Mia Carter THE DARE

CHAPTER THREE – THE PAST

Floating along calmly, the girls grew quiet for a moment. Somehow, they all knew what the next topic that flowed from their past which, until recently had been locked up, would now rear its ugly head into their futures.

Futures that at one point in all of the girls’ life seemed uncertain. The dark mark in their past that still haunted all of them. There was a time when they all had dealings with a particular boy at the time for some of them, a man now that the years had gone by for others. The time when they all met and formed the unbreakable bond they now share. John Miller. It was a name that tore away the bright blue sky and covered it in dark, sinister thunder clouds. Shadowy and harsh like his appearance, but at the same time also intoxicatingly handsome. Even in his young high school days he was the exotic looking bad boy every girl dreamed about. He had always been a tall, imposing figure. As the years went on, tall became entangled with muscles that grew strong and his dark angular facial features enhanced with every year. His deep, almost black eyes could bore into your soul and stop your breath from escaping your chest. His darkness, though terrifying, could also trap you into some sort of deep, erotic trance. His stare could have any woman he wanted begging at his feet. He knew he possessed that power. He used it to attract the five girls that were once strangers, now friends, sharing a terrible memory of the same person. John’s dark physique had an even darker, deadlier temper. His uncontrollable jealousy, rage and mistrust destroyed any chances he had at a lasting relationship with any woman he met. He was spoiled, his rich parents brought him up without discipline and showed him that with enough money, you could buy your way out of anything.

Each of the five women, in their own time had dated this man, starting very young in high school with May. A sophomore, young and naive to the thought that any boy she met would seek to harm her. John was constantly jealous and any time another male schoolmate would talk to her he would pick a fight with them. She had a whirlwind high school romance with him that lasted a terrifying month and a half. To her it seemed like an eternity. John had become angry with her one night after an enjoyable time out with friends. They were fighting, shouting at each other as he walked her to her front door. May told him to leave her alone, that maybe they should break up. He was so enraged that she had talked to him like that, he slapped her hard across the face. He split open her lip with the back of his large hand, purple bruising quickly spread on May’s fragile young face. When May’s parents saw their daughter in that state, they quickly put an end to the relationship and vowed John would never again be allowed to come near her or speak to her again. They pushed the school to do something about John and his anger, but the administrators only sent him to counseling and put the whole matter behind them. His parents had money and influence over the officials. The Miller’s saw no wrongdoing in their son. They blamed May, stating she must have done something to bait his temper. May’s parents were furious at John’s parents for turning a blind eye to their son’s problems.

John turned his sights onto the stunning Cristy next, not too long after May’s encounter. Not knowing what he had done to May, she was quickly entranced by John and started dating him. They lasted three and a half grueling months. His jealousy over her beauty was out of control and he fought any guy that dared to even smile and wave at her in passing. Cristy promised there was nothing going on with anyone else, but John’s fiery temper could not be calmed. He sent her to the hospital with a broken rib and dislocated shoulder. That interlude ended their time together. Cristy’s parents, like May’s, were beyond furious. They too had pushed the school to expel him, yet the administrators continued to promise the counseling would help. His parents threw more money at the school, the attorneys and Cristy’s family to silence the matter. May, hearing what had happened to Cristy, approached her one day during lunch and the two became fast friends.

Judy had also been sucked into the vortex of John Miller. Judy, however, was a different matter, she had become aware through rumors of what he had done to the other two girls. When John turned his charms towards her during the end of their sophomore year, she entered with caution. One week later she split from him and swore that if he ever came near her or touched her again it would be the end of him. For some reason, instead of John taking his aggression out on her, he backed off and left her alone. Judy’s family was tied deeply into the military and her father had served, in his time, in special forces. Her older brothers were following the same path as their father at the time Judy was in high school. John seemed to not want to chance messing around with her family and rightly so. Judy’s brothers found John at a party one night and made it very clear what would happen to him if he ever tried to come after their sister again. Two friends now became three. May and Cristy marveled at the strength Judy possessed and how she had made John scared enough to leave her alone. Summer had passed and the rumors about John and his abusive ways died away. The beginning of a new school year, their junior years, began happy and peacefully. May, Cristy and Judy were thick as thieves, excited to see what their junior year would bring. May found Ken, her soulmate, she always called him, and the guys had started to enter the girls lives as well. Taylor and Kala had a few classes with the others at the time and knew of them and of John. It was all still rumors, that at the time no one could prove even with May, Cristy and Judy’s encounters.

They were all acquaintances with each other and of course the rumors of John’s nasty temper were still in the back of everyone’s mind. John had been very quiet starting out the junior year. People thought maybe the counseling had actually started to work. Joey took notice of Taylor and was dying to get to know her better, but he was shy back then and grew nervous about asking her out. Marc, Jordan and Joey were all on the football team together, Cristy being a cheerleader for the team was the link between bringing all of them together. It wasn’t, however, until the end of their junior year that Kala would fully enter the group of friends and part of the summer leading into their senior year would pass before Taylor would fully become a part of the group.

John had been behaving himself, he even appeared to be happy and treated others respectfully. His new attitude only made him more attractive and he had many girls begging him to go to proms and dances with them. John, however, already had who he wanted on his arm at junior prom picked out. Pretty little Kala. Her long wavy brown hair and ocean blue eyes had him entranced for a change, he almost hated her for that. But he had to have her. He hadn’t really changed, he pretended to get along with all the little saps in school so that the cops and administrators would get off his back. He had no intention of ‘finding his inner calm’ as his idiot therapist had suggested him to do. He didn’t look deep into himself as he had been coached because he didn’t think he was the one with the problem. Everyone else had the problem. Those girls, those teases, they would rip his heart right out of his chest and dangle it in front of him. They would flirt and tease other boys in front of him to prick at his jealousy. They were the ones that should have been in trouble. Those flirts started it all, made him do what he had to do to bring them back in line, back to him.

Kala would be his new conquest. She would stay in line and do what he told her to. She would bow to his every whim and desire or she would pay the price. He swept Kala off her feet when he charmed and wooed her into going to prom with him. She was cautious at first, but he had seemed so changed and so genuine. She wanted to believe he was turning in to a good person, and one day a good man. Since Jordan had already blown her off for the prom, she decided to see how it would go with John. Prom was amazing and magical for Kala. John was the perfect gentlemen. He took her home, kissed her softly goodnight and swore she was the only one for him. Kala’s heart raced with excitement and hung on his every word. Maybe he had changed.

At the end of the school year and just into the summer months, that magical fantasy was ripped out of her hands. Waking up in a hospital bed with a concussion and no recollection of how she got there, ended anything further she would have to do with John. No one knows what provoked his temper because there were no witnesses and John was maintaining that she fell. Her injuries told a darker story, it wasn’t a fall. She ended up being beaten so bad, her parents thought the worst. She was in and out of consciousness two days before coming fully back to reality. She was heartbroken when she realized it was the man she thought loved her and whom she thought she loved that had put her there. She could not remember why it had happened, not that it mattered to anyone, what he had done was inexcusable. Taylor had heard what happened and had gone to visit Kala to make sure she was ok. Taylor sat with her every day for hours until Kala was ready to be released. From then on, the two were best friends, they had so much in common and it was as though they were old friends just picking up where they had left off.

John was carted off to juvenile detention for that whole summer and a good portion of the beginning of senior year. His parents couldn’t completely buy him out of that mess. Kala’s parents tried to fight John’s return and even tried to get a restraining order placed on him, but the courts denied it. John had done his time, quietly and like a model citizen, they had said. Their parents were disgusted and warned the girls to stay far away from him and never be in a position where they were alone with him. Their parents had spoken to a detective who was investigating the Miller family. It seems there were some questions about John’s father and his businesses. They had hopes the detective would break open the case and put all the Millers away for life. It never came to be because the evidence the detective and his team worked so hard to put together had vanished. The girls and their parents hopes were shattered when the detective gave them the news. He promised they wouldn’t quit and were going to work even harder to recollect everything and start over, but that would take time.

The girls having to stay away from John didn’t seem to be a problem, since John stayed away from all of them once he returned to school. Jordan seemed to change towards Kala, he was always around her, making sure she was ok, helping her with her books and her back pack. Kala was surprised at this strange turn around and hoped maybe Jordan would ask her out. When Jordan had gone with his friends to visit Kala in the hospital, he thought he would die. He couldn’t handle seeing her that way. He knew John was bad news from the beginning and blamed himself for not being there for her. No one knew this about Jordan though. He harbored his guilt. The only reason he went to prom with Suzy was to make Kala jealous, so childish. He never thought it would lead Kala in to a relationship with John and end with her in a hospital bed. Seeing her lying there, broken, bleeding and unresponsive was almost the end of him. The feelings he had hidden for her though, terrified him so he kept them a long over-due secret.

After Kala was out of the hospital and feeling better, Jordan, Marc and Joey wanted to go beat the crap out of John. Ken, the voice of reason, along with May, Judy and Cristy, took them off that ledge. Ken reminded them that if they went after John, they would be no better than him by stooping to his level. Jordan made it very clear how good it would make him feel though. But, as Ken suggested, they let it drop. Senior year started, the excitement of college, unfamiliar places, new friends, new journeys began to stir in the hearts of the graduates. Soon the past troubles were forgotten. Taylor had made her way into the circle of friends over the summer months after her visit with Kala and she had most of her classes again with Kala and the other girls. Taylor never asked any of them about their relationships with John though. She did not want to darken such a happy time. Their senior year was passing fast. Joey was falling for Taylor in secret. He loved being around her and talking to her. When she smiled it lit up the whole room and Joey couldn’t get enough of it. He and the other guys of the group did notice though, that she had managed to catch the attention of John Miller. Jordan had gone so far as to slam John up against the lockers after he caught him watching the group of girls go to their car after a football game. Jordan threatened him within an inch of his life if he touched one of them again. John, being the same size as Jordan, shoved him off and flashed his wicked grin and left without a fight.

Taylor was blissfully ignorant of the situation. She was looking forward to heading to college. She wanted to travel and see the world, she wanted adventures and most of all, she wanted to write about them. She was aware of John Miller. She shared a few classes with him as well and noticed he would be staring at her all through class. She brushed it off. She knew the rumors weren’t just rumors, she knew they were facts. She promised herself she would stay far away from John, no matter what he promised or how changed he appeared. She couldn’t shake the way he made her feel when he smiled at her though. She had to concentrate, she would be going off to college and would never see the jerk again. She turned her thoughts to Joey. He was so handsome and so genuine to her, they had such a strong friendship. He really seemed to listen and care when she talked with him and they shared many common interests. When they would all hang out at her house, Joey would talk with her and her dad for hours about classic cars and going to the drag races up north. She always felt so good around Joey. She desperately wanted him to take her to senior prom but missed the chance when he was nominated for prom king and Jenny Martin swooped in and asked him. Jenny coyly played it off saying that it made sense that he go with her since she was nominated to be prom queen. She babbled on about how they’d have a better chance of being voted for if everyone knew they were going to the dance together. Jenny also lied and told Joey that she overheard someone say that Taylor had already been asked to go with someone else. Joey reluctantly agreed to be Jenny’s date and was infuriated when he found out Taylor had not been asked by anyone. It was too late though, the damage had been done. He had promised Jenny he would go with her and he was too nice to call it off. His heart sank at the thought of Taylor going with someone else. A darker thought crept into his mind that terrified him to no end. He was worried that somehow John would convince her to go with him. Joey saw the horrific aftermath John’s temper had put Kala through. He was playing it out in his mind and almost told Jenny to find someone else so he could ask Taylor to go with him, but Jordan calmed him down. Jordan told him there was no way John was going to be allowed within five feet of Taylor. Joey relaxed a little but couldn’t shake the chill of John being near her or even touching her for a dance.

Jordan, who started being more aloof with Kala again, was also nominated and part of the prom court. He was going with another cheerleader, Alli Davis, best friend to the bitchy head cheerleader Jenny. That fact made Kala’s blood boil, she wanted to pull out every last golden strand on Jenny Martin’s head and do the same to her stupid best friend that was taking Jordan to the prom. Taylor just laughed and promised it would be a great time no matter what. Kala ended up going to the prom with Andrew McCallister from the football team, setting Jordan’s teeth on edge. Why was he being stupid and playing it so coyly with Kala? Especially after the whole John incident he thought he could work up enough courage to ask Kala on a date, but every time he tried he chickened out. What was it about her that made him crazy and tongue-tied? Maybe it’s better this way, Jordan had thought. Maybe it’s better they not ruin the great friendship they had by turning it into something that might not work out. Yeah that’s it, don’t ruin the friendship, he told himself. Kala on the other hand had convinced herself he just wasn’t into her in that way and did her best to enjoy his friendship. She figured she take him however she could have him.

Of course, May and Ken were the sweethearts of the prom and Cristy had opted out of being a part of the prom court even though she would have been fierce competition for Jenny and Alli. She was going with the captain of the hockey team and since he wasn’t a part of the prom court spectacle, she turned it down to spend time with him. Marc had also opted out of the prom court nonsense and was going with a girl from his woodshop class. Judy, who at the time found nothing interesting about Marc, other than being friends, was going with a guy from her AP biology class and had convinced his friend, Jack, to ask Taylor to the prom. Jack, tall lanky and very awkward in his high school days, wasn’t afraid of the challenge and was pleasantly surprised when Taylor said yes. Taylor and Jack became good friends and realized early on that friends, were all they would be.

Everyone arrived at the prom, they all were dressed in beautiful gowns and handsome tuxedos, excitement filling the air of the dance hall. A low buzz could be heard over the students as they filed into the ballroom, looking in wonder at the decorations covering the room from ceiling to floor. This would be the best time of their lives at that moment. They all wanted to cherish it. The music began, the dance floor filled with jumping teens, dancing and moving to the beat of the music. To the seniors, it didn’t get any better than this. The night continued in wonderful elegance and bliss. A slow song began to play, the DJ announced that it was almost time for the crowning of the King and Queen. Everyone cheered and walked with their dates onto the dance floor. Kala was burning daggers into Jordan and Alli. Taylor mouthed to her to cool it, Kala responded with an eye roll and a sigh. Taylor turned her attention to Jack.

He had become a good friend and they were talking casually as they swayed to the love song being played. A tap on Jacks shoulder had all eyes moving to his and Taylor’s direction. John Miller was standing there, sexy, dark and dangerous looking in his crisp, angular cut black tuxedo. His demeanor calm and smooth, his black eyes centered on Taylor’s contrasting green ones. Taylor fought to keep her composure at the sight of him. He was dangerously close and very handsome standing there now. She shouldn’t help staring into his eyes, they were dark and deep like the sky at night. Jack instantly tightened his grip on Taylor, knowing what was coming. John was going to ask her to dance.

Jack decided he wouldn’t allow it no matter what the cost. Before the prom started, all the guys made a pact to keep John away from any of the girls that night, all of them hoping that situation would not come to pass. Unfortunately, it was now unfolding before their eyes. Joey’s heart sank when he saw John enter the dance floor, his eyes focused towards Taylor and Jack. He started to make his way out of Jenny’s grip when she suddenly possessed hulk-like strength and pulled him against her and told him to not even think about going to Taylor. He had unpleasant words for her and broke free. He couldn’t move fast enough, by the time he released himself from Jenny’s talons, the tap on the shoulder had happened and Joey felt his heart dropping to his knees, Taylor was next. That’s all he could think, she was John’s prey. Jack wouldn’t stand a chance if John decided to get violent. He started pressing his way through the bodies watching the scene. He tried to push through the crowd, they wouldn’t part, it was like pushing through molasses and he couldn’t seem to make his legs work properly to get through.

Taylor stood staring calmly, yet stayed up against Jack, who suddenly looked like he would take on the devil himself if need be. She felt the tension sizzle in the air. She had to diffuse it, this night couldn’t be ruined. She calmly moved a small step away from Jack and said hi to John as best as she could. Her throat went dry and scratchy. She could see some people still dancing to the music but they were watching… waiting. The music seemed to dull, the pounding in her ears increased. This could go south very fast as she noticed Joey trying to climb over people to get to her and Jordan had a murderous look on his face. Kala was edging closer as well along with Marc, Judy and Cristy. Time seemed to stand still, her heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest. She took a deep breath and asked John what he wanted, regretting her words instantly, knowing he’d have some snarky response.

John put on the biggest Cheshire cat smile at the question she asked so innocently. Or was it innocent? Was Taylor now toying with him too? He had watched her for so long. A whole agonizing year not being able to get to her, to talk to her. Those football jockstrap idiots wouldn’t dare try anything now and her string bean of a date would be no match against his bulk and strength. She looked beyond amazing tonight in her deep, dark purple dress that hugged her body’s curves so sensually. Oh, yes, she was tormenting him. She had been all year. The classes he had with her were sheer torture, he wanted so badly to touch her. Tonight was his chance to hold her and those fools couldn’t touch him. He’d done nothing wrong. He just continued to smile, noting the dumbass jock that possessed no ounce of courage to ask her out, suddenly now in a panic to get to her. John had been watching him too. Joey Tarnell was nothing but a joke in his mind. Spending all that time with Taylor, near her, alone with her and never once trying to make it more than just a friendly encounter. He would take pleasure in watching Joey’s agony as he seduced Taylor right before his pathetic eyes. He would have Taylor. How silly of him to think Kala was his conquest. No, no not Kala, Taylor was the conquest he’d been hunting for. Hunting, yes, that is the word, because she is his prey. He would have her, she would be his trophy.

John reached suddenly into his jacket pocket, a gasp collectively heard through the crowd, John chuckled and brought forth a beautiful, slightly damaged lily. It was one of the flowers from her corsage that had fallen when she’d walked onto the dancefloor with Jack. John had seized the opportunity to take it to her when he saw the flower drop to the ground. There was a visible sigh of relief that flooded the floor and through Taylor. The music once again played at its normal decibel. The heart pounding moment had passed. Taylor, so overcome with relief that he wasn’t pulling out a knife, smiled at John genuinely and thanked him for returning the flower. John slowly moved closer to her, not taking his eyes from hers for a second. Jack tried to intervene, John, just as tall as Jack, yet much more forceful of a being, put up his index finger in a strong gesture that told Jack to back off.

He held Taylor’s gaze, she was mesmerized by him now. He had the delicate lily stem between his fingers, they both looked down at it. He raised his hand and brushed the hair off her ear, the movement had chills racing through her body as he placed the lily behind her ear, where it sat perfectly. He gently took her hand, eyes still burning into hers and softly raised her hand to his lips. He gently let her hand go and calmly walked away from her. He sent a sharp sneer at Jordan, Marc, Ken and Joey who were powerless to do anything but stare at the strange scene. Taylor stared after him, transfixed on his back as he left the prom for the night. She had never felt a sensation like that before, what had he done to her?

Jack brought her back to reality with a soft yet jarring little shake. She swore she was ok as the rest of the group came over to her and Jack. They all carefully made their way to the tables surrounding the dance floor. Taylor again promised her terrified looking friends that she was alright and that it was really just a nice gesture on John’s part. Jordan snorted his opinion and called BS. Kala smacked his arm and told him to chill out. Joey sat next to Taylor, he took her hand gently. It was the hand John dared to touch, Joey held it between his hands and squeezed softly, drawing the warm smile he’d come to love from her. She was glad of the warmth it brought. For as much as John was handsome, he was just as intimidating to be in front of. She had never been that close to him before. She had felt some kind of magnetic force though. She tried to shake it off and took a deep breath to steady her nerves. John had definitely left his mark on her now, he wouldn’t leave her thoughts easily.

No one in the group felt much like staying after that shocking display of affection from John so they all decided to leave. Jenny and her friends were screaming with rage that they dare leave before the crowning and blamed Taylor for being the cause. Kala almost came to blows with Jenny and the would-be cat fight had to be broken up by a couple of teachers. One of the teachers who had witnessed the strange event with John, ushered the group out quietly and made sure they got into their cars safely. Senior prom passed, graduation had passed and now college was on the horizon for the ten friends. John and that night at the prom left their minds, soon they all moved on to what lay ahead. Everyone in the group went to local colleges and were able to stay close enough to visit on weekends. With the new burst of technology and social media, it was even easier for the friends to stay in close contact.

Taylor was the furthest from the group, attending classes in Fort Collins. She had made some new friends, but no one like Kala and her girls. She missed them and longed for a visit. She missed Joey too she realized. Though, she thought he had probably met some hot chick on his travels with his family and hadn’t given her a second thought. She didn’t know why, but that stung at her heart. She had always wished something would come out of their friendship, but nothing ever did. She pushed the thought out of her mind, it irked her to think of some other woman taking up his time. Maybe she could work up the courage to ask him on a date one day.

Time had passed, college was moving swiftly for all of them. During the start of their final year at college, Taylor had finished her school work early and on a random Thursday she decided to try to surprise her friends with a visit. Her semester started in mid-august, before the rest her friend’s terms. She was always the first one to leave from summer break. College would be coming to an end and they would all be looking at new careers. It dawned on her that times spent together may get further and further apart than they are now. So, she hopped into her mom’s old Jeep and headed back to Colorado Springs. She kept trying to get a hold of her friends, some had left town for the weekend and some were there but had plans. Promises of getting together were made, but that weekend ended up not working out. Joey, in particular, was disappointed he couldn’t leave his classes to come back and visit with her. She spent the time with her family and enjoyed relaxing and taking a break from the chaos of school life that had started back up. On the night she had tried to get together with her friends, but the plan fell apart, she had gone to a bookstore just to pass some time. She was very into mystery novels and was casually browsing through the shelves. She noticed someone at the other end of aisle but didn’t pay too much attention. She knew it was a man and she knew he had been looking at her. In her years growing up, her father taught her to be cautious. He taught her a few self-defense moves, how to properly use a firearm and pepper spray. The pepper spray was in her pocket and ready at a moments need. She also had no problem biting, scratching or kicking the man if he tried anything. She noticed his head moving and tilting her direction and she had enough of the silent banter. She quickly turned her head towards the man’s direction and armed with a witty comment on her tongue, she uttered the first part of “Take a -” when she stopped cold at who she saw.

John Miller. Tall and how was it possible, more handsome than she remembered. He was staring at her now with those dark eyes. Suddenly that night of the prom flooded into her mind as did the memory and sensation of his touch. She knew he was dangerous, she knew she needed to be careful. What she knew and what she felt were now at war. He was smiling at her and made a soft wave hello with his hand. She told herself to get a grip and smiled back. Before she knew what had happened, they were sitting at the local coffee shop laughing and talking over iced coffees about things they had been doing since high school graduation. They exchanged phone numbers that night and began talking every day. They flirted over texts and would get together when they could.

When Taylor finally worked up the courage to confess to the group who she had been seeing, she thought they were all going to have a heart attack and drop dead right there. Her parent’s reaction was very similar. She swore he had changed, he swore he had changed. He went to intense counseling and therapy over the years and had a steady job with his father’s business and had turned his life around. No one believed him for a minute, but they believed in Taylor. They quietly agreed to not bash John but made her swear if he ever did anything to make even the slightest move hurt her that she would tell them immediately and get out. She promised that she would.

Joey was crushed. He couldn’t stand the pictures of the two of them being posted and liked and commented on. He was finishing school and had planned on asking Taylor out on an official date, days before she made her confession that she had been seeing John Miller. Joey pulled back and buried himself in his studies. He hated John Miller, as did the rest of the group; especially May, Cristy, Judy and Kala. They had all experienced his wrath and were deathly afraid he was just masking his abusive behavior. Taylor tried to convince them otherwise, but no one would hear it. They all stood by her though, they would not leave her alone in this relationship, if that’s what you called it, with this dangerously deceptive man. Kala knew he would snap one day. Kala’s biggest fear was that Taylor might be falling in love with John. Kala confided her fears to Taylor’s parents and to Joey. They had noticed it too and were keeping as close of an eye on it as they could. Taylor and her mother had a very close relationship and Mrs. Johnson made sure to ask about John each time she talked with her daughter. Joey was in denial about Taylor being in love with John. He kept saying she was smarter than that, but Kala was not so sure.

For her friend’s sake she had gone out with the two of them one night and he was sickeningly sweet. This man who had hurt May, Cristy and Kala so severely in the past, now had his claws firmly planted into Taylor. Kala was irritated too that Taylor was being so stupid as to ignore the fact that that man who had his hands on Taylor so lovingly now, had used them to bloody faces and break bones. Those violent hands were used not just on women he dated, but it was rumored that John’s parents used him as an enforcer in their alleged illicit business dealings. Kala also being the most rationally minded of them all and wanting to stand by her best friend, noted that Taylor had no direct experience with John and who he truly was. John was very good at charming people and convincing them he was a decent person. With the gap of years in between any dealings with him, Kala thought that’s what had swayed Taylor to date him.

Kala prayed and hoped that John really had changed and really had meant the apology he had given the other girls one night at a dinner party they all attended. He received eye rolls from them, but they played nice and made the evening pleasant. Taylor and John’s relationship continued as the fall semester led on, but John was starting to crack a little at a time. Around the three-month mark was when the cracks really began to show. The distance was driving a wedge between them, he kept trying to convince her to finish her school closer to home. John’s temper flared every time Taylor mentioned Joey, or liked a post Joey had made, it began to eat away at John’s “good guy” facade quickly. He grew jealous all the time and railed on Taylor about it whenever she was looking at her phone. He had even sent one of his goons up to her school to spy on her and see if Joey was hanging around. Taylor was furious when she found out, she swore to him Joey was just a friend and that he had nothing to worry about. John called her a whore and was convinced Joey was sneaking up there to be with her on weekends he couldn’t make it up. Taylor started to back away from the relationship. Carefully and gradually she started not being available when John would turn sweet and innocent and beg to see her. She would also carefully make her visits with her friends in secret. With the holidays and finals coming and graduation approaching rapidly, it was somewhat easy to tell the lie through and have John believe it. But, as all her friends feared, that one day they were dreading finally came. The day John Miller snapped.

Thanksgiving came around and with it, everyone came home to visit. The whole group was back together again. Taylor had come back to town two days prior from when she told John she was returning. She told her friends not to say anything about when she was really coming back. They all agreed and wanted to know what sparked the sudden withdrawal from John. She wanted time with her friends and their help on how to deal with getting away from him. When Taylor made that confession, the whole group erupted with applause and praise that she had finally seen the light. Instantly Joey and Jordan asked if he had hurt her physically. She told them that he hadn’t, but that his jealousy was growing every time they talked and was even worse when they were away from each other. She was also not at all in love with him. She wasn’t sure she ever really was, that thought had startled her. Joey had inwardly celebrated at that revelation. Now was his chance, he was not going wait any longer to tell Taylor how he felt about her. Thank God she was ending things with John. But they all knew that ending the relationship with him could come with an excessive cost.

They were all gathered at the coffee shop, talking and catching up when Taylor’s eyes were drawn to four men coming through the door. No, no, no she thought... John! He was supposed to be in Denver at a concert all night. She wasn’t supposed to be in town until the next morning according to the lie she’d told him. The others noticed the change in her behavior immediately and knew something was wrong. They all looked towards the door that she was fixated on. So far, the four men hadn’t noticed the group sitting there, but it wouldn’t be long before they did. Kala suggested to Taylor that she should tell him she decided to get an early start on the road, got home late this evening, they all decided to meet up and have coffee. She also suggested Taylor explain to John that since he would be at the concert in Denver, she didn’t want to interrupt his night. Taylor knew he wouldn’t buy it. The only reason he wouldn’t buy it was sitting right next to her, Joey. As that thought crossed Taylors mind, a raging shout erupted from where the four men stood in line. John had noticed the group. John noticed Taylor and very much noticed Joey sitting next to Taylor.

She was dead. He was going to kill her in front of them all and then he was going to kill Joey next, he didn’t care what the consequences were. He knew she had been betraying him. He knew she was seeing Joey on the side. His rage was unstoppable. His friends tried to hold him back but he, being the biggest of all of them, broke loose and pounded his way over to the group of friends, who were now in a full-blown panic. People in the shop ran out or froze where they were, staring at the scene unfolding. As the group stood, Joey blocked Taylor from John. Jordan pounced up and blocked John’s path as well. Eye to eye, nose to nose the tense standoff was coming to an explosive head. Taylor screamed at them to stop and tried to tell John to come talk with her outside. Kala shouted at Taylor not to go anywhere with John. His fury was all over his face, his whole body trembled with anger, resentment and hatred. But here was his chance to get her alone. He really was going to kill her. If he couldn’t have her, no man could have her. His sudden agreement had everyone on edge, except Taylor, she seemed pleased that he was able to get himself under control. She would talk with him and sort it out. Easier said than done.

She took his arm and led him outside into the frosty night air. He went rigid the second they were alone and Taylor knew she’d made a mistake going outside with him. The first blow to her face knocked her back a few steps and shocked her. She heard someone coming out the door and shouting. She tried to turn to see who it was, but the second strike was faster, harder and had her hurdling towards the ground. There was no time to cover her face or head. She screamed as she hit the cement, face first with a bone crunching thud. Everything went silent for her, save for the pounding in her head and ringing in her ears. She could see blurry outlines of people and it looked like brightly colored dancing dots. She could feel warm liquid sliding slowly down her stinging face. She tried to reach out for the colorful dots. She felt the hard jolt of a kick to her ribcage that sent new shock waves of pain throughout her body, something cracked and popped. Reality came crashing in like a freight train, the pain swept over her entire body. She could still see fuzzy outlines of other people, they seemed to be standing still, why weren’t they helping her? Could they see her? She had no idea of the true scene happening around her.

Joey was out the door instantly towards Taylor when he saw John strike her the first time as she stumbled back. He didn’t get there in time to stop the second hit to her face. Enraged Joey shouted and body slammed John to the ground. John and Joey began to fight and roll around as the others reached them. Kala tried to get to Taylor but one of John’s goons grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the side. The first kick Taylor had felt came from one of John’s “boys” as he called them. Jordan made short work of that worm, with one punch to the face the one named Chris was out. Jordan was in a blind rage as was Joey. The two men fought hard, John broke free and landed one final kick into Taylor’s already broken ribcage. Jordan and Joey slammed John back to the ground and held him there. Taylor screamed in pain after the second kick to her ribs. She had never experienced the intense white-hot fire of a broken bone before. Marc, Jack, Ken and other people from the coffee shop intervened to stop John’s friends from continuing the brawl. Taylor couldn’t breathe, the metallic tasted of blood was filling her mouth. Her head felt like it had been splayed open for all to see. She felt cold, her eyes were going dim, darkness was taking her over.

Is this the end? Did he manage to kill me? Is this what death feels like? She was accepting her fate. She thought of her family she would never see again. She thought of her friends and of Joey and the lost chance at true love. She could see a blurry face staring at her, she could make out the beautiful hazel eyes staring into her eyes that were slowly going dark. She could hear a warm voice in her ear telling her to hold on, to fight, to stay with him. She tried to speak, but only blood and moans came out. She could hear someone screaming her name in a higher pitched voice, not the smooth warm one in her ear. She was losing consciousness, she couldn’t breathe, her ears were ringing so loud it was taking over her senses. She tried to blink to clear her vision, it did no good.

Suddenly someone else’s face was peering into hers. They were shining the brightest light into her eyes, making them burn. It was all she could take of the pain, she passed out into blissful, pain free darkness. A day later she woke up in the hospital. Her family and friends were all there. It was Thanksgiving Day and she was spending it in bandages and a hospital bed. Her mother was crying softly, her father looked like he wanted to kill someone. Joey looked like a wreck, Kala looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Taylor tried to speak, but a sharp needle-like pain in her throat kept her silent. Had she lost her voice forever?

Her mother overwrought with joy that she had awakened, brought her daughter some water. It felt so cool and soft on her aching throat. She wanted to know what happened and wanted to know if John was still out there. They informed her that John had officially been arrested and thrown in jail for the time being. Charges of assault, attempted murder, and being under the influence of narcotics were all a part of the list. Word had it that he had help from his rich parents and lawyered up pretty fast. His parents felt confident he wouldn’t be staying behind bars for very long. Taylor shuddered at the thought that he would be out again. Would she always have to watch her back now? Everyone told her not to worry, the judge would do the right thing and all would be well.

Taylor began to physically heal from her wounds, but the mental wounds seemed like they would never heal completely. She was released from the hospital, then came the court hearing, in-between all of that she had to figure out school. All five men and women, along with other witnesses that were brave enough to come forward, stood one by one in court and testified against John. The judge’s ruling kept him in prison for now. His parents kept trying to get bail set for him, but the courts withheld their request for the time being. The ten friends all tried to put the horrifying event behind them. Taylor had to catch up on her schoolwork, so she could graduate on time and didn’t have much time to think about what had happened. She really didn’t even talk to her friends for a few weeks while she tried to sort everything out. She felt so ashamed and stupid for believing John had changed. Her girlfriends had all be right, had she listened? No. She could keep John out of her mind during the daytime while she kept her nose to her books. The only time she did think of that night and John was when he came to haunt her dreams. Almost every night he would beat her again and again. Though, in her nightmares none of her friends came to her rescue. She was always alone with him. She ended up having to get her own place to live because her nightmares and blood curdling screams would wake her roommates. No one wanted to stay with her. She did everything she could to try to keep John and the memories away. She hated the strange connection he managed to forge with her. Why couldn’t she let it go?

The months passed without much news about John since he had been carted off to Limon Correctional Facility and the rest of the school term seemed to be over in an instant. Graduation time had come, the future now lay open at their feet. There they were, all ten of them still together, still bonded. Still strong. It was possible two more romantic-type bonds may yet come to pass. Even with the trauma of the past, Joey still wanted to be with Taylor. Taylor wanted to be with Joey. They couldn’t seem to edge that night out enough to move forward. Jordan and Kala were just being plain thickheaded about their feelings for one another. Things had to change, they had to stop dancing around each other and commit to being just friends or move forward, towards more.

Slowly the memories, like a movie the girls had all been playing in their minds from the past, stopped at that very moment while they floated carelessly in the pool, sipping champagne and basking in the hot sun.

Next Chapter: THE RETURN