A locker slam shut next to me. “Rhetorical question Rhea.” My best friend Amy said “What time do you call this?” She asked, showing me her phone being open to a Snapchat of her boyfriend not responding to her until 11 at night.
“And I texted him at 8! Gosh I can't even!” Amy said, throwing her hands up in the air her bobbed, dyed pink hair swaying on her shoulders.
I smiled and shook my head grabbing my books for my final class of the day.
“I don't really know Amy.” I said, unsure of what to do.
“Well I'll see you on the bus Rhea! I got to go to the gym!” Amy said as she waved and jumped down the stairs as I pushed open the door next to me.
I walked into the library quietly, having my head down as I walked to the back of the library and sat in an old squishy chair. The window next to my chair provided good lighting, but I hate the things I remember here.
(flashback)
I'm walking to the school lobby and I'm talking to my best friend Kelly when all of a sudden my face hits smack dab in the middle of what felt like a wall. I looked up and I saw blonde hair and shimmering blue eyes.
“Oh gosh! I'm so sorry!” I said, freaking out.
I scramble to get away from him, picking up my scattered books.
“Huh? Oh no you're good.” He stands there, indifferent, hands in his pockets, Kelly giggles and grabs one of my books up off the ground, handing it to me as I take it, all books safely secured in my arms. “You okay?” Kelly asks, hazel eyes looking at me curiously.
“Yeah, I'm okay.” I said. I could feel my face getting hotter the longer I stood there. He huffs and sighs and looks at me, it almost felt like he was trying to look at me through my clothes.
“Sorry about that, she's clumsy.” Kelly said. “What's your name, cuz Im Kelly and the girl that just bumped into you is Rhea.”
“Jack, It’s nice to meet you two.” I held my books to my chest, still nervous and a bit fearful. “Well Rhea, I'm sorry for bumping into you.” Jack said, his eyes lighting up with interest now as he finally made eye contact with me, shivers going down my spine.
“Oh - uh - it's okay.” I said, stumbling over my words.
“Maybe I should take you out sometime as a proper apology.” Jack said, his voice sounding enticing and exciting. He held up a slip of paper. “My number is here, so I'll call you when I have a date set up.
“Are you sure - I wouldn't want to inconvenience you.” I said, starting to freak out, because I had never been on a date, period. Before I could get the next words out of my mouth, Kelly spoke up. “She’ll take it! Thanks Jack!” Kelly grabbed the paper, pushed me by my shoulders and ran out of there from the outside and into the school's main building.
“Kelly!” I gasped, cheeks red with embarrassment “Why did you do that?!”
“Because it was about damn time you got a boyfriend!” Kelly said, taking my phone from my thigh pocket and putting in his number.
“Rhea…?” A voice calls out, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Huh?” I turned my head from my window, it was Lamiah, or Lala, as we all called her, a girl even shorter than me, with braids and a sassy attitude. “Rhea, I called your name like three times.” Lala said, giggling as she slid into the empty seat next to me. “Whatchu doin?” She asked, dark brown eyes looking at me inquisitively. “Oh I was just thinking, dont worry about it.” I said, smiling at her for reassurance. “Well it must have been a really good thought then, since you couldn't hear me.” Lala said jokingly. “But I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out this weekend, I already asked Amy and she says she will go too.”
“Oh I would love to but I’m busy this weekend, I have to go help at the town library.” I told her, “Awwh! That's not fair!” Lala exclaimed. “Are you sure you can't say you’ll help another day?” Lala asked.
“I'm sorry Lala, I'm not able to. I already pushed it off once.” I told her, appreciative, that she would invite me. “Okay then Rhea, but we are making plans soon okay?” Lala said determinedly. I giggled and nodded my head.
The bell rang for the day to be over and I walked with Lala to the buses, looking up I saw Amy waving to me and Lala from the back bus window and Lala hurried to get on, I waved them goodbye and went to the parent pickup, where my mom was waiting.
I opened the door and hopped in. “Hey Mom.” I said, putting my things in the backseat. “Hello Rhea dear.” Mom said her own brown hair cut short accentuating her green eyes, while mine were just plain brown.
“I'm kinda surprised you picked me up today, you usually have Milo do it.”
I said. “Well that work trip got delayed and I thought it would be good to spend some time with my daughter today and it would give your brother a break.”
“Well thanks either way mom, are you gonna have dinner with us though?” I asked. “No, I have to be at the office. I'm sorry my dear, you know how Mr. Wilkins is.” Mom said. “Yeah, I know.” I said, shuddering at the memory.
(flashback)
At the dinner table, Mom, Milo and I sat nervously as Mr. Wilkins sat at the “head” of the table. That man is built like a tub of lard (bacon fat) with small, beady blue eyes with a receding hairline. He wore a very expensive suit but with how it fit him, it looked like the buttons would pop off of his vest at any moment.
“Cora, this is a very nice steak, I'm pleasantly surprised that a woman such as yourself could get it.” Mr. Wilkins said his voice was as low and slow as his brain.
“Oh thank you Mr. Wilkins.” Mom said, looking up from her plate nervously, smiling weakly at Mr. Wilkins.
“Please Cora…call me Hank.” Mr. Wilkins said, smiling at her. Even his teeth looked fat.
“Milo.” Mr. Wilkins said, turning his attention to my older brother Milo.
“How’s school going? Are you doing well in basketball?”
“Yes, I am Mr. Wilkins. I recently won a game 13 - 5.” Milo replied. If there was one thing i appreciate about my brother, is that he can hold his own and not get nervous as a cage full of angry bats. Milo had short hair as well but instead of being brown like mine and my moms, he was blond, like dads and he had moms green eyes. I was the opposite, I had moms hair and dads eyes.
Not seeing the conversation go any further with Milo, he finally turned his attention to me. “Rhea, how is school going for you?” Mr. Wilkins asked.
“Good, I'm in all honors classes this year.” I replied, not looking up from my plate, shifting my food around my plate nervously.
“And do you have a boyfriend, Rhea?” He asked. “N-no, Mr. Wilkins.” I said, stuttering over my words.
“Very well then, Rhea.”
We had arrived home, it was a cozy and lovely place despite the circumstances we were in. As we left the car and headed inside, we could see Mr. Wilkins on the couch and Milo currently scurrying around in the kitchen and I looked at mom, we both knew we were in for a long night.
“Cora, Rhea, how lovely to see you.” Mr. Wilkins said. Holding out a pudgy hand to my mother and me. I waved quietly without saying a word and went into the kitchen to Milo.
“Milo” I hurriedly whispered, “Why is Mr. Wilkins here??”
“He just showed up asking for you and mom, I didn't know what to do Rhea. I don't want mom to lose her job.” Milo said, struggling with the coffee pot. “Milo it's fine, I got the coffee, just keep an eye on them.” I said taking the coffee grounds tin from his hand and he went out of the kitchen.
A few minutes later I walked into the living room with two cups of coffee and handed it to my mom, since she was physically closer and then to Mr. Wilkins, who looked at her in a strange and uncomfortable way.
“Rhea, Milo, It’s late you two should get ready for bed and get to your studies.” Mom said, and I could tell why she said that.
“Cora, let the kids stay for a minute, I came here for a reason.” Mr. Wilkins said.
“Mr. W- Hank, what would you even want to talk about that's more important than their studies and rest?” Mom replied, a soft tone of worry in her voice.
“Because, I could use their help at the office. With Milo now being eighteen he could use the money and I could say the same for Rhea. Milo could work in the warehouse as a shipment guy while Rhea joins you in the office, Cora.” Mr. Wilkins said, smiling oddly.
“Well - uh - Milo can speak for himself about that but Rhea needs to focus on her studies.” Mom protested quickly before I could even speak. “Well Milo?” Mr. Wilkins spoke. Milo cleared his throat and said “While I appreciate the offer Mr. Wilkins, I want to finish my senior year and be able to go to practice whenever I can. However, when I’m done with school I’ll think about it more.”
“Very well then. Cora, I’ll go with you to get those files you said you finished printing for me.” Mr. Wilkins said and Mom followed him.
Milo and I watched them walk away and we took off to our rooms. Mom has always told us to avoid her office while Mr. Wilkins is here. I don't like that man very much.