Well, that was a just a great first impression.  I’m sure he thinks I’m just another one of Devin’s little sluts. Hell, I guess technically I am just another one of Devin’s little sluts. I’m surely acting like one.

“Oh. My. God. That was so embarrassing,” I said.

My voice was shaking.

“Lilly, about Renee—I’m sorry I didn’t…” I cut him off.

“Don’t worry about it; you don’t have to tell me everything about your life, Devin. It’s not like we’re getting married or anything like that. You’re free to do whatever you want. I’m not your warden.” I tried to act like the mystery of Renee wasn’t bothering me.

“We’re not together anymore…I mean, we kind of never were. It doesn’t matter… we don’t anymore. We don’t do anything anymore.”

I knew what he was trying to tell me and I’m glad he did. Nothing else was said about it even though I wanted to ask a million questions. I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to seem like a psycho girl, but I suppose now I know who got the really great necklace I picked out at Franklin’s Jewelry store the first day I met him.

When I got back to my apartment, Shannon was lounging on the couch. The moment I walked by her she began laughing hysterically.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Somebody had a good day.” She continued to laugh.

I stared back at her, confused.

“As a matter of fact I did, but how do you know?”

She busted out laughing one more time before pointing at my pants.

“There are big black greasy handprints all over your butt, Lil.” She laughed harder.

“OK, so I had a great day.” I stuck my tongue out at her as I made my way to bedroom.

That Saturday was the day of the dinner with Devin’s family. I got to Devin’s house early and we hung out in his room while his dad put the finishing touches on dinner. I picked up a box of pictures that he had sitting on his dresser and started picking through them.

There were pictures of Devin and Jenny when they were just kids that we laughed at. He was such a cute kid. There were family pictures of cousins, aunts, and uncles. There were pictures of Devin at his high school prom and pictures of him and his friends. Suddenly, I came across a picture that made me gasp.

Staring back at me was a picture of Renee Roberts, the ring leader of the twelve girls who had kicked and beat me. She was a viscous girl who cared for nothing or no one but herself. She had ruined my life and laughed about it.

I silently prayed that this wasn’t Devin’s Renee. I begged God to make it not so. Could he have been sleeping with the girl who single-handedly plotted the high school attack on me? Was it the same bitch who left me in the woods bleeding internally?

I could still hear their laughter. Years of therapy got me through it, but there were still occasional nights when I’d wake up with the sheets stuck to me and a scream for help on my lips. I never wanted to feel that helpless again. Seeing her face brought back those terrible feelings.

I dropped the picture quickly and went to put the lid on the box, but Devin must have seen my response to her picture. He picked it up and looked at me kind of strange.

“Do you know her?” he asked as he held up the photo.

“No, who is it?” I pretended to not know who she was.

“No one,” he said as he balled up the photo of Renee and threw it into the trash can next to his dresser.

I instantly felt relief in knowing he no longer had a connection to such a cruel girl and I prayed that I’d never have to see her face again.

Sixteen

Puzzle Pieces

After hanging out in my room with Lilly for a while, it was time for dinner and we were all sitting around the little table in the middle of the kitchen.

“I don’t need a math tutor! Come on, dad, that’s crazy! I already spend way too much time in school and now you want to me get a math tutor? This is bullsh…,” she stopped immediately.

Dad glared at her.

“You keep it up with that filthy mouth and I’ll hire a lady to teach you how to act,” Dad said as he winked at Lilly.

Of course my family would spend this time arguing in front of a dinner guest. I love them, but couldn’t this wait until we were alone?

I looked over at Lilly and watched as she played with her spaghetti with her head down. She looked really beautiful, but I could tell there was something bothering her. I’d have to remember to ask her what was wrong later when we were alone.

Not that it mattered, but with the clothes she was wearing I could tell that she was slimming down a bit and I silently hoped she wouldn’t get too slim. Those thoughts made me smile to myself.