Blank Skies

15

Rebecca

As you would've guessed I'm dead last to shoot at the shooting range, the guys pushed me to the back making me go last.

Little did they know, I smile to myself.

I lean up against the wall and cross my arms over my chest, "Remember you got this." One of the guys says, "You can't shoot in heels man, she doesn't stand a chance."

Bitch.

I wait as the last guy shoots and does better than the other three. Andre motions for me to come over to him, "Just hit the target, okay?" He hangs up a new paper, "Just give me the gun." He smirks as he presses the button and the paper slides back. The director walks in and slides on a pair of headphones, "Breathe." I whisper as I slide on the head phones and pick up the gun, I fill it with a fresh round of bullets.

I take a breath as I raise the gun.

Relax and pull the trigger. I wait for the ring to signal to start and I adjust my body.

I squeeze the trigger over and over again without flinching as the bullets fly out of my hand. I lay the gun down on the small shelf in front of me, "Shooting in heels isn't so bad." I say taking off my headphones and pressing the button to reel the paper back in.

Everyone stands around me in awe, "Since when have you known how to do that?" Andre says, "I'm better with a shotgun." I drilled a hole through the chest above the heart, "Give her a shotgun." The director says and I'm taken back for a moment. Andre leaves the room and I'm left standing in the room with the other candidates staring me down. I swallow the lump in my throat, maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

If I leave now it'll be obvious, but something in my stomach tells me to just walk out. Andre comes in with a shotgun and some others, "Here." I take the gun and a deep breath in. I put the bullets in and cock it closed. Andre changes the paper, "You didn't tell me you could shoot?" He whispers and I shake my head and press the button.

I put the headphones back on and lift up the gun, "Can you even handle the kick back?" One of the other candidates says and I roll my neck to one side. I rest my finger on the trigger and press it, the kickback is strong. I plant my foot farther back and let the shotgun shells bounce on the ground.

I lay the gun on the counter and take off the headphones, "Excuse me." I open the door and walk out. I make my way down the long hallway, "Rebecca!" Andre calls after me. I push through the doors and pull out my phone from my pocket. I unlock it as he comes out of the door behind me, "What happened?" He says looking at me, his brown eyes pierce mine, "This wasn't a good idea." I say.

I dial the number for the local taxi, "Did I miss something?" He asks as a voice comes over his radio, "We're going to finish this later." He says pointing at me.

****

I sit on the couch with a blanket covering my body. The blanket is wrapped around my shoulders and I can feel myself drifting off. My eyes jump open as there's a knock on the door, "Shit." I get up from my spot on the couch I pull the blanket close to my body. I unlock the door and crack open the door a little to look out, "Can I come in?" I smile a little and open the door. He walks in and closes the door behind him, "What happened today Bec?" I sigh and walk back to the couch.

I hear him shuffle his feet, "I'm not meant for that." I watch as he takes off his jacket, "Why is that?" He asks laying his jacket on the back of the couch, "That's your place Andre, plus I was in way over my head." I hear the lock click on the front door, "Well what are you gonna do now?" He plops down on the couch cushion next to me. I shrug, "Who knows." I chuckle.

He takes a deep breath, "Well do you know what you want to do?" I shake my head looking at the floor, "No clue." He runs his hands on his thighs, "I see you're off to a good start." He chuckles and I shove his shoulder. He leans back into the couch and holds a hand against his stomach. We sit in silence.

My body begins to heat up the longer I sit next to him, "You okay?" He asks resting his hand on the back of my neck, "Yeah." I let the blanket fall off my shoulders and I close my eyes. His touch makes it all seem worth it and everything's calm.

When I open my eyes his fingers slide under the neck hem of my shirt. His soft skin against mine makes me smile, "What do you do to me?" I say in almost a whisper looking at him. He moves his body closer to mine, "Just everything you want." I smile and he kisses my shoulder. His fingers leave my neck and grip the back of the couch.

I turn my body towards his, "Is that so?" He nods, "It is, just not tonight." I'm taken back my his words, "I have a family thing early tomorrow and I can't have you making me late." I roll my eyes and he smiles, "Trust me I'd love to stay." I nod and his hand rests on my knee, "But you have to get up early." He nods. "Precisely."

I drag my finger down his exposed skin on his arm, "What time do you have to be up by?" He watched my hand, "Two." He smirks, "In the afternoon?" I ask and he nods, "You jerk, that's not even early!" I shove his hand off my knee.

I shrug off the blanket and walk away from him, "Aw come on Becks." He laughs and I shake my head smiling. I go into the kitchen and take a sip of my drink, "You just gonna walk away from me?" I shrug sipping my cold water, "I thought we had a better understanding of each other Rebecca." He licks his lips slowly making me stop drinking and sit my glass down.

"Well even if you have to get up early, will you lay down with me for a little while?" He sighs, "I mean I guess I could swing it." I roll my eyes and drag him to the couch, "Mhm." He moans behind me, "What?" I ask and he throws me over his shoulder, "I'm not just gonna lay down Becks." I giggle as he walks us to the bedroom, "I knew it." He chuckles, "You know me so well." My shorts are riding up as he walks and my excitement builds. He sits me down, my feet land on the ground.

He gently kisses my lips as he lays me down on the bed. Andre's body feels amazing on mine, but I can't help that my thoughts begin to wander off. I rest my hands on his arms. I don't look the same way he remembers, I'm a foreign object now. I'm not the same Rebecca that I used to be.

What if he doesn't like what he sees?

What if he rejects me?

I've lost everything that made me who I am, my own mother made sure of that. She broke me down and built me to her own liking. I'm the perfect rich girl, I'm not made for this.

Or am I?

I gently push Andre off of me and sit up bringing a pillow to my chest, "What's wrong?" He looks at me with confusion swimming in his eyes. I shake my head, "Come on, talk to me." His words are pleading, "It's just the first time since I left." My words make the room fall silent.

Andre sits on the end of the bed and rests his head in his hands. I look down at my thin legs, "I don't like that you have to see me like this." I speak and it comes out as a light whisper, "I hate myself." Andre turns around to look at me, "What?"

I pick at the fabric covering the pillow, "I don't want you to see me under the clothes yet." He scoots closer, "I hate the way I look Andre, I don't want you to see me and see everything. I'm not okay, I'm sick." His soft hand falls on my knee, "Rebecca, I'm not going to love you any less." His thumb rubs my skin, "You can see my rib cage."

My lifeless eyes meet his and instantly his face drops, "I'm a perfect skeleton Andre." He bends over and kisses my thigh, "I love you Rebecca, and I'm not leaving you." He kisses my forehead and rest his own on mine, "Let me stick around a little longer to show you that much." I close my eyes and feel my body give into the words he speaks.