“Um.”
“Tell me, where did you pop up from?” she asks.
“Um,” I say again.
Giggling she asks, “you're not much of a talker, are ya?”
“I've just never really had the reason to,” I tell her.
“Reason to what?” she asks, looking confused.
“Talk,” I say. “Most of my life I've been in rooms alone or with father and his workers. Talking when I'm not asked a question was redundant.”
“Your eyes look so sad. What does redundant mean?” she asks.
The way Princess holds herself you would think she was much older than fifteen. I guess I forgot someone so young might not understand.
“It means not needed or not useful. My father is a strict man. I only spoke when he wanted me to.” I didn't want to talk about my father anymore. She must have seen something because she changed the subject.
“What are your plans today?”
“I'm not sure. I heard Bear say we came here so he could talk to Slim and then we were heading to see his mother?”
“Is that a question?” she asks.
“Maybe?” I say. “Is it alright if I use the restroom?” I liked Princess but I really need a minute to myself.
“Of course, just down that hall. Last door on your right.”
“Thank you,” I said.
I found the bathroom quickly. Seeing the door is slightly ajar and the lights are off I assume that it's not occupied. Easing the door open gently, I reach my arm in and search for a light switch. Finding it and switching it on I walk in and shut the door. The second the door is shut, I'm slammed up against it, hard.
“I don't know who you think you are, but listen close,” says the female voice I recognize from earlier. The same female that pressed her body right up against Bears. “Bear is my man. You might be his new toy but as soon as he realizes you're nothing but a broken piece of trash, he will toss you aside and come crawling back to me. You're nothing but a filler. Do you understand me?”
I try not to whimper. She has one hand on my head pulling at my hair and the other with her long nails digging right on top of the fresh cuts on my back. Now, my nose and left cheekbone hurt.
She pulls me back by my hair and slams my face back against the door and then screams, “I SAID, DO YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND?”
I don't move. I'm in so much pain, but I don't move. Then my head vibrates, and I realize that there's someone banging on the door from the other side.
“Rose, what's wrong?”
Princess. I think the words, but my body is too afraid to do anything. It's too afraid to move, too afraid to speak.
“Rose, open this damn door. RIGHT NOW!” Princess ends on a yell.
“Fuck!” The woman behind me says. Carrie, I think that's her name. “Tell them you fell,” she says as she releases me and splashes water from the sink onto the floor.
I fall to the floor, crawl to the corner of the bathroom and curl my arms around my knees. I just want to go home.
I mean, Bears home. I want to go back to Bears home where I've never felt safer.
The bathroom door bursts open and Trigger walks in. He notices Carrie first, standing by the overflowing sink. I can't see his face, but I notice how his body gets tense. His head turns until he sees me and stops. I've got my head laying on my knees, and I'm trying to stop myself from shaking.
“Princess,” he says.
Suddenly, I feel soft hands pulling my hair back.
“Rose, what happened?” I look up to see the concerned face of Princess.
I feel myself pulling away. It's too much for me to handle right now. I'm used to pain, but I'm not used to people, and sympathy, and strange buildings. I can hear Princess talking but I can't bring myself forward enough to answer her.
“Trigger, go get Bear, now,” Princess says.
I feel her hands leave my hair, then I feel her body heat leave my side. I lean to my side and curl up in a fetal position. I just want to go to sleep for a little while.
“You fucking bitch, what did you do to her?” Princess says.
“I don't know what you're talking about. I came in here to pee and she was over in the corner like she is now.” Carrie isn't a very good liar.
“Oh, bullshit. I know this is your doing. If I find out that you hurt her...”
“You'll what, little girl?”
At this point, I can't tell who is saying what. My mind is locked itself away. Its only way of protecting me.
“Here, let me show you.”
“Wait, you can't touch me. I'm a bunny, I'm protected by the club.”
“Oh, please, you only classify yourself as a club whore for the club’s protection, but you are nothing but a no-good slut with a loose ass vajayjay.”
“ROSE,” a deeper voice says.
I know that voice. That voice means safety, protection. That voice is home. I try pulling my mind forward, but it won't let me. It's locked up tight.
***Bear***
I rush out into the lounge and look at the spot where I left Rose. She isn't there. Noticing everyone is jammed in the hallway, I head that way.
“What the fuck is going on?” I ask.
Everyone looks in my direction then moves out of the way. Smart move. The only rooms down this hall are my office, a small storage room, and a bathroom.
“I DIDN'T TOUCH HER!” I hear yelling from the bathroom.
I run the remaining distance and what I see when I enter the room has my blood boiling. Carrie is standing with her back up against the wall, with wide fearful eyes looking at a very pissed off, red-faced Princess. Behind them, in the furthest corner of the room, is my sweet Rose. She's laying on her side in a fetal position with her face tucked into her knees.
I rush over to her and slam down onto my knees.
“Baby, what's wrong?” I ask.
I get nothing.
“Please, Rose, look at me. Talk to me. Tell me what happened.” I'm not above begging this woman.
I place my hand gently on her back and rub in small circles. She whimpers and it's then I notice her back is wet. I pull my hand away and it's covered in blood.
What the fuck?
“Why is your back bleeding again?” I ask.
“Bear?” Rose whimpers
“I’m right here. Talk to me,” I tell her.
Rose struggles to sit up so I rush to help her as gently as I can. Once she's seated, she finally lifts her head back and I get a look at her face. And I see red.
Her nose is bleeding, she has a cut lip, and what looks like the start of a nasty black eye.
I turn my head and gaze right at the bitch I know is responsible. Her face pales, her eyes grow wider and she gives me the, she knows she fucked up, look.
“Oh, yeah. You fucked up big time. Trigger, you know what to do. I'll be down in a bit.”
I can hear Carrie screaming as she's being dragged out of the bathroom and out the back door. We really should invest in some soundproof walls for down there as well.
“Let's go, baby,” I say as I stand and scoop Rose gently into my arms.
“Hurts,” she whispers.
“I know, but I'm going to take care of you,” I tell her. Turning my head, I find who I'm looking for. “Princess, is my room ready?”