Slices

Part 3

Riane was stopped in front of Dawns house. Her hair was drenched from a sudden downpour and she looked homeless- she'd been wearing the same outfit for a week and had fallen in a puddle on her way here.

Her hand hovered over the handle, then she quickly brought it back against her body. I can't do this. She was screaming inside her head, wishing she could turn back time and marry Trojan the moment she met him... So that none of this would have happened. But alas, here she was, drenched from head to toe in water and caked in mud and residue from cars streaking down the street. Her most vulnerable moment, perfect for Dawn to break her down and slice into her like she had wished to for so long.

Riane darted her hand out and knocked on the door, before she would wuss out and run.

There was a prolonged silence; a clock ticking in the hallway, a car honking outside, the thunder of the rain on the roof, and a man cursing as he dropped his phone. Riane felt emptier and emptier as she stood there, shivering in her own misery. She felt like an old dejected dog you see being carted away in the back of an animal services car- they knew they were only going to the pound to be put down. Her shirt stuck to her like a sheet, when she pried it away from her skin it immediately clung back onto her and the cold water seeped into her like a bad dream, slowly getting worse and worse until you wake with a sudden jerk and wipe the perspiration from your face.

A sudden light opened up before her and she started violently, being ripped from her thoughts back into reality.

A man stood there, staring for a second, his face was plain to her but he had a certain quality that demanded respect and whispered affection. The realization dawned and his jaw slowly dropped. He quickly fixed his posture and opened the door wider, stepping aside. "Ah- come in please sorry I didn't mean to keep you waiting would you like something to drink I have soda and water and milk and-" his words were all bunched together in a nervous string and he nearly tripped over his own feet as he hurriedly escorted Riane to the kitchen. He suddenly closed his mouth and flashed Riane an empathetic glance before walking back behind Dawns staunch figure and disappearing into a room.

Riane's mouth hardened into a line and she felt herself unable to speak. It has been so much easier with Trojan... He'd willingly forgiven her.

Dawns face was the definition of fuming. Her eyebrows were knitted together in an angry expression and heat radiated off of her. "Why are you here?" She hissed through clenched teeth.

Riane suddenly felt more confident, facing anger was a task she'd mastered, living in a house as a kid with her brother- who couldn't hold his temper. Her voice came out like a soft breeze in a field of flowers "I came to apologize, and ask for your help."

Dawn rolled her eyes and slumped into a chair. "Did you apologize to Trojan?"

Riane remained standing, "Yes, he forgave me, but he's what I need help with."

Dawn scowled. "Of course you'll need help with him! You freaking cheated on him and was making out with MY crush when he went to propose! Of course you'll need help!"

Riane rolled her lips, nodding at what Dawn said. Yes, she did do all that, but Trojan said forget about it and screw Dawn. "It's not with that, he was taken away by someone."

Dawns expression changed for a split second, then went back to what it had been, angry. "Sure, now Trojan's been kidnapped. Hah, did you kidnap him this time?" Dawn picked up a fork and turned it in her fingers.

Riane felt Dawns anger begin to sink into her. "Why would I kidnap Trojan?" Riane shot out, her hands on her hips.

"Because he kidnapped you! Don't play dumb! I know what happened."

Riane's jaw dropped. Dawn was being so stupid and judgmental. "Dawn, Trojan only said that to protect me. He was being threatened by the guys that took him." Riane had gathered this when she realized he didn't have the key. If he had kept the fact that he wasn't the kidnapper hidden, then threats had to be involved. "Dawn, don't go jumping to conclusions before you know anything." Riane spat.

Dawn stared down at her feet then looked back up. She didn't have anything to say.

Riane took this opportunity to pour out her long thought apology. "Alright, Dawn, I know what I did was horrible. I  was rude and stupid and conceited. I should have just told you what I had been doing- it wouldn't have hurt as much as the eventual outcome. I know you are so angry and you want to hurt me like I hurt you. I'm just so sorry. The reason I did it... I don't even know anymore. I wish I could rewind and start over. Im sorry." She walked over to Dawn and turned so the side of her face was visible to Dawn. "Alright, slap me, as hard as you want, let's just get it over with."

A hint of a smile showed on Dawns face. That was just like Riane, coming straight out and telling her to slap her. Dawn hesitated, then a sudden surge of final rage hit her and she brought her hand sharp across Riane's face.

Riane stared at the ground for a moment, in a sort of daze, then looked up with a silly smile. "That hurt." She said with an unnatural humor in her voice.

Dawn took a deep breath, then smiled. "Good."

Tuck hesitantly walked out of the back room and knocked on the wall. "Can I introduce myself now?" He gave Dawn a flirtatious smile- it didn't seem like he smiled that way on purpose, but it's how Riane saw it.

Dawn nodded.

Tuck blushed profusely and walked over to Riane. She straightened up and smiled warmly. "I'm Riane." She said, reaching out her hand to shake his.

"We've met before- you were my waitress a few times at Dags diner. And I know you from tv."

Riane laughed. "Yeah, everyone knows me from tv since my kidnapping I presume."

They shook hands. "My names Tuck, Dawn and I actually met at the diner, she um, found where I worked and we've been good friends since."

Dawn felt heat coming to her face at his referring to her as a good friend, that was what came just before dating, right? She wished she had someone she could ask... Riane was here now, but just because she'd gotten to really let some of her pent up anger out didn't mean they were on good terms. Mae was always doing things with her boyfriend and this girl named Ann. Dawn didn't always get along well with Ann, so she had been sort of isolated lately, Tuck coming over a lot.

Dawn stared at Tuck. He seemed to hold onto Riane's hand forever, staring intently into her face.

Riane seemed to grow uncomfortable and gave him that smile she does when she thinks you're weird. Ugh, Tuck had been really excited that Dawn had been friends with Riane, it was probably just because she was a model.

"Okay! So what do you need us to do Riane?" Dawn broke through the awkward silence, clapping her hands together.

Tuck jolted up and went over to stand beside Dawn.

"I guess I just ... I don't know." Riane stared at the ground. She'd already notified the police, so they were looking, maybe she just needed assurance that everything would be okay, even if that wasn't the truth.

Dawn felt Riane drawing into herself, "hey maybe we can just talk about it?"

Riane looked up and a shadow of a smile rested on her lips. "You know, that'd be great."