Find Myself Again

Here's the first story I've written in a very, very long time. Comments would be greatly appreciated, but please, be gentle! Also, I know a lot of stories seem to be based in Seattle, but I'm from the area so I'm going to keep it going... it's what I know! Hasn't been edited, so if grammar/punctuation is off I apologize. I hope you enjoy...

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It all started Friday evening after a long day's work:

"TAYLOR!" I scream. "What the hell are you doing?" I stand there in my sweats, flip flops and t-shirt holding my dog's leashes while they take off up the driveway. Without stopping Taylor looks up at me with an evil grin and doesn't stop defiling the woman he has pressed up against my car. This isn't what I want to see before I go to bed!

"Oh, hey Sam! Nice seeing you here. I'm home visiting my parents. I hope you don't mind, but taking her to their place would just be inappropriate." He practically pants at me. I'm half tempted to grab the hose and spray them down, but I'm becoming nauseous and want to get out of here.

"I see you're spending quality time with them." I reply as I turn to follow the dogs. "You're washing my car tomorrow." I yell over my shoulder as I start up the driveway and out of view.

It's a nice evening, well, was a nice evening. It's the beginning of fall. The air is crisp, leaves are changing colors and it's getting darker earlier in the day. My dogs are waiting at the gate that leads into a huge open field when I finally catch up to them. I open the gate and they take off running and weaving through the tall grass. I have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Becks is white and red, and Dash is all red. I plop down on the grass and watch them play. I'm in no rush to get back thanks to the images still burning in my head.

I feel my phone vibrate and pull it out of my pocket.

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   MASON (Text)

Hey, what's up?

   ME (Text)

Not much, chilling in a field. That sounds random, but it's for a purpose trust me!

   MASON (Text)

Oh, funny. Do you think we can meet up for drinks or dinner sometime this week?

   ME (Text)

Yea, sure. Everything ok?

   MASON (Text)

Not really. Sarah broke up with me, and on top of that, I'm not having a very good week. You're my closest girl-friend so advice/insight would be nice.

   ME (Text)

Yea, how's Wednesday sound?

   MASON (Text)

Sounds good. Pick you up after work?

   ME (Text)

See you then. Sorry about you and Sarah.

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When I get back there's no evidence of the horrific scene I had witnesses thirty minutes ago. He's still washing my damn car though. I've known Taylor since elementary school. He was four years ahead of me and unfortunately, this type of behavior isn't that shocking anymore. His parents, the Cassidy's, are one of the wealthiest families in the Seattle Area. Unfortunately, they live a couple houses down from my new place. I wish I'd known that before I moved in so I could've avoided Taylor's constant antics.

My landlords, the Hammond's, are probably the second wealthiest family in the area, and I went to college with their daughter Olivia. After college Olivia moved to New York with her brother to experience "bigger better things" as she says. Luckily for me, her parents got to know me over the last four years and took me in when they found out I was coming back to the Seattle. I'm originally from the area, so thankfully it's not too foreign to me.

I live in a nice, quiet "mother-in-law" house back behind their gigantic house. I have a private driveway and garage, free cable and internet, unlimited access to their pool, hot tub and chef. I've got it good here. Without going into a lot of details, everything is modern; granite countertops, beautiful dark hardwood floors, luscious carpet in the living room and bedroom, a shower most people only dream of, stainless steel appliances, front loading washer and dryer, and to top it off its 1,800 sq. ft. When Olivia said "mother-in-law house", I pictures something small and cute, but this is bigger than most of the houses I grew up in. I brought some furniture with me, but I definitely didn't have enough to fill the entire house, so they let me keep some (most) of the furniture already in it.

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It's Saturday afternoon when I hear a knock on the front door.

"Hey, Samantha. Here's some cash so you can take your car through the car wash." He grins holding out $20.

"You're not buying your way out of this, Taylor." I utter pushing the money back towards him. "The hose is next to the garage door and I'll go grab the rest of the stuff you'll need." I state noticing a look of shock on his face. Last time you'll mess with my stuff!

After I hand him everything and start to walk back toward the house. "You're not going to make me do this by myself are you?" He asks with his wicked smile. He's good looking I'll give him that, but his smile won't work on me. I stare at him for a brief second then start back toward the house. "Samantha! I didn't mean you had to help me wash the car. I was just hoping you'd stay outside and to keep my company. Besides, for Washington the weather is actually decent. It would be a waste to be inside." His smile has now gone from wicked to look-at-me-I'm-so-cute. He is keeping his word, and it's true, we only get sunny weather maybe three days a year if we're lucky.

"Fine." I murmur sitting on the porch watching him. He picks up the hose, sprays the car down the starts washing my car where his little rendezvous took place, and with that, I see a smile spread across his face.

Sick bastard.

After a few minutes I decide to break the silence. "So how long are you in town?"

"I head back to Chicago tomorrow. I have to go back to work on Monday." He says quickly looking at me.

"Didn't you get here Thursday?" I ask

"Yea, I haven't visited in a while so I took a couple days off. How do you know I flew in Thursday?" He asks smirking at me.

I suddenly blush, I'm not sure why. "I was out walking the dogs and I saw you drive into the neighborhood. You usually visit longer that's why I asked." I reply, but he gives me another grin. "Oh get over yourself Taylor, not every girl is obsessed or wants to sleep with you." I say a little too irritated.

"Hey now, that's mean and untrue. I wouldn't be washing your car otherwise." He chuckles.

"Oh, my bad, if you're referring to the kind of woman that let you bend them over my trunk, then I guess I stand corrected. Classy! You have money, why didn't you just go to a hotel or something? Don't your parents have a pool house you could've taken your lovely friend to?" I say rolling my eyes.

"Hey now, she is classy. She made me wear a condom the whole time." He replies trying to sound hurt. "Anyways, if I did go to a hotel you wouldn't be spending your Saturday afternoon with me." He chuckles.

"Lucky me." I mumble.

"Anything I can do for the little people." He says flashing that grin at me again.

To avoid boosting his ego I decide to lay back and enjoy the sun.