Tattered Beauty (Watty Awards 2011)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

            Once again, we were alone in the backseat of Daniel’s limousine. “Thank you; I appreciate it.” I told him after Laurence closed the door. Without him, I might have bled to death or gotten an infection and died. Although without him, I would not be bleeding at all.

            “Really, Hailey, it’s no trouble. I only want to make it up to you.” He shrugged. “Where am I taking you, by the way?”

            “Oh!” I paused, hesitating. Where could I go? I could not tell him I was living in a shelter—there was absolutely no chance of us ever being even just friends if he knew. So, I told a little fib. “Hillcrest Valley Shelter,” at his confused glance I explained, “I’m visiting a good friend of mine there.”

            Daniel smiled. “That is a very kind thing to do. Laurence,” he yelled up front. “Hillcrest and West, please.”

            “How do you know where it is?” I asked. It was peculiar that someone so rich knew where to find the poorest people in the city.

            “My dad funds the place, didn’t you know?” Daniel said. Maybe my eyebrows raised, or I made some kind of weird expression, but he said, slightly angrily, “You know my dad, huh? Who doesn’t?” I said I didn’t mean to offend him. “Oh, I’m not offended, just a little disappointed that you’re like all the others, in love with my dad’s money and legacy.”

            I half laughed. “Daniel, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m not like everyone else, you will find. I’m not interested in your dad—I want to get to know you.”

            “You want to get to know me then? How about we do some getting-to-know-you shit at dinner tonight?” He winked.

            “Your skills at asking me out are pretty slick,” I rolled my eyes. “But, yes, I would love to do some get-to-know-you shit at dinner more than anything else.” I nodded vigorously.

            “Pick you up at seven?”

            “I’ll be here still. See you then!” I smiled and waved good-bye.

            Daniel said, “Goodbye, Hailey.” I sighed longingly as the limo pulled away, leaving me alone on the curb. This guy had me wrapped around his finger already; he held my heart on a string. The younger me would not have stood for this; I called the shots in the relationships. Back then I had dates every Friday and Saturday night—usually with different boys. It’s what happens when you’ve got a playboy magazine ready body and a devilish, rebellious attitude. Boys—teens, adults, old men—can’t seem to get enough of it. But lately, my line of suitors has been significantly depleted, thanks to me being picky. Something was different with Daniel though. I did not feel the urge to turn him away, not even once.

***

            Later that night Kelsey returned home early. She helped me curl my hair in beautiful ringlets. She did my makeup; she even let me borrow a pair of her ultra-high black heels to go with my “new” pink and black floral dress. She could not help being a little smug, “I told you you’d get hurt.”

            “Shut up!” I punched her. “But thanks, for this. I haven’t done my hair like this since my last super-important date.”

            Kelsey let another new, hot ringlet flop down onto my head. “You’ve been on a ton of dates. When was the last super-important one?”