Just before she got there, Michaela was there, along with Hal. “Nina, what’s going on? Where are you going?” she asked. Nina looked at Hal then at Michaela.
The tears filled her eyes. “I’m leaving. I don’t believe this is happening.”
“What is it? Is something wrong?” Hal asked, stepping closer.
Michaela looked around as if trying to see someone. Maybe she was looking for Trent, Johnny, and Buddy.
“I need to go. Some woman just told me all about Buddy, Trent, and Johnny and how Johnny is a playboy who uses women and how he was arrested for sexual harassment. They’ve been using me.” Nina pulled away and headed out the door.
“No, Nina, wait!” Michaela said.
* * * *
“Hal, go get the guys and tell them what happened. I think Tara Kelly got a hold of Nina and told her those lies,” Michaela said, and then she spotted Tara standing there flirting with some guys as she sipped her drink. She looked all smug.
Michaela headed her way. “Michaela. Michaela, don’t do anything stupid,” Hal said. Michaela could see the guys as well as Cindy, Serefina, and Jake coming toward them. Hal was waving toward Jake, Buddy, Johnny, and Trent.
Michaela approached Tara. “Hey, you. I think you need to relocate.”
Tara looked her over and gave her a sassy look. It aggravated Michaela to no end. This lying, manipulating bitch had just hurt Nina with lies, and Michaela wasn’t going to let her destroy that love she had with Trent, Buddy, and Johnny.
“What are you talking about?” Tara asked, and her friends stepped away, not even wanting to back her up. The guys watched and waited to see what would happen.
“Michaela, don’t bother with her,” Hal said and went to grab her wrist gently.
Michaela pulled it away. “No, she’s a lying, manipulating little bitch with such low self-esteem that she needs to put down other women who are obviously better than her.”
“Like who? That little nobody you’re friends with? She’s a street rat. She doesn’t even have a family,” Tara said. Now it appeared everyone was disgusted with Tara.
“She does have a family, and a hell of a lot more friends than you’ll ever have. Now if you know what’s good for you, you’ll haul your skanky little ass out of here right now or the next charges you press against someone will not be a lie. They’ll be for assault. Me assaulting you.”
Tara’s eyes widened, and she looked so scared. Michaela wanted to laugh, but she held her ground, hoping the woman would try something.
“You’re crazy. That woman is a loser. I’m better than her.”
In a flash, Tara was covered in some red tropical drink, and she screamed from the shock of it. Michaela looked to her left and there was Cindy.
“That’s your last warning. You stay away from our friend Nina, and you stop spreading lies about Trent, Johnny, and Buddy or the next thing that will hit you is my fist,” Cindy threatened.
Tara growled, then grabbed her bag and ran from the scene. Around them people cheered, and they could hear everyone yelling things to Tara as she left, like “don’t come back,” “loser,” and “Nina.”
Michaela turned toward Cindy, and Cindy raised her hand for a high five. “You go, girl. I didn’t think you had that in ya.”
They slapped hands and Jake pulled Michaela back against him.
“You and I are going to have a discussion about causing bar fights and public disturbance.”
She chuckled. “I’ll take whatever punishments you deem necessary, Sheriff.”
“I am so glad I got all that on video,” Tasha stated.
“Me, too,” they heard others say.
They all laughed.
“Where are Johnny, Trent, and Buddy?” Michaela asked.
“They ran to find Nina. I hope they do. What a terrible misunderstanding,” Cindy said.
“She’s probably so hurt right now. I hope they find her fast. She’s special,” Bear stated.
“That she is.” Jake squeezed Michaela a little tighter.
* * * *
Nina was so upset. She didn’t know what to believe. Her thoughts were scattered into a thousand directions. What if what the woman said was true? What if the guys had used her and were only after her for her body and for a good time? Could Johnny really have a chart in the ambulance with check marks as to how many women he had sex with in there? The article had to be real. He was charged with sexual harassment. How could he do something like that? He was so sweet and compassionate. It just didn’t make sense. The three of them did say they hadn’t been intimate with anyone in a long time. Was that a lie, too, just like the blonde had told Nina? How could she stay in Treasure Town? How could she face all these people and try to open a business after these men hurt her like this?
She was getting angry now as she paced the parking lot. She looked around, still seeing people entering the bar, and then something caught her eye just as she was about to start walking.
It was the teenager with the baseball cap and red jersey. Why was he here? What was he carrying?
She felt her chest pounding. If she had a cell phone, she would call someone for help. But that was something else she didn’t have and couldn’t afford. Could Johnny, Trent, and Buddy actually like her because she was weak, had nothing, and was desperate to become part of something real?
She swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat as she hid behind the car and then walked closer. She could see him setting something up by the Dumpster. That teenager and Dumpsters didn’t mix well if his past actions were proof. She needed to stop him. He was going to set the Station on fire. People were going to get hurt or worse. Johnny, Trent, and Buddy were in there.
She took a deep breath and headed toward the teen.
“Hey, what are you doing?” she called to him. He looked up and lit a lighter. “Don’t do it!” she yelled.
“Nina!” She heard her name and saw Trent, Buddy, and Johnny heading around the front of the building.
“It’s the arsonist. He’s setting a fire!” she yelled to them. The kid was going to light the explosives. Nina ran forward, desperate to stop him from hurting any more people. She didn’t know what came over her. Maybe it was the anger at the night’s events, perhaps being accused of aiding the arsonist when she first met Trent, Johnny, and Buddy, or perhaps the simple fact that she was falling in love with Treasure Town and all its people. But whatever it was, she ran as fast as she could and she tackled the teenager. The lighter went flying, a small fire started, she saw out of the corner of her eye some flames and then someone stepping on them. Her body slammed against his so hard the kid yelled out and then rolled on top of her, trying to get away. She swung at him and he swung at her, ripping her dress, but then he was suddenly off of her, yelling out in pain. She looked to see Trent shove the kid against the concrete wall. Johnny was now next to her, leaning over her as she remained lying on the ground. He looked so concerned, so caring, but then came the thoughts of what he had done and the lies they told her.
“Goddamn it, Nina. What the hell were you thinking? My God, baby, are you okay?” Johnny asked her as he started checking her over.
“Is she okay?” Buddy asked, sounding breathless as the sounds of sirens in the distance came closer, and then people started crowding around the area.
She saw flashes, cameras going off, and then deputies arriving.
“I’m fine. Let me up.” She cringed as both Buddy and Johnny helped her.
“Is she okay?” Trent called from across the way. The teenager was in handcuffs and looking a bit bloody. Trent looked so angry and intense as she locked gazes with him.
“She’s okay. We’re going to check her over now,” Johnny said as the paramedics arrived.
She pulled her arm from his grasp. “I’m fine,” she whispered.
Johnny looked shocked. “Nina, let me explain.”
“I don’t want to hear it, and I don’t want to be added to your list of women you fucked in the back of your ambulance, okay?” she whispered and turned away.
“What?” Johnny asked. Michaela, Serefina, Cindy, and Tasha approached along with Jake, Hal, Bear, and a bunch of other friends.
“Nina, are you okay? My God, you caught the arsonist. He was going to try and blow up the Station.” Michaela pulled her into a hug. Nina moaned.
“You’re hurt,” Cindy said. Nina glanced at Johnny’s shocked expression and look of frustration.
“Hey, that woman inside, Tara, whatever she told you was a lie.”
“Tara? Tara spoke to Nina?” Johnny asked.
“We took care of her, Johnny. She won’t be spewing her lies anymore around here,” Cindy added. They started telling Nina about what happened. With every detail and explanation about the false charges and the woman’s obsession with Johnny and Trent and Buddy, Nina felt like shit. Her gut twisted. Her heart shattered. She didn’t deserve such great men. Not with her past and her insecurities fucking up a good thing. She lowered her head.
“I want to go home.” But even as she said those words, home didn’t real feel like the right word to describe the apartment. There were no longer instant feelings of belonging. She felt like crap, plain and simple.