Daisies

0.8

"some days i feel things too deep. other days.. i wonder what it's like to feel anything at all."

• • •
We're back to the week again, it feels like I'm starting to fall into a routine. I'm used to being here now, my mom is adjusting better than I am still. I expected nothing less. We're at the Ricci residence again, of course. It's a Tuesday, kind of cloudy. The day fits my mood.

It's my mom's day off but they lost a worker so now I'm over here again at 11am trying to find something to do while they interview replacements. I'm bored so I start to walk around the 4 story mansion. It's so big but I've only ever explored the bottom floor, that's where most of the business happens anyways, I'm not really needed anywhere else. Is it rude to walk around other peoples houses?

Without answering the question I posed to myself, I start to walk up the curved staircase. They're house is unreal, for sure something I've seen in a fantasy. When I'm almost at the top of the stairs Jacob emerges. He's already taller than me but standing a stair above me makes him seem like a giant. Usually this would have my stomach churning but he's becoming less intimidating to me. He looks at me seriously though, not the way he usually does.

"Just the person I wanted to see." He grabs my arm and takes me up the stairs into an office. I try to pull my arm away but he's stronger than me, I don't even know why I tried. He shuts the door and motions for me to sit down on a black leather couch. How many of those do they have? I look around at the room, this definitely isn't Mr. Ricci's, it has to be Jacob's but it looks like it hasn't been changed since he was a teenager. Beside the leather couch is a bean bag and computer chair, behind the desk is a flat screen tv bigger than I've ever seen. There's a gaming system on the desk and a disconnected computer in a corner against a bookshelf. I hesitantly sit down.
" I need to talk to you about something." He says monotone.

"If it's been itching and burning then yes I definitely think you should have it checked out." I say flatly. Sometimes I tell jokes when I'm nervous, he doesn't find it funny. He takes a deep breath like he's trying to calm himself.

"Listen we need to go somewhere." He says looking at me.

"Where?" I ask, last time he took me somewhere I didn't like it.

"Ok so remember that thing that we're trying to pretend never happened?" He asks and I nod. This feels like a trick question.

"Well people have been talking." He says slowly making my chest fall into my stomach. Does he think it's me?

"It wasn't me!" I blurted out, you can hear the worry in my voice. He sticks his finger up, chuckling.

"We know it wasn't you. My boss wants to talk to you though." He says with an unreadable expression. My relief was only short lived, why does he want to talk to me?

"Boss? When?" He ignores my first question.

"I'll pick you up and take you to the casino around 10pm, be ready." He says and starts to walk towards the door.

What? I have so many questions. What does he want to talk to me about? What business is he in? Boss of what? Should I dress up? How long will this take? Why 10pm? But I only manage to get one out. "Don't you need my address?" I yell.

"Nope." He shouts before the door closes.

• • •

I've paced back and forth in my room since we got home. The same questions run through my mind. That day runs through my mind. Who could be talking? Why am I being brought up?

"I'm going to sleep sweetie, goodnight!" My mom yells up the stairs, bringing me out of my trancelike state.

"Goodnight, love you!" I yell back down. I hear her door close. It's 9:30, should I get ready? I stare at my drawer and then at myself. Maybe I should just not answer the door, that could work.