Touch

3 - Alexis

Damn these rich people.

We arrived an hour ago. I remember walking in, seeing the thousands of dollars worth of furniture, money practically dripping down the walls. Money that could've been used to feed my family.

The old cow that pushed her daughter on to me ordered a servant to show me my room. The moment I was inside I locked the door. She's still out there, waiting for when I need her, listening in and spying for the countess.

I've decided on a name for her.

Countess cow. It's not clever or original, but then again, neither is she.

My bed is dressed in shining shaded silk with drapes hanging from a dark wooden frame. It's rare to get any wood nowadays. My family certainly couldn't afford it.

I am currently on my hands and knees searching for scissors. The one thing I want to do more than anything is cut my hair.

I was never allowed to do it at home. My mother said that I'd get more work if I had long, pretty hair. Ugh, it's so hot and useless.

I'm searching through the lower draws of the enormous dresser when I almost scream with excitement. I've found them!

I stand up quickly and begin hacking at my waves. The long, dark locks fall to the floor until I am satisfied with my work.

My eyes sparkle. my cheeks have more shades in them. My face is more noticeable. That's not entirely what I was hoping for, but it can't hurt to have a pretty face.

My hair stops at my ears. A few strands reach down to my shoulders at the front and frame my face. The rest has been chopped off, leaving a thin layer of hair over my head.

It turned out better than I expected.

I place the scissors back on the dresser and open the massive closet to the right. May as well complete the look with a dress to impress.

Or a dress to give them a heart attack.

Who knows?

I strip off my tattered suit pants and shirt, rummaging through the wardrobe until I find something I can work with. My hand brushes something soft at the back. I grab it and pull it out.

It's perfect.

A violet dress with a gossamer-thin layer of shimmering material covering the skirt. The sleeves fall in an elegant wave around the hanger. The skirt has an elegant design of faint dark swirls. I can work with this.

I pull the dress over my head. My arms slip into the sleeves as I button the back. The skirt is a bit too long.

I grab the seam and tear straight across the skirt just below the knee. The edge folds up neatly underneath to make a reasonable hem.

I run my fingers through my hair and prepare to face the world.

•••

The doors to the dining room burst open as I stride into the room. My black heels tap tap tap across the marble floor.

The countess stares at me in horror, her husband looks as though he's holding back laughter.

Their daughter just looks plain nasty.

One eyebrow is raised, and a smirk stretches across his lips. He's looking me straight in the eyes, asking me a question. I glare at him and he chuckles.

"Mother dear, what exactly were you thinking when you selected him. 'Ooh, let's get her a little toy to play with, one that looks all nice and proper.' He's a freak for god's sake!" Her impression of Countess Cow was almost perfect, she just needed a nasal voice and a wart on her chin.

"Although, he has impeccable taste." she cackled as I took my seat opposite her.

"I'm afraid I can't say the same for you." I retorted. The Cow stared at me, outraged. She really did look like she was about to charge me like a bull.

"You- You are not a- a woman! You will not wear a dress, you will not wear those shoes, You... will not... speak, unless spoken to!" She spluttered. I really didn't see what the big fuss was.

"Well, I'm not always a woman, and you're talking to me now, she spoke to me just then, I don't see what the problem is," I said, cramming a piece of potato in my mouth. The dinner was steak and vegetables.

It was delicious. I'd never tasted such wonderful food! We lived off vegetables at home because that was all we could afford. I'd never had meat in my life, and it was delicious!

I saw the countess attempting to sear my face off with her eyes, and continued to shovel food into my mouth. Once my plate was clear, I sat back and sighed in happiness. That was incredible! It was the first time I'd felt full since... well, forever!

I glanced across at the daughter. She was cackling and shaking her head. "You are so in for it" she mouthed.

She was awful. Still, she was kind of cute if you thought about it. Her black hair contrasted with her golden eyes, and her chest filled out the dress nicely, I guess.

I was quite jealous if I'm honest. What a shame the cutest ones always have the worst personality.

"Mother, I'd like to escort Alexis to his room," she said, her sickeningly sweet voice sent shivers down my spine. What a creep.

"You may," the Countess had composed herself. Her husband, who had been silent the whole time, was whispering to her. Probably trying to calm her down, her face was turning purple!

Their daughter dabbed her mouth with a napkin and stood up. She walked around to my side of the table and politely held her arm out for me.

I stood and walked towards the doors. She caught up and reached for my arm again. Maybe I had judged her too harshly?

•••

It takes about 10 minutes to walk to my room. After 5 minutes, my feet were aching. Maybe high heels weren't such a good idea.

Suddenly, the girl pulled me into a small alcove in the wall and started kissing me passionately.

I definitely did not judge her harshly. In fact, I think I was being nice when I called her a creep.

She began to press her hips against me, trapping me in the corner. I was trying to come up with a way out, but it's kind of hard to think when a girl shoves her tongue down your throat.

One hand snaked its way up my back and began unbuttoning my dress, as the other began bundling up my skirts.

"I've never tasted someone wearing a dress before," she whispered as she pulled at my ear with her teeth.

One button.

Two buttons.

Three-

Her fingers slipped! I freed my arms and slapped her face away from mine. Leaning against the wall, I slipped past her and ran down the corridor towards my room.

"Come back here you bastard!" she shrieked, sprinting after me and grabbing my wrist. I panicked, pushing her away.

She doubled over and groaned, muttering curses at me. I turned and ran the rest of the way to my room.

If that's what it's like here, I'm never coming out again.