BLACK SHEEP | DW

036.

"i need a life that isn't just about needing to escape my life"
-robert polito

she brushed the dress flat onto her body, pressing down any wrinkles. the mirror was huge, and she looked so tiny amongst the vast reflection.

"it looks wonderful," bill complimented, placing a hand under his chin in thought as he watched the girl spin. "very modest length. i believe it compliments your complexion quite well," he continued.

the store was about thirty minutes out of tulsa, that contained all designer items— a special interest for bill and his frivolous style. it was also the safest bet for venus's back to school shopping because it meant no one asked questions when you flashed serious cash.

but part of her wished she had her mother to shop with. a woman figure to compliment her and give her advice on how to wear her hair and what makeup to apply. of course, bill had an eye for colors and patterns, but that small part of her still missed her mother.

"are you sure it isn't... too much?" venus said hesitantly, swaying the dress in the mirror. "i mean, i love it, and it looks great, but it's only high school. are you sure it isn't too much?"

bill fixed the blouse underneath, straightening the hem on her shoulder, before looking back to her reflection. "no," he said surely. "you love it, it makes you feel good, it is not too much."

there was a week until school began again. a week before all the sleeping in, and spending her days killing time with her friends, disappeared in the name of math textbooks and english reading assignments.

but it was two weeks until Dally got out. against his strict request, venus got her father to talk to the prosecution, the parol officers, and the prison ward, and mr. murphy was able to get him out early on good behavior.

of course, that was a secret that the father daughter duo would keep, but venus couldn't refrain. Dally had helped her. he had written her a much nicer letter, and didn't get mad that she had poured out her emotions onto a paper. he helped her. helped her feel better, helped her gain some confidence going into school, and helped her see her life in a different perspective.

so she helped him.

but as far as he knew, she had nothing to do with it.

so that's why she pretended, when he told her, that it was great and shocking news.

but, she wouldn't be sending a letter today. instead, she would visit him. after last weekend, when she went out with tim and angela to another party, and saw sylvia yet again flirting with one too many guys, she figured the girl hadn't so much as called him.

figuring she might be the only one, venus wanted to talk to him, in person. she knew from johnny that none of the guys had went to visit him, because it was so far away and they hadn't had the time to drive there and back— some didn't even have a car— but venus had time, and bill's mustang, so she would volunteer (for more than just selfish reasons).

at least, that's what she told herself on the drive there. she was not being selfish in going to see him, and it was not to fuel her own confusion; her visitation was simply to give him some company.

she continued to swear it up the front steps, and through the security check-in, and even when Dally had finally sat in the metal table across from her and said— "what the fuck are you doing here?"