Alone

10

Austin walked back to the slaves quarters deep in thought, perhaps this wasn't bad.  Parker was kind and spoke to him, she even let him go see his girlfriend, granted unknowingly, but still.  He walked into the slave's quarters and found Vanessa sitting at a table with a couple of her friends.  He walked up behind her and put his hands over her eyes.

"Guess who."

She giggled and grabbed his hands in hers, pulling them from her eyes and looking over her shoulder.

"Austin! How are you here?"

"I was able to come down for breakfast.  I'm going to go get some food."

He left the table and joined the line of slaves waiting for food, got his plate and returned to Vanessa.

"Is it as horrid as I've heard? Being a personal slave? You've probably been beaten, I'm so sorry you have to go through this."

"It's actually not that bad.  I'm here aren't I?"

She nodded.  The two sat and talked until Austin finished his breakfast then moved to the window where the usually sat when they both had time.  Vanessa had the morning off and would be free until the other slaves came in for their lunch, so the two sat and talked until then.  Just as the others began making their way in, so did Feris.

"You there, slave."

"Yes?"

"Why aren't you at the house?"

"I wasn't needed.

"Who told you to stay here and talk to this girl?"

"Well nobody I suppose."

Feris shook his head, he should've known better than to put this boy in a position with freedoms.

"You boy have gone out of line.  You will have to be punished."

Austin gulped.  Sailor and his 'crew' had heard the overseer from the sidelines and approached him.

"We'd be happy to do it for you."