Secrets in A Small Town

12

Brooke's heart sinks into her stomach and she starts to panic. Cade must have overheard her and Cel. In that moment she seems to jump right from drunk to hungover in an instant. Her head pounding.

She jogs outside. She doesn't want to yell. She doesn't want her parents to hear, or anyone to hear.

She calls his number but it's no surprise when it goes straight to voicemail. She runs the yard, but the woods daunt her, miles upon miles of unscathed land beneath the trees. He is nowhere in sight.

She calls the police. It's a short call and the operator hardly seems surprised. She would like to think Cade would never hurt himself, but he is in a very dark place. Her head starts thumping.

It's twenty minutes before a lone police car pulls up in the drive.

"Officer Porter Cooper," a large man in a black uniform strolls up to her.

"Are you miss Brooke?"

Brooke nods her head hastily.

"So what's going on here tonight?"

Brooke tries her best to explain the situation, it's scattered, and bumpy but Cooper listens intently.

"And this is Caden Belmount?" He asks sternly.

"Yes." She says somewhat surprised.

"We got calls every month about that poor kid."

"Why?"

"Runways, suicide watches, abuse."

"And That's confidential information, but I have a feeling you know what I am talking about. They only stopped once he got together with you."

That makes Brooke's head pound even harder.

"You know...who we are?"

"Word travels fast in a small town." He winks.

"Come take a drive with me." He adds.

"What about Cade?" She gestures into the dark woods.

The officer just shakes his head.

"Come on." He escorts her to his car and to the passenger seat.

He gets in the drivers side, flipping switches. Lights are blinking, computer screens flashing. She looks out the window at the darkness instead.

Cooper drives out into the suburbs in front of thier house and up a small hill. He parks behind a tree. Even in the darkness she can tell it over looks Lake Ponderosa. She used to come here as a child.

"What are we doing?" She asks intently.

"Waiting. Do you see that little house down there?" He points to what looks to be a rickety shack, not too far in the distance. She can only see the outline by the moon.

"Yeah..."

"That's where Cade lived. Right there."

She squints trying to get a better look.

"There are some things I think you need to know, Brooke." He shuts off the car and lights.

"That kid has had a rough life, we all know that, but, his parents didn't abandon him. His parents loved him deardly. He was a happy kid. We got a call late one night, something about a baby crying for what had been days now. When we came to investigate, we found an empty house, barren, and gutted. In the corner of the room, there was a tiny little boy, asleep against the wall with a light blanket."

"Cade?" She asks.

"Cade."

"The house had been ransacked. Everything was gone. We learned later his parents had some unsettled debt with some local riff raff. Gotten into some trouble with a couple out of town loan sharks. They made mistakes, but they were just trying to get by, give their son a better life. We found them dead in the bottom of that lake, just steps away from their front door. Whatever made those crooks leave that baby is beyond me. He should have been dead at the bottom of that lake too."

Brooke feels shivers go up her spine.

"How old was he?"

"Five."

Brooke feels tears streaming down her cheeks. Her head is still throbbing.

"Why wouldn't he tell me?"

"Would you?"

Brooke takes in heavy breathes, not even able to look in front of her, at the house. It's silent for a while, Brooke starring out the window at the rolling hills. She is in a trance like state when she gets a tap on the arm. He points out to the little dock, where there is a figure of a man walking toward the end. Brookes heart jumps, wondering why the cop is just sitting complacency next to her.

The figure just sits down on the edge though, streaming water through its fingers, looking out.

"That kid needs you, Brooke."

Brooke looks at him. He nods. She takes a deep breath and steps out of the car.

She creeps down the hill. It's eerily quiet. She stands a mere twenty feet back from him, if he has any idea she is there, he doesn't show it.

"Cade." She says gently. Cade turns around a little frightened. His face, even in the dim light, looks absolutely wrecked.

"What do you want?" He turns back around.

"Cade." She steps out onto the dock, walking cautiously. She sits next to him.

"I'm sorry."

Cade doesn't respond.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You said it was like you had to babysit me. Newsflash, I am 23 years old. I dont need a babysitter. I was fine before you and I will be fine without." He snaps.

Brooke stays quiet, trying her hardest not to cry.

"I know what happened here." She says.

Cade turns to look at her.

"What does it matter? They didn't want me, no different than anybody else."

"What are you taking about?" Brooke asks.

"They killed themselves and left me to die in that f*****g house." He stands up and kicks a rock into the water.

And that's when it hits her. He doesn't know.

"Cade, your parents didn't kill themselves."

Cade looks down at her, chest rising and falling dramatically.

"What?"

"Honey, they were murdered. They didn't kill themselves to get away from you. They loved you."

Cade goes completely slient, body shaking. He falls back onto the dock. She scoots closer, putting an arm behind his back. His body is cold and shivering.

"You're not a job, Cade, but you are a responsibility. My responsibly. It's my responsibility to love you and take care of you. I don't mean to babysit you. You have been through more than I could ever possibly imagine. I just want you to know you are loved and give you the life you deserve."

It's quiet for a brief moment before Cade replies.

"Why would you say that then?"

"Say what?"

"That I am a job. You're not obligated to be with me, Brooke."

"Honey, you're right. I am not obligated to be with you. I am with you because I want to, because I love the person you are, but I am going to be honest, I am terrified."

"Terrified of what?"

"If I make one wrong move, that you're going to spiral out of control."

"I wouldn't do that."

Brooke motions her hand toward the water. Cade looks at her, then drops his head to his chest for a moment before he wraps his arms around Brooke. Not weakly this time, a big, strong embrace that he holds for a while. She squeezes him back.

"I love you, Cade. I really do."

"I love you too." He sniffles into her shoulder the pulls away.

"I know I am probably a lot to handle sometimes. With the break downs and the accidents. I know they're gross. I just... I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want me."

Brooke leans in, kissing him on the lips.

"I know, and that's okay. I know how much you've been through and I will never blame you if you ever just need a shoulder to cry on. That's why I am here. And as far as the accidents go, we will get through it."

He smiles and pulls her in again. They're both crying, holding eachother tight.

They turn around when they hear a creaking noise behind them on the dock. Cade jumps a little, pressing himself tighter into Brooke's embrace. It's just Cooper though.

"Everything alright over here?"

Brooke nods.

"Let's go on back to your parents house, you two need some rest."

They nod and stand up.

The lights are still out at the house, her parents had never known they were gone. It's pushing 3 a.m.

Cooper steps out, throwing an arm over Cade.

"You've got people here for ya, kid."

Cade blushes and giggles.

He side hugs Brooke before leaving back down the road.

"Get a few hours of shut eye and head home?" Brooke asks, still standing in the drive.

Cade's smile fades.

"What's wrong?"

Cade looks down at his pants, which she only then realizes are wet.

"It's okay." She kisses his cheek, leading him into the house and into the bedroom as quietly as possible.

He stands in the middle of the room awkwardly, one leg turning over the other.

She rummages through her drawers. She took most of her clothes with her aside from some odds and ends. She manages to find an oversized pair of Celtics pajama pants.

Then she walks into the bathroom, tuning the shower on.

She strips Cade, putting his pants in a plastic bag. He still stands there, completely exposed as she undresses.

"I gotta..."

"I know." She wraps her arms around him.

"Brooke, I am gonna start going down my leg."

She leads him into the bathroom, then into the shower. She has one hand around his d**k. The hot water hitting his skin is too much to hold up against. His d**k starts trickling.

"I can't hold it." Cade says, cupping his hand over hers.

She guides it up between thier bodies and pulls him in before kissing him on the lips, gently. She keeps him tight in her arms. His d**k is growing larger but he is still so desperate for the bathroom he can't even think about it right now. His body is starting to shake.

"Just go." Brooke whispers. Cade is already doing just that as she kisses him again.

It lasts all of seven seconds but Cade looks beyond relieved. He opens his eyes and Brooke starts talking.

"The accidents dont bother me. They're not gross. You don't ever need to worry about that, okay?"

Cade just nods and pulls her back in, rubbing his d**k against her body.

She bends over and gives him a quick smile. He blushes like he knows what he is supposed to do, just not how to do it. She guides his d**k between her legs and pushes back on it.

Cade moans and starts thrusting. First gently, then harder, faster. He doesn't go for thirty seconds until he quickly moves away from her, cumming all over her back and booty.

He starts panting as she stands back up. She kisses him on the lips, his heart pounding against her breasts.

After the shower, Cade puts on the pajama pants, looking worried. Brooke takes three towels from the bathroom, laying them out flat, one in top of the other on the bed.

"Come here." She lays down, opening her arms. Cade cautiously goes into them. She adjusts him, one leg swung over her hip, crotch pushed against her side.

"If you start to have an accident, I will feel and wake you up."

Cade wants to argue, but the alcohol is caught up with both of them, especially with it pushing 4 in the morning and Cade agrees.

They wake up at 9 am. Brooke instinctively pulls up the covers and feels Cade's crotch, which she is surprised to feel is completely dry.

"Hey, babe." She says nudging him.

Cade grumbles a little and then opens his eyes.

"Honey, you're dry." She smiles.

Cade sits up, feeling his pants, then a huge grin grows on his face.

"I am."

Brooke hugs his neck. She notices one of Cade's hands slide down to hold himself.

"You good?" She asks.

"I need to..."

"Go. Go, go." She moves aside. He gets up but stops in the doorway.

"I love you." He says, turning around. She smiles. He is hopping from one leg to the other.

"I love you too." She laughs.

He stands there.

"Go, before you pee on yourself."

Cade laughs and hobbles to into the bathroom.

She lays back down on the bed. Still smiling. Cade is back within seconds.

His pants are still dry and he flops on top of her. She pulls him on top of her. They kiss for a while. It's not really s****l, more just enjoying each others company and besides, the last thing they need is her parents walking in on them f*****g on her childhood bed.

Brooke picks up the jeans she had on yesterday and starts to take her pants off. Then she notices Cade looking a little awkward, because, well, his pants are still bunched up in a Wal-Mart bag. So she shoves her clothes in too, sliding back on the pair of cloth booty sleep shorts she had on.

They're just driving home. It's not the wierdest thing in the world.

"You know... we never told them." Cade says, plopping back down on the bed.

"Huh?" Brooke turns around from the mirror she was preening into.

"The moving in together thing...if that's still a thing." Cade says, trying to find something to do with his hands to avoid looking at her.

Brooke shrugs. "You were the one that ran away from me." And she immedietly realizes that joke was too cold and too soon, because Cade drops his head, looking ashamed.

"Sorry." She says quietly.

"It is still a thing. If you want it to be."

Cade nods, smiling.

Brooke is honestly a little relived to hear that, it gets lonely sometimes out in the woods by yourself. One can onlt scroll through f*******: so many times before they start seeing blue .

"I kinda changed my mind." She says suddenly.

Cade's face goes blank.

"What?"

"About telling them."

Cade sighs in relief. "Oh...why?"

Brooke knows why. After last night, she decided it's just not a good idea. She has always prided herself on not wanting to ask for help, on doing things on her own. If things don't work out, she doesn't want to hear "I told you so." She doesn't know if they would actually say it, but, she knows they would think it. Her parents don't have to know every thing.

She realizes she hasn't actually answered Cade, who is looking at her intently. No way she is going to say the real reason, or bring up last night at all. The wound is too fresh.

"Surprise them." She smiles.

If Cade seems off put by the answer, he doesn't show it.

So they walk out and say a quick goodbye to her parents. They hug them both, telling them to "Come back soon" and have "Have a safe trip."

Brooke decides to drive first. No particular reason.

"Can we stop at the gas station?" Cade asks as they pull out of the drive way.

"We can, you hungry?"

"Kinda. I just wanna go before we get on the road."

Brooke nods. He just went like twenty minutes ago, but she isn't going to argue. The closest gas station is still a little ways out of town.

They stroll inside. They pick up a couple bottles of tea and some breakfast sandwiches and take them up to the front register. Brooke takes the items from Cade's hands, shooing him off to the bathroom.

She sets the stuff down before she looks up at the face staring back at her.

"Brooke?" The familiar voice sounds.

Brooke nearly drop her wallet as she jumps. Her heart stops dead in her chest.

"Ju---Justin.." she mutters.

He smiles, eying her body up and down, braless, booty shorts and all.

"What are you doin' here? I thought you moved to Harlingston?"

"Uhm...yeah just passing through." Is all she says.

"I heard this crazy fuckin' rumor a while back." He says laughing.

Brooke doesn't say anything.

"You're not actually with piss pants Belmount are you?"

Brooke debates leaving everything on the counter and bolting right then and there but her legs are frozen to the dirty linoleum floor. And just like that Cade decides to make his appearance.

He doesn't seem to notice who is behind the counter either.

"No fuckin' way." Justin snorts.

"You dumped me for this pansy."

Brooke rolls her eyes.

"We dated like six years ago." She snaps.

"Oh, Brooke. What happened to you?" He laughs.

"Can you just sell us our stuff please?"

"Chillax, dude. I am just playin-. Right Piss pants?"

Cade tucks himself behind her back and the she does storm out, pulling Cade behind her. She starts the car and drives away so fast she leaves burn out marks in the parking lot.

Cade pushes himself back against the seat, bowing his head.

"That guy is such a jerk." She says, gripping the steering wheel.

"And you dated him." Cade says blatantly.

"Cade! We broke up like three years ago!"

Cade shrugs. Justin had been one of Cade's biggest bullies in highschool. Though Brooke never played along, she had been there and never really did anything to stop it. It's no wonder Cade hated her.

The thing is, they dated because they were "supposed" to. The most popular guy and the most popular girl. Homecoming King and Queen, all that typical highschool crap. It was always them.

The trip is pretty quiet. Cade drifts off to sleep halfway through driving through the curving mountains. It's a good time to think. She thinks about last night. The lake, the house, Cooper.

She looks over at Cade. His eyelashes perfectly rested on flushed cheeks. She wonders how he dealt with it all these years. Then she gets a text from Cel that breaks her train of thought.

She looks down momentarily. It's a text containing only a link. She clicks on it, eyes glancing between the screen and the road. It leads her to an article entitled: Dr. Guiness on Psychological Bladder Problems