Escaping Mr. Grayson [UN-EDITED]

Chapter Seven.

I checked my reflection in the mirror over and over again paying close attention to every pore and stray hair visible. I was determined to make sure that there was nothing different about me—appearance wise. Internally, I feel metamorphized. I feel like I'm changing into someone, or something, almost untamable. I feel both exactly the same and completely different at the same time. It doesn't help either that my mother is, and always has been, the most observant person that I've ever known. The womans attention to detail is unmatched and getting anything past her is a whole mission on its own.

          Being hereback home, in this house, with her.... its making me worry that she'll maybe see it on me, maybe even just pick up the scent and smell it off me. I wouldnt put that past her. I can't help but shiver at the thought of her taking one look at me and immediately just knowing that I'm now part of the club. I too, much like my mother have, and is sleeping with an older man.

"Darling! You're already here", she exclaims when she walks into the house. She has a new weave installed, probably something Peruvian. Under the fluorescent lightbulb her brown skin appears almost grey. Then she steps closer to me, leaving the light. Shes wearing one of her tacky overpriced floral dresses from the local Boutique, Hummingbirds. She smiles

"Hello Mother", I hug her. The strong smell of lavender pine body lotion that she wears is now so far up my nostrils that it feels like poison. I'd hold my breath but I know even that wouldnt help.

"You look—", she pauses, staring at me with a wary eye, "...Different"

          I gulp. Oh no, she's onto me. If it wasn't for the dreaded rat infestation that hit Shakespeare University, I wouldn't even have to be here this week. Now that I think about it, maybe I should've just slept on the park bench outside the gym? Yes. That seems like it would've been a better idea right about now.

"Do I?", I swallow.

"Yes. Yes, you do. youre practically glowing darling. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were pregnant", she says, "or worse...you've been having casual sex" She pretends to shiver when she says casual sex.

          Oh, if only she knew the half of it. I imagine myself snapping back with a cheeky little comment like, well, do you? Do you know better? If I had the courage to stand up to my mother, trust me, I would have. Ugh, I knew she would notice

"Oh Mother, don't be silly", I shrug her off

"I know. I know. You wouldn't do that, it isn't part of the plan"

          Ah, the dreadful life plan that my mother made for me ever since my father left. Its embarrassing to even talk about. In said plan, I'm only supposed to have sex when I'm 25 and/or above and probably marriedor at the very least engaged, be-cause, as my mother explained it to me, by that time I would have met a potential life partner. That makes it...appropriate, and if not, then I'd have to wait till at least after 30. Yes, my mother is that psychotic. I told you she was a whole other breed of crazy.

          Oh, I'd love to see the look on her face if she ever found out what was happening back on campus. That would be a sight. I can almost see it right now, she'd practically have a heart attack, the poor thing.

"Mhm....so, where were you? I'd expected you to be home all day since you don't need to be at the Firm"

"Oh, you know how much I hate being cooped up in this dreadful house. I went out and got you those oatmeal cookies that you are always so fond of," she says, starting to unpack the groceries. She looks at me and I immediately know to go and help her unpack.

"Thank you. I haven't had them in a while", I say. I mean it too.

"I was thinking, maybe after dinner we can have them together over some tea and just catch up"