18 – Controlling Maple (3)

Maple found herself sitting at a table in a nearby restaurant, across from Neil. She hadn’t spoken a word to him, not wanting to give him another reason to slap her. And she could tell that was exactly what he wanted. Another reason to slap her.

Neil had told her the story of catching Jake and Axel kissing in the bathroom. He didn’t refer to them by their names, but rather by slurs. Like he was trying to rile Maple up enough to get her to defend Jake.

“It’s just a shame I can’t get the fag blacklisted over this. The law states there either has to be actual evidence that’ll hold up in court, or there has to be at least four witnesses. Or else what’s stopping anyone from accusing a straight person they don’t like?”

Maple clenched her jaw, as he recounted how he had “scared Jake shitless” for the fourth time.

“I had that bitch under my control real quick.”

All this recounting, yet Neil hadn’t mentioned why Jake lunged for him at all. She liked to think it was out of jealousy. That Jake wanted her, and couldn’t stand the fact Neil had her. Or that it was out of honor for her. Something that hinted at Jake’s secret desire for her. Unfortunately, it probably had nothing to do with her.

A robotic table on wheels rolled over to them, carrying food. Neil and Maple both picked up their plates, and the table wheeled back to where it came from.

“You didn’t say why Jake attacked you,” Maple said. “It couldn’t have been for no reason.”

Neil shrugged. “He was afraid I’d tell someone.”

That didn’t sound like Jake. Jake never worried what other people thought of him. Maple narrowed her eyes at him. “Really?”

“Yes. So, where were you during all this?”

He was obviously trying to change the subject. Until now, Neil hadn’t asked Maple anything. Maybe Jake had done it for Maple after all. Her stomach fluttered at the thought, and she kept her face neutral. “I went for a walk. I needed fresh air.”

“I was thinking we could take a nice walk after we’re done here. What do you say?”

“I’d rather go straight home.”

A sharp pain shot through Maple’s leg. Did he kick her under the table? She’d kick him back, but she knew that would cause an embarrassing scene. At the very least, she wanted to rub her stinging leg. But she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt her.

Maple forced a smile. “Maybe a quick one?”

Neil returned her smile. “That’s better.”

~~~~~

Not for the first time, Axel wondered if he should continue dating Jake. He laid on his bed, weighing the pros and cons in his head.

The pros? Having a boyfriend, and the benefits that came with that. Having access to a free shower. The occasional home-cooked meal. Jake was a good person too, despite his flaws. Axel enjoyed spending time with him. Usually.

The cons? Almost getting in serious trouble twice. How long until they got into actual trouble they couldn’t get out of?

And Jake was so damn naive about life in the FSA. It was beyond frustrating. Axel still couldn’t believe he wanted to call an ambulance for Sebastian over an injured leg.

How was Sebastian doing anyway? Axel debated on calling him to get his opinion. But no. He didn’t want to bother Sebastian with his problems, when he was still recovering from his knee injury. Instead, Axel sat up and tuned into the news on his phone, placing it into a phone stand, and setting it next to his hip.

“… Jake Williams,” news anchor Dave Asher said.

What did Axel miss?

“It never ends with that kid,” Jimmy Rodgers added. “People plan on boycotting Pieway over this.”

Axel guessed his rendezvous with Jake in the church bathroom had made the news. They were lucky there was no real proof it happened. He sighed and reached for his water bottle on the floor.

“That’s not the only controversy we have going on today,” Dave Asher said. “Waylon Barstow’s opponent for the governor race has been announced. Clark Black from Weaverville is running on a radical platform. He wants to end forced marriages, and make it illegal to hit your wife.”

“What’s next? Making it illegal to hit your kids?” Jimmy Rodgers shook his head. “That is not a world I want to live in.”

Axel rolled his eyes and took a sip of water.

“It gets crazier. He also wants to ban conversion therapy, and end blacklisting for homosexuality.”

What?! Axel swallowed his water wrong, and fell into a coughing fit, knocking his phone aside. He soon recovered enough to pick up his phone. Had he heard correctly?

“I, personally, don’t think he stands a chance,” Jimmy Rodgers said. “What man wants to lose the right to hit his wife?”

“And getting rid of conversion therapy? What if someone wants to be cured of that? I can’t believe there’s people out there trying to take away our rights.”

“Regardless of what we think, he’s gaining a lot of support. Lowers in particular love his proposed labor protections. Employers will be forced to give their workers breaks, lunches, and paid time off.”

“After hearing all this, I need a break myself,” Dave Asher said.

“Me too.”

The two news anchors got out of their chairs and walked off screen. But Axel barely registered any of that. His mind was still stuck on “end blacklisting for homosexuality.”

Ending blacklisting… It wouldn’t matter much, because by the time this Clark Black could ban it, Axel would have already appealed his case. But he wouldn’t have to live in fear of getting blacklisted again. He certainly wouldn’t have to worry about Jake getting blacklisted. There was still a chance of getting beat up if someone caught him holding Jake’s hand, but getting beat up was nothing compared to being blacklisted.

No more blacklisting… Axel already knew who he was voting for.

~~~~~

Maple walked alongside Neil on a park trail, hand-in-hand. It had not been a “quick” walk, and the hand-holding was non-consensual. Maple had pulled away, which earned her a smack in the back of the head.

“Isn’t life so much easier when you listen to your man?”

You are not my man! Maple held her tongue.

“Isn’t it?” Neil asked again.

Maple grunted. Neil squeezed her hand, hard. She tried not to wince. “Uh-huh.”

“That’s a good girl.” He smiled a smile that, to Maple, looked evil. “I’ve got a special surprise for you up ahead.”

That couldn’t be anything good. Maple swallowed the growing lump in her throat.

Eventually, they reached a river. There was a log in front of it.

“How about we sit and rest here for a moment?” Neil asked.

As if Maple had any say in the matter. She allowed him to lead her to it without protest. They both sat down.

Neil shoved a hand in his coat pocket. “Pretty view, isn’t it?”

“I guess,” Maple mumbled. It would be prettier if she were with Jake instead. They sat in silence for a moment, until Neil broke it.

“So, your brothers and I had a talk last week.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I told them how you’re a real special lady. How I think it would be wonderful to have you in my life. Permanently.”

Maple whipped her head towards him, heart pounding. Neil still had his hand in his pocket.

No! It couldn’t be happening.

“They thought it would be a wonderful idea.” He pulled something out of his pocket. A small velvet box. “We came to an agreement immediately.”

“NO!”

Neil ignored her shout, instead leaning in close. “Maple. I want you to marry-”

Maple bolted.

“Get back here!”

She charged down the trail, in the direction they came from, Neil hot on her heels. Maple swerved off the trail, darting through trees and bushes.

Neil didn’t fall for it. He seemed to know his way around these woods. Maple must not be the first person he’d had to chase in there.

His fingers brushed her arm, but Maple refused to slow. Her body had other plans. She swayed from side to side as panic crept in. She struggled to breath. She had to keep moving.

“Gotcha!”

Maple’s mouth met dirt as Neil tackled her onto her stomach. He pulled her to her feet, hand gripping her arm tight.

“You think you can just run away from me?!” Neil yanked her hard enough to make her cry out. “You’ll pay for that.”

“I’m not marrying you!”

“You don’t have a choice!”

Neil practically dragged her back onto the trail, towards the exit. He didn’t stop dragging her until they reached his car. He didn’t release his grip until he shoved her in the back seat. Like she was some criminal he was arresting.

Neil got into the driver’s seat. “Act like a criminal, and I’ll treat you like a criminal. I’ll take you home now, but your brothers will hear about this. And I will make you pay.”

Tears filled Maple’s eyes. She turned her head towards the window, hoping Neil wouldn’t see. How could this be happening? How could she get out of it?