Too Much to Chew/More Than I Asked For

Chapter Three

                He insisted I wear a dress, a grownup dress, a white one he said and he wanted me to do my hair too. Asking a little bit too much if you ask me, and make-up, why? I did it anyway. It was a Saturday, my free Saturday. I had to ride my bike up to his house. I insisted that I didn't need a ride, no way I was giving Sabrina a reason to do something rash. Making myself all pretty, I felt new and good. I felt like a princess. My sister had given me her mid leg dress, petticoat and all with poofy hanging sleeves. My little purse was in my basket, and my hair was set in a giant bow made of my own two toned hair.

                I mounted my bike, my trusty steed, and rode off to battle, I could see my mom watching me leave from the window, and she had her moments, even her. It was a long ride, but the breeze felt good and the house was worth the look, cars were everywhere. Kids from school of high stature even lower levels of society were here at this party. I think it was the entire school. I locked my bike to the garden fence, and went with the crowd into the ballroom with the piano.

                I looked around and saw Alex, we made eye contact, and he waved me over, “You came.”

                I nodded, stepping out of a dancing couple’s way. “Yeah, I don’t break promises.” I said quietly. I looked around.

                “Do you want to dance?” He held out his hand and tossed my purse onto the piano. He dragged me into the dance and began to twirl me around. I most definitely didn’t know how to dance, but I guess that doesn’t matter, when he was your partner.

                He dropped me into a seat, huffing. I drank the glass of water that he handed to me. “Having fun, doll?”

                I shook my head, “So tiring.” I smoothed my sister’s dress.

                “You look really nice.”, he said sitting down across from me.

                “Thank you. Thank you for inviting me.” I said putting down the glass. "It’s been fun.”

                He nodded, “I have something I want to show you.” His voice was deep and rough. I swear his face was dark like when he pushed me into the Ravine, the same evil just for a flash flickered behind his eyes.

                We went upstairs, flights and flights of stairs; I had only been up to the second floor. He led me down halls and halls; we stopped at big double doors like that of fairy tales. “Where are we?” I said puzzled.

                “The reason.” He swung open the doors and stood back into the shadow. The room was lit by candles, probably hundreds. It was a huge fire hazard if you ask me; the candle's smell was too aromatic and made the room stuffy. A small figure was hunched over in a bed, inside the dimmed bedroom. Thick curtains were drawn around the bed, I looked back and he nodded, face half out of the shadow.

                I pulled the curtain aside a bit, unaware of the condition of the laying figure. She was beautiful. She had long, black, raven hair with a purple-blue shine, it fanned behind her.

                “Mrs. Waters?”, I whispered.

                “Yes.”, he said from the hallway, “The reason.”

                I shook my head, “This tells me nothing.“

                Mrs. Waters stirred, and she looked at me, “Elizabeth Grimm.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes. She flung herself at me.

                “Mrs. Waters, what’s wrong?!” She slumped in my arms, as if the strength had left her. I laid her back down and she covered her eyes.

                “I couldn’t save-”, she sniffled.

                "It’s time to go. Come on, Liz” He ushered me through the halls. I couldn’t help but look back. What couldn’t she save? What did that have to do with me? What did I do? He stood at the bottom of the stairs awhile turned away from me, I reached for him but thought against it and dropped my hand.

                “Meet me at the piano at 10:00, ‘kay?”

                He stalked off hands in his suit pockets. I stumbled, shocked, over to the pastry table, and ate about half of it. He just left me to my own devices. I looked at the clock, and made my way to the piano. He stood waiting patiently and he smiled, holding his hands out to me. I took one in a handshake. He kissed it, making me blush, and then dropping my hand to my side he took my face. This was different, I felt something in the stomach, a pang of hurt, a sense of foreboding. I could feel a tear leave my face. Then I saw them jump on top of the piano, it all happened so quickly but I could see it all in slow-motion.

                Two cans of black paint. I felt it hit, running down my dress, and I just stood there eyes closed, as everyone watched. Some laughed, others gasped. I took it all like a warrior. I knew I wouldn’t break down, I’d keep it all in. The last of the paint hit me, and paint dripped onto the marble floor, staining the clean white décor. The smell suffocated me, but I didn’t cough. A sign of weakness I couldn't let them see, even though I was sure I'd die of asphyxiation.

                I reached into my pocket, stepping towards Alex; I pulled out my wallet, being so careful. I reached inside and pulled out the letter and reaching in my bag I got the present I had got him for his test, no matter the outcome. My fingers were the only things spared of the black so I was quick. “I got you this, for your Geometry score, because I know you did well, and I also wanted to say I was sorry. I still don’t know what I did. But-“ I handed it to him. He took it, unsure of whether it was a trap.

                “I told you I’d get you back.” Sabrina snickered, coiling herself around his waist.

                I should have seen it coming, should have seen that all this could have been merely a nightmare. But aren’t nightmares dreams too? I'd walked right into the trap. I overlooked all kinds of details, and because of that I missed the entire picture. “Goodbye, Alex.” I turned around and walked casually through his house trekking black paint. I passed his confused father. I unlocked my bike, climbed on top and pedaled off. I didn't lose.

                I hadn’t been back to this place in forever, I had been too scared to go back, I guess. But I couldn’t go home, not yet, it just wasn’t time. I needed to cool down, I needed to cry, and make a sea of red tears that would drown the town but that wouldn’t solve anything would it? The forest trail I used to walk was almost entirely gone. I was almost relieved when the trail started, and I walked. I could feel it that air of quiet I had once relished in, reading books, in peace. I saw my tree in the middle of my meadow, and seeing it still there, having survived I broke down.

                At the base of this tree, I cried. I sobbed, heaving big breaths, soaked in black paint, a heavy dress and a broken heart. I admit, okay? I had felt feelings, old feelings, that hit me all out of the blue. Like at some point in life I had felt them before, the time we spent together, besides me being tortured, the study sessions, lunches. It didn't originate from that, no it was old, and I don't believe in love at first sight, because that's all hogwash and bolderdash. But it was all so beautiful I had a friend, and then I had someone to love. Now I am back to nothing, if I had kept things the same, instead of getting greedy I could still- I could still pretend.

                Going back home didn’t take long. It was painful, and freezing cold. My heart and my lungs hurt from pumping it on the bike and I honestly didnt want to face Kiana: almost certainly she'd start to blame herself. Mom could go either way, saying I deserve it and to hose myself off, or she could pretend to care. I was stiff, and lonely. Fairytales are boldfaced lies, they never come true. Don’t believe in that bull. Hear me?! I was so close, now I have no idea who I am. But I know who I used to be. 

                I had one dress left, one they missed, it felt good to feel one of my dresses on again. I cried a little when I thought of what I had almost let go of. My sister woke up early and she sat up, watching me dress.

                “Want to go shopping for more dresses later?”

                She didn’t answer; I could see her crying as she passed me going out the door. Like I was broken.