Blank Skies

18

Rebecca

Victoria walks ahead of us as I stay gripped to Andre's arm. I smell the delicious food coming from the kitchen, "Look who finally showed up!" Andre enters the kitchen before I do and everybody cheers for him and when I walk in it goes silent.

Dead white girl walking part two.

"Oh my gosh." I hear a girl say as she speed walks to me, "I can't believe it." I hold my arms open for her as she coils her arms around me, "I missed you too Deja." I close my eyes as I rub her back, "He told me you were in the hospital." I hear her sniffle, "I'm fine." I open my eyes as I let out a small laugh, "Well let me see you." She pulls away. She wipes under her eyes and takes a deep breath, "What is with you and being so little?" She laughs, "Long story." I chuckle and she smiles, "I don't like the littleness."

Andre smiles at me from across the room, "Oh come over here." She pulls me to where all the ladies of the family are sitting at a table with wine glasses in hand. Andre holds out a chair for me, he takes off his jacket and rests in on the back of the chair. I'm ordered to sit down in the chair, against my wishes.

I sit down and scoot closer to the table, Andre hangs out behind me wrapping his arms around my neck and resting his chin on my head. The women look at each other while taking a drink, "Okay we have a couple questions Rebecca." Deja says softly, "What kind of questions?" Her eyes plead, "Ask away."

I should've known that this was going to happen.

Just breathe and let it go.

They all look around at one another again before a question is thrown out, "Why did you leave Andre?" Wow okay, "I had made a pact with my parents, they gave me two years to go out and live like a kid my age but at the end of the two year mark I had to go home no questions asked."

I cross my leg over the other, "What?" I sigh, "My parents raised me completely different than a normal parent in their right minds would. They set strict rules for my everyday activities and even school work. I was brought up with people constantly staring at me and talking about me."

"I was kept in the house unless there was a party where I had to make an appearance or if I had to make my parents money." Andre pulls away from me and sits down in a chair next to me, "Make your parents money?" Victoria says with a hint of worry in her voice, "They would have me put on small concerts for their friends, most of the time I played the piano or the violin. They would bring in new prospects for my dad's business and I would entertain." Andre sits back in his seat with his elbow resting on the edge of the table. His hand on his chin covering his mouth.

"Weren't you engaged?" Ouch, "Yes, but on my defense it was an arranged marriage. My family made me apart of their bettings before I was born." I rub my arm through my sweater, "Why did you leave the letter?" Victoria says and everyone around the table looks at her with a confused look. I immediately look at Andre who's looking anywhere but at me, "I accidentally left it in the bedroom after our argument and she found it."

I tuck my bangs behind my ears, "Because I couldn't face him." I pull the sleeves over my hands, "Nothing I did was okay by any means, but somehow in that moment it all made sense. I tried to force myself to see that it was okay in that moment, I honestly have no clue how I did." She nods taking a sip of her wine.

WOW I'M SERIOUSLY DEAD.

I should've faked sick.

"Is Andre here with that girl?" I hear an older man's voice, "Tramp." I let out a shallow breath, "Hey Uncle Daniel." Andre speaks from beside me, "Have you met my girlfriend Rebecca?" I look to my left and see him sipping bourbon from a small glass. He stands tall, his hair is cut short but you can see the family curls poking out. He reeks of cigarette smoke and his hazel eyes show no interest in anything that has to do with me.

"Not interested in it." He leans back into the counter and crosses his arms over his chest. Yeah I should've stayed home, "I couldn't help but notice the piano in the main room, it's very beautiful." I offer a compliment, "What's it to you?" He raises his eyebrow, "Oh nothing, I was just saying."

Andre clears his throat, "She plays like you do." I freeze, "Mommy and daddy probably paid for all the lessons of course she can play." He hisses, okay bud you wanna play that game? "Yeah they paid, so what?" He scoffs smirking, "I took four lessons before setting the piano on fire." He chokes on his drink, "I'm self taught." I get up from my chair, "I self taught myself to play Beethoven at eight." I walk out of the room and look at the piano sitting in the corner of the room.

Heavy footsteps follow me, "You set a piano on fire?" I nod, "I got mad and lit the bitch on fire." Andre chuckles from behind me, "Are you trying to impress me?" Daniel says tilting his head to look at me, "No trying to impress you would be too much of a waste of energy." Deja squeals covering her mouth, "I mean that's what a tramp would do right? Try to impress you and draw you in? Yeah I couldn't give two shits if you like me or not."

Daniel studies me carefully, "The need to be liked by someone no longer affects me, like me or hate me I don't really care." I cross my arms over my chest, "But I don't like being called a Tramp, so don't say it again." Andre holds his bottom lip in between his teeth, "Play something." He catches me off guard, "Oh no, I'm not drunk enough for that." I chuckle and he smiles, "I admire your attitude." He nods before walking away.

I look at Andre and press a hand to my chest, "I can't believe I just-" He laughs, "You're a bad bitch Becks." Deja says nodding towards me.

I'm a bad bitch. Please excuse me while I go pass out.