Yes, Master

Compromise

A/N: Comment & Vote

"That's too many."

"It's only like...ten!" I protested angrily.

Kyle looked at me angrily. "Listen to what I'm telling you Bailey. You can take four. I don't have a shelf or anything that you can put them on. They'll just clutter my shit up."

This argument had been going on for almost three hours. I'd select something that meant a lot to me and he shot me down. "They're my books! I'll...bring a bookcase!"

"You aren't bringing any extra furniture into the house Bailey."

"You don't have any space for my books at all?" I asked incredulously.

Kyle was getting upset. I could tell. "I could easily just say no. I'm being nice here. How about a little gratitude?"

I felt tears prickle my eyes and I looked away a second too late. He saw.

"You don't got anything to bawl about! I'm not saying no! Jesus--you're spoiled aren't you?"

"I'm not spoiled!" I snapped.

Kyle scrubbed his hand over his face. "How many you got in the box?"

I looked down. "Eight."

Kyle took the box and taped it shut in one fluent movement. "Happy?"

I was stunned he'd given in so easily. It was upsetting that I couldn't have all my books but this was more than I'd expected. I took the box slowly. "Thank you."

He just grunted. "Bring all your clothes and shoes and such. That laptop you got up there you can bring but we don't have Internet."

No WIFI? That still exists?!

"Are you serious?"

"Why would I be kidding?"

I gaped at him. "Without WIFI how do you...do anything?"

"I work, I eat supper, I go to bed. I don't need the Internet. You can bring it for movies if you want."

"You have a TV don't you?" I asked, suddenly a bit worried.

Surely he had one! It wasn't the Stone Age... "Yeah I got a little in the living room. I used to watch the News on it but they got rid of satellite. I got a DVD player though so it's not completely useless."

Did they even make DVDs anymore? Everything had moved over to Blu-Ray ages ago! "I'll bring it," I ended up mumbling as I tried to process the influx of insanity.

I slid the MacBook into its sleeve and set it in a box. I picked up my iPad. Without WIFI I had almost no use for it. Then again cafés had free WIFI so I could always get my fill there. I put it in as well. I put one of my fluffy pillows on top and taped the box shut.

Bit by bit he picked through my room deciding what was worthy of coming to his home and what wasn't.

And it seemed like a whole lot wasn't.

We were finished by lunch and Kyle took the liberty of packing it into the bed of a red truck with rust on the bottom of the doors and a dented hood.

Maybe it was his work truck?

My mother had prepared shrimp scampi for lunch and it looked fantastic as usual. But I had no appetite. My future was ominous and it filled every open spot in my stomach with dread.

"How did the packing go? I hope Bailey was agreeable?"

"We disagreed on a few things. He eventually saw reason," replied Kyle. "Especially with those damn books."

I felt ill. "There's nothing wrong with wanting my books." I spoke with a wavering voice.

"Bailey! Not another word." My father seethed.

"No! You can't let him take everything away. It's not fair!"

"One more word Bailey and I swear--"

"It's alright he's upset Mr. Beal." Kyle replied. "It's okay he likes them books. I'm sorry he can't bring 'em all."

"Can I be excused?"

"Please," my father hissed.

I got up and went to my room. It felt...incomplete.

I put my face in my hands and sobbed.

***

They gave me space for the beginning of the afternoon but when my older brother came home with his sub to say goodbye I went back down.

My older brother was the image of perfection for my father. A strong dominate who demanded respect. It was no surprise he instantly clicked with Kyle.

Dear God I've been contracted off to my father.

Not literally of course but it might as well as been. Garret hugged me briefly. "Be good Bailey." He ordered before he smiled. "I'm so proud of you. I'll miss you."

And like that he was gone. I didn't know when I see him again--I didn't even know where Vermont was! The evening drew closer and my mother set out the ham.

My final meal and it was the one meat I hated.

It gave me an ominous feel for my future.