Unlocking the Key to My Memories

[Chapter 4]

“Shit, Videlle! Ow, let go!” Barbiie pleaded, trying to restrain herself from my grasp.

“Let—me—look—at your—ARM!” I yelled as she struggled to throw me off of her.

“What the hell? Going lesbian on me now? To be honest, you’re really attractive, but try when I’m actually available--!”

When I finally took a good look at her arm, my heart seemed to leap. It is the same tattoo. “That’s it! Barbiie, what’s the meaning of this tattoo?” I ask, pointing at the “†D·2” on her arm.

Her eyes widened and she gave me a dirty look. “You’ve seen this tattoo so many times. Why are you asking about it now?”

“Do you know what this is?” I tossed her the ring that Forrest gave me a week ago and she gasps. She starts fiddling with it, looking at all the details. Her hands shake as she inspects the golden ring.

“Where the hell did you get this, Videlle?” Barbiie’s tone grows very serious and there’s a frightened look on her face. When I didn’t answer her, she thrusts the ring to my face. “Don’t be asking questions about anything. You…you’ll only get yourself into massive trouble.” She checks her watch and sighs. “Look, I gotta go. I’ve got to meet Darien at a coffee shop.” Before she’s out the door she looks straight at me and seems very agitated. “Don’t go with your nose in everything. Mind your own damn business.” The door shuts closed and I jump from the sudden loud slam. What the hell is her problem?

Minutes later, Charlie comes marching down the stairs with a worried look on his face. “What’s going on here, kid?” No bottles in his hands. Was his new girlfriend serious with him? I smell after shave. Tucked in clothes. Wow. This lady has made a huge impact on him.

“Nothing, Barbiie just left. She was kinda pissed off. Nothing too unusual. You know how she is.”

“Urm, do you want to talk about it? Was it about a…uh boy? Need some,” he gulps, “Pads?” Charlie asks, pretending to look worried and to care. I laugh imaging him actually sitting down with me and talking about all the things that have been bothering me.

“CHARLIE!” I yell, blushing. “Charlie, knock it off. No guy comes within a radius when I’m around. And no…it’s not…my uh time of the month. And it’s Barbiie! There’s nothing to worry about. And if I really needed to talk to you, you’d know.” Truth is, I’ve never talked to him about how I felt or how everyone has affected me.  He’ll never know. Nobody will.

“Alright. Oh, before I forget—my girlfriend’s stopping by for dinner. Odette has been wanting to come by the house.” Oh, so that’s her name.

“So that means I’m cooking?”

“Do you want me to kill her?” Charlie asks, laughing.

“You’re right. So what shall I make this time?”

Charlie looks off into space, clearly lost in his own thoughts. “Hey, kid. There’s something you should know. One last thing I forget to tell you,” Charlie’s voice trails off, still staring at the wall.

“Mhm?” I mumble, specula in my mouth. I’ve already started reading recipes out of a cookbook. 

“She’s bringing her daughter over who’s the same age as you are,” Charlie blurts out, heaving in a giant breath. Alright, Charlie knows I don’t like it when random people invade our house. His girlfriend-- I would make an exception for, but not for anybody else.  Especially since this girl is around my age. They’re the worst.

My fists clench. “Charlie, what the fu--!”

Charlie bangs his fist on the kitchen table, making the entire kitchen go silent. “Listen to me, Videlle. I don’t want to hear what you have to say. Can’t you be happy for me at least once?” Looking straight at him in the face, I knew he was hurt. Right then and there I could feel his sorrow. The only person he’d actually talk to would be me. He has a seventeen year old to look after.