Esperanza (Hope)

Chapter 8

I looked at the shop assistant who still had his brow raised. Damn. "Well, I wanted", I began but was soon interrupted from loud cheers and people who pushed their way past us. We both stared in the direction in that the people ran off. "You come with me, boy", he said and we dragged our way past the people, him screaming "I'm a security guard and I shall pass." He repeated that sentence over and over again and I found it pretty ridiculous but the people took a step back hesitantly and I saw what caused so much excitement.

Two body guards were standing in front of the door, next to them a sad smiling Charlie Diarer. I instantly saw that same expression that she already had in the hospital. People even tried to drag her away from the body guards. For a second I thought they wanted to kidnap her. I wondered how sick people must be to kidnap someone. But then another thought shot in my mind. Last option. I hate the people who kidnap someone so that they can afford themselves the newest clothes or only to have much money, but then there are these people who do it to save a beloved one, to get the money for those people. The money that can decide between life and death. Suddenly a very dark and terrible thought crossed my mind, a sick and twisted thought, but I got interrupted by the security guard who now turned to me again. People got a bit quieter to be able to listen; even Charlie was staring at me. "So boy, why did you take the dress now? " he asked impatiently. I hated him for asking me that in front of the whole crowd, for everyone to listen. I opened my mouth but I really didn't know what I could possibly say. People now even got closer to be able to listen in. Should I just admit it? Should I run away? Well, that would be no good. Should I lie and tell him it's for my girlfriend? All these thoughts ran through my head.

"It's for me. He's an old friend of mine and I asked him to get it for me but then I decided to come after all", Charlie suddenly said. I turned around to her and her baby blue eyes looked sincere. She took one step further towards us. My eyes widened in surprise and I couldn't even utter a word. The people around me gasped and suddenly came very close to me. "You are a friend of Charlie?", they asked surprised and I could see jealousy in their eyes."Is that true?", the security guard asked me. I still couldn't say a word so I just nodded my head. "Do you believe I lie? Well, I shall inform my father about it. He surely wouldn't be too happy if he finds out that you think of me as a liar", she said slowly. The security guard looked a bit shocked and replied "Of course I don't think you lie, I'm very sorry", he muttered and then towards me "You shall go now", and he also gave me back the dress. The ticket of my brothers treatment. I was so relieved. I got the dress. "You know, I don't really like the dress after all, I think it's the color", she said and took the only chance to save my brother away from me, bringing it back to the dresses. "We're even", she hissed and then left the store, a few people following her. I remembered how I saved her from getting detected in the hospital. I couldn't move at first because I was still so surprised but then I ran out of the shop very fast. She was nowhere to be seen. Well, her bodyguard probably drove her home already so I wandered around the houses and thought about the situation at hand. Why did she do this for me? She knew I was going to steal that dress. I could see that in her eyes. Still she covered for me. I was still walking, trying to figure out how to save my brother's life when I heard steps in front of me. Charlie ran past me with her blonde flying hairs behind her. A black limousine was already following behind her and she opened the door and drove off. I was very confused. Didn't she recognize me? Then I snorted. Right, just because we talked two times, she would now be extra nice to me!?

I was just about to continue walking in no particular direction when I heard more footsteps and loud shouts. A few photographers ran past me. They pushed me out of their way and into a nearby bush, screaming Charlie Diarers name all the while. To my very luck, it was a thorn bush and I noticed the pain shooting through my legs and arms exactly at the parts were my mum abused me. In front of me, on the other side was another bush but with fragile roses. Suddenly a head approached through the bush and immediately disappeared again when she realized I was looking at her. It didn't take me long to realize who it was. "Charlie", I shouted. I was surprised. Didn't she just leave in a black limousine? "I know it's you. Hey, I just wanted to thank you for your cover up in the shop", I said but she still didn't come out. I slowly made my way out of the damn thorn bushes and came closer to the rose bushes. Charlie didn't move and just kept sitting there, looking frightened. "Please go. The photographers will soon realize that it was my doppelganger" I laughed. Of course. I should have known that this half way beauty couldn't be Miss Charlie Diarer, who was a thousand times more beautiful than this girl. "You know, her hairs are a shade darker and her eyes are more like sea blue while yours are", I trailed off before whispering "like the sparking ocean in the even". She blushed lightly but soon recovered and pushed me playfully away from her. "Hey, it's the best doppelgänger could get in that short amount of time". I laughed silently. "Now come out of there", I said and offered her my hand. She stubbornly stood up by herself. "Well, would you like to come to the hospital with me?", I asked and averted her gaze. I knew this was a sentimental subject for the both of us. "I'd rather not", she replied coldly and made her way past me, trying to hold her head low. "No one is here, Blondie", I said and caught up with her. It was a German word I once heard my father say to my mother. "Damn, you're fast", I said out of breath. "Lots and lots of training and now get lost", she said and quickened her pace. "Nep", I said stubbornly and popped the "P". Charlie looked at me for a moment and quickened her pace once more. "Come on, please go before anyone sees me here", she said hectically and looked around nervously. "Wow, it must really suck to be famous", I said earnestly because I couldn't stand the thought of not even being able to leave the house without a thousand followers. She stopped for a second and looked sad. "You don't know anything about being famous", she mumbled and soon recovered and even walked slower now. Suddenly she pushed me behind a hedge and followed quickly afterwards. "What the hell, Charlie?" I whispered before I saw a couple walking past us, holding hands. "They aren't supposed to see me", she snapped back. "You aren't that famous", I teased her. Finally after the two went past us, we could climb out of our hiding. "Hell, you seriously need some privacy", I said and was just about to leave when she grabbed my hand. It wasn't one of these overrated romantic shit touches when your body suddenly starts to shake and your heart is in a roller coaster. No, her hand actually was kind of sweaty but it was horribly warm outside anyway. The sun shone merciless. "Please don't go", she said. It was barely a whisper. I looked at her for a moment before an awesome idea struck me. "Charlie, you are damn rich, right?", I asked her grinning. She wriggled an eyebrow and hesitated a second. "Well, I guess", she replied confused. "Well, I was just thinking that maybe you would have some money in your pretty little purse right now?", I mocked her. She held her purse tighter, probably afraid I might steal it. Her purse alone looked pretty expensive with its tiny diamond in the middle and the golden color around it. "Only a bit. What would you want with it?", she asked suspiciously and narrowed her eyes. I grinned widely and just said "Surprise".