A male gorilla slammed his chest with his fists and Aryn laughed. The female turned her back but didn't budge, while the youngster ran away. The male went after it, but the little one climbed onto a high rock surface and wouldn't come down until its mother claimed him. Miffed, the male sat in a corner and chewed on a piece of bamboo.
"They really are cool creatures," Aryn said. She imitated the male beating his chest. "I had no idea they really did that."
Kevin smiled. "Did you know that a group of gorillas is called a band?" he asked. Aryn chuckled. "No, I didn't know that."
Kevin sighed as they followed the crowd. "Yes, females often leave the band when they find a gorilla in shining armor of their own, and form a new band." He stopped and bought a bottle of water. "You could do that, you know."
"Do what?"
"Move to California. I could set you up in another band at some point and you can pursue your acting career."
Aryn's breath caught, and her eyes narrowed. "But I have a band and a mate." She tried to forces a laugh, but it came out rough. What was he thinking? "And I'm still in high school."
Kevin shrugged. "After you graduate then."
Aryn cleared her throat. "Have you listened to the demo yet?"
"No. I've been spending all my time with you." He smiled, but Aryn noticed it didn't touch his eyes.
"I guess that's true. I have no desire to be in another band. This is Danny's dream. I want to help make it happen. It's not just him. The people in the band are some of my closest friends. I couldn't leave them either. Once the band is successful," She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "I'll figure out my acting career then."
"Didn't you say you did vocals? The band's not even established yet. Since you don't play an instrument, you're easy to replace. Have you thought about that?"
Aryn stiffened. "I'm not leaving the band!" But Kevin was right, Pretentious didn't need her.
Kevin's hand went up in a defensive manner. "I'm just sayin', baby girl. Great voices can be found anywhere. That's a fact."
"Can we change the subject?" Aryn said. It wasn't a question, more like a demand.
"Okay, why don't we check out the beach for a bit then?"
Aryn bit into a taco and laughed, remembering the mess Danny always made when they had tacos. Finger foods just weren't his thing, but he loved them. She loved the splashes of color surrounding her, paper flowers, paintings of Senoritas twirling in bright colored skirts, street vendor's just outside the door, historic buildings and the sound of Mariachi's.
"How are your tacos?" Kevin asked.
"They're great. I love this place. I've never heard of Olvera Street."
"And it's been here for more than a century," he said, placing a sombrero on her head.
Aryn laughed. "I can't believe you bought this." She grabbed the rim and readjusted it so she could see. "I had so much fun today."
Kevin smiled. "Then, what would you like to do tomorrow?"
"I don't think there's anything left," she said cutting up an enchilada. "We went to the zoo, the observatory, the Chinese Theatre, and now here." She would have liked to spend more time at the Walk of Fame, but Kevin was bored.
"And there's so much more to choose from, more beaches, amusement parks, Chinatown, shopping, museums, anything a lady could want."
"Don't you need to work?"
Scowling, Kevin wiped a smudge of salsa off his shirt. "I have some free time right now."
Aryn worked the tie strings on the sombrero. She knew she should stop this, but Kevin had been a gentleman all day, and she hadn't had this much fun all summer. They laughed at gorillas that pounded their chests and monkeys that dangled from branches. They looked at the sun through a special telescope and explored the stars on Hollywood Boulevard. She even took a picture with Superman. She wanted to do it again.
"Surprise me," she said.
"I'll pick you up at seven."
Aryn closed the door of her hotel room.
"Where have you been?" Mr. Morgan asked, every word as articulated as the rabid anger on his face.
Aryn jumped, hands on her throat.
"Answer me! It's after midnight. Where have you been?"
Aryn's fists balled at her sides, and her blood boiled. Like he cared? He wasn't usually home by now. She worked at concealing her anger, a fight would guarantee she wouldn't leave this room again.
"I met some girls at the mall. We spent the day shopping and then they invited me to dinner." She held up the sombrero.
Mr. Morgan shifted, his tall form imposing. "You spent the entire day with strangers?"
"It wasn't like I could spend it with you."
"Don't get smart with me Aryn. I'll ground you till the end of the school year, and you won't be working or spending time with that boy you like so much."
Aryn's mouth dropped open. "You mean like I've been grounded all summer? Spending my days alone in these shitty hotel rooms? I'm tired of being alone all the time."
"That's enough. You're not going out again."
"But I haven't done anything wrong."
"I don't know these girls and after midnight is too late for a young girl to be out in a city she isn't familiar with."
"But we were going to Disneyland tomorrow. I've never been there and you won't take me. They're teenage girl's dad, not gang members."
Mr. Morgan examined her. He was always looking for a lie.
He sighed. "Alright Aryn, but if you get into trouble, you'll be grounded. So I advise you to act wisely. I'm not paying for something like that either, it doesn't get charged on my card or come out of your clothing allowance."
Aryn's stiffened muscles loosened. Mr. Morgan picked up his wallet and stopped at the door.
"I'm going out." He left without another word.
Aryn took a deep breath glad he was gone. She wasn't going to Disneyland. Well, maybe she was, she had no idea where Kevin was taking her tomorrow, but now she didn't have to worry about explanations of who she was with or where she had been. She put the sombrero on the dresser wondering what she was going to do with the thing. When she checked her phone messages, there were twelve missed calls from Danny.
"Where have you been," Danny asked, sighing with relief.
"My dad took my phone. We had an argument."
"What were you fighting over? Don't answer that. I'm not even going there," Danny said grinning.
"God Danny, It's not like I don't talk to you every single day. It doesn't matter, okay?"
Danny's mouth opened. "I'm sorry. I was just teasing you."
"I know," Aryn whined.
"I miss you," he said stricken by her harsh tone. He was tired, his body hurt and his heart ached. Now that he knew she was okay, he needed to sleep. He had to be up again in four hours. Whatever was bothering her, he couldn't deal with it now.
"I miss you too. I need to go to bed, I'm really tired."
Okay, Danny said softly. "I love you."
He didn't wait for her answer. Didn't know if it was her anger or his exhaustion making him so sensitive. But somehow he knew she wouldn't say it back.
Kevin unlocked the door to his apartment and Aryn followed him inside. He offered her something to drink; she declined and watched him pour himself a gimlet. She looked around. The building was largely made of glass, displaying a view of what seemed like the entire Los Angeles basin. Red, white, yellow and green lights sparkled in what seemed like a never-ending expanse.
"Wow," she said, approaching the window. "It's beautiful." The view from the hotel was like that, but she had never seen an apartment with this kind of view.
The living room was huge with a curving black and gold bar. Aryn sat on one of the tall barstools and placed her stuffed Mufasa on the bar beside her. The sofa was black, one end was long and the other was stretched in length and width to the size of a small bed. There were no coffee tables, but a platform was folded down in the center of the sofa with an empty wine glass resting on it. Kevin eyed it suspiciously. Aryn wondered why. He hit a button and soft lamps hanging from tracks on the ceiling gave the room an irenic glow. He put his drink on the bar and sat on the stool beside her.
"So you're leaving me tomorrow." He rested against the bar, drink in hand.
Aryn's smile was almost sad. While she wasn't fond of him, she had come to consider him a friend, and still hoped he would sign the band. "I had such a great time this week. Thank you for everything."
He took a drink from his gimlet, swirled the ice and smiled. "It was worth it just to see your top come off on the roller coaster. It's a good thing you caught it with your arm."
Aryn groaned, her cheeks red. That was something she wanted to forget. "That was terrible. How was I supposed to know the force of the wind could do that?"
Kevin laughed. "Terrible?" he chuckled. "That depends on who you ask."
Aryn took a deep breath. She shifted. "Did you ever manage to listen to the CD?"
Kevin shook his head. "No. He put his drink down, reached over and kissed her cheek.
Aryn's muscles tensed. Kevin ran a hand softly down her face, as she frowned.
"We just spent a week together Aryn, one kiss isn't going to make you unfaithful." He pressed his lips against hers. "Just one."
Aryn braced herself. They had spent a week together. One kiss wasn't a big deal, and it wasn't like Danny would know. She wasn't going to sleep with him, but a kiss? She was curious what it would be like. He bent forward, holding her eyes with his, placed his mouth against hers, and Aryn's lips began to move with his. He ran his tongue along her lips, and they parted for him. He deepened the kiss. Aryn tried to pull away, but he held her there.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and Kevin pulled away, leaving Aryn startled and breathless.
"Kevin?" a soft female voice said.
A naked woman with long dark hair walked into the room. She was tall and curvy, with a banana-bell in her belly button. Her brown eyes were only partially open, leaving the impression they had woke her up. She stared at Aryn.
If he had a girlfriend, Aryn wondered why he had spent the week with her. Didn't matter, at least she was free of Kevin's grasp now. She smoothed her hair and straightened her skirt. Kevin's face turned crimson, his eyes cold.
"What the hell are you doing here Felicia?"
He didn't raise his voice, but somehow the sound frightened Aryn, but it had no effect on the woman watching her.
"Who is she?" Felicia's lower lip jutted forward in a sensuous pout.
Kevin's teeth clenched. "Get your clothes, give me your key, and get out of my house."
Felicia's eyes widened and Aryn moved away from him. Now there was fear in Felicia's eyes, but she stood tall, raised her chin, and didn't move. It reminded Aryn of a petulant child.
Kevin sprung like a viper, grabbing her arm. Aryn jumped away and Felicia screamed.
"You're hurting me."
Aryn's heart beat hard against her chest. She grabbed his arm.
"Kevin, stop," Aryn said. He ignored her. "Stop!"
He dragged Felicia down the hall with Aryn trying to pull him away from her. He shook Aryn off and threw Felicia in the bedroom. She stumbled to the floor. Kevin slammed the door behind her. Aryn stood against the wall with her hands on her throat. She wanted to run, but what would happen to the other girl if she did? Better to try and calm him and get him to take her home.
"Three minutes," he yelled returning to the living room and slamming his drink down.
Aryn followed, but stood by the couch. She didn't know what to do. She would be angry too, if someone just walked in her house, but she would never attack a friend. Kevin turned and stared at her, his chiseled jawline like stone. Aryn shuddered. He reached for the tequila, poured a shot and slammed it again. Crying, Felicia ran passed them and out the door, her shoes in her hands.
"We should go," Aryn said in a small voice.
Kevin poured another shot. He watched her as if he were contemplating, scoping her body from her breasts, down to her legs, and stopping at her thighs. Her breath caught, he was aroused.
"I need to get back to the hotel before my dad gets home." She tried to say it firmly, but it came out like a desperate plea. She had to get out of there.
A smile tugged at Kevin's lips and he moved toward her. With her heart lodged in her throat, Aryn backed away. He shoved her and she fell back, crying out when her head hit the wall and bounced forward.
"Kevin. Don't do this." Her small voice quivered. He covered her mouth with his. She tried to bite, but his tongue was almost choking her. Her shriek became a squeal as she tried to fight, but he held her arms firm in his grasp. Her knee flew forward; Kevin twisted, pulled forward and kneed her hard in the stomach. Aryn grunted, doubled over and fell to the floor. She couldn't move and couldn't breathe. This wasn't happening.
Kevin put his lips on her ear, she cowered. Oh God, no. She wanted Danny. She shook with fear and fought for air.
"Don't ddo tthis," she wheezed.
"Let me make this clear Aryn. You can make this easy, or you can make it hard. Who would you call if you managed to get away from me? You've lied to everybody, even your cherished Danny." His laugh mocked her. Hot tears poured down her cheeks.
"Danny," she whimpered. "Please, don't. Just take me back. I won't tell anyone," she breathed.
He tugged off her shirt, then pulled at her skirt. She struggled and kicked. He held her legs down with his weight, her wrists grasped in one hand. Aryn's head moved frantically. His hair, she grasped it in her teeth, threw her head back and pulled as she writhed, trying to get out from under him. He chuckled and bit her breast. Aryn screamed. Blood trickled down her skin. She kept screaming, shouldn't somebody hear her?
Kevin glanced up. "Wanna bite me?" He bit her again. Aryn sucked in her breath and held it. "You're the one that'll have to explain the bruises."
An odd smell began to fill the room. The fire alarm went off, and Aryn could hear the hissing of water from another room.
"What the fuck?" Kevin jumped up and ran to the bedroom. A hand grabbed Aryn and pulled her out the door. She ran, blinded by tears and half dressed, following Felicia down the hall, the stairs and out of the building.
Felicia stopped at an old white, Toyota Corolla. "Get in," she shrieked. Aryn got in the car. Felicia threw her torn shirt and the stuffed Mufasa Lion at her and pulled out. Aryn threw the lion in the back seat, put on her shirt and fought to control the sobs.
"I heard you tell him to take you to your hotel. Where are you staying?"
Aryn took a broken breath. "The Bonaventure."
Felicia nodded. Aryn trembled.
"Thank you," Aryn said. Her stomach hurt, and the bite stung. "How did you--."
"I still had my key. He was so absorbed with you I was able to sneak back in. I set his bed on fire." She grimaced. "I couldn't think of what else to do. He'll know it was me."
"Won't he come after you?"
Felicia's look was scathing.
"Then why did you do it?"
"Did you want to be raped?"
"Of course not," Aryn said wrapping her arms around herself.
"Because I know him," Felicia said. "I understand him. Let's leave it at that."
"But he'll hurt you."
Felicia shuddered. "Yes - but he won't kill me." She sat up straighter. "Don't worry about me. I'll be okay. Are you signed with his company?"
"No."
"Then go home and forget about him." Aryn's lips parted.
"You love him, don't you?"
Felicia didn't respond.
"How can you love a man that would hurt you like that?"
"You don't know anything about him," Felicia spat.
"I don't need to. A man should never treat a woman like that." Aryn shook her head. "No one should treat anyone like that."
Felicia pulled into the hotel parking lot, reached across Aryn and shoved open her door. Aryn took Felicia's hands in her own.
"How can you love someone like that?" Aryn said.
Felicia shook her head. "Stupid rich girl. You don't know anything. My kids live in a safe neighborhood. They go to a good school. Because of him! I would be living in a dump without him." Her eyes narrowed. "You can go home and pretend this never happened. I don't have that luxury or a daddy to take care of me." She pushed her out the door. "Just go!"
Aryn shivered. "Thank you."
Without a word or waiting for Aryn to close the door, Felicia sped out of the parking lot.
Aryn almost ran to the hotel lobby, then altered her path to a side door. She didn't want to be seen in the state she was in.
Aryn zipped up her suitcase and scanned the hotel room to make sure she hadn't missed anything. After last night and the long summer, she wanted to go home. She needed to see Danny, had to apologize for being short, hurtful and unavailable. She couldn't even think about it without crying. He deserved better. She couldn't tell him the truth, but she would never lie to him again.
She thought about Felicia and shivered, hoping she was alright. Aryn should have at least given her a phone number in case Felicia needed her, but what could she have done?
"Are you ready to go Aryn?"
Aryn startled at her father's voice. "You're jumpy today. What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
Mr. Morgan shook his head. She could see that he didn't believe her, but he wouldn't push it. Somebody knocked.
"That must be the bellboy," Mr. Morgan said opening the door.
Aryn's breath caught, her eyes widened. Kevin stood at the door wearing a brown suit and holding the stuffed Lion she threw into the back seat of Felicia's car.
Mr. Morgan shifted irritably. "Can I help you?"
Kevin smiled. "My sister Felicia asked me to return this to Aryn," he said twirling the lion with his hands. She left it in her car."
Mr. Morgan sighed heavily. "You didn't put that on my card, Aryn."
Aryn stood frozen.
"Well, did you?"
She shook her head. "Of course not."
"No. Actually, I bought it for her," Kevin said.
Aryn's eyes widened. What was he going to do? He wouldn't dare tell her father what happened. Was he trying to get her into trouble for hanging out with him? That was more likely. At least she felt sort of safe with her dad there. Not that he was a fighter, but he was strong and would call for security. She was about to lose Danny and be grounded for the rest of her life.
Mr. Morgan shook his head and glanced at his watch. "We need to get going, Aryn. I'll meet you downstairs." He grabbed the suitcases and started toward the elevator.
Aryn thought her heart stopped.
Kevin smiled and handed her the lion. "You weren't even going to say goodbye and I thought we were friends." He cocked his head to the side. "Felicia sends her regards. She would have come along, but she wasn't feeling up to it." His brown eyes were glazed steel.
Aryn swallowed hard. "She loves you."
Kevin laughed. "You mean like the kind of love that makes a woman break her word and spend a week with another man while she lies through her teeth about what she's doing? Or do you mean the kind of love that breaks into a man's apartment and sets his bed on fire? I don't need that kind of love. I came to tell you that our business isn't finished. And I always finish my business. So I'll be seeing you again ... soon."
He ran a hand through her hair. Aryn froze, afraid to move. Kissing her on the cheek, he turned and left the room.
Aryn stroked her arms and trembled. She waited until she knew he'd be gone, composed herself and went to find her dad.
Felicia opened her eyes and wished she hadn't. A cut piece of rope dangled from her wrist like a piece of macramé from an old and worn bracelet. The piece it had been attached to dangled from the bed post. At least he had cut her free before he left. Her face was swollen, and her red bruises were already darkening to purple. Most of the evidence was below the neckline, bite marks, bruises, and blood. She moved pulled at the rope and winced, every muscle ached. She tugged at it a couple of times and then gave up and sat back with her hand over her mouth, and cried.
He had beaten her before, but never tied up and never for so long. It wasn't only because of Aryn. Kevin was territorial over his things and his bed and the carpet would have to be replaced. She asked herself if it was worth it, but what a fruitless question. She wouldn't do anything different, even knowing what she knew now. He didn't take her key away and she still had her job. That was the one thing he wouldn't take from her. Because he knew what it was to be poor. He knew the foster system and wouldn't subject her children to it. The money he gave her meant the difference between a good neighborhood and a slum.
She used the wall to brace herself so she could get to her feet and slowly made her way to the bath tub. She stepped in and turned the water on. She had always had an aversion to blood, couldn't even watch it on TV.
She remembered Aryn grabbing Kevin's arm, trying to pull him away from her and cried. No one ever tried to help her before. Kevin beat her, her ex-husband before him and her father before him. Even as a child, no one tried to stop them. But that wasn't the only reason she helped Aryn. She heard her sobbing for Danny, calling for him as if he could help her. She heard pain, love, trust and she wanted that for herself. Aryn's Danny couldn't help her, but Felicia somehow believed he would have. She was going to get beaten anyway, she had already seen it in Kevin's eyes. The door flew open and Felicia's heart raced.
"Mommy! Eddie took the guitar Kevin gave me and he won't give it back." Angel placed her hands firmly on her hips and tapped her foot to emphasize her point.
Felicia took a deep breath. "Eddie! Give Angel her guitar."
Eddie ran into the room holding the guitar in the air, out of his sister's reach. "But I want to play it, she wasn't using it." He saw his mother's bruises, stared and then handed the guitar to Angel, pushing her out of the room. "Come on Angel. Let's play a game," he said moving down the hall.
Felicia closed her eyes and began washing the blood away.