Trapped

Chapter 5-Emi

I should go down and help him with the dishes, I thought. I'd gotten two beatings on one day before, and I did not intend on driving Will to that point again. But first, I should go change into something nicer and more presentable.

I went to my closet to pick out something to wear. Then I saw it- the blue overalls and white t-shirt. Will's favorite "casual wear" for me. I quickly scanned my closet, unknowingly. Will had bought so many expensive clothing items for me. The closet was packet with designer shoes and clothes. I looked over to my dresser, where my antique jewelry box lay with diamond necklaces and emerald bracelets lay. I do admit I would've wanted all these things some point in my life-just not in these circumstances.

Still looking at the dresser, my eyes landed on something. It was a picture frame-of me and Will together. I cringed every time I looked at it. It was a black and white photo of myself and Will. He was smiling his signature smile, with his left arm around me. I was wearing a polka dot dress and my hair was open and wavy. I had a faint smile, one that Will made me wear. If anyone else has seen this photo, they would not believe for a second I was faking my relationship with Will. That's how good of an actress I had become.

I sighed and picked out the overalls and t shirt to change into. About 5 minutes later, I tied my hair up in a bun and looked on the mirror. The best outfit for this occasion, I thought. The overalls were just long enough to cover the bruises on my legs from the belt.

I went downstairs to find Will hard at work-gloves and all, cleaning the dishes. Forcefully I plastered a smile on my face and went up to him.
"Need some help with that?" He turned around surprised-but pleasantly surprised.
"Oh no,no. I'm just about done." I looked down at the floor.
"But hey, I was thinking we go out for dinner tonight, some place nice." he said sheepishly. I was shocked. This was the first time he wanted to take me out in about a month. I was about to see sunlight aside from our yard after a whole month!
"Sure!" I said eagerly. Even if it was with Will, I needed desperately to get out.
"Awesome! Come upstairs, let's go pick out your outfit." he said excitedly. He took me
by the hand and we ran up the stairs. Sometimes in rare moments like these, his excitement and care seemed genuine.

We ran up to our room and he went straight for my closet.
"Hmm" he said thinking to himself. "I think you should wear this."
I looked at what he had picked out. It was an eggshell white knee length chiffon dress with an embellished collar. Will had gotten it for me on my birthday last year. It was a beautiful dress I had to admit. He always said that it made me look radiant and complemented my skin tone really well.
"That sounds great." I said enthusiastically.
"Well then hurry up and change. And take the tights."He said. I know why he wanted the tights. I couldn't show the bruises on my legs in public.
I hurriedly went into the bathroom to change.
I came out and stepped in front of the mirror. I put my hair up in a bun and pinned the sides with bobby pins. I put on my favorite red lipstick and smiled at Will through the mirror.
"How do I look?" I asked shyly.
"Great... but there's one thing missing." He said inquisitively. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sparkling diamond chain. I gasped and covered my mouth in awe.
"Here let me put it on." He offered. I watched as he put the chain around my neck gently. So far from the last time he touched my neck, I thought, thinking back to two nights ago when he almost choked me with his tie.
"Done?" I asked.
"Just one more thing," he said in a low voice. Then, he reached for my hair and loosened my bun. The locks of my hair came down heavily.
"Better." He said.

We went downstairs and to he driveway. The sun was almost starting to set. The cool fresh air felt strange against my skin. I took a deep breath of the fresh air and smiled. Will led me to his black BMW and opened the door and gestured for me to get inside.

We drove for about 20 minutes through downtown, and I spent every second looking to the outdoor world, hungry to see life outside our gated yard. Will had the windows tinted black, so even if I tried to look for help outside the windows, no one would see me. We arrived at a restaurant that I had never seen before. Must've been new. It was called Piligrini. We went inside and the waiter took us to our table. It was a decadent restaurant with its wooden accents and fancy lighting. The table was neatly arranged with folded napkins and a candle in the center. The waiter gave us our menus as I looked through all the Italian dishes.

"What do you want?" asked Will. It took me by surprise.
"I don't really know. Why don't you order for me?" I said, truly unsure of what to order.
"Ok we'll have one shrimp scampi with pasta and one tilapia scaloppine" said Will confidently.
"Right away sir," said the waited as he smiled at Will and me. I smiled back and thanked the waiter before he left. Immediately, I saw Wills facial muscles start to tense. I looked at him worried, wondering what I had done. Then it hit me, I smiled at the waiter. I uncomfortably looked away from Will at the floor. Will watched the waiter with rage as he walked away to another table.

"You trying to send signals now?" Will asked angrily in a whisper.
"What-no. He just took the order and I thanked him."
"You didn't need to smile at him when he smiled at you."
Desperate not to create a scene, I sighed and said, "You're right. I'm sorry."
He relaxed.

About 15 minutes passed in silence, with Will watching my face and body language with every passing person like a hawk. Does he have to be so suspicious, I thought. The waiter came back a few minutes later and said, "I'm sorry for your wait sir and madam, you're food will be with you shortly."
"Thanks for the reassurance, but uh, could we have someone else deliver our food, my wife feels rather uncomfortable with the arrangement." said Will defiantly.
I looked at him with disbelief. Had he seriously just thrown me under the bus for his own insecurities. The waiter looked at me with a questioning look and responded, "Of course sir." I'm pretty sure I heard him mutter something as he walked away. My cheeks grew red with embarrassment as I shuffled my fingers in my lap. This is ridiculous, I thought. I feel so humiliated.

The food came back about 10 minutes later nonetheless, and surely, with a different waiter. I looked straight at Will the entire time the waiter was setting up our dishes, not giving him and excuse to say something outrageous again. When the waiter left, I breathed a sigh of relief.

We began to eat, without saying a word. I toyed with my plate, my appetite was gone. Will was busy with his shrimp scampi, savoring every bite, barely even looking up. I scanned the room idly, and noticed all the other couples in the restaurant. They were all laughing, eating, drinking and talking happily- willingly. I turned back to our table to find Will looking at me.

"You haven't touched your food."
"I'm not really that hungry."
"Come one have a bite. It'll open up your appetite." he said still stuffing his face with scampi.
"No really, I'm not hungry." He put his knife and fork down.
"You know, you look gorgeous tonight. I haven't seen you this beautiful and dressed up in a long time. I think I'm falling in love with you all over again." he said dreamily.
"You would if you let me see the light of day more often." I scoffed. Then, I regretted my words immediately. Will stared at me hard, confused on how to respond-but clearly mad.
"That's it, we're leaving." he spoke as he wiped his mouth with the napkin and pushed back his chair.
"No Will I'm sorry I was joking" I said, trying to save the damage.
"Get up."
He came up behind me and pulled my chair back. "Get up I said!" The whole restaurant turned to look at us. There was silence.
"You deaf?! Get up before I make you!" Everyone was staring now. The waiter came up to us and said, "Anything wrong sir, do you want the bill? Was the food okay?"
"Screw the damn bill." said Will angrily as he took out his wallet. "Here!" he slammed a $50 on the table. He grabbed me by the arm and led me outside to the parking lot.
"You idiot! You tramp! You had to ruin everything didn't you?!" He shouted as we reached the car. "Open your own door or feel free to walk home!"
I quickly opened the door, got inside and out my seatbelt on tears rolling down my eyes.
"Don't make a sound." He grabbed my chin and threw my face against the headrest of my seat. I gulped and tried to stop crying. We drove home in silence, me wondering how the night was going to pass.