She Restrained A Renegade

Eight

8-Zoe

Butterflies were fluttering around inside my stomach, uncontrollably. I'd arranged with Justin to meet him at the street dance, because I needed a little time to myself. I needed to come to terms with what was happenings. I knew it was fast. I knew it'd break my heart when he left, but I had fallen hard, and fast, in love with Justin Wallace. It was stupid. I knew it, but I couldn't stop it. Spending the night with him the last several nights, had been wonderful. The first time he'd entered me, I'd had this strange sense that I was finally right where I belonged. Then he'd brought me so much pleasure, every time we joined it was better than any Christmas morning I'd had as a kid, which was saying a lot, because we had some pretty badass Christmases.

"So..." Zelda said, after we arrived at the street dance. Zelda's kids ran off with their friends and, in our small town community, we knew they'd be safe. Everybody watched out for everybody else, that's just how it worked.

"So, when does Rick get home?" I asked, hoping to deflect her, from the obvious grilling she wanted to give me.

"Next week and don't change the subject. Do you want to talk about Justin? I noticed you haven't been staying at the house."

I sighed, "Look, Justin asked me to stay with him for the remainder of his stay in Seneca. I figured it was for the best with Rick coming home, if I move out. When Justin leaves, I'll rent an apartment."

"You're being awfully casual about the man that you've spent the last several nights with, the man that you've apparently moved in with, the man that will be leaving probably sooner rather than later." Zelda said, worry evident in her tone.

I sighed, "I'm not being casual at all. I'm in denial and trying not to freak out. God, it's going to kill me when he goes, but I'm not going to live inside the box anymore. Owen hurt me, big time, and for a long time I wouldn't even look twice at a guy. Justin came home and so easily broke down my walls. I was defenseless against him and it scares the crap out me, but I'm trying not to overanalyze it. He's here right now and that's all that matters. I'll take what I can get."

Zelda frowned, "Ok, well, I guess you know where to find me when you need me to help pick up the pieces of your broken heart."

I nodded, "I do."

We hugged and then I went in search of the man who had flipped my world upside down. I found him in the middle of a circle of women. They had swarmed him. Their ages ranged from thirteen to ninety-three and Justin was clearly trying to disengage himself from them. I stood back and watched for a moment. What must that be like? To have so many people wanting a piece of you, but not really because of the person you were, but because your face now appeared on billboards. I shuddered. No thank you. I didn't how he did it all the time.

Finally, I took pity on him. I wedged my way through the crowd, grabbed his hand, and pulled him free. He seemed shocked, "How did you do that? My bodyguard can't even get me out that quickly."

I shook my head, "Your bodyguard is a wimp then."

"Guess so." He agreed and then pulled me into his chest, hugging me to him.

I could feel many eyes on us, but I decided not to care. Whatever rumors started, so be it. Whatever backlash that came when Justin left town, I'd deal with it. I've dealt with much worse. Owen had convinced some of the men in town that I was easy. He made it out to sound like he'd caught me cheating and that's why we broke up. I think his goal was to scare the other men away from me, but it backfired. I got asked out by so many guys after that, I lost count. Apparently they liked the thought that I was easy. Bummer for them that it was a lie and I turned down all of their offers. That was the main reason I hadn't dated since Owen. I couldn't be sure, after that, if a guy was interested in me or just the thought of an easy lay. I guess in that regard, Justin and I had something in common. We just wanted to be liked for who we really were.

"So this is a street dance?" Justin's questions surprised me.

"You've never been to one before?"

He shook his head, "No, they didn't used to have them back when we were kids and then I left town. They don't have stuff like this in the big cities. What they do is on a grander scale, but I like this. This feels more...home...I don't know if that makes sense."

I nodded, "It makes perfect sense. Here, everybody knows everybody and while that can be annoying at times, it's also really nice. In a big city, you're just another number."

"Exactly." He seemed relieved that I understood and I smiled that the big, bad rock star cared what I thought.

"Well, isn't this the sweetest thing." The voice was like nails on a chalkboard to me and I cringed, as I turned to see Christy Johnson dancing nearby, in the arms of Owen Marian. Geez, it was like the universe suddenly hated me.

"Christy." Justin said, by way of greeting, but with the clenching of his jaw it was clear he wasn't any happier to see her than I was, which made me happy.

My joy didn't last long, however, as Owen sneered at Justin, "I see you've decided to dip into what every other male in this town has already dipped into. She's a good lay, but don't get comfortable. She'll toss you aside tomorrow for her next conquest. Although, big super star like you, bet that's what you're looking for."

I felt sick to my stomach and as I felt Justin stiffen, I wondered if he'd look at me in disgust. It happened before. When Justin slowly looked down at me, he was clearly angry, as he asked, "Owen, I presume?"

"Yes." I choked on the word.

Justin nodded once and then set me behind him. Dread spread through me. I figured this was the end of us. With his back to me, I could no longer see his face, but Christy's eyes went wide and she stepped away from Owen. I watched, in horrified fascination as Justin grabbed Owen by the front of his shirt and literally lifted him off the ground. He growled, "Don't you ever say another fucking word about Zoe Andrews, ever. Good or bad, don't speak her name and don't you dare fucking make up lies about her. Zoe is no more a slut than Mother Teresa and anybody who believes otherwise is a fucking moron. Do you understand me?"

"Get your hands off me." Owen demanded.

Justin dropped Owen or rather, he threw him. Owen knocked into a couple of, thankfully, empty chairs and flipped over them, landing on the concrete curb. I winced, hearing the thud. Owen bounced right up, though, but seeing the audience, quickly began complaining of a broken arm and threatening to sue Justin. The sheriff came over and asked, "What in tarnation is going on here?"

"This man accosted me. I want to press charges." Owen ranted.

The sheriff sighed, clearly irritated that his good time was over far too soon. "Let's go boys. I'll take you both in and get your statements there. Then I'll decide what to do."

I watched as the Sheriff hauled them both away. Justin didn't look back once. Was he mad that I got him into this? Was he regretting coming to my defense? I felt my insides warm and my heart flutter at the words he'd said. He hadn't for a second believed Owen's lies. I had to make sure Justin didn't see jail time. I began to look through the crowd, looking for my sister. Where the hell was she? Ah, finally!

"Zelda, is Rick's cousin still an attorney in Sabetha?"

She glanced up from where she'd been wiping ice cream from Remi's face. She frowned, "Yes, why?"

I sighed. She apparently missed the whole incident, so I quickly explained, "We had a run-in with Owen. He said something bad about me and Justin threatened him, before literally tossing him aside. Owen fell, is totally freaking fine, but Sheriff Gordon just took them to the police station because Owen is threatening to press charges against Justin. I don't want Justin to get into any trouble for me. I have a plan, but I don't know if it will work. I need to call Rick's cousin and ask. What was his name again?"

"Here is my cell phone. You'll find him under Grady Phillips." Zelda said.

I took her phone and made the call. Forty minutes later, Grady met me in front of the police station, where Owen and Justin were still inside. I'd been watching the doors every time it opened. I was hoping that it was a good sign that Owen hadn't come out looking smug yet. A few news vans rolled into the parking lot, but I'd been ignoring them while I waited. When Grady got out of his car, I introduced myself and he ran through what we were going to do. It was a long shot, but I had to try.