Anything For Rachel

Chapter Fifteen.

The night, or day, not quite sure which, had been long and restless.

Talking to Rose had only helped marginally because I missed her so much that hearing her sweet little voice only made me hurt worse once the call was over. She was still enjoying her time. She couldn't tell me where she was, but apparently she and Pedro had been having all sorts of adventures. She told me about riding ponies, and going swimming, and that she had apparently acquired a new puppy, although I had always told her no when she asked for one. I'd only been able to talk to her for a few minutes before she was in too big of a hurry to go get ice cream to be bothered with her boring old mom.

I was glad she was happy, but I wished so badly that I could see her face. I wanted to actually see her smile.

I got out of bed, not sure how long I had really slept for. The clock on the bedside table had apparently died a long time ago, and since no one was allowed into the room, the batteries went unchanged. I padded across the carpet and went into the bathroom, glad that the little music player that Calvin had gotten me was still sitting on the counter. I walked over to it and flipped through the selections before finding something that I thought might raise my spirits.

I turned the music loud, not wanting to have any ability to think over it.

I stripped down and hopped into the gloriously large shower. I might not have missed much about this place, but the showers, and my old tub, were definitely high on my list of the few things I did. I set the water to a high heat and climbed in, scrubbing away all of the bad feelings and regrets that I've been carrying around with me since I got here. I needed to get out of the funk. I needed to feel alive again.

I took my time, pretending I had no place else to be as I used all the hot water taking extra time to deep condition my hair, before finally stepping back out of the shower with red but clean skin. All of my old things were still here. My soaps, brushes, clothes, shoes, everything was here. I washed my face and brushed my teeth before digging up my robe and adjusting it to my body, realizing that my blue silk robe was something else that I had in fact missed.

I was about to rummage through the closet when a noise at the door made me jump, pulling the robe tighter. The door pushed open and Octavia stuck her head in. "Sorry." She smiled. "I knocked, but I didn't think you heard."

"I didn't, but you can come in." I told her and she walked in, a large paper bag in her hand.

"I thought you might want some newer things." She shrugged, passing it over. "Some of it is mine, but we are about the same size, so it should all fit you."

I glanced in and was beyond thankful to see a pair of jeans and another pair of dark grey sweats lying on the top, two things I was never given in my first stay here. "Thank you." I grinned at her.

"No problem." She shrugged. "I know most of your things are pretty formal."

She brushed her long black hair over her shoulder and pursed her lips. "I really like that lipstick." I complimented her.

She grinned from ear to ear, tilting her head, then reaching over into the bag, digging down into the bottom and pulling out two tubes of lipstick and handing them to me. "Matte color wasn't really in five years ago, so I figured your makeup collection could use an upgrade." She laughed. "Want me to help you get ready? Or do you want me to call for some maidens?"

"No, I don't mind doing it myself." I told her. "Although," I said as I took a closer look at her makeup. "I wouldn't mind if you'd teach me how to get my eyes to look like that."

"It would be my pleasure." She smiled, pointing over to the vanity. I sat down and she brushed my hair back and looked down at me carefully. "So have you been told yet?" She asked softly.