Fallen For Three

Chapter 9

NINE

Rae texted me.I had to tell her I couldn”t attend college due to a stomach bug. I didn”t like lying to her, but I had to. It”s been three days since then and I feel much better. The cuts on my face are almost healed and the bruises are fading away, which I can easily cover with some makeup.

Over the last three days, Nate and I have been watching movies and playing board games. He plans to take me out today and I”m looking forward to it.

“Are you ready, baby?” Nate asks, leaning against the front door, gripping the door frame.

I turn to him, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. “What type of shoes should I wear?” I ask.

“Comfortable ones,” he replies with a reassuring smile.

I quickly slip into my trusty trainers and follow him out of the door, eager to discover where he”s taking me.

We climb into his truck and he begins to drive. As we leave the city behind, the landscape outside the window transforms into rolling hills and open fields. The sun is high, casting a warm glow across the sky.

Despite my anticipation, I soon find myself drifting off to sleep, lulled by the gentle hum of the engine and the peaceful scenery outside.

I awaken to the sound of Nate”s gentle voice saying, “Wakey, wakey.” Slowly opening my eyes, I see that we have arrived at our destination. My heart fills with excitement as I realize that we must be parked near the sea and a pier with amusements.

Still groggy, I apologize to him, saying, “I”m sorry, baby. I fell asleep,” as I rub my eyes. Nate reassures me with a warm smile and a gentle touch, resting one arm on the steering wheel and placing the other hand on my thigh.

As he steps out of the truck, he turns his baseball cap backward and looks at me with a grin. “Let”s go have some fun, shall we?” he asks, offering his hand to help me out. I take it and jump down, landing on the ground with a soft thud. Adjusting my floral dress and jean jacket, I take in our surroundings–the sun is shining bright and the air is filled with the ocean scent.

We ascend the steps to the wooden pier and Nate grasps my hand firmly. The amusement park”s flashing lights and blaring music fill the air around us. Upon reaching the top, we head towards the first attraction—a ring toss game.

“Care to have a go?” Nate asks, his voice barely audible over the blaring music. “Sure,” I reply, trying to match his enthusiasm. We stand side by side, tossing the rings with all our might, each trying to land them over the colored bottles. As we play, I glance over at Nate and notice the intense focus on his face.

I eagerly attempt to slide a shiny ring down the neck of two vibrantly colored bottles, my heart racing with anticipation. After several attempts, I finally win, and an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement washes over me, causing me to clap my hands together in glee. While attempting the same, Nate lets out a disheartening huff as he loses the game. Feeling triumphant, I stick my tongue out at him and giggle in amusement. My eyes scan the colorful array of prizes and my gaze settles on a small, pink teddy bear, which I eagerly claim as my reward.

We walk towards the next stall and he utters a sarcastic, “Well done.” His hand reaches for my waist, holding me close. We approach a game where a bunch of rubber ducks float in a small pool. Wanting to return the favor, I decide to pay for the game this time. We both get a hook stick and begin the game. I try to hook a duck, but unfortunately, I end up empty-handed. Nate, on the other hand, is lucky enough to hook a duck and win a prize. He chooses an inflatable hammer and playfully hits me on the head.

As we stroll down the pier, I hold on tightly to my teddy bear, feeling its soft fur against my skin. I glance over at Nate carrying an inflatable hammer and I can”t help but chuckle at the irony of his choice of the prize given his profession.

Suddenly, he pulls me in close and we passionately kiss. The bright lights of the amusement park flash around us, illuminating our embrace and creating a romantic atmosphere. It”s a moment I”ll never forget.

My eyes catch a glimpse of a gigantic teddy panda displayed at one of the shooting galleries. I can feel my heart pounding with excitement as I approach the stall.

“Oh my, that panda!” I exclaim.

With his usual nonchalant attitude, Nate replies, “What my baby wants, my baby gets.”

The attendant at the stall then explains the rules to Nate—he has to shoot all the targets to win the giant panda. Nate confidently picks up the air rifle, aims, and fires. In seconds, the targets fall one after the other. I look at him in awe, amazed at his sharpshooting skills.

I gently kiss his cheek and my heart fills with gratitude. The panda is almost as big as me.

“Shall we take our prizes back to the truck?” Nate inquires. Together, we go to the truck and carefully place our prizes inside.

As we return to the pier, Nate suggests getting some food.

“Sounds good to me,” I reply, my stomach grumbling in agreement.

We soon find ourselves in a quaint diner with a retro, fifties theme. The vibrant neon colors and black-and-white tiled flooring are a feast for the eyes. The extensive menu offers a wide variety of dishes to satisfy any craving.

We spot a booth with bright red, leather chairs. I settle down and order freshly made pancakes while Nate orders a juicy burger. As we wait for our food, I can”t help but feel grateful for the lovely day we”ve had so far.

“I”m really enjoying myself, thank you,” I say to Nate, smiling.

“It”s my pleasure, baby. I”m glad you”re enjoying yourself,” he replies warmly.

Nate”s sudden movement draws my attention to him as he swiftly reaches for a tissue from the holder. His tone turns from casual to concerning as he addresses me, “Oh, baby, one of your cuts has opened up.” He gently pats the tissue on the cut, applying just the right amount of pressure.

As he carefully tends to my wound, I instinctively hold onto his hand, keeping it in place on my face. Our eyes meet and I can”t help but blurt out, “I never expected to get so attached to you. Do you feel the same way?” He seems caught off guard by my sudden confession, but his response is immediate and heartfelt. “I”m fully attached. Wherever you go, I go, Tessie.”

A friendly waitress approaches our table and sets down the plates of hot, steaming food. The scent of freshly cooked pancakes wafts up to my nose and I can”t resist pouring a generous amount of rich, amber-colored maple syrup over the fluffy stacks. The aroma is irresistible and we dig in eagerly, savoring every bite of the delicious meal.

Nate takes a big bite of his juicy burger, savoring the flavors that explode in his mouth. With a grin on his face, he manages to utter, “This is nice,” while still chewing. I chuckle at his enthusiasm and take a bite of my fluffy pancakes, relishing the sweetness of the maple syrup.

“Thank you for winning that giant panda. Your shooting skills are truly impressive,” I say, my eyes wide with admiration.

“Well, I have to give some credit to the army for training me,” he replies modestly, sipping his soda.

I am about to ask Nate some questions about his time in the army when he interrupts me mid-sentence. “No, baby. No questions about the army yet, please,” he says in a gentle tone. It seems like he wasn”t quite ready to delve into that topic yet, so I respect his wishes and shift the conversation to something else.

After we finishour delicious meal and pay the bill, we walk hand in hand towards the pier. As we stroll on the wooden planks, we catch sight of the magnificent Ferris wheel in the distance. Looking at it, I turn to Nate and ask, “Wanna go on?”

Nate stares at the towering Ferris wheel and stutters, “Uh...uh…” I can sense the fear in his voice and realize he is scared of heights. “It”s ok,” I comfort him. “You don”t have to if you don”t want to.”

He blushes at my words and surprises me by admitting, ”I am scared of heights.” Finding him cute, I can’t resist leaning in to kiss him on the cheek and whisper, “Oh, baby.”

Taking a deep breath, Nate looks up at the Ferris wheel again and says, “If you want to go on the wheel, we will go on it.” I can see the determination in his eyes as he takes a gulp and braces himself for the ride.

Nate”s grip on my hand tightens. I smile reassuringly and squeeze his hand back. We sit in one of the rusted metal carts and begin our ascent into the sky. We”re only halfway up when the ride suddenly stops to let more people on. Despite the unexpected pause, I can”t help but feel the excitement coursing through my veins.

“It”s not too bad,” Nate says, looking around at the colorful lights and bustling fairgrounds below. The Ferris wheel lurches back to life and we continue our ascent. As we reach the top, my breath catches in my throat at the breathtaking view before us. We can see for miles—the glittering sea stretches out before us, gently lapping at the beach”s golden sand.

I feel Nate shift in his seat, and I lean into him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. I can tell he”s a bit nervous, but I”m here with him and that”s all that matters. We sit there, suspended in the air, with the carriage gently swaying back and forth. I turn to him and ask if he”s ok. He takes a moment to look around at the breathtaking view before returning to me and saying, “I”m ok I have you next to me.”

Before I can reply, his lips meet mine and we kiss passionately. The intensity of our kiss matches the height we”re perched and I can”t help but lose myself in the moment.

His voice quivers as he speaks, “Don”t make me get all worked up at this height.” I can hear the fear in his voice.

I try to ease his nerves. “It may take your mind off the height,” I tease.

He gently places his hand on my face, his touch as warm as the setting sun. “You look so incredibly beautiful in the sunset,” he whispers in my ear, his voice as soothing as a gentle breeze. I can feel his nervousness, so I smile at him and take his other hand, holding it tightly as we both bask in the beauty of the moment.

I bring my lips to his once again. Slowly, I unbutton his flannel shirt, feeling his warm skin beneath my fingertips. “I want to kiss your heart,” I breathe.

I move my head down and plant a tender kiss on his chest, right where his heart beats. I lean back. I notice my lipstick has left a perfect imprint of my lips on his skin.

He gazes downwards, his eyes glimpse my lipstick mark on his chest, and he can”t help but chuckle. The Ferris wheel suddenly jolts and begins to move once again as we gradually descend back to the ground. He has a warm sense of contentment and I can sense that he is truly happy at this moment.

Nate and I disembark from the Ferris wheel and Nate playfully says, “The things I do for you, Tessie Billings.” I can”t help but giggle as I reply, “But it was absolutely breathtaking once we reached the top.” The view from the top of the Ferris wheel was truly magnificent. It was a moment I”ll never forget.

As the day winds down and the sun starts to set, Nate and I make our way down the pier towards the car park. Just as we”re about to get into the truck, Nate spots a small tattoo parlor and stops dead in his tracks. He peers inside the window, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “I”ve got an idea,” he says with a grin.

Without hesitation, we venture into the parlor, seeing a heavily tattooed man sporting a long, bushy beard. Nate wastes no time asking the man if he”s available for a small tattoo. The man nods in agreement and Nate turns to me with a kiss before telling me to take a seat.

As Nate disappears into the back with the tattoo artist, I sink into the plush, leather couch, taking in the parlor”s eclectic decor. I can”t help but wonder what kind of tattoo Nate is getting as I pick up a magazine and begin to flip through the pages.

After waiting for some time, I start to feel restless. I get up from my seat and begin pacing around the waiting area, looking at the fish tank. Suddenly, Nate emerges from the back room with his flannel shirt unbuttoned. As he approaches me, I notice something different about his chest. Upon closer inspection, I see that he has gotten my lipstick mark tattooed on his chest, right where I had kissed him earlier. The sight took me by surprise.

The bright red tattoo of my lips on his chest is a striking contrast against the dark ink of his other tattoos.

Nate takes a few steps toward me, his arms stretched out. “Do you like it?” he asks with a smile.

“My lips are going to be on your body forever,” I say, my voice laced with shock. “That”s what I want, baby,” he replies, smug and confident. “You’re crazy,” I breathe as I kiss him on my tiptoes.

I am amazed that he went so far as to get a tattoo of my lips on his chest. It fills my heart with warmth and affection and I fall for him even more each day.

As we enter the truck, I notice the sun slowly dipping below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the sky. The perfect full moon is already visible in the sky, ready to take over the night shift. We begin our journey back home.

I approach Paul”s apartment block and my heart rate accelerates. I try calling Nate and Tessie”s phones, but there is no answer. I exit the police car and walk up the steps to his apartment.

Paul opens the door and greets me, his bald head shining in the light. Stepping inside, I notice the mess. His apartment is a typical bachelor pad, with piles of takeaway boxes left on the table and empty beer bottles scattered everywhere.

We make our way to his bedroom, which is cluttered with multiple computer screens set up. Paul sits at his computer and begins typing away, his fingers moving quickly across the keyboard. I pull up a chair and sit beside him, eager to see what information he has found.

I ask him, “What do you have for me, Paul?” Paul looks at me, then turns his gaze back to his computer, pushing his glasses up his nose. After a moment of silence, he responds quietly, “It”s not good, dude,” as he begins to pull up various websites on his computer screen.

Paul leans back in his chair and gestures toward the computer screen, urging me to take a look. I shift my gaze toward the screen and see a website open, displaying a forum labeled College Hotties. My eyes scan through the page”s contents and I can”t help but feel disturbed by the forum”s number one topic—Tessie. The way they talk about her and the other girls on the forum is highly objectifying and derogatory, making me feel sick to my stomach.

Paul”s voice trembles with concern as he reveals, “In order to gain access to the forum, I had to disguise myself as a horny college student. At first, it seems harmless fun, with the members rating girls based on their looks. But then, things took a darker turn.” With a few clicks on the computer, he accesses another highly restricted forum, only allowing certain members to join.

I see videos where girls appear to be on drugs or spiked, being taken advantage of. Paul hesitantly reveals, “It seems that these videos are being sold to certain members. “Paul’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. “Their number one target is Tessie,” I piece together. As soon as the words leave his mouth, a wave of dizziness washes over me. Anger and frustration well up inside me and I feel the urge to lash out at the computer screen in front of me.

“I can”t believe this!” I yell out in frustration. Paul calmly scrolls through the website and says, “It seems like Dan has already collected money for a video of Tessie. He owes several people. Moreover, she is the highest-ranked model on the website. Multiple photos of her have already been uploaded to the site.” Unable to contain my anger, I snatch the computer mouse from Paul and start scrolling through the website myself.

I scrolled through and noticed that Dan had taken pictures of Tessie while she was at college and even while she was at home. It”s a relief that he is in the ground rotting.

Paul rises from his computer chair and turns to me with a serious expression. “Dan might be dead, Cain, but it seems like someone else has taken over his role,” he says, his tone low and guarded. I concentrate on his words, sensing that something important will be revealed. “Archibald Hanks,” he continues, his voice barely above a whisper. We both fall silent, letting the name sink in. After a brief moment, Paul adds, “He”s the commissioner”s son,” before pushing his glasses up to rest on his head.

”Knew that fucker was bad news. Can you keep this to yourself? I’m begging you, Paul,” I say, my arms tightly crossed in front of me. My mind is racing with all the possible outcomes.

“You don”t have to beg. I”ve never liked Commissioner Hanks,” Paul replies, his tone low and serious. “I think he”s a pretentious fucker and his son, from what I”ve seen online, is even worse,” Paul adds and pauses for a moment.

“We have a couple of other problems, Cain,” Paul continues. “Archibald also has suspicions on Dan”s whereabouts and thinks Tessie has something to do with it...”

My heart sinks at the mention of Tessie. She”s been through enough. The last thing she needs is to be dragged into something like this. “Ok, that”s one problem. What are the other problems, Paul?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

“It”s not just Archibald,” Paul replies, his eyes darkening. “Others on that forum want sick videos of Tessie, too. Some serious money was exchanged and Dan couldn”t fulfill his order. It”s a sick game to them at this point to see who can win–they will do anything.”

I can”t help but feel a sense of urgency and helplessness as I put my head in my hands and take a deep breath. I turn to Paul and ask him, “Can you find out who the others are?” Paul”s response is honest, but hopeful, “I can try and get back to you. Some of them are anonymous, making it hard.”

Despite Paul”s limitations, I know he”s doing everything he can to help me. I thank him for his efforts and ask him to keep me updated. I pat him on the back and I can feel the weight of the situation bearing down on me. I exit the apartment and try to call Nate and Tessie, but they don”t pick up. My heart races as I wonder if something has happened to them. The fear and uncertainty are too much.

I gaze out of the truck window, mesmerized by the moon”s sheer brilliance. The night sky is crystal clear, and the stars twinkle like diamonds. I can”t help but express my awe as I say, “It”s breathtakingly beautiful tonight.”

Suddenly, Nate pulls over the truck into a nearby field. “Let”s get a better look, shall we?” he suggests. I nod in agreement and we hop out of the truck, climbing into the back. As I lay down on the cold, steel bed of the truck, I feel Nate”s warm embrace as he wraps his arm around me. We both gaze up at the sky and seeing the twinkling stars leaves us speechless. I slip on my jean jacket and drape it over my upper body, seeking comfort from the chilly night air. Nate pulls me close and wraps his arms around me lovingly. We share a peaceful moment of silence, lost in our thoughts and emotions as the world around us fades into oblivion.

As I lay on Nate”s chest, I tilt my head slightly to avoid touching his freshly inked tattoo. With every passing moment, my eyelids grow heavier and I feel myself drifting off.

Suddenly, bright lights, flashing in blue and red, jolt me from my slumber. I open my eyes to find Nate stirring beside me, his body shifting as he slowly wakes up. However, a loud voice startles us both before we can even comprehend what”s happening.

“I”ve been searching for you two all evening!” Cain”s voice echoes through the night. As walks beside the truck, his police car lights beaming behind him.

I slowly sit up, my mind still foggy from the sleep, and Nate follows suit. Rubbing his eyes to clear the confusion, I try to make sense of the situation.

Nate”s voice is groggy as he asks, “What”s the time?” In an attempt to rouse us further, Cain responds loudly, “It”s two in the fucking morning!” I chime in, “We must have fallen asleep.” Cain”s voice is angry as he exclaims, “Mike and I have been trying to call and text you all night! I nearly had to call in a police search. Luckily, I’ve found you.” Nate, now fully awake, explains, “We left our phones in the truck.” He jumps out of the truck bed.

The wind blows through my hair as I stand up on the back of the truck. Cain, in his full police uniform, stretches his hand towards me and offers to help me get down. I take it, feeling the weight of my body shift as I leap to the ground.

“I’ve gotta get back on duty. By the way, she is freezing cold. Take her home. Now,” Cain instructs Nate in a firm tone.

Nate waves his hand nonchalantly and jumps into the driver”s seat.

Cain walks me to the passenger seat with a gentle yet protective demeanor. I slide into the seat and he leans over to fasten my seat belt, ensuring it”s secure.

At 6:00 a.m., Tessie is sound asleep in Nate”s bed. Meanwhile, Nate and I are sitting on the sofa, listening intently as Cain paces back and forth in his police uniform, sharing with us what Paul has discovered. Nate appears to be in deep thought, resting his head in his hands while we absorb the information.

Nate suddenly stands up, his voice low but intense as he whispers, “We will just have to kill them, too.” Cain looks at him with concern and replies, “It”s not easy. Paul is not sure about the number yet.” He pauses momentarily, continuing, “I don”t want her to find out about this. Not yet. She will freak out. What she doesn”t know won”t hurt her. We”ve just got to ensure we are always with her.” The tension in the room is palpable as we discuss the sensitive and dangerous situation.

When contemplating a way to escape and keep Tessie safe, an idea suddenly comes to mind. “We could all go away,” I suggest, hopefully. “Get away from here for a while. Spring holidays are coming up soon.” Cain looks at me thoughtfully. “Not a bad idea,” he says, nodding in agreement. “Let”s carry on as normal, but just be extra cautious till then, guys.”

“I”ll make sure Archie or his friends don”t go near her at college,” I say, determined to keep her safe.

Cain”s gazes at Nate”s chest, which is bare and exposed. His expression is stern and he seems to be examining something intently. As I follow his line of sight, I notice a new tattoo on Nate”s chest. It”s a pair of lips and they look eerily familiar. Cain speaks up, his voice laced with disbelief. “Dude. Did you get Tessie”s lips tattooed on your chest?” I can”t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Nate stands there with a proud smile on his face, nodding in affirmation.

Cain walks out of the room and shakes his head while laughing. I turn to Nate and admire his new tattoo, impressed by the intricate details and vibrant red color adorning his skin. ”Nice one, dude…” I say, appreciating the beauty of the artwork. We high-five each other.

I head toward the bathroom and notice Cain in the hallway. He has Tessie in his arms, sound asleep. I ask a silent question, “What are you doing?” He replies quietly, “What? I can”t sleep without her…ok?” His voice is filled with tenderness and love; I can see his affection for Tessie in his eyes. It is a heartwarming moment.

I reach out to open the bedroom door for him. Stepping aside and letting him pass, I observe how he gently holds her. Then, I quietly shut the door behind him.