Unlikely Conditions

Chapter 3

There was a soft gentle breeze that blew through Meadow's hair, making her skirt flow almost like she was a Disney princess. She tried to keep her hands busy as she walked down the path by Keegan's side. She caught a glimpse of her out the corner of her eye before quickly keeping her eyes focused on the path ahead.

"So, what do you do for a living?" Keegan asked, not taking her eyes off the path ahead.

"Huh?"

"Do you have a job or?" Keegan asked as she tried to make conversation. Meadow nervously twirled her rings round her finger, her eyes dotting round the park for a moment.

"I work in a restaurant most of the time." She replied, gently brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Most of the time? Do you have a second job?" Keegan asked, turning her head slightly to glance at her.

"I guess you could call it that but no one really knows. Not my friends, not my parents, not even my boyfriend." Meadow replied, avoiding her gaze. Keegan stopped in her tracks, turning to look at her as she comfortably crossed her arms across her chest with a chuckle.

"I'm intrigued now, you don't seem like the type to be doing some criminal activity although looks can be deceiving." Keegan chuckled as she gave her a quick glance up and down. Meadow could feel her cheeks warm up slightly as she tried to avoid her gaze, nervously tugging at her skirt as she could feel her throat go dry as she tried to find the words.

"I'm...a cam girl.." Meadow mumbled as she looked away from her, afraid of the look that may be plastered on her face. Disgust? Laughter? She braved it, slowly glancing over at the shocked expression on her face, Keegan slowly lifting her sunglasses so Meadow could get a better look at the expression on her face.

"I was not expecting that but I can't say I wouldn't do the same if I looked the way you do." Keegan grinned as she looked her up and down again, a slight grin on her face. Meadow was taken back by her reaction. She rested her hand to her cheek, it was warm. She was almost turning bright red.

"I- thank you?" Meadow hesitated, unsure of what to say to Keegan's comment. Their moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound chattering people gathered round the end of the path way. They both approached it slowly, Meadow trying to squeeze past to get a glance at the commotion. She was able to catch a glimpse of police tape tied to a post and a tree as two police officers tried to push everyone away from the scene. Meadow suddenly stepped back in horror from the site of a large black sheet covering what looked like the shape of a body on the ground. Her shoulder knocked into Keegan's side as she took a step back, she glanced at the unfazed expression on Keegan's face, almost like she was used to this type of situation.

"I heard it was another gang attack." One woman whispered to another. Meadow could just about hear them in front of her before she was taken by surprise by Keegan's grasp around her wrist. She quickly turned her head to glance at her.

"Let's go!" Keegan insisted before giving a gentle tug on Meadow's arm as she began to lead the way out the park. Meadow didn't get a chance to ask why as she was led out the park. She took a quick glance behind her, watching the crime scene slowly fade into the distance as Keegan stormed ahead towards the exit. Meadow could only see the back of Keegan's head as she led the way, her hand warm around her wrist, it wasn't a tight grip but she still felt safe in her hand. Keegan didn't stop once to catch her breath, it was almost like she was in a hurry from someone or something.

The sky was covered in a light summer evening glow. It was a beautiful purple, the clouds were still visible as they passed them by. Keegan finally took a heavy breath as she stopped, Meadow stood behind her in silence, Keegan slowly lowering her arm as she let go of her wrist. She then turned to her side to look back at Meadow. The smile that Meadow had enjoyed seeing on her face was nowhere to be found, it didn't even seem like it was coming back. There was a fear behind her eyes that she was trying to mask but Meadow knew that look all too well. Meadow struggled to find the words to speak, they felt trapped in her throat.

"I'm sorry.." Keegan apologised, Meadow didn't wanna question her apology further.

"It's fine.." Meadow replied with a weak smile to try and lighten things. A soft chuckle escaped Keegan's lips as she shook her head slightly, taking a slight step back.

"You shouldn't be around me. I'm grateful I was there that night and today was fun but..I can't.." Keegan insisted, Meadow looked back at her in shock. Once again the words were trapped in her throat.

"But-" Meadow begged.

"No!" Keegan objected, taken back by the own anger in her voice. She let out a deep exhale as Meadow clutched the straps of her bag, lowering her head to look down at the ground below.

"Alright, thank you. I never got to thank you officially so this is it." Meadow replied, a slight sadness in her voice.

"Get home safe bambi." Keegan insisted with a faint smile, Meadow lifted her head to glance at the fake smile on her face. It wasn't the same as the real thing.

"It's Meadow!" She declared with a weak smile. Keegan lightly chuckled and nodded back at her before throwing her arm up in the air to wave her a goodbye before turning to walk away from her. Meadow simply stuck frozen on the spot as she watched her walk away once again. She exhaled as she dug into her bag to grab her phone, unlocking it before blinking repeatedly at the notifications on her phone. 5 missed calls Nicole. 30 unread messages. She didn't like the feeling of this. She braved it and decided to open the messages, she didn't even know were to start. She opened the messages from Nicole.

Hey girl, I saw you out the house and you didn't text me?!

Meadow felt her heart suddenly sink, clenching her phone tightly in her hand, feeling her hand shake. She couldn't put a finger on the reason behind this sudden fear, she wasn't doing anything suspicious. She knew she'd have to call her at some point to talk to her about this but right now wasn't the best time. She closed her phone again, sliding it back into her bag, giving her skirt a slight nervous tug before slowly making her way down the street back towards her house.

She turned her key in the lock before slowly pushing open the door, making her way inside as she closed the door behind her, tossing her keys in the bowl that sat next to the door. Her roommate turned her head, peaking over the top of the sofa to glance at her.

"You okay?" She asked, a spoonful of ice cream sitting in her mouth as she asked. Meadow stood frozen on the spot, looking back at her as a sigh of defeat escaped her lips.

"I'm gunna do a couple posts then climb into bed.." She replied as she turned to enter her room, closing the door behind her, tossing her bag and hat onto her bed. She glanced over at the jacket still sitting on her chair as she picked it up in her fist, opening her closet and tossing it in the bottom ontop of a couple of cardboard boxes. She began to gather her lights together, putting them in place as she turned them on before getting undressed in front of her mirror, running her fingertips gently across her waist, stomach, chest, hips and eventually her thighs. She could feel the soft risen scars scattered across her upper thighs. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to empty her head of those memories. She let out a deep exhale before grabbing her phone and placing it in it's holder ready for the photos. She leaned in to turn on her timer before sitting on the edge of her bed, raising her leg to rest her foot on the edge of the bed, allowing the other leg to dangle forward, sliding the left strap of her bra from her shoulder seductively, turning her head to the side away from the camera, closing her eyes as the camera flashed.