I think the last one bothers me the most. I sigh, shake my head, and go to clean up—at least I’ll be busy with something. I’m mechanically wiping tables, completely checked out, when a high-pitched yell comes from outside. It sounds like a damn dying banshee, or at least that’s how I would have pictured one sounding. I wipe my hand across my forehead and see Alicia sitting on the bench across the street from the diner. She holds a laptop on her knees and is typing energetically. I'd say a little too energetically. One might sayfuriously.
And then I see why. Five feet from her is the Wicked Witch of Little Hope, Ashley the Bitch herself. Even from here, I can hear what she's yelling.
“You need to tell him that you lied! You hear me? Go tell himnow!” She stomps her foot in her high stilettos. Very well-presented lady, as I’ve mentioned before. Justin likes them classy. Though right now, she's a little less of a lady—or as Freya would say, she got some Dorian on her face, though I’m still not convinced I understand the meaning of that. I picture a much different thing of Dorian’s that can end up on her face. “Alicia, you need to talk to him!” She keeps tapping her foot on the asphalt.
Alicia doesn’t pay her any attention and just keeps on typing.
“I see it’s time to put our protective amulets out.” Marina walks to me, and we both watch the unraveling.
I chuckle. “Yeah, looks that way.”
“Aren’t they friends?” There’s doubt in her voice, and I know what she means. Alicia’s so different from them, but Ashley’s always around her, trying to get her to join the coven. Marina and I know Ashley doesn’t do friends; she does acquaintances who suit her in the moment. Our windows face Main Street, which means we seea lot. A good chunk of drama unfolds in front of our eyes. We should sell popcorn for the occasional shows.
I wonder what she's talking about now, though. Might have been some fallout among the Wandering Vaginas… or maybe Justin finally hada talkwith her.
Please, let him believe me.For his own sake.
"I think they were," I say with a shrug, though neither of us believes it. Marina leans on the pillar and crosses her arms over her generous chest. There’s never much going on in Little Hope, so any and all drama is considered entertainment. I’m just happy it’s not at my expense this time. I almost turn around to keep cleaning when I hear Ashley’s loud voice.
“You think you’re so special? Alittle damaged bird,” she mocks the last part with a pretend pout. “Everybody thinks you’re so cute and innocent, huh? But we both know the truth, don’t we?” She laughs. “That you spread your legs for anyone and enjoy the ride. Like you’ve done on a few occasions before that, huh.”
Oh no, no, no. She didnotjust say that!
I look at Alicia—she smacks her laptop closed, her jaw working.
“What’s she talking about?” Marina’s accent is thicker, anxious after catching on to what Ashley may have meant. Nobody knew what had happened to Alicia. I only found out when Justin told me. And now everyone will be wondering what Ashley meant. It’s a small town.
“I’ll be right back.” I drop the towel on the table and storm out. The closer I get, the more prominent Alicia’s tears become. I can see them running down her beautiful, angelic face. But Ashley just can’t freakin’ stop. “What did you tell him, Alicia? What? Why the hell didn’t you just keep your mouth shut? You don’t even know what you’re talking about!” She shrieks.
“Hey!” I storm up to her, positioning my body between them. “Why the hell can’tyoukeep your mouth shut, huh? Didn’t drink enough infant blood this morning?”
“Oh, look at that! The savior is here. The trailer trash in all her glory.” She sneers and keeps tapping her foot. “Get the fuck out of here, or I’ll tell everybody what you did.”
“Really?” I ask, my voice flat. I quirk my brow, channeling my best Dwayne the Rock Johnson. “What is there that everyone still doesn’t know?”
That shuts her up, and I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. When she finally gets her wits together, she yells in my face. "She told Justin I slept with this… this…trailer trash!”She spits the last word out like it's poison in her mouth.
“You mean Mark?” I ask, and she hums. “Oh, she didn’t tell. I did.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m surprised nobody else did.”
“You?” She screeches again, and I wince. I swear she can bring a UFO down with that high-pitched frequency. “Iknewyou always wanted him for yourself!” She jumps closer and presses her long nail into my chest. I slowly look down and then look up.
“I strongly recommend taking your damn hand off me.” I hiss through clenched teeth. She must see something in my eyes because she drops her hand like it’s been burnt. A wise choice, as I’m not known for my fancy upbringing, and living in a trailer park can teach a person a thing or two about survival.
“I always knew it.” She hisses in my face. “You look at him like he’s a prime rib you can never afford.”
"Go away, or I'll make sure everyone knows you accused an innocent man of assault. How many more are out there? Because of people like you, real victims aren’t taken seriously.” I take a wide stance, showing that I’m ready to go at it if she is. She’s best friends with Adison, another one of the witches of Little Hope who loves to spread lies. Maybe there’s a limit to the number of bad apples the towns around us will take, so they all end up here.
“Oh, trailer trash thinks she’s got some sort of power?”
“Leave, Ashley. I’m sure there are some virgins out there in need of a blood sacrifice.” I try to stay unaffected, but I cringe inside that she noticed. I thought I was hiding it so well. Her nostrils flare, and she storms away. Her hair flying behind her in a perfectly silky wave.
"She's right; you're pathetic with your puppy eyes for Justin.” Comes a hiss from behind me, and I turn around in surprise. “I didn’t need your help.” Alicia grabs her laptop and stands up. “Stay away from me and my brother. You’re bad news.”
I stand there dumbfounded as she almost runs to her car. When I finally pick my jaw up from the ground, I walk back to the diner.
Marina meets me with a frown. “None of the good deeds go unpunished.”
“That’s not the saying.”
