Chapter Text
The police station was exactly what Lady had imagined from TV shows: fluorescent white lights, scuffed linoleum floors and a flickering security TV feed. They’d been kind enough to her, at least. An officer brought her some water, asked if she was hurt, and called her aunt.
That last part made Lady’s stomach sink. Her aunt. Coming here. Lady could already imagine the tight-lipped fury, the cold glares, the lectures about reputation and what people would think. That infantilizing tone of voice that made Lady feel humiliated and small.
“Your aunt will be here in about twenty minutes,” the person at the desk told her. “We just need you to wait in there while we process some paperwork.”
He gestured to a doorway on her left. The waiting area was dimly lit compared to the lobby. The ceiling had two soft orange bulbs illuminating the whole room. It gave the feel of faint candlelight minus the warmth.
Plastic chairs were bolted to the floor, and there were a few other people scattered around. Lady sat down carefully, still holding her angelfish, and tried to make herself small and unnoticeable.
“Oh, wow. Lookie, youse guys! Miss Park Avenue herself.”
Lady looked up. Two young men and a woman, sitting a couple spaces away, were glancing at her rather curiously. She wasn’t sure which one had spoken until he spoke again.
“Whatchu in for? Using the wrong fork during dinner with the mayor?”
It was a ragged-looking young fellow speaking, with straggly red hair that fell unevenly around his face. His coat, also red, was torn but clean. Lady cleared her throat, a little miffed.
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business.”
The fellow looked apologetic at once. “Oh, pardon me, miss! I wasn’t trying to offend you. Just havin’ a little fun.”
“Aw, leave the gal alone, Toughy. Poor kid looks terrified.”
This came from the young woman next to him, with long, thick blonde hair, sharp eyes and a Brooklyn accent. She wore a leopard-print jacket that had also seen better days and had the kind of face that suggested she’d seen everything and wasn’t impressed by most of it. Toughy shrugged at her, but mouthed an apology to Lady again. She in turn gave him a small nod.
“That’s quite a dress, honey,” the woman continued, now eyeing Lady’s clothing. The dirt and creases still weren’t enough to hide the expensive fabric quality. “What’s with the leaves and all that muck? You roll through every hedge in town?”
“Something like that,” Lady muttered.
“Nah, Peg! I know those leaves. Them’s the maple trees at Terrier Park.”
The third person was a large man sitting in between Peg and Toughy. He was built rather like a bulldog. Broad and solid, with a shaved head and a face that looked stern until he smiled. Peg squinted at the dress again and nodded in agreement at the Terrier Park comment.
She looked at Lady with a grin that was more mischievous than malicious. “I’m Peg. This here’s Bull, and that’s Toughy. We’re the welcoming committee for this… fine establishment.”
“What are you in for?” Bull asked bluntly. “Forgive our curiosity, friend. It’s just, we don’t exactly see a lot of you types ‘round here.”
“My types?”
“You know, people wearin’ designer clothing and lookin’ like they live in a 5 bedroom house behind a white picket fence.” Bull put his arms behind his head. “You downright look like you straight outta Labrador Cove, you do.”
“I’m not—” Lady started, then paused, sighing. “I’m not technically in for anything. I ran away from home. They’re calling my aunt to pick me up.”
“Ooh, a runaway.” Peg looked delighted. “Uptown girl runaway too. What happened, daddy cut off your credit cards?”
There really wasn’t any malice in the tone, but Lady stiffened.
“It’s not like that. My aunt is, well, she’s—-look, I just needed to get out.”
Peg’s expression softened. “Hey, no real judgment here, sweetie. We’ve all got our reasons for doing what we do. Forgive our rather caustic sense of humor.”
She gestured at herself and the two guys. “We’re in for a little misunderstanding about who owned what in a department store.”
“It was a misunderstanding,” Bull insisted. “We thought—”
“Bull, honey, you don’t gotta rehearse our defense in the waiting room.” Peg patted his arm, and Toughy grinned.
“I got the defense down to a tee anyway. Now listen, when they ask about—”
Peg didn’t listen. She merely rolled her eyes and turned back to Lady.
“How long were you out there, dearie?”
“Three days,” she murmured. It didn’t feel like long enough. Her aunt’s car was getting closer to the station every minute, and the thought made her nauseous.
“Spent a lot of time at Terrier Park, from the looks of it,” Peg said, eyeing the dress again. “Like that place?”
“I fell asleep there, actually.”
“Rough,” Bull said sympathetically. “Park benches are hell on your back.”
“It was under a tree.” Lady found herself clutching the angelfish tighter. “With… with a friend.”
Something in her voice must have given the true nature of their relationship away, because Peg’s eyes sharpened with interest.
“Like, a friend friend? Or a friend?”
Lady hesitated. She didn’t know why she wanted to talk about Tramp, to a group of strangers nonetheless. More than likely she just needed to talk to someone, to let things out and maybe lessen the nauseating ache in her stomach. And Peg, Bull and Toughy seemed like they were more than interested in listening.
“He goes by the tramp.”
The trio’s reaction was immediate and dramatic. Peg sat up straight, her eyes going wide. Toughy had been taking a sip of water and almost choked on it. Bull actually stood up and shifted to a closer seat, a grin spreading on his beefy face.
“Tramp?” Peg repeated. “Skinny guy, freckles, looks like he hasn’t owned a comb in about five years? Wears that patched-up gray jacket?”
Lady nodded. “You know him.”
Bull laughed. “Everyone knows Tramp. He’s been working the streets around here for years.”
“That’s a feller that hardly ever gets caught!” Toughy put in. “Shucks. If I had half the skills he did I’d be—”
“Hold on, hold on.” Peg was staring at Lady with fascination. “You’re telling me you spent the night with Tramp? Under a tree?”
“We drifted off. We didn’t mean to sleep on the grass.”
“Oh honey, I’m not judging the sleeping arrangements.” Peg waved a hand dismissively. “We’re just, er, surprised.”
Lady blinked. “How come?”
“Cuz you are way out of his league, friend!” Bull quipped and Toughy snorted. Peg clicked at them in exasperation, but didn’t entirely disagree.
“Well, yeah, that. But we’re shocked that Tramp spent a night with anyone, honey. That boy is a ghost. Here one day, gone the next. Never stays in one place,” Peg paused, watching Lady carefully. “And never gets attached to people.”
“Rah. He’s got that whole lone wolf thing going on, but I know a softie underneath when I see one,” Toughy muttered. “Won’t admit it, of course. Too busy pretendin’ he doesn’t care.”
Lady felt warmth bloom in her chest. She held up her angelfish a little shyly, and smoothed the fabric.
“He was with me the whole time. He bought me this at the aquarium.”
Peg’s eyebrows shot up. “Hold on. Tramp took you to the aquarium?”
“Yes?”
“And bought you a gift?”
“Like, with money?” Toughy interrupted, eyes wide.
“How else could you possibly buy something, dipshit?”
“I’m thinkin’ maybe he swiped it! Feller can barely afford to eat and he’s spendin’ money on—”
Toughy was leaning forward so far in his chair that Lady thought he’d tip over any second. Peg was looking at Bull, who gave her a wild shrug. Then they all looked back at Lady. She was bewildered, but not uncomfortable. Somehow, these people being friendly with Tramp made them feel okay.
“We are talking about the same tramp, right?” Toughy inquired. But it was more of a rhetorical question. Bull immediately added his own right after.
“Spent three whole days with you? Just… hung out?”
Peg let out a low whistle. “Color me impressed. That’s gotta be a record.”
“A record for what?” Lady asked.
“For Tramp staying in one place with one person.” Peg’s expression had shifted to something more thoughtful, almost concerned. “I mean, I’ve known him to have the occasional fling, but the longest was maybe an hour of makin’ out in an alley. Phew. That one girl was bad news anyway. Glad he never saw her again.”
Toughy snickered. “I got this theory that his make-out skills are ass. That’s why his flings last an hour.”
“They aren’t ass at all,” Lady said without thinking, only to be greeted with a trio of shit-eating grins.
“Hoo boy! You had a real good time on your little adventure, huh?” Peg declared while the two guys exchanged guffaws. Lady cracked a smile at this, and hugged her angelfish again.
“I did, actually. A very, very nice time,” she said with a quiet sigh. The trio’s laughter died down as they watched her expression turn more melancholic. Peg’s face softened.
“I’m sure it’ll be alright at your house, honey. As for the tramp, well—”
“He ain’t one for meaningful relationships anyway, my friend,” Bull told Lady. “Commitment isn’t his thing.”
“Yeah, what’s that dumbass motto he keeps repeatin’ like it’s religion?” Toughy scratched his head, straggly hair all over his forehead. “Nobody to disappoint. Nobody to disappoint you.”
“He did tell me that,” Lady said quietly. “I—well, I don’t really know what I thought. I would’ve had to go back to my house eventually. And I have responsibilities. And—” She stopped, taking in the condition and situation of the trio before her. Bull grinned.
“Your family ain’t gonna like you gallivanting around with one of us, anyway,” he said casually. Lady shut her eyes in guilt.
“I didn’t mean-”
“Aw, it’s okay, honey. We get it,” Peg smiled warmly. “We know you’re not the problem. You want our advice regarding the tramp? It would be to manage your expectations. Tramp only lives in the moment. That’s his whole philosophy. And moments end.”
Lady could tell she wasn’t done, so she waited. The trio exchanged a few glances. Then Peg spoke again.
“But if he does come across somethin’ that makes said philosophy swerve into the trash—”
“Then it’s gonna be curtains for the tramp,” Toughy murmured. “You think Miss Park Avenue here might be the one, eh, Peg?”
“Adelaide Barkley?”
Lady’s head snapped around. A different officer was standing at the entrance to the waiting area, clipboard in hand.
“Your aunt is here.”
Lady’s stomach dropped. She stood on shaky legs, her grip on the angelfish growing tighter.
“Good luck, honey,” Peg called after her. “Chin up!”
Lady gave them all a parting smile, and followed the officer down the hall. Her aunt was waiting in a private room, and the sight of her made every muscle in Lady’s body tense. Aunt Sarah looked exactly as she always did—perfectly coiffed gray hair, expensive suit, pearl earrings. But her face was tight with barely controlled fury.
“Adelaide.”
Her voice was ice. Not even a hint of concern at Lady’s visibly chaotic condition. “What were you thinking?”
Lady opened her mouth, but no words came out. What could she possibly say that her aunt would understand?
“Do you have any idea what you’ve put me through? The embarrassment? The police, the neighbors, the phone calls?” Aunt Sarah stood, and Lady instinctively took a step back.
“Your parents trusted me to take care of you, to make you into a respectable young woman, and this is how you repay that trust? By running away like a common criminal?”
“You put a tracker on me,” Lady said quietly.
“For your own safety! Because clearly you cannot be trusted to—”
“I’m twenty-four years old!”
“Then act like it!” Aunt Sarah’s voice was sharp enough to cut. “Act like an adult instead of a petulant child. You have responsibilities, Adelaide. You have a reputation to uphold. You come from a good family, and you will not throw that away by gallivanting around town with trash.”
She was eyeing the angelfish as she said this. Her last few words sent a chill down Lady’s spine, and she stared at the ground. Her aunt couldn’t possibly know about Tramp. How would she know? She couldn’t. Lady hoped desperately that he’d gotten away, that he was safe somewhere.
“We’re going home,” Aunt Sarah said coldly. “And this time, you won’t be leaving that house until you’re on a plane to that finishing school. I’ve already spoken to your parents. They agree this has gone too far.”
The officer was standing by the door, looking uncomfortable. Lady didn’t have much of a choice. She was going home. Back to that house, her room, the suffocation. She followed her aunt out of the police station, still clutching her stuffed angelfish, and planted a small kiss on its head. Peg’s words echoed in her head: Moments end.
Had theirs already ended, then?
—————
The car ride began in silence. Aunt Sarah didn’t say a word for the first five minutes, just drove with her hands tight on the wheel. Lady preferred it that way. She had nothing to say to her aunt. She sat in the passenger seat, watching the now-familiar streets pass by. The angelfish was nestled in her lap.
“The police were very thorough in their report,” Aunt Sarah said finally, her voice cold and clipped. Lady didn’t look at her.
“Were they?”
“Someone at the aquarium recognized you from the missing person alert. Called it in. Very civic-minded of them.”
Lady squeezed her eyes shut. She should’ve known it would be the aquarium. And they had security cameras. Of course they did.
“They showed me the security footage,” Aunt Sarah continued, her eyes fixed on the road. “You and your friend had gotten quite cozy, from what I saw.”
Lady said nothing, her fingers tightening around the plush. Sarah wasn’t done, anyway. She was never done when it came to belittling her.
“Do you have any idea how humiliating it was? Sitting in that police station, watching my niece gallivanting around with—” She paused, her jaw tight. “The police said he has a record of loitering arrests. You were seen in public with someone like that. Do you understand what that does to your reputation? To your family’s reputation?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You were running around town with a delinquent, Adelaide! That is plenty wrong.” Aunt Sarah’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking how nice it felt to finally talk to someone who treated me with respect,” Lady said, her voice stronger now. “Which is more than I can say for you.”
“Don’t.” Aunt Sarah cut her off. “Don’t you dare. Everything I have done has been for your own good. Your parents entrusted me with your care, and I will not let you throw your life away on some fantasy involving some boy who has no place in society.”
They pulled into the driveway of the estate. Aunt Sarah put the car in park but didn’t get out immediately, much to Lady’s distaste. That old crone still wasn’t done talking.
“Next month, you will be on a plane to that school, and this entire embarrassing episode will be behind us. Do I make myself clear?”
Lady met her aunt’s cold gaze. “Crystal.”
“Good.” Aunt Sarah opened her door. “Now let’s get you inside. You look like you’ve been living in bushes and trees.”
They walked to the front door in silence. As they entered the foyer, Aunt Sarah’s eyes landed on the stuffed angelfish again. Her arm extended with the intention to take it, but Lady took a quick step back.
Sarah’s eyes narrowed, boring into Lady’s own cold look. Then she retracted her arm and smoothed her sleeves.
“Keep your little souvenir then.”
Sarah turned and walked toward the study, heels clicking sharply on the marble floor. Lady stood in the foyer for a moment, hugging the angelfish. She planted another soft kiss on its head and slowly climbed the stairs to her room, where she proceeded to stare at the ceiling until she fell asleep.
The angelfish kept her company, cozy among the pillows.