I wrote this Italicized, so where thoughts or emphasis is supposed to be isn't there. I know where they are. I'm getting around to it. Don't tell me about it thank you[:______________
Classes came and went and the end of the day was finally over with. Aislynn waited in the atrium for Aiden. Since it was Tuesday, Madison had soccer practice and Dakota had swim. That leaves her with two hours to spear. Her own time, and she planned to spend it well.
“Aisly!” Aiden came running towards her and skidded to a stop. “I got an idea. You have two hours right?”
“Yupp, till the twins are done with soccer and swimming.”
“Then we’re going to a movie,” he smiled.
“Uh, I’m not sure about that. David wouldn’t be too happy about it.”
“Screw him.” And with that, the two were off.
His car smelled faintly of leather and his cologne. She breathed it in deep, she could not get used to that smell. She loved it. The trees and kids pass by in a blur and they stop at the local movie theater. It wasn’t crowded when they bought their tickets, just a few people distant and alone. Aiden spoiled her more than you would think. He bought her popcorn, even the gummy bears that she so desperately loved. Hand loosely around Aislynn, they watched the movie within the two hour limit she had. They were at the high school before you knew it.
They stood at the high school’s driveway and said their goodbyes. “Thanks, Aiden, I had a real nice time.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“I’m going to remember that,” he whispered. “And you’re welcome. Go on before they yell or something. Talk to you tomorrow.” He said with a smile and then got in his car and left. She was alone, with the twins. Great.
Slowly she found her car and pulled up to the curb where the girls were just walking out, giggling and being happy. “Let’s go home, I have to tell Daddy something!” Madison screamed at her, laughing madly. She was excited about something and Aislynn couldn’t pin point it.
The drive home was a silent one, and each house they passed Aislynn grew more and more anxious. Afraid that somehow David would find out, and hurt her. White knuckles attached deathly to the steering wheel proved so.
When they all made it back home Madison jumped out and ran straight inside. Dakota stood behind to walk with her. “So, I heard from someone you went out with Aiden?”
Aislynn’s eyes were wide, she didn’t expect anyone to figure that out. No one. There was one reassuring thought, at least it was her and not Madison. She let a smile slip, “Yeah.”
“There’s that smile. And about time! That boy has liked you for so long.” She slid down on the concrete steps and patted the seat next to her.
Sitting slowly, Aislynn’s smile still hadn’t receded. “He has?”
“Of course. With a beauty like yourself? Psh, who wouldn’t?” She laughed. The sound tinkling through the air.
She scoffed. “Yeah right.” But the grin gave her away. She was happy that at least someone liked her for her. Of course, it was noticeable that he liked her. Ever since they were twelve he’d take her out and always protected her, not to mention flirted. But that hadn’t started until they were in eighth grade. She sighed.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Dakota whispered. And for a millisecond, she believed her. Then an unsettling thought ran though, she couldn’t trust anyone in this house. No matter how nice they may seem. And she hated that.
“Thanks, Kota.”
You could hear the screeching from the front door. Madison stood in front of her drunken father as she animatedly yelled about her having a date to prom. Dakota looked innocent, but had excitement in her eyes. Automatically, she knew that they both had dates to the upcoming prom. This year’s theme was Cinderella’s Ball, a masquerade type dance. She was jealous. She hadn’t asked David about going, she was sacred that he’d say no and be mean as ever. But today, she had the courage to do so today.
The girls went to their rooms as I went to the kitchen to prepare their lunch. Sandwiches, everyone’s favorite. “Hey, David?”
“What the hell do you want?” He spat.
“Could I go to prom?” She quickly asked, not caring if he didn’t hear her words correctly. All she wanted was an answer.
“No, you need to stay here.” He pointed out. She knew this would happen, but she needed to tell herself that she tried.
“Why not? I’m doing so well in school. I deserve it.” She shouldn’t have said that. David rose from his seat and stormed into the kitchen. Inches from her face.
“Did you just back talk me?” He asked.
“I’m sorry,” the words ran together, a meaningless rush. She dared to look at his face, drunken anger showered him. His hand raised to her face in a fist.
It came unnoticed, he had punched her. The pain ran through her face in throbbing increments. The tears slowly falling from her eyes. She ran to Dakota’s room and stood at the doorjamb clutching her face.
“Your Dad.” Two words were all it took. Dakota literally ran to her step sister and grabbed her in a hug. Slowing rocking her back and forth, humming something from she created.
“That asshole. I swear to God.” She steamed. Her own tears of anger sliding down her face. Smudging her makeup. “Has this happened before, Aislynn?”
A tight nod and a sniffle did it for Dakota.
“That’s it. Lie down on my bed. I’ll be right back.” And she left slamming the door.
The softness of Dakota’s bed was welcome, and she heard the yelling between her step sister and her own father. Each louder than the next. She found herself at the door jamb listening in, or at least trying to.
“You don’t get it! She is my step sister, and you think I shouldn’t love her! Have you gone ballistic? It’s not what Isabella would have wanted it.” Dakota yelled. She was surprised to hear that at least one of her step sisters loved her like a sister.
“You shut the hell up about Isabella!” Her father yelled back at her.
“No, you ought to know. If you loved her, you should love Aislynn!”
“She ain’t my kid or blood, I don’t have to.”
“That’s all you got? You’re pathetic Dad,” She knew he was about to slap her. “Don’t you dare touch me. I’ll leave. Just you remember that.”
Aislynn scrambled to get back into the bed. Dakota stormed in and slid down her door, crying. “It’s not fair how he treats you. How they treat you.”
Aislynn didn’t dare say anything that might upset her even more. Instead, she gave Dakota a sullen nod. Behind her closed eyes, pictures of her mother flashed like an old time movie. Slow, silent, and in black in white. Tears pricked and her chest tightened at the corner of her eyes as the image changed to her unmoving mother in her mind. She shook her head, shaking away the image and blinked away the tears.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Oh,” she blinked again, and gave a tight laugh. “Yeah, I’m okay, for you know.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry my family is so messed up. Guess ya live with what you have, huh?”
That’s what Aislynn taught herself over and over. That you have to live with what you have and be happy. Only, she knew that it never was true. An empty thought with meaningless implications. “Yup. So what have you been working on?”
Dakota smiled then. “You know the title already?” Aislynn nodded up and down. “Then, this piece is about you. Do you want to hear it?” She picked up her guitar and the music played. It was a slow, almost sad melody that went on and on confusingly yet perfect. Slowly she added her lyrics which surrounded a girl being in a world she doesn’t understand .Shivers ran though Aislynn as it continued.
“It’s pretty, I like it.” She said honestly. “Why about me though?”
“Well, you inspired me.” She played with the notes again, something with fixing a twisted note that made no sense. Her nose scrunched, she did that when she was either confused or concentrating. “More than the dweebs downstairs.”
Aislynn only laughed. “Har har. I need to go and do my homework before I start stupid dinner.” She noticed the look on Dakota’s face, but she looked away.
“Need help?” She offered.
“No, all me. Guess I’m special.” She scowled, clearly annoyed. “Not.”
“Hey, we’re going to the mall to shop for dresses. Do you want to come?” As Aislynn moved to the door, she stopped suddenly, considering. If she went she knew that she’d have to carry all the bags and would be ignored. But Dakota was being kind, and she couldn’t pass that up.
“Okay, sure. Even though I can’t go…”
“Of course, it’s my retarded father. But we’ll try on dresses together, find something pretty and hide it somewhere. Maybe you’ll go.”
“As if.”
“Be positive, Aisly.”
“Yupp, that’s me.”
Aislynn faked a smile, and turned to leave. She had a love hate relationship with advanced classes. The good, she was away from Madison. The bad, she had loads and loads of homework with little time. She sighed.
Her room was chilly, and she couldn’t figure out the exact cause. Someone probably turned off the air to a steady degree. Most likely Madison, who was obsessed with the temperature isn’t perfect for her perfect little body. She loves the attention, as you can tell.
She fell into the chair and opened her chemistry book. The words and numbers were a jumble in her mind. And this was unusual, Aislynn was usually very smart and understood everything. But she didn’t give up. In under fifteen minutes she was finished and preparing dinner.
“Done yet?” Someone asked. She couldn’t tell if it was Dakota or Madison, since they were twins, they had similar voices. She slowly turned to figure it out once and for all. Dakota. She should have known, there was no ass in her name.
“Well, if these potatoes ever start boiling.” She rolled her eyes.
“It won’t boil if you keep staring at it.” Dakota giggled.
“If you say so, although I think it hates me.” Aislynn teased back, a tight smile pulling at her lips. It felt weird, fake, or artificial.
“Nah, I don’t think so. All though it’s just water. Remember, tomorrow we’re dress shopping. Whether or not you like it.” Dakota twirled quickly from her stance and was off to the dining table. Waiting for dinner, just like everyone else.
Aislynn hadn’t noticed the pot when she was talking with Dakota, and she was surprised to see that Dakota was right. If she didn’t pay attention, it did boil faster. She rolled her eyes.
Since the potatoes were finally finished, she grabbed everything else and went to the table to find David with his disgusting feet on the table and the girls slouching. All American family, eh? Wrong. He noticed the look she was giving him, he scowled - what he did best- and lowered his feet.
“Eat,” she told them. Since Aiden lived not five minutes from the house, she didn’t want to eat. Instead she wanted to go to Aiden’s, she missed him. She braced herself and faced her step father.
“Can I go to Aiden’s? I won’t be long.” Her eyes closed, pleading.
“Yeah whatever.” Her eyes fluttered up quickly. This was a shock, this was something different. And she wasn’t complaining. “Be back by curfew. Ya hear me?” He looked away from her. Quickly, she actually thought that he had changed from Dakota’s speech. She looked deeper in his eyes, they were still cold but understanding. She dropped the subject like it was burning her.
“Thank you.” She added as she turned went to the front door, shutting it behind her with a soft thud. Then she ran, she ran away from there to her comfort. Her happiness.
Frantically knocking on the family’s door, there was a yell to calm the dogs and someone knocked at the door. Mrs. Daniels, a woman of thirty with short cut brown hair and eyes that make you feel comfort when you’re in distress, answered the door.
“How are you, dear?” Aislynn hated that question.
“I’m okay.” What was the meaning of those couple of words anyways? Is anyone ever really okay? The thought washed away.
“Well then come in. Aiden is in the living room. Watching football. Boys.” She said with emphasis and rolled her eyes. This made Aislynn laugh.
The house was a familiar setting. As it’s an exact copy of the one where she resided, except it’s flipped. The living room was on the left instead of the right. She saw the blonde haired boy with green eyes staring intently at the television as if his life depended on it.
Only, when he saw her he dropped it immediately. He started getting up to hug her, she hugged him back with a squeeze. Reluctantly, she supposed, he let go of her.
“So why the sudden visit?” He turns of the TV, stealing on last look at the score. Thirty five to nothing. That’s our state, always beating the other teams.
“I don’t know. The devil let me out this time.”
“Oh, how sweet.” The look Aislynn gave him was clearly annoyed. He backed his sentence up, “Not.” She smiled then.
“You better not call him sweet.” She waggled a finger in his face. “Can we go to your room?” He nodded, and a blush slightly rose to his cheek.
“Um- yeah, sure. Come on then.” He took her hand. It was warm, comforting, and in a way, protective.
“Keep the door open, Aiden Michael.” His mother called to him, his blush deepened. A giggle could be heard from the room she was in. Her mother was a jokester.
“Mom!” Aiden yelled, he was irritated she could tell. He only shrugged.
Like every guy’s room, his was a mess. Clothes, which Aislynn took as dirty, were thrown all over his room and on his unmade bed. “Don’t you ever clean your room?”
“When I want to,” he grinned and starting picking up the clothes and throwing them in his laundry backset which was anything but filled. Ew, she thought as she found his bed and threw herself on it. Once he was finished, he sat down next to her. “I have a question, promise you won’t laugh?”
Oh, no. She knew what he was asking by the way he twisted his fingers- a nervous gesture she knew all too well. She couldn’t get the guts to tell him that she couldn’t go. That he wouldn’t allow her to. She cringed silently. “Go on,” she urged.
“Will you go to prom?” He looked at his converse, which were torn and ratted beyond repair. It reminded her that she should really tell him to buy some new shoes. “With me?” He added silently.
“I-I-f I can,” she pouted. “It’s not that I wouldn’t want to! I like you, Aiden, I really do. It’s just-“ her words blended together in a rush, only to be stopped by Aiden. Whose eyes were deep and meaningful, looking at her in a way she never saw him look at her.
“Ssh,” he placed a warm finger to her lips. “It’s fine.” Sadness was in his eyes and she hated that she had done that to him.
“He doesn’t like me to go anywhere.” She sighed, kissed his finger gently and pulled away. “But Dakota is making me shop for a dress. Just in case.”
