Surviving my Scholarship

Vanilla Iced Vodka

        I turned right and started down the sidewalk. It was green with giant cracks in it. I hadn't noticed it in a long time. I wasn't used to leaving with the sun still up. I didn't walk far before two sets of work boots met my vision in front of me. Their steel toes were pointed at me. I glanced up to see some patrons of the bar were smiling.

        "Vivi," one cheered out as more men came from behind. "Going home so soon?" I shrunk into myself not replying. "Listen, I have a little proposition for you. How about you join us for a party I am throwing tonight? I need some girls there to, well, lighten up the place. I have an interesting payment plan." The men chuckled as they closed in on me.

        "No," I barely state over a whisper. The man places his arm around me.

        "What's that baby? I didn't hear you correctly," he ordered.

        "I'm not interested in your party. Leave me alone," I said a little louder. I glanced over my shoulder at the door hoping for the bouncer to come back, but there is no one.

        "Listen," he starts pushing his weight on my shoulder now. "I am a patron of your little club and if you want me to keep coming, you better be nice to me." He starts trying to lead me away and I push back against him.

        Frustrated with his lack of progress, he shoves me hard. I stumble forward and turn around to face him. The boys all laugh again.

        "I'm not going with you," I yell and they laugh harder. The leader walks forward and I lash out at him kicking him with the heel of my deadly shoe. He stumbles back holding his side where I kicked him. I managed to rip his shirt.        

        "You little bitch," he starts. "You are going to pay for that." He lunges forward and shoves me against the side of the building. I let out a soft scream before he shoves his lips on mine. I try to push him off but his massive body has me pinned against the wall. My eyes go wide as his hand slowly roams up my thigh.

        The next thing I know, I am on the ground. My knees underneath me and I am staring ahead at the man crushed under someone's shoe. My satchel vomited my contents all over the sidewalk.

        "The lady said no," the man spits out glaring at the others. The others charge at him and I cover my eyes from the violence. When the sound of pain subsides, I stand up quickly and look around. Standing there in front of me is Mr. Galloway, fixing his tie. He is wearing a very expensive suit and I regret getting him involved because there is a small tear at the pocket now. He looks over at me and smiles.

        "Are you alright," he asks. His sparkling big eyes capture my full attention. I nod like a love sick school girl. His smile broadens. "Come with me," he commands and motions towards his expensive transport. The driver runs around to the back right door and opens it.

     "Thank you," I state hesitantly. "I don't want to be a burden. You look like you are going somewhere important. I don't live far, honest. I can walk." I turn pulling my coat back around me and feel his arm on my elbow.

        "That wasn't a request," he snarls as he pulls me to the car. "I don't want you walking alone around here. If anything happened, I would feel responsible." As we reach the open door, he turns and blocks any escape and I reluctantly get in the vehicle. The back is huge! It has three rows of seating and I sit in the far corner away from the two sitting near the doors.

        I glance over at the other passenger and realize it is Mr. Galloway's son. The reason I was out a job today. He had his Comm out. I could only imagine he had those new earphones that were easily hidden in the ear. Since he didn't move, I guessed he was listening to music. He was known to do that at school during his classes.

        I pulled my skirt down as it rode up uncomfortably and hugged my coat closer. Mr. Galloway stared at me for a brief second and then motioned the driver. He rolled down his window accepting my satchel that had been left sick on the sidewalk. He took the books that weren't back inside it yet and glanced at the covers as he started to place them in. His eyebrows creased as he glanced down at one in particular and set it to the side as he placed the others away.

        The inside of these cars are fascinating. It didn't feel like we were moving at all. My fingers felt the urge to explore every nook and cranny but I pulled them in my lap and sat motionless. What am I doing in this vehicle?

        "Do you want something to drink, Ms ...." Mr. Galloway asked looking at me with expectance to fill in the blank.

        "Vivi," I responded looking away. I didn't want to give him my real name. "No, thank you. You can drop me off at the next intersection. I can walk from there." He smiled at me and placed the glass he had pulled out away.  I watched as the intersection came and went and started to get nervous. Where were they taking me?

        "Ms. Vivi," he rolled it off his tongue and then stared at me. I felt like he was invading my very soul. "That is your club name, no?" I nodded. "What is your real name?" My mouth went thin and I pulled back into the seat more. What was happening here? His stare didn't relieve my squirm beneath him.  

        "Violet," I choked out. "Violet Wilkinson." I sat still looking away from him. I felt violated.

        "I want to apologize, Ms. Wilkinson, for my son's behavior" he started again. I shrugged at him. His son glared at him from around his Comm. "You were dismissed early from work because of it, correct?" I shrugged again not knowing what to say. "I would like to pay you what you would have earned."

        I jumped again. "I'm not like that," I defended. "Other girls at the bar may be, but I don't do that alright." He shook his head at me.

        "You misunderstand me," he calmly continued. "I simply want to give you the credits that my son has cost you. No action on your part needs to be taken." I was skeptical. "I would, also, like to invite you to dinner tonight." I started to speak and he raised a finger. "I'm not making it a request."

        "Ms. Wilkinson, are you interested in engineering," he asked holding up the banged up blue book with a hovercraft on the front. He opened it and started browsing through the pages. I looked back at my feet. He pulled out one of my notes and I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment. I was tinkering around with the mathematics trying to see if I could improve the current intake in transport's motors. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at me again. "Is this your work?"

        "I was just messing around, Eugine suggested I... well it is far from.... It's nothing," I sputtered looking at my shoes again.

        "You have amazing work here, try using a stronger metal to withstand that kind of temperatures and you may have something," he started mumbling as he typed things into his Comm. When he finished, he looked back up in shock.

        "Where do you go to school," he demanded and glanced back at the simulator on his Comm.

        "I don't," I state. He creased his eyebrows again as if he needed an explanation. "I don't have spare credits to pursue a higher education." He frowned at that and handed me the book with the satchel. He pulled out his Comm unit again and started typing away.

        The car stopped shortly later in front of Sven this colony's most expensive clothing store. I glanced at the window in shock. The door opened and Mr. Galloway held out a hand to help me out. I looked at him confused and thought maybe he was dropping me off here to walk back. At least it would be safer. As I stepped out, I thanked him and started heading to the left only to have his arm around me leading me into the store.