Cosplay

Kyuu

No, no, no, no!

I froze. This couldn't be possible, how did he still have my number?!

Then I remembered... The restraining order expired the night of Cole's birthday party.

"You there?" He asked.

I dropped my phone and yelped. The cell landed on a large rock, screen down. I gingerly picked it back up.

The screen was black and spiderwebbed with cracks. All attempts to turn it on were in vain. Oh well, this was a good thing. If I got a new phone I could get a new number, one he would never know.

I sprinted the rest of the way to Aunt Grace's house.

I slammed open the front door, panting heavily. Aunt Grace was holding Lily in her arms and standing next to Uncle Kenji. I could hear Toru shouting happily in the other room.

Aunt Grace looked concerned when she saw me. She handed Lily off to Uncle Kenji.

"What's the matter, sweetie?" She asked gently.

My whole body was shaking, "I-I got a c-call just now..."

"From who, sweetie?" Aunt Grace started rubbing my arm.

I took a deep breath, "From Seth Reynolds."

Aunt Grace drew in a sharp breath. She pulled me into a protective hug. I was too scared to cry.

"Does he know where you are?"

"Not that I know of. My cell phone just broke so he can't call me back."

"That's good at least."

"Kitty!" Toru ran into the kitchen.

I forced a smile on my face, "Hey, buddy! Happy birthday."

Toru hugged my legs.

"Toru," his mother scolded, "What do you say?"

"Thank you, Kitty," Toru beamed up at me.

He was so sweet and innocent. I picked him up and held him on my hip. I didn't ever want to think about Seth again, but my stomach was tangled in a terrified knot. Instead, I tried to think about last night with Cole and Hiro.

"So what all did you get for your birthday?" I asked Toru.

"All kinds of cool stuff! Follow me."

I set Toru down and he ran back into the living room. Aunt Grace gave me one more concerned look before I followed him.

I stayed for most of the day. We went swimming and had cake and lunch. We opened presents and took Toru shopping with some of his birthday money. Lily was jealous I didn't spend as much time with her.

"Don't worry," I promised as I left, "I'll be back for your birthday too."

The two kids and my aunt and uncle all hugged me. I felt much better than I had that morning.

I hurried back to the Daitan mansion. I only wanted to be in one place.

Cole was gone. Mr. Yumaki told me he was looking at a nearby college.

I sat on my bed and put my head between my knees. I slowly laid down. I was still to scared and shocked to cry.

I focused on little Toru's face, how happy he was. Then, a sudden image came to mind.

Cole and I were sitting on a couch together. We were a few years older, both with wedding bands on. A little girl with wavy brown hair sat happily on my lap. I also didn't have my tattoo.

I curled up into a tight ball and cried. I cried for hours until I passed out.

The sound of a door slamming woke me up.

"Where the hell have you been?" Wolfie screamed.

"I was at my aunt's house," I mumbled.

"I mean last night," her voice cracked. There were tears in her eyes.

I realized what had happened, "W-wolfie, please! I'm so so sorry!"

"It doesn't matter what you say, what excuse you have! You were gone last night, I was here. He came looking for you, and when I told him I didn't know where you were, well..."

Wolfie threw herself onto her bed. She was hysterical. I knew there was nothing I could do, it was all my fault. I should have come back. But then what? It would have happened to me instead...

I didn't know what to do.

Wolfie sat up. She removed her maid uniform and I gasped. Bruises covered her torso, there was almost no clear skin. I did this to her, it should have been me. I decided it didn't matter what happened to me, as long as I was protecting my best friend.

"I'm gonna go take a shower," Wolfie whispered.

The light and buzzer for Cole's room went off.

"I have to go, will you be OK by yourself?" I asked.

Wolfie nodded.

I changed into my own uniform before leaving.

"Good, you're back," Cole said.

He looked at me, "What is it?"

I looked down, "Nothing, it's a personal matter."

I rubbed my tattoo and bit my lip.

Cole put his hand under my chin and forced me to look at him, "It's not nothing. You can tell me anything, I'm here for you."

I shook my head. Then I remembered my broken phone. Out of habit, I had still put it in my uniform pocket.

I took it out, "I dropped my cell phone, that's all. I was calculating in my head if I had enough money to buy a new one."

Cole threw my broken phone in the garbage, "You and I both know you had enough money for that the first day after you started working here."

I jerked my head away from his hand, "I just don't want you to get involved. It has to do with something that happened years ago."

Cole looked at me knowingly, "Finally, some truth."

I sighed, "It's still none of your business. I don't mean to be rude but please just leave it alone."

I bowed, "Now what can I do for you, sir?"