"This is where Marie lives", he pointed to a nice brown house. "It's huge!", she replied. She stared at this large brick figure, trying to ignore the 20- something storey buildings around it. She smiled at him and raised her eye brows. The whole neighbourhood was not very appealing. The houses, although very lavish and very well groomed, were built extremely close to one another. Like sardines in a can, they looked. She didn't understand why anybody would choose to live here. "I know what you're thinking", he said, "but she assured me it was only temporary". He laughed, at which she sighed with relief. "It is lovely. But these buildings... not one, but four?". A valley of houses drowning, empowered by these four large structures. There was absolutely no privacy here. People looking out of their balconies onto the backyards of others. "I promise our start won't be like this". He held her hand firmly. His eyes gleemed at hers. She was everything he looked for in a woman. Her love, her optimism, intelligence, and her legs. She had amazing legs! What more could he ask for? He liked the simplicity and the flow of her hair, her smell, and her softly tanned skin. She starred back at him, smiled, and rang the door bell. "That's because I'll be the one making the decisions around here", she teased.
"Oh, you're finally here!", the door opened wide revealing a large foyer. There was a crystal chandelier hanging in the centre of the room, a closet to the left, and beyond a yellow wall an arch leading to the living room. Marie appeared with a great smile on her face. She was holding some appetizers in her right hand and extending a hug in the other. ''Mike is just around the corner, I'm glad you made it. It's not much of a location, but it's a start, you know? Wait till you see the master bedroom!". Marie was always open and warm hearted. Older by four years, Marie was like a sister Kay never had. Her appearance resembled her brothers, she was a spick image of Dominic. Both had similar features, the same dark eyes and high cheek bones. Marie of course was more slender, more delicate, and unlike Dominic she was always well dressed.
"Everybody, I'm sure you remember my little brother Dominic and his girl friend Kay", she turned to a room filled with twenty or so people. Kay waved but Dominic of course had to be out of the ordinary. He leaped into the crowd with open arms. Everyone was very amused. All the faces in the room were familiar to Kay. She recognized the people from university, standing and laughing together, some were from Mike's job and others old friends of Marie's and Dominic's. They all attended the same school; Her, Mar, Mike, and Dom. They shared contacts, extended their circle of friends, they often spent their breaks together, shared books, and notes. But that was a while ago.
Kate smiled as she walked through the house. It was neat and very well furnished. "Europe", said Marie, noticing Kate's wandering eyes. "Half this stuff is from Mike's side, all wedding gifts". "How lucky you are! It' absolutely charming!", Kate replied squeezing Marie's hand, a sign of happiness for her. Across the hall was Mike, lingering from guest to guest, bringing up random chatter, making sure everyone was comfortable. He was coming over to where they were standing, arms extended. "It's good to see you again", he said. "Happy Birthday Bud! When we saw it we immediately thought of you", Dominic said. He handed Mike a medium sized box. "It's supposed to bring adventure to the bedroom", Kay added and winked. On their trip to the Carribean they came across a dark and beautiful wooden sculpture of a twisted looking figure. It resembled a man and a woman entangled in each other's arms. It was believed to be a fertility sculpture, perfect for the newly weds. "You have to tell me about your vaycay. You're not on your honeymoon, let alone even married, yet you travel so much!", added Marie. Dom smirked at his sister, adding a remark that Kay didn't catch. Something else caught her attention at that moment. Rather, it was someone else that moved her away from where she was standing. Someone familiar but distant standing out on the patio. She pulled Marie aside, away from the group. "Tell me you didn't.." she started. "I did invite him. I had to, he's Mike's good friend", finished Marie.
There he was. James. Ha! What was he now? A lawyer? a doctor? He came from a wealthy family and always used that to his advantage. Tall, blonde, and ravishingly handsome. He was dressed in a light beige suit, elegant but casual. He was standing next to a couple of pretty girls who were waving their drinks and tossing their hair. "That's no surprise", Kay moved her head in his direction, commenting on the two he was with. "I told him to be good, Kay. He won't bother you."
James, she repeated his name in her head. He bought her jewellery, bags, clothes. He dressed her up, introduced her into a world of money, he put her on display for everyone to admire. She did enjoy it at first, she admitted to herself. It was something she's never had before. He made her feel like no one else mattered in the world. She played along with what he wanted, gratified his every need and he fulfilled all her desires, but what a mistake that was. As she stood among a couple of friends, she found herself glancing in his direction. She then looked back at Dom, laughing with Mike, enjoying himself. Oh that honest and caring man. He made her heart melt. He made her feel emotion, he made her feel real and alive. Yet she caught herself constantly glancing at James. That coward, that poser, that liar. That mysterious man and his gorgeous wavy hair, a light shade of blonde. She still remembers the colour of his eyes. They were like the ocean, a deep rich blue. Ew. She realizes she doesn't like that in a man anymore. He was a guy pulled out from a Cosmo magazine; he was always picture perfect. She shook at the thought of him. Goosebumps covered her skin as she replayed in her mind the nights they spent together.
Shit. He noticed her staring. He raised his glass out to her and grinned confidently. Disgusting, she thought. Who did he think he was, all cocky and charming? She hesitantly smiled back and did the same. What she really wanted to do was gag, stick out her tongue, and roll her eyes. She went to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and did just that. She fixed her hair up, took a look at her skirt, twirled back and forth. It felt like she was in that room for a long time. Outside of the door she heard laughter, chatter, and a burst of song- "Happy Birthday to you..". She didn't feel like joining in. She stayed inside there for a while, until the song was over. Dominic probably noticed she was gone. She didn't want him looking for her. As she was about to leave, there was a soft tap on the door, followed by a whisper. "You in there, babe?". Oh, good timing, he came for her. He knew her too well, she thought. "Yep, I'll be right out hun", she replied. She took a final look in the mirror and quickly opened the door. However, the smile on her face faded as she looked at the figure infront of her. This was the man who came for her, who attempted to save her. "Why? who else were you expecting?", said James. He had that stupid grin on his face. His emotions were expressed so well by his features; I'm the wise guy, are what his eyes said. She stared at him with a hint of confusion. A long pause followed. The nerve of this guy to barge in on her like this. She was very disapointed. "You look smashing", he broke the silence. "Smashing? Is that the new line for the ladies now?", she replied. Jerk. She stepped out of the bathroom and pushed him gently aside. She didn't want to see him at all, she wanted to forget about his existence. She needed to get away. She entered the living room brushing against a crowd of people. She was looking for Dom. Where was he?
She heard his voice out on the patio. He was always easy to spot because he had the loudest laugh she's ever heard. She motioned towards him, signalling something wasn't right. He immediately noticed her dismay and walked towards her. He playfully took her in his arms and danced her around the crowd. "Lets get out of here for a sec", she whispered to him. She took his hand, led him through the house, and stepped out onto the front yard. They ended up walking along the street, enjoying eachother's company. He comforted her, talked to her, updated her on the stories of the people he'd been talking to. She liked this. She liked the world with him. So safe, secure, so complete. She always thought clearly with him around her, no worry ever clouded her mind. They sat in the park for a while. It was already dark outside. They stared at the random assortment of lights on the buildings around them. There was no pattern to the yellow colours, like stars which crowded a black sky. It wasn't a very loud neighbourhood, she noticed. There were no busy streets around, no engines roaring, only the slight hum of one or two cars passing by in seperated intervals of time.
"Dom, Kay!", a voice yelled behind them. How long were they gone from the the house? At first they didn't hear the voice but then it grew clearer, louder. It was James, waving at them from a distance. Gosh, he always had to poke his way through, always had to keep everything in order, know where everything was, what everyone was doing. "Laura and John are leaving. Marie sent me here for you", he yelled. "I doubt that", she said back. Dom threw her a look. "What?", she said quietly to Dom, "I bet he's the only one who noticed we were gone, he's always budding in where he isn't wanted". James finally reached the bench at where they were sitting. He had a glass of scotch in his hand at which he sipped, an attempt to break the awkward silence. Dom didn't seem to mind him here. He knew about James. Dom knew they were once together but he didn't know the details. She didn't tell him about his jealousy, his agressiveness nor did she mention their moments of intimacy.
Liberty Grand. A gala, it was a ball maybe 3 years back. He presented her to his society as something she wasn't. First, he bought her a dress that he wanted her to wear. It was glamorous, beautiful, and extremely expensive. She refused the gift for she already bought a nice, simple, white dress. But after him insisting it was a gesture of his appreciation, she accepted. She thought she deserved being pampered by him, after all, it was her brains still keeping him in school. If the dress wasn't enough, he surprised her with a day at the spa. He made her up and paid for everything. She didn't think this was necessary. She was a humble girl from a lower middle class family. She didn't need to be spoiled, she never thought of physical things being important.
The evening finally arrived. It was grand. The splendour of the building was remarkable. However, she couldn't help but to feel out of place. James talked to her amongst his relatives as if they just met the night before; short, emotionless sentences, light and meaningless conversations. His parents were certainly impressed by who she was or rather what James fed to them about her. He introduced her as if she was the Queen of England, she laughed at all of this in her head. He lied about her family, her interests, and sold her as a product to please their wealthy minds. She thought his mother's smirks and her snobby aura, amusing. The older woman looked at Kay smiling, she was a handsome woman, pink champagne in one hand and her other arm on her husband. She looked kind, yet she analyzed Kay from head to toe. Her remarks, although kind, sympathetic words, were spoken coldly. Kay couldn't stand this, this pretending, this impressing. More than once she whispered to James about the absurd feel of the evening. However, James ignored her complaints. She wanted no more of this treatment. She couldn't stand this, she couldn't speak out. She was drowning, losing air. At that moment, she excused herself and stepped out into the building's grand foyer. James swiftly followed. He cursed at her ignorance and her bad manners. She started explaining her feelings to him slowly and calmly expecting him to understand. But what started as a rather quiet conversation turned into an uproar, a loud argument. She had all this anger, all this rage building up inside of her. She let all that out, she didn't know she had the courage to speak out this way, not here. At this instant she didn't know herself. Who was this girl, this monster? Why was she yelling and why couldn't she control her arms flying in the air? He grabbed her by the hand and aggressively walked her out of the building. They quickly passed all the people that stopped to stare at them. Their faces appauled by this couple's behaviour, expressing an aura of amusement, disaproval, and snobism- noses in the air. They reached the outside of the building, a burst of fresh, moist air hit Kay's face. It was dark and slightly foggy, a day perfect for rain. He continued to pull her away from the hall, away from the people. He stopped, grasped both of her arms and squeezed them tightly inwards toward her body. He pushed her forcefully backward against a wall of a neighbouring building. Her back slammed onto the rough surface, her head jolted back but she stopped it from hitting the wall. He hurt her. A warm tear escaped from her eye and raced down her cheek. She tried to fight it back but she couldn't. She was shocked. Her knees began to wither and shake; she was scared. She couldn't see his face, it was hidden by the darkness that surrounded them. He began to move closer to her, removed his hands from her arms and pressed himself against her, his hands brushing her back. It was then that she saw his angry eyes. She noticed his face a light shade of red and a vein that she never noticed before emerged on his forehead. "You do this for me," he whispered heavily into her ear. She felt the heat in his breath against her neck. "I made too many sacrifices for you, I'm giving you more than you deserve. Don't embarass me here", he threatened. He sharply let her go, stepped back, and fixed his suit. She stayed still for what seemed like a life time. He must have noticed her innocense, her reluctance to move from where she was standing. He moved slowly towards her again, took her face gently in his hands and kissed her lips slowly. His kiss built with intensity, a rapidly growing crescendo. He reached the forte, all his strength focused on her lips. She tried to keep her mouth closed but it was very quickly empowered by the motion of his tongue. All her strength was overpowered by his. She couldn't resist, she couldn't close her eyes; this hurt too much. Diminuendo. It was over. Her lips numb. She found herself dumbfounded. Was this his love for her? Was this his way of silencing her? He turned away and started walking back into the building. She imagined him passing all the strangers who spotted their heated argument. He was the stronger one, the one who won, he played that grin on his face. She waited by the wall feeling abused and mislead. Counted in her head "one mississipi, two..", trying to regain the feeling in her legs. Her mind was a tangled web. In her head she knew she should cry, she knew this was the time anyone would choose to cry. But no tears came. She didn't feel sorry for herself. She chose this for herself, she wanted to be by his side, she wanted to please this handsome man which provided her with the opportunity for a successful future.
A few moments later, she regained her strength, threw her head in the air and made her way into the main room. Her red evening dress was slightly out of place but no one noticed. Her hair was perfect, her makeup well done, the Queen of England. She walked into this grand room filled with beautiful people. She carefully coordinated her steps, swayed her long dress as she moved. There he was. James. Grinning slyly at her. He came towards her, took her hand, brought her close to him, and whispered in her ear, "You look beautiful". Nobody noticed that hiding behind her lovely smile, and her pounds of makeup on her face, was something out of place, something that hurt her. He hurt her. But nobody cared, she didn't care.
"Kay", said James, "if it's okay with Dom, I'd like to speak with you". She phased out of her memory and slowly replayed his words in her head. Did she hear correctly? She looked at Dom, her eyes pleading for him to object. "Yea, no problem", Dom replied. She couldn't believe this. She wasn't going to let him get her this easily. "What is this regarding?", she asked. "Samantha. I need some advice. I still consider you one of my closest friends, I trust your opinions". Oh yes, Samantha, Kay thought. That girl, that bimbo he left her for, the family favourite. Unbelievable!His rich, materialistic, and very 'smart' girl friend. Everyone knew their story. Both of them happy with their wealth, together as a couple for the purpose of strengthening their empire. A relationship with no love, no emotion. They were created perfectly for eachother, she thought. Where was that girl tonight? and why did he need Kay now? Dom accepted the cue. He slowly got up and mockingly, kissed Kay's hand. "Bring her back safely", he said to James, smiled, and walked back towards the house.
To be continued..............
