Accidental Housemate

14: recording

The weekend went on awkwardly with Dave.

I did not see him much for the rest of Saturday, and he went out on Sunday. I was afraid he’d left for Kyle’s, like he once said he would, but he didn’t tell me so. Hearing the door open at ten in the evening, announcing his arrival, assured me he wouldn’t spend the night away.

At work on Monday, I met with Hannah’s sour face again. She did not affect me that much, though, because I was already feeling down and couldn’t feel any lower. I didn’t do any shoots; I met some clients and conversed with them about their objectives, a part of my work that did not require my photographer to tail me. They explained to me the concept they wanted to convey, the colours of the season, and the other models I was going to work with.

When I was done with the workday, I entered the toilet to freshen up before leaving. I wasn’t much of a makeup girl, but some concealer and powder treated me well when life didn’t. Looking into the mirror that day, I felt better about myself. My eye bags were going away because I was resting well. I was happier with where my life was heading, despite my issues. It was still okay; at least I was making progress. I had a job that would hopefully earn my money back for another flat, steady financials, and I was away from my toxic family. I smiled, encouraging myself to keep going.

I had finished putting on a layer of lip tint and was ready to leave when the door stormed open.

Hannah. Of course.

“Oh… hey,” I greeted her, hurrying up to collect my things. I felt too exposed in front of her, which was ironic, since she saw me almost naked in every pose possible in our shoots.

“Easy,” she commented on my haste. She walked closer, then she laid her hand on the sink counter. “How were your clients today?”

I couldn’t look directly at her. She still managed to creep me out even after all the time we had worked together, and her abrupt interest in my work away from her didn’t settle right with me.

“Umm, great. Thank you for your concern.” I was about to mumble ‘have a good day’ and leave, but her rough grip on my wrist made me stagger. Trying not to freak out in apprehension, I choked out, “Hannah, let me go.”

She yanked me back in front of her. My hips hit the counter, and I hissed in pain.

“Didn’t miss me today and during my day off?”

The wicked smile on her thin, dull lips threatened to make my legs fail me. I’d seen such looks before and knew what they meant. Her yellowish teeth appeared behind the smile, showing the result of her excessive smoking. The woman was clearly up to something, and I didn’t want to know what it was.

“Let. Me. Go,” I emphasised word by word, but my tough exterior did not make her flinch. I blamed it on my unrealism, as I was crumbling with fear inside.

She didn’t listen. Instead, she pushed me against the stinky tiles of the toilet and pressed herself against me. “Not yet, sweetheart. I missed you myself.” She glazed her tongue over her chapped, darkening lips.

“I… didn’t ask,” I retorted, my voice fading at the end.

I regretted saying that because her face scrunched up in displeasure, and she let her finger rub down the side of my face, deliberately causing my skin to redden and hurt from the friction. I grimaced in abhorrence and was about to scream her off, but her lips covered my mouth.

And there, against the toilet dirt, my guard had fallen.

I was frozen at first, wide-eyed while she closed her eyes and tried to pleasure herself from the contact. I squirmed and squealed, but her thin body had more strength and stamina to it than I thought. Her hands pinned my wrists above my head, and her protruding elbow dug against my soft flesh. When I tried to free myself, her hands dug deeper into my wrist and bruised me.