Claimed (25 page)

“Yeah.
See you then.”

*****

She took a quick shower and then rummaged through her closet looking for something appropriate to wear. It was her first date ever. She’d gone out with boys before but that had always been in a trusting circle of friends. This, however, was different. Someone was interested in her for a change. She was not salivating over some boy who would never be in her reach.

She picked out a cute lacey cocktail summer dress with a high bodice which she had bought a long time ago with some birthday cash she had saved. She remembered wearing it only once. She had been looking for something pretty to wear to the Pryor’s Christmas party. She had wanted to impress Ashton but like always, he had barely glanced at her.

She sighed and pulled the dress on. There was no use in weeping over a boy who would never give her the time of day. She heated up her straightening iron and did her best with her long dark hair. A few loose curls at its ends would make her reasonably presentable. Weren’t first impressions always important? She touched her face with a little make-up and then pulled on a little white lavender cardigan to match her dress.

She assessed her full length in the mirror, biting her lips. She was no ravishing beauty. Perhaps, this is why Ashton never paid any attention to her.
He had a hundred of those always drooling about him and she hardly was a match.

The doorbell rang and she knew it had to be Brendan. She grabbed her wallet and raced down the stairs to open the door. She realized though, Ashton had beaten her to it. He now watched her grimly, his eyes darkened dangerously as she stepped down
from the staircase.

“Brendan,” she tried a smile but her voice quavered instead. She wished to dear God, Ashton would leave so she could re
gain some composure. Thankfully her blond handsome date smiled.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Yes. Give me a minute and I’ll just Linda know.”

“Don’t worry about Linda,” Ashton spoke up. “I’ll let her know.”

He looked at her sharply over his eyebrows and then glanced away just as quick as if she was disagreeable to look at.

“Have a great time,” he said to Brendan.

She didn’t understand why, but he’s goodwill and that smile he gave to her date cut her deeply. He didn’t care. He didn’t care at all about her.

She pushed past the men and opened the door. “We should go, Brendan. Hilda hates it when I’m late.”

*****

“You alright.
Christy?” Hilda asked her over the table.

“Yes, yes,” Christy stammered.

“Is it Linda?”

Christy smiled. “
Yes, but it’s not just her. I suppose I’m just tired of my life. I can’t wait to leave that house, Hilda. To get away. To start a life of my own.”

“You’re almost there,” Hilda clasped her palm, giving her an encouraging rub on her knuckles. “Just hang in there, okay? You’re going to be eighteen in a month. And then you can do whatever you want.”

She nodded, biting her lip, hoping dearly she would get the freedom she desired greatly. But what would she do if she moved out? Where would she go? She needed a job and she had to start looking for one as soon as she could.

“The boys are coming back, so cheer up okay?” Hilda smiled. “Who knows
, Brendan might be your ticket out of Linda’s?”

They sat together laughing at each other’s jokes like most normal teenagers. Someone looking upon them would have supposed they were carefree, unaffected by the burdens of life and their future.

And she would have thought the three young people sitting with her would
actually have all that. They all came from stable families with good financial backgrounds. Hilda’s parents were teachers. She had long envied Hilda’s relationship with her mother. Megan Eddings, Hilda’s mom was always very empathetic of her situation, inviting her often for meals and sleepovers. She wondered what her own mother might be like if she wasn’t half-crazed over her latest boyfriend. Who was it recently? Luke… Luke…

Her eyes fell over the young man coming through the door to stand in the entrance, glancing at the customers as if he was looking for something. His blue eyes clashed with hers and immediately his jaw line tensed. He took long quick strides towards her and as he came closer, she stared in puzzlement at him, wondering why he was here.

END OF SAMPLE CHAPTER