“Bet you wanna come home now. Don’t you…”
She ignores what I just said and sniggers at me.
“You ripped my tights…” she says while removing them entirely.
I fumbled with the lock, let out a satisfying hiss, and finally opened the cupboard door. With the door ajar, I turn to Tessie and suggest, “It’s about time you grab some lunch.”
She walks out of the cupboard and lets out an unsatisfied groan.
TESSIE
I storm out of the classroom and feel my frustration boiling inside me. I can’t help but resent Mike for what he did. The way he hit me with that ruler really turned me on. I almost want to go to the bathroom and finish myself off. What am I thinking? No. I need to stop.
If you come home, you can have more. The words play in my mind. No! I was not going back to being controlled and their little sex slave.
I make my way towards the dining hall and see Rae sitting with Archie and his group of friends.
Archie greets me with a smile as I approach the bench and Rae shuffles to make some room for me to sit down. Suddenly, she asks, “Weren’t you wearing tights earlier?” Caught off guard, I stumble over my words and nervously reply, “Uhh...uhh...I got a hole in them, so I took them off.”
I observe her briefly as she concentrates on processing the information. Suddenly, she seems to have figured out why I have no tights on, and an elated grin spreads across her face. Archie breaks the silence with a casual inquiry, “So, Tessie, how are you?”
“I’m doing well, thank you,” I reply politely, but with a hint of bluntness in my tone as I face him.
“Are you still seeing...What is his name? Cain?” he inquires.
I avert my gaze for a moment before looking back at him. “Well, it’s complicated,” I say quietly. “Trouble in paradise, ay?” he quips sarcastically with a tone that is hard to ignore.
Rae suddenly interrupts us with excitement in her eyes, “Oh Tessie, Archie just told me about this gothic mask event that’s happening at the club this weekend. Would you like to go?”
I can tell how much she wants me to say yes, especially since I stay at her place. However, the thought of going to the club again brings back memories of my last time there. I couldn’t forget how I got spiked and the danger that came with it.
“It’s not Halloween. But sure…”
“Just because it’s not Halloween doesn’t mean you can’t wear a mask,” Archie explains.
“Wow, I can’t wait for this! Once we’re done with college, let’s head into town and pick out some outfits. We are going to look so sexy,” Rae says with a big smile.
I turn my head and my gaze falls upon Mike as he enters the dining hall with a confident stride. He throws a smirk in my direction, but I refuse to give in to his charm and quickly avert my eyes. I can’t help but notice the admiring glances every girl in the room gives him.
Mike takes a seat at the table behind us. He is undoubtedly trying to eavesdrop on our conversation, trying to catch every word we say.
Rae and I walk into a store named Purple Dreams. The dimly lit interior is filled with various clothing items, ranging from corsets to form-fitting dresses. The atmosphere exudes a sense of mystery.
Rae enthusiastically shares her plan with me as we step into the boutique. “Ok, we need to pick outfits that make us look hot and will make us stand out,” she explains, her eyes scanning the stylish racks of clothes.
I take a seat on the plush sofa shaped like lips, admiring the boutique’s chic decor. Rae meticulously browses through the racks, discerningly analyzing each piece.
She spots two corsets–one black and one red. She carefully pulls them out, admiring the intricate lace detailing on each one. Next, she rummages through the next rack and finds two tight skirts that match the colors of the corsets. After a few minutes of deliberation, Rae makes her decision. “Ok, I’m thinking you wear the red corset with a black skirt,” she says, holding up the outfit. “And I’ll wear the black corset with the red skirt. What do you think?”
“Ooo, yes. I like it.”
My eyes land on a cabinet containing a collection of elegant, masquerade, lace eye masks. I am immediately drawn to them and pick out two black ones that catch my attention. I hold them out and suggest, “These will look great with the outfit.”
Rae squeals excitement and we both agree that we will look absolutely stunning wearing them.
Rae steps up to the register to pay for her outfit. I gaze out of the window and catch a glimpse of a familiar figure. My heart skips a beat as I realize it might be Nate, but I quickly dismiss the thought. My mind is playing tricks on me. I just miss him.
“You ok, Tess?” Rae asks.
“Uh, yeah. Just sleepy.”
“Wanna get something to eat?”
“Sure. I am paying, though, since you are letting me stay with you,” I state.
We walk down the street and stumble upon a quaint, cozy bar. The rustic, wooden tables and dim lighting make it the perfect spot for a casual dinner. We take a seat at a table with a flickering candle in the center, casting a warm glow around us. “Romantic,” Rae says with a playful smirk as we settle in.
We quickly glance at the menu, trying to decide what to order. Suddenly, a waitress approaches us, ready to take our order. As we place our order, Rae turns to me and asks, “Hey, I never asked...You have your own place. Why did you want to stay at mine?” With a curious look, she adds, “I mean, I have no problem with you staying. I was just wondering.” Feeling a bit hesitant, I quietly respond, “Uhh, I just didn’t want to be alone, that’s all.”
The waitress appears with a tray of glasses filled with water. She swiftly places them on the table and disappears into the kitchen.
“Do you miss them?” she asks. I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to reveal my true feelings. Cain had hurt me deeply and I resented him for it. I longed for an apology, but I knew his pride would never allow him to admit his mistake.
“I don’t…” I finally reply, unsure what to say.
