Sensing there was nothing else he needed to show me, I turned on my heels and quickly walked downstairs. I wasn’t sure how serious he was about me familiarizing myself with his house.Now that the tour was over I began noticing the small things. Like how there weren’t many personal photographs in his house. The walls in the foyer and living room were full of overbearing paintings but not one photo. Not even of himself.There was also no television or radio. If he did entertain in this room, it didn’t seem like it would be much fun.When he didn’t come right down, I found myself checking my phone. It was only five. I still had a little time to get home. I knew Rick would be expecting me sometime before five-thirty.Panicking, I stepped out of the living room to find and tell him I was going to walk home if he wasn’t ready. The sound of his footsteps hitting the last step brought me a little relief. I didn’t know what I would find in his room.“There you are. I need to get going so if t
Danica POV I figured if I had to show my face at least three times a week, Monday would be a great start. I could come Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Dmitry let me know if he needed me on the weekend, he would let me know. I didn’t tell Rick about our little arrangement. However he assumed the repair cost was being repaid was being paid for, he kept to himself. I half expected to see Dmitry’s fancy car along the road as I walked home from school. That one day of being chauffeured around had me wanting more. Though thinking about him all day, I wasn’t sure if it was the ride or him that I wanted to see. I made sure to walk really fast to my house. I needed to change from my blue jeans and graphic tee into something I didn’t mind getting dirty. Walking fast cut about twenty minutes from my walk home. Luckily it was a cooler day so sweat wasn’t really a problem. It was the middle of March and most days the high weather was in the mid-sixties. Those were the days I wore shorts and en
Dmitry POV I come home to a loud house. Music is playing from upstairs. Some song I don’t know is playing but I’m not sure the artist. I place my leftovers in the fridge and take in the scene around me. The dishes were put away and the trash was empty. Not sure how she got it to smell lemon fresh in here but she did. I checked my watch before taking it off and placing it on the kitchen breakfast bar. It was almost eight at night. I didn’t expect her to still be here. My phone rang. “This is Dmitry,” I answered before checking the caller id. “Hey, good looking.” A female voice sang through the receiver. I checked the caller ID making sure not to get caught up in any games while I finally make my way upstairs. It was Nancy. A girl I have been dating on and off for the past year. We met while I was on a flight to Canada and she was working first class. I reached the top of the landing just as the song changed and a familiar voice sang out. It sounds like Alicia Keys. I recognize
Danica POVSneaking back into the was easier than I thought. There was a large lattice with overgrown vines beneath my window.I think my grandmother put it there to give me a chance to have an adventure one day. Though that day hadn't come until now.The last time I was weighed in gym class, I weighed one hundred and twenty pounds. I wondered what the weight limit was for a lattice that hadn’t been reinforced in years. It's been here since I was a little girl and my grandmother used to take good care of it.I remember my grandfather checking the veins on it, but I wasn’t sure if he checked anything else.I looked through a few windows looking for signs of Rick. The house was silent and dark.Cautiously I placed my hands on the lattice, pulling at it for a false measure of security. When I thought it was safe, I began to climb until I was at my window. Placing my fingers between the open space I’d left on the way out, I lifted it enough to pull myself in. Grateful the window sat above
Danica POVI felt a lump form in my throat as I picked up my pace hoping the question wasn’t directed toward me. I only made it a few more steps before I heard her call out again.“Is that you Dani?”I swallowed the lump and mustered a smile. I wasn’t sure how far Angel would go in a crowded store. Especially this one. She liked to cause a scene in the locker room, but this was different. This was public and without her friends.I turned to see her standing behind the cashier station with another girl standing a few inches behind her. My smile faded as the girl quickly reminded me of her lackeys back at school and I remembered she only needed an audience of one to put on a show.“It is you, Dani. I didn’t recognize you in those dressy clothes. Where are you off to? Church.” She smiled while holding a grunted laugh. The other girl covered her mouth to hold in her snicker.I looked down at my button down shirt, skin tight skirt, and tried to understand her joke. “No. Umm, I’m here to fi
Dmitry POVMy best friend, Cory, called this morning to say he needed some much needed guy time. He’d been spending too much time with a girl his mother introduced him to a few weeks ago. I told him I couldn’t dedicate anytime to drinking like we normally do, but he could tag along while I run a few errands.I listened while he rambled on about how persistent this new girl was. Though he believed his mother had more to do with the girls determination. She wanted him to marry a “good” girl as she would put it. Someone from a “good” family. But what she really meant was a rich girl from a rich family.“It’s not like she isn’t good looking, because she looks amazing. And she is a fun girl to hang around.” He went on. “But we just don’t connect. It’s like every time we talk, we are on two didn’t trains.”My friend let out a sigh as we pulled into the shopping center. He was beat and I could tell.“Cory, just tell your mother, you want to find your own wife.” I laughed but he didn’t see th
Danica POVDmitry rang my phone once after I left the store, but I didn’t bother answering. I was too embarrassed about the way I ran out. I started imagining every possible insult Angel could have said in his presence.I caught the bus home not giving another place a chance. I couldn’t believe I was saying this but at home, in my room, was the only place I wanted to be.I spent the entire Sunday morning locked away in my room. I was safe there inside those four walls. That is until my father began stumping up the stairs. I felt myself shrinking into my bed when he walked past my doors.A few moments later, he stumped back down the stairs grunting incoherent words until he was out the front door.I walked out quietly my room and made my way through the living room to the nearest window. I looked out and saw Rick in his Sunday’s best clothing. Khaki pants, white shirt, and a sports jacket.I wasn’t sure where he was headed, but I knew he would be gone awhile if he got dressed up. This
Danica POVSobs flowed evenly with the sound of the shower as tried to calm myself. Rick was extremely angry with me, but this was the first time he had held on for so long.My neck was red and sore. I cried even more at the sight of my neck in the mirror. Rick was no longer trying to hide his marks and I knew somehow, I would suffer for it more.The next morning, I stared in the mirror for almost thirty minutes before I reached into my cabinet and pulled out a bottle of foundation.I’d become a pro at covering the smaller and lighter bruises. I added the foundation to my neck and my face to cover my puffy eyes.‘Six more weeks.’ I said to myself while getting dressed. ‘I only have six more weeks until graduation.’I checked my phone while walking to school.Dmitry texted me last night. A simple, ‘How are you doing?’I didn’t bother to text back. I didn’t know what to say.I took my time getting to school. I knew Angel would have told everyone what happened Saturday.When I stepped in