ribs, but it has eased. I make sure to wrap my arms around his waist. He takes off slowly towards the garage.

I rest my head against his back and squeeze my arms tighter just as he slows down and pulls into the garage, taking in the slight lemon smell on his clothes. I decide I need to make an effort to get Levi to trust that I have no intention of hurting any of them, even if they drag me away at this point kicking and screaming. The only time I’ve been able to be away from at least one of them is at bed time, and I have pills that zonk me out for a solid six hours.

Once we go inside, Rory’s housekeeper has lunch set up. We spend the rest of the day watching movies on Rory’s massive TV. He and Levi seem a bit tense, but I sense maybe there is something else going on between them. I haven’t known them long enough to pry, so I just enjoy my time with them before the hours click down and I have to go back to Beth’s. The rational side of me knows they need to spend time with their families too, but the irrational just wants to be around them all the time.