Chapter 4
1710 Words
Finally it was the weekend. I sat on my cough with various pouches for my hair. A brush on the left, my wide tooth comb on my right, my comb used got separating in the middle, and of course you can never forget your wrap.
My sweatpants hugged my legs, a short top covering my chest.
I was just about to open my Olive shampoo when my phone rings. Groaning, I tap accept with my pinky finger to a number that I was familiar with.
"Hello?" I proceed, starrting with my roots.
"Ocean." Only one person calls me by my first name.
"Oh hey Trevor." I squeak.
Gosh girl, calm yourself.
"What're you doing right now?" He asks, his voice silk and I sigh inwardly.
"I'm just. . washing my hair. You?"
"About to ask this beautiful woman out to lunch." I freeze.
"U-uh, I-"
"1:00?"
"I have a boyfriend." I blurt and he snorts. I shut my eyes tightly from embarrassment.
"I know Ocean, but just as friends. . . . just because you're not my therapist anymore doesn't mean we should just stop hanging out. . . I actually like your company." By this time my throat had clogged. Tears fill my eyes as I remember the last time I tried to make a friend.
When will my life be normal?
"I . . . I have to clean. . we can take a raincheck?" I ask, long forgetting about my hair. My eyes dripping with tears and I hear the small exhale.
"Sure, just call me whenever."
He hang up and I angrily grab the conditioner deciding that my hair can miss one week of deep conditioning.
I slam my bathroom door, undressing and getting into the shower.
"Honey. . . .I don't trust that boy." The lady with auburn hair states as she looks behind me and I sigh.
"Mom, he's had a rough path. . . but. . I think I might love him." Her eyes widen, as they shoot back to him.
"Ocean—"
"Don't wait up."
"Ocean Devila, get back here right now!" My dad voice booms but I keep walking.
Why did I keep walking?
Why can't we just listen to our parents and understand that darkness lurks in even the seemingly brightest persons
Halfway through my shower I realized that I forgot my wide tooth comb.
I really can't do nothing with this mop so I grab my towel and run into the living room, absolutely wet.
My knob twists just as I was about to leave and I freeze.
Please don't be Dain. . please.
"Open the door!" He screams and I close my eyes.
Why, why, why!
This time I make the worst decision, and I slowly use the key to lock the other part careful to not make any noises.
"I know you're in there! I can hear the shower. Open the door before I break it down!" He roars and I quickly retreat to my room, looking around for anything that could help if he ever gets in, I find an old baseball bat my roommate left for me before Dain became to much for her.
My apartment were two bedrooms, one a master and the other one which was mine a simple pastel coloured one.
I avoided roommates, but my landlord always seemed to find one, saying it would be good for me. But it really wasn't good for them. Dain was toxic.
"Please, please, please." I murmur under my breath, hoping that the banging stop and for the first time it did. I stayed silent until I could hear his unsure footsteps on the gravel before letting out a sigh, and slowly crawling back into the shower.
I lean on the wall, slower sliding until my but met with the cool surface.
"It was only a matter of time. . ." I close my eyes.
Only a matter of time before he killed me.
× × ×
Trevor's POV
"Mr. Garcia, I'm going to need some of my men."
"Ah, Mr. Vatore, but you just got out of jail." He Snickers and my jaw ticks. "This whole deal was for you to not come back into the mafia."
"What I do, is not to be questioned, involved or not, you know the type of man I am. Now I have things to do, and places to be. Get me Robert, Trent and Leo." I hang up quickly, slapping a hundred dollar bill onto the table before leaving.
Ocean.
She consumed my mind the night I laid on the prison 'beds', she was so beautiful. Her hair unruly, her smile wide and genuine, but her eyes. It lacked a glow that I know could be there. That's when I first realized something was wrong. Then she came the next day with bruises that the outside world wouldn't even notice, but observation is what I was known for.
Why do men feel so superior to women that they lay hands on them?
This will be the last time Dain White ever puts his hand on a woman.
I promise you that.
× × ×
"The tattoo parlour is coming up well sir, by next week we'll be able to open." I nod at the good news, staring at the men at work.
"We should start hiring people, what're we looking for?"
"Target young men with art to show. Don't let the age be too high, a lot of this generation is in need of jobs." The women around me were making me uncomfortable.
Normally, their stares wouldn't bother me, but it seemed like every one's eyes were on me.
Sighing in exasperation I turn and look at then.
"Can I help you?" I grit out and they all turn like they weren't looking. I roll my eyes.
The only eyes I'd like on me were the light brown ones that all seemed to be innocent.
Soon my little flower. Soon.
#
Ocean’s POV
"I r***d about four women." The man nonchalantly shrugs and I clench my teeth.
Its your job ocean, remain calm.
"And why. . did you do that?" I question.
"Because I wanted to." He says in a duh tone.
"Did you ever for a moment think about what it did to them?"
"Sometimes, but they all had cute sisters so-"
"Okay, I can't do this. You are a piece of scum under everyone's foot. You think you're above the law just because they're letting you out? I swear I would frame you for r**e just to send your little disrespectful self back to jail." I stand, bending to his ears. "You are nothing, and you'll always be nothing."
× × ×
The guard gave me a questioning look but I waved him off. I called the agency earlier and told them they needed to give me a new client because I couldn't do it.
I sat on the familiar public bench, a vanilla ice cream in my hand.
I was on my third lick when and image of Trevor came to mind.
"Stop that." I hiss at myself, and a young couple stared at me like I was mad.
I ignored them.
Every time I licked the image would get worse and it was irritating. Finally I was done, and the bus pulled over, signing in relief, I get home, ready to be engulfed by my warm bed.
My door was already opened when I got in. That's a bad sign.
Usually it was just Dain, so I just sighed loudly before pushing the door open.
As soon as my eyed land on the figure I scream and he yelps also throwing the box of cereal all over him and onto the ground.
"What is it?" I gape at Trevor.
"What're you doing in my apartment?!" I shriek and he blinks.
"I. . live here now?" He furrows his eyebrows and my eyes drift to his shirtless body.
His abs were soo, defined, disappearing with a V into his usual cotton shorts.
"Ocean?"
"Huh?" I blink back at him. "Oh right. . . roommate?" I question and he shrugs.
"I wasn't aware either." Well thanks fate. "I'll replace your cereal." He says innocently picking it up and I shake my head. Already having enough of this day.
"Its fine, I'm just. . I'm just going to go to my room." I walk towards it and he stops me.
"Is this a problem? I mean I could find somewhere else." He asks, concern written all over his face.
"No, no! Its okay I promise I'm just tired." I force a smile before leaving.
Well, I live in the same house a murderer.
What could go wrong?
× × ×
My phone rang at 4 am.
"Trevor?" I groan as I notice the caller ID.
"Where's the towels?" I roll my eyes.
"Why didn't you just wali to my room?"
"I didn't want to disturb you." He says And I give an imaginary person a flat face.
"Its in the cupboards in the bathroom." I say already falling asleep.
"Alright, thanks." He hangs up and I drop my face into the pillow, ready to fall asleep.
The next morning I was so tired. I felt drained in every way.
I was sighing every ten seconds. I pull on the red pencil skirt, throwing a black and white polka dot chiffon shirt and some red flats before heading for the kitchen.
He was shirtless again.
I clear my throat to avoid the thoughts in my mind and he turns to face me. He gives me a small smile and I return it.
"You look exhausted." He says and I nod.
"I am." Realizing that Dain hasn't called for the past two days. That was new.
"Take a day off then." He suggest placing a plate of the best smelling eggs and toast I have ever seen.
"Thanks. I can't, I just started this job."
"Do you like it?"
"I wanted to become a therapist, not exactly for criminals, but for people who were hurt." I throw my eyes downcast as I get ready to tell him the sappy part. "My professor told me I couldn't do that because I wasn't at that level and I could never reach it." I clear my throat losing my appetite and I can see his veins through his knuckles as his grips on the fork tightens.
'Do you remember his name?" He asks softly.
"How can I forget? Professor James Henderson." I stand, grabbing my bag.
"Well, I gotta go. You're good right?"
"Yea. . . I'll see you later." He says and I nod.
"And Ocean?" I stop to look at him. "Don't let people who are stuck in classrooms for the rest of their life, destroy your dreams of not being like them."
- Writer
