Chapter 4
Mist swirled in front of my eyes as I looked around. I was walking down a street, following the yellow line in the middle. I couldn’t see anything on the road. It was deathly, deathly silent. I called out to see if anyone was there. All of a sudden, a spotlight shined down on my face. I put my hands over my eyes.
“Hello?” All of a sudden I heard Emmett’s voice.
“A Los Angeles girl, huh? I could totally see you in LA. You seem like one of those people.”
“Emmett?” I called out. I heard a deep laugh. The next thing I knew, the mist disappeared and lights flashed crazily around me. I saw burlesque dancers at the side of the road and people fighting in the casinos. A man on the side of the road pulled out a gun and pointed it at me. I stood there and stared at him, my mouth open. I tried to scream, but no noise came out. Just as he pulled the trigger, I was tackled from the side. I turned to see my savior; it was Emmett. We stared blankly at each other. But before I could thank him, a man dressed in black appeared out of an alley and stabbed his back. I tried to scream again, but the sound stayed stuck in my throat. I felt for his heartbeat, but Emmett was dead. All the awful things I had said to him came back to my head and I tried to cry out. Again, the sound wouldn’t leave my body. I grabbed a discarded gun from the street, ignoring the full fledged street fight going on around me. I chased the mysterious man through alleys and streets, nearly being attacked multiple times. Finally he stopped. “Who are you?” I tried to say, yet no noise escaped me. I realized I’d lost my gun in the chase as he turned around and pulled out a gun of his own. I tried to ask him who he was again, but to no avail. He seemed to understand what I was trying to say. His laugh put me on edge, sending chills up and down my spine like an electric shock. He reached to his face and pulled aside his mask.
It was Ed. The sounds that had been locked in my throat suddenly escaped. I screamed. And screamed and screamed, louder than ever. He smiled at me and said, “Hey Sophie, baby! Guess what? You’re my next hit!” he pulled the trigger, and as I squinted my eyes shut, I felt hands shaking my shoulder.
“Sophie! Sophie! Wake up!” I opened my eyes. Crystal stood above me, her eyes wide in fear. “Oh my Gucci Soph, you gave me a heart attack. I thought you were being murdered! I came running and you’ve been thrashing around for almost a minute! I thought you were having a seizure or something! Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry Crys, just a dream.” I looked around and realized that I was still on the window seat. “Sorry to wake you.” As I stood up and walked over to the bed I thought I saw a shadow move in the hall. I looked again but it was gone. Crystal slowly left the room. Crystal’s room was farther away than Emmett’s, hadn’t he heard my screaming? Or did he not actually care if some brutal murderer was killing me or not? Why did I even care? I closed my eyes, too exhausted to think about it anymore, and fell into a dreamless sleep.
“Hello?” All of a sudden I heard Emmett’s voice.
“A Los Angeles girl, huh? I could totally see you in LA. You seem like one of those people.”
“Emmett?” I called out. I heard a deep laugh. The next thing I knew, the mist disappeared and lights flashed crazily around me. I saw burlesque dancers at the side of the road and people fighting in the casinos. A man on the side of the road pulled out a gun and pointed it at me. I stood there and stared at him, my mouth open. I tried to scream, but no noise came out. Just as he pulled the trigger, I was tackled from the side. I turned to see my savior; it was Emmett. We stared blankly at each other. But before I could thank him, a man dressed in black appeared out of an alley and stabbed his back. I tried to scream again, but the sound stayed stuck in my throat. I felt for his heartbeat, but Emmett was dead. All the awful things I had said to him came back to my head and I tried to cry out. Again, the sound wouldn’t leave my body. I grabbed a discarded gun from the street, ignoring the full fledged street fight going on around me. I chased the mysterious man through alleys and streets, nearly being attacked multiple times. Finally he stopped. “Who are you?” I tried to say, yet no noise escaped me. I realized I’d lost my gun in the chase as he turned around and pulled out a gun of his own. I tried to ask him who he was again, but to no avail. He seemed to understand what I was trying to say. His laugh put me on edge, sending chills up and down my spine like an electric shock. He reached to his face and pulled aside his mask.
It was Ed. The sounds that had been locked in my throat suddenly escaped. I screamed. And screamed and screamed, louder than ever. He smiled at me and said, “Hey Sophie, baby! Guess what? You’re my next hit!” he pulled the trigger, and as I squinted my eyes shut, I felt hands shaking my shoulder.
“Sophie! Sophie! Wake up!” I opened my eyes. Crystal stood above me, her eyes wide in fear. “Oh my Gucci Soph, you gave me a heart attack. I thought you were being murdered! I came running and you’ve been thrashing around for almost a minute! I thought you were having a seizure or something! Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry Crys, just a dream.” I looked around and realized that I was still on the window seat. “Sorry to wake you.” As I stood up and walked over to the bed I thought I saw a shadow move in the hall. I looked again but it was gone. Crystal slowly left the room. Crystal’s room was farther away than Emmett’s, hadn’t he heard my screaming? Or did he not actually care if some brutal murderer was killing me or not? Why did I even care? I closed my eyes, too exhausted to think about it anymore, and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 5
I woke up wrapped in the stuffed comforter, the salt of dried tears still clinging to my cheeks. I walked to the bathroom, methodically showered got dressed, and proceeded to walk downstairs. Near the bottom of the staircase I paused to hear what Crystal was saying.
“I can’t believe I woke up, went in there to take care of her and she just says it was a bad dream. And she won’t even tell me anything about her and Luke.” I smiled, grimly. Another voice cut in.
“Hate to break it to you Crystal, but that’s probably because there isn’t anything going on between her and Luke.” I had forgotten that Emmett was here. I crept down the remaining stairs, listening to Crystal’s complaints about me. Just as I got to the entrance of the kitchen she looked up.
“Sophie!” she said, cheerfully, fully confident that I had heard nothing. “Hey, how did you sleep after I came and woke you up?” Emmett suddenly got up and stalked out of the room, his face contorted in rage.
“Um, great,” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “What is wrong with him?” Crystal laughed,
“A lot. Hey your mom called! She said your dad is going to be home in a few hours and she wants you home well before then.” I smiled. Ed must be gone.
“Great, I’ll just grab some breakfast and pack up my stuff. Great party by the way, Crys.” She beamed. I had said just the right thing.
“See? I told you it was great. I am so sorry that you and Luke didn’t have your big moment but I’m sure it will happen soon!” I nodded, taking some pancakes off the plate on the table then proceeded to put on a little butter and grabbed a fork. I walked away to the guest room as Crystal followed me, chattering away. I pretended to listen, randomly nodding my head, or adding a “Yeah, exactly!” in all her pauses. She was in a great mood by the time I packed up. I looked around for Emmett as the valets (still outside, yawning away) pulled up my car. After a failed attempt at finding him, I tossed the young one two more twenties and hopped in the front.
“You know what?” Crystal said. “I love your mom’s car. You should totally drive it to school instead of your junk car.” I laughed inwardly. A Volkswagen Jetta was hardly junk.
“Whatever Crystal, I’ll see you around.” She waved as I pulled away and I floored it all the way back home, daring a police officer to stop me.
“I can’t believe I woke up, went in there to take care of her and she just says it was a bad dream. And she won’t even tell me anything about her and Luke.” I smiled, grimly. Another voice cut in.
“Hate to break it to you Crystal, but that’s probably because there isn’t anything going on between her and Luke.” I had forgotten that Emmett was here. I crept down the remaining stairs, listening to Crystal’s complaints about me. Just as I got to the entrance of the kitchen she looked up.
“Sophie!” she said, cheerfully, fully confident that I had heard nothing. “Hey, how did you sleep after I came and woke you up?” Emmett suddenly got up and stalked out of the room, his face contorted in rage.
“Um, great,” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “What is wrong with him?” Crystal laughed,
“A lot. Hey your mom called! She said your dad is going to be home in a few hours and she wants you home well before then.” I smiled. Ed must be gone.
“Great, I’ll just grab some breakfast and pack up my stuff. Great party by the way, Crys.” She beamed. I had said just the right thing.
“See? I told you it was great. I am so sorry that you and Luke didn’t have your big moment but I’m sure it will happen soon!” I nodded, taking some pancakes off the plate on the table then proceeded to put on a little butter and grabbed a fork. I walked away to the guest room as Crystal followed me, chattering away. I pretended to listen, randomly nodding my head, or adding a “Yeah, exactly!” in all her pauses. She was in a great mood by the time I packed up. I looked around for Emmett as the valets (still outside, yawning away) pulled up my car. After a failed attempt at finding him, I tossed the young one two more twenties and hopped in the front.
“You know what?” Crystal said. “I love your mom’s car. You should totally drive it to school instead of your junk car.” I laughed inwardly. A Volkswagen Jetta was hardly junk.
“Whatever Crystal, I’ll see you around.” She waved as I pulled away and I floored it all the way back home, daring a police officer to stop me.
Chapter 6
I pulled in and my mom stood in the doorway. “You drove my car?” she shrieked.
“Sorry mom, I couldn’t find my keys.” I mumbled in reply.
“Sorry? Don’t be sorry sweetie!” She spoke quickly, excited, and now that I thought about it, was probably trying to hide a massive hangover. “I am so happy you want to look you best! Did you have fun at the party? Oh my gosh, are those jeans torn? Let’s get you changed before your father sees you.”
“I met Ed yesterday, Mom,” I stated, in complete monotone. She gasped.
“Oh sweetie, isn’t he a dream?” she gushed. “Like my own Edward Cullen!”
“Again, mom, he is a lot more like Ed Gein than Edward Cullen.” My mom had become obsessed with the Twilight Saga. I had liked the books too, until now.
“Is Ed Gein cute?” she asked. I checked to see if she was kidding. She wasn’t, I shook my head in wonder at the possibility of her actually being my mom.
“You seriously don’t know who Ed Gein is?” I asked. She shook her head.
“I’ll look it up later.”
“I suggest you don’t Google Image that, Mom,” I said skeptically.
“Why? Sophie Marie, is he a nudist?” she asked.
“No mom. Just Google it, okay?” she nodded cheerfully and as we reached my room, she rushed into the closet and pulled out about fifty outfits.
“We’re going out to dinner tonight, sweetie. But for now, jeans and a nice shirt will do.” She tossed me a stretch cotton tee shirt and I breathed a sigh of relief. “But I got you a new dress!” she said excitedly. Looks like I sighed too soon, I thought to myself. When she pulled out the dress, I gasped.
“It’s vintage, no name, I just found it on EBay the other day and it reminded me of you.” It was navy blue, strapless; it was fitted on top with a neckline that was similar to sweetheart. The skirt was full and swirled out directly from my waist. The bodice had a little blue lace on it with a bow directly in the middle of the neckline. It was stunning. It was so me. I looked at my mom. “Do you like it?” she asked. I nodded furiously,
“I can’t believe you bought this!” I said, unsure of why I felt like crying. “You really do pay attention to my style.”
“Sweetie, I was looking for a designer and I was talking to Vera, and she said she thought vintage was more your style and suggested I look on EBay. I found this and I realized she was right. It is going to look stunning on you.” She handed me a pair of white pumps. They were a good three inches or more with blue bases. They also had a red line around and down the heel. A little much, but if it meant I could wear the vintage dress I would gladly wear them, too.
“I love them; I think I’m going to look a little patriotic,” I told her.
“I hope so!” she replied. I froze and eyed her up.
“Why, mom?” I said skeptically.
“Your dad is bringing a few friends along.” I sighed.
“Who?” I asked, indignantly.
“Nobody crazy,” she protested, “just a few friends, Dean Heller, Harry Reid, Barbra Boxer, Dianne Feinstein and maybe George and Laura,” she started walking away.
“The senators from two states and the ex-president and his wife are nobody crazy?” I asked, appalled. “I think I want to stay home tonight,” I said, desperate.
“Oh come on Sophie, It’s your dad’s first night home!” she whined, “Please? For me?” I snorted. She may have been the last person I would do it for. “I know you’re disappointed because that nice boy didn’t get to ask you to prom, but that’s no reason to be a party pooper, dear. This is a little bit bigger than a school dance and if it makes you feel any better, I will throw you a party where you can invite this boy and make sure he has a good time to ask you, okay? He looks very cute, you know, I can’t believe you didn’t mention him before. How long have you two been in this pre-relationship stage?” I stared at her, shocked. How on earth did she find out?
“Mom,” I blurted out, cutting off her next sentence. “How on earth do you know about Luke? And we are NOT in a “pre-relationship” if you must know. He’s just some snobby boy at my school who likes me, okay?”
“Dear, he is very attractive on Facebook, and I know all about your hit and miss last night and why you drove my car to impress him-which is fine with me by the way-because Crystal has been Tweeting about it all night long.” I wanted to scream. It was like everyone thought they knew my life, but none of it was true. “I know what’s going on!” My mother exclaimed. I looked at her blankly. “You have a secret date with Luke tonight! Oh sweetie that is so cute! Of course you will go on your date, never mind daddy’s dinner party, honey. You call your friend and let him know to pick you up before we go so we can meet him, alright?” I was about to protest until I realized something: I could go on this date, have a friend call me halfway through, tell Luke there was an emergency and that he’d have to take me home, and then I would just watch movies on demand. Yes.
“You know what? I think I will go over there and let him know in person,” I said. She nodded furiously. I grabbed my bag and my keys and just as I got out to the car I heard my mom chasing after me.
“No sweetie, take my car!” I sighed, and turned around, a fake smile on my face.
“Thanks mom!” I said through my teeth, sliding her keys onto my lanyard. I gave her what she needed to hear, used to playing my part with her. It was better than all the drama that would ensue otherwise. I walked over to her car and slid in, taking the drive to Luke’s slowly, not wanting to deal with him. I pulled into his circular drive, and parked off to the side, then walked up to the door and thought about what angle I would use. He was no doubt a little mad about how last night went. I had to play an angle if I wanted to get this to work out. I thought about Luke. He usually went for the gorgeous bimbo type. I didn’t know whether I should be offended that I was categorized with the idiots or touched that I was beautiful enough to be, but I decided to play it like they did-go for the “crazy for you” type thing. I pulled my hair out of my ponytail and shook it loose around my shoulders, then I proceeded to pull my shirt down, displaying a little more cleavage than usual. Taking a deep breath, I rang the doorbell. Luke’s older brother answered. He was Emmett’s age and went to Vanderbilt, too. As he stood in the doorway his eyes trailed from my face to my chest and back up. I scoffed inwardly. Classy.
“Hey,” he said flintily. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Luke,” I said, aiming my voice a little higher than normal. “He doesn’t know I’m coming,” I paused as he got the innuendo, “over, I mean.” He nodded as his eyes went back downwards. “May I come it?” I asked, a little impatient.
“Yeah, yeah of course. You know he’s upstairs taking a shower right now, but you could, I don’t know, hang out with me for a little while.” I wanted to roll my eyes. Yeah, Luke’s usual girlfriends would have totally gone for them both, picturing themselves to be the players, not realizing that Luke had probably made this deal with his brother a long time ago, but I had to play along.
“Yeah, I’d love to!” I chirped, letting him lead me into the house.
“Sorry, the maids are here cleaning the house so we may have to go upstairs.” He said casually, “Luke will probably be a while yet and I don’t really want to just let you into his room in case, well, you know.” He raised his eyebrows at me. I giggled girlishly, as if he had just made a hilarious joke, kind of hating myself. “Maybe you could hang out in my room, while you wait, I mean.” He added. His suggestiveness almost made me laugh out loud, but I was able to turn it into a cough. If he thought he could hook up with me while I was waiting to talk to his brother, he was seriously disturbed. Is this how the deal works? I had heard guys talking about the deals they had made with their brothers. The older ones would get alcohol and chaperone the younger ones if they wanted to have a party away from the parents, and in return they would get to do what? Screw their girlfriend? These people were sick. We walked to his room and made small talk. I chose to sit down in the only chair in the room, despite his obvious hints that I could sit on the bed. He came over and sat on the arm of the chair, leaning in closer and closer. I heard a buzz and he looked at his phone and turned to me. “I was wrong. Luke’s not even home.” I made a move to get up and leave, but he grabbed my hand. “He will be here in an hour, you can stay. The cooks are making us sandwiches already.” I didn’t know how to get out of this without offending him, so I accepted. He turned on the TV and threw in some romantic comedy. I wasn’t even paying attention, but I pretended to watch while my mind wandered. I tried to think about school and mentally study for a test I had next week. I had been spread out on the love seat, giving him no room to sit, but as my thoughts turned around in my head, I readjusted. By the time I realized a moment too late that my new position gave him plenty of room, he had already plopped down on the chair next to me. I smiled at him awkwardly as his arm came around me and he pulled me onto his shoulder. I rolled my eyes; he was pulling all the tricks now. My thoughts tried to focus on math, but I found that I kept thinking about Emmett. His smile, his laugh, the way his forehead wrinkled when he got mad, even how soft his skin was when we danced close together. When I was finally able to shake it out of my head I realized Luke’s brother (was his name Matt?) was leaning in. Coincidentally the couple onscreen was locked passionately together. I think it was Twilight, and just as I was about to make this realization out loud, his lips touched mine. He hugged me close to him and tried to kiss me as intensely as Edward and Bella. I heard the door open downstairs and I somehow managed to get out of his embrace.
“You know, I think Luke’s home,” I said, to his complete shock. “It was nice meeting you, thanks for keeping me company. Just then I heard Luke just outside the door confused, obviously having seen my car. “Oh and one last thing, stay the hell away from me you creep!” I stalked out the room and ran headfirst into Luke. He had been walking forward, no doubt about to storm into the room, and the crash made us fall over, him lying on top of me. I was about to push him off when I remembered why I was here in the first place. “Luke!” I exclaimed. “Thank God you’re finally here!” I made the move to lean my head up and kiss his cheek. “Um, can we get up now?” Matt snorted and I glared in his direction. Luke jumped up and grabbed my hand, pulling him after me. As we walked down the hallway towards his room, I played my head on his shoulder and he put his arm around me. He turned his head around and laughed at his brother.
“Whatever, freak.” Matt called out. “I was trying to do you a favor, loosen the bitch up a bit.” He laughed and I tensed up, wondering if Luke was going to do anything about this. “You have fun with your slut, kid.” I stopped and was about to turn around and give Matt a piece of my mind but Luke just laughed, grabbed my hand and dragged me along.
“Sorry, Sophie,” he said after he locked his door. “With him, it’s just better to let it be.” I nodded; I guess I could understand that. “So what brings you here?” For a moment, I forgot what I was here for at all, but after a short pause I remembered. I cleared my throat
“Look, I just felt really bad that last night didn’t go the way either of us wanted.” I volunteered. He nodded, agreeing. “I just wanted to make that up to you. Dinner tonight? My treat?” I smiled and bent over a bit, as if I was adjusting my jeans, letting him look down my shirt. I saw his Adams apple bob as he swallowed quickly.
“Yeah, that would be great,” He breathed. “What time should I pick you up?”
“Um, like sevenish?” I asked. He nodded vigorously. “Great! I said, my dad is going to be home and he probably wants to meet you quickly, so early is probably better than late,” I hinted. He nodded appreciatively. I turned my eyes slyly towards him. “Walk me to my car?” I asked. He smiled in response. I would give him this, his smile was gorgeous. We walked out and as we rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs, he took my hand, as if helping me down. And then he didn’t let go of it. I blushed and looked down. It was nice. I mean, I didn’t like him like that, so it was really awkward on my end, but I realized that I could do a lot worse. He was nice to me and when I was around acted like a gentleman. I decided that I wouldn’t cut our date short. He was trying to be sweet and it wasn’t fair for me to do that to him. I unlocked my car and as I was about to get in he grabbed my waist, pulled me back and kissed me gently on the lips. I was a little shocked, but it was sweet; at least he wasn’t slobbering all over me like his creepy brother. I resigned myself to try to enjoy this. Didn’t people who were in an arranged marriage say that love came with time? I could try that. I closed my eyes and tried to let my mind think about what was happening. Emmett. I pulled back. What was that? As soon as I let myself try to let the kiss control my thoughts, I came up with Emmett? This was ridiculous. Now that idiot was getting into my personal life without even trying. I realized Luke was asking me if something was wrong. “No, sorry. I just remembered that I have to do something at home.” I leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the lips to let him know I wasn’t rejecting him. “See you at seven?” I asked. He leaned back in.
“Definitely.” He smiled and kissed me one more time. I pulled away after a few moments and got into the car. I smiled and waved at him. I sped out of his drive, wiping my mouth clean and cursing Emmett with all my might.
“Sorry mom, I couldn’t find my keys.” I mumbled in reply.
“Sorry? Don’t be sorry sweetie!” She spoke quickly, excited, and now that I thought about it, was probably trying to hide a massive hangover. “I am so happy you want to look you best! Did you have fun at the party? Oh my gosh, are those jeans torn? Let’s get you changed before your father sees you.”
“I met Ed yesterday, Mom,” I stated, in complete monotone. She gasped.
“Oh sweetie, isn’t he a dream?” she gushed. “Like my own Edward Cullen!”
“Again, mom, he is a lot more like Ed Gein than Edward Cullen.” My mom had become obsessed with the Twilight Saga. I had liked the books too, until now.
“Is Ed Gein cute?” she asked. I checked to see if she was kidding. She wasn’t, I shook my head in wonder at the possibility of her actually being my mom.
“You seriously don’t know who Ed Gein is?” I asked. She shook her head.
“I’ll look it up later.”
“I suggest you don’t Google Image that, Mom,” I said skeptically.
“Why? Sophie Marie, is he a nudist?” she asked.
“No mom. Just Google it, okay?” she nodded cheerfully and as we reached my room, she rushed into the closet and pulled out about fifty outfits.
“We’re going out to dinner tonight, sweetie. But for now, jeans and a nice shirt will do.” She tossed me a stretch cotton tee shirt and I breathed a sigh of relief. “But I got you a new dress!” she said excitedly. Looks like I sighed too soon, I thought to myself. When she pulled out the dress, I gasped.
“It’s vintage, no name, I just found it on EBay the other day and it reminded me of you.” It was navy blue, strapless; it was fitted on top with a neckline that was similar to sweetheart. The skirt was full and swirled out directly from my waist. The bodice had a little blue lace on it with a bow directly in the middle of the neckline. It was stunning. It was so me. I looked at my mom. “Do you like it?” she asked. I nodded furiously,
“I can’t believe you bought this!” I said, unsure of why I felt like crying. “You really do pay attention to my style.”
“Sweetie, I was looking for a designer and I was talking to Vera, and she said she thought vintage was more your style and suggested I look on EBay. I found this and I realized she was right. It is going to look stunning on you.” She handed me a pair of white pumps. They were a good three inches or more with blue bases. They also had a red line around and down the heel. A little much, but if it meant I could wear the vintage dress I would gladly wear them, too.
“I love them; I think I’m going to look a little patriotic,” I told her.
“I hope so!” she replied. I froze and eyed her up.
“Why, mom?” I said skeptically.
“Your dad is bringing a few friends along.” I sighed.
“Who?” I asked, indignantly.
“Nobody crazy,” she protested, “just a few friends, Dean Heller, Harry Reid, Barbra Boxer, Dianne Feinstein and maybe George and Laura,” she started walking away.
“The senators from two states and the ex-president and his wife are nobody crazy?” I asked, appalled. “I think I want to stay home tonight,” I said, desperate.
“Oh come on Sophie, It’s your dad’s first night home!” she whined, “Please? For me?” I snorted. She may have been the last person I would do it for. “I know you’re disappointed because that nice boy didn’t get to ask you to prom, but that’s no reason to be a party pooper, dear. This is a little bit bigger than a school dance and if it makes you feel any better, I will throw you a party where you can invite this boy and make sure he has a good time to ask you, okay? He looks very cute, you know, I can’t believe you didn’t mention him before. How long have you two been in this pre-relationship stage?” I stared at her, shocked. How on earth did she find out?
“Mom,” I blurted out, cutting off her next sentence. “How on earth do you know about Luke? And we are NOT in a “pre-relationship” if you must know. He’s just some snobby boy at my school who likes me, okay?”
“Dear, he is very attractive on Facebook, and I know all about your hit and miss last night and why you drove my car to impress him-which is fine with me by the way-because Crystal has been Tweeting about it all night long.” I wanted to scream. It was like everyone thought they knew my life, but none of it was true. “I know what’s going on!” My mother exclaimed. I looked at her blankly. “You have a secret date with Luke tonight! Oh sweetie that is so cute! Of course you will go on your date, never mind daddy’s dinner party, honey. You call your friend and let him know to pick you up before we go so we can meet him, alright?” I was about to protest until I realized something: I could go on this date, have a friend call me halfway through, tell Luke there was an emergency and that he’d have to take me home, and then I would just watch movies on demand. Yes.
“You know what? I think I will go over there and let him know in person,” I said. She nodded furiously. I grabbed my bag and my keys and just as I got out to the car I heard my mom chasing after me.
“No sweetie, take my car!” I sighed, and turned around, a fake smile on my face.
“Thanks mom!” I said through my teeth, sliding her keys onto my lanyard. I gave her what she needed to hear, used to playing my part with her. It was better than all the drama that would ensue otherwise. I walked over to her car and slid in, taking the drive to Luke’s slowly, not wanting to deal with him. I pulled into his circular drive, and parked off to the side, then walked up to the door and thought about what angle I would use. He was no doubt a little mad about how last night went. I had to play an angle if I wanted to get this to work out. I thought about Luke. He usually went for the gorgeous bimbo type. I didn’t know whether I should be offended that I was categorized with the idiots or touched that I was beautiful enough to be, but I decided to play it like they did-go for the “crazy for you” type thing. I pulled my hair out of my ponytail and shook it loose around my shoulders, then I proceeded to pull my shirt down, displaying a little more cleavage than usual. Taking a deep breath, I rang the doorbell. Luke’s older brother answered. He was Emmett’s age and went to Vanderbilt, too. As he stood in the doorway his eyes trailed from my face to my chest and back up. I scoffed inwardly. Classy.
“Hey,” he said flintily. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Luke,” I said, aiming my voice a little higher than normal. “He doesn’t know I’m coming,” I paused as he got the innuendo, “over, I mean.” He nodded as his eyes went back downwards. “May I come it?” I asked, a little impatient.
“Yeah, yeah of course. You know he’s upstairs taking a shower right now, but you could, I don’t know, hang out with me for a little while.” I wanted to roll my eyes. Yeah, Luke’s usual girlfriends would have totally gone for them both, picturing themselves to be the players, not realizing that Luke had probably made this deal with his brother a long time ago, but I had to play along.
“Yeah, I’d love to!” I chirped, letting him lead me into the house.
“Sorry, the maids are here cleaning the house so we may have to go upstairs.” He said casually, “Luke will probably be a while yet and I don’t really want to just let you into his room in case, well, you know.” He raised his eyebrows at me. I giggled girlishly, as if he had just made a hilarious joke, kind of hating myself. “Maybe you could hang out in my room, while you wait, I mean.” He added. His suggestiveness almost made me laugh out loud, but I was able to turn it into a cough. If he thought he could hook up with me while I was waiting to talk to his brother, he was seriously disturbed. Is this how the deal works? I had heard guys talking about the deals they had made with their brothers. The older ones would get alcohol and chaperone the younger ones if they wanted to have a party away from the parents, and in return they would get to do what? Screw their girlfriend? These people were sick. We walked to his room and made small talk. I chose to sit down in the only chair in the room, despite his obvious hints that I could sit on the bed. He came over and sat on the arm of the chair, leaning in closer and closer. I heard a buzz and he looked at his phone and turned to me. “I was wrong. Luke’s not even home.” I made a move to get up and leave, but he grabbed my hand. “He will be here in an hour, you can stay. The cooks are making us sandwiches already.” I didn’t know how to get out of this without offending him, so I accepted. He turned on the TV and threw in some romantic comedy. I wasn’t even paying attention, but I pretended to watch while my mind wandered. I tried to think about school and mentally study for a test I had next week. I had been spread out on the love seat, giving him no room to sit, but as my thoughts turned around in my head, I readjusted. By the time I realized a moment too late that my new position gave him plenty of room, he had already plopped down on the chair next to me. I smiled at him awkwardly as his arm came around me and he pulled me onto his shoulder. I rolled my eyes; he was pulling all the tricks now. My thoughts tried to focus on math, but I found that I kept thinking about Emmett. His smile, his laugh, the way his forehead wrinkled when he got mad, even how soft his skin was when we danced close together. When I was finally able to shake it out of my head I realized Luke’s brother (was his name Matt?) was leaning in. Coincidentally the couple onscreen was locked passionately together. I think it was Twilight, and just as I was about to make this realization out loud, his lips touched mine. He hugged me close to him and tried to kiss me as intensely as Edward and Bella. I heard the door open downstairs and I somehow managed to get out of his embrace.
“You know, I think Luke’s home,” I said, to his complete shock. “It was nice meeting you, thanks for keeping me company. Just then I heard Luke just outside the door confused, obviously having seen my car. “Oh and one last thing, stay the hell away from me you creep!” I stalked out the room and ran headfirst into Luke. He had been walking forward, no doubt about to storm into the room, and the crash made us fall over, him lying on top of me. I was about to push him off when I remembered why I was here in the first place. “Luke!” I exclaimed. “Thank God you’re finally here!” I made the move to lean my head up and kiss his cheek. “Um, can we get up now?” Matt snorted and I glared in his direction. Luke jumped up and grabbed my hand, pulling him after me. As we walked down the hallway towards his room, I played my head on his shoulder and he put his arm around me. He turned his head around and laughed at his brother.
“Whatever, freak.” Matt called out. “I was trying to do you a favor, loosen the bitch up a bit.” He laughed and I tensed up, wondering if Luke was going to do anything about this. “You have fun with your slut, kid.” I stopped and was about to turn around and give Matt a piece of my mind but Luke just laughed, grabbed my hand and dragged me along.
“Sorry, Sophie,” he said after he locked his door. “With him, it’s just better to let it be.” I nodded; I guess I could understand that. “So what brings you here?” For a moment, I forgot what I was here for at all, but after a short pause I remembered. I cleared my throat
“Look, I just felt really bad that last night didn’t go the way either of us wanted.” I volunteered. He nodded, agreeing. “I just wanted to make that up to you. Dinner tonight? My treat?” I smiled and bent over a bit, as if I was adjusting my jeans, letting him look down my shirt. I saw his Adams apple bob as he swallowed quickly.
“Yeah, that would be great,” He breathed. “What time should I pick you up?”
“Um, like sevenish?” I asked. He nodded vigorously. “Great! I said, my dad is going to be home and he probably wants to meet you quickly, so early is probably better than late,” I hinted. He nodded appreciatively. I turned my eyes slyly towards him. “Walk me to my car?” I asked. He smiled in response. I would give him this, his smile was gorgeous. We walked out and as we rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs, he took my hand, as if helping me down. And then he didn’t let go of it. I blushed and looked down. It was nice. I mean, I didn’t like him like that, so it was really awkward on my end, but I realized that I could do a lot worse. He was nice to me and when I was around acted like a gentleman. I decided that I wouldn’t cut our date short. He was trying to be sweet and it wasn’t fair for me to do that to him. I unlocked my car and as I was about to get in he grabbed my waist, pulled me back and kissed me gently on the lips. I was a little shocked, but it was sweet; at least he wasn’t slobbering all over me like his creepy brother. I resigned myself to try to enjoy this. Didn’t people who were in an arranged marriage say that love came with time? I could try that. I closed my eyes and tried to let my mind think about what was happening. Emmett. I pulled back. What was that? As soon as I let myself try to let the kiss control my thoughts, I came up with Emmett? This was ridiculous. Now that idiot was getting into my personal life without even trying. I realized Luke was asking me if something was wrong. “No, sorry. I just remembered that I have to do something at home.” I leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the lips to let him know I wasn’t rejecting him. “See you at seven?” I asked. He leaned back in.
“Definitely.” He smiled and kissed me one more time. I pulled away after a few moments and got into the car. I smiled and waved at him. I sped out of his drive, wiping my mouth clean and cursing Emmett with all my might.
Chapter 7
I pulled on the vintage blue dress and put on a little makeup. My dad was home. He had hugged me, said a few words and ran off to do some more work before tonight. My mom had a hairstylist in her room and after her consistent begging, I had finally accepted their offer for him to do my hair as well. I now sported a hairdo that matched the age of my dress. My hair was pulled off to the side and curled to perfection with finger waves. I had a rose in the pin and my makeup had also been done in a vintage style: shocking lipstick, dark eyeliner and mascara. As much as I hated the excessiveness of it all, I looked awesome. I waited around, reading Pride & Prejudice for the hundredth time. My phone rang and I almost ignored it, until I checked the caller ID. I smiled and answered.
“Hey Malia!” I said. “I haven’t talked to you in forever!” Malia lived in Laguna Beach with us and her dad had been born into money, but her mom had been poor. No one knew the whole story because every time we started talking about it, she changed the subject. However, the fact that she had been brought up differently from us all made her the sweetest person ever. “How’s Maryland?” her brother went to college on the east coast and they were on a weeklong vacation visiting him.
“It’s fab! We are having a blast!” I met all of Cam’s roommates and they are GORGEOUS!!!” I laughed.
“Of course they are, Malia.”
“No seriously, they are!” We went back and forth, making small talk for a few minutes.
“So,” Malia said. I could hear the caution in her voice.
“What?” I asked, wary.
“You get asked to prom yet?” I sighed.
“How did you hear about that?” I asked.
“Crystal texted everyone one of her contacts.” I groaned. Crystal had over a thousand contacts on just her phone. If she used her iPod app, too, I was screwed. “Look, I know it seems like the right thing to do, you know, not hurt his feelings or anything, but you have to think about what’s right for you. I don’t think you should do it.” I smiled.
“Thanks Malia,” I said. “You and I seem to be the only ones who think so.” She laughed.
“You know, we’ve always been different from everyone else,” she started. “And someday we are going to find guys who are like us.” I nodded.
“Don’t shoot me Malia,” I said, a little nervous.
“What? Why?” I heard panic in her voice.
“I’m going on a date with Luke tonight.” It was silent for a minute.
“Oh,” she said, slowly. “Well, maybe he’s different; I don’t know him that well.”
“Seeing as his brother tried to hook up with me and then when he called me a bitch and a slut Luke laughed, I’m thinking not,” I remembered with resentment.
“And you’re going out with him why?” she practically yelled into the phone.
“It was either that or dinner with an ex-president, his wife, four sitting senators and my parents,” I said. “And I’m not going to go to prom with him.” I heard her sigh of relief.
“Good chica. And I guess I get the date thing then,” she paused. “How cute do you look?”
“On a scale of one to ten? Like fifty!” She laughed. “Kidding, but seriously, I’m wearing a vintage dress my mom got for me and my hair and makeup are from that era, too. Plus, added bonus, super cute shoes and a rose in my hair.”
“Ohh, bonita, chica!” she said. I looked out into the parking lot and saw my dad’s friends getting out of their cars.
“Ugh, the politicians are here Malia. I’ve got to go.”
“Okay!” she chirped. “Tell Mr. and Mrs. Tristan I say hi!”
“Yeah tell, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis I say hi, too.” I said, waiting for her to respond. When she did, she said exactly what I knew she would.
“Why would you call them Mr. and Mrs. Lewis?” I laughed.
“My point exactly,” I said.
“Well anyway,” she said, not in the slightest abashed. “Mr. Lewis,” she stretched the name out in a fake British accent, “isn’t home now.”
“Oh no?” I said, responding in kind.
“No.” she said loftily. “He and Cam Lewis are out and about. But I shall pass on your message when they get back.”
“Great,” I laughed, “tell Viv I miss you all.”
“Will do Soph. Oh, and Soph?” I waited. “Take care of yourself.”
“You, too Malia.” We hung up. I straightened out my dress, slipped on the pumps, and walked downstairs.
“My God, Tristan,” One of the men who I probably should have recognized said. “Is that little Sophie? I haven’t seen her since she was five or six! You my dear,” he directed his attention to me, “have become quite a beautiful young lady.” I smiled and thanked him.
“Will you be joining us for dinner, dear?” Laura Bush asked. I knew I should have been thrilled about being spoken too by an ex first lady, but I was a little too far out of my comfort zone to be flattered. Besides, I thought warily to myself, I was a closet Democrat. I was about to respond when my mother cut in.
“No, Laura, she has a date tonight,” my mother winked at all the adults as they ohhed and ahhed about how grown up I was. My mother chatted gaily about Luke and what a nice boy he was. Just then she was interrupted by the doorbell. “Ohhh, I think he’s here!” She winked at Laura again and they giggled like schoolgirls. I walked up to the door and opened it. Luke was wearing a black suit and tie; he looked like his hair had taken as long as mine had. Honestly, he looked really good.
“Wow,” I said with a smile, “You clean up well.” He smiled and produced a rose from behind his back.
“You don’t look bad yourself.” He smiled and handed me the rose, pulling me into a hug and kissing me lightly on the lips. I blushed, suddenly aware of my parents and their guests watching us. We turned around and he adjusted himself so that his left arm was wrapped around me. I wanted to pull away; it was embarrassing with my father and his gentleman friends watching us, about to get their first impression of him. Of course, my mother and the other ladies were looking at me. Their constant silent giggling only made it worse. While I was still wrapped up in his embrace, he shook my father’s hand and acted the part of the perfect boyfriend. I dragged him out as soon as I could, finding his comfortable manor with everyone almost as disturbing as my mother’s constant, annoying laugh. Luke opened my door and helped me into the car. We drove to a restaurant and he rushed around to open my door again. He held out his hand and tossed his keys to the valet. We ordered pasta and Luke bought a bottle of wine. I sat there amazed. They didn’t even card him. I was about to make a comment, but then I recognized our waiter. It was the older brother of Jake and Adrian Fellows. They were rich, but not quite to the extent of our group. They had gotten their entire popularity on the fact they were twins. They were exactly the same, they said things at the same time, and once, in first grade when Jake broke his arm playing football at recess, Adrian stood up and screamed, despite the fact that we were playing house on the other side of the school and she hadn’t even known where Jake was. This gave them instant fame, at the time just before money and looks became the root of popularity. It helped, of course, that they were gorgeous. Their mom had been a model friend of my mother who had married a college friend who wasn’t poor and wasn’t rich. They had an older brother and two younger sisters, also twins. Luke slipped the waiter some cash as the wine arrived. The waiter made a move to pour me some but I flipped my glass upside down.
“I don’t drink.” His eyes grew wide and he stared at Luke while pouring his wine. Luke had his hands over his eyes. “What was up with that?” I said after he walked away.
“Soph,” he said slowly as if I was an imbecile. “You do realize he probably thinks you’re pregnant.” My shoulders shrank.
“Just because an eighteen year old doesn’t want to drink, she’s automatically pregnant?” I exclaimed. “Luke, that’s ridiculous.” He shrugged his shoulders and continued texting under the table. I rolled my eyes. Several times I would try to start a conversation, but all he ever did was laugh at me, attempt to feel me up under the table, drink more wine, or keep on texting. Finally, after dinner he ordered more alcohol to be brought to the table. I grabbed my purse and excused myself to go to the bathroom. When I got there I dialed Malia. The phone rang five times before she answered it.
“Hello?” she said in a groggy voice.
“Oh my gosh, I forgot about the time change!” I said apologetically. “I’m so sorry, should I call back tomorrow?”
“No, I’m awake now,” She said, the grogginess already disappearing from her voice. “This is Sophie, right?”
“Yeah, and I’m about to bail on my date,” I said.
“Ahh! Yea!” she squealed. So much for being tired. “I’m am so glad, what happened? How’d it go?”
“Well, he was really great with my parents and everyone, and he was really sweet to me.”
“But then?” she asked, knowing my tone all too well.
“But then, he didn’t really talk to me at all, ordered wine to our table and when I refused it, made everyone think I was pregnant.” She gasped, and tried to stifle a laugh. “I heard that Malia. Anyway, every time I tried to start a conversation he would laugh at me or just start texting. He’s tried to feel me up at least fifty times and has now ordered even more alcohol to our table after polishing off over half a bottle of red wine. He is going to be so tanked and I do not want to be in the car with him after that. Even more so, I really, really don’t want to be with him when he tries to say good night.” At that Malia did start laughing and she wished me luck and told me to text her when I got home so she could hear how the ditching went. I agreed, and as I snuck out the door, I saw Luke at the bar flirting with the bartender and I rolled my eyes. I snuck over to our table, laid a ridiculously large tip down and walked out the door. I hailed a cab and told him my address.
“You are certainly looking fine tonight,” the cab driver said. “How’d the date go?” I smirked at him.
“My drunk, eighteen year old NOT boyfriend is probably wondering how long I’m going to be in the bathroom right now.” He laughed and turned on the radio as I stared out the window. I really wanted to talk to Lulu, but she was probably still at work. I called and listened to her voicemail about ten times and I finally left her a message to make sure she knew there wasn’t a crisis or anything. I started daydreaming about all the fun we had had together and how I couldn’t wait to see her again, although I was quite unsure about when that was. Every few minutes my thoughts jumped to Emmett. It’s just because he frustrates me so much, I told myself. I got home, texted Malia and turned off my phone. I ran to my room and flopped on my bed. I felt like I should cry, but I didn’t really know why. Trying to get my mind of things, I turned on the TV and watched reruns of Friends for a few hours until I heard the door unlock downstairs. I walked down to welcome my parents, but what I saw made my heart leap out of my chest and stop cold on the tile floor of the foyer. Ed Plont stood in front of me, a devilish grin on his face.
“Well, well, well,” he sneered, “Look who didn’t go out with the family after all tonight?” I stared at him in disbelief. How on earth did he know what my family was doing tonight? “Yes, I know where you were supposed to be tonight, sweetheart.” It was like he had read my thoughts. My blood ran cold, but I began breathing again. He slowly walked closer and closer to me and as he did I slowly edged backwards to the steps. “And where do you think you’re going?” His voice had suddenly turned cold, edged with steel.
“Look,” I said, acting like I was in control and not scared, “You obviously know that my mom isn’t here. I think you should go now.” The controlled tone I had disappeared when I nearly tripped over the first step. He laughed at me and as I stepped onto the second step he grabbed my arm and shoved his face into mine. It took everything I had not to scream. His grip was like an iron cuff had soldered itself to my arm. “Ed, let go of me. My parents will be home soon and I really think that you should go before my dad gets here, for my mom’s own good.”
“Silly Sophie,” he said, the leer on his face chilling my very bones, “I’m not here for your mother. I’m here to get a little extra cash.” I shivered.
“You know what? I don’t think you are.” I smiled, as if I knew something he didn’t. He looked at me quizzically, trying to judge my expression. He smiled.
“Bullsh-”
“Can you please just go away?” I cut him off. He laughed again.
“That depends beautiful.” I squirmed. “What are you going to do for me?”
“Haha, perv,” I said, braver than I felt, “Look, my parents are almost home, so go take whatever you want and then leave. We have insurance.” He let go of my arm, and walked a few steps away. I started to breathe again. Suddenly, he stopped. He slowly turned around.
“You know what?” he said. “I could have my pick of your fancy jewelry, or your priceless trinkets or clothes, but I don’t really want that anymore.” Had he really decided to leave us alone? “I think I want you.” My heart stopped. Instinctively, I turned around and tried to run. My legs were no match for his. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back down the steps. I screamed for help, but my closest neighbor was miles away. He shoved a piece of sweaty, oily cloth in my mouth; I gagged, wanting to vomit. He grabbed my waistband, unthinkingly leaving my feet and hands unbound. I hit and kicked him everywhere I was able to reach; trying in any way I could to stop this monster. My hands and feet found their targets and I heard him grunt in pain. “Not so fast, princess,” he said. He sat on my feet, his weight too much for them to fight. Then he grabbed my hands and tied them. It was too dark to see what he used. My feet were tied next and when I tried to pull them away it hit me what was happening. All my jokes, the cynical remarks, and everything else I had hatefully said about Ed was coming back, and becoming true. I closed my eyes, and I prayed. I hadn’t been to church in a while. My parents never forced me to go and not a lot of teenagers willingly give up their Sunday mornings when they could be sleeping in. I prayed that God would forgive me for that. And then I prayed that God would help me through this, and help me to never remember it ever again. I clenched my eyes as tight shut as they would go. Despite the stray tear or two, I would not cry out, I would never let him know how much this hurt me, how humiliating this was, or even that I had any emotions at all. It was impossible to overcome him, I lay there, silently crying, trying to accept what was happening, and for the first time in my life, I gave up.
“Hey Malia!” I said. “I haven’t talked to you in forever!” Malia lived in Laguna Beach with us and her dad had been born into money, but her mom had been poor. No one knew the whole story because every time we started talking about it, she changed the subject. However, the fact that she had been brought up differently from us all made her the sweetest person ever. “How’s Maryland?” her brother went to college on the east coast and they were on a weeklong vacation visiting him.
“It’s fab! We are having a blast!” I met all of Cam’s roommates and they are GORGEOUS!!!” I laughed.
“Of course they are, Malia.”
“No seriously, they are!” We went back and forth, making small talk for a few minutes.
“So,” Malia said. I could hear the caution in her voice.
“What?” I asked, wary.
“You get asked to prom yet?” I sighed.
“How did you hear about that?” I asked.
“Crystal texted everyone one of her contacts.” I groaned. Crystal had over a thousand contacts on just her phone. If she used her iPod app, too, I was screwed. “Look, I know it seems like the right thing to do, you know, not hurt his feelings or anything, but you have to think about what’s right for you. I don’t think you should do it.” I smiled.
“Thanks Malia,” I said. “You and I seem to be the only ones who think so.” She laughed.
“You know, we’ve always been different from everyone else,” she started. “And someday we are going to find guys who are like us.” I nodded.
“Don’t shoot me Malia,” I said, a little nervous.
“What? Why?” I heard panic in her voice.
“I’m going on a date with Luke tonight.” It was silent for a minute.
“Oh,” she said, slowly. “Well, maybe he’s different; I don’t know him that well.”
“Seeing as his brother tried to hook up with me and then when he called me a bitch and a slut Luke laughed, I’m thinking not,” I remembered with resentment.
“And you’re going out with him why?” she practically yelled into the phone.
“It was either that or dinner with an ex-president, his wife, four sitting senators and my parents,” I said. “And I’m not going to go to prom with him.” I heard her sigh of relief.
“Good chica. And I guess I get the date thing then,” she paused. “How cute do you look?”
“On a scale of one to ten? Like fifty!” She laughed. “Kidding, but seriously, I’m wearing a vintage dress my mom got for me and my hair and makeup are from that era, too. Plus, added bonus, super cute shoes and a rose in my hair.”
“Ohh, bonita, chica!” she said. I looked out into the parking lot and saw my dad’s friends getting out of their cars.
“Ugh, the politicians are here Malia. I’ve got to go.”
“Okay!” she chirped. “Tell Mr. and Mrs. Tristan I say hi!”
“Yeah tell, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis I say hi, too.” I said, waiting for her to respond. When she did, she said exactly what I knew she would.
“Why would you call them Mr. and Mrs. Lewis?” I laughed.
“My point exactly,” I said.
“Well anyway,” she said, not in the slightest abashed. “Mr. Lewis,” she stretched the name out in a fake British accent, “isn’t home now.”
“Oh no?” I said, responding in kind.
“No.” she said loftily. “He and Cam Lewis are out and about. But I shall pass on your message when they get back.”
“Great,” I laughed, “tell Viv I miss you all.”
“Will do Soph. Oh, and Soph?” I waited. “Take care of yourself.”
“You, too Malia.” We hung up. I straightened out my dress, slipped on the pumps, and walked downstairs.
“My God, Tristan,” One of the men who I probably should have recognized said. “Is that little Sophie? I haven’t seen her since she was five or six! You my dear,” he directed his attention to me, “have become quite a beautiful young lady.” I smiled and thanked him.
“Will you be joining us for dinner, dear?” Laura Bush asked. I knew I should have been thrilled about being spoken too by an ex first lady, but I was a little too far out of my comfort zone to be flattered. Besides, I thought warily to myself, I was a closet Democrat. I was about to respond when my mother cut in.
“No, Laura, she has a date tonight,” my mother winked at all the adults as they ohhed and ahhed about how grown up I was. My mother chatted gaily about Luke and what a nice boy he was. Just then she was interrupted by the doorbell. “Ohhh, I think he’s here!” She winked at Laura again and they giggled like schoolgirls. I walked up to the door and opened it. Luke was wearing a black suit and tie; he looked like his hair had taken as long as mine had. Honestly, he looked really good.
“Wow,” I said with a smile, “You clean up well.” He smiled and produced a rose from behind his back.
“You don’t look bad yourself.” He smiled and handed me the rose, pulling me into a hug and kissing me lightly on the lips. I blushed, suddenly aware of my parents and their guests watching us. We turned around and he adjusted himself so that his left arm was wrapped around me. I wanted to pull away; it was embarrassing with my father and his gentleman friends watching us, about to get their first impression of him. Of course, my mother and the other ladies were looking at me. Their constant silent giggling only made it worse. While I was still wrapped up in his embrace, he shook my father’s hand and acted the part of the perfect boyfriend. I dragged him out as soon as I could, finding his comfortable manor with everyone almost as disturbing as my mother’s constant, annoying laugh. Luke opened my door and helped me into the car. We drove to a restaurant and he rushed around to open my door again. He held out his hand and tossed his keys to the valet. We ordered pasta and Luke bought a bottle of wine. I sat there amazed. They didn’t even card him. I was about to make a comment, but then I recognized our waiter. It was the older brother of Jake and Adrian Fellows. They were rich, but not quite to the extent of our group. They had gotten their entire popularity on the fact they were twins. They were exactly the same, they said things at the same time, and once, in first grade when Jake broke his arm playing football at recess, Adrian stood up and screamed, despite the fact that we were playing house on the other side of the school and she hadn’t even known where Jake was. This gave them instant fame, at the time just before money and looks became the root of popularity. It helped, of course, that they were gorgeous. Their mom had been a model friend of my mother who had married a college friend who wasn’t poor and wasn’t rich. They had an older brother and two younger sisters, also twins. Luke slipped the waiter some cash as the wine arrived. The waiter made a move to pour me some but I flipped my glass upside down.
“I don’t drink.” His eyes grew wide and he stared at Luke while pouring his wine. Luke had his hands over his eyes. “What was up with that?” I said after he walked away.
“Soph,” he said slowly as if I was an imbecile. “You do realize he probably thinks you’re pregnant.” My shoulders shrank.
“Just because an eighteen year old doesn’t want to drink, she’s automatically pregnant?” I exclaimed. “Luke, that’s ridiculous.” He shrugged his shoulders and continued texting under the table. I rolled my eyes. Several times I would try to start a conversation, but all he ever did was laugh at me, attempt to feel me up under the table, drink more wine, or keep on texting. Finally, after dinner he ordered more alcohol to be brought to the table. I grabbed my purse and excused myself to go to the bathroom. When I got there I dialed Malia. The phone rang five times before she answered it.
“Hello?” she said in a groggy voice.
“Oh my gosh, I forgot about the time change!” I said apologetically. “I’m so sorry, should I call back tomorrow?”
“No, I’m awake now,” She said, the grogginess already disappearing from her voice. “This is Sophie, right?”
“Yeah, and I’m about to bail on my date,” I said.
“Ahh! Yea!” she squealed. So much for being tired. “I’m am so glad, what happened? How’d it go?”
“Well, he was really great with my parents and everyone, and he was really sweet to me.”
“But then?” she asked, knowing my tone all too well.
“But then, he didn’t really talk to me at all, ordered wine to our table and when I refused it, made everyone think I was pregnant.” She gasped, and tried to stifle a laugh. “I heard that Malia. Anyway, every time I tried to start a conversation he would laugh at me or just start texting. He’s tried to feel me up at least fifty times and has now ordered even more alcohol to our table after polishing off over half a bottle of red wine. He is going to be so tanked and I do not want to be in the car with him after that. Even more so, I really, really don’t want to be with him when he tries to say good night.” At that Malia did start laughing and she wished me luck and told me to text her when I got home so she could hear how the ditching went. I agreed, and as I snuck out the door, I saw Luke at the bar flirting with the bartender and I rolled my eyes. I snuck over to our table, laid a ridiculously large tip down and walked out the door. I hailed a cab and told him my address.
“You are certainly looking fine tonight,” the cab driver said. “How’d the date go?” I smirked at him.
“My drunk, eighteen year old NOT boyfriend is probably wondering how long I’m going to be in the bathroom right now.” He laughed and turned on the radio as I stared out the window. I really wanted to talk to Lulu, but she was probably still at work. I called and listened to her voicemail about ten times and I finally left her a message to make sure she knew there wasn’t a crisis or anything. I started daydreaming about all the fun we had had together and how I couldn’t wait to see her again, although I was quite unsure about when that was. Every few minutes my thoughts jumped to Emmett. It’s just because he frustrates me so much, I told myself. I got home, texted Malia and turned off my phone. I ran to my room and flopped on my bed. I felt like I should cry, but I didn’t really know why. Trying to get my mind of things, I turned on the TV and watched reruns of Friends for a few hours until I heard the door unlock downstairs. I walked down to welcome my parents, but what I saw made my heart leap out of my chest and stop cold on the tile floor of the foyer. Ed Plont stood in front of me, a devilish grin on his face.
“Well, well, well,” he sneered, “Look who didn’t go out with the family after all tonight?” I stared at him in disbelief. How on earth did he know what my family was doing tonight? “Yes, I know where you were supposed to be tonight, sweetheart.” It was like he had read my thoughts. My blood ran cold, but I began breathing again. He slowly walked closer and closer to me and as he did I slowly edged backwards to the steps. “And where do you think you’re going?” His voice had suddenly turned cold, edged with steel.
“Look,” I said, acting like I was in control and not scared, “You obviously know that my mom isn’t here. I think you should go now.” The controlled tone I had disappeared when I nearly tripped over the first step. He laughed at me and as I stepped onto the second step he grabbed my arm and shoved his face into mine. It took everything I had not to scream. His grip was like an iron cuff had soldered itself to my arm. “Ed, let go of me. My parents will be home soon and I really think that you should go before my dad gets here, for my mom’s own good.”
“Silly Sophie,” he said, the leer on his face chilling my very bones, “I’m not here for your mother. I’m here to get a little extra cash.” I shivered.
“You know what? I don’t think you are.” I smiled, as if I knew something he didn’t. He looked at me quizzically, trying to judge my expression. He smiled.
“Bullsh-”
“Can you please just go away?” I cut him off. He laughed again.
“That depends beautiful.” I squirmed. “What are you going to do for me?”
“Haha, perv,” I said, braver than I felt, “Look, my parents are almost home, so go take whatever you want and then leave. We have insurance.” He let go of my arm, and walked a few steps away. I started to breathe again. Suddenly, he stopped. He slowly turned around.
“You know what?” he said. “I could have my pick of your fancy jewelry, or your priceless trinkets or clothes, but I don’t really want that anymore.” Had he really decided to leave us alone? “I think I want you.” My heart stopped. Instinctively, I turned around and tried to run. My legs were no match for his. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back down the steps. I screamed for help, but my closest neighbor was miles away. He shoved a piece of sweaty, oily cloth in my mouth; I gagged, wanting to vomit. He grabbed my waistband, unthinkingly leaving my feet and hands unbound. I hit and kicked him everywhere I was able to reach; trying in any way I could to stop this monster. My hands and feet found their targets and I heard him grunt in pain. “Not so fast, princess,” he said. He sat on my feet, his weight too much for them to fight. Then he grabbed my hands and tied them. It was too dark to see what he used. My feet were tied next and when I tried to pull them away it hit me what was happening. All my jokes, the cynical remarks, and everything else I had hatefully said about Ed was coming back, and becoming true. I closed my eyes, and I prayed. I hadn’t been to church in a while. My parents never forced me to go and not a lot of teenagers willingly give up their Sunday mornings when they could be sleeping in. I prayed that God would forgive me for that. And then I prayed that God would help me through this, and help me to never remember it ever again. I clenched my eyes as tight shut as they would go. Despite the stray tear or two, I would not cry out, I would never let him know how much this hurt me, how humiliating this was, or even that I had any emotions at all. It was impossible to overcome him, I lay there, silently crying, trying to accept what was happening, and for the first time in my life, I gave up.
Chapter 8
I made it through, I never cried out, and I never screamed despite his obvious provocations for me to do so. When Ed had finished he laughed at me, called me names in an attempt to degrade me even further. When he found I would not break, he punched my cheek. I wanted to scream, to fight back, but I knew that that was what he wanted and I wouldn’t give him that. He grabbed the straps holding my hands and dragged me up to my room. He threw me onto my bed, and as I looked at the sheets, I saw blood. His punch must have done more damage than I realized. He laughed at me again.
“Whore,” he called out. I turned my head, my eyes as cold as steel. How on earth did his raping me make me a whore? That’s when I shuddered. Rape. The word itself was foreboding, humiliating, cold. Like him. I froze, I could see my hands shaking, wondering what he was going to do next. “You know your mother won’t believe you. And even if she does, she won’t care. She loves me more after all.” The words stung like I couldn’t believe. My first instinct was to laugh, to call out his lie, to deny it. But as I thought about it, I realized that it may indeed be true. “After all, she gave me a key so that I could steal your things to make money so I could buy her something special. She knew I would steal her husband’s money and she didn’t care, thinking I would spend it on her.” He snorted. “Of course she doesn’t realize that I care about her less than I do you, but she is my way to get money, to have an easy life. And you can get me nothing, well, except a little pleasure now and then I suppose.” Still sneering he turned around and descended the stairs. After I heard the door shut downstairs, I lost it. I cried, and cried, wanting someone to hold me and yet still wanting everyone to stay away, never to see me like this. I called my mom, rewarded with being sent directly to voicemail. I called my father, Crystal, and finally Malia, each time only getting voicemail. Finally I tried Lulu, a groggy male voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is Lulu there?” I asked shakily.
“No, can I take a message?” the voice asked.
“Um, can you have her call Sophie as soon as she gets in?” I asked, my heart dropping.
“Yeah, no problem, she has your number right?” He asked.
“Yeah, sorry to wake you.” He replied that it was no problem and we hung up.
I went to make sure all the doors were locked, and even though I knew he had a key, it still made me feel a little bit safer. I curled up in my bed, wrapping the comforter around me crying my eyes out. I felt grimy, disgusting; I had just jumped into a pool filled with mud. Finally wiping my eyes, I tried to pull myself together and rid my body of the memory of this terrible occurrence. I ran a hot shower and stepped in. I was bleeding in a few places and I stared at the steady stream going down the drain. My head pounded and my muscles ached. No matter how hard I scrubbed my skin, I still felt wrong. I wanted to shed it, leave it lying around somewhere, and go find a new skin, a new life to live. A skin that had a family that spent time together, that may not be rich, but was happy, and a skin that I could be myself in. I turned the water off, and pulled the dress back on. I heard the door downstairs, and the sound of people shuffling around. I froze. I looked around for an escape route, and not finding one, ran into my mother’s bathroom and barricaded myself in. I heard laughing and the sound of car engine’s starting and driving away. I heard my father slump past and into my parents’ bedroom. Within minutes, I heard snoring. I waited to for my mother, and I finally heard her heels on the stairs. She tried the doorknob and, realizing I was inside, knocked on the door. I grew more nervous. What if what Ed had said was true? What if she knew, or wouldn’t believe me, or worse, didn’t care? I slowly unlocked the door, and she opened it slowly.
“Hey, baby doll! How was your date?” She turned around closing the door, not yet having seen me curled up in her corner. “Were you just using my shower? Did the maids forget to clean yours?”
“Momma,” I finally whispered. She turned around.
“Oh my word, darling what happened? Did Luke dump you?” I had nearly forgotten my date with Luke. It seemed like me walking out of that restaurant had been weeks ago.
“No, I left him.” She gasped. “He got drunk and was acting like- no never mind that. I got home and then a few minutes later, your friend came.” She went blank. She knew he was planning on coming tonight, I could see it in her eyes.
“Yes, sweetie,” she said cautiously, “I am giving him a few things for his nieces of yours that you don’t use anymore. Didn’t I tell you?” Let me think, did you tell me that your boyfriend was coming over to steal from us? Um, no.
“No, mom.” I said simply. “But if that’s what he does to his nieces we have another thing to sue him for.” I said, catching her attention.
“What are you talking about?” she laughed nervously at me.
“Your ‘friend’ raped me mom.” Her eyes went blank and she started to shake her head. I held out my arms and showed her the red marks on my wrists from where my restrains were tied. I pointed to my lips, still bleeding. And then I broke down, curled up on the floor crying.
“For goodness sake Sophie, get up off that floor instantly.” Her voice was intense, but quiet, trying not to wake my father. “You had a bad dream, that’s all.” I couldn’t believe it. The proof, still showing on my skin and she denied everything.
“You don’t believe me?” I said shocked.
“Sweetie,” she pleaded, “it was just a bad dream. Don’t bother your father with your bad dream, he is too busy as it is.” As I looked at her, my head began spinning. “Now I have had a long night, so if you could let me be for a little while, I think you should go to bed. I stumbled out of the bathroom and turned just in time for the door to slam in my face. This had hurt as much as Ed had hurt me. My mother chose a rapist over her own daughter. I walked to my room, and unthinkingly grabbed my duffle bag. Crystal’s dress, my jeans and T- shirt and all my overnight things were still inside. I threw on my coat and walked out the door. I walked down the steps, as if in a trance, images from the night echoing in my head. I heard his voice, calling me whore, I felt his hands on me, and I heard all my friends’ voicemail messages. And finally I heard the man’s voice, so reminiscent of Lulu. Lulu was the only clear thought in my mind. I had to get away, that much I knew, and the only place I could feel safe was with Lulu. I walked to the road, realizing I had forgotten my keys. I wouldn’t go back. I would walk to Lulu if I had to. I would never go back there. I would never look at the places I had been violated, never look at the place where my mother denied me even the smallest of comforts. And I would never have to act like I gave a damn about money, popularity, or class ever, ever again. For the first time that night, I smiled, really and truly smiled. I was free. I got a cab to the bank and took out my savings account. My parents had gotten me a trust fund when I was born, but I couldn’t touch that money and I had been saving money ever since I found that out. I had quite a bit saved up, from money my parents gave me to go shopping and told me to keep the change, birthday money, savings bonds that had been cashed earlier this year. I cleaned all it out. The cashier looked at me like I was crazy. A eighteen year old girl in a vintage dress, looking like the hell I had just been through, clearing out almost ten thousand dollars at twelve thirty in the morning? She probably thought I had just killed someone or something. I took a few minutes to make a checking account in my name, and I put nine thousand back in that. I had about nine hundred dollars left on me so I put it all in my purse. I thanked the girl and walked out. I got back in the cab, tossed him a couple twenties and told him to take me to LA. He turned around.
“Girl, are you crazy?!” he said, his expression making me want to laugh. “Do you know how far away that is?” I nodded. “I don’t know, miss.” he let me out, apologizing. I hailed another cab and piled in next to my duffle bag.
“Los Angeles, please.” The man in front let out a laugh that was so reminiscent of Ed that my blood ran cold.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. After hearing that voice, it really hit me, what had happened. I tried to forget about it, but the more I tried, the more I thought about it. Maybe it was my imagination, maybe it was true, I will never know, but all of a sudden, I stopped still. The dress smelled like him. It felt like him. I could feel his grimy hands and smell his foul breath. I had a desperate thought to run home and tear the dress off. But I couldn’t. I was never going back there. The entire trip took four hours. Four hours of pain, failed attempts of forgetting Ed and the man in front saying things and making comments that reminded me of him. Silent tears slid down my face. I tried to call Lulu and once again I was sent to voice mail. This time I left a message.
“Hey Lu, this is Sophie.” I paused. What exactly was I going to tell her? I couldn’t tell her the truth over the phone. “Look, I don’t know when you’re going to get this, but I just wanted to let you know,” I stopped again. “Um, so I don’t really know what to tell you, but I am currently in a cab to LA. Um, there was a little trouble, at home, and I don’t really have anywhere else to go, so I guess I will be taking you up on your offer of me coming to visit… Yeah I guess I will see you in an hour, or so. Um, call me when you get this, okay dear? K, um I miss you, and-” her machine cut me off. “And I can’t wait to see you,” I muttered to no one.
“Sophie, huh?” the cabbie called back. “That’s a pretty name, darlin’.” I smiled, but the way he said darlin’ made me shiver. “I’m Jack. Believe it or not, I used to be rich.” I smiled and nodded, trying to figure out where this was going. “I got in a bit of trouble, though, and now I’ve got to do this job until I work off my debt.” His accent, and the way he talked put me on edge, and I tried to convince myself that I was just imagining that he sounded like Ed. “My brother, Edward, he does what I used to do, but he’s too smart to get caught I guess.” I froze.
“What exactly was it that you used to do?” I asked casually, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
“Well, you know up in the big cities, there’s a lot of rich women, whose husbands stay away for a long time. They all cheat, it’s common. So we just make sure it’s with us, they give us a little money, and we clear out when the husbands are home.” I never understood the idea of fainting at news like this, but suddenly, I did. My head spun, I saw black spots. “Hey, it’s not like we can make them do something they’re not gonna’ do anyway you know? It’s a lesson for you, sweetie, don’t ever cheat on your husband, huh?” I nodded and put on a fake smile.
“Well, um what did you say your name was again?” I asked cheerfully, as if I was just trying to ask him a question and had forgotten his name.
“Jack,” he said, “Jack Plont.” Ho. Ly. Shit. I started shaking. Masking my terror I forced out another cheerful sentence.
“Well, Jack, it was really nice meeting you.” He nodded and smiled in the rearview mirror. We reached LA at four twenty. He slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road.
“Um, yeah, she lives on the east side I think.” He looked into the back.
“Yeah, I only drop off on the west side.” I glared at him.
“Are you kidding me?” He shook his head cheerfully. I looked out the window. Nearly every head was turned towards us, glaring. This idiot must have done something to one of these people. I tossed some money over the seat; my hands not wanting to get anywhere near him. I pulled my duffle bag out of the seat next to me and had barely shut the door when he peeled out, the screeching noise drawing the attention of everyone not already looking. Not wanting to stay in this area long, I looked around hurriedly. I didn’t know which way was east, and I didn’t want to pull out my iPhone, knowing that the people around me weren’t just going to admire it from a distance if they saw it. I picked a direction and started walking. Suddenly a huge black man in dark jeans and black tank top blocked my path.
“I don’t think that’s the right direction.” He said his deep voice like gravel.
“What, like you know where I’m going?” I asked, sounding surprisingly challenging, even to myself.
“Um, no,” he seemed flustered. “It’s just that you came from that direction, so I figured…” he trailed off and I felt my face burning in embarrassment.
“I…don’t exactly know which direction I’m going right now,” I admitted, regretting it the moment I said it. “You want to point me to the east side?” he smiled, showing teeth as perfectly straight and white as mine.
“Sure, why don’t you walk with me? I’ve got to’ take my friend over there anyway.” An old man stepped out of the shadow, startling me.
“Aw, sugar, don’t be scared. I ain’t gonna hurt you. You just walk with Big Joe and me and we gonna take good care of you.” I gave a tiny sigh of relief, knowing that they may be kidnapping me as we spoke but it wasn’t like I had another option. We started walking and the older man and I talked, Big Joe remaining silent and looking around us in an almost nervous manner. “So,” the old man said cheerfully, “Welcome to Hollywood. What’s your dream?” I laughed.
“I want to go to Julliard and get away from my crazy family.” He was smiling and was about to respond when Big Joe pulled us both into an alley. My heart leapt into my chest as we stood in silence and two men walked by, guns obvious in their holsters.
“Well it’s a good thing I stopped you from heading that way, by Terrence’s turf.” He started walking the opposite way as I had been traveling, and after taking a deep breath, I followed him.
“Who’s Terrence?” I asked him. He stopped suddenly and looked at me like I had lost my mind.
“Who’s Terrence?” his gravelly voice sounded indignant. “Honey, we have got to get you out of here soon before you go and insult somebody.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me after him. I knew there was no point in resisting; he was far, far too strong for me to have even the slightest of chances. “Terrence is this guy who showed up here a few years ago. He runs this whole shin ding.
“He’s,” I paused, trying to think of a word that wouldn’t offend him, “Stronger, than you?” He laughed.
“No, honey, he’s a twig,” he leaned his head in next to my ear, “I think even you could take him, and your tiny.” He continued, “He knows things, you know?” I was confused. “I mean, not in like a, he’s brilliant way, even though he is, that wouldn’t make him quite so bad, it’s just that he knows things about all of us lowlifes out here, it’s like he has eyes everywhere, he always knows everyone’s secrets.” I looked up; he was shaking a little bit. I put my hand on his arm.
“Look, I understand that, I really do, but I don’t think that you’re a low life, you are helping me, find where I’m going, you are being really sweet to a young girl who needs help, and I think that makes you a gentleman.” I said. He looked down towards me.
“Really?” I saw that there were tears in his eyes. I nodded and smiled at him. “Well thanks. That just about made my day. Here’s as far as I can go. Just remember, look confident, don’t stop to talk to anyone and keep walking straight that way, you’ll hit the east side in a few minutes and when you get there you can ask for directions, but not until them. And if something does happen, tell whoever it is that you’re running an errand for Terrence and that Big Joe sent you. Tell them that with confidence and like you aren’t scared okay?” he asked. I nodded.
“So, Big Joe, what’s your real name.” he looked at me and smiled.
“William.” He said softly. “William Joseph Randall.” I held out my hand.
“Well thank you William, it was a pleasure to meet you.” He shook my hand, turned around and disappeared into a side alley. I turned back to the direction he pointed me in and prayed that he wasn’t trying to mess with me, sending me in the wrong direction. I walked of confidently, carrying my bag and not looking in any direction. There were soon so many people out on the street that I could hardly move. Drunken men were cat-calling and laughing, calling out to each other. I glanced around and saw that there were a lot of other men who had been staring me, a couple of whom got up and started to walk a few yards behind me. One of them was tall and stick thin. He looked like he hadn’t seen the light of day in a long time he was so pale. The other was shorter but he was also pale and thin. When I sped up, so did they, when I slowed down, so did they. I remember what William had said and I stopped walking suddenly causing them to nearly run into me. “Yeah, can I help you?” I asked, as confidently as I could. They looked at each other warily.
“Yeah, we noticed that a pretty piece of meat came out of the dungeons.” The taller one said slowly. I rolled my eyes.
“Look, I’m running an errand for Terrence, okay?” when I said his name, they jumped and looked at each other.
“Who sent you?’ the shorter one said. I heard a waiver in his voice.
“Big Joe sent me. And it’s kind of important so if you don’t mind, I need to get through.” They looked at each other, trying to make a decision. The short one nodded.
“Okay, you can go, but we might just follow you to the end of our area, just to be sure you’re not making any trouble.” I nodded as if this thought didn’t scare me. I kept walking, my feet killing me in these stupid heels.
“Whore,” he called out. I turned my head, my eyes as cold as steel. How on earth did his raping me make me a whore? That’s when I shuddered. Rape. The word itself was foreboding, humiliating, cold. Like him. I froze, I could see my hands shaking, wondering what he was going to do next. “You know your mother won’t believe you. And even if she does, she won’t care. She loves me more after all.” The words stung like I couldn’t believe. My first instinct was to laugh, to call out his lie, to deny it. But as I thought about it, I realized that it may indeed be true. “After all, she gave me a key so that I could steal your things to make money so I could buy her something special. She knew I would steal her husband’s money and she didn’t care, thinking I would spend it on her.” He snorted. “Of course she doesn’t realize that I care about her less than I do you, but she is my way to get money, to have an easy life. And you can get me nothing, well, except a little pleasure now and then I suppose.” Still sneering he turned around and descended the stairs. After I heard the door shut downstairs, I lost it. I cried, and cried, wanting someone to hold me and yet still wanting everyone to stay away, never to see me like this. I called my mom, rewarded with being sent directly to voicemail. I called my father, Crystal, and finally Malia, each time only getting voicemail. Finally I tried Lulu, a groggy male voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is Lulu there?” I asked shakily.
“No, can I take a message?” the voice asked.
“Um, can you have her call Sophie as soon as she gets in?” I asked, my heart dropping.
“Yeah, no problem, she has your number right?” He asked.
“Yeah, sorry to wake you.” He replied that it was no problem and we hung up.
I went to make sure all the doors were locked, and even though I knew he had a key, it still made me feel a little bit safer. I curled up in my bed, wrapping the comforter around me crying my eyes out. I felt grimy, disgusting; I had just jumped into a pool filled with mud. Finally wiping my eyes, I tried to pull myself together and rid my body of the memory of this terrible occurrence. I ran a hot shower and stepped in. I was bleeding in a few places and I stared at the steady stream going down the drain. My head pounded and my muscles ached. No matter how hard I scrubbed my skin, I still felt wrong. I wanted to shed it, leave it lying around somewhere, and go find a new skin, a new life to live. A skin that had a family that spent time together, that may not be rich, but was happy, and a skin that I could be myself in. I turned the water off, and pulled the dress back on. I heard the door downstairs, and the sound of people shuffling around. I froze. I looked around for an escape route, and not finding one, ran into my mother’s bathroom and barricaded myself in. I heard laughing and the sound of car engine’s starting and driving away. I heard my father slump past and into my parents’ bedroom. Within minutes, I heard snoring. I waited to for my mother, and I finally heard her heels on the stairs. She tried the doorknob and, realizing I was inside, knocked on the door. I grew more nervous. What if what Ed had said was true? What if she knew, or wouldn’t believe me, or worse, didn’t care? I slowly unlocked the door, and she opened it slowly.
“Hey, baby doll! How was your date?” She turned around closing the door, not yet having seen me curled up in her corner. “Were you just using my shower? Did the maids forget to clean yours?”
“Momma,” I finally whispered. She turned around.
“Oh my word, darling what happened? Did Luke dump you?” I had nearly forgotten my date with Luke. It seemed like me walking out of that restaurant had been weeks ago.
“No, I left him.” She gasped. “He got drunk and was acting like- no never mind that. I got home and then a few minutes later, your friend came.” She went blank. She knew he was planning on coming tonight, I could see it in her eyes.
“Yes, sweetie,” she said cautiously, “I am giving him a few things for his nieces of yours that you don’t use anymore. Didn’t I tell you?” Let me think, did you tell me that your boyfriend was coming over to steal from us? Um, no.
“No, mom.” I said simply. “But if that’s what he does to his nieces we have another thing to sue him for.” I said, catching her attention.
“What are you talking about?” she laughed nervously at me.
“Your ‘friend’ raped me mom.” Her eyes went blank and she started to shake her head. I held out my arms and showed her the red marks on my wrists from where my restrains were tied. I pointed to my lips, still bleeding. And then I broke down, curled up on the floor crying.
“For goodness sake Sophie, get up off that floor instantly.” Her voice was intense, but quiet, trying not to wake my father. “You had a bad dream, that’s all.” I couldn’t believe it. The proof, still showing on my skin and she denied everything.
“You don’t believe me?” I said shocked.
“Sweetie,” she pleaded, “it was just a bad dream. Don’t bother your father with your bad dream, he is too busy as it is.” As I looked at her, my head began spinning. “Now I have had a long night, so if you could let me be for a little while, I think you should go to bed. I stumbled out of the bathroom and turned just in time for the door to slam in my face. This had hurt as much as Ed had hurt me. My mother chose a rapist over her own daughter. I walked to my room, and unthinkingly grabbed my duffle bag. Crystal’s dress, my jeans and T- shirt and all my overnight things were still inside. I threw on my coat and walked out the door. I walked down the steps, as if in a trance, images from the night echoing in my head. I heard his voice, calling me whore, I felt his hands on me, and I heard all my friends’ voicemail messages. And finally I heard the man’s voice, so reminiscent of Lulu. Lulu was the only clear thought in my mind. I had to get away, that much I knew, and the only place I could feel safe was with Lulu. I walked to the road, realizing I had forgotten my keys. I wouldn’t go back. I would walk to Lulu if I had to. I would never go back there. I would never look at the places I had been violated, never look at the place where my mother denied me even the smallest of comforts. And I would never have to act like I gave a damn about money, popularity, or class ever, ever again. For the first time that night, I smiled, really and truly smiled. I was free. I got a cab to the bank and took out my savings account. My parents had gotten me a trust fund when I was born, but I couldn’t touch that money and I had been saving money ever since I found that out. I had quite a bit saved up, from money my parents gave me to go shopping and told me to keep the change, birthday money, savings bonds that had been cashed earlier this year. I cleaned all it out. The cashier looked at me like I was crazy. A eighteen year old girl in a vintage dress, looking like the hell I had just been through, clearing out almost ten thousand dollars at twelve thirty in the morning? She probably thought I had just killed someone or something. I took a few minutes to make a checking account in my name, and I put nine thousand back in that. I had about nine hundred dollars left on me so I put it all in my purse. I thanked the girl and walked out. I got back in the cab, tossed him a couple twenties and told him to take me to LA. He turned around.
“Girl, are you crazy?!” he said, his expression making me want to laugh. “Do you know how far away that is?” I nodded. “I don’t know, miss.” he let me out, apologizing. I hailed another cab and piled in next to my duffle bag.
“Los Angeles, please.” The man in front let out a laugh that was so reminiscent of Ed that my blood ran cold.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said. After hearing that voice, it really hit me, what had happened. I tried to forget about it, but the more I tried, the more I thought about it. Maybe it was my imagination, maybe it was true, I will never know, but all of a sudden, I stopped still. The dress smelled like him. It felt like him. I could feel his grimy hands and smell his foul breath. I had a desperate thought to run home and tear the dress off. But I couldn’t. I was never going back there. The entire trip took four hours. Four hours of pain, failed attempts of forgetting Ed and the man in front saying things and making comments that reminded me of him. Silent tears slid down my face. I tried to call Lulu and once again I was sent to voice mail. This time I left a message.
“Hey Lu, this is Sophie.” I paused. What exactly was I going to tell her? I couldn’t tell her the truth over the phone. “Look, I don’t know when you’re going to get this, but I just wanted to let you know,” I stopped again. “Um, so I don’t really know what to tell you, but I am currently in a cab to LA. Um, there was a little trouble, at home, and I don’t really have anywhere else to go, so I guess I will be taking you up on your offer of me coming to visit… Yeah I guess I will see you in an hour, or so. Um, call me when you get this, okay dear? K, um I miss you, and-” her machine cut me off. “And I can’t wait to see you,” I muttered to no one.
“Sophie, huh?” the cabbie called back. “That’s a pretty name, darlin’.” I smiled, but the way he said darlin’ made me shiver. “I’m Jack. Believe it or not, I used to be rich.” I smiled and nodded, trying to figure out where this was going. “I got in a bit of trouble, though, and now I’ve got to do this job until I work off my debt.” His accent, and the way he talked put me on edge, and I tried to convince myself that I was just imagining that he sounded like Ed. “My brother, Edward, he does what I used to do, but he’s too smart to get caught I guess.” I froze.
“What exactly was it that you used to do?” I asked casually, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
“Well, you know up in the big cities, there’s a lot of rich women, whose husbands stay away for a long time. They all cheat, it’s common. So we just make sure it’s with us, they give us a little money, and we clear out when the husbands are home.” I never understood the idea of fainting at news like this, but suddenly, I did. My head spun, I saw black spots. “Hey, it’s not like we can make them do something they’re not gonna’ do anyway you know? It’s a lesson for you, sweetie, don’t ever cheat on your husband, huh?” I nodded and put on a fake smile.
“Well, um what did you say your name was again?” I asked cheerfully, as if I was just trying to ask him a question and had forgotten his name.
“Jack,” he said, “Jack Plont.” Ho. Ly. Shit. I started shaking. Masking my terror I forced out another cheerful sentence.
“Well, Jack, it was really nice meeting you.” He nodded and smiled in the rearview mirror. We reached LA at four twenty. He slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road.
“Um, yeah, she lives on the east side I think.” He looked into the back.
“Yeah, I only drop off on the west side.” I glared at him.
“Are you kidding me?” He shook his head cheerfully. I looked out the window. Nearly every head was turned towards us, glaring. This idiot must have done something to one of these people. I tossed some money over the seat; my hands not wanting to get anywhere near him. I pulled my duffle bag out of the seat next to me and had barely shut the door when he peeled out, the screeching noise drawing the attention of everyone not already looking. Not wanting to stay in this area long, I looked around hurriedly. I didn’t know which way was east, and I didn’t want to pull out my iPhone, knowing that the people around me weren’t just going to admire it from a distance if they saw it. I picked a direction and started walking. Suddenly a huge black man in dark jeans and black tank top blocked my path.
“I don’t think that’s the right direction.” He said his deep voice like gravel.
“What, like you know where I’m going?” I asked, sounding surprisingly challenging, even to myself.
“Um, no,” he seemed flustered. “It’s just that you came from that direction, so I figured…” he trailed off and I felt my face burning in embarrassment.
“I…don’t exactly know which direction I’m going right now,” I admitted, regretting it the moment I said it. “You want to point me to the east side?” he smiled, showing teeth as perfectly straight and white as mine.
“Sure, why don’t you walk with me? I’ve got to’ take my friend over there anyway.” An old man stepped out of the shadow, startling me.
“Aw, sugar, don’t be scared. I ain’t gonna hurt you. You just walk with Big Joe and me and we gonna take good care of you.” I gave a tiny sigh of relief, knowing that they may be kidnapping me as we spoke but it wasn’t like I had another option. We started walking and the older man and I talked, Big Joe remaining silent and looking around us in an almost nervous manner. “So,” the old man said cheerfully, “Welcome to Hollywood. What’s your dream?” I laughed.
“I want to go to Julliard and get away from my crazy family.” He was smiling and was about to respond when Big Joe pulled us both into an alley. My heart leapt into my chest as we stood in silence and two men walked by, guns obvious in their holsters.
“Well it’s a good thing I stopped you from heading that way, by Terrence’s turf.” He started walking the opposite way as I had been traveling, and after taking a deep breath, I followed him.
“Who’s Terrence?” I asked him. He stopped suddenly and looked at me like I had lost my mind.
“Who’s Terrence?” his gravelly voice sounded indignant. “Honey, we have got to get you out of here soon before you go and insult somebody.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me after him. I knew there was no point in resisting; he was far, far too strong for me to have even the slightest of chances. “Terrence is this guy who showed up here a few years ago. He runs this whole shin ding.
“He’s,” I paused, trying to think of a word that wouldn’t offend him, “Stronger, than you?” He laughed.
“No, honey, he’s a twig,” he leaned his head in next to my ear, “I think even you could take him, and your tiny.” He continued, “He knows things, you know?” I was confused. “I mean, not in like a, he’s brilliant way, even though he is, that wouldn’t make him quite so bad, it’s just that he knows things about all of us lowlifes out here, it’s like he has eyes everywhere, he always knows everyone’s secrets.” I looked up; he was shaking a little bit. I put my hand on his arm.
“Look, I understand that, I really do, but I don’t think that you’re a low life, you are helping me, find where I’m going, you are being really sweet to a young girl who needs help, and I think that makes you a gentleman.” I said. He looked down towards me.
“Really?” I saw that there were tears in his eyes. I nodded and smiled at him. “Well thanks. That just about made my day. Here’s as far as I can go. Just remember, look confident, don’t stop to talk to anyone and keep walking straight that way, you’ll hit the east side in a few minutes and when you get there you can ask for directions, but not until them. And if something does happen, tell whoever it is that you’re running an errand for Terrence and that Big Joe sent you. Tell them that with confidence and like you aren’t scared okay?” he asked. I nodded.
“So, Big Joe, what’s your real name.” he looked at me and smiled.
“William.” He said softly. “William Joseph Randall.” I held out my hand.
“Well thank you William, it was a pleasure to meet you.” He shook my hand, turned around and disappeared into a side alley. I turned back to the direction he pointed me in and prayed that he wasn’t trying to mess with me, sending me in the wrong direction. I walked of confidently, carrying my bag and not looking in any direction. There were soon so many people out on the street that I could hardly move. Drunken men were cat-calling and laughing, calling out to each other. I glanced around and saw that there were a lot of other men who had been staring me, a couple of whom got up and started to walk a few yards behind me. One of them was tall and stick thin. He looked like he hadn’t seen the light of day in a long time he was so pale. The other was shorter but he was also pale and thin. When I sped up, so did they, when I slowed down, so did they. I remember what William had said and I stopped walking suddenly causing them to nearly run into me. “Yeah, can I help you?” I asked, as confidently as I could. They looked at each other warily.
“Yeah, we noticed that a pretty piece of meat came out of the dungeons.” The taller one said slowly. I rolled my eyes.
“Look, I’m running an errand for Terrence, okay?” when I said his name, they jumped and looked at each other.
“Who sent you?’ the shorter one said. I heard a waiver in his voice.
“Big Joe sent me. And it’s kind of important so if you don’t mind, I need to get through.” They looked at each other, trying to make a decision. The short one nodded.
“Okay, you can go, but we might just follow you to the end of our area, just to be sure you’re not making any trouble.” I nodded as if this thought didn’t scare me. I kept walking, my feet killing me in these stupid heels.