Atone (The Disciples 2)

“Oh God.” Eve waves her hand in her face and closes her eyes. “The smell of smoking meat still makes me puke.” I prepare to move so she has more room, but she reaches out and stops me, grabbing me by the wrist.

“Give me a second. It will pass. Actually… Dewey?” she yells.

Dewey’s over by a couple of older guys, smoking. He looks overly concerned.

“You okay?” His brown eyes look at us like we’ve done something.

“I can’t handle the smell of that smoker. Can you have them move it away? Otherwise I might throw up.”

He nods. “No problem. Prez don’t want you tired tonight. Amy’s taking care of James Dean, remember?”

His eyes scan all of us then zero back to me. “Who are you?”

“Charlie.” It just comes out. I’ve been Charlize for years, which makes my mom happy. The one person who called me Charlie back then was David. But I’m definitely a Charlie now.

“Dewey, this is Poet’s girl,” Eve says, her eyes still closed.

“Oh, I’ve heard about you.” Then he pats Eve’s arm. “I’ll take care of the smoker.”

As soon as he leaves, Dolly sits down in the chair under the umbrella and lights a cigarette. “Sorry, Eve. I need one.”

Eve waves the smoke away and turns her blue eyes on me. “What’s going on?”

“Excuse me?” I look over at Cindy for help, but she’s turned to her stomach and is facing the opposite way.

“Some serious shit is going down. Blade won’t tell me anything, but I know it has to do with David. What do you know?”

Both she and Dolly get closer to me. I hold my hands up. “I know nothing.” Standing, I move toward the pool.

“Wait, this is no joke. Like when Blade comes out instead of Jason, shit is going down.” Eve stands and loops her hand with mine and guides me back to the lounge chair.

“I wish I knew something. David and I are kind of figuring things out.”

A slither of dread slides up my spine.

“I heard Blade last night on the phone with David. It’s not good.” She lets all that hang in the air.

“Wait, what did you hear is happening?” I reach for my bag, looking around for some Tums. First there’s my stomach acid from lack of food, and now this is making me nauseous.

“You know that David is back for revenge, right?” She looks me right in the eye.

“Yes, I guess,” I croak again and look over at Cindy to save me, almost wanting to scream for her to wake up.

“Jason is my man and I don’t intend to let anything bad happen to him. I need to know what you know.” She waves her hand in my stunned face. “Think, Charlie. You have to know if he’s on drugs or acting strange…?”

I shake my head, retracing last night. He was amped up and fucked me all night… but it was amazing.

“He’s not on drugs, but I agree, stuff is happening.” I breathe out and turn to the sound of gravel, caused by a huge black expensive-looking SUV.

A driver in a black suit opens the door and we all simply stare as both Dolly and Eve grab my hand.

“Holy motherfucker, is that?” Dolly whispers.

“Oh my God, it’s Reed Saddington,” I finish for her. I look down at my hands. Both girls are squeezing me hard.

“I told you.” Eve looks around me and over at Dolly. “Shit is going down. That’s why Jason has gone all Blade lately, like even at home.” She whispers the last part as we all three watch Reed walk by us and into the house.

“He’s tall and fucking beautiful. I wish he wasn’t married. I’d fuck him.” Dolly says all this with her nails now grinding into my hand and sipping her margarita.

“Charlie?”

I jump even though I’m sandwiched in between them. “Do you think David and Reed ever… did anything? I mean they are best friends and lived with each other forever.”

I blink at Eve. What the hell? “I can safely say David is not gay.”

She shakes her head and thankfully drops my hand.

“I don’t like this. Whatever is happening, Jason does not want me to know.” She points her finger at me. “You were my hope, Charlie.”

“God.” I rub my hands. “You would do better getting it out of Blade than me. David never says anything… only that I’m his light.” I grab for my margarita as they both perk up and look at me.

“He says you’re his light?” Dolly’s eyebrow goes up. “Hmm.”

A door slams, and a scream that sounds as if someone has captured a wild beast spills through the air.

“What is that?” I stand up and look around. It’s gotten pretty deserted. Other than us, some strippers are hanging around the BBQ area smoking.

“Ignore it. Welcome to your first Disciples party. Continue.”

“That’s all I’ve got, besides the fact that he says he can’t be with me because he is damaged.” I drink some more, wondering if I shouldn’t be saying all this.