For Nevermore Season 1

Noella. You’ve seen enough of him to know that side of him, too. Think of the good things he’s done for us, the things he’s done for you.”
    Noella dropped her voice to a non-argumentative mutter. “Yeah, but how long should he coast on the things he used to do ? When’s the last time he did something nice for you?”
    Josie looked lost trying to come up with an answer. Perhaps there was even a bit of realization in her eyes as she came up blank.
    “I dunno. I don’t write these things down,” Josie said, walking to the kitchen, trying to cut the conversation off.
    “He’s mean, and you know it,” Noella said, following her. “Not to mention, he’s a ginormous control freak, and jealous of everything you do. Sure, he was nice, but only at first. Just look at how much life has changed in the last two years. When’s the last time you saw John or Michael or even your female friends?”
    Josie stared at the floor.
    It had been at least six months since she’d seen either of her two best friends. Before Randy, the three of them had gone to art shows together all the time, but Josie wasn’t allowed to have any male friends since Randy put a stop to “the mingling.”
    Josie rubbed her temples, then looked back at Noella. “He wasn’t always like this,” she said. “And he won’t be like this forever. He’s going through a rough time right now. You have no idea how hard it is to be a cop, let alone one of the main cops in the town. Especially now with all the murders. People are upset and scared, and he’s absorbing a lot of that stress. The papers, Channel 6, that stupid Aurora Falls blog, a bunch of crazed citizens, they’re all up in his grill all day, and that can gnaw at a man in ways neither of us can understand. It’s my job to put Randy back together, and do all I can to make things easier on him, so that everything’s easier on us. And it’s your job to help me.”
    Noella shook her head. She didn’t even know how to respond to Josie. Our job to put Randy together? What kinda sexist crap is that?
    Josie looked hard at Noella and paused until Noella met her eyes. “You gotta admit, Noey, it was a lot harder before he got here. He helps to pay the bills, and helped us get back on our feet.”
    Noella crossed her arms. “He’s not nice to you. And I’d rather eat Ramen every night than live with someone who makes your life a living hell. And besides,” Noella added, “there’s nothing worse than not knowing what to expect. Just this morning he told me to stick up for myself and not let the girls bully me. Tonight, he’ll probably yell at me even though I was doing just what he said, sticking up for myself!” Noella’s bottom lip trembled, but she managed to hold back a second round of tears.
    Josie wrapped her arms around her niece, then pulled her tight as she pet the back of her head. “I understand why you did what you did in the locker room,” she said. “And I’m sure Randy does, too. You’ll see. Everything will be better.”
    Josie kissed Noella on the heart-shaped birthmark on her cheek, then sent her upstairs to do her homework.

    **

    Later . . .

    Of course, Josie was wrong.
    Randy returned home right on schedule. He slammed the door behind him, kicked his shoes into the corner, and yelled, “Dinner ready?”
    That was pretty much all he said until the dishes were in the sink. Josie tried to ask him how work went, but all she could get was, “I spent all day around dirtbags, except for the hour I lost taking care of Noella’s unexpected crap.” He turned his glare on Noella, made it last long enough to hurt, then turned back to Josie and finished with, “So how does it sound like it went?”
    Josie said nothing.
    When the plates were mostly empty and utensils finished clinking, Randy pushed his chair from the table, turned his eyes to Noella and said, “You need to go sit in your room and wait for me. Your aunt and I have punishments to discuss.”
    Noella silently stood, took her dishes to the sink, rinsed them off, and set them in the dishwasher, then trudged up the stairs. She stared out the window at the moving truck across the street as dusk settled outside, casting the world into a dark violet hue.
    How does he get the right to punish me? It’s not like he’s my dad or something. The minute I graduate, I’m getting the hell out of this house and this godforsaken town!
    As she dreamed of life outside of Aurora Falls and her past, Noella found