The Guardian of Man (Editing)

The birthday party

After Terry dropped me off in the front of the houses gates, I buzzed security to let me in.

The camera zoomed into my face and the gates swung open.

Walking on the green manicured grass proved to be a problem for my vans, it was slippery and I almost fell twice. I went around to the garden in the back and sat on the bench. My mom loved the garden and she would always sit down on this bench to write her stories. My favorite part of the garden was the huge antique fountain that spewed water into the sky gracefully. The fountain was surrounded by white roses, adding to the look.

I entered by the side door and ran up the stairs to get ready for the dinner party in my honor. There Julia my maid was waiting.

"Where were you dear" she said in her think Colombian accent.

"Umm Julia I was out for coffee with Terry."

Julia shook her head and sighed.

"Dios mio, this girl is going to get me killed" Julia murmured. "Come nija , lets get you ready"

She passed me a plush towel and pushed me out the door into the bathroom. I showered and ran to my walk-in closet. Julia was already there waiting for me, setting up the makeup kit. She painted my lips with a bright red lipstick, took out a black Gucci silk chiffon and grey jeans and put them together with black prada heels. I threw the clothes on and then sat down again so she could so my hair. She curled my hair, making them perfect ringlets and straightened my bangs. I checked the time on my phone and started panicking. I was late, and my father had a bad temper. When I was smaller there was a time when my father came home late drunk. When my mother confronted him, he hit her. He gave her two black eyes that day, and she never forgave him.

I never forgave him.

And he never forgave me.

Eric was a smiles and sunshine, but when he turned your back on him he would stab you in the heart.

I was taken back to the day after. The day when the police found me in the forest asleep.

"Now Anastasia, honey. We would like to know what you saw last night.Okay?" The nice policeman with kind brown eyes said.

"Ok" I nodded my little bead gravely.

"Mami was chased by shadow men, and Mami told me to hide. A bad man came and he was touching me, but the light chased him away"

" A shadow man?" The other policeman spoke up. They looked at each other and the grumpy policeman raised his eyebrow.

The policemen gave their thanks and left the house. Before leaving ,however, they gestured to my father to talk in the other room. Julia came and was carrying me up the stairs, but before reaching the top one I heard the police man murmur " shock, and " needs therapy".

The next day channel seven came to cover the story of billionaire Eric Windsor and his messed up daughter.

When the story aired he went on a rampage, destroying everything in sight, including the two thousand dollar vase that was won in a auction.

And then he hit me. Again. And again. And again.

....

"Anastasia, Anna, are you okay dear?"

I nodded and stood, thanking Julia for her help.

I strapped on the one inch heels and walked down the stairs, making sure not to trip, I didn't want my grand entrance to be ruined falling down on my face.

I heard applause and I smiled down to my guests. My father came up to me with a glass of wine in one hand and a blond man on the side of him.

"Hello" I said to my father and the man.

My father put on a smile and introduced the man.

"This is Brian Watts, Brian this is my daughter Ana."

Holy shit the irony.

Brian smiled.

"A pleasure to meet you, Ana. Your father told me so much about you, he mentioned that you go to Prescott. Do you know my son, Jackson. He should be around here." He craned his neck and looked over the sea of people. His face brightened as he looked over to the figure approaching us.

Jackson Watts, the guy I declared war on earlier today.

****

"Hello, Anastasia."

He looked at me up and down, his eyes roaming every contour of my body in my appraisal. I raised my eyebrow and coughed, his eyes moving from my chest to my gaze. What a perv.

He smiled and nodded taking off, taking a flute of champagne from a waiter.

Brian looked after his son with a confused expression on his face.

"I excuse my son for his behavior, he has been acting weird lately. My wife thinks that a girl might be involved, I hope to god it is because Jackson needs a decent girl to keep him company" He said.

Brian and my father then got into a discussion of the stock asker and equally boring stuff, so after excusing myself I too took off.

I saw Terry and waved. She walked towards me and hugged me.

" happy birthday, Anna."

Thanks I said.

" I got to go soon, my curfew is coming up and my mom will destroy me if I get home late. We"ll talk later about the whole not telling me your rich thing"

I headed to the garden, I needed a breather and this place was perfect. I saw someone already sitting on the bench, but I didn't know who since the darkness obscured his or her face.

Taking a seat next to the person I faced the fountain and lost myself in deep thought.

After a few minutes, the person stood grasping my attention.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It was extremely cruel of me and wrong. You probably think I'm a douche." He said in a low voice.

"I'm sorry" he said once more before leaving.

***

I stood there dumbfounded, my mouth hanging open.

Never in my years at Prescott have I heard if Jackson ever be sorry about something. At least now I know he was human, I really thought that he was a robot with the way he showed no emotion. It was creepy.

I blew at my bangs in exasperation. Even though he said sorry, his comments still hurt. What am I going to do, I thought. He was really beginning to confuse me.

**......**