While I was standing there a memory of my parents came to me. Unlike any others that I've had for the past ten years. It was happy. Every time I thought of them, it was bloody. Very, very bloody. Now it wasn't. Tyler and Nate were both playing a video game, and Alex was with Adrian playing pool. When we were younger, my parents used to take us to our Grandparent's house for thanksgiving. Most of the time the boys would go hiking in the forest behind the large house, but I never wanted to go. I was never as close to them as I am now.
I had always stayed with mom in the kitchen, which dad would always joke about. The guys out doors and doing boy sports, while the women were in the kitchen.
"Mommy's the women, I'm a girl!" I argued, through my one missing middle top tooth. I was only five, and I was a few inches away from four feet tall. I had been wearing an aquamarine dress which flowed to mid-calf. There were two big fabric flowers where the straps and the dress connected.
"Oh, yeah?" Dad asked, leaning down so we were closer. His brown hair had a few grey streaks in it, and he looked just as I remembered.
"Yup!" I exclaimed, with wide eyes.
"Well, how bout we go play some pool with the Twins?" He offered, grinning. I pouted.
"But mommy-"
"Will be fine without you nagging on her." He finished, with a knowing glint in his eyes. I glared, mostly because I had no idea what 'nagging' meant. It sounded like an insult though.
"Mommy, mommy!" I turned to look up at her. She was wearing brown leather boot heels, and jeans with a nice dark blue blouse. Her blond hair was in a tight bun, and her bright blue eyes were shining with happiness.
"Go, my love." She told me, leaning down to give me a kiss on the head. "I'll be here when you get back."
I stared at the empty room in front of me. There, directly across from the top of the stairs, was a bed. It had checkered comforters, and white sheets. The bed was neatly made. There was nothing. No sign of life, or anything else. It was completely void of evidence. I had done this all for nothing. My heart dropped in disappointment as I turned to walk back down stairs.
As I reached the bottom, the knob jingled, and I had to remind myself to act casual, because I didn't do anything wrong. There was nothing wrong with what I did... but I still wouldn't tell him.
As the door swung open, it revealed a girl. Well, a woman. She seemed to be in her early twenties, and was gorgeous. I could tell her dress was expensive, and the shoes must've cost a fortune. She was wearing large Gucci sunglasses, and was way too pretty to be from here. Her cheek bones were high, expressing her full lips. She had a gorgeous smile planted on her face when she saw me.
"You must be Zoe." Her accent was thick, and Italian. Her perfectly blood-red manicured fingers pried the glasses from her face. "I'm Nicole." Her bright red lips stretched into a wider smile as she held out her hand. I glanced at it, and debated smacking it away. I felt totally underdressed in jeans and a tee-shirt, while a padded over to her, barefoot. Warily, I slipped my hand into her baby-soft one. She shook it lightly, as if I were a small child.
"Hi..." I said, eyeing her in distrust.
"Oh, how silly of me." She laughed, and it sounded melodic, and beautiful. "I'm Bennett's girlfriend." I grew stiff. She called him Bennett. Well of course she called him Bennett, she was his girlfriend, you idiot! Oh man, she must've seen the photo of us on the news. She must be pissed. I would have to keep an eye on her. She was probably plotting to rip an eyeball out with her perfect nails.
"Nice to meet you." I replied, evenly. She smiled warmly, and set her large dark blue Louis Vuitton bag on the hook. She had a key to the house. They must be serious. She sauntered into the kitchen in her black Christian Louboutin Nappa leather high heels. Her Versace cream lace dress was perfectly suited to her body, and expressed all her curves. She had pin-straight black raven hair, with bright blue eyes. She was dressed for the runway. Her smoky eyes had to be done professionally, as for her whole body. It was as if she had been personally sculpted by God. I felt totally out of place. Her heels clicked against the hard wood floor, making me scurry after her.
"You wouldn't know if there is a Fat-free vegan Suliair, is there?" She asked, smiling. Then I remembered. Yes, it's down the drain at school from when I washed it off the day Hilary poured hers all over me. I didn't say that though.
"I don't know." I told her, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "So, uh, Nicole, was it?" She smiled at me, before continuing her search in our refrigerator. "You're not... upset about anything?" Her blue eyes turned to me.
"Of course ne, I understand." I forced myself to smile. "Bennett explained everything." My smile died, and so did hers. "But if you ever come after my man again. You'll wish you n'a pas." I watched in amazement as her smile beamed up again just as the door slammed shut. She closed the fridge softly, and pushed passed me. She just threatened me. I didn't understand exactly what she said, but her tone was definitely implying a threat.
"Nicole?" His confused voice shocked me out of my trance. I jogged out of the kitchen, and found her cuddling up to him. "Qu'est-ce que vous faites ici?" His warm voice washed over me, making me stare. So he knew French, what else did I not know about him?
"J'ai pensé que vous pourriez avoir besoin d'aide baby-sitting." I definitely herd baby-sitting. I cleared my throat, making them both turn to look at me.
"Zoe," His brows shot up. "I- I thought-" It was the first time I had heard Mr. Dominique stutter. It was hilarious.
"Don't worry about me. I'm going out." His brows were drawn downward.
"What? No. Where are you going?" He asked, pushing Nicole gently away from him. She scowled, and even that looked beautiful.
"Out. You won't need to worry about babysitting me for now, Mr. Dominique." He flinched.
"No, I don't-"
"I'll see you later." I interrupted with a forced smile. I didn't understand why I felt the way I felt. I wanted to be cool. To be calm and collected, like he was, but it was so hard. Her Chanel perfume was starting to make me gag.
"Just tell me where you're- Nicole, stop. Zoe, wait-" But I slammed the door in their faces. I didn't have my phone, or my keys, so I just started walking on the sidewalk. It was warm out. I didn't know where I was going, but who did? Some people have their whole life planned out. I wasn't one of them, but being harassed by reporters was definitely on the 'no no' list.
It was peaceful outside, and I craved for that life. I wanted to live like the leaves on the trees; calm and peaceful, waiting for my time to fall. Or like the wind; calmly moving through the world. I've always wanted to travel. Maybe that's what I need. Just a trip so I could get away from this God Forsaken town. But then I knew I couldn't. I needed to work, and help support my family. It was frustrating not having money. But I couldn't control it. If I could ask God for one thing, it would be a universal remote. Like in the movie Click with Adam Sandler. Even if I could only use it once, I'd rewind time, and make sure that dad and mom didn't die. I would chop of an arm so they would take care of me instead of leave.
I'd do anything so they would live. Even if it killed me.
**************
I only went back inside the house when Nicole's Mercedes C Class was gone. Tired, I pushed the door open, and walked in.
"Where were you? I've been calling you for hours!" Mr. Dominique yelled, right as the door closed. I glared at him, but it was weak.
It must have been around four o'clock by the time I arrived. And I was starved.
Ignoring him, I pushed past him, and walked into the kitchen.
"So what's your excuse? Huh?" He pressed, walking behind me. I ignored him once again.
"You have to talk me, damn-it!" He yelled, making me flinch back.
"No." I said, finally stopping to look at him. I turned on my heel. "I don't have to talk to you because I have nothing to say!" I cried.
"Why don't you? You always do!" He hollered. His voice was loud, and I feared that the house would collapse on us.
"Maybe for once you stunned me speechless!" I let out a cold laugh. "Maybe for once you shut up the crying baby, congrats." I turned back around and started walking again when his hand grabbed my wrist and spun me back around.
"I never thought of you as a child. You have always been my equal. Don't go sprouting this bullshit on me now." He argued.
"Don't lie to me." I seethed. "You lied about Nicole, and-"
"Is that what this is about? About Nikki? Fuck, Zoe! How was I supposed to know she would come here? She's not my girlfriend, I don't even like her!" He gripped my wrist harder, making me yelp, and jerk it back.
I held it to my chest, and stared at Mr. Dominique in a livid anger. The skin was swelling rapidly and was already baby pink. I pushed past him, and started sprinting up stairs.
"Wait, Zoe!" He yelled as I sprinted up the stairs. My feet thumped against the hallow wood until I reached the top. His loud footsteps rang after me. I ran past the bed and slammed the door shut. Leaning against the door, I slid to the floor. My hand was cradled to my chest as he banged on the wood. "C'mon, Zoe, open the door." He called, making me close my eyes. "I'll stay here all night." I didn't doubt it.
As minutes flew by, he eventually stopped trying, and I felt his body lean against the door. A sound proved that he was sliding down it.
"Zoe, open up. Please." He had only used the word please a few times with me. It always felt thrilling. Like I had tamed the untamable. I stayed silent though. After a while, I heard a thump come from directly behind me head. It took me a while to figure out that he was thumping his head against the wood. It made me smile.
"Come on, Zoe. Open the door." The minutes turned into an hour, and soon, the hour turned into multiple. Eventually, during sometime in the night, I fell asleep. I vaguely remember opening my eyes just a peek, and finding Mr. Dominique's strong arms around me, holding me up. And then my eyes shut, and I fell back into a peaceful slumber.
************
When I woke up, my face was pressed into a warm pillow. Unconsciously, I snuggled closer to the warm pillow, hugging it tighter. The pillow chuckled. Wait, what? My eyes blinked open, and I found myself staring into a rock solid chest.
"Ah!" I yelped as I jumped back, falling off the bed in the process. My back hit the floor with a loud 'thump', making me cry out in pain as I hit my bruised hip. Oh no.
"Shit," I heard him utter. I groaned as I tried standing up, lightly pressing my hand to my hip. "Wait, wait." He stopped me, pulling me up by my arm. Of course, his hand gripped right where Hilary cut me with her abnormally long nails. I hissed as his hands squeezed it. He let go immediately, glancing down just I time to see it start bleeding again. Today is not my day. The oozing red substance leaked down my arm, like a rain drop. His thumb came over and wiped it away, slightly smearing it into a light pink.
"When did this happen?" He asked, his brows strung in concentration as he stared down at it. But then the worst thing that could ever happen, happened. He had gripped my arm so hard that it bruised last night, and now I was sporting a purple and yellow mark. I pulled my arm back so fast I'm surprised it didn't just fall off. But it was too late. He saw it already. His hands clenched into tight fists, and his jaw worked. I feared that his teeth would break.
"Hey, it's fine." I assured him. "I'm fine." I finished, reassuringly.
"But I-" He had to clear his throat and look away. Oh, man, he was really upset by this.
"Hey," I said softly, turning in his arms to face him. "Look at me." When his stone cold eyes still didn't turn on me, I placed a cool hand on his cheek. Gently turning his face so it would meet mine, I smiled at his distraught expression. His brows were drawn tightly, and his mouth was set in a grim line. My hand was still placed against his not-shaved jaw, and I softly stroked my thumb back and forth. His dark eyes watched my every move. "You didn't hurt me. I'm fine."
Like a bucket of cold water was thrown on me, a door downstairs slammed shut.
"Baby, I'm home!" Nicole's eye cold voice poured down on us. I jumped away from him.
"Wait, Zoe!" He whispered yelled at me. I turned around to look at him. His face was angry but confused. Like he didn't know what to do. It was as if he was torn between choosing me or her, but I didn't want to be a dirty little secret.
"You're girlfriend's calling you." I whispered, not able to hide the disappointment. He stared after me with pain written on his face. I turned back around, and continued limping over to the bathroom. I leaned against the door, and let out a long satisfying breath.
He looked sad, that's for sure. But why? He had a girlfriend, and a beautiful one at that. He had a huge business. An amazing car, with a rock solid body. What did he need me for? Abby had pointed out that I had just brought him frustration- oh man. What kind of frustration? Was Matilda right?
As the door closed behind me, I walked towards the mirror, and pulled my shirt up to right below my baby pink bra. I had really underestimated the size that the bruise would be. It was about the size of my hand, but I could tell that it would be bigger by tomorrow. It was thick and puffy, with a slight indent where my sleeping shorts started. I hissed as I slowly lowered the top of the flowery shorts. They went about five inches below my pink satin panties. The bruise went just an inch past my shorts line. As I looked up at my face in the mirror, I grimaced at how I looked. My hair was a tangled mess, and my face was completely void of make-up. I looked like a teenage monster. Which was pretty much what I was.
Hey Guys, I've been pretty busy with my school stuff. Hell's calling my name with each passing minute. Anyways, I just wanna thank everyone whose been reading my story and encouraging me to keep posting. I love you guys all so much! Let's try to make it to 300 reads okay? Everyone don't forget to COVARE
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Stay posted for the next chapter with more Dominique and Zoe.
QOTD: What should Bennett Dominique and Zoe Sander's couple name be?