by Rue Volley
The girl’s commission eyes lit up and she walked to the window.
“Of course, no problem,” she said.
Johnathan smiled at me and I waited to receive heaven… in dress-form.
The girl walked up to me and held it in her hand. I reached for it and she didn’t give it up.
“This way please,” she said.
I followed her back to a “dressing area.” The room was a fairly decent size with music playing. There was a large red velvet couch sitting there and wine chilling. I looked at Johnathan and wanted to say something clever, but she hung the dress up and looked back at me.
“Would you like assistance?” she asked me.
Johnathan smiled and I nudged him.
“No, I got this,” I said to her.
She stepped away from the smaller room and I stepped up to the dress and let my finger trace across the front of it. It felt like the softest material ever. I sighed and looked back at Johnathan. He sat down on the couch and the girl lifted a wine glass to him. He took it and raised it to me.
“Well, try it on,” he said.
I stepped into the small room and let the curtain fall behind me. I stood there staring at that dress wondering why the hell I should put it on. There is no way that I will look good. I was too small… too this… too that. I sighed and Johnathan called out to me.
“Rue… just put it on, okay?” he said.
I sighed and started to pull my t-shirt off. I slipped my shoes off and then my jeans. It was a strapless dress, so I pulled my bra off and stood there staring at it. It was so pretty I just didn’t want to ruin it with my normalness. Funny, huh?
I heard the girl laughing outside my room with Johnathan and I got a little irritated. I mean, she is no better than me. No, I don’t have the black credit card, but I guarantee you that I would love this dress more than some snooty-patooty with a lot of money would. I touched it and then decided to go for it. I unzipped the hidden zipper and slipped it up from the bottom. I pulled it up and zipped it up the side. I tried to adjust my lack of boobie and then looked in the mirror.
OMG. I looked amazing… or I mean, the dress looked amazing.
I cleared my throat and prepared to step out. I heard the girl laugh again, fake as it was. That was my cue. I opened the curtain and stood there waiting for someone to laugh. Johnathan stood up and the girl tilted her head and stared at me.
“Rue… I, uh. I mean… you look.”
I looked at him and placed my hands on my hips.
“Go ahead, make fun…” I said.
Johnathan stepped towards me and looked down at the dress.
“No… you look beautiful,” he said to me.
I blushed. Yea, me… blushing, how girl of me to do that. I looked up at him and for a moment I did feel beautiful, I really did. The look on his face made me feel something new… movement. I smiled and took a breath.
“Really?” I said in a whisper.
“Holy shit, yea, Rue… Really,” he said.
Johnathan looked at the girl and nodded.
“Wrap it up,” he said.
I squeezed his hands and shook my head ‘no’.
He smiled and shook his head ‘yes’ right back at me.
“No… Johnathan, I didn’t want you to buy it for me. I just wanted to try it on.”
“Are you kidding me? My god, you look awesome. You have to have it… my treat,” he said.
I tried to protest… Well, I would have protested, but the dress had me in its evil grip.
I knew I should just say no and walk out, not waiting on him to buy it…
Next thing I knew I was at the counter, he was handing his card over for a dress that cost more than anything I had ever owned, and we were walking out hand in hand. I reached over and took the plastic-wrapped dress and held it close to me.
He looked down at me and smiled.
“Do you think that I will hold it ransom?” he said.
I smiled and held it close to me.
“No, I just… you bought; I will carry,” I said.
He smiled and continued to walk holding my hand.
We stopped when we heard Theo behind us.
“And there you are,” Theo said.
We turned and I smiled.
“Hi,” I said to him.
“I understand that you are out to get away from me, but could you possibly give me one day before you abandon me for good,” Theo said as he grinned.
“Oh, we didn’t mean to lose you, not really. It is my fault anyway; I saw this dress and next thing you know… poof… I have it.”
Theo looked at the wrapped dress in my hand and smiled.
“You are a girl,” he said.
I shook my head and looked at Johnathan.
“Maybe… sometimes,” I said.
Theo laughed and Sam walked up with a sandwich in her hands.
She took a big bite and my stomach growled.
“Where did you find that?” I asked her.
She pointed behind her and I handed the dress to Johnathan and followed the smell. I stepped up to a deli and grinned. I pressed my hand on my stomach and just had to go in. I had no money on me, but that has never stopped me before. I smell; I go… I want, I get. Simple, but true. I guess I really should realize that money would be a good companion to me.
I stepped in and smiled as I smelled everything in the deli. God, it smelt like heaven. I actually looked down at my feet, so happy that the floor wasn’t moving. I looked up and stepped back as the boy… you know the one, the drug dealer that cornered me on the train, stood about a foot from me smiling.
“You look as if you are in heaven,” he said to me.
I looked at him just as I felt a hand slip into mine and looked up to see Johnathan staring him down.
“What do you want to eat, Rue?” Johnathan asked me as he stared at the boy.
“I apologize; I meant no harm. I did not realize that she was claimed,” he said.
I huffed and looked at the boy.
“I am not ‘claimed’… whatever that means,” I said.
The boy grinned as we passed him by and walked to the counter. The boy stood there for a moment and then a girl took his arm and they walked out. I looked up at Johnathan as he watched him leave the deli too.
“I don’t like him,” Johnathan said.
I squeezed his hand and the girl behind the counter smiled and asked me what I wanted.
I looked up at the menu and stared at all the choices. My eyes went to the meat, like I had to.
I smiled and started to tell her, “I want ham and roast beef, mayo, pickles…sweet. Lettuce, tomato… oh, and sprouts… lots of ‘em. I also want a bottled water and chips.”
I looked up and Johnathan was looking at me. I grinned and looked back at her…
“8 inch not 6,” I added.
She grinned and started to make my sandwich.
I glanced at Johnathan.
“What...? I’m hungry,” I said.
“No. It’s okay… I just forget how much you can eat; I don’t know where you put it all.”
“Well, someday I will probably be three hundred pounds and you will have to carry me to the car,” I said.
“Carry you...? No, I will hire a crane,” he said.
I laughed and hit him on the arm.
My sandwich came and I took it and tried to grab everything else too. Johnathan didn’t order anything. He grabbed my drink and chips and followed me to the table in the corner. I looked at my meal and smiled. I looked up at him and he watched me. I grinned and tore my sandwich in half. I handed it to him. He took it; I knew he would. We sat there eating in silence. Johnathan stopped and looked at me and I stopped chewing.
“I got something on my face, right?” I asked him.
He shook his head and leaned in.
“Where did the bottle go?” he asked me.
“What?” I said all indignant.
“You know… the bottle d-bag gave us. I threw it i
n the trash and now it’s gone.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, feeling like the biggest ass for lying.
I mean we don’t have that. We don’t lie… We just say it and move on.
Why I am so fiercely loyal to this denial? I cannot tell you.
“Rue… I don’t like that boy. Whatever was in the bottle is probably not a good thing. I just don’t want anything to happen,” he said.
I looked at my chips and shoved some in my mouth. I looked around the room.
“Don’t do that. Don’t act like we are not talking,” He said in a whisper.
“I drank it,” I said as I took a big gulp of my water.
“What?” he said way too loud.
A couple people looked at us and I rolled my eyes.
“Johnathan, look at me; I am fine. No extra fingers,” I said as I raised my hands and wiggled my fingers in his face.
“This is so not cool,” he said.
I leaned back and sighed. He was right. I drank an unknown substance and then felt the need to lie to him about it. Wow… when did I get like that?
“When did you drink it?” he asked me.
I looked at him and shrugged my shoulders as I ate my chips.
“Right before we got off the train,” I said.
“Go in the bathroom and throw up,” he said.
I looked at him and shook my head.
“Absolutely not,” I said.
“I am so not kidding. It probably hasn’t had time to totally digest… just do it.”
I snorted, shooting some of my chips on the table.
“Oh crap,” I said as I rubbed the table with my hand.
“Listen to me… I am not bulimic. In fact, I am the opposite of that… If I throw up I will probably pass out,” I whispered to him. “I eat… I do not purge.”
Johnathan stared at me and crossed his arms on his chest.
“Don’t do that,” I said to him.
He said nothing.
“Seriously, don’t,” I said.
I totally hate it when he looked upset. It upsets me, makes me feel like the biggest turd.
“I am so telling Theo,” he said.
I sat up and leaned towards him.
“No… that is so not what you will do.”
He looked at me and grinned.
“Well, what then?”
“Fine… I will go in the bathroom and try to kill myself… for you,” I said.
I stood up totally expecting him to stop me and he did not. What an ass. I was now at a crossroads. I could either sacrifice my delicious meal or take the wrath of Theodore. I choose life. I stepped away from the table and walked to the bathroom. I stopped at the door and looked back at him, giving him one last chance to redeem himself. Nothing. He sat there staring at me. God… really? He better buy me more food… seriously.
I stepped into the bathroom and looked around. It smelled good; I hoped that it didn’t. I would guess that throwing up would be much easier if it did. I stepped into a stall and closed the door behind me. I looked down at the clean toilet and shook my head. How the hell am I supposed to convince my body to reject food?
I stood there and placed my finger in my mouth and pressed it to the back of my throat. Nothing. I even moved it around. Nothing. I pressed on my stomach and nothing. This is impossible. I stood there hoping that I could make good on my promise, knowing that I couldn’t. Time to lie.
I stepped out, walked up to the sink, and turned the water on. I splashed it on my face and looked in the mirror. I swear I saw it bubble. I mean like wave. I blinked my eyes and held onto the sink as it moved and then I felt a vibration in my hands. I looked down and the sink looked like it was vibrating. Holy shit, I am high. I just knew it. I had been fine and now my stupid want to drink that stupid bottle had rendered me even stupider. Awesome.
I tilted my head as I heard an echo… It sounded like my name… only in reverse.
I looked at the mirror and my reflection tilted its head at me, but I didn’t move.
I stumbled back and fell on the floor. I suddenly felt sick. I crawled to the toilet and hurled more than I ate. I tried to catch my breath and wipe the sweat from my forehead. I took a breath and pushed myself up. I felt somewhat dizzy but at least I’d done what he wanted, although, I had no intention of telling him why I’d really gotten sick. I mean my reflection tilted its head at me and grinned. I glanced at the mirror and ran out of the bathroom as fast as I could. I walked back to the table and sat down across from Johnathan and leaned back.
“Done?” he asked me.
I nodded and leaned forward hanging onto my seat.
“What did we learn?” he asked me.
I looked at him and laughed.
“That you are a dick,” I said.
“No fair… you got a dress,” Johnathan said as he smiled at me.
“True… but now I know why.”
Johnathan shook his head and relaxed his hands.
“I thought maybe it might sway you a little.”
I grabbed my water bottle and chugged it down.
“No it wasn’t the dress, never would have been… It was the threat of Theo knowing,” I said.
“That is good to know,” Johnathan said, like he had just uncovered my kryptonite.
I tilted my head to stretch my neck muscles and Johnathan reached his hand out to me.
“You know that I would do anything for you… always would, always will,” he said.
I sat there wanting to accept that; I really wanted to say something sweet… I was on the verge of doing it when Theo rushed in looking flustered. He scanned the room and spotted us. He came to our table in a rush and looked at both of us.
“It is time to go,” he said.
We both looked up at him kind of confused as to why we were being rushed. I still feel a little woozy, so I was not too excited about getting up. I glanced at Johnathan and he stood up, holding his hand out to me. I took it and we followed Theo out the door onto the long platform. Sam was nowhere in sight. Theo stood there looking back and forth. The crowd parted like the red sea and the boy who had given me the bottle stood there alone.
Theo looked at him and back to me.
“I am aware of your consumption,” Theo said.
I looked at Johnathan and shook my head at him. He could not have told him… no way. Johnathan and I watched the boy step towards us and Theo placed his hands in front of him… I watched small sparks of light start to form around us. I blinked my eyes thinking that I must be dreaming… I must be. Everyone froze in place on the platform except for the four of us. The boy grinned and looked around, then back to us. Theo reached over and placed his hand on Johnathan’s face. Johnathan blinked at him and then looked at me… His expression changed right before my eyes, to someone I did not know.
“I knew that something was different,” the boy said.
Johnathan stepped in front of me and Theo did too.
“I would suggest that you move on; there is nothing of interest here for you,” Theo said.
I shook my head and grabbed Johnathan’s arm. I stepped around him and looked at all the people… frozen in place, mid walk… mid talk, mid laugh. WTF?
I looked at Theo, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Theo… what is…? I don’t understand… this is crazy. I am dreaming, right?” I said.
Theo glanced at me and grinned.
I turned and ran… What else was I to do? I mean, everyone just froze on the platform… strange fact number one. Theo caused small sparks of light to float around us… strange fact number two.
I bumped into frozen statues, trying to leave the scene at record speed. Suddenly a girl flashed into my face. I screamed as I skidded to a stop and stared at her. She was pretty, pale skin, beautiful lips. She grinned at me and I took a step backward, bumping into someone. My heart stopped.
I looked up in a panic and there stood Johnathan… looking different. He had his head tilted down and had a g
rin on his face that I never remember seeing before. He grabbed my waist and spun me around behind him. The girl lunged at us and from nowhere a blade appeared in Johnathan’s hand, striking her in the side. She rolled off of the platform, with no sound in a flash. I looked up at Johnathan and he smiled at me.
“WTF, Johnathan?” I yelled at him.
He shook his head at me and spun around the other way just in time to strike at another attacker… this time a boy, maybe the same age as the girl. The boy dropped to the ground and grabbed my leg. He jerked it and I fell with a thud on the platform. Johnathan swiped his blade at the boy and he rolled, faster than I could see him moving, out of the way. Sam came to us in a blur with the same type of blades in her hands. She leaned down to me and then stood up quickly as a girl rushed her. I watched Sam slice her blades through the air as the girl did some impossible jump over us. Sam knelt down and slamming her blades to either side of me. I ‘ooh’d’ really loud as I saw the blades start to glow and a netting of some kind bubbled over me. I leaned up, trying to see through it. I could see a lot of movement, no yelling… but bodies flew over me and by me. I tried to comprehend it all, I really did.
What was going on was so foreign to me I felt like I might have just been in an accident of some kind, like I hit my head so hard that I was hallucinating all of it. I ducked my head down as a body hit my light cocoon and bounced a few yards away. I heard Theo’s voice all of a sudden and Sam yelled out to him.
“This was a great plan, Theo!” she yelled.
“Put her on a train, with Johnathan… Send her to school,” Sam yelled.
Theo remained calm as I watched his shadow knock somebody out of his way and the body flew behind us.
“I cannot always be right,” Theo said.
Sam laughed.
“I am so going to remember that!” Sam yelled.
Suddenly the light glitched all around me. I looked up… all blurry eyed. So confused and shocked at the turn of events I laid there, motionless. Johnathan reached his hand down to me and pulled me up quickly.
“Get on my back,” Johnathan said to me.
“Get her to a safe distance!” Sam yelled at him as I looked at her, fighting off two teenagers.
I shook my head and Johnathan grabbed my hand and moved me around to his back.
“No time to argue, Rue… Get on my back now!” Johnathan yelled at me.
