Bella Donna

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Astrid came back from her date somewhat conflicted. Damian had all but tuckered himself out and had promptly fallen asleep on the couch. She in turn had walked to her tiny kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed her cheap convenience store red wine before sitting down at the tiny table and pouring some into her coffee mug.

She sat there, staring at the peeling paint on her wall while going through some conflicting feelings. The surprise Hiccup had offered her was, to say the least... amazing. Why she hadn't accepted his offer then and there she didn't know. Was it her pride talking? As she downed more of the cheap liquor she looked around her small one-bedroom apartment that she shared with Damian. The paint was peeling, the faucets sometimes clogged, her upstairs neighbours were a horny bunch and her rent just went up. With no additional jobs besides the Walmart one, she'd have trouble providing for Damian. She had already cut back on some essentials and didn't qualify for food stamps anymore since her days at the shelter because her income kept her just above the poverty line. She also hadn't had any luck with finding a second job. Her last interview was a bust and without additional income, she'd also have to drop out of her GDE program. That was literally bye-bye future.

For the first time, she dialed a number that she hadn't in months. It rang for what felt like an eternity when a woman's voice could be heard from the other side saying "Hello? Astrid?"

"A-Alex hi," Astrid answered. "Uhm... how are you doing?"

"I'm doing good," Her sister replied. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I know I haven't called in months," she began.

"Don't worry about it. I've actually just returned from a business trip," Alex responded. "So how are you doing?"

"I'm a bit conflicted and I need some advice," she uttered. "I know you started at this big company after graduating and have your life together so... uhm... yeah I need some advice,"

"Hmm, what's up?" Alex asked, sounding somewhat confused.

"I just need to have your take on something," Astrid stated. "Let's say... hypothetically... your dear sister met a guy. Great guy, treats her like a princess, is pretty wealthy, seems to get along great with her kid, and out of the blue offers to buy her an apartment in the better part of town,"

"All hypothetical huh?" Alex asked, skepticism evident in her voice.

"Yes!" Astrid answered too quickly and her sister gave a knowing hum.

"This apartment that was offered in your name?" Alex then asked.

"Uhm... well yes," Astrid answered.

"Is it bigger than what you have now?"

"Yes," Astrid answered.

"And why an apartment all of the sudden?"

"He said mostly for security reasons," she explained. "He's got this high-profile job that could make a lot of enemies."

"And you're still working while seeing this guy?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, I still work,"

"Then take it," Alex deadpanned.

"Just like that?" Astrid asked.

"This is all hypothetical right?" Her sister laughed. Clearly not believing that part.

"Yeah... all hypothetical,"

"Look, I'm gonna lay it out for you," Alex said bluntly. "You have a kid to look after, live in the bad part of the city, and work a dead-end job sis. If I were in your shoes and a guy offered me an apartment in MY NAME in the better part of town then I'd take it in a heartbeat. You have to have priorities. You have a son to provide for. Furthermore, the apartment will be in your name which means even if anything happens with this guy you still have that place. Keep it or sell it. It will be an upgrade. You also still have that dead-end job of yours meaning you aren't financially reliant on your boyfriend. So no harm no fowl," Astrid blinked at Alex's explanation.

"All hypothetically of course," her big sister stated.

"Right," Astrid answered. "Well, you've given me a lot to think about,"

"Why were you even being so hesitant about this?" Alex asked sounding confused. "Sounds to me like you bagged the big bucks."

"That's just it. That's exactly the reason why," Astrid shot back. "I don't want to come across as a gold digger or a sugar baby,"

"Since when did you care what others thought of you?"

"It's just," Astrid sighed. "I have thick skin. I didn't use to care but the last few years....Everything's just been chipping away at me Alex. Being a single mother is hard enough but the judgment you get.... God's this world is fucked up."

"Well I'm childfree so I wouldn't know but lay it on me sis," Alex responded. "I think you just need someone to hear you rant."

"Thor I haven't even told my best friend about this," Astrid grumbled.

"Like I said, lay it on me," her sister stated.

And Astrid did. It was like a dam broke. She talked about all her previous dates who thought she was an easy lay, about the job interviews where being a single mother was a disadvantage because the companies didn't feel that she'd be loyal to them and put her kid first, to people commenting in stores about her being such a young mom and couldn't keep her legs closed while it was the same people asking other young ladies why they didn't have children yet. By the end of it, Astrid was crying while Alex tried to offer words of support.

"You're doing well for a single mom Astrid," her sister commented. "Especially one that had no financial backing,"

"I try to do right by Damian but everyone's judgemental stares started to chip away at my confidence years ago." She confessed. "At the Pre-K I'm judged for being single and poor, passersby whisper to their children in the store that if they don't study they will end up like me, dates thought I was a slut.... And my physics teacher hits on me!!!" She cried.

"Wait what?!"

"Nothing,"

"No, what did you say about your teacher?!"

"It's fine,"

"No, it's not fine," Alex uttered. "In fact. I'm heading down there right now."

"No. no, I got this," Astrid muttered. "Really,"

"Fine. I won't come down there to raise hell but in return, you got to tell your new man all you've told me,"

"I was speaking hypothetically!"

"Sure you were," Alex deadpanned. "Tell your man and don't make me come down there to raise hell. That teacher is saying he'd flunk you if you don't give him what he wants right?"

"How did you?"

"My roommate had one like that in college. I wasn't in her major or I'd punched the guy's lights out." Alex confessed. "She'd not reported him and gone along with it during the semester. Turned into a total shitshow and it ruined her life. I don't want to see you fall down that same rabbit hole. No teacher should force you to do anything while holding your grades hostage,"

"Okay, I'll... I'll fix it. Don't worry." Astrid said while she heard a knock on her door. "I got to go now. Someone's here,"

"Okay fine. Keep in touch sis," Alex said before the call was ended. The knocking on her doot intensified and Astrid got up while muttering "Yeah yeah I'm coming,"

First, she looked out of the peephole, and seeing that it was someone she knew she unlocked and opened the door.

"Hi... how can I hel-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Astrid screamed as something was suddenly sprayed into her eyes. She screamed in pain and dropped to the floor clutching her face when she realized that it was pepper spray. Her vision was blurry and from the ground she could hazily make out a set of boots that approached her before she felt something connect with her head, knocking her out.