Tattered Beauty (Watty Awards 2011)

Chapter 7

The picture is a picture of what Lily's house looks like, only it's yellow

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Chapter 7

            It was well past midnight before Daniel called the limo to come round and pick us up. We’d had so much fun talking and being in each other’s company that we’d forgotten completely about the time. Then I had to face the truth—where was he going to take me home? I couldn’t say I was going to a “shelter sleepover”, no one would believe that. I thought long and hard before I gave an address. “2270 North Shire Avenue, please.”

            “Is that where you live?” Daniel asked while he stroked my arm gently with his fingertips. I don’t think he even noticed he was doing it.

            “It’s an address.” I sighed. I should have told him the truth then and there, but I didn’t. “I tend to jump around a lot.”  Daniel nodded and didn’t push the subject any further.

            The ride there was quiet and uneventful. I expected Daniel to make a move several times, but he didn’t. He was such a respectable English boy.

            We pulled up at the house. Even in the dark I saw it was the same pale yellow with white, half-round shingles and trim as I remembered from my childhood.  “Thank you, Daniel.” I said.

I climbed out of the limo, he tagged along with me. Before we got to the porch stairs I dug his tie out of my purse. “Keep it.” He told me. “I have a million of them, anyway. It’ll give you something to remember me by.”

Something to remember him by—he wasn’t going to ask me out again. My already tattered heart cried out in pain. I hoped my face didn’t show. It was probably the last thing he needed, some tattered beauty crying over him as he left. With a strained smile I hugged him good-bye, savoring our final moments. I had grown attached so quickly.

He strode back to his limo and I walked up the stairs and to the door. Finally I heard him call. “Hailey?”

I turned around. My heart started to pound. “Yes?” I became hopeful even though I knew it was going to be painful if he smashed my hopes back down again.

He leaned against his card door. He looked oh-so debonair and delicious, which made this all the harder. I forced the tears back. His musical, charming voice filled the air. “Our date tonight was a complete failure, honestly. Every little thing went wrong.” Daniel paused. When he spoke again, magic—fireworks, golden sparkles, whatever you want to think of—came out. “I might be crazy for saying this, but I sincerely do not think I can live without ever seeing you again. Will you give it another try and go on a date with me?”

An amazed and completely ridiculous grin lit up my face slowly, like the sun just beginning to rise over the horizon in the morning. “Of course! When will I see you?”

“I’ll be around. Wednesday night alright with you?”

I nodded. “I’ll be here, maybe.”

Daniel bounded up the steps towards me. He slipped a folded up card into my hand. “I know it’s a business card, totally unromantic. But it’s the only way you can get a hold of me at the present time. When the secretary answers, tell her your name, and she’ll transfer you to me directly. Call me.”

“I will.” I promised.

After he drove off I dug in my bag for the key I had held on my keychain since I was fourteen. I remembered the night my aunt Lily gave it to me; it was the last time I saw her.

That year my best friend—Andy—happened to be gay. I absolutely adored him because he was a guy and a girl all wrapped up in one fabulous package! Unfortunately for both of us, my parents did not like him. Lily was visiting the night it all went down: my parents banned Andrew from the house and forbade me to see him. His parents, who hadn’t know about their son’s sexuality in the first place, got involved and defended him, despite their shock. There was a huge argument, ending in a loss of a friend and many tears on my part. Aunt Lily defended both of us, saying there was nothing wrong with being homosexual, or a having a friend who was. My mother shunned her own sister after that night. Before she left she snuck a key onto my chain with a note: “You’re different Hailey. You have a tolerance you’re parents don’t. Should you ever need a place to go or somebody to talk to, here’s a key to my house. Love, Aunt L.”

I bet you are all asking yourself why the hell I didn’t go to her place the day I was kicked out. I hate being a mooch. It doesn’t make much sense considering a mooch more of regular people than I probably would off of her, but still. I hate being a burden. I don’t need someone to take care of me; I can take care of myself. Now, however, seemed like a good time to see her again.

I unlocked the door with the five year old key, now rusty with age. I tried to be quiet so I wouldn’t scare her to death, but loud enough that she would wake up and notice me. When I tiptoed inside, I heard a voice. “Who is there?”  Edged and coated in fear it drifted from the kitchen. It could only be Lily.

I tiptoed into the kitchen where we both shrieked at the sight of each other. My aunt was exactly how I remembered her to be, only five years older. The smoky fire that was her hair still stood upon her head and her face youthful. The only difference was she clutched a frying pan like a baseball bat—ready to smack the intruder. “Hailey? Is it really you?” She confirmed it and dropped her weapon.

“Yeah.” I said. God, what a lame thing to say.

She embraced me in a loving hug. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad you’re here and alive. I’ve been praying you’d come every night since you disappeared.” I felt comforted by the smell of her. Vanilla and lilac floated off of her skin. Her house smelled of fresh bread. I never realized how much I missed the smells of home and of family. Tears came to my eyes for the second time tonight. This time, I was  powerless to stop them.