"He does that all the time. Did he frighten you?" she asked, looking at me in the eye.
"Not really. I was just —"
"I understand."
"You understand? What exactly?"
"You guys are scared of us. We get it all the time".
Not wanting to deny it, I changed the topic, "Does your parents know you are here?"
"Oh, my mom knows"
"She doesn't go to work?" I asked, acting ignorant was my first step to being friends with her. That way, she wouldn't feel weird or stalked.
Of course, we all knew her mother was a full time housewife.
"Work? Oh No.... Mama bear doesn't work" she replied laughing like I had said or rather asked something hilarious.
"What about your mom?" A knock suddenly interrupted us. Glad for the opportunity it created I stood up muttering "Thank God"
"Oh yeah? You would not dare to avoid my question"
"Oh no! I wasn't avoiding it. I am just really famished." she looked me in the eye and I was very sure she saw right through my soul and knew that I was indeed avoiding the question.
"Race you to the Dining then" she said Instead and began to run.
My mother and her talked and laughed like Old Friends, I chipped in sometimes but throughout the meal, I kept glancing at her. whenever she caught my gaze, she would smile and really— I didn't mind.
I just wondered how she didn't feel uncomfortable with the stares, the whispers — The Everything!
That night, I studied with my curtains drawn. I was not in the mood to entertain Charles that night.
If indeed, he was the one watching me
There was no way that it was just a coincidence that Audrey paid me a visit the next day.
He was playing a game with me.
The Next morning, I told Susan about Audrey.
"Oh. that's nice. At least we have a Walter to ourselves"
To ourselves?
"What does that mean?"
"Theresa came this morning with news that She and Charles are dating"
My heart broke to a million pieces
"I don't understand, since when?"
"She says she's been texting him on Social media and a few days ago he accepted and texted her back. They have been talking since then. They're meeting soon for a proper date. Audrey didn't tell you about this?"
Audrey and I haven't really discussed Charles, so I shook my head.
"Anyways, It is best you avoid Theresa, she has gone from being a bitch, to being a total bitch"
After school, Theresa blocked my Path with her minions "You are Charles new neighbor?"
New neighbor? I've been living there all my life!!
I nodded instead. She scoffed, looking at me from head to toe.
"That's a pity, you're such a wasted opportunity. If it were me, given the chance you have now, I would have used it well. But knowing you, I doubt you know what I even mean" She and Her minions laughed.
With her manicured finger, she lifted my chin and made sure I was looking her in the eye "I do not want to hear or see you anywhere close to my Man or his family, unless....." she left the sentence uncompleted and I understood it was a threat.
She shoved me down and walked past, laughing loudly.
"I am so sorry Pat" Susan said, helping me up.
Audrey arrived some minutes later
"Dad is going to be back by 7 pm, so Mama said I shouldn't stay long. How was school?"
"Not bad" I replied
She nodded, grabbing some grapes from the bowl Mom had left for us to share.
"Do you know Theresa Harts?" I asked. My heart beating loudly, I feared she might have heard it.
She turned to me excitedly, waiting for me to spill the tea, "Who the fuck is Theresa Harts?"
I smiled inwardly.....
So Theresa is not known in the family.
"She is your brother's boyfriend."
"Ohh..." she said, dragging her word, surprise in her eyes, but her face was void of emotion. "I didn't know"
"Are you not close to your brother? Whenever I ask about him, you always look ….. sad"
She looked at me and laughed. "You are very wrong. I am my brother's closest sibling. He tells me anything and everything"
"Why then do you not know Theresa?" I asked challengingly.
She looked at me with a smirk.
"Because they are not serious. She is one of his flings, nothing serious. Just something to kill time with"
Okay …. That's serious. In the sense that Theresa is going to require a lot of time to heal after he is done with her.
"How do you know that?" she asked
And it took a while before I realized she was asking me a question.
"Ohh, Theresa literally told the whole school about it"
I intentionally left the bullying part. I didn't want Audrey to see me as weak and then unfriend me afterwards
Or maybe it is something she already knows and I don't have to bore her again with the knowledge of it.
Audrey left soon afterwards.
That night, I wore the red lingerie I always keep hidden from my Mother
Wore a mask
Closed my door
Turned on the lights to my room
Draw the curtains open
Made sure his curtains were open too
And that he was staring
With my sex toy in hand, I gave him a sight to behold.
A reward for what he is going to do to Theresa Harts.
Even though It was not in my place and I should have nothing to worry about his business.