False Romance (Jasmine and Rogue)

[Rogue]

I stand by the wall facing the bus stop shelter, as people constantly walk by between the small place. The old lady that had been standing near me had finally found her ride home. I sit on the thick stone, opting for where it slants into a smaller height and take in the busy city before me. But it is the river that keeps my attention, the large and quiet stretch of water below me. Dirt scrapes into the trousers of my good suit but I don't care.

That is until a woman among the numerous pedestrians cathes my eye. Her long black hair and hurried walk stand out a mile to me. The woman roots in her handbag as she swings to her right, taking a seat and continuing her search. She seems tired and missing something in her belongings, but her beauty captivates me. She shakes her hand in annoyance, raising her eyes to heaven. No change I assume. The lady sits up, preparing to cross the street and break her $20. I walk over and speak over her shoulder.

"I have a few coins Miss"

[Jasmine]

Today has been the worst day! I am late leaving and then my car won’t start. Damn foreign thing! I don’t have time to do anything but catch the bus at the corner and try to get to work on time! I grab my handbag and my gym bag from the backseat and head to the corner. If I hurry, I might make it. The fact that I’m wearing high heels does not help my effort or my mood right now even if they are my favorite black ones. I dare not take the time to change into my sneakers.

Arriving at the bus stop in time to make the bus, I realize that I need correct change. I hope that I have it, but of course I don’t. Dear God, what else can go wrong? I think as I look upward for divine guidance. Finding none, I search for a place to get change, the twenty in my hand. I spot a coffee shop across the street and start to make my way there when I am startled by a voice behind me. I turn toward the voice and of course, I bump into someone and my purse falls to the sidewalk.

“Ahh!” I moan in frustration. “What else can go wrong?!” I mutter as I bend to pick up my belongings. The man that spoke to me, leans down to help and what else, we bump heads. “Sorry! I am a klutz and a jinks today!” I say as I replace my things and sit down on the bench. “Thank you for helping me. I need to get some change before the bus comes but I am getting out of these shoes first!” I smile at the helpful stranger. For the first time, I look at his face. I am taken by his green eyes. I reach for my things and say, “Thank you so much for the change," I tell him, hoping he is on the same bus. If he is, my day may be looking up!

[Rogue]

When she turns to respond she collides with another stranger, dropping her handbag. A purse and a sheet of paper falls to the ground, the latter blowing behind my foot. She mumbles something as we both bend down the retrieve it, and our heads clash. I say sorry too, and pocket the paper without her knowing.

The woman takes my offer, but not before our eyes meet and she stares at me a moment. I smile in return and she goes to her seat to remove the black pumps as planned. She releases a loud sigh, bringing the ankle of her foot to her left knee. The black skirt is figure hugging and pushes up her thighs. The top couple of buttons are open on her jacket and shows a white blouse underneath. She looks up at me once and smiles, knowing I am too. I politely pretend not to watch, but I love to see her change her shoes. The runners she dropped in front of her are picked up one at a time, as she switches legs.

"Bad day I take it?"

[Jasmine]

I am grateful for the change for the bus. I have to admit that I am enjoying this handsome stranger. I change my shoes as we sit on the bench together. I do it quickly, but I do love the feeling of the leather in my hands. I look down, not wanting him to see that I am just a little flushed from staring at him.

As I don my other shoe, I look up at him as he speaks. My heart flutters. I am relieved that he didn't take offense at my staring at him. I must have looked like a woman with her biological clock ticking!

I return his smile, "Yes, it has been a tough one so far. My car died, I had to run to catch the bus, didn't have correct change, dropped my pursed, bumped heads with you. "Are you okay, by the way?" I ask and look to see if there is a bump on your head.

[Rogue]

"I'm a little dizzy", I joke, pretending to close my eyes.

Her look of concern turns into a smile similar to my own when she realises. I turn to the wall again, looking down at the river. When we haven't spoken for a few moments, the lady joins me, and glances my way.

"Isn't it beautiful? My mother used to take me here when I was a boy. Did you know 3 planes doing exercises during World War II crashed here, and they still haven't been discovered."

My arms rest on the wall, still taking in an old memory, but keeping the woman in the corner of my eye. She holds her high heels by her fingers and pushes a strand of hair away with the other hand, as we feel the cool breeze.

[Jasmine]

I smile at the man who has rescued me when I realize he is okay. I wonder what memories have captured him in their web as he stares into the river. His gaze is one of longing, for what, I do not know. I move closer to him. I shouldn't watch him, but I can't help myself.

I am pleased that his memory is a pleasant one of his mother bringing him here. An internal debate goes on inside my head and I realize that I am playing with my shoes. I decide that he would probably enjoy seeing the planes his mother told him about. "Those planes were raised about 18 months ago, restored and moved to the museum. You should brush up on your history!" I say with a saucy grin.

I watch a leaf carried on the current as I hear the bus and then watch its approach. I glance at him, brush my hair back and wait for him to say something, anything.

[Rogue]

There is a smirk on my face when she catches me out, my little attempt at a history lesson backfiring. Our eyes meet again but she seems distracted for a second as some buses can be heard coming near our shelter.

"Well, now you know my secret. I haven't been back here in a long time", I reply.

The woman looks my way again, nodding but curious about my long absence. There is no time, as her bus is parking by the pavement and taking its passengers. I tell her that my car is nearby and I wasn't actually waiting for one. She steps on and turns around.

"Maybe you can give me a tour sometime, show me what else I missed", I suggest with a teasing smile, my eyes staying on hers until I start to walk away. It looked like she was about to ask something, perhaps my name. My hands are in my pockets as I cross the street, hearing the bus' departure behind me.

[Jasmine]

I kick myself for being so obvious with him. I hope I haven’t offended him. I have to catch my bus but I don’t even know his name. His pensive mood stops me from asking his name.

I look back and forth from him to the bus, lingering, hoping he will ask my name. “This is my bus,” I tell him. I step on the bus as he says something about giving him a tour. I watch him walk across the street from the bus.

It’s a shame that he didn’t say that sooner. I am absently stroking the heel of my shoe as I think about him. I guess it wasn’t meant to be I decide as the bus chugs along.

[Rogue]

Later that night, I stand across the street from the house of the woman I met earlier. My pockets warm my hands and I watch the cold air waft from my mouth. The piece of paper I kept was a private document, and it contained her name and address.

The lights are on in both rooms on the front side of the side, the curtains 3 quarters of the way down in the bottom one. There seems to be no one there at the moment, so I walk past and over to the side, near the black railings. I stop beside the next window, where noises of plates and running water can he heard. The open small one allows me to hear two women chatting.

"Lexie, he's a nice guy, go out with him. You have to move on from Paul some time."

I try not to make noise as I look up at the bedroom window. There is a tree across the way from it that I think I can climb. My binoculars swing on my neck as I test the small branch in front of me, using it to spring me up.

[Jasmine]

Lacie drones on about her friend that she wants me to go out with. I just can’t work up any enthusiasm for him. He’s cute enough but he bored me when I met him and I don’t think it will get any better.

I take a sip of wine and my mind flashes back to the man from the bus stop. Without saying too much, he has popped into my mind several times. I try to shake free of those green eyes.

“Lac, I will move on, but I want it to be someone exciting and personable and Glenn is not it!” I tell her as I dry the last plate. I know you think I should go out with him. But, I am not, I repeat, not going to go out with him. I want to enjoy myself and he’s so dry!” I tell her in almost a pleading voice, hoping she will let it drop.

I pour more wine for both of us and we move to the living room. We sit on opposite ends of the sofa as we did as kids, our feet curled beneath us.

“I appreciate your concern, but I need to move at my own speed. I thought that Paul and I would be together forever. I married “till death do us part”. Unfortunately, he didn’t.

I have to change the subject, this is too painful. “Did I tell you about the guy at the bus stop this afternoon? He was hot. He certainly got my attention!” I giggle like a school girl and take another sip of wine.

[Rogue]

I struggled to make my way up the tree, it's so thick and offers very little to grab onto. I pulled myself up the biggest branch and I've been sitting here for about 10 minutes now. The twigs and leaves around me sway in the wind, and my body shivers from time to time despite my comfy jacket.

I begin to wonder if I've wasted my time, as the room remains dark. But finally, the light is switched on and someone enters. I look through the binoculars, they're not even of great quality. I wait until her head comes into my picture and I can comfirm it is her. Alexandria. She walks back and forth from something out of view, most likely a closet. A pair of black pumps are accompanied by a red pair on her bed, and each trip to the wardrobe results in more footwear added. Is she deciding what to wear for a date, I wonder. I have to let down the binoculars a moment to make sure they're not decieving me; two dozen pairs placed on the pink bedsheets and counting. Sandals, strappies, flats, pumps. She picks up the red heels and looks at them. Whether an actual decision is being made or this is a celebration of her collection, this woman certainly loves her shoes.

She begins unbuttoning her blouse as her back is turned to me, so I quickly focus in again. The top falls to the floor, leaving the gorgeous brunette in a black bra. Rather than a peeping tom and his victim, I see this as a show for me. Exhibitionism. I get a brief glimpse of her cleavage before she suddenly shuts the curtains.

"Damn"

[Jasmine]

I love Lacie but she does frustrate me with her talk of Glen and Paul. After saying goodbye to her, I head to my bedroom. I am stressed and frustrated. I know that I will not be able to sleep. I go to the closet and select my favorite pair of black pumps. Back in school we called them FMP’s. It makes me smile to think of wearing my Fuck Me Pumps to work! I caress the soft leather of the shoe. As I move back to my bedroom, I see my red tango shoes and decide to get them as well. I put them on the bed and go back for more.

I have all my favorite shoes displayed on my bed. I look at them, touch them. They bring me comfort. I love my red Argentine tango shoes. There were handmade in Argentina for me. The suede bottom is soft, the shoes so flexible. They have only been used inside for dancing. I carry them in a leather shoe bag to protect them.

I sigh and decide to get ready for bed. I quickly strip off my blouse. For some reason, I feel like I am being watched. I know it’s silly since there is no one around close enough to see, but still. I close the curtains.

[Rogue]

TUESDAY

Last night left me frustrated, but as a new evening approaches I am relaxed again, sitting on a bench and reading the newspaper. I found this one when I sat down, while the one in the hands of the woman several feet away looks brand new. I glance over now and then, her hair is short so it does not suffer from the wind.

On the 4th page of my reading, it includes information on an accountant who died near his car 2 nights ago. I see "natural causes" written in the opening paragraph but I do not get a chance to read on when I hear a familiar voice.

"Still reminiscing?"

[Jasmine]

I wake up with one shoe poking me in the leg. I moan with the thought that it is going to be another trying day. Opening my eyes, I sigh. Another day in paradise! Dragging myself out of bed, I decide that I need to replace my shoes before I do anything. The black pumps that I wore yesterday are the last ones to be returned to their place. As I hold them, I think of the stranger from yesterday.

My thoughts of him continue as I shower. The scent of Satsuma always pleases me. I take a little too long thinking of a green eyed man. Now, I have to hurry and get dressed. I put on a red skirt and white sweater. I get to wear my new red pumps today! That lifts my spirits.

I head out to my car, get in, start it and back to the end of the drive. I wonder if he will be there today. There’s no reason for him to. He doesn’t ride the bus. I pull back into the drive. Even while I am telling myself it a stupid idea, I change into my sneakers and walk to the bus stop.

Just around the corner, I change into my red pumps. I don’t want him to see me in those sneakers again. I take a deep breath and round the corner expecting to see him, but I don’t. Oh well. I guess he wasn’t curious. The bus comes and I endure another interminable ride for no reason. What was I thinking?

My Tuesday is better than my Monday, but it drags. I ride the bus and curse myself for being so silly. What am I? 14? I could have been home by now. At last, the chugging of the bus ends and I am free.

I step off the bus and look around. Not here again. I lean against the wall and berate myself for being so foolish. It is then that I see him below on the bench on the wooden passageway beside the river. He is reading a newspaper and hasn’t seen me.

I change into my lucky red pumps and go toward him. I pause a moment to see if he looks for me. He doesn’t. I steel myself and approach him.

“Still reminiscing?” I ask playfully and give him a smile as he turns to me.

[Rogue]

I look up at Alexandria and smile, loving that she has found me again. I stand up and offer my hand.

"I'm James. It's a pleasure to meet you."

When she gives me her name and stretches her own hand, I lean in and kiss it. "Ah, short for...Alexandria," I comment. My eyebrows raise and I pronounce her name like it has some mystique to it.

I ask her to sit with me, putting the newspaper aside. We are closer to the river now, the noises of bus engines and traffic a little quieter behind the wall. We don't speak for a few moments until she notices me looking to my left at the woman reading on the bench. My company glances at me and then at what's in my view, probably thinking I find her attractive. Just before she can comment, I point my finger, asking her to watch. The short haired lady is wearing black trousers, but is playing with her black shoes constantly. They are dropped, moved around and tugged back again in a short time. It's surprising if she's absorbing any amount of information from the paper. Alexandria tries to interrupt again, but my finger moves in a different direction.

"Watch"

A man with his back to the railings, with a brown jacket and hat is focused in on the pretty woman. Unless he's expressing his boredom with the water, he's staring at her shoeplay. Alexandria and I giggle as we continue to spy on him.

[Jasmine]

I get a brilliant smile, one that reaches his eyes and I am happy that he is happy to see me. Finally, he tells me his name and I tell him my name is Lexie. I raise one eyebrow questioningly at him knowing that it was short for Alexandria. I hate the name, but somehow I am pleased he knew it and I like the say he says it.

I am a bit miffed at him for staring at the woman across the way. He seems fascinated by her. I size her up, nothing special. I am confused when he points to a man on the rail. I look up and back to the woman. James is right! He is watching her shoes. I can’t believe it! I never realized men did that! I look down at my red pumps and let one dangle. I wonder if I can get the man’s attention.

[Rogue]

As we look at each other and laugh discretely, I see her dangle her own high heel from her crossed leg. She keeps an eye on the man, suggesting she isn't doing this subconciously, or trying to get my attention. As her red pump is suspended from her foot, eventually the guy in the brown jacket turns his head this way. He probably doesn't believe his luck until Alexandria leans into my arm to hide her laughter. I struggle too, but I see him suddenly looking away and maybe embarassed.

She looks so cute with her head against me. I take the opportunity to stare at her long and gorgeous legs. She sits up straight again quickly, realising I'm still a stranger after all. Her shoe returns to her foot and we stand up, walking towards the ramp to the footpath. We smile when the man walks past us quickly. When we reach the curb, her bus is already passing us and the traffic lights. She looks disappointed and hugs herself through her jacket.

"It looks like it's going to rain. Can I give you a lift home?"

[Jasmine]

I try, I really try to control my laughter, but this is a powerful feeling, knowing that he is having a sexual reaction! I break up and have to hide in James’ shoulder to keep from guffawing. I didn’t mean to embarrass him.

Oh! My god! I just buried my head in a stranger’s jacket! I bolt upright. He doesn’t seem miffed, so I don’t apologize, although I am sure that I am flushed. I follow when he stands; we talked closely together and share some pleasantries.

I look up at the darkened sky and realize you are right. I look from the bus to you. I want to spend more time with you, but I know better than to get into a stranger’s car. I decide that James can be trusted and accept the ride from him.

[Rogue]

She decides to take the ride home and we walk around the corner to my car. On the way we dicuss what she does for a living and how she has lived here her whole life. She briefly mentions that her tango lessons for tonight were cancelled. I open the door for her and she smiles, but also squints her eyes as rain is starting to dribble. When we come to the first set of traffic lights, I answer her question about what brings me home. Alexandria looks at me with such sympathy as I explain that my mother is very ill at the hospital, and I have taken the week off work to be with her.

"I'm president of the Orlando Sentinel, the newspaper in Florida."

"How about that tour?" I joke.

She laughs and points at a building to our right, showing me something new it seems. The lady is surprised after I reveal how long it has been - 10 years. Up ahead is a large beautiful fountain and she notices me staring at it.

[Jasmine]

I get into his car and all doubts about whether it is wise to accept a ride with a stranger vanish. His smile tells me all I need to know. He asks questions and I answer them for a while. “Okay, it’s your turn! Tell me about you!” I say with a smile. I turn to look at him as he speaks. His eyes are on the road and it gives me time to really look at him. He is tall, dark hair and vivid green eyes. I have seen those green eyes more than I want to admit even to myself.

I’m surprised about his mother and ask him if he wants to talk about it. He declines, but that was expected. I ask if he wants to drop me off and go on to the hospital, but I think he needs a distraction. Our talk returns to more mundane topics like work. “The Orlando Sentinel? The fourth estate huh? I’m impressed.” I tell him with a smile.

He asks for a tour so I check our location. I show him the Daniel Building and tell him the story of the construction company that built the building and gave it to a local university. It is the tallest building in the city.

As we talk, he tells me that he hasn’t been home for about 10 years. I want to ask why since his mother is here, but I don’t. Instead, I follow his gaze and realize that the fountain wasn’t there the last time he was here.

[Rogue]

I look over at her a moment, looking so pretty in her red skirt and matching shoes, her legs tucked in front of her seat. My eyes return to the fountain and I wait for a chance to turn my BMW.

"Now that wasn't there before"

We look through Alexandria's window but the raindrops are starting to block our view. I park the car and suddenly jump out. After running to the other side, I open the passenger seat and say "Come on." She seems reluctant at first but at the same time motivated by my enthusiasm. She giggles and takes my hand, as we walk towards it. She knows I want to see it up close and can see my admiration for the structure. We sit on the edge and look at the sheets of water overflowing its basin. As my new friend positions her legs, she starts to lose her balance. Her hand is touching the water as she's falling in, but I catch her in time. I keep hold of her hand as she catches her breath, but soon sees the funny side of it.

"It's a good thing you're not a klutz today aswell", I tease her with. We giggle again as our hands stay together, and she looks at them. It feels like we know each other already, as if holding one another is right.

[Jasmine]

“No, the fountain was built about 7 years…” I stop mid-sentence since he jumped out of the car. I watch him run around to my side of the car. He’s just so cute smiling down at me as the rain soaks him. I’m not sure what he has in mind, but I go with him. I laugh as we head toward the fountain. It feels natural to be walking in the rain with him, but I am acutely aware of him. I suppose it is my preoccupation with him that causes me to lose my balance and start to tumble toward the water. He pulls me back just in time for which I am grateful and embarrassed. Fortunately, James sees the humor in it and helps me see it too. He doesn’t release my hand, I wonder what that means.

[Rogue]

I can see her curiosity as we hold hands, and I stand up, offering my other. She smiles and takes the leap of faith, but soon finds herself being whisked in another direction. I stretch out our arms so they are parallel and I let go of her hand; it is now gently placed on her hips. It amuses me as to whether she wants my grip there or to figure out what we're doing first. My eyes are on hers until I turn the side of my face to her with a grin. We begin to step forward, barely resembling the tango. Since she had no ballroom dancing tonight I thought I'd bring some to her.

We laugh the whole time, when my loafers clash with her heels, when our turning is slow.

"Ok I need a few lessons!"

As she nods in agreement, our performance ends face to face. I had considered leaning her back, but suddenly our lips were extremely close. She looks at mine, and I look at hers. The rain had gotten heavier and it was becoming more and more difficult to concentrate on anything else. Her white top is getting soaked, both our shoes standing in a collecting puddle. With our mouths only an inch apart, our cold breath meet. We smile at the same time, as if we're waiting for someone to tell us to get out of the rain. But we don't need to say anything.

[Jasmine]

I am confused by his behavior at first and then I realize that he is trying to dance with me! I am touched as we pseudo-tango and give him a brilliant smile just as he steps on my feet! I feel giddy like a school girl as the rain pours down on us. I feel my clothes sticking to my skin, my hair is wet and dripping, the rain is in my eyes as I look into his, but I don’t care! Our laughter and probably the site of two people dancing in the rain is drawing stares from the people huddled under their umbrellas.

It seems as if we are suddenly so close. I can feel his breath on my lips. My heart stops. I can’t breathe. I look from his lips to his eyes. I want him to kiss me, but I will not make the first move. It reminds me of my first kiss as my heart flutters in excitement.

[Rogue]

I tilt my head away after a moment, and look back at her once again. Every drop of rain on my head is like someone beating me until I come to my senses. The second I open my mouth I regret it.

"I'd better get you home"

I put a hand on her back as we hurry to the car, bending down a little, though it makes no difference. I feel the soaked top with my fingers. The door is quickly opened for her and she steps in. She looks like she is ready to giggle again as she's relieved to be under the roof of the car. As I'm driving, I forget for a moment that I'm not supposed to know where she lives.

"Left just here!"

We reach her place in 15 minutes. When we walk through the gate, I begin to back away, having taken the lady home as promised. But surprisingly she signals for me to follow. She smiles at me again as she unlocks the door and we go inside. I get the feeling she is looking forward to showing me something before I go. After laying her handbag and keys down on the nearest table, she's approached by a young girl. I stare at the keys a moment until I see the girl anxiously awaiting for me to return a handshake.

"James, this is my niece Carla"

[Jasmine]

The moment passes and reality comes crashing in with the downpour. We run to the car now feeling every drop. He opens my car door despite the rain and I look at him when he finally gets into the car. I try to suppress a giggle as the water drips down his face.

I realize then that I must look much worse. Oh god, I wonder if I have mascara running down my face. I try to wipe the mascara from beneath my eyes as we drive and almost let him drive past the road to turn.

I don’t want him to go, so I tell him to come in and dry off. Carla comes in as we enter the house. I introduce my niece to him and as I go to the bathroom to grab us some towels. I bring one back for James to dry off with as much as possible. “I’ll make us some coffee.” I take Carla’s hand and take her with me.

Once in the kitchen, Carla notices the flush in my cheeks. She tells me he is “so cute” and that I have to ask him. “Hush, Carla. He’ll hear you.”

[Rogue]

I meet another attractive member of Alexandria's family in Carla. She is a bubbly blonde in a pink top and jeans. "Nice to meet you", I reply with a smile, but I try not look too long, and my eyes soon fall to the floor near her flats. She reminds me too much of......HER......

When she returns with the towels, the girls go into the kitchen while I try to dry off. I'm then greeted by the man of the house, their dog. He sniffs my shoes for a few seconds and then starts barking at me. While Carla peeps in to check on us I use the opportunity to ask if I can go the bathroom. She says of course, and I climb the stairs, eagerly followed by this mutt. There is a basket near the landing, with a pair of sandals lying on top. I start bending one with my hands and then lean it against the wall, crushing it inwards. After collecting some dirt from a plant, it is rubbed into the sole. I shove it between the dog's teeth, purposely irritatating him so he wants to bite it. He runs downstairs with it as I also return to the living room.

"It's only Katie's house, I'll just take a key", says Carla looking over her shoulder.

"And you'll lose it like the last one! We're probably going to bed early, you know where it'll be", her aunt replies, coming out of the kitchen with coffee.

[Jasmine]

“Carla, go get Charlie!” I tell her and watch as the almost 20 year old bounds out of the room like a 14 year old! I shake my head and smile as she goes. It’s good to have her here. She certainly has loosened me up some! I finish up the coffee and carry it into the living room on a tray as I see Charlie bounding down the steps with one of Lacie's sandals in his mouth. Carla jumps up from the yelling “Charlie!” and takes the shoe from his mouth.

Putting the tray down on the coffee table, I tell Charlie my best reprimanding voice, "Your mom won't like this. You're sleeping in the shed tonight mister!"

I reach my hand out for Carla to give me her mother’s shoe. I examine it and determine that my sister is going to go ballistic when she see’s that shoe. I frown and see James looking back and forth between Charlie, Carla and me. I give him a smile, “sorry, my sister loves her shoes! I guess it runs in the family!”

Taking a cup from the tray, I offer James his coffee. Carla sits down on the sofa next to James and reaches for her cup. “You forgot the sugar Aunt Lexie.” She gives me that look that I can’t resist and I head to the kitchen to get the sugar for her. On my way back, I see the tickets. I pause; pick them up as I try to decide what to do. I transfer them from hand to hand and turn them over until I determine that I have nothing to lose. I slip them into the waist of my skirt.

Handing Carla the sugar, I reach back and pull them out but keep my hands behind my back as I look at the two of them on the sofa and wonder if I can really ask a man out and not just any man, James. Carla sees the tickets in my hand, “ask him Aunt Lexie!” I summon the courage to ask but I feel myself starting to blush. It’s now or never. I take a breath and open my mouth to ask just as there is a knock at the door.

[Rogue]

The terrier is told his punishment, but I doubt he understands it just yet. Carla urges me to sit down next to her, she is always smiling. I look up at Alexandria when I notice she is still standing and clearly with something on her mind. Her niece tells her to say it and a couple of breaths and nervous smiles come first. But then, there is someone at the door. I haven't gotten started on my coffee yet, it's still a bit too hot. She looks hesistant to even answer but reluctantly she does after the second knock.

"Glenn.....what are....you doing here....." I hear from the door. I suspect my new friend is too polite to stop him from wandering inside and stating his business. She walks after him, her hands fidgeting. The man with a long brown coat approaches our couch and sees me.

"Oh....you have company. Well I won't keep you long, your sister told me about the tickets to the play tomorrow and I'd be delighted to go with you."

As I put my cup down on its saucer, Carla is cringing beside me. There is an awkward silence in the room for a moment. I sit up and walk to Glenn, towards the front door. I turn back to smile at Alexandria.

"Well I think should be leaving.....thank you for the coffee Alexandria.....nice meeting you Carla."

"James no, stay!" is the voice I hear chasing me. She is apologetic as I step outside and wave one last time, asking me to wait but I continue the short walk to my car.

[Jasmine]

Carla smiles at James, I wonder about that. Is she flirting? I shake that thought off. No, she wouldn’t. I just don’t know if he knows that she is not flirting.

I am visibly perturbed by the knock on the door and my footfall is heavy as I rush to get rid of whoever it is. I am taken aback to see Glenn standing there. He just comes into the house like he belongs there.

When he announces that he is going to the play with me, I am incensed but I don’t let it show. I look at James as he walks toward the door. I try to stop him, but he is out the door so quickly. I don’t even say “excuse me” to Glenn as I bolt for the door.

I catch up to him and ask him to stay, but he keeps walking to his car. I am furious with my sister now and with Glenn.

Returning to the house, I must have said the right things because Glenn leaves and tells me that he will see me for the play. “Wow, Aunt Lexie, you let him call you Alexandria!” Carla teases. The look I give her stops further conversation. Once I get rid of Glenn, I go to my room. I don’t want Carla to be around me for a while. I am so disappointed. I wanted to go with James. I pace back and forth. Carla calls to me from downstairs and says she is going to her friend’s house.

I hear my sister come home and fly down the stairs. Before she has a chance to put down her things I attack. “What were you thinking?! Making a date for me! I told you that I didn’t want to go out with Glenn! I was just about to ask James when Glenn arrives and announces he is going to the play with me! James left. I can’t call him! I have no way to contact him. I liked him and you and Glenn have ruined it! You didn’t listen to anything I said about him. Did you hear the bus stop story? ” I tell her without taking a breath and pacing in front of her.

Her response is, “He was here? In our house? You don’t know him! What did Charlie think of him? That’s the litmus test you know?” She asks. “Yeah, well I don’t care about what Charlie thought, but it seems he hates your shoes. I reach for her shoe and thrust it into her hand.

I turn and run up the stairs wondering if I will hear from James and dreading the date with Glenn.

[Rogue]

I only parked my car around the corner of the street, and stood waiting by the wall of someone's front garden. Glenn's car wasn't outside Alexandria's house so I guessed it was around here somewhere. I watch him cross the road and walk towards the shops, and I follow him inside one. I pretend to be reading a newspaper as he pays for cigarettes.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you my friend"

His head turns until he finds my voice. "Oh, it's you....what are you talking about?"

"Let's just say her idea of intimacy isn't exactly the norm", I reply. He asks how the hell would I know, so I tell him we used to date. He collects his change and smirks at me, saying "whatever you say mister."

After he leaves, Carla soon arrives in the store. She purchases some bottles of alcopop and almost sees me, before I exit the door in time. With college in the morning, I suspect she'll be home before midnight at least.

I return to the area a few hours later, and a quick check of my watch tells me it's fast approaching 11 o' clock. I'm standing directly across from the sisters' house, my eyes fixed on the top window. I know it isn't Alexandria's room, but I can see some shadows moving around, and the living room lights are switched off.

[Jasmine]

I have fumed and tried to work through how to find James and get out of this date with Glenn. I haven’t spoken to her since this afternoon, so I wander into her bedroom. My sister is getting ready for bed and has the radio on. I try to talk to her, but she is listening to something about the police are looking for witnesses to the accountant's death on Sunday. In frustration at her ignoring me, I switch it off and stare at her, still annoyed.

"Lexie" she starts and then gives me a look, that big sister look that is intended to make me do what she wants. She says that it's not like Charlie to chew her shoes, and asks if I’m sure that's what happened. “I don’t know, maybe James chewed the shoe and Charlie took it from him and swatted James with a newspaper before bringing the shoe downstairs in his mouth!”

I am so angry that I can’t see straight so I storm from her room, back into mine and slam the door.

[Rogue]

I wait for 10 minutes after the lights go out and cross the street. I walk beside the car in the garden and look under 2 flower pots. There's nothing but a spider under one of those, and I have to lean in to check because it is dark. It has been a couple of minutes and I'm getting frustrated, but a rock by the wall catches my eye. I lift it up and there it is, the key I'm looking for.

I wipe the bit of dirt off and slowly twist it in the keyhole. I smile as I'm able to push the door in. After leaving the key back in its place and gently shutting the door behind me, the light at the top of the stairs helps me find my way around. I cross the mat and follow the green carpet to the living room. I see a phone charging on the table so I unplug it and switch it on. It lights up the area around me as eventually the main screen comes on. I scroll through the phone book and find the numbers of Glenn and her sister Lacie, so it must be Alexandria's. I go into Create Message and start texting him in 5 minute intervals, none of which receive a reply.

"Glenn, are you awake?"

"What are you up to?"

"I think about you, taking me with just my shoes on"

"I can lick them for you if you want, the stiletto will go all the way in my mouth"

"Would you put it in my pussy?"

"I want to watch you fuck my high heels Glenn, and cum in them"

I've been relaxing on the couch, a re run of some crap TV show is on. The ceiling has creaked a couple of times in the last minute and then some footsteps startle me. I switch off the TV and just as I'm deleting what I've done in the Sent Messages folder, someone shouts down the stairs.

"Carla, is that you?"

[Jasmine]

I am too wound up to sleep. I try a bubble bath, but not even the silky bubbles soothe me. After the bath, I clean out my closet and hand wash my lingerie and stockings.

I hear something downstairs. It must be Carla coming in. I call down to her, but she doesn’t answer. I finish hanging up the last of my things. I go downstairs to see Carla and apologize for my behavior earlier. As I enter the kitchen, Carla closes the door. She is a bit startled to see me there. Carla quickly recovers and asks me not to tell her Mom that she came home so late.

[Rogue]

My heart skips a beat at the call, it sounds like Alexandria. I desperately try to think where I can hide in the little time I have, but fortunately she doesn't come down the stairs just yet. I stand in the hall and hear footsteps towards one of the rooms upstairs.

I finish deleting the last of the 6 messages and put the phone back exactly where I found it, reconnecting the phone charger. I very gently open the door, knowing she could be on her way at any moment. Once I close the door over I begin running as fast as I can, but the sight of Carla stops me in my tracks. I divert to the side of the house, crouching by the tree just before she enters the garden and when I was in view. I tried not to earlier, but I can't help but stare at her beautiful figure. She brushes her long blonde hair back as she kneels down and finds the key which I had returned under the rock. After I watch the teenager go inside, I remain seated for a few minutes, thinking and staring into the dark sky.

[Jasmine]

I tell Carla that I won’t tell her mother and we go to bed. I decide that tomorrow has to be better than today.

WEDNESDAY

I take a quick detour by the bus stop just like I did yesterday. I look down by the river but James is not there. I am disappointed. I have no one to blame, but myself. Well, actually Lacie, but I let James walk away.

Around lunch time, I get a text message from Glenn saying he has to cancel. I call my sister and tell her feel pathetic going alone. “How bad is it that the person you didn’t want to go with ditches you? I know you have plans but you owe me.” I hang up the phone and am just finishing my lunch when Lacie calls me. She called some friends in Florida to find track down James’ phone number and is waiting on them to call her back.

She is so pleased with herself. I am still angry at her, more so that I realize when I say, “you better find him by the end of the day!” I snap the phone closed.

[Rogue]

It's these awkward silences that make the busy traffic outside prominent, and no doubt causes Dr. Riley to shut his open window. His observing eyes return again, awaiting my slow answers. I think it was something about my mother he asked. He decides to change the subject, seeing my uninterested posture, elbows on my knees, chin resting in one palm. He sits with his legs crossed, relaxed with a white notepad on his lap.

"Now you mentioned a nice woman earlier, are you dating her?"

"I suppose so, we're going to a play tonight. I have it all planned out. We'll go back to her place and make love by the fireplace."

"But isn't it only the first date? Would she allow things to move that quickly?"

I look over at him, having expected a response that would annoy me. "I wouldn't expect you to understand love at first sight, doctor. As long as she doesn't say no to me, there won't be a problem. And she won't unless people like you get into her head."

"And Rebecca said no......"

This prompts me to stand up, and if it wasn't for the coffee table in front of my shins I'd have overreacted and jumped on him. He leans his head back and tries to calm me down. "Look, James, time is up but next week I'd like to discuss certain things, your appearance for example." I look down at my suit and slowly walk with him to the door before stopping and leaving him with a story. He stares curiously at my Rolex when I check it.

"I was in a bar on Sunday night, and this old geezer comes in, chatting away to the bartender like he's on top of the world. Shows him a picture of his wife - bushy hair, nose hanging off her face. Not only has he made a living pushing buttons into a calculator his whole life, but he's retiring 2 years early. He just....settled. It made me sick. When he got up to leave I wanted to kill him, right then and there", I snarl, and leave Dr. Riley's office.

[Jasmine]

“Did you even try to find him?” I ask irritably, tossing the other ticket on the kitchen table. I head to the car with Lacie, keeping a running litany going, “And, that prince you hooked me up with, well that worked out well. He just left me a message that he was ditching me. Oh, and wait, for that prize of a man, I lost touch with James.”

I don’t want to hear about how she couldn’t locate him. “If you had listened to me in the first place, I wouldn’t be going to Cinderella alone!” I say, as I exit the car at the theater.

I find my seat near the front. I realize that I left the aisle seat ticket on the table. It probably won’t matter, but I always play by the rules so I sit in the second seat from the aisle. I look at the seat as the lights go down.

[Rogue]

That night, I drive to Alexandria's house. I sit in my car staring at the house through the windscreen a moment, wondering if everything has fallen into place. I walk up to the door and to my surprise it opens before I can reach it and have a chance to knock. Carla appears and looks like she will need the smile on her face surgically removed.

"James!"

She says it's better late than never, and quickly explains that her aunt is at a play and that I had been her first choice to join her. She grabs the ticket from the table and hands it to me. The teenager sees my own smile and clasps her hands as I read the details. I suddenly lean in and give her a quick kiss on the cheek in excitement, and she laughs, waving goodbye.

"Carla, who is it?" I hear calling to her.

That stupid dog barks at my car as I put it into gear. The curtains of the front room draw back a little, Alexandria's sister watching me drive off.

It is about 9:00pm by the time I reach the theatre. I hurry inside, knowing I have missed some of the show already. One of the staff reads my ticket and points upstairs to the balcony. Some people walk down by me so I suspect it is the interval. I see the wine curtains are closed and hear the chatter of the audience. I watch my step and find the right isle, but I know it once I see her sitting one seat away from the stairs. I watch her for a few seconds. She lowers her head and plays with her fingers after a man steps out I see how dejected she feels despite how enjoyable Cinderella may be.

"Is this seat taken Miss?"

[Jasmine]

“James! You’re here!” I can’t believe that he is here. I feel like my own prince charming has come for me. I am excited and relived to see him, so I launch into a rapid fire explanation, “I know that you thought that I wanted to come with Glen, but I didn’t. That was Lacie’s plan. I was about to ask you when he arrived!” I breathe and look into his gorgeous eyes as he tells me that Carla explained what happened. “I’m just glad that you are here with me.” His smile captivates me as he takes my hand.

The lights flash signaling the end of the intermission.

“Oh, you have missed part of it. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella is my all time favorite. I grew up with it. I love the music, I know all the words!” I tell him with a grin. I realize I am gushing. “Well, all that you have missed is Cinderella and the Prince met at the market. He was dressed as a commoner. Now, his parents are pressuring him to marry. He wants to be in love. His mother tells him about the ball. He’s a little perturbed with her. Now they are getting ready for the ball. Cinderella doesn’t have a dress to wear.”

The lights go down and the curtain comes up as Cinderella’s sisters have left for the ball. She sits by the fire and sings, “In My Own Little Corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be….”

I clutch James’ hand in mine as I am drawn into the play once again as I sit with my very own prince charming.

[Rogue]

She speaks so quickly I tell her to relax, and my date does so when I say there is no need to apologize, and smile and reach for her hand. The curtains raise.

I have never seen a musical of the story and she enjoys filling me in. I see the love and passion for the fairytale in her eyes as she does, and it continues throughout the night. I look over at her from time to time. She is always dressed so elegantly. Her other hand rests on her lap and her legs are close together, her feet crossed and tucked back a little. Alexandria lip syncs the lyrics of the song where the girl is sat by the fire and I smile wondering if she knows she is doing it.

We reach the finale, where the play depicts the wedding. The actors sing "Now you can go wherever you want to go, now you can do whatever you want to do, now you can be whatever you want to be, and love is the song you'll sing your whole life through...."

Our hands stay together, my thumb caressing her soft skin. The cast bow to appreciative applause when it's over. I let her out and up the steps, chatting about the play. She is so pleased that I enjoyed it too. As we head towards the exits of the theatre she trips up in the corridor and a shoe falls off. Before she can step back into it I kneel down and position the heel for her. She laughs as she slips her foot inside while my hand grips underneath. Of course, it is a perfect fit. My very own Cinderella.

[Jasmine]

I love this musical and it is so much more fun with James! I can’t believe he is here! My heart races as I chatter away at him. I have to be quieter when the curtain goes up. I love the theater, the lights, the sounds, getting dressed up and making a night of it. I thought it would be a boring evening, but it has turned out to be magical. Once again, I find myself caught up in the musical.

When the curtain comes down, I look at James and see that he is watching me. I hope that I wasn’t singing! My face flushes and I smile at him. “I’m so glad you are here!” I tell him as we head toward the exit. He seemed to like the play and we talk about it as we leave.

Turning to look at James, I am jostled by a woman trying to get the last stuffed mouse souvenir and stumble a little. My shoe comes off and James kneels down and puts it on me. My heart races I smile and think about a pillow that I have in my bedroom that says, “One good shoe can change your life ~Cinderella”. I feel like Cinderella as I look down at him and wonder if he can be as perfect as I think he is.

He escorts me to his car and I am on cloud nine. This evening is turning out to be an enchanted evening. We talk as he drives. It’s so comfortable to be with him. Our talk is interrupted by my cell phone ringing. It’s Lacie so I ignore it the first time. I answer the when she calls right back though. I’m afraid something is wrong.

“Lacie, what’s wrong? Is Carla okay?” I listen as she tells me that everything is fine, but that she made some phone calls about James and… I interrupt her. “James came to the play after all. We are on our way home now.” She keeps talking but I don’t want to hear it and I’m only half listening because James has started to stroke my hair then I hear her say, “ the Orlando Sentinel president is actually Kathleen Waltz, not James. Did you hear me? Something is wrong. You need to come straight home. Okay?” I turn and look at James and feel the magic vanish.

[Rogue]

As we begin our journey home, Alexandria looks at me and my eyes return to the road. I gaze over at her and she smiles, turning away. We can't keep our eyes off each other and it is a game we play for several minutes. She had the time of her life and is in a wonderful mood. I want to touch her now but my hands have to stay on the wheel. Eventually I can't resist any longer and I reach for her hair that lays on her shoulder. She had just answered her phone.

It's her sister and it sounds like she only answered the second time incase it was important. I had a feeling it was about me but she knows I dropped by and collected my ticket. My princess is distracted by me playing with a strand of hair, twirling it. But a sentence from Lacie seems to change everything. She looks at me as if someone has just died. Our playfulness and flirting becomes non existant for the last few minutes of the drive and very few words are spoken.

"You've been quiet since Lacie called, is everything ok?"

She just nods and delivers a little smile, turning away to look out the window again. When we stop outside her gate she opens the door herself. I tell her to wait and run over as she is walking into the garden. I hold her shoulders and ask what's wrong. She's reluctant to admit what's bothering her but finally she says it.

"No...it's nothing...it's just I wanted to find you tonight so my sister made a few calls to Florida and...."

"She heard I'm not the president", I interrupt. "Why didn't you say so? I resigned recently to look after my mother. If she died and I wasn't there I couldn't live with myself, you know?"

[Jasmine]

Lacie’s revelation signals the end of the magic, but I don’t ask James about it. I mull things over in my head, trying to decide what it means. The last few miles are tortuous for me because I want my prince charming to remain on his white charger, but the news he is not who he said he is had pulled him from his steed.

He keeps trying to engage me in conversation but the debate in my head is too compelling to do more than just monosyllabic responses.

Once we are home, I don’t even wait for him to open my door. I am out of the car and in the small garden when he catches up to me. He stands in front of me, looking deeply into my eyes, his hands on my shoulders, “What’s wrong? You can tell me anything.” He asks with such conviction as I look into his green eyes that I finally answer him. I’m embarrassed that Lacie was looking for him to begin with but I stammer out an explanation.

My heart soars again as he explains that he resigned to be with his sick mother. He is a good son and a good man. We spend a few moments in the garden together before he walks me to the door. He releases my hand and I look into his eyes as his hand gently caresses my cheek, I close my eyes and tilt my head into your caress. He slightly lifts my head upward, my eyes open to see his passionate gaze as he leans down to kiss me. My heart pounds in anticipation, I lick my lips, my eyes flutter closed as our lips meet.

[Rogue]

I see the relief on her face when I explain Lacie's discovery. Her worry turns to admiration for what I will do for my mother in what could be her final days and weeks. I accompany her to the door and let go of her arm. My hand raises to her heavenly face, starting behind her ear and slowly moving to the cheek. She responds to my touch, shutting her eyes and rubbing into my palm. Soon Alexandria is looking into my eyes as I lean closer and bring my lips to hers. I lift her chin a little and sense that we have both wanted this since the moment we first met.

Our lips barely touch and I pull away at first. Her pretty eyes switch from mine to my mouth, eagerly awaiting the inevitable. I press into her lips fully this time and we kiss passionately. Both our eyes close and our hearts beat in excitement. I hear the door opening but the voice that follows is like a low echo, we are in our own little world. We don't want to let go of each other and our kiss is long. My hand caresses her cheek and my other hand holds her hips. It ends with my slow seperation from her velvety lips, my mouth moving across them. Her sister is hiding behind the door but we hear her call. Alexandria looks at me and smiles, stepping inside and catching the side of the door. I walk forward as she prepares to whisper something to me. I fully expect to be invited inside.

"I had a wonderful night James, thank you"

She looks down at the ground as she says it, knowing I will be disappointed. Her eyes tell me it's not what she wants either. I say that I had a great time too and wish her a good night. I reluctantly wave and walk away, unable to resist kicking a can nearby. I consider charging the door while it is still half open because I will not get another chance, there won't be a key this time.

[Jasmine]

The kiss is heaven, but then I knew it would be. I hear Lacie at the door, but I don’t care until James pulls away from me. I give him an embarrassed smile and step inside. I feel like a teenager again. I lean on the door and look wistfully at James. I want to ask him to come inside, but with Lacie there pacing behind me I can’t. Still, I want him to know that I loved our evening together. “"I had a wonderful night James, thank you." I am certain that my feelings are shining in my eyes. He says he has fun too and I can see the disappointment in his eyes as he tells me he did too. I slowly close the door and lean against it, close my eyes, savoring the kiss.

My moment is harshly interrupted by Lacie, “What were you thinking?! Letting him drive you home? I told you he was not who he said he was! Something is not right about this guy and I know it. I feel it. You let him kiss you!” She drones on as she paces back and forth in front of me.

“Lacie, he explained it all to me. He quit to be with his dying mother. Now, let it go. I believe James and I’m going to see him again despite what you say. I believe him.” I turn off the lights and walk upstairs leaving Lacie in the dark. I hear her come upstairs behind me, but I don’t even say goodnight.

I am too wired to sleep. I keep on my dress and shoes and twirl around in my room, softly singing, “Ten minutes ago I saw him. He looked up when I came through the door. My head started reeling and gave me the feeling the room had no ceiling nor floor. I have found him, he’s an angel…” I turn and see Carla standing in the door watching me. I am so embarrassed and start to giggle. Carla asks me about the date and I tell her that I feel like I have found my prince charming. We talk for a while and Carla hugs me, tells me she is glad I’m so happy and goes back to her room.

I undress and put on my gown. Before going to bed, I take my shoes to the closet and look at them thinking of how it felt when he put the shoe back on my foot. I sigh and think of how much I really do feel like Cinderella. I put the shoes in their place and move to my bedroom window and gaze at the stars for a few moments before I get into bed.

[Rogue]

I wait an hour before returning to the house, this time without my car. I check the front garden where I had found the key before, but this time there was nothing under the stone. The living room lights are switched off and so are the ones in the kitchen when I walk by. This is my first time round the other side, past the tree and closer to the dog's kennel than I'm comfortable with. Surely it's only a matter of time before he wakes up and smells this intruder.

I'm happy to be faced with sliding doors in the back garden, and find a piece of metal resting against the wall nearby. It might not have the proper locks or a dowel in the bottom track. I start jamming the thin object inside near the handle. After a couple of minutes I finally manage to lift the door from the track and pry it open. I hear a sudden bark so I quickly jump inside and slide it over. The kitchen is first, followed by the living room which I am already familiar with. There is no charging phone tonight. I be careful not to trip up in the dark and slowly make my way up the stairs. I'm aware of each creak my foot makes on the steps. That basket is there again, bulging with clothes ready to go into the washing. I pick up the lid and take a peek but I don't know who owns what in this house of 3 women.

I walk along the green carpet and it is like a guessing game. I know the one on my right is the bathroom, but which room Alexandria is in is a case of trial and error. No one says no to me, especially after a night like that. Each door is brown with a golden handle, and the middle one isn't fully closed, so it is the first to attract me. It squeaks as I gently push it open. This is a rather small room and it is Carla in the bed, facing me on her side. I bend down from where I am and look at her sleeping peacefully a moment. A huge Johnny Depp poster occupies the wall space next to the wardrobe. I pick up a pair of polka dot panties from the chair near me, sniffing them and stuffing them in my pocket. As I'm leaving a baseball bat in the corner catches my eye. The thought of the teenger creeping downstairs with it in an oversized shirt, prepared to swing at any tresspassers amuses me. I take it and step outside, where it then dawns on me that her aunt's bedroom can only be on the far left, since I watched her undress from that side of the house only 2 nights ago. But I decide to walk in the other direction.

The wooden door makes a little noise again as I slowly walk through. This is a double bed and Lacie is of course sleeping in it. I come around by the right side, where the small cabinet with the alarm clock is. She is resting in a similar position to her daughter, one arm outside the quilt and breathing through her nose. We have yet to meet but I know this bitch all too well. She ruined our special night and as long as she is around Alexandria will never realise our destiny to be together. I raise the bat above my head, standing above the helpless woman.

"Goodbye...."

[Jasmine]

Morpheus finally takes me and gives me tantalizing dreams of a green eyed prince charming. It seems that I have just begun to dream when I hear Carla yell, “Mom! Mom! Did you hear something?" I bolt out of bed and find Carla at the stop of the stairs, looking stunned. “What’s wrong, baby?” I ask as I put my hands on her shoulders. I hear something downstairs, the sound of someone running.

“Go check on your mother! I’m calling the police!” I run to the window to see if I see anyone outside, but it is too dark. I don’t know if he is still in the house! I grab my cell phone from my room and go into Lacie’s bedroom. I close and lock the door, hoping it is enough as I give our address to the police.

“I’m going to check” I tell them as I peer out the door. Seeing nothing, I step outside and check each bedroom. Finding nothing, I tell Carla to go to her room and get dressed. I grab some sweats from mine and dress at the top of the stairs where I can see if he tries to get up the stairs. “Stay in your rooms. If he’s still here, we don’t want to make it easier for him.”

[Rogue]

I start to have doubts as I hold the weapon tightly with both hands. I'm so angry with Lacie, she's one of those people I was talking about that will get inside her sister's head. But I'm not sure even I can stoop this low. There may be another way to get rid of her. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. This bitch below me takes a little breath, and shifts her arm a little.

Then, I hear the creaking of the bed next door, followed by footsteps. This is becoming amateur hour I think to myself, remembering that I closed Carla's door when I shouldn't have. She calls out to her mother. I hesitate for a moment but soon realise an immediate escape is the only option. I pull up the hood of my black jumper, it is a bit short for me so my lower back is sometimes exposed if I bend over. As soon as I hear the door handle turning I run, letting the bat drop near the doorway. Carla is just out of the room and approaching the basket by the time I reach the stairs and I hear her gasp. She is wearing a grey shirt and socks, similar to what I imagined, but I have no time to look. I keep the hood well wrapped around my head and duck to hide my face.

Once I reach the living room I don't look back and go back out the way I came. The doors are slided open and I run as fast as I can. Loud barking can be heard from the kennel and fortunately Charlie doesn't appear until I have made it past the tree and to the front gate. He barks furiously but is held back by his leash. Once I'm out on the road I walk normally, to avoid drawing any attention. I rest my hands on my knees around the corner, catching my breath, relieved at not being caught.

[Jasmine]

I look out the window and see nothing but I hear the dogs barking and hear the squeak of the front gate. I listen and hear only the sounds of the night and a few dogs. So I dress and wait for the police. Lacie comes out of her room and goes into Carla’s. In a few moments they come out and sit on the stairs with me. “Lexie, the only thing we can find missing is a pair of panties and the softball bat from Carla’s room. There doesn’t seem to be anything missing from mine. Go check your room and see if they took anything.”

I look around, but my jewelry is all there. I go back into the hall. “No, nothing’s missing from my room.” Carla is clearly scared. Putting my arms around her, I tell her that it’s okay that he’s gone. “I saw him Aunt Lexie! I saw him!” I hug her tightly just as there is a knock on the front door. We all move downstairs for the first time and let the police in.

Carla is embarrassed about telling the police about her underwear, but she does it. We find the softball bat so that wasn’t stolen. Carla surprises me when she reveals that she saw the intruder. He had on a black hooded sweat shirt and she saw a tattoo of a dragon or scorpion, but she can’t be sure.

[Rogue]

THURSDAY

After I dropped off a little present for my Alexandria that morning, I sneaked over to the kitchen window at the side of the house. Carla's agreement for her mother to collect her at 5:00 can be heard, although it was a struggle with the running tap water. There is no mention of the incident but I'm sure it was up for discussion during breakfast. I recall seeing the name of her college on a book on her desk last night and walk back to my car.

When it's a couple of minutes after the scheduled time, I sit in my BMW and watch Carla standing patiently outside the building, like I have done for almost 10 minutes now. It's time to drive over to the pavement on that side and roll down my window. She says hi and that she is waiting for her mom. Traffic has been pretty heavy I inform her, she is probably stuck whereas I am heading that anyway. She pushes a strand of hair away and folds her arms again, unsure what to do. Finally she agrees as long I text Lacie now. I type in some jibberish and only let her see the "message sending" process, but in reality it is being sent to a phone booth. The teenager smiles and thanks me, but soon shows her true sad mood. After passing the first set of traffic lights she explains how a man invaded the house late last night.

"Why would someone do that?" she wonders, close to tears, referring to the theft of her intimate clothing.

"There are some bad men out there honey, but don't worry, it's over. I won't let anything happen to you", I assure the teenager, comforting her by putting my hand on her shoulder.

When we reach the home, Carla calls out for anyone there but there is no answer. She tells me to hang my coat up and have a seat. There is an awkward silence when she joins me, clearly still upset by the whole thing. She points out that she lost the house key once. I tell her that I can get someone to change the locks tomorrow if it'll make her feel safe. She smiles as I call the man's number and arrange it. She suggests playing the Xbox 360 while we wait and begins setting it up on the TV.

[Jasmine]

Breakfast is trying as we are all tired and on edge. Talk of the intruder is all we can talk about. Finally, we set the schedule of transportation. We will all go together this morning. We go about getting dressed for the day. I need a boost so I select the red pumps and wear my cream suit with the red silk blouse. I pair it with a jeweled tone scarf, sweep my hair up, spray some of my favorite perfume and call for Carla, “Carla! We’re late! Let’s go!” I yell up the stairs. Lacie is ready and we all head out at the same time, not wanting to leave anyone alone in the house.

At the car, we find a red rose. I smile, knowing that it is from James. It was a such a magical night and something he would do. Lacie teases me that it could be the intruder’s calling card. I give her “the look” and get in the car.

All day my thoughts are either on James or the intruder. I can’t seem to concentrate on work at all. At the end of the day, a frantic call from Lacie about Carla not being at the school when Lacie goes to pick her up makes me worry a bit, but as I tell my sister, “She’s 19, she probably just got distracted with her friends.” Lacie is adamant that Carla would have let her know. Lacie picks me up and we head home, all the while worried about Carla, but I don’t show it.

When we get home, the door is unlocked, there is laughter and talking coming from inside. Carla! I’m relieved! I am shocked to see her there with James. “James? What are you doing here?” I ask as I walk over and stand in front of the sofa.

[Rogue]

Carla and I play WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2007, and we chat a little while we do. Sometimes she playfully charges her elbow into my arm when I do something sneaky in the game. When I ask if she goes out much, she says no because her mother has been strict as of late. A few months back she passed out drunk a couple of times in one week and she had to collect her from some college boy's house. This was when she lost the door key. She has been forced to drink at her friend's house without Lacie's knowledge. I tell her it doesn't matter, she's an adult and she can go out whenever she wants. We have fun with the video game again as she is close to beating me and giggling.

Just then the ladies come home. Lacie is relieved to see her young daughter and lets her handbag drop immediately. She is reluctant to turn her attention away from the screen and this dedication and Alexandria's distraction allows her to beat my wrestler in the end. I smile at my new girlfriend, although she is surprised that I am here today. Lacie demands to know why she wasn't contacted but Carla insists I texted her straight away.

"It mustn't have gone through, sorry, it's been like that lately."

I offer my hand to the worried mother and introduce myself, and I don't get anything in return but a stare and a shake of the head. Carla shouts "Mom!", clearly embarassed, so she eventually mumbles "nice to meet you" and rushes her to the kitchen. She is willing her sister to join them with her eyes. I tell Alexandria that I'm sorry if I shouldn't have interfered, I just happened to be passing by.

"Did you find anything interesting this morning?" I ask, with a playful smirk.

[Jasmine]

We are both relieved to see Carla home and safe. James is a surprise. A pleasant one at that! I give him a smile when he asks if I found something this morning. Blushing with pleasure, I thank him.

James immediately begins to talk about the intruder last night. “Carly has been talking I see.” I respond and thank him for his offer of help.

Lacie is getting impatient and calls me to the kitchen. I excuse myself and promise to return momentarily.

In the kitchen, Lacie’s diatribe to Carla and me about this is our fault. “Just what is our fault? You were late; James was there and gave her a ride. You just don’t like him for some reason.”

Lacie tells me that she has done further investigating and found out that the Orlando Sentinel has never had a James Grant as president or any other position at the paper. “What? What are you talking about? Who told you that? Wait, why are you checking..” Our conversation is interrupted when I hear James approach. I know that he heard everything. He just turns and walks away. “James?”

[Rogue]

Alexandria's face shies away as she thanks me for the flower. She doesn't seem sure that her niece should have told me about last night but appreciates my offer none the less. Eventually she can't fight off Lacie's calls for much longer and walks to the kitchen.

"Excuse me for one sec"

They are out of sight around the corner, next to the drawers of knifes and forks. I can hear Lacie is the one talking and at first she is loud and angry. I stand up from the sofa, making my way to the doorway. My head peeps out from behind the fridge when the gist of the conversation becomes clearer. The only thing I hear from Lacie is something about my paper and her sister wants to know what she's talking about. When I'm caught eavesdropping I back away, walking quickly to the front door. Alexandria calls my name and soon follows. She fails to stop me from opening it and reaching the parking space. Finally the confused lady catches up, forcing me to come to a halt. I sit on the hood of her car and put my head in my hands, on the verge of tears.

"James....what's going on?"

She joins me, her cream skirt meeting my trousers. Unsure whether to console or question me further, she awaits my response. I rub my eyes with one hand, clealry distraught. She asks again and is becoming worried. Carla was going to step outside too but Lacie stopped her to allow us privacy.

"My mother died this morning. Can you believe it, I wasn't even there, I was asleep. I guess when I saw Carla I thought she could cheer me up, she's such a free spirit like my Mom is....um.....was. I think I forgot to pay my rent yesterday.....I....I don't even.....", I stutter, the emotion getting the better of me.

[Jasmine]

His answer is slow in coming and I sense the tension in him. I don’t know what to do or even what I am feeling right now. When he uses the heel of his hand, I realize that something is terribly wrong and I ask him again, “James, what’s wrong?”

He tells me that his mother died and I my heart breaks for him. I wrap my arms around him and hold him close. He seems lost and alone. He has no place to go. I can’t help feeling his pain. He can’t even finish his sentence. I hold him closer and whisper softly in his ear, “You can stay here with us.”

He tries to decline, but I will not take no for an answer. “James, you know that we had a break in last night. We would all feel better if we had a man in the house. You would help put our minds at ease. We would feel much safer with you here.” I tell him even as I wonder what Lacie will say about James staying with us.

[Rogue]

She hugs me warmly when I break the news, her arms comforting me like a friend and lover does. I start to calm down and embrace it, the car starting to push down as I slide off a little. I look up at our reflection in the window facing us and the vehicle and stare for a moment. We begin to make our way inside, Alexandria cuddling into me and ensuring I'm ok.

When we come in Lacie has a curious look on her face as to why I'm invited back in to their home. I sit on the couch and the ladies go upstairs, having learned their lesson from earlier. The footsteps can be heard, eventually becoming pacing and back and forth conversation. The decision that I'm staying the night is undoubtedly being told to the other. Over the next couple of hours, when Lacie passes by her face is usually blank and never looks my way. Her sister smiles from time to time, asking if I would like anything, I tell her I don't want her to go to any trouble. I stay on their long black sofa and watch the movie The Girl Next Door.

I walk upstairs to go to the bathroom, I believe Lacie is outside. Walking past Carla's room, the door is half open and she is getting dressed. I glance and walk back, but the girl calls out my name. I push the door forward and approach her, wearing a short jeans skirt and black boots. I can see her black shirt better when she turns as she adjusts her earrings. She walks over quickly and hugs my stomach. Not being prepared for it, my hands are loose, and I thank her when she says "Sorry about your mom." I guess she is taking my advice about going out and when the teenager asks me not to breathe a word, she plants a kiss on my cheek. I smile and treat it as nothing until I catch the reflection in the mirror; her lipstick imprinted.

"James?" Alexandria calls out from the stairs.

I pick the tissue out from pocket and rub my face as fast as I can. When I step out of the room my girlfriend's head is only just peeping around the corner and turning my way. I nervously wipe the last of it off and act as if I've forgotten where the bathroom is. I take her hand and thank her for being so kind today. We hug again, my hand catching behind her neck, enjoying the touch of her hair.

[Jasmine]

Finding James in the upstairs hallway seems strange. I see him hurriedly shove a tissue into his pocket and realize he must have been upset about his mother again. He takes my hand and I just have to hug him. He’s trying to be so strong. I meant the hug to be one of sympathy and feel guilty when his hand touches my hair and I feel the surge of electricity it brings.

I take a step back and give him a smile. “You’ll be sleeping downstairs on the sofa if’s that’s okay. Come on and I’ll show you where everything is. You’ll have a private bathroom down here but you will have to shower up here in my bathroom. I’ll make sure that everyone announces themselves before they come downstairs.” He doesn’t release my hand as we go back downstairs. “Do we need to go get your clothes?” I ask as I turn toward him. He is so close and my heart beats wildly.

[Rogue]

I didn't want another sympathy hug but I suppose I'm going to get one anyway. I feel her excitement as I stroke her hair. Then, Carla peeps out of her room. She sneaks behind Alexandria's back undetected, giving me a nervous smile and a thumbs up of sorts. She caught me looking at her ass, swaying in the short skirt and gives me a playful wave goodbye. Although I didn't orchestrate this escape plan, I allow the dressed up teenager to creep downstairs and out the front door, still holding her aunt affectionately. She better give me something tonight....

She steps back and asks if I mind sleeping on the couch, and it is what I expected. She smiles and points to her room, which contains its own bathroom, this is what I'll be using in the morning. I tell her there is no need to get my clothes as we walk downstairs, her outstretched hand still holding mine, following her lead. When we reach the sofa, she switches off the tv and there is already a blanket ready for me. We sit down on the soft white quilt and talk for a few minutes. Our cuddling soon continues from earlier as I hold her arms, rubbing them up and down past the sleeve. My lips close in on her neck, gently teasing her skin. She giggles when I begin kissing her passionately there, holding her ear. Just when I think I have her all to myself, I see Lacie step inside with my one eye open. Alexandria's are closed, her head leaning back in pleasure. I continue regardless, but suddenly the door is slammed shut. The surprise causes us to jerk back, and my girlfriend smiles to herself, facing down at the carpet.

"I'm going to bed now, goodnight", Lacie says, her footsteps pounding up the stairs.

[Jasmine]

Cuddling on the couch is like a dream. He knows just how to kiss on my neck. I am lost in the moment. His touch is gentle and so tender. I could stay here forever. His kisses are intoxicating and I never want this to stop.

We both jump when Lacie slams the door. Glancing at him of a split second and then looking down at my feet I have to smile. My smile is one of pleasures that are yet to come. I tell James goodnight reluctantly and move from the sofa. He stands with me and I can’t help giving him another kiss as I tell him goodnight.

At the foot of the stairs, I turn and blow James a kiss as he unbuttons his shirt. My breath catches just seeing his hand on that top button! I run up the stairs after Lacie.

She’s already in her room by the time I get upstairs. I close her door and quietly tell her, “Lacie, knock it off! I like him and he’s going to be around for a while if I can keep him. You aren’t helping by making him feel unwelcome. His mother just died for god’s sake. Now, you don’t have to like him, but you do have to be polite.” I don’t wait for her rebuke although I hear it as I leave. I close her door and go to my room. I have trouble falling asleep with him so near. I clutch my pillow to my chest and finally sleep and dream of him.

[Rogue]

She says goodnight but surprises me with another kiss before she leaves. I hate that we seperate again and she climbs the stairs, while I start unbuttoning my dark blue shirt. I look up and smile as I see her hand on her lips, watching me for a brief moment then eventually going to bed. I hear footsteps in the room above but if there is any conversation it is whispering. I don't know much longer she expects me to stand this crap.

Now 1:00am, I dozed off for an hour and a half but after that has been frustrating. Adjusting my pillow and having my arm over the sheet makes no difference. Just as I wonder whether I didn't hear Carla come in, a car pulls up outside. I throw my shirt back on and button it half way, opening the door to see the girl being assisted in the gate by a boy. She is clearly very drunk but repeating "I'm fine, I'm fine." I tell him I'm her uncle and I'll take it from here. He gets into the taxi waiting at the curb and it drives off. Carla holds my arm as we head inside and close the door quietly.

"I'm...fine, Uncle James", she says in the middle of a small burp. She releases herself from me and collapses on the couch, ie. my bed. My top is quickly removed again and now it is time for her clothes. When I slide the first black boot off I can't help but caress her bare foot immediately. The other one is removed, followed by that jeans skirt. I have to lift her legs fully onto the furniture to get that off. This time it is pink panties. She rests on the side of her face awkwardly and I walk around to it. I stretch her arms, peeling off the rock chick shirt gently. She moans a little but I'm certain she's passed out. Not surprisingly it is a matching bra underneath. I unhook it and slide the straps off her shoulders, always being careful. Once it drops to the floor the intoxicated student is turned over, her head turning to the other side and the smell of vodka becoming more obvious. I try to take things slow but I get too excited, my cock is hard and bulging my trousers. I sigh at the sight of her exquisite breasts. I place her hands above her head and push my pants and boxers down. My body fits between her immediately, intensely enjoying her soft skin around me. It is just cuddling for a couple of minutes because it has been so long. My cock rests on her privates through the underwear, her boobs are squashed by my chest. Finally I sit up and bend her knees. Her small feet are used to masturbate, pressing them together against my dick, sliding my skin back and forth. I move onto her thighs, placing my manhood between them and acting like I am fucking her pussy. Her moans increase as I grope her tender breasts repeatedly. I am absolutely throbbing and my heart is racing. It soon becomes unbearable, her legs are seperated to allow my hips to push through, preparing to ejaculate.

"Oh...Rebecca.....Rebecca", I mumble.

[Jasmine]

A sound awakens me, I don’t know what it is but then I think of James. I wonder if he is downstairs all alone; trying to deal with the death of his mother. I put on my robe and slip down the stairs silently so that I don’t awaken him if he is asleep.

At the bottom of the stairs, I can see his torso in the dim light. His hand is resting on the back of the sofa. “James? Is everything alright?" I ask him softly and then seeing the strange look on his face, I ask again, "Are you okay? Couldn’t you sleep? Can I get you something?” James replies a little too quickly and without really directly looking at me that he is fine and that he is going to lie down now. “Who is Rebecca? I would have sworn that I heard you say ‘Rebecca’.” He doesn't respond, so I tell him goodnight and return to my room. The sight of his bare chest not easily forgotten, but soon I drift back to sleep.

[Rogue]

Just as I am closing my eyes and holding my cock above Carla's chest, I can't believe Alexandria is at the foot of the stairs, asking if I'm ok. I totally freeze, trying to think of a way out of this. We were both drunk....and she just fell asleep a second ago....My jaw is dropping slightly as I spill my cum onto the girl's body.

"Fine! Fine just....going to lie down now", I suddenly reply, instinct kicking in. My eyes are faced down, seeing that some of my semen had landed on the couch because of failing to pay attention. It hits me that she has no idea what I'm doing. I had tucked Carla's feet in and her hands do not go over the edge of the arm. The back is high enough to hide her entire body and my lower half is out of view. If she insists on walking to the kitchen, I'm screwed. Not realising she just witnessed my cum face, she assumes I was simply being a little rude, and says goodnight, but not before wondering who Rebecca is. I don't answer because I am thinking to myself - I said that? Alexandria decides not to wait and returns to bed.

I nervously get a tissue from my pocket and wipe the drop of cum from the sofa and the load I had dumped on Carla's breasts. She shifts her head again and groans quietly. My forehead is burning up from the events of the last few minutes and I use the table to help me onto my feet and pull my trousers up. The shirt, skirt and jeans are thrown onto her stomach and I scoop her body into my arms, heading for the stairs. It is awkward to avoid making too much noise and she must be carried sideways a little so she doesn't hit her head. Finally I clear the last step and push the bedroom door open with my foot. She's placed gently on the bed and the quilt is there ready to keep her warm. I leave her clothes on the same chair that I had come across the previous night and sneak outside. I go to the bathroom to avoid suspicion, although I needed to go anyway since Alexandria interrupted me a couple of hours ago. Once I go back to bed, I fall asleep pretty soon, as I'm quite tired and know I've to be up early again.

[Jasmine]

After a fitful night wondering about James’ reaction to my late night visit, I drag myself down to the kitchen for a much needed cup of coffee. Lacie is already there and ready to get the day started. “We need bread, milk, peanut butter and coffee,” she tells me as I try to get my first cup of coffee. I manage to murmur, “unhuh” as I sit down and take my first sip. “I need to order some flowers for James’ mother’s funeral.” She gives me a look, but doesn’t say anything.

“Where’s Carla? Shouldn’t she be up by now to make it to class?” I ask as I move out of the kitchen, heading upstairs to finish dressing. In the living room, I look over at the couch where James is still sleeping. He is lying on his stomach without a shirt, but the quilt covers most of his torso. I notice that there is something white about to fall out of his pants pocket and make a mental note to make sure that he finds it before he leaves.

Lacie come out of the kitchen and catches me watching James sleep. She whispers accusingly, “You didn’t ask him about the Orlando Sentinel did you?” I shake my head and shush her. “Why not?” I glare at her and turn to go up the stairs. “You are afraid of the answer, aren’t you?” She puts her hand on my arm, pulling me back to her, “See if he has a tattoo.”

“No! Lacie! You don’t think James was the burglar? How could you?” comes out harsh and a bit louder than I intended. Lacie moves to the couch and starts to lift the quilt, “Lacie! Stop.” I whisper. James starts to stir. I won’t be a part of this and I go back into the kitchen.

[Rogue]

It is a relief to wake up when the person that has haunted my dreams for years returns. I am facing the side of the sofa and the quilt is squashed at my waist, not covering my legs at all. The sisters can be heard speaking near me, debating whether or not to check my lower back for a tattoo. There is silence for a few moments until I feel a hand on the covers, slowly clenching it. I instinctively shift a bit although Lacie will not find any symbol on the side nearest to her. Alexandria asks her to stop and walks away in protest. It takes another sudden stir and the stretching of my legs to deter the bitch, she finally decides not take the risk, going back to the kitchen herself. Carla's panties are almost falling out of my pocket so I stuff them back in.

After going to the toilet, I walk to Alexandria's room. I notice Carla's door is shut when I go past, unlike the others. It is my first time in here. The bed has pink sheets and covers with some sort of Chinese symbols on them, with a carpet of the same colour. The wardrobe is at the other side of the room, past the large mirror. The first drawer only contains electrical things such as a shaver, the second has intimate clothing inside. Each bra and pair of panties I pick up is sniffed, along with the pantyhose in the drawer underneath. Every time I exhale it is of perverse pleasure, loving the smell of my girlfriend's body and its scent. I rub one pair into my genitals, wrapping the soft material around me. It is time to make use of this bathroom offered to me. Once I figure out the hot and cold switches I have an enjoyable wash, I had sweated up those trousers last night. I imagine my Alexandria joining me in here tonight and I quickly get aroused. Finally I step out of the spacious shower....so many towels stacked up ready for me too....I've never known such luxury. The bottom one is chosen and I dry off while wandering around the main room again. After a peek through the curtains, seeing that familiar tree again, the big wardrobe catches my eye. I open the door and continue sliding the white towel across my back. I can barely believe how many shoes are inside, there could be a hundered of them, it's crazy. I pick a pair up simply because they are on top. They look like the black ones she changed out of the first day we met, but how can one be sure when there are several just like them. When I hear a footstep I quickly adjust the towel, covering my backside but also the area above it.

"Oh...sorry James....", says young Carla. Whether I played with myself too much or it was the thought of my plans tonight, I have an erection, so it's a good idea to keep my back to her. She is half giggling and half embarassed, but also rubbing her eyes, barely sure where she is. I'm probably seeing her at her worst, frazzled hair and furry slippers. She leaves and I put the shoes back in the closet. When I get dressed and come downstairs, it is none other than Charlie who greets me. The mutt goes right for my leg and starts biting it. Alexandria calls for him to stop but it's not until she approaches that he runs off, not without a stare from behind the table. She apologizes and shows me the way to breakfast.

[Jasmine]

I hear the water running and think of James in my shower. I blush as I realize what I am doing. I busy myself with preparing breakfast. I hear James coming down the stairs and Charlie bounds to the kitchen door to greet him. He goes right for James’ leg and starts biting and pulling on his pants leg. “Charlie! No!” I yell, but he doesn’t stop until I get close enough to grab him and then he runs off. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately. I hope he didn’t hurt you.” I ask with a dirty look at Charlie.

“Oh, I’m sure he’s fine. Charlie is just a sweetie. You know he can smell sweet people.” Lacie adds sarcastically. I give her a glare and respond with a smirk, “then he must really think James is sweet enough to eat.”

James smiles and apparently gets into the conversation by saying that it must be Lacie’s taste in shoes that Charlie dislikes about her. I can’t help but giggle despite Lacie’s forbidding glare.

I put James’ plate on the table and tell him to sit down and join us for breakfast. James sits down, looks up at me and smiles. “Thank you for your hospitality and the use of your shower.” He looks at Lacie and adds, “I hope I wasn’t too much trouble.” Lacie ignores him and starts talking about a phone call she had with our friend Sarah.

“Sarah says that she knows the accountant that died on Sunday and apparently his car was stolen with some of his personal belongings inside. The police have been questioning some of Sarah’s friends since they all knew one another from the same local bar.” Lacie explains.

“Wow, I wonder which bar they knew him from?” I ask Lacie.

“MacDuff’s” James pipes in. We turn to look at him, surprised that he knows this.

Carla drags into the kitchen, looking a little worse for wear. “Morning” she mutters. We are all concerned since she is always in a good mood and she was fine last night when she went to bed.

[Rogue]

He isn't much of a guard dog if he gets the intruder's scent from me. Lacie takes a shot at me about how he usually warms to sweet guests but Alexandria compliments me in return. She has to put her hand over her mouth to hide her laughter at my joke but her sister's stare makes it pretty obvious that she can hear it.

They sit me down on the left side facing their way and deliver my plate. After I thank them for being so kind and allowing me to use their facilities I begin spreading marmalade on my toast. Lacie has no interest in what I'm saying and changes the conversation topic to the fate of that poor old accountant. I pause for a moment as she rambles on about Sarah's information, wondering if the make of the vehicle will be mentioned. But she has only heard that it was stolen along with its contents, thus far at least. Both ladies give a surprised look when I wonder aloud whether his local bar was MacDuffs, because it is correct. The circumstances surrounding his death still have some unanswered questions.

Carla joins us at a snale's pace and lets out a loud yawn. Her mother keeps asking if she's ok, and Carla says she just has a headache, and that "thank God you guys left me some aspirin." When the 2 adults look at each other and inform her that neither was responsible for the generous act, she says she must have got it herself. She gives me a little look as her cornflakes are coming to an end.

"Can I have your sausage, James?"

I choke on my toast a little until I'm relieved to see her eyes on the meat on my plate. I tell her sure, I wasn't going to eat it anyway. Her mother and aunt are chatting about something, my girlfriend whispering the word "tomorrow." When I ask what's the big occasion, Lacie is glad to give me the silent treatment, but Alexandria's smile suggests she wants to surprise me later. It is then Carla who kills our conversations and pleasant meal with this sentence, causing forks to clatter and mouths to drop.

"So when is the guy coming to change the locks?"

[Jasmine]

“Are you ready for breakfast?” I ask Charlie as I play with his ears. Lacie and I are talking about the party tomorrow as Carla joins us. She and James talk while we finish up the details. All heads turn toward Carla when she asks James when the guy is coming to change the locks. I look from Carla to James and back again. From the look on Carla’s face it’s obvious that she realizes she has stepped into it. Lacie and Carla start to argue, but Carla plays on her mother’s guilt by telling her mom that she doesn’t feel safe. Lacie glares at James, but agrees albeit reluctantly. Lacie gives me a glare as she starts to clear the breakfast dishes.

“My dance lesson is tonight. Would you like to go with me?” I ask James as I smile across the table at him, remembering our tango in the rain. I am surprised when he tells me that he thinks that I should cancel it and stay home with him. I hoped he would go with me, but he says that he wants to be together and have a few drinks. I can’t imagine what he has planned and I smile and tell him that I will change the lesson.

Carla decides that she will have to miss her classes today due to her illness. “We need to get moving if we are going to make it to the florist before work.” Lacie mutters “What is this; a lockdown?” I smile and say “We’ll be home early.”

[Rogue]

Alexandria had been leaning down to play with Charlie when Carla put her foot in it. The subsequent silence is so awkward until Lacie and her daughter begin arguing. I make sure to keep out of this one but eventually she gets my name out of her and confirms her suspicions that I am orchaestrating this arrangement. Carla insists it was her idea, that she hasn't felt safe since Wednesday night. I try to sweeten the deal by saying this guy will improve the security of the back door, which I know from experience could use it. Lacie is staring my way as she gives the final decision and it goes in my favour. As she gets up to carry the plates to the sink, Alexandria mentions that her re-scheduled dance lessons are tonight and then she invites me. She looks surprised and a little disappointed with my counter proposal but I seem to have her wrapped around my little finger. She smiles and agrees to cancel her own plans for me. Carla informs her mom that she's too unwell to go to college this morning. The sisters are whispering again at the front door but I can't hear. It sounds like they both have a shopping list for the day.

Carla finally comes downstairs an hour later as I am reading the newspaper. I ask if she's feeling better because she looks it after showering and changing into casual clothes. She says she is and has to go to the mall for a little while. Shortly afterwards the locksmith arrives and I let him in. He looks at me a few seconds before laughing and extending his hand. Davey and I go way back. We talk about old times as he drops his bag of tools and gets to work.

"I heard you were back in town man, glad you called. So who owns this place? I saw the chick leave, you hittin' that?" he teases.

"No, it's her aunt. You should see her, real classy. I'm gonna fuck her tonight, even if she doesn't know it yet", I reply, giving him a high five. I ask him, just out of curiousity what he knows about shoe fetishism.

"Man, you're not turning gay on me are you?" he wonders. I assure him it is the lady who has this sexual preference, and I don't understand it. It is like a bad episode of Sex in the City how many pairs she owns. Typically he just rambles on about "titties" and fails to help with my query.

[Jasmine]

I hated leaving James, but I love flowers so the time at the florist is fun for me. Lacie is more pragmatic and worries about the cost rather than the beauty and scent. I laugh as we go through the rows of flowers. We finally decide on a mixture of iris, roses and sunflowers. As we walk through the town square, Lacie reminds me she has a date with a real man. “He’s more of a man than James.” she tells me in her haughty manner.

For a long time, I don’t speak to her. I am trying to contain my anger at her comment. Finally, I tell her to drop it and ask who her date is. For some reason, she won’t tell me. I find that odd and start in with a barrage of questions.

I stop short when I almost run into my ex, Paul. Talk about awkward! He talks about himself as usual. I look at the ground most of the time and he talks to Lacie. To me he just a giant talking head. She likes Paul, but not James. I don’t understand it and wonder how that is possible. Paul can’t wait to drop the bomb that he is engaged. “Good luck with that” I tell him, knowing he can’t be faithful. They make small talk until I tell Lacie that we have to go or we will be late for work. We say our goodbyes while I pray that Lacie doesn’t invite him to the party and thankfully, she doesn’t.

As we walk to the car, Lacie reminds me to pick up some wine for the party. “If you hadn’t been so enthralled with Paul, we could have done it before work,” I tell her. “By the way, is Paul your date?” I ask and then bolt from the car, not waiting her reply.

[Rogue]

"Look, all I know is, if she asks you which shoes she should wear, you just say they're both nice", are his words of wisdom, accompanied by a laugh and pat on the back.

Davey finishes changing the locks and inserts some new bolts in the sliding doors. I suppose I won't be taking that route again anyway. "Here's your two keys, sir", he says, while handing me 3. He hands me the brown envelope from his bag and he gets my keys in return. She's all yours, I tell him. He slips me another little package after understanding my comment about my plans for Alexandria this evening. He leaves and I hear his vehicle drive away outside. Carla returns 20 minutes later and seems to be recovering quite nicely. She has a box under arms and did some shopping of her own. She leaves the door open and points out that a police car is parked across the street. I become nervous and stand at our doorway, watching the developments. As the teenager joins me, a man in his 40's sees us and it looks like he is asking the girl of the house to give him a few minutes. He looks both ways and walks into our garden.

"Excuse me, I'm Detective Stevens, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

He shows us his badge and we let him inside. He is wearing a brown coat and tie and we offer him a seat. He doesn't want anything to drink because he can't stay long. Carla is questioned first, whether she knew the deceased accountant. Little does she know we are living across the way from a relative of his but she has never met the man. She says she was at home on Sunday night and I can see the cop was eagerly awaiting to turn his attention to me. He is intruiged when I admit that I was indeed at MacDuff's that night, however I left long before that man did. He comes clean and admits he is here because a man matching my description was seen leaving the pub that night. Carla cleverly asks why he is involved if there is only a theft to investigate, to which he replies that the 63 year old's heart attack may be related to the robber. When he asks what car I own, Carla looks at me and can't believe my answer.

"I don't have one"

[Jasmine]

Work is slow and allows me time for idle thought. I can’t help but think about James. He seems to be too perfect. I love the way he treats me and having a man around the house does make us all feel safer. Well, Carla and me anyway. I just don’t get Lacie. I know she objects to James. I guess it’s because she thinks he lied about working at the Orlando Sentinel. I can’t help but wonder about why he would lie about it. Another thing that bothers me is that he hasn’t talked about arrangements for his mother. I realize that the mysteries surrounding James bother me and decide it’s better to clear things up. I decide to talk to him tonight on our date. Dialing the phone is almost unconscious; I want to hear his voice.

Carla answers and excitedly tells me that the police have been at the house questioning James. I ask to speak with him and she puts him on the phone. James’ voice is calm and he doesn’t seem to be worried about the police questioning him. He tells me that he doesn’t know why they wanted to talk to him and I believe him.

James asks about my day and we flirt a little. I’m like a school girl with him. I catch myself smiling and playing with my hair. He is such a sweet man and makes me blush with pleasure from his attention. I find myself dangling my shoe as we talk. I lean down to replace it and see my boss coming and have to get off the phone quickly, telling him that I will see him tonight.

[Rogue]

Carla studies my eyes as I deny owning a vehicle. Stevens continues to write his notes but can't help but glance over when Carla puts her hand on my leg.

"Are you sure, James?"

She squeezes my thigh and I considering pushing her off, but I don't know what good it would do. I say I am sure and look at the teenager in irritation. I worry about an awkward question such as her age but the detective is finally finished and we let him get back across the street. I ask Carla what the hell she thinks she's doing and she is just laughing at the whole thing.

"Did you see the look on his face? He so thought we were fucking!"

I hear her curse for the first time, albeit in a playful manner, and her behaviour today is getting stranger by the minute. When her aunt calls she is quick to answer it, and even quicker to tell her about the visiting policeman. She giggles as I'm passed the phone and I assure her I have no idea why he was asking me these questions. She tells me about her day so far. It sounds like it is dragging but I cheer her up with some jokes about the colleagues she describes. I say I am missing her already and her voice becomes a whisper when the manager is coming round the corner.

I return to the newspaper in the evening, this time on the sofa and Carla joins me. She is reading a text book from college, and since it is a Friday, I'm doubting her dedication to it. I notice her glancing at me now and then from the corner of my eye. Her slippers and socks were removed earlier and she eventually rests her feet on my lap, my consent apparently irrelevent. Her toes twitch every time I turn the page and is if they are dancing to some tune stuck in her head. Her mother comes home and immediately puts an end to the rude conduct.

"Carla!"

[Jasmine]

I can’t wait to get home and Lacie’s slow pedantic driving gets on my nerves all the time, but especially tonight when I know James is waiting for me. Finally, getting home, I jump from the car and briskly go in the front door. I find Carla and James on the couch, sitting close together with the newspaper, her feet in his lap. I stand there for a moment watching until Lacie joins me. We see Carla pointing at something in the newspaper and the two of them laughing. I try not to think that my niece and James are flirting. "Carla!" Lacie yells. Carla responds quickly with a "we're just hangign out" and stands. James stands and greets me a quick kiss on the lips. “I was just going upstairs. I need to get to finish a paper.” Carla says with a smile at me and then one at James and takes off up the stairs.

James follows me into the kitchen where I start to unpack the purchases. James takes the wine out of the bag and puts it in the refrigerator. “Let’s try some of this tonight.” He says with a wink and pulls me close for a kiss. “It’s for tomorrow’s party!” I protest. “Come on, just one bottle. She’ll never miss it.” He says with another kiss. “Lacie will kill me if she finds out” I finish just as Lacie comes into the kitchen. I can’t look at James because I know he will make me laugh. He releases me, coughs and excuses himself.

As I continue to put away the supplies for the party, Lacie tells me that I need to do something. That the longer James and I go without consummating our relationship, the closer James and Carla seem to get. “Carla has a crush on him and he seems to want to be with her too. If you don’t do something about it, I will. I won’t allow him to take advantage of her. It will be a whole different story if he becomes involved with my daughter.” She states emphatically and stalks off. For a moment, I can’t move. The thoughts swirl through my head; “James with Carla? How humiliating! Oh god! Is it true? Does he want her rather than me?”

James returns to the kitchen and I search his face for a clue. He puts his arms around my waist and kisses me softly. He helps me with the rest of the party stuff and tells me that I look stressed. He takes me by the hand and leads me to the living room where we sit on the sofa. He has me turn my back to him and he gives my shoulders a nice, hard massage. We sit together with his arm around me for a while. Lacie and, eventually, Carla join us. When an ad for a football match involving the Orlando Predators comes on TV Lacie asks, "Isn't there something you wanted to ask James?" I give her a look and tell her it can wait until later and cuddle up closer to James.

[Rogue]

I don't notice the sisters standing there until Lacie's shout. Carla had been pointing and laughing at a cartoon strip at the bottom of the page I had open and when she jumps I have to hold my breath because she almost crushes my groin. I get up to give my girlfriend a little kiss and walk with her to the kitchen. I give her a hand with emptying the bags she has brought home and a bottle of wine catches my eye. When taking it for ourselves is suggested at first she insists it is for tomorrow night. I playfully wear her down and by the time Lacie arrives in the room she can barely keep a straight face. I pretend to sneak the bottle into pocket while she is bending down with her back to me and whispering to stop before he dies laughing.

She spends a couple more minutes there before joining me in the living room. My kiss is more passionate this time and she looks like she could use a massage. I sit her down and relax her, firmly rubbing her shoulders. We are sitting side by side then, my arm around her when the others accompany us. Lacie does not stay for long but I can't believe my misfortune when the voiceover on the television says the word Orlando. I know exactly what she means when this prompts her to mention a certain question her sister wants to ask me. But she decides it can wait and then there were three.

Carla, sitting across the way begins to dangle her shoe. Normally I would not even take notice, but considering the events of the past week, I assume it's on purpose. She is still in pajama's but the pants are rolled up a little and she has changed into blue high heels. I don't know if this even counts as flirting or not but it continues as Alexandria and I enjoy telling her about the day we met. Her aunt ends the awkward silence by asking "Are those shoes new?"

"Yeah! Got them today!" she's delighted to reveal.

I change the subject to my late mother in the hope she will lose interest and it works. I say that my brother is arriving tonight to make the funeral arrangements. After she runs upstairs again we get to work on that wine, fetching glasses from the press. I remove the cork and pour it for both of us.

[Jasmine]

Normally, I would have changed clothes after work, but I don’t want to leave James even for a moment. I am still in my corporate uniform; black skirt, white silk blouse, nude stockings. The black pumps are on the floor at my feet.

I thought we would go out tonight, but he seems comfortable just to stay home. I wish Carla would go back upstairs to study and let us be alone, but she seems to want to stick around. I watch her dangling her shoe and realize that she has on new high heels with pajamas. I ask if those are new shoes and she says she bought them today. “You are definitely related to me!” I laugh then realize that she didn’t go to school. “You were too sick for school, but not too sick to shoe shop?” I chide her. I give her a long disapproving stare and wait for an answer.

James, wanting to end the silence, tells me that his brother will be in town late tonight to make arrangements for the funeral. I turn my attention to him and we talk quietly for a while. Carla leaves silently and goes upstairs.

James gives me a squeeze and says that it’s time to break out the wine now that we are alone. He pours us both a glass and says, “to us and the things to come.” I don’t know what he has in mind but the twinkle in his eye makes me smile. We talk for a while about everything and nothing.

As he pours our second glass of wine, James sees the cd’s under the cabinet. He crawls over and starts going through them. I join him on the floor. We talk about the various artists. He doesn’t seem to think that my eclectic tastes are strange. I like classical to heavy metal. He is very knowledgeable about all genres. I find a CD and put on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 "Eroica". It's one of my favorites. I listen while he excuses himself to the restroom.

My peace in interrupted by Lacie who swings by with a hit and run jab, “If he is so romantic, why didn’t he take you out to dinner or the movies tonight?” Then she is gone back to her room; just there long enough to spoil my perfect mood.

[Rogue]

After some chatting I notice a CD collection through the glass door of the cabinet under the TV. I walk over and rest on my knees. Alexandria joins me and seems to have a variety of tastes. I have a great interest in music and recognise each artist she points out. Classical music seems to a favourite among the pile and she picks out Beethoven's Eroica. I listen attentively as she tells me what the piece means to her. I tell her to hold that thought when nature calls.

Carla's door is fully open and I see her head look up through the banister. Once I'm done in the bathroom I hear a "Ouch! Dammit!" I peep my head around the doorway to investigate and she is hopping on one foot. She says she thinks she twisted her ankle or something. I sit on the bed and she stretches her foot out to me. I turn it around gently and ask if it hurts but she seems to be ok. I give her sole a quick kiss and she smiles at me. She shifts suddenly on the bed and leans in very close. She begins kissing me, closing her eyes and enjoying it, but I don't kiss back. She stops after a few seconds and stands up beside her chair. "Maybe those new heels were too high for you", I comment, referring to the supposed injury. She grabs the pair and holds them in front of me with two fingers.

"Do you like them? I've been wearing them all night. I don't mind your....you know....I'll let you do whatever you want with them", she says softly and briefly raises her eyebrows. I can't help but start laughing as she seems to be handing them to me.

"Stop laughing!" she shouts, but controls her voice incase anyone can hear.

I ask if she actually thinks I have a thing for women's footwear. She says she saw that I was hard this morning while looking in her aunt's closet. I'm still chuckling at her behaviour and she slaps me on the shoulder, complaining that she paid $40 for those. The 19 year old stands up furiously, but is beginning to flirt again. When she thanks me for the aspirin this morning I say it wasn't me. She replies that when she phoned her friend today he said an "Uncle James" helped her in last night. She stares into my eyes and slowly pulls the strings of her robe.

"And James....I don't wear this to bed", she whispers, letting the robe fall and leaving her in only the same panties she had on Thursday night. I get up and look down at her half naked body, standing a full foot taller. I smile and stroke her chin. This isn't a challenge, and I have what I want waiting for me downstairs.

"Carla, you're a pretty girl, but your aunt and I are seeing each other. And that's all there is to it."

I walk out of the room and hear something fly against the door, probably those blue shoes of hers. Her mother is climbing the stairs at the time so I put my hand out as if it were a handshake. She looks at me curiously until she notices the keys in my palm and takes them from me. As we go by each other I mutter "Your daughter's a whore." I feel her turn suddenly and stare a whole in my head. "What?!" she snaps.

"A quarter to four....that's when I'm meeting my brother tomorrow. Why?"

When she doesn't respond I continue down the stairs and return to Alexandria. She welcomes me back and I become excited when I see a James Taylor album. I put it into the CD player and choose "Sweet Baby James." I tell her that I listened to him growing up and that my mother sang this to me when I was a baby. She used to say the song was about me. We sit back on the couch and hold each other, quickly downing our second glass.

[Jasmine]

James has been gone a while and I have finished my second glass of wine and pour my third. I never drink this much, but I am relaxed and enjoying a quiet evening. I stretch out and wiggle my toes to the music as I close my eyes and think about whether to ask him about the Orlando Sentinel issue.

James returns with an empty glass and I can’t have that. I refill his glass and decide to ask him about the Orlando Sentinel. James looks into my eyes and earnestly tells me “I was afraid you wouldn't be interested in me. My last job was a bodyguard but I haven't found work in the city yet since returning last week.”

“Oh, James! Do you think me so shallow as to care what you do for a living?” I ask. “I couldn’t care less what you do. I only care who you are.” I give him a big grin and squeeze his thigh as a friendly gesture. “I guess it must be the wine.” I laugh and give a little toast to James, “Here’s to cheatin’, stealin’, lyin’ and drinking. If you cheat, may you cheat death. If you steal, may you steal a good woman’s heart.” At this point, I lean over and say, “That would be me.” I whisper softly.

I lean in and kiss James passionately. Taking hold of his shirt and leaning back, I pull him down on top of me as the fiery kiss continues.

[Rogue]

Alexandria fills my empty glass again and surprises me with the question of why I said I worked for the Orlando Sentinel. I couldn't see a woman like her being with a guy like me but I guess I was wrong. I am not quite finished my sentence about my previous work, as a bodyguard in Florida but she insists she only cares about me as a person. Her toast is intruiging to say the least as I have done many of these things in the past 24 hours. Just as I'm thinking about it she whispers in my ear and kisses me. She grabs my collar playfully as we continue to kiss affectionately. She is still in her work clothes and looks great in them. Her silky blouse touches my neck and her shoes are off, placed on the floor by the couch. She pulls me towards her and the passion between us is incredible. I interrupt it for a moment.

"Alexandria, I want to tell you who Rebecca is...."

She puts her finger on my lips and smiles. It is only about the two of us. At least it was, because when the sound of footsteps on the stairs can be heard we have to stop for a moment. Although we both want to take our relationship further and the wine has loosened her up, I sense the discomfort at making love here with her sister and niece upstairs. I caress her thigh through the pantyhose, touching the edge of the black skirt. Then I go to the kitchen and pour the rest of my drink in the sink, the second time I've done so tonight. I have her glass and the bottle with me and told her I would refill us. I take out Davey's package from earlier; the rohypnol. My girlfriend's glass is placed in front of me, I remember to carry it with my right hand. The wine is poured and the packet held above it. Just as I take a deep breath and collect my thoughts I hear Alexandria talking to someone briefly, so I pocket the drug. Carla strolls in in her robe, asking if I'm going to fuck her on their sofa. "Get back in here sweet haby James!!" we hear.

"When she can't pronounce the word baby she's had enough, James", the teenager says with a stare. She empties the glass into the sink and tugs the bottle from me. My reluctance and her stupid jealousy causes it to fall the floor, smashing. We both raise our eyes to heaven and it doesn't take long before Lacie gets involved. She arrives downstairs and isn't impressed that her sister has drank too much. She is asking me to leave as she observes the mess in the kitchen. When I say I've to talk to Alexandria first she follows me inside and glares at me. She tries to expose me in front of my woman by asking when I intended on telling us that I lied to the police, and in their own home too. I smile at Carla as she stands with her arms folded, both ladies assuming I am caught.

"I didn't lie. I don't have a car because I sold it this morning."

Alexandria puts her head in her hands, furious at yet another failed attempt by her sister to drive me away. I say goodnight and walk to the door.

[Jasmine]

James is gone again and I am feeling no pain. Carla comes down stairs again and I am agitated. It’s like grand central station here. I ask her to go away telling her that next time she has a date, I’ll be sure and do the same thing to her.

She wanders off after asking me how much I have had to drink. I hear her talking to James in the kitchen and call out for him to come back to me. A moment or two passes and I hear glass breaking. I start to get up, but see Lacie coming down the stairs. She’ll take care of it and I don’t want to talk to her right now. I turn up the music and start to sing along.

I look up as all three enter the room. James looks agitated and I look at my family. Both of them have their arms crossed across their chest. Carla has a smug look on her face; Lacie’s is angry. Lacie asks James about lying to the police and he gives her an answer. I believe him. I can’t stand Lacie’s attitude. I put my face in my hands and sit for a moment when I hear James say “goodnight” and walk to the door. I get on my knees and try to get up. I end up crawling over to the sofa and pulling myself up. I feel a bit dizzy and then sick. I run to the bathroom as Lacie follows James out.

Lacie is back when I return, but James is not there. “Go get him back!” I tell Lacie. “I don’t have his cell number. At least get his number if you can’t get him to come back. If he is gone for good, I won’t forgive you for this.” I tell her with a glare. “Carla, clean up the mess you made. I’m going to bed.”

I have to hold the rail to make it upstairs. My head is spinning. I fall asleep across the bed still in my clothes.

[Rogue]

Lacie catches up to me at the door and I'm not in the mood for another showdown. Surprisingly, she hands me the flowers on the table and says Alexandria wanted me to have these for the funeral. She doesn't wait for my response as I look at her curiously, walking back to the other girls and allowing me to leave. Without a car, I'm forced to walk home and begin the journey on the left of the garden and past the roundabout. I first noticed it in 5 minutes in. The car, with no lights on, slowly driving behind me in the distance. There was no need to look back, the corner of my eye was sufficient when I crossed the road. Tailing is not this lady's expertise. The flowers, which were a pleasant mixture, are tucked under my jacket, one petal falling. Some bins are still out on the curb of people's houses since the garbage men collected the waste this morning. I approach one, blocking the view of what I'm doing with my back. The envelope with the drug is tossed inside after I lift the lid, and shut it again afterwards. When I turn off through a side road, I crouch down behind some railings. Lacie steps out of her car and checks the bin. She looks frustrated when nothing turns up in the search and she slams it. I smile to myself, throwing the flowers into a back garden and heading home.

I return at about 10 in the morning. This time there is no looking over my shoulder, finding keys under stones or prying open back doors. I use my spare key and enter the house. The light shines through the window this time, I don't have to watch my step. Plugs are left out as usual, the same as night time, the broken glass from last night probably swept into the bin. Both cars are outside. I climb the stairs and walk straight to Alexandria's room. The laundry basket isn't as full as it was. I slowly turn the knob and step inside. The carpet softens my footsteps. She is still in the same clothes, laying on the bed over the quilt, facing the other side. I walk to the other side to watch her. Her eyes are closed, very much asleep, one knee pushed forward and a shoe falling off a little. I gently kneel onto the large bed and lie right next to my woman. She is peaceful but also recovering from a lot of wine. I reach down and remove a shoe, lightly stroking that foot. Her toes curl up in reaction. Her outstretched hand grips the pillow a little. I pull on the stocking at the sole and rub her there again. My hand then travels up her leg, admiring her curves. I push my fingers into the skirt but only to tuck in the blouse. My finger follows Alexandria's round breast. I hold the high heel near my privates and look at it as I begin to ramble.

"That was my best night's sleep in years, Alexandria, and it's all thanks to you. I didn't dream about her, like I always do. Don't you know what that means? I'm finally free from her. Free to be with you. Carla was a mistake....just...the past haunting me. She means nothing to me. But I'm warning you, I will get what I want tonight. And if it's not you, someone else will have to suffer for it."

"I have a confession to make, I did lie to the detective. I stood across the street when that old man left the bar, followed him to his car....took out my knife. I'll be honest, I was going to cut him up. He deserved as much. But I didn't do a God damn thing. He just saw the knife at his neck and started....freaking out. Next thing I know he's on the ground, struggling to breathe. He started pointing in his pocket, I think he was saying "pills." But I checked and he didn't have any, what was I supposed to do?"

[Jasmine]

My sleep is deep and dreamless most of the night. Around 5 am, I awaken and shift positions and drink some water and take the aspirin Lacie must have left by the bed. I fall back asleep immediately and dream of my green eyed James. The dreams are sexy and I don’t want to awaken. I can feel him kissing me. His touch on my legs is light and I feel it move up my leg and finally lightly touching my breast. I sigh and continue to kiss my dream man. I hear his voice in my ear, even though I can’t understand what he is saying.

I am roused from my sleep by something that I can’t explain. I sit up and my heads spins. It feels like someone was watching me. Looking down, I see my grandmother’s quit is over me. I always keep it in the wardrobe, I never use it. I shake off the feelings of unease and get in the shower. I am dressed except for my shoes which I can’t seem to find. I get on my knees and look under the bed and the chair. I don’t find my shoes, but I see Carla’s new blue high heels under my chair. Seeing her at her door, I hand her the heels. “You borrowed them with out asking?” I tell her how I found them and ask her why she was in my room. She doesn’t respond, but as I talk to her, I see my shoes beside her bed. “What are my shoes doing in your room?” I ask her. She doesn’t know, but something strange is going on. I don’t mention the quilt because I don’t want to scare her.

Carla heads downstairs and I go into my bathroom to style my hair and apply my makeup. Carla yells for me to get her mom and come downstairs. I wake Lacie and toss her a robe. “Carla wants to show us something important in the kitchen. Come on! It’s been a strange day already.”

[Rogue]

The back of my head rests in the palm of my hand as I watch her sleep. I stroke a strand of her black hair which rests on her shoulder. She takes a quick breath through her nose and I notice the glass on the table behind her head. The bed creaks as I slowly step off and find a quilt in the wardrobe. The blue one on top of some pillows looks like it will do. After laying it across her body I leave the room, still holding her shoes. As I gently open Carla's door, expecting the need to be careful and not wake the girl, I'm stunned to find her bed empty. I don't know how I missed her downstairs. I grab her new blue high heels and put them in Alexandria's room and leave hers beside Carla's bed. I have no choice but to hide in the closet when I think I hear her coming up the stairs. The wooden door has horizontal gaps but should keep me out of view. I try to push the dresses out of the way and find a comfortable stance when the room's owner arrives, looking around the floor. After a couple of minutes her aunt seems to be up and they both come in the door.

"How should I know why they're here, it wasn't me!"

When they leave, one goes downstairs and the other does not. I don't care which, I just need a moment to make my escape. I exit the closet, making sure the black dress doesn't get caught in the door. After peeking my head out and seeing that the coast is clear, my creep down the stairs begins. Alexandria must be in her room. Just as I open the front door, I know someone is right behind me. When I turn to face Carla I pretend I have just come in and that I thought I left my watch here last night. I claim that the door was open and I let myself in but I'm not sure if she's buying it. She gives me a patronising smile and takes me by the hand to the wall under the stairs. I wait there as Alexandria and Lacie go by, the teenager cleverly keeping me out of sight.

"I want you to hear this", she whispers.

[Jasmine]

Downstairs, Carla hands her mother a note. The words are made from newspaper cuttings. It says, “I can smell your pussy.” Both of us are shocked and now more worried about the intruder. Lacie is going to call the police. She wants to talk to the detective who was here yesterday. She thinks she can get the detective that questioned James number from the woman who lives across the street. Lacie goes in her robe to get the number, but our neighbor is not home. She will be coming to the party and Lacie decides to get the number then.

Lacie goes up to get dressed and heads out for some last minute errands for the party tonight. She checks the neighbor’s house again before she leaves to pick up another bottle of wine, since James and I drank one last night.

Carla vanishes for a few minutes while I make coffee. When she comes back, I have my first cup. I am staring out the window as I sit at the kitchen table wondering how to invite James to the party because I d never got his cell phone number. Just as I am out of ideas and about to give up, Lacie returns. She thinks I am better off without him. “Why Lacie; what do you have against him?” is my exasperated response. She says it’s because she believes he is lying about his mother. Carla pipes in and reveals that the detective wrote down James’ address yesterday. Lacie demands that Carla give her James’ address. She is determined to prove that James is lying. Carla gives it to her, but not to me. Lacie says that she has a better chance of finding the truth. Lacie takes the address and refuses to give it to me. I am hurt and angry with Lacie. Carla hugs me and says it will be okay. From the gleam in her eyes, I know she is up to something. I decide to trust her. Besides what else can I do?

After last night's events, neither Lacie nor I are sure about Carla’s feelings about James. I want him back in the house; Lacie doesn’t so Carla is the undecided vote. It is a waiting game to see what she does.

I corner Carla alone and ask her if she wants James back and if she likes him. She smiles and says nothing.

Before Lacie leaves I make a deal with her. If she doesn't find anything suspicious, she must invite James to the party tonight. I’m pleasantly surprised when she agrees, but shocked when she says after tonight, "it's him or us. If you don't stop seeing him, Carla and I are moving out.” She turns on her heel, stalking through the door and slamming it behind her.

[Rogue]

It is too difficult to hear exactly what is being said from here, but whatever it is the sisters are shocked and disgusted. Typically, Lacie's voice gets louder when matters become urgent and important, so I do catch that she wishes to talk to that detective from yesterday. I am sure Carla is showing them a newspaper article or photograph of me and my heart is pounding and my fists clenching. She is meddling with my relationship. Lacie walks by with a pace in her robe and I keep my head down. Once she is out the door, Carla comes to find me and I am anxious to hear what this is. She shows me the letter, supposedly from the perverted intruder. Some letters are bigger than others because are they are pieced together from the city newspaper.

"What are you playing at?!"

She gives me the innocent look, as if she doesn't know what's going on. She tells me she received it in the letterbox this morning and that it must be the same man who broke into the house on Wednesday night. "You made that yourself!" I whisper with a snarl. The youngster pretends to be insulted, asking why she would do such a thing.

"Unless you know more than you're telling us, James...."

I don't want this conversation to go any further and I sneak out the front door, making sure Alexandria is still in the kitchen. When I see Lacie in the garden across the street, turning around to return here I quickly hide at the side of the house. Once it is safe to finally leave I head for the bus stop, having examined the bus routes this morning.

Hours later, I have done my shopping for the day. We needed the meat and milk but I don't know why she still smokes at her age, it will be the death of her. I put down the bags and find my keys, pushing the door of this crappy bungalow in. I hand the old woman her cigarettes and she advises me to wash my suit, because I've worn it for 6 days now. "You're lucky you didn't have any brothers or sisters' clothes to be washing every day like I had to", she mumbles. I just ignore it and sit on the chair, its cover worn and torn from over the years. There are no updates on the accountant in today's paper and a few minutes later there is a knock on the door. She goes to answer but I quickly get in the way. "Mother, actually I will wash it, could you plug in the washing machine for me." Her hearing is poor so it takes a couple of attempts, and there is a second knock by then. I rush to the front door and it is Lacie on the doorstep. No word is spoken for a few seconds, she seems more interested in peeking her head inside, but my head leans the same way each time. She says she wants to ask me something, and wonders if the flowers are here, but that probably isn't the question. I reply in a condescending tone that they will be placed at the grave but now she is looking curiously at my neighbours house. She steps through the railings and begins knocking on it. When there is no response I shout "Lacie, come on...." But still she isn't satisfied.

I watch her cross by and step into my other neighbour's property, pounding on this guy's door impatiently. The 30 something year old investigates the racket and he is immediately asked who lives in this house, an index finger pointing my way. He scratches his head like he has not seen sunlight in 24 hours and says "Eh...that guy..." She quickly asks him who else, if an elder woman does too, but he replies that he wasn't finished. "Yeah...she did, but she passed away the other day." Lacie backs away and gives me a stare. The man goes inside and she turns around just as I'm about to do the same.

"Lexie wants you to come to our party tonight. 8 o' clock. Oh and James....you don't want to be late"

She taps her watch and gets in her car, the Volvo parked across the street and drives off. I look at my own watch and funny enough, it is 3:45, dead on. Gareth steps out of his house again and meets me at the railings. I hand him $100 as promised.

[Jasmine]

I go to my room and think about what Lacie said. I wonder if she means it. The thought of the house without my sister and niece would be so lonely. How can she make me choose between happiness with James and life without her and Carla? I wonder if I can live without James. I clean the house and start to prepare for the party while my thoughts are on losing. I lose my sister or niece or I lose the man I love. What will I do?

Lacie comes as I am vacuuming the living room. When she comes through the door, I turn it off and look at her expectantly. I am not sure that I want to hear what she has to say but I am dying to know. We look at each other for a few seconds and finally she says "he'll be here." She turns to go into the kitchen but only makes it a few steps. I try to hide my smile from her when she turns and says, “I hope he cleans up. I don’t think he has washed that suit since you met him. The orange juice that he spilled on it is still on his sleeve for god’s sake!”

My angry response, “His mother just died. You have no heart. I’m sure that he will dress for the party. He is a gentleman, despite whatever evil fantasies you have created in your head! He has to take care of his mother’s house. I’m sure that once that is taken care of, he will find an apartment.” I storm off upstairs and leave the vacuuming to Lacie.

Lacie and I don’t see one another again until time for to put out the food and drink for our guests. We are pleasant as each one arrives. Almost everyone has arrived, include Glenn –ugg. I can’t stand the site of him and he doesn’t appear to want to talk with me either. Thank God for small favors. I wonder why Lacie invited him and why he came. Maybe he has a thing for my sister now. They deserve each other.

Carla comes over to me and whispers, “he’s here.” I rush past my guests to get to the only person that I want to see. I throw open the door and see you standing there. My smile is a mile wide. “Hi!”

[Rogue]

I arrive a couple of minutes after 8, after the usual 5 minute walk from the bus stop. There are several cars parked in Alexandria's area of the street, some blocking the driveway of the woman directly across, but perhaps she allowed it for tonight. I slip between the bumpers of two of them and make my way to the door. Alexandria herself answers with a smile on her face, delighted to see me again. She takes in my appearance from head to toe and says that I look good, probably because this is a new suit and I helped myself to some nice aftershave for the first time this week. She kisses my clean shaven cheek and welcomes me to the party. I compliment her in return as she has chosen a gorgoeus black backless dress.

"First thing's first, your phone number!" she says playfully, refusing to let another day go by without some contact information. She keys my number into her phone and introduces me to some of the guests. She seems pleased to show me off and the ladies respond well to me. One of them is the woman across the street, Amber, and the condolences were probably offered earlier. She will be forgiven for not being in a partying mood, being the niece of the accountant. I'm surprised to see Glenn here also, I doubt he and Alexandria will be hoping for a chat any time soon. He nods as we go past and find our own spot in the room to stand and talk. Lacie is nearby with a couple of girls and we overhear her saying "These two had their own party last night."

Alexandria is quick to apologize for Lacie and Carla's accusations the past night and I assure her it's ok, it's only her opinion and respect I care for. I say sorry for breaking the bottle but that I am not sorry for the fun we had. She smiles and holds my hand, possibly thinking about how close we came to making love. We're soon back on the subject of her sister again as she is giggling away with the other ladies holding their wine. Alexandria tells me she has a "hot date" tonight but he must be running late. She laughs and pokes me when I say the man must be blind if he finds her more attractive than her. Carla approaches and says the mystery man has finally entered the building. Lacie skips through the crowd to find him, hooking his arm and strolling to the centre of the room again.

"Has he brought his guide dog too?" I whisper

[Jasmine]

Greeting James at the door I am still amazed at what the site of him does to me. After giving him a brilliant smile, I give him a chaste kiss on the cheek, knowing that everyone in the room is watching.

I take his arm and guide him in the door, aware of the stares of the women in attendance. He is a handsome man and his eyes are all on me. While I hope Lacie will be on her best behavior tonight, I trust her not to send James away again. I ask him for his cell number and make sure that it’s saved.

We work the room together. I introduce him to my friends and neighbors and he charms each of the ladies. Amber not quite herself tonight, but James soon has her smiling as well. I want to get James alone for just a few minutes. Taking his hand, I lead him through the maze of people. We pass Glenn, I smile. He nods. God, I am so glad that Glenn is over me!

As we pass Lacie and her friends, she makes an indiscrete comment about last night. I blush and give Lacie a look that tells her that I am not happy with her comments. I find myself thinking that it wouldn’t be so bad if she moves out, but I don’t want Carla to go.

One look at James and the negative thoughts are vanquished. I smile and apologize to him for Lacie’s behavior. He is gallant about it all and we hold hands. We stand apart from everyone and talk for a few minutes. My attention is drawn to Lacie once again as she and her cohorts are giggling and looking at James and me. “Lacie says she has a ‘hot’ date tonight. He must either be late or he has changed his mind!” We laugh together as we look toward Lacie. She sees us laughing in her direction and her smile fades. I’m sure she is wondering what we are talking about. I lift my glass in her direction and smile knowingly.

I laugh and poke James when he says the man must be blind if he finds Lacie more attractive than me. I blush and thank him as I move a little closer to him. Carla approaches and says the mystery man has finally entered the building. Lacie moves through the crowd like a linebacker to find him, hooking his arm and strolling to the centre of the room again.

"Has he brought his guide dog too?" James whispers.

James asks how the two of them met and says Lacie is all too eager to share the story. Carla sticks close to the conversation as the four of us chat. Carla goes in search of more wine while Lacie and Ben wander off to mingle leaving James and me alone again.

James comments on Ben’s expensive taste in watches and suites. I tell him that I don’t care about money. “Money is not important. You are. I don’t care that you can’t take me to restaurants on Friday nights.”

James smiles and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a beautiful necklace. It is an emerald solitaire pendant, the same color as James’ eyes. I am speechless as he takes it out of the box and tells me to turn around. I lift my hair and shiver of pleasure as his lips touch my neck. “Whenever the clasp and the pendant touch, you will know that I am thinking of you.” He tells me and kisses my lips softly.

Carla pulls me to the kitchen and asks me if I want James. I look at her in shock. She is my niece! I blush and smile. “If you want him, you can seduce him. He has a real thing for shoes you know.” I don’t know about this. I think about my closet of shoes and then about when we were at the river and he saw the woman.

As I come out of the kitchen, James is headed to the restroom. I find a pad and pen and lean on the kitchen counter and write a little not for him. When I finish, I fold it in half and smile.

[Rogue]

The man attached to Lacie’s arm is none other than Mr. Riley – my psychologist. He’s just as surprised to see me here as I am him, he adjusts his copper glasses and extends his hand when the women make introductions. I see Alexandria’s curious stare as we pretend we’ve never been acquainted until tonight, “Have you met before?” she wonders aloud. “No”, is my quick response, despite Riley’s intention to answer himself. The four of us chat for a bit, Ben, as he insists on being called, tells us how he and Lacie met by chance in the elevator at her work. When Carla is feeling left out I use the opportunity to both arms around Alexandria and her niece, smiling at him as his eyes focus in the young girl’s bare shoulder. His polite request for some wine seems more like an attempt to get her away from me.

Alexandria and I drift off from the crowd again but I keep an eye on Riley. He dresses sharp and his watch is even more expensive than mine. My girlfriend quickly understands what’s on my mind and begins assuring me money is not important to her. She refers to the fact that we stayed in last night – in fact I have yet to pay for any of our adventures so far – and that we didn’t go to a restaurant. Before she can finish her speech I am smiling and holding the pendant, an elegant classic deep green colour, suspended from a white gold bail on a cable chain. And it cost me, $400 no less. Her eyes light up, her beliefs about money put on hold temporarily. She catches the back of her hair and I clasp the necklace around her neck, kissing her gently. I think she had goose bumps.

Before I know it Carla has pulled her aside and whatever it is it seems it must not leave the kitchen. Glenn approaches just as I am knocking back some of my lager, perhaps he has no one else to talk to. “You were right about that Lexie, what a nut job.” I savour my drink and give him a patronizing look. “I never said anything to you. And don’t talk about my girlfriend like that, or else.” He watches me furiously as I climb the stairs to use the bathroom. This one is more spacious than the private one and has black and white tiles. As usual, that’s not all I intend to do up here. The phone call is made at 8:30 as planned. Once I’ve done my business and put the lid down, I can’t believe someone is coming in. Just as I’m about to stop the intruder I realise it’s Carla, and she locks the door.

“You’re not going to offer me your shoes again, are you?” I ask sarcastically. She pushes me in the chest, just enough for me to lose my balance and sit on the toilet seat. She slips off a shoe and presses her bare foot into my crotch. My hand hovers above her toes a moment before finally shoving her away. “No, because that’s not what you like, is it? But Aunt Lexie thinks so, at least that will amuse me for a while. This party is such a fucking bore.” I raise my eyes to heaven once I know what that means, I’ll have yet another shoe dangling seduction to deal with. She takes the lead in the mind games and things only get worse when I tell her I thought I made myself clear last night.

“Yes but I wonder what Lexie, or even the police would think of you molesting young women in their sleep?”

We lock eyes for a few moments, both of us waiting for the other to break. She can’t know what I did, it’s impossible. She speaks again, revealing that she was in fact awake on Thursday night. I nervously think back, she fell on the couch and I checked her carefully. “I just don’t get why Uncle James didn’t fuck me. Well, you’ve had your last chance there, haven’t you?” I assure her I have no idea what she’s talking about, keeping a straight face but my mind wandering back to possible mistakes made. She wonders aloud whether I’d be stupid enough to carry the panties around with me. Carla reaches for my pocket suddenly and I try to shift away, blocking her and pushing her hand back. She cleverly unzips my fly to distract me and yanks the underwear that I had stolen two nights ago right out of my left pocket. I sigh and look at the floor as she hangs them from one finger and asks if I masturbated with them.

“If you think I did all this, why haven’t you turned me in?” is the first question on my mind. She replies that she will allow me to leave tomorrow and never come back, as long I do everything she asks. She tosses the polka dot panties on the floor and tells me that if I love women’s clothing so much, why don’t I wear them.

“You’re joking…..right?” She is smiling but not in a way that suggests she is not serious. This is so fucking pointless, but I kick off my shoes and pull down my trousers. She stands there, hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised. I switch my boxers for her panties without delay or any attempt to hide my privates from her. I stuff mine into my pants pocket after stepping into them again and Carla stands very close to me, using my shoes to get extra height. “Now I know you like my feet, but how can we make this interesting? Oh, I know….” She jumps off excitedly and lifts up the seat again. Using the sink for balance, she begins to dip her toes inside until they reach the toilet water. I grab the teenager’s arm very roughly and she trips up following her yelp. Once I have her pinned by her chest against the wall she begins smirking again, appearing to like what I’m doing. I breathe heavily into her ear. She is released eventually and shoved towards the door. She collects her shoes but doesn’t adjust her dress strap until she is outside. I tuck in my shirt again as I close the door, the panties are too tight and I can feel them tearing at my thighs. Amber is here. Carla walks by as she is showing off but I am too stunned to speak. She gives me a peculiar stare and brushes past me to enter the bathroom.

[Jasmine]

I give the note to Amber’s 9 year old son to give to James. I mingle with the guests while keeping an eye out for James to come back downstairs. As I come from the kitchen with another bottle of wine for our guests, Lacie asks if I have made up my mind yet. “Lace, you aren’t serious about moving out are you?” I ask as I see James come down and start talking to Ben. Lacie whispers that she has an idea that she wants me to see upstairs later. I start to ask her about it, but she goes to Ben and James comes up and puts his arm around me. I give him the bottle of wine to share with our guests and go put on the Sweet Baby James CD. We find a nice, relatively quiet corner and sing it quietly to one another as we sip our wine.

I need to tell James about Lacie’s ultimatum. I summon my courage; take a breath, “James? I need to tell you something. Lacie…” That’s all I get out when Glenn grabs me by the arm and starts shouting about not being a faggot. I open my mouth to reply, but James jumps in, “Get your hands off her!” He tells him quietly but menacingly. Glenn draws back to hit James and James defends himself and me by decking Glenn with one solid punch to his nose. Glenn cries out as blood gushes from his nose. Lacie grabs towels as I tell Glenn to get out of my house. He goes, holding a towel to his nose as two guys from down the street escort him to his car.

[Rogue]

Once I return downstairs Dr. Riley is eager to speak with me. He nudges me around the corner and checks if anyone can hear us.

“Look James, to say there’s a conflict of interest here would be an understatement. You sat there just 3 days ago and told me that nothing was triggering your feelings for Rebecca. For God sake, she’s the spitting image of her! And I won’t have you touching her inappropriately.”

“Oh, am I being charged for this session, doctor? Well, you’re a miracle worker. Because my nightmares have stopped, I have Alexandria now. So I guess there won’t be any need to see you on Wednesday. And have you ever heard of something called doctor/patient confidentiality? That’s right, you tell them anything I said to you, and you won’t have a job.”

He tells me that they can find out what I did – indirectly. “So you have the hots for that ugly bitch. So what? I was here first. Get out of here, before you regret it.” I glare into Riley’s eyes; my intimidation causes him to back off for now. As much as I enjoy our banter I have to get back to the party. Lacie’s handbag is on the table by the wall, I recognize it from earlier, the light brown one. I unzip a small empty compartment and slip my watch inside. Then, there is a young boy tugging at my sleeve. I look at him curiously as he hands me a small piece paper and says “The lady over there.” His finger pointing could mean a number of women, but I think I know. It reads “My shoes will be under the table. They’re all yours. I’ll follow you to my room.” I call the kid back and tell him he made a mistake, she wanted him to give it to the loner standing beside the plant.

I surprise my woman from behind while she is talking to her sister. Lacie walks off even though she seemed to be waiting for a response from her. She tells me she’ll be right back, with an intriguing smile, so I wait for her. I hear Sweet Baby James coming through the speakers and I laugh to myself. The culprit returns and we find another quiet spot to be together. I finish my lager and start to share the wine since she handed it to me. I hold her affectionately, swaying to the music. Just like her Cinderella play, I know all the lyrics to this one. She knows some of them too so I help her along, finishing some of the sentences quickly before James Taylor does. She looks into my eyes as if she is singing it for me, falling in love with me.

"Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rockabye sweet baby James"

“You’re so beautiful. I want to be with you tonight”, I whisper. She blushes and can’t help but smile at my words. I mutter something else, but she didn’t hear it. “All you have to do is stay with me. Let Carla go.” I notice Riley and Carla chatting in the centre of the room. As the two people that hold all my secrets, one would forgive me for wondering what the subject of their conversation is. This occupies my thoughts for a few minutes until my girlfriend has something to get off her chest. All I can gather is that it is something about Riley’s new love until suddenly she jerks back. Glenn tugs on her forearm and screams in anger “I’m not a God damn faggot!!” I order him to let go of her and he responds by aiming a fist in my direction. He is blocked quickly and crashes to the floor from the hard blow to the face. I’m not going to forget years of experience of protecting women and myself. Lacie hands him a towel as he awkwardly picks himself up, leaning his head back as the blood runs down his nose. The note fell out of his hand so I kneel down and pocket it in the same one my boxers are in. “Get out of my house!” Alexandria yells at him, the eyes of every guest in the house fixed on him. 2 guys help him out the door. I sense she is uncomfortable with violence but understands that I was defending her. We hold each other again but I can’t stop thinking about what Carla could tell Riley or anyone else. I decide to move a step ahead.

“Carla kissed me. I’m sorry”

[Jasmine]

I am surprised by James’ revelation and step back from him. I look into his eyes, searching for the truth, unable to say a word. “She asked for my help last night and used the opportunity to kiss me but I didn't kiss back. I told her nothing would happen between us.” I consider your words and decide that I believe you. I take your hand and squeeze it to show my faith in you. I consider Carla's deviant behavior the last couple of days and how she has probably lied about James’ affinity for shoes. That must be it, since he hasn’t mentioned my note. I see Carla standing with some friends, laughing and looking over at us.

I get her attention and pull her over to the corner and tell her off and say that I am going to tell her mother about the late nights. Carla yells at me about betraying her. I note that she doesn't deny kissing James. She smiles and looks at my boyfriend and says, “he wanted it, you know he did.” I want to slap her, but she walks over to James, looks at him with a mischievous look, smiles as she runs her fingers around the rim of her glass. She moves in close and almost whispers, “You do know that if Lexie keeps..” she starts, but I interrupt. “Carla, stay out of it.” I say just as quietly. I don’t want James to know about the ultimatum that Lacie gave me. She continues to taunt both James and me.

We continue to go back and forth until the music has stopped and everyone is staring at us arguing. Carla asks if I have "looked back here" indicating James’ backside. I blush at her abruptness. “You should because you might find a couple of interesting things” she taunts as she reaches out toward his ass. She pulls yanks his shirt out a bit until James’ grabs her hands and stops her. I don’t know what she is up to but I am going to find out.

Before I can ask what she means the detective and two other policemen enter the room. Lacie is behind them, so I know she let them in. I wonder if she called them. The detective says he is here about the accountant's case. I see the smug look on Lacie’s face, hating the smile. I am infuriated when I hear her say, "finally." The officer asks which person here is "Lacie King." Everyone is shocked. Lacie is stunned when he asks permission to look in her handbag but she reaches for it to give to him.

“Don’t Lacie. They need a warrant. We need to get a lawyer.” I step in and try to take the handbag away from her. She can’t allow this to continue in front of her friends even though she knows I’m right. So for the sake of her pride with this happening in front of her friends, she says she has nothing to hide. Detective Stevens finds the Rolex inside and she insists it's not hers. He says, "I know, unless your wife's name is Margaret" he states referring to the inscription on the back of the watch. He takes out his handcuffs and turns Lacie around. He arrests my sister robbery, handcuffs her and leads her out to the police car. As she is led through the room, Amber slaps Lacie and yells at her. I look at James and our friends, excuse myself and head out to follow the police car.

[Rogue]

There is no easy way to tell your girlfriend that her niece came onto you and it was difficult. She takes her hand from my shoulder and moves away a bit. Her pupils shift from side to side as she remains silent and lets me explain what happened. I can only hope with the events of today and yesterday there are doubts in her mind over Carla’s innocence. The following few seconds are worrying until she holds my hand. She pulls Carla away from her friends and I subtly follow. I keep back as Alexandria snarls that she can’t believe she would betray her like this and that she will tell Lacie about the late nights, but I’m not sure she knows about the drinking too. The word betrayal seemed to hit a nerve but other than that the teenager defends herself with a different approach. Knowing that looking at me instead of her aunt will irritate her, she smirks and swaggers my way. She leans towards my ear and murmurs something but Alexandria doesn’t want me to hear it. The ladies return to their arguing until the tunes are stopped dead and the three of us are now the centre of attention. She continues to goad us and points to the back of my trousers. Unless she is merely complimenting my rear I know the two things that she claims will be of interest to Alexandria. She tugs on my shirt and tries to expose the panties she has forced me to wear. I manage to push her hand away but eventually my woman looks at me for answers as to what this is about. That look is more concerning than all the other guests' combined.

The timing of Stevens is impeccable. Accompanied by two other police officers and Lacie, he releases me from this situation but everyone waits to hear what his purpose is, particularly Amber. Lacie sees this as a foregone conclusion, having pinned every crime committed on me thus far. The room is stunned when he announces her name. Like being called to the principal’s office, each guest assumes she has done something wrong. No doubt prompted by an “anonymous” tip, Stevens asks if he may examine her handbag. Her sister uses her head and doubts they have the law on their side, their whispering can easily be heard and all eyes are on them. Confident that she is not guilty and desperate to avoid embarrassment in front of these people, she quickly fetches the bag. The detective holds lipstick between his thumb and index finger as he searches the main area. Of course, he finds more success in the front section in the shape of the accountant’s gold watch. “That’s not mine!” she screams. As if we’re in a cheesy TV series, he has a witty comeback and handcuffs her. I’d request that she be gagged too but I don’t think it would be granted. Lacie is in complete shock as she is escorted by him and the two men to the front door. Amber emerges from behind me and confronts her host, slapping her furiously. Riley steps in and calms her down as she is brought to the police car. There will be no prizes for guessing the subject of the gossip at church in the morning. Alexandria nervously whispers “excuse me” and runs to her own car.

Our company eventually begin to leave in numbers once it is clear this incident has brought the party to a sudden halt. While Amber is putting on her coat she comments that we make a lovely couple, so I thank her, especially for not being bitter towards me and the family after what happened. “I didn’t mean you and Lexie”, she says as she walks away. Dr. Riley isn’t as pleasant, asking me where I got my own watch. He pulls my sleeve back to find one of similar colour. He insists I’m behind this since he recalls me mentioning I was in the bar that night. He realizes it is only the three of us left in the house and he asks Carla if anyone else can stay with her. She rushes him out the door and says we have a lot of tidying to do. She gets to work as if I’m not even here; collecting glasses from the mantelpiece and tables. I follow her as she continues to walk away until finally I grab her arm and sit her down next to me on the couch. “Did you have anything to do with this?” she snaps. I deny the accusation, but she says things certainly work out better for me this way. She tells me about Lacie’s ultimatum and how I must have known. In reality, I wanted Alexandria to stay behind and let Carla follow her mother to the police station and it backfired. But I told her that someone else would suffer the consequences if she was not here and that’s what will happen. “I’ve been thinking about what you said last night”, I whisper, running my finger down her arm and kissing her shoulder. She sits there motionless and contemplates her mother being in jail. She is stunned when I pull the dress strap nearest to me down, exposing one of her breasts. She squirms and awkwardly pushes her hand against the top of my head. I lean in suddenly and suckle the breast. Eventually the blonde gets free of me and sits up.

“Do you think I want to be your fucking consolation prize?! Get out!”

She puts the strap of the simple black outfit back up again but I grab her from behind and squeeze her boobs. She shouts “No!” and tries to elbow my chest. She thought she liked it rough earlier but in truth she can’t handle it. Unfortunately for her I don’t want it any other way tonight. “You freak! I’m going to tell them everything, how you touched me and how you set up my mom!” She demands I leave again, my reply is “Sure. Do you have a back entrance I can use?” With that my hand pushes her dress up and gropes her panties. I grip them tightly and tear them apart with one yank. I feel the fear take over her body until suddenly she manages to turn around and slap me. She only gets as far as behind the couch, her shredded underwear falling down her thigh and losing a shoe. I ram her head into the wall and she falls to the ground, knocking over a vase while she’s at it. I stand over her helpless body and unzip my fly.

“I’m going to hurt you, Carla. I’m going to tear you apart.”

I crouch down and she rolls over, dizzy but with enough strength left to push her feet into my chest. I laugh and bring her toes to my nose. I remove what’s left of the panties. However, the bitch then gives me a hard kick to the balls, immobilizing me for a moment as she scrambles to get to her feet. I’m able to grab her remaining high heel, an open toed one with a flower on the front, but she removes it and runs towards the door. Holding my crotch, I do my best to follow her but she’s probably too far ahead. It was when I leaned my head against the open door in anger and failure that I heard it; the loud screeching of tires outside on the street.

[Jasmine]

I lose sight of the police cruiser at a traffic light, but it’s a small town and I know where I’m going. I just hate that Lacie might look back and not see me. I realize that I left so abruptly that I didn’t even say goodbye to James. I text him, “Sorry. Talk to you tomorrow.” I am almost to the station when my cell phone rings and it’s James. I feel a rush of pleasure but chide myself for it immediately. My sister is in jail for God’s sake.

When I answer, James tells me that Carla was in an accident. He gives me the location saying the ambulance is on the way. Making a U-turn, I speed to the scene. The ambulance is just putting Carla in the ambulance. They won’t let me see her and James pulls me away as they close the door. “Is she okay?” I ask as I turn to him. He wraps his arms around me and says that she wasn’t conscious. He wraps me tightly in his arms. “Why was she in the car?” I ask him. “I told her to stay at the house.” James strokes my hair and says that Carla just suddenly ran out the door and he couldn’t stop her. “I think she wanted to go to the police station. It’ll be okay baby.” He tells me softly.

I pull myself away from the comfort of his arms. “I have to get moving, will you help me?” I ask; knowing that he will. He is so wonderful. He follows me back to the house and I take the cash out of my secret stash in my room and give it to James to see if he can post bail for Lacie. “I have to go to Carla. She can’t be alone. Lacie will understand.” I tell him with a kiss on the lips as we part.

At the hospital, I find that Carla is still unconscious and that they are running tests. I am directed to the waiting room to await news from the doctor. “Are you the girl’s mother?” a man about 50 asks me. I don’t know him, he has deep brown eyes and a beard. “I’m her aunt. Her mother…her mother can’t be here.” He introduces himself. He tells me that she just came out of nowhere and he couldn’t stop. We are interrupted by the doctor, who says that Carla is still in a coma. I ask him if she will live. He says that the next 24 hours are critical and that they are running tests now. He won’t rule out brain damage and I start to cry.

The man that hit her embraces me and tears run down his cheeks. We talk as we wait through the night for news of my precious Carla.

[Rogue]

My eyes widen in fear as I peek out the door. It is not a stolen car because the person did not speed away; they have stopped suddenly to avoid something. Another car goes by the house but other than that it is quiet. I walk to the edge of the curb and look around, the back of a small vehicle can be seen around the corner in the connecting street. Hurrying over there, the car’s door is wide open and a man and a young woman with her dog watch me approach. “Carla?” The dog walker has her hand over mouth and the gentleman is kneeling down, checking on the girl lying in the middle of the street. I don’t have to check her face, her clothes are a perfect match. Bits of dirt and a pebble are stuck to her pretty bare feet.

“The poor girl! She just ran out in front of me….there was no…..time….” he sobs. He must be in his early 50’s and has a thick beard. I urge him not to touch her but wonder aloud whether she is breathing. The woman says she has called an ambulance. I can only sit on the ground and wait as another car stops and wonders why people are just standing in his way. When she ran out that door she took my secrets with her and this solved my problem, but it hurts to see her lying there, possibly dying. This isn’t what I wanted. I realize that while Alexandria took note of my number, I never actually got hers, but there is a text message on my phone. She apologizes for leaving abruptly and I use the digits to call her and explain what happened. “Just around the corner from your house”, I say before she hangs up. The paramedics arrive a few minutes later and carefully place her on the stretcher and into the back of the ambulance. From what they said to each other she is definitely alive but must get to the hospital as soon as possible. As the dog sniffs the tires, its owner, Kate, says she was shouting something as she ran along the footpath, what she believes to be “Help!” I look down at the walkman or whatever the kids call it these days, sticking out of her pants and tell her she doesn’t know what she heard. Alexandria’s car pulls up and she rushes towards me. “I want to see her!” I hold her back as they shut the door to allow them to do their jobs. I hug my woman and caress her hair, informing her that Carla had ran out the door before I could stop her, and that I believe she was attempting to follow her mother. She asks for my help and of course I agree, running back to the house and waiting in the hall like she asks. “Incase Lacie can make bail tonight”, she says, handing me a considerable amount of money in an envelope. She gives me a quick kiss and returns to her car, speeding away to be by her niece’s side.

I walk back to the empty house and sit on the infamous red couch. True Romance, the Quentin Tarantino movie is on TV and I’m about an hour into it when the phone rings. Lacie is on the other end and she is surprised to hear my voice.

“Your sister isn’t home, Lacie, neither is Carla, can I take a message?”

She shouts obscenities at me and is fully aware that I planted that watch in her handbag. She stresses that this is her one phone call so I’d better not waste it, but I interrupt.

“Enjoy the cold cell tonight my dear. Oh, and try not to kill any more accountants.”

I hang up and walk to where the vase is broken into several pieces on the floor. I sweep them into the bin and collect the torn underwear aswell. It has been a long day so it is time for bed. It feels strange being alone, not looking over my shoulder or creeping around. There is a bright light coming from the corner of Lacie’s room and the curiosity gets the better of me. It is her computer, switched on and a page already opened. I’ve barely used a computer in my life much less the internet. I get the feel of things, the mouse and cursor, and have fun using this incredible technology. Google will search and find anything I want, so I type in “shoe fetishism.” The images bring up all sorts of pictures, men putting stilettos in their mouths and women trampling on their chest. Among all these bizarre things are paragraphs on the foot fetish, the expertise opinions and detailed descriptions giving me an erection. Pity I don’t have Lacie’s credit card here so I can access the websites referred to in the other search results. Holding Carla’s shoes in my hand, I push my pants back and allow my stiff cock to slide through one, the tip running along the sole. I think about that man at the river and I just don't know what would possess someone to kiss or attempt to fuck a shoe. I go to Alexandria’s room and get undressed, taking off all of my own clothes at least, and enjoy the large and warm bed. I run my hand along the sheets, detecting her sweet smell from the pillow. Having taken one of her pantyhose from the drawers, I masturbate for several minutes, dry humping the pillow and finally ejaculating into the stocking and going to sleep.

[Jasmine]

I call Lacie as soon as the dawn breaks. I wonder why she doesn’t answer, but I leave a message. I call again and again and still no answer. Late in the evening there is still no answer on either the home phone or Lacey’s cell phone.

The doctor and I talk off and on and after we have established a bit of rapport, he asks, “can you can think of any reason she’d leave the house without her underwear and shoes, because that’s the way she was admitted into the hospital.” After a while, he tells me that I should go get something to eat and leave the hospital for a while. He says that I am no good to her if I am exhausted. I agree to leave for an hour and end up getting food across the street.

When I return, I am sipping my coffee as Lacie arrives at the hospital. She storms up to me and slaps me for leaving her in jail and “bringing that man into our lives.” She says if Carla makes it through this both of them are leaving regardless.

I step back and tell her that I don’t know what happened and tell her that I gave James the bail money. She is certain that James stole it and is long gone. She says, “That bastard is responsible for my little girl lying in the hospital.” I ask her what proof she has that James was responsible for Carla’s accident and she replies that everything has gone wrong this week and it’s no coincidence.

The nurse comes in and says that we can see Carla now and comments that an “Uncle James” visited Carla a short time ago and wonders if he’s my husband. I look at Lacie in fear and she looks at me the same way. We rush to the room but Carla is fine and no one else is there. Lacie caresses her daughter and tells me to get out. I leave crying. How did it all come to this?

Near the entrance Detective Stevens stops me and jumps in with questions about Carla and the accident. He admits they made a mistake and he drove Lacie here. He apologizes for ruining the party and hand me his handkerchief.

I ask why a detective is worried about Carla’s accident. He shows me a picture of a locksmith and asks if I know him. I don’t and tell him so. He says they arrested him while he was driving the accountant’s stolen car this afternoon, a BMW, and that “according to his company this man was in your home 2 days ago fitting your new locks.” He says it’s possible that he kept a key for himself and planted the watch in Lacie’s bag.

He tells me if Carla wakes up he wants to show her the picture too, because “if you’re running out the door that fast, with no shoes and without looking, you’re running from something.” He says there is a connection and he promises to figure it out tonight.

I realize that James drove a BMW when we met. He sold it after he started to stay with us. I jump as my cell phone vibrates. I see that it is James. Detective Stevens says that he will give me some privacy. I tell him that it’s not important and continue to talk with him about his theories and leads. I tell him that I met the man who hit her and that he was so worried that he stayed with me all night. After a while, Detective Steven’s phone rings and he has to leave. He nods as he leaves me on the steps.

[Rogue]

"Are you letting me win again?" she complains as I reveal my hand. We laugh as she takes another handful of her crisps. I repeat that we shouldn?t be doing this, but she says "relax, he won't be home for another few hours." I stare at her a moment, adoring her smile. She is a beautiful girl and I've always loved her. Our table is over by the corner, scattered with cards and food. She is dressed for bed and her father probably thinks she is already there.

"Why do you keep looking at my drink?"

I hesitate for a second, just realizing my glances towards it has been too obvious. My excuse is that I would get in trouble or maybe even fired if he knew I was sharing a bottle of Jack Daniels with her. She rubs her finger around the rim of the glass and prepares to take the first swig, keeping her eyes on me.

I wake up in a sweat, finding no one next to me in bed and finally accepting that it was just a dream. I have never revisited that exact moment in time before and I shudder at the day it has come, today of all days. I fix the bed and get dressed, saying hello to Charlie when I get downstairs. He still doesn't like me but since no one has left food out for him, he tolerates me for now. I find the dog food and then some breakfast for myself, choosing some cereal in the end. Once I use the carton we are now out of milk. I soon become bored of the house and walk across to Amber. She is still in her nightshirt when she answers so I glance down at her legs and feet.

"Did you know about Carla's accident? I'm going to the hospital now"

She is shocked to hear what happened and wonders if her mother knows. I tell her that she probably doesn?t because we never got a chance to tell her. She happens to know something I don't, that Lacie is being released in a couple of hours, so hopefully she can pass the news onto Stevens. When she comments that she noticed I had the same car as her uncle, except his was silver, I say "it is a popular make." I tell her that I couldn't make it to his funeral because my own mother's was on the same day, and also that there is nothing going between myself and Carla.

"Alexandria and I are in love"

She raises an eyebrow at both statements, resting her hand on the door as I smile and walk away, hoping to catch the next bus in time. I know the name of the hospital and it takes me within a couple of minutes walk from there. I stand across the street a while, knowing Alexandria is inside. I have time to pick up a couple of things I need for tonight first and when I return with a coffee, there she is in the window of the restaurant opposite the hospital. I quickly cross the street and keep my head down. I tell the receptionist that I'm Carla's uncle and she tells me which room she is in. It is disturbing to see her in the bed, hooked up to the machine and knowing that I am partly responsible. I sit on the bed where she is warmed by white sheets. My hand meets hers and clutches it.

"I'm sorry that this happened Carla, but I want you to know that I'm going to keep my promise and leave tonight. You be a good girl and sleep until then, please don't ruin my night with Alexandria."

As I am leaving the building I notice Stevens pulling up. Watching from behind the wall, he prepares to open the door for Lacie but she gets out by herself. I wait a few minutes to see if anything develops and eventually approach the entrance. Alexandria is chatting to the detective so I can't go in. I imagine she was confronted by her sister and it wasn't pretty. I try to call her, invite her out so that the conversation doesn't go any further. Only he is standing in the way of her returning home and meeting her destiny. As I get the attention of a taxi, it rings and rings with no answer. Lacie and maybe even Stevens must have got to her a little. I get in before her and a couple of minutes later there is a knock. The man rings the bell and then impatiently uses the knocker straight after.

"Lacie? I've been trying to reach you, we need to talk about Carla......What? Oh my God that's horrible......well at least she's safe......you know what I mean, look, I'll see you at the hospital. Bye."

I peek out the curtain and watch Dr. Riley step in his car and drive off. It doesn't take a genius to fill in the blanks as to what his girlfriend was saying on the other end. He's risking his career and relationship by doing something stupid.

[Jasmine]

I leave the hospital with so much on my mind. Is it my fault that Carla is hurt? Did I do this by bringing James in to our lives? I can’t bear to think that the man I love could be tormenting my family. It just can’t be true!

I think of all that Detective Stevens said about the other man he had the picture of. That must be the one who is doing all of this. I couldn’t be James!

As I turn into the neighborhood, I see Dr. Riley, Lacie’s date from last night, speeding past me. I guess he is on his way to Lacie. I’m glad she will have some comfort during this time. The tears are falling in earnest now and I can barely see, but I make it home.

Dragging myself into the house, I notice that it doesn’t feel like a home anymore. This is no sanctuary where I live with the ones I love. I throw myself on the sofa and give in to my desolation. My tears turn to sobs. I stay face down on the sofa until I have cried all of my tears.

Pulling myself together, I go to the bathroom and splash water on my face. My eyes are red and swollen. I deserve it, I tell myself.

Heading to the kitchen for a drink, I spy an envelope on the floor in the entrance hall by the door. ‘The mail was early today.’ I think and go over; picking it up absently. I find the letter that I dropped on the day James and I met. ‘That’s odd,’ I think. There is also an envelope without an address. I open it and find the money that I gave James for Lacie’s bail. Tears fall anew with the knowledge that James was here. He isn’t a thief, whatever else he is.

Turning, I look around the house that seems so empty now. The vase that was our grandmother’s is gone. I have no idea where. Like a ghost, empty and hollow, I trod up the stairs. I see the door to Carla’s room is open but I can’t go in. I see Lacie’s room is open too but I feel like an intruder in my own home. I turn to go to my room.

I see that Lacie had already started packing for me, but then I realize that she was the one leaving. It’s not like she was packing but rather like I am getting ready to go somewhere; Every outfit complete, stockings, shoes, jewelry. I know it wasn’t Lacie, the shoes are all high heels. I smile a sad smile and touch one of the skirts.

I wander into Lacie’s room and end up sitting at the computer. I know she wanted to show me something at the party. I see a sticky note that says, ‘Google him’. I know she meant James. Switching on the computer, I type in ‘James Grant’ in the search bar. I click on the first result; it’s from the Orlando Sentinel.

Tuesday June 3, 1997

The family security guard convicted of raping and sodomizing Orlando Mayor Robert Summerlin’s daughter was sentenced to 10 years in prison today.

James Grant, raised in Canada, admitted to drugging Rebecca before carrying out the brutal attack in the early hours of the morning on March 1st. He had worked as the mayor’s bodyguard for 2 years and was implicitly trusted with the lives of himself and the 18 year old student. The trial attracted massive media attention in Florida where many believed the date was pushed forward by Summerlin’s political stroke.

Grant was apprehended on that Saturday afternoon while attempting to flee his apartment as authorities arrived on the scene. They were fortunate to be alerted by an elderly man who spotted him rushing down the stairway behind the building. He was carrying a passport and planned to leave the country to escape punishment for his crime.

Detective Angie Wright said police officers searched his room and found 3 pairs of women’s underwear, later identified as the victim’s.

There is more, but I can’t bear to read it. I can’t seem to breathe and my heart is racing. I don’t know what to do. It can’t be my James. It just can’t!

There is a noise downstairs. Moving to the door, I hold my breath and listen. I hear someone coming up the stairs. I return to the computer, sit down and reach for my cell phone. I call James without even thinking. I hear Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ as the intruder’s phone rings in the hall. My heart stops. ‘Oh, my God!’

[Rogue]

A few minutes later another car pulls up in the driveway. I am in the kitchen now, waiting by the wall and hoping to avoid a confrontation at this moment in time. She walks around for a moment, eventually becoming still and presumably sitting on the couch. Alexandria lets it all out, weeping at all that has happened. It has been a long week for her. It’s unpleasant to stand here and listen to it, to refrain from consoling her. It was her private moment of weakness but I have invaded it. She begins to get herself together and goes to the bathroom, then her own room. I move to the stairs and listen for her footsteps. I don’t know what reason she has to visit her sister’s room, but it is my opportunity to climb the stairs undetected. The chair in there can heard creaking, I think I left the computer on last night. The clothes I had laid out on the bed are still there, something to help pass the time earlier and organize what the lady should wear tonight. She will surely return to the bedroom at some stage so it is just a matter of waiting. That is until my phone rings, ‘Alexandria’ coming up on the screen. This is a phone I had bought with the money made from selling the accountant’s phone. That, a suit from the dry cleaners and his briefcase for work - which I have with me now - was also in the car when I stole it. The classical theme that she showed me on Friday happened to be one of the options so that is my tone when it rings.

I turn it off as I scramble to get it out of my pocket but she may have recognized the intro. The house is so silent. After a few seconds the chair squeaks again and the footsteps tell me she is darting towards the door. I rush out of her room and through the hall just as Lacie’s door is closing. My foot manages to fit in at the floor just in time but she is pressuring it, desperately trying to lock it and protect herself. Finally I force my way past and she backs off as I enter the room. She walks away slowly, trying to think what to do as the reality hits. "James?..", she whispers. Once the back of her knees hits the edge of the bed she sits on the bed. Pretending that she didn’t know of my past may have been an option to escape but not after I glance at the webpage she has open.

"If it had been anyone else’s brat I’d have been out in half the time. I always hated that article. Where does it say that I loved her? That she rejected me and broke my heart? But that is the past, Alexandria. I love you now. And I know you fell in love with me too. Don’t let this ruin what we have."

She stares at me in disbelief, wondering if I am the same man she has been dating. The same man who swept her off her feet and romanced her and seemed anything but a criminal. She looks around the room, either for a phone or something to attack me with. The sight of me unbuttoning my shirt inspires new determination, shouting at me to get out, then leaping from the bed to attempt to slap me. I block the first one and the rest are frantic and weak, resulting in more tears, the emotion catching up with her. I shush my Alexandria, grabbing her wrists as she is tugged towards the door. Still she resists, making it difficult for me.

"Come on, we’re going to your room"

[Jasmine]

I slam the door but not quickly enough to keep his foot out of the door. He forces his way into the room. I have to find out why James has done these things. I can’t believe that he is the man danced with me in the rain, went with me to see Cinderella and made me feel like Cinderella. I sit on the edge of the bed. Looking into his eyes, searching for something in them that will tell me that he has a soul.

‘You loved her?’ I ask, ‘Yet, you raped her. What we have is build on lies and deceit!’ I say vehemently. When he starts to unbutton his shirt, I realize that he plans on raping me like he did that poor girl. I jump up and begin to hit him. My blows do nothing to him and I begin to cry in frustration. I want to hurt him for betraying me, for making me love him and for what he has done to my family.

He tries to pull me out of the room. ‘Let me go James! If you care anything about me, you will let me go.’ I tell him as I struggle to pull away from him. ‘James! NO! Don’t do this! I loved you and this is what you do?!” I say, my voice getting louder and louder. ‘Help! He..’ I scream but he clamps his hand over my mouth and drags me through the hall.

[Rogue]

She admits that she has fallen for me too, we both knew we were the one within days of meeting. Her increasingly loud protests are becoming a problem, especially when we approach the stairs. I cover her mouth tightly and force her along the hall, all while one arm swings and the other attempts to remove my grip. We go past Carla’s room and reach her aunt’s, pushing it closed with my backside. The skin of her back grinds into my dark blue shirt. She begins to claw at my face but I am already releasing the woman, flinging her onto her own bed. She squashes and crumples a couple of her outfits as she squirms to escape me. Her current dress is still the same one as the party, black and figure hugging, ending at her knees. One black high heel is falling off onto the bed sheets, only hanging on by a toe.

"Your Carla may have gotten away from me, but I don’t make the same mistake twice"

Again she shouts at me to leave, but I still proceed to reach for her long legs. I snatch one shoe away and the other slips off on its own when she tries to shift away. I caress her foot gently and push the shin of that leg into the bed to keep it in place. It is pretty and manicured. She’s disgusted at where and how I am touching her. I bend down and lick her sole until she jabs me in the cheek with her free leg. My fist clenches in frustration but my anger is kept under control for now. The top few buttons of my shirt are undone so I finish it off. Purposely keeping my back to Alexandria, the top opens and is discarded, falling by my side and onto the floor of the tidy room. I stretch my arms and interlock my fingers behind my head for a few seconds.

"The scorpion. A potent tattoo symbol of danger."

[Jasmine]

I am devastated by James’ behavior. I can’t imagine that the man I love has come to this! I am sickened by him now. He raped that girl, killed Amber’s uncle and I thought he was wonderful! I keep fighting with all of my might. Some of my fight is fear, some of it anger and some of it humiliation that I could be so blind.

He throws me on my bed, on top of the clothes that I know he has laid out for me. I kick them off of the bed in an effort to get away from him. I don’t care about anything but escaping. My mind speeds through scenarios of escape. It’s as if he can’t hear me screaming for him to leave. This is not my James; this man is possessed by some evil.

‘Carla? What? You bastard! Did you rape my Carla!?’ I scream and wail. ‘Answer me you bastard!’ My nails, elbows and feet become weapons as I pummel him with them. He pins me eventually.

The arrogant son of a bitch licks my foot which gives me the opportunity to kick him. I was aiming for his nose, but only got his cheek. The nose would have stopped him, but the cheek will bruise and make him easier for the cops to find at least.

James holds my legs down as he unbuttons his shirt. I am exhausted and can’t seem to fight him anymore. He drops his shirt and I see the tattoo on the right side of his lower back. I am frozen in place for a moment. Carla saw something on right side of the intruder’s back.

‘No. No. No. It can’t be. No. No. No.’ I whisper as he tells me about the symbol of danger. I vow to have justice of my Carla, my family, for me and for all the other women who have fallen prey to this man.

The house phone rings beside my bed, but the sound seems like it is in the distance for our minds and eyes are locked in a silent battle.

[Rogue]

She believes I have sexually assaulted young Carla and although it is only partly true, I’d rather she think the worst. A classy woman like this will never give in to my fantasies, my real desires of rough sex and sadistic acts. At least this way she will fight me and I will enjoy it more. She can barely believe the tattoo on my back, confirming my suspicions that her niece caught a glimpse of it on Wednesday night. When I turn around, the phone rings and we stare into each other’s eyes. I do not want to answer and obviously won’t allow her to pick it up either. It rings and rings. My grind in anxiety and hope that it will stop and be over with. It beeps and a message begins.

“Hello Ms. King I wanted to do this face to face but I felt it was urgent, I’ve just come across some information on a James Grant, a man I met in your home on Friday night, I believe he was present at your party also, our suspect is repeatedly mentioning his name and I’m afraid for your protection it’s important that you know this man is a convicted rapist, and the accountant that passed away, that man was a witness during Grant’s arrest in Florida a decade ago, according to the report it’s likely he’d have gotten away without his help. Now Grant and the suspect are of similar height and appearance, and one of them was at the bar the night of his death. I noticed your niece may have been involved with Mr. Grant, I’ve sent two guards to the hospital, we believe she’s his target and I assure you he won’t get anywhere near her. Please come down to the station as soon as you get this message, I’m very sorry.”

Detective Stevens strikes more fear into Alexandria as the pieces continue to fall into place now. My shoes, socks and trousers come off. She is in shock and terrified at not only what I have done, but that I stand before her in only a pair of lady’s panties. In another situation, she would laugh at me and mock this. But with the impending rape, and the probability that they are Carla’s, she crawls back and starts to freeze. Her mouth opens slightly in an attempt to make sense of all this and justify the evil things I have done.

“What were the odds that the old man would move to my home town? You should have seen the look on his face, like he had seen a ghost. How funny, facing his past is what killed him. But I’ve faced my past and accepted it, Alexandria. You’ve helped me move on and start a new chapter in my life”

I suddenly reach for her hair, roughly take a handful and pull her back to the floor. She slides down awkwardly put instinctively follows my hand and moves with her knees. I want this ridiculous thing that Carla made me wear off me. Once it is gone, I won’t be reminded of the young girls like her and Rebecca I once craved. Her hands tremble upon my order.

“Take them off”

[Jasmine]

The ringing of the telephone is incessant but at the same time seems to be far away. Once the machine picks up, I hear the message that Carla, Lacie and I made and giggled all the way through it. I feel the weight of my guilt flooding in on me as I hear their voices along with my own. My breath catches in my throat.. I realize that he is as distracted by the Detective Steven’s message as I am. I realize that I have brought in a murderer and a rapist into our home. Carla may die from my stupidity.

I return to reality and find James standing in front of me in a pair of panties – Carla’s panties. “You bastard!” I scream. He grabs my hair in his fist and forces me to the floor. He says that Carla made him wear the panties. This confuses me but I have no choice but to take them off. I do it but close my eyes.

I use his command to take off my panties as an opportunity to stand. He releases my hair, thinking I am going to comply. Arrogant bastard thinks that me lowering my head is compliance, but it’s a way to look for a weapon. The only things I see are my high heels. Steeling myself to confront a rapist and murderer, “I will not participate in m own rape.” Runs through my head as I grab one shoe and swing it wildly in his direction. I finally make contact with his thigh rather than his balls. “Damn!” and I try again. I move around him slowly, edging my way toward the door with each swing. His hands reach for me as I finally jab the heel of the shoe into his chest.

[Rogue]

My cock is bulging the underwear so I take it out as it becomes a strain. They are stretched and sweat. She has to look away but eventually they slide down my legs. I grab her wrist and attempt to pull her towards me but she is already shifting back to the closet.

“Now yours…..”

She refuses to obey me and instead searches for one of her shoes. She clutches one close to her as a weapon. I grin as I approach, I know I am far stronger and she is a helpless woman with only footwear for company. She swings it at me once I get near and fortunately I was quick enough avoid the low blow, though the stiletto scrapes my thigh. She uses the opportunity to sit up and continues to attack. I underestimate how sharp the heel as it is jabbed into chest. I’ve had enough of this and smack the black pump out of her hand, immediately grasping the woman’s throat. Her eyes widen as she struggles to breathe.

“What do you think you’re doing? Do you realize how easily I can kill you with my bare hands?

Her body will shut down soon if I don’t let go, so I release her and she returns to the bed, her back taking the fall. I pick up the accountant’s briefcase, unlocking it and allowing its contents to spill onto the bed. The documents are his; the handcuffs were my own purchase. I snatch them and crawl onto the bed with Alexandria. She is holding her neck, it is sore and she is still recovering. She is approached from the side, one arm is pushed on her chest and the other is more uncooperative. She looks gorgeous lying on the bed, barefoot in the silky black outfit. A strap is coming down as she fights the restraints, but the first is already in place. I slap her when this becomes irritating. She screams and turns her cheek, watching as I raise her right arm and prepare to attach the cuffs to it.

[Jasmine]

I am close to the door when he slaps the shoe out of my hand. His hand is on my throat and he starts to squeeze. I grab at his wrist as I fight for air. I panic and start to claw at his hands. James starts to talk and it takes me a moment to be able to focus on his words. I only understand, ‘‘I can kill you with my bare hands.’ The room starts to spin and then, just as suddenly, I am free.

I fall to the bed as I gasp in as much air as I can to fill my lungs. The contents of the briefcase are tossed against my feet onto the bed, but I pay them no heed. My immediate need is to breathe.

James crawls onto the bed with me and I am startled by his presence. I jerk away from him but he still manages to restrain one arm. My struggle continues as he hold the one wrist on my chest. The sting of the blow to my face hurts and I scream in pain and then, ‘BASTARD!’ as he latches the cuff to my other wrist across my chest.

Looking into his eyes, I try to reach the man I love, not this..this ..demon. ‘James, James. Don’t do this. I loved you and I thought you loved me. Don’t do this to me. Please. I beg you.’ He looks at me, stares, then smiles. His hands move from my wrists and caress my breasts, slowly trailing down my stomach, roaming over my hips and down my thighs.

My body shudders when his hand moves beneath my dress. I feel his hands on my thighs as they caress and move upward. My body twists and I beg, ‘James, don’t you love me? It shouldn’t be like this.’ I try to reason with him to no avail. I wail, ‘No! James’ as he caresses my most intimate area; his hand now stroking me through my panties and pressing a finger into me as far as he can, the fabric stretching. I raise my upper body from the bed, using my handcuffed wrists to slap his head away from me and dislodging his hand.

[Rogue]

She pleads and says that she loved me but that does not stop both hands being handcuffed together. I stare into this beauty's eyes. It disturbs her when I smile. My hand wanders away from her arms, slowly past her chest and belly. At the inside of her thighs, I slide my hand up the dress towards her vulnerable privates. Her hips twist and try to shift away from my touch as she desperately tries to talk me out of it. My fingers stroke her thighs first and then feel the material of her underwear. They could be a pair I came across as I rummaged through her drawers that morning, I can’t wait to grip and take them from her.

“It wasn’t easy walking among you rich bitches. Paying for car spray paint jobs without a job. A man like me has to earn his second chance through whatever means necessary.”

One finger runs up and down her vagina, albeit through the panties, pressing into the skin beneath. I hover over the opening and push into it. Her breathing becomes awkward and she shudders at what I am doing. The fabric is stretched until it becomes a strain on my finger. I can feel her trying to tighten up and will me away. Suddenly Alexandria is sitting up and the cuffs rattle as she strikes my head. I remove my hand to block the second attack and clench the centre of the chain so she can no longer swing at me. The other hand returns to the underwear and my fingers wrap around the side. I watch her reaction as they are ripped, leaving her pussy exposed but they remain trapped under her backside. The suitcase’s sheets and the clothes I had laid out earlier are kicked off the bed with my feet.

I let go of the cuffs a moment to push up her dress, crumpling it at the waist. I force open her legs again and plant my face between them. She yelps at both my aggression and arrogance as I kiss her most intimate place, rubbing my mouth down her pussy lips. I feel her palms pushing into my head and squeezing my hair in anger.

[Jasmine]

Hitting him makes him move his hand from me. My victory is short-lived as he grabs the cuffs and restrains me effectively with one hand. His other hand rips my panties off of me. I cry out and look at him. He enjoys my anguish. I can see it in his eyes and his smile.

When he lets go of the cuffs, I immediately begin striking out at him again, but he is out of my reach as he pushes up my skirt around my waist. He is between my legs in a flash, forcing them open. I try to resist, but it is futile. His mouth touches me like a lover, so intimately. I cry out in desperation and frustration. I am such a fool! My hands go to his head as I try to push him away. My fingers clutch his hair, pulling on it with all of my might. I finally manage to pull a tuft of it out and he stops.

His eyes tell me that I am dangerously close to really making him angry. He pushes my legs apart roughly. “James! No! Not like this! I would have given myself to you! But, this! God! NOO!” I scream in desperation. “Please don’t do this!” I beg as the tears fall and the sobs rack my body even as he climbs on top of me.

[Rogue]

Harder and harder she wrings my brown hair as I intimately caress her shaved pussy with my mouth. I squint and grunt in disbelief as she takes a strand right out of my head. My glare hits her fearful eyes, my hands immediately gripping her knees again and prying them open. She begs me not to take her this way. Not like this? I don’t want it any other way. She had all week to give herself to me. I was even going to make it easy by putting her to sleep, but it has come to this. My body leaps forward and lands between her legs, pressing all my weight on top of her body and intimidating her with my face. Her own moves from side to side, trying to avoid my heavy breathing and the things I say.

“I was staring into that river wondering if I had a soul left, I didn’t sleep a wink after Sunday, I just wandered around town. Then I saw you.....and I saw my redemption.”

Her bound hands tuck into her chest, the last resort to separate us, as if hoping she will find the strength to launch me away and off the bed. My left hand pushes her arms back again, above her head, squeezing so hard that she eventually wants to keep them there to end the pain. As I grab my genitals with the other hand, feeling myself there and holding it in place for what is to come. “No!” I constantly hear. Always shouting no. I lean on my side a moment, pushing my palm into her chest as my erect penis is positioned and harassing her. Once she feels its presence her legs shift and her knees bend back. Suddenly one of her feet is jabbing into my arm but the head has already entered her and I am attempting to turn back onto my stomach fully.

[Jasmine]

My screams and struggles have no effect on this psycho I realize. Maybe I am the psycho, since I wanted him. I keep fighting him, screaming “No! Not like this!” My fingers finally pull out a chunk of his hair and that gets his attention for a moment. I hope that he will see that he is hurting the one person who loved him and will come to his senses.

His revelation about being at the river and wondering if he has a soul tells me that he doesn’t and that he has passed beyond the realm of reality.

I am able to pry my hands down to his chest and push him back some, but it doesn’t help. He is still on top of me. He pushes my hands above my head and presses them down. It feels as if my shoulders will pop loose from their sockets at any moment. I finally stop struggling in order to avoid the shooting pain.

My lower body is pinned by his but he shifts to one side and tries to enter me with his cock. I make a desperate and frantic movement to keep him from raping me but I feel his cock enter me. “Nooo!” I scream. Surely, one of my neighbors can hear me. I buck and twist as he pushes into me. “HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!”

[Rogue]

Her resistance comes to a halt for now as each inch of my cock slowly slides into her womanhood. I glance at her face, she is stunned and struggles to breathe. My body twists around while still inside her, my palms pressing into the bed on each side of her in a display of dominance. As she comes to terms with the first penetration, that fighting foot makes another appearance, but rather tamely this time. Then I realize she is preparing to spring me away so I quickly grab and barbarically bite into it just above the toes. Alexandria screams but soon has bigger problems as I let my arms buckle and crash back down onto her chest. The bed bounces and the cuffs rattle.

She probably doesn’t know what I am doing. I have pushed inside her but haven’t progressed since. It has been many, many years since I have been with a woman. It almost feels like my first time all over again. I just lie there, breathing heavily and making subtle grunting noises. Her eyes eventually look my way, but once I stroke her sweet face they shy away in disgust again. My finger runs along a strand of hair by her cheeks as my dick begins to pull back, desperate for the skin to move up and down and eventually achieve an orgasm. My palms are still caressing her when I drive between her pussy lips again. Her mouth remains open after her latest yelp, tears running down to it as I continue to force myself on her.

[Jasmine]

I can’t take this! My mind is screaming with the knowledge that he is going to rape me in my own bed. The bed I hoped to share with him only days earlier! I was a fool. A moron. How stupid can I be?? Well, he may have taken advantage of my naiveté but he won’t take anything else without a fight! I attempt to wedge my foot in to push him back. The bastard bites me! I cry out as his teeth sink into my foot. I hold my breath as I try to fight the pain and then James crashes on top of me. His weight forcing the air from my lungs. I see stars for a moment. I finally am able to breathe again and I see the crazed look in James’ eyes. He seems to hover above me; not moving deeper inside me, just looking at me. I can’t stand to look at him and turn from him in disgust when he touches me. Those rooting, grunting noises are grotesque and I start to him to block them out.

He pulls out of me but keeps caressing me. It is so hard to reconcile this monster with my sweet baby James. I moan from the mental anguish of his betrayal and my stupidity. I wonder if he has come back to his senses but then he enters me fully. I scream. I feel him inside me. Taking me. The tears silently fall as I realize that not only has he taken me sexually, but he has also taken much more from me mentally. I can never trust my own judgment. I have to live with the guilt of what he has done to Carla and my family. I cry for the emptiness he fills me with.

[Rogue]

When her eyes are not moving frantically, searching for the James she once knew, they are filling with tears. Her breasts jiggle with each drive inside her body and they attract me for the first time. I squeeze one, my arm bent across her chest and pressing into it roughly. They are bigger than Carla’s, and more firm. She has been wearing this dress since the party. It was destiny that I would finally fuck her with it on even though 24 hours have passed. Alexandria released her biggest scream when I first entered her, it had followed the brief cry for help which no one heard. We are alone. Although it is now mostly sobbing, the word “help” creeps back in, its diction and volume increasing all the time. I raise my hand to her and it works, my girlfriend fears the strike of my hand.

I’m like a teenager losing his virginity, I’m too excited to cherish each part of her body as we make love. I scramble to maul her boobs and kiss her before I climax. The thrill of fighting and forcing her has my cock throbbing and my heart racing. My thrusts are wild and deep into her pussy. Her soaked face attempts to shun mine as I approach, slobbering over her with my tongue. She winces as I kiss her neck and quickly move to her ear. I taste her soft skin through the tears. Her cuffed hands go over my head and begin to ram downwards in protest. She screams “No!” into the ceiling, refusing to acknowledge that we are kissing. The cuffs push into my hair and neck. The screams becoming mumbling now as my mouth is trapping hers, drooling and pulling on her velvety lips.

[Jasmine]

I feel lost. I am lost. The self-loathing creeps up on me. I beg him to stop. I hear myself begging for help, but he doesn’t seem to hear me. My mind and body begin to separate. It’s as if I am viewing what is happening from above the scene. Everything is surreal.

I shudder as he slobbers and drools on me. I berate myself for thinking he was the perfect man. The thought of him making such a fool out of me combined with him kissing me like a lover, sends me over the edge. I plunge my hands down and beat him on the back of his neck. He kisses me though my blows and screams. I see the demon on top of me as I fight this monster.

[Rogue]

As I force this kiss on Alexandria, the steel of the handcuffs is tearing my skin. Her pounding ceased in reaction to my body’s sudden jolt, tensing up as I realize my climax is almost here already. Our first time can’t be like this, it cannot end this quickly. My hand trembles a moment in embarrassment. The chain grinds up my neck and into my hair, she seems to feel relief that I am finishing but perhaps horror at the thought of what usually follows. My bare and sweaty stomach rubs into the front of her dress, my hips jerking and rushing to shift away and pull out. My cock slides from her pussy and I can feel the sperm flowing through my organ. I grip her knee and turn my back to my girlfriend and she lays there in tears. One outfit I had laid on the bed earlier was the one she danced with me in. White sweater, red skirt and matching shoes. All these prepared clothes were booted to the floor in our scuffle bar one item – a single red pump. At the edge of the quilt, so close to slipping off, it is grabbed and held near my knees.

The first squirt has landed on the sheets so I push my rock hard cock down and aim for the inside of the high heel. I nervously look over my shoulder, continuing to ejaculate and making sure she does not attempt to escape. Ropes of my sticky semen shoot onto the footwear, gathering at the back and some of it slithering downwards. I close my eyes and wait until I’m spent. I moan and tug on my dick one last time. My breathing calms, my body relaxes, that is until I look into her eyes. Her head is tilted my way and those bound hands clutch her chest in both curiosity and fear. Did she just laugh at me? I saw a fucking smile! I can’t control myself – I “run” over on my knees and use my left arm for support when her beautiful face is cruelly struck. She screams and instinctively protects herself, so the second slap clashes with wrists and steel. My fist clenches and my teeth grind. What kind of woman would make fun of her lover for cumming prematurely? At least it has been collected and can find its way inside her in a different way. I tug on the woman’s arm until she starts to roll over, planting the ruined shoe beside her face. Her shoulder length hair is yanked but my knee is pressing into her neck.

“I know you love your shoes, Alexandria. So now you’re going to show me just how much”

[Jasmine]

I feel him becoming more erratic. I am disgusted by this ...this monster. I can't believe I was in love with him and wanted him. I continue to struggle using my hands and legs. He is pumping me faster now. I see the look in his eyes and know that he is about to climax. My head goes back as I attempt to buck him off before he cums inside me. It is no use. Tears fall silently.

I hear him say that I smiled. What is he talking about? I feel his slaps and his cruel laugh. He is truly insane! I cry out with the pain of his 2nd slap.

He forcefully rolls me on my side and puts my shoe against my face. I look up at him with no idea what he is up to now. "Get off of me you bastard!" I am able to grind out despite his knee. "I hate you! i will kill you!"

[Rogue]

She is in no position to threaten me and this is demonstrated by turning her over again suddenly and this time using my knee to press into her chest. It traps the chain of the handcuffs just below her breasts so her hands are extremely limited. I elbow away her right leg on her predictable initial attempts to kick me. Eventually she has no option but to submit but perhaps she still does not realize what must be done. I look inside the shoe and think about how I could have humiliated her. How I could cruelly grind her face between the narrow sides and force her to lick it clean. Instead, the red pump is held above Alexandria’s sweet face. Her eyes widen in disgust as it is turned around and the open part is now facing the bed. The fluid follows the slant and then the only way is down. Bit by bit, my semen falls from the high heel onto various parts of her cheeks. Her head turns to avoid it but her body is always held in place on the bed. Noticing a small amount stuck at the side, I tilt the shoe until it collects at the back and shake it a little. It wobbles and clings on for a second before the last of my sticky jizz is released and drops to her squirming facial features.

She moans in frustration and now has this look of determination about her. This arrives shortly before I bring the tip of her precious footwear close to her head. It touches the puddle of cum collected at the centre of the left cheek and I push it up and down so both the top and bottom soaks itself. Running along to her tender lips, I press the wet shoe between them but they are locked tight. The leather rubs side to side, the white sperm blending into where the red lipstick has long dried from the night before. This is insulting that she will not willingly swallow my seed. She sees my relaxed expression and gentle approach quickly change once again. My thumb and index finger push into each cheek, feeling my own spread out semen in the process. Her arms suddenly jolt but they have nowhere to go. The high heel shoe is switched to the other side and the back digs into her chin.

“Open…..Alexandria…..ah ah…….I said open……..”

She continues her brave efforts but the thin stiletto is difficult to keep out. I force it past her lips and now it’s teeth in my way. My lovely girlfriend’s snarl is slowly being worn out as the sharpest part of the shoe is relentless. She reluctantly allows all 4 inches to slip inside but refuses to participate. She’ll have to do better than that. Only last night apparently her shoes were “all mine” – well this is what I have chosen for this privilege. The heel is clenched tightly between her teeth because she knew I wanted to slide it out and continue the obvious motion. I’m starting to think it was a wise decision not to put my cock in there. I roughly jerk it from her mouth and use the temporary pain to my advantage, shoving it back in and forcing her to suck it repeatedly. She has to allow the object to ease in and out like she would with the manhood of a lover, though in reality it is more difficult and tasteless than flesh. The tip of the plastic can often be heard clicking against her teeth at the back. After a minute or so, I try it myself, quickly in and out in one movement, tasting her warm mouth as I do. The only enjoyment I received from this was knowing that she certainly got none at all. Alexandria took this opportunity to catch her breath and caughs several times. I slap her hard when she spits onto the bed, getting rid of the cum that had mixed with her saliva and which had developed during the oral shoe sex. She closes her eyes and sobs, so I change my mind about striking her a third time.

“You’d better start co-operating or I’ll have to pay another visit to Carla at the hospital instead. And I hear my bedside manner is so very, very affectionate…..”, I whisper with a smile.

As I get on my feet, the bed bouncing underneath me, Alexandria shouts at me to let her go. She fails to understand what more there is to do, why I am now reaching for her wrists and seem to have plans to extend this “torture” as she probably sees it. I pull her back to the headboard until she reaches the pillow. The key was placed on the little cabinet long before she arrived tonight. I snatch it and un-do the handcuffs, briefly inspiring some hope of freedom in the lady, her arms are frantic at the thought. She releases an angry groan when only one hand is free, and the chain is being wrapped around a rail in the board. The left hand slaps me again and again, but it is only a matter of time before I connect the cuffs once more.

[Jasmine]

An almost non-human sound of frustration and rage comes from my throat and I buck my hips and thrash to stop this abhorrent bastard from trapping me again. It is no use. I fear he is lost in his insanity as he looks down on me with glazed eyes. He pauses for a moment and looks at the shoe he defiled. My screams and squirming have no effect on him at all. Finally, I stop resisting in hope of reaching the man I love. “Please…” is all I can say when I see the look in his eyes.

He looks back at me with a sadistic glare and a psychotic smile. I realize his intention, but can’t escape the drops of his semen as he tortuously dribbles it on my face. I close my eyes as I feel the hot, sticky cum dropping on my face. My body shudders in disgust. I close my eyes tightly and try to focus on something else – escape.

When the drops stop hitting my face, I open my eyes and look up at him just as he shakes the shoe and the last bit slips from the shoe. I close my eyes tightly and try to turn away, but feel it hit the side of my face. I am revolted by this ..this…depraved animal.

When he uses the tip of my shoe to rub his cum on my lips, I shudder again and squeeze my eye lids together tightly. He tries to force the heel of the shoe between my lips. I look up at him, holding his gaze, my determination to kill him shinning in my eyes. His fingers pressing my cheeks together force the tender flesh between my teeth and I have no choice but to open my mouth. He plunges the heel in. I know what he wants and I’ll be damned if I will cooperate. Biting down on the slim heel, I look up at him, resolute that I will not to participate in his pleasure. I am confident that he knows that I wish it were his cock I am biting!

Before my eyes, I see his eyes change and then feel the shoe ripped from my mouth. I cry out in pain as I taste the blood and he uses that moment to shove the shoe in and out of my mouth. I feel the rough heel hit my gums and teeth as he fucks my mouth. My eyes are closed tightly, trying to shut out what he is doing. One moment the hard heel of the shoe is in my mouth and the next his tongue. By the time I realize it, I have missed the opportunity to bit it off. I cough and spit out his vile seed. His hand comes down swift and hard and I feel like I will pass out, but I don’t get even that moment of respite. Despite my resolve not to give him any satisfaction, sobs rack my body as he looks down at me.

I feel him shift positions, leaning down next to my ear. His whispered threat against my beloved Carla renews my strength. He moves off of the bed quickly and I scream at him to release me. He pulls me up to the head of the bed and reaches for my wrists. He releases one wrist. I may not have another chance so I take what I can get and repeatedly beat him about the head and face.

He keeps grabbing for my free hand, but I keep it away from him for a while. I know it won’t last long, but I plan on inflicting damage as possible while I am free.

[Rogue]

Her attempt to stop me fails when I eventually re-unite the handcuff to her other wrist. Her hands continue to struggle, only achieving rattling against the rail and further frustration. I have Alexandria right where I want her. I reach inside my briefcase once again and retrieve the knife that was involved in the accountant’s death. She pants in fear at the sight of it but it is the straps of her dress I aim for. Both are swiftly torn and drop on each side of her shoulder. Her legs kick in anger as I as I begin to yank the top down. Her nipples pop out, her voluptuous breasts exposed for the first time. I sense her embarrassment, I have complete access to them and her arms have no way of preventing it. She does her best with her free feet but I am now sitting on her thighs, reducing their mobility significantly. I hold them in place with my knee and kneel down to her chest. I kiss the bottom of her neck and move downwards, whispering my depraved actions of the past week in between each one.

“You want to know where I touched Carla? It was here……here…..”

My mouth reaches her boobs, letting one in slowly. I look up to see her teeth grind, her helplessness arousing me more and more. Switching to the other, I press my lips into the round flesh, running them up and down her tits. I spend longer on this breast, licking her soft skin and repeatedly sucking the hard nipple. I’ll enjoy playing with these when we make love in future. My girlfriend pulls on the cuffs, wishing she could strike me over the head again. She watches curiously as I step off the bed and walk to the other side of the room. I open the doors of the walk in closet and am once again greeted by at least 4 dozen pairs of shoes.

“Wow, I only have one pair of shoes. If we’re going to be together, this rich lifestyle will have to change, Alexandria. It’s time to strip you down to your bare necessities.”

I find a long black plastic bag in the hall and get to work. I empty every shelf and every pair on the floor is thrown inside. Pumps, flats, sandals, strappies, runners, every style a woman could own. She shouts at me, demanding to know what the hell I’m doing. The bag fills more quickly than I thought it would so I grab another that was behind the clothes basket. I steal every high heel from the closet until I notice one pair left near the door. I pick them up with two fingers and show them their owner.

“My, these must be at least 5 and a half inches, I think I’ll save them”

They are placed at the bottom of the bed and the bags are dragged over to the window. I push it open as far as it will go and notice the Kings’ neighbour watering her flowers. After getting her attention, I force the packed bag through the space and let the open side lean over the ledge. In the reflection I see Alexandria staring at me in disbelief as her expensive footwear pours onto the grass outside. “Stop it!” she screams. Then the second bag, emptied and falling near the muddy ground by the tree. The woman is stunned as hundreds of dollars worth of heels seem to magically from the sky. What are merely lots of shoes to me, are probably special in their own way to Alexandria. Each one having their own story and meaning, but I think that is ridiculous.

“She’s having a little auction. Take your pick, tell all your friends! Oh, no more dancing either”

Even the red shoes she was forced to kiss are discarded. The raging owner almost forgot to shout for help when she has the chance. She yells “Laura!!” as loud as she can but the window was just closing. She was probably too distracted with her new collection anyway. I climb back onto the bed and I feel more connected already, like we will soon be on the same level. For 10 years I have eaten prison meals and survived on the minimum amount of money and clothing you can have. As I have seen, Alexandria and her family live in luxury. I will always expect her to look pretty for me, so she may keep some of these dresses. But when we go away together, the foundation of our new life will be our relationship – our love.

I study the black pumps I had singled out; I admit I look forward to seeing her walk in them. She retains her class in them, while accentuating her shapely legs also. They will never have a place in the bedroom but I’m about to make an exception. The look in her eyes tell me that she doesn’t know what I’m up to but it must be bad. Her legs are closed shut almost in hope that I’ll just forget she has a vagina. She pulls them back and they lean away from me when I approach. I lodge my hand in between her knees to roughly separate them.

I hear a mumble of “no” when she is not sobbing. Her head shakes from side to side as I suddenly have the back of the shoe against her pussy lips. I hook her left leg when it becomes a nuisance and the dress is pushed up again so I can see what I’m doing. The lady shrieks in humiliation as the stiletto is shoved inside her without any warning at all. Her body is shaking and fighting me in whatever way she can, the free leg bending back to tamely kick my lower back. All 5 and a half inches or more continue to prod and poke her womanhood aggressively. I notice her wince each time it attacks her tissue. It quickly slides in and out, the back pushing into her vulva when it cannot go any further. She squeals again as I brutally fuck her with her own shoe; she may never look at them the same way again. The cuffs rattle against the bed every second. There are consequences for saying no to me. Laughing at me.

From reading through that internet thing I have also learned that there is a major difference in this bizarre fetish between men and women. Women may love the way their heels make them look and feel, and love to collect them. But there is most certainly a line in their sexual connection. I have crossed it considerably in this cruel experiment. I understand that this is violence, and that my Alexandria hates all kinds of it. Even when I defended her from Glenn I sensed the unease at fists flying. Just as she can’t take it anymore and I may lose control, the phone rings again.

[Jasmine]

Even though I knew it was inevitable, it still frustrates and angers me when he cuffs my free hand. I feel the cold steel on my wrists as I pull against the cuffs. My head tosses back and forth, the perspiration shines on my forehead from my struggles. “Bastard!” I hiss and I pull with all my might against the cuffs.

Seeing the knife, I freeze. I think, that James won’t hurt me, but then realize that I don’t know this man at all. I try to catch my breath as I pray for help to come. Fortunately, he doesn’t hurt me. He uses the knife to strip away the rest of my clothing. I am exposed and feeling vulnerable so I fight with my legs, kicking and bucking to keep him off of me. God, I hate this. I feel the weight of his body; trapping my legs and rendering me helpless.

I thought it couldn’t get worse, but the rough whispers against my skin. It’s like a confessional. I don’t want to hear it. “No! You bastard! Stop it! Just get it over with!” I scream in his ear all the while bucking and thrashing about. “I’ll kill you for what you did to Carla!” I vow as his mouth sucks on my breasts.

I close my eyes and will this nightmare to be over. He moves off my bed and I watch as he goes into my closet. Oh that I could slam the door and lock him inside. He comes out ranting about how many shoes I have. What a fucking psycho! “If we are going to be together? You sick fuck! We are never going to be together! What do you think you doing? You sick bastard!” I yell as he dumps my shoes into garbage bags.

Once he starts throwing them out, I know that this freak is really over the edge. I scream at him over and over again. I hope the open window will save me and I start to scream for help. He slams the window closed and comes back to the bed. He eyes the black pumps. The shoes are the ones that I bought for him, for our date. I close my eyes and again curse my decisions. Regaining my composure, I open my eyes and see that the insanity has completely taken him. I feel his hand wedge between my legs. “No! No! No!” I tell him over and over again. I can’t help it, I try not to, but suddenly it is all too much and I start to sob.

I cry out as he forces the heel of the shoe inside me. I feel the rough tap on the bottom tear the tender flesh. I cry out as he fucks me with my own shoe. The shoe is ripping into me with each thrust. “Stop! You are ripping me apart!” I scream at him. I know he knows the damage he is inflicting on me. I sob and scream from the pain. I want to kill him. I can’t breath as he savagely starts to twist the shoe inside me. Looking into his face I see the insanity and his enjoyment.

The phone rings and he stops and looks at it. We both do. My frustration mounts as it continues to ring. Finally, the machine picks it up. It is Lacie. She is crying and I expect the worst, but she says, “Lexie, it's me, Carla's awake....oh my God! I can't believe it, thank you God, my baby....they don't know everything yet but they're going to let us talk to her in a few minutes, she's going to be all right, I just know it! Look, I'll never forgive you for what's happened, but everyone's here, Ben, and that detective...I know Carla will want to see you, please pick up....Lexie?"

There is a moment when Lacie says, “detective” that I sense some unease in the bastard. He jumps off the bed, leaving me there. I pray he has gone, but he returns with the cordless phone and Charlie right behind him. Charlie runs in. “Charlie! Sic him boy! Get him!” I plead. Charlie barks and then just looks from one to the other.

James presses “answer”. I can hear Lacie saying “are you there?” James holds his hand over the microphone of the phone and tells me, "You're ok, but you can't make it to the hospital for another hour. Try anything, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

He puts the phone next to my ear and listens on the other extension. “That’s great news about Carla! I love you both so much.” I tell her what James has instructed me to say. I hope it is the truth, but I have my doubts.

I have no choice but to lie to her when she asks if I have seen James. It’s for both her and Carla’s safety. “No, I haven’t seen James.” I look up at the subject of the conversation and see the pleasure in his eyes. He loves having this control over me. He has his hands on Charlie, stroking his coat, but keeps the knife in his hand. I watch him warily. I have no idea what he is capable of.

Lacie asks if I got Detective Steven’s message, but Charlie starts barking and I tell Lacie I have to go that he has another one of her shoes. I hope she gets the hint that something is wrong. She goes back to Carla and I go back to him.

[Rogue]

My fingers twitch, tapping the shoe and impatiently waiting for the caller to give up. Alexandria desperately wants to answer but I think at the moment she is just grateful that it interrupted my latest assault. I hear her sister’s voice as she bursts into tears. I try to hide my amazement that Carla has woken up already but the second I hear the word “detective” my ears prick and I instinctively hop off the bed. Riley has probably escaped his moral dilemma; Carla will do the job for him once she is fit enough to talk. Stevens is minutes away from finding the missing piece of the puzzle so I have to stall him. He had enough to interrogate me but soon there will be a warrant out for my arrest. I rush to fetch the other telephone from Lacie’s room and barely notice Charlie. Alexandria’s screams must have been far louder than his pawing at the foot of the door. The mutt makes a brief attempt to chew on my leg as I whiz by him, Lacie still pleading with her sis to pick up. I know that she will expect Alexandria to be anxious to return to hospital with this news, so it is unrealistic to avoid that fact and avoid suspicion. After hitting the answer button and palming the speaker, I give Alexandria her instructions clearly and they come with a genuine warning. The cordless phone is placed between her ear and suspended arm and I listen in on the conversation with the landline next to the bed. When the dog approaches me again, I scoop him into my arms. As he squirms awkwardly, my girlfriend delivers her lines with forced enthusiasm. Her eyes stay on me for the rest of the phone call. I see her relief that her relatives are safe from me and she’ll want to keep it that way. With her beloved Charlie on my lap, his fur being stroked and my dangerous knife nearby, perhaps she begins to suspect what I meant by regretting any attempt to appeal to Lacie. Unfortunately I hadn’t planned for her next question and Charlie is barking again, running away before I have a chance to think.

“Is that Charlie? What’s wrong with him?”

“Sorry I have to go, he has one of your shoes again”, Alexandria mumbles

“Did you have to be so weird at the end?” I snarl in a whisper, having hung up on both phones and ending things abruptly. At least I might have achieved what I set out to do. With Alexandria reluctantly claiming not to know of my whereabouts, and saying she will be leaving here soon, the cops will most likely begin their search at my mother’s house – and we’ll be long gone by then. I smile to myself knowing I have outsmarted Stevens again.

“That niece of yours is a fighter, I’ll give her that”

The unexpected revival of Carla has accelerated my plans. Her aunt watches me curiously, pacing back and forth with my thumb on my lip. She nervously suggests I leave now, because I will have an hour’s head start. Suddenly, I return to the bed and clutch the bottom of her pretty dress. Her body is practically shivering with the thought that I might want to force her high heels inside her again. The outfit is tugged down her body and beyond her legs and ankles. Her nude body fidgets in embarrassment. I kneel down to where the dress is at my feet and grab two stockings from underneath the bed. For once, she doesn’t struggle, allowing me to hold her leg and slip the first one on. Once it reaches her thigh, I squeeze the end of the other and feel the semen inside the material. Her toes twitch in discomfort when the pantyhose fits around her foot and slides up her smooth leg.

“See how much I was thinking about you last night? Now, I don’t want your feet to get cold when we go down there.”

She wonders where we are going, not vocally, just by that look in her eyes when her head turned my way. I swiftly crawl to the top of the bed and un-do the handcuffs. Alexandria immediately caresses her wrists and can finally relax her arms. I hook her arm and slide her off the mattress. Landing on the carpet for the first time, I love it when she looks down at her right foot in disgust. For the time being at least, she doesn’t slow me down and follows me out of the bedroom. Our arms held firmly together, the knife and my trousers in my free hand, we walk almost side by side down the stairs and to the right. We make a quick stop at the table by the window to collect her keys. She suddenly attempts to reach out for the front door but the feel of the blade against the skin of her stomach puts an end to that. Back to the hall, and knowing the structure of the house from my enjoyable sleepover last night, the door straight ahead leads to the garage. She may not be herself, so it is polite to remind her to watch her step. Charlie chases us from the kitchen but I shut the door in time. Her hosed feet step onto the dirty ground where tire tracks and oil have altered the colour over time. She takes in her surroundings; this dark, isolated section of the house. The lady slowly backs away from me, eventually pressing her backside into the hood of her own car, yet still having to check what it was. We circle once. I sense her weakened state. Her body tends to shiver when I approach, her wrists are red, she can barely look me in the eyes. Without restraints, she is free to make a legitimate break for freedom. If she can do it, she can refuse to have sex with me, but I don’t believe that’s what she really wants. I challenge her mettle and dare her to show some guts. I make it clear that frankly, I don’t think she has it in her.

In the middle of the intimidation, out of nowhere, Alexandria slaps me with everything she’s got. I stumble back, drops of sweat flying from the fringe of my hair, the knife and pants dropping out of my hand and the sting leaving me rattled for a moment. I check my lip and glare back at her in disbelief.

[Jasmine]

I keep my eyes on James. I watch as he strokes Charlie. I realize that Charlie hates James by his barking and squirming. Why didn’t I see that before?

I don’t reply to his question about being weird nor do I reply to his comments about Carla being a fighter. We all are. He is about to find out. I will find a way out of this. “Look, why don’t you just untie me. I will be able to buy you some time. Please, James. You will have an hour’s head start at least.” I tell him as he paces back and forth. I watch him for signs of anger, knowing how personally he takes things. I missed it. I pushed him too far I realize when he pounces on the bed and grabs my dress again. He strips me bare. I am completely exposed to him. I realize that struggling is no use. I close my eyes and block him out. “This is not real. I feel nothing. He is nothing to me. This is not real”. Despite my attempts I feel him dressing me. I realize that I may have a chance to escape if he dresses me. I will myself to not fight him as he slips the stocking on my leg. I can’t help but be repulsed when I feel the fluid inside the stocking. Oh my god, this..this pervert has jacked off in my stockings! Ewwww! I manage not to vocalize my disgust, but can’t help but move my foot to try and avoid the wet, sticky semen.

It takes a moment for me to focus on his words about last night. Then, it hits me that he spent the night in my house last night! I don’t have time to think about it though because he says something about not wanting me to get cold when we go down there. I wonder where “there” is. I refuse to ask. I want to be dressed, to be free. He uncuffs me but my arms are like jello they have been cuffed so long. He pushed me to the floor and I feel his cum squishing between my toes. “Ugh” comes out before I can stop it. My stomach turns, but I forge ahead and concentrate on getting away from him. I follow him meekly from the bedroom. I realize he has the knife when I feel it against me when I make an attempt for the front door.

In the garage, my fear gets the best of me. I back away from him, finding myself against the hood of the car. I move away from him. I can’t do this. He is going to kill me I know. My body trembles, my mind is about to shut down. No longer brave, I feel myself retreating mentally and emotionally from this reality. His voice penetrates the haze I am creating. He challenges me, dares me. I straighten and without thinking I slap him in the face. I watch as all of my anger, betrayal, hurt and humiliation is focused in that one moment. He falls backward the knife flying from his hand. My eyes move from him to the knife. We both lunge for the knife. I have the handle in my hand when he grabs my wrist. The pressure of his hand on my already weakened wrist causes me to drop the knife. He swoops it up and pulls me to my feet.

He looks into my eyes with a crazed look, he slaps me across the face and pushes me to the ground. I land next to the left over paint, brushes and empty buckets. As I get slowly to my feet, I watch him open the car door and run on the radio full volume. The rock music blares as he actually sings some of the song before realizing that I am moving toward the door. “Oh no you don’t” makes my blood run cold as he grabs me by the hair and slams me against the hood of the car; knocking the breath from my lungs. I am sliding down the hood toward the ground when he grabs me, turns me around and presses my body onto the car.

[Rogue]

I can’t believe she just did that. Maybe I have underestimated her. Noticing the knife falling to the ground, Alexandria dives for it but only manages to lift the edge of the handle. Her hand is squeezed, causing it to tense up and release the weapon. I have to put her down in retaliation. Still in control of her wrist, I smack her firmly. Her body twists around and I let her crash onto the paint buckets behind her. The trousers are quickly folded and placed on one of the shelves, the knife put inside it. I walk round to the driver’s seat of the car and unlock the door. The little light effectively lights up the garage, beforehand only the tiny brightness sneaking under the door to the main house was supporting our sight. I fiddle with the radio until I hear something heavy, and luckily one of my favourite bands are playing. I whistle one of the riffs as in the corner of my eye she can be seen struggling to her feet. The car keys are tossed up into the air without a care as to where they land. Wherever she was planning to go, it’s nipped in the bud when I pick up her legs like a wrestler and plant her onto the bonnet of the vehicle.

Her bare skin keeps her in place but the silky pantyhose cause her to slip back down. I tug her forearm and spin her body around, pushing her face first into the metal. My right hand clutches her inner thigh and she fights my attempt to separate her legs. I keep the palm of my hand pressed into the back of her hair, feeling the sweat near her forehead. Her head squirms and she wants to stay closed. She had her chance to contest our second time together and she failed. I pry my pretty girlfriend’s legs open, keeping my leg there once I have an opening and begin positioning my penis. It is semi erect but growing all the time as I rub it past her backside. Her body struggles even more as this confirms my intentions, her elbows on the hood, hands trying to get rid of my own one. I enjoy the feeling of her legs through the stockings’ material. My re-hardening dick parts the lips of her already abused vagina and forcefully enters it. The woman’s head is on her side now, one eye looking back at my actions, one arm frantically attacking my strong grip.

As I slowly slide into her, I sense her protests coming to an end, so I place my hands on her ass cheeks. To my surprise, Alexandria begins to stand, backing into my first thrust with a half scream/half moan for company. Her beautiful black hair hangs down the smooth skin of her back. Am I mistaken, or is she finally accepting our love making? I do not expect forgiveness for my past overnight, even my own mother did not visit me in prison for the first two years. Then, my sexy lady drops back onto her elbows this time facing more to the right of the hood. One of her arms is slightly outstretched. Maybe it is one of her hidden fantasies to be taken on her own car. I remember putting the rose beside the window wipers three days ago, but there is nothing romantic about this raw fucking, the sounds of which being drowned out by the blaring music.

[Jasmine]

Despair grips me when I find myself sprawled on the hood of my own car. The humiliation of him grinding against my pantyhose getting his cock hard again feels me with disgust. I try to fight him, but his hand on the back of my head effectively keeps me in place. I buck and kick back at him but find my struggles useless. As I look through the windshield, I see the rose that James left for me in what I thought was a romantic gesture. It’s dying now, just like I am. I wail at my stupidity. I am a fool.

My breast is mauled by one of his hands, while the squeezes my thigh and rubs up to my cheek as he rapes me. His thrusts are hard and fast. I hear his labored breathing and his sounds of pleasure as he takes me. He is hurting me, but I know he enjoys that and I will not cry out. I long for him to climax. This is taking much longer than the first time.

Taking a deep breath, will myself to think. “Think Lexie,” I tell myself. Turning my head to the right, I see the edge of the key ring. It’s so close. If I can just reach it and hit the garage door opener at just the right time, maybe I can escape or at least draw some attention to us. Surely Laura will hear me. Someone has to wonder about the music. If I can just reach it. I slowly snake my hand toward the keys, hoping he won’t notice. I feel the telling jerking of his body as he climaxes inside me again. My fingers are so close. He lies on top of me and I can’t quiet reach the keys. I bang my fist on the hood of the car in frustration. His hot breath is on my neck and I feel his kiss on my neck. I take a chance and extend my hand toward the keys.

“Mrs. King?” I can barely hear a voice right after I hear someone banging on the garage door. James jerks me straight up by my hair and holds me there. My scream is ragged and barely audible above the music. He whispers harshly, “Scream again and your family will pay.” I dare not utter a word. There is no other sound from outside.

James pushes me back toward the car while he quickly puts his pants back on. He grabs the keys and tells me, “Come on, we have a train to catch." I realize that he intends to get away and take me with him. I look down and see the knife. It’s right there. I pick it up and jab it into the tire. .

[Rogue]

I quicken the pace, having fucked earlier I can afford to now without worry that I will cum too early. The back of her foot kicks my shins but to no avail. I reach between her and the hood, finding her supple breasts. They are squeezed one at a time with my left hand, groping and pinching her nipples. They are tall and hard in the cold room. The other hand remains on her backside, enjoying the soft flesh and eventually slides down to her thighs. I feel where the hosiery begin and briefly think back to last night when I ruined them. I wished for her to be there with me and now I have her all to myself. When I come back, I notice the shelves full of tools along the wall, but there is no man in the house to use them.

I can sense her longing for it to end, how each jab inside her is like a cruel attack rather than her lover’s affection. There are no tears, only endurance, that little jump her body makes in anticipation, standing on her toes. Having shifted diagonally, that arm is stretched out and her fingers are crawling towards the windshield, perhaps to grip the edge as one would bite on a pillow. I roughly pull on her hair as my hips swing, thrusting deep into her pussy. Gradually my grunts are becoming audible, approaching climax again. The tune on the radio has changed twice over. The Red Honda squeaks faintly and the vibrations travel to our locked, sweaty bodies. I grip the edge of her stockings, so much so that I almost rip through them. I can barely hear the sound of our skin slapping and grinding, I only focus on the sensations around my shaft as it slams into her walls again and again. Our time together has been prolonged and my stamina finally proven to her. I make a number of drives in quick succession as my semen begins to shoot inside her cunt. Her body suggests a deep breath and her hand can be seen clenching. My strong arm wraps underneath her stomach and tightens with the flow of sticky cum. I have finally given Alexandria my seed and we can now begin the next part of our journey together. Tired, I hold her, thinking about our love and what the future may hold. I catch my breath and kiss her gently on the neck.

Unexpectedly, the palm of a man’s hand thuds on the garage door three times. It is too difficult to hear who he wants, but one can assume it is one of the sisters. I pull my girlfriend away, my first instinct is to duck, but nobody can see us. I warn her against another scream and start putting on my pants. My eyes are fixed on the bottom of the door, imagining him walking away. Whoever it is, they’ve moved from the driveway for the time being and will not be prepared for our sudden getaway. I was going to tell her to pack her clothes but there is no time now. Just as I collect my thoughts, she is kneeling down with my knife – I must have been too distracted to notice it fall. I step back awkwardly and she stabs one of the front wheels.

“What the fuck are you doing!”

She punctures the tire, rendering the vehicle useless, and we struggle for control of the weapon once again. After prying it from her hands, I deliver a cold stare, but there is no time for punishment either. We return through the door of the house and down the hall, investigating the caller. I stay behind, my hand firmly covering her mouth and the pleas for help. Peeping over her shoulder, the familiar blue cap is barely visible through the translucent glass. They knock again, using the doorbell this time too. My heart is beating faster. Was it somebody’s idea to escort Carla’s aunt to the hospital? I nudge her in the direction of the back door but soon change my mind. She is pushed in the back until co-operation is achieved and up the stairs we go. Once we reach the top, the bangs get louder, and the final time the door is forced open. I toss Alexandria to the corner of the landing, right by her bedroom doorway. She stays quiet, frozen almost. I wait. I count in my head how long it should take to check the living room, kitchen, and finally the garage. The radio is still blaring in the background so I listen carefully for the sound of footsteps.

“Ms. King, it’s the police. Let us know if you’re home.”

The first one climbs the stairs with his gun in front of him. I am crouched behind the clothes basket next to the bannister. No one says a word. When he passes the final step I pounce, charging him into the wall and knocking the weapon out of his hand. We roll to the carpeted floor and I deliver a fierce elbow to the head, knocking him unconscious. “Freeze!” shouts another. Thinking I am reaching with my hand, he aims his own pistol. I duck under his partner's body, the bullet piercing the back of his bullet proof vest. Grabbing the wrist of the second cop, we struggle for possession of his gun. Eventually, I free my leg from underneath the lifeless body of the younger officer. I kick him firmly in the chest, causing him to lose balance. He stumbles back and falls down the long flight of stairs. Now Alexandria screams, rushing to her room. I get to my feet and sneak my hand in in the last second as she tries to lock it behind her. She slaps my arm and wishes herself away from this brutal violence. I insist on taking her with me, tugging her into Carla’s room. I haven’t been in here since laying her into bed that Thursday night. Johnny Depp watches us go by and approach the window. I know where it leads and both parts open out; it is the biggest window in the house. I push them wide apart and prompt my woman to step through. She thinks I am insane. Her naked body climbs over the ledge and I join her onto the extension. Covered in stones, it is right above the kitchen. We’ll have no choice but to jump off at the side if we want to escape. Just as we stare down at the intimidating drop, a voice is heard from the window.

“James Grant…..”

[Jasmine]

I am frozen for a moment as James stares at me. I look from him to the knife and manage to stand just as James reaches me. We struggle for the knife, which he wins – damn it. I expect to be hit again and steel myself for the blow that I know will come.

Instead, he drags me through the house to the front door. His hand covers my mouth and keeps me from crying out when I see the police officer at the door. He pounds on the door. I try to free my mouth so I can scream. James pushes toward the door and then forces me up the stairs. The officer has not given up. I hear him calling out to me as I stand in the center of the room while James focuses on the cop outside.

I hear the door being kicked in and my name being called. I don’t know whether to answer. I know the policeman doesn’t know what is going on. He’s here to escort me to the hospital. I don’t want to answer and not let them know that James is in the house. I hear the stairs creaking as the cop approaches. My inability to decide how to warn them has taken too long. James was a security guard and knows how the police will come in. I pray that this will be over quickly, but I fear that James would rather die than go back to prison. He has nothing to lose and that makes him even more dangerous.

I peer through the banister and see the young policeman on the floor. I gasp, thinking that James has killed him. Behind James, I see the other police officer with his gun drawn. He yells, “Freeze”. I look at James just as the shot sounds. I scream and close my eyes. I know that James is dead and part of me is relieved, but the part that loved him cries.

I hear the struggle and open my eyes. James is alive and fighting with the officer. James pushes the other policeman down the stairs, I have no choice but to run. I flee to my bedroom wishing it were Ft. Knox rather than a frilly bedroom. I almost get the door closed. James’ arm reaches in and I fight with him, but he pushed the door open. I run toward the closet, to try to find safety behind yet another door, but James drags me with him into Carla’s room. The policemen must be down since they don’t come to help me. James pushes me against Carla’s Johnny Depp poster and I wish the swashbuckling pirate would jump out and save me. I look around for something to put on. I grab a robe, but James rips it from my hand.

James pushes me through the window. “No! I don’t have on any clothes!” I struggle but he gets me onto the ledge. I am terrified of heights and am literally frozen.
“James Grant…..”

I hear the Detective Stevens say James’ name. Fear of what James will do now grips me. James wraps his arm around my neck and pulls me back against him.

It’s Detective Stevens at the window, he kept his promise that he would get to the bottom of all this by tonight. He steps onto the extension with us. He begins with the standard rhetoric and then starts with small talk designed to put James at ease. Stevens takes out a cigarette and offers one to me and to James. I think about reaching for one but James’ grip on my neck tightens. Stevens notices and pull back a little as he lights the cigarette and takes a deep draw. “We’re planning an extension this year. The wife, she wants to go all out, you know, the dream kitchen – dining area, breakfast bar.”

“Why did you come here!” James shouts.

“I listened in on Ms. King’s phone call. It’s over, James. Just let her go.”

James keeps me against him. I can feel his heart pounding as he frantically tells Stevens, “Don’t come any closer Stevens, I’ll never go back to prison. And I’m not going anywhere without her.”

Stevens hasn’t moved since he joined us on the ledge. His gun is still holstered. James warns him that he has a knife. Stevens looks at me, sort of tilting his head as a silent question. I nod. James pulls me back. The stones are sharp as we move backward. I feel some of them slip off the edge.

Desperate, I scream “SHOOT HIM!” I know that he can’t because I am between them.

[Rogue]

I instinctively grab Alexandria’s neck and stand behind her when my name is called. We turn to face him, the inevitable detective, stepping through the window. As if we have all gathered here for a chat, he casually helps himself to a smoke. Incredibly, the hostage thinks I will allow her to accept his offer to join him. With the first puff and exhale settling into the air, he continues his efforts to relax me, discussing future renovations of his own house. His gun, which he had no problem exposing to us when his long brown jacket opened slightly in the cool breeze, remains unused. I’m sure his marriage is to the job, while our blossoming love will not be dictated by occupation. He can’t possibly relate to me as we are on opposite sides. When I’ve had enough of the charade, I yell at him, angry that the phone call didn’t throw him off my trail.

When he tells me he heard the conversation between the sisters, I realize that Carla had woken up some time before the call was made. The teenager had already made her accusations and Stevens was waiting nearby for a sign that her aunt was under duress. Both our hearts are beating at the intensity of the situation and my bicep presses into her neck to ensure my control over her. She wishes she could have thrown the bathrobe on but now is not the time for embarrassment. I shout at him once more, insisting that returning behind bars is not an option; neither is voluntarily leaving here without my girlfriend. We are the ones near the edge, but the cop will be responsible for the outcome. It was his intuition that added me as a suspect the moment he first laid eyes on me, and experience that led him back here instead of my old apartment. If he had only stayed out of it, we would be on our way out of the state. Whatever happens now is on him.

“I’ve got a knife! It’s in my pocket, isn’t it Alexandria? You’ve seen it”

Stevens’ eyes briefly shift to hers as the stones below us hurt our feet. Some of them fall and can be heard hitting the garden. She stuns both men by suggesting he fire. Besides the fact that I am using her to protect myself and that we would fall together, I don’t believe she wishes me dead. I never liked ledges. The nerves shoot through my legs as if it's closer than it actually is and as if maintaining balance is impossible. I’m not only gripping Alexandria’s body captive, but pulling on it to ease my own anxiety. The detective tells me I have to answer for what I’ve done.

“Why don’t you tell me what I’ve done? Let’s get it all out in the open. We don’t keep secrets from each other anymore.”

“How about manslaughter?” he begins. “Grand theft auto, purchasing an illegal drug, breaking and entering…..sexual assault. That was real clever what you did with Ms. King, making that anonymous phone call. I guess we’re even now.”

I can feel my lover shudder at each one of my crimes. I whisper in her ear, assuring her that I had to do these things to win her heart. She would not have looked at me twice if she had known the truth from the beginning.

“You saw Carla putting her hand on my leg, she was harassing me. And the only reason your two boys inside are still alive is because I’m not a murderer.”

I remind him to get back, but he repeatedly ignores my warnings, moving inches closer with his hand up as if to say he has come in peace. I squeeze Alexandria’s neck a little tighter and begin reaching for my right pocket. The pebbles are digging into our bare soles and we are breathing heavily, we are going through the same things together. My hand has slid in, feeling the train tickets, and the tip of the second object inside. Stevens has seen enough and draws his weapon for the first time. Is he sure he’s willing to put Alexandria’s life at risk, or does he think the whole family are indestructible given Carla’s recovery? The gun points our way, complicating the situation. I don’t pay attention to the lady’s facial expressions, I’m sure the two are attempting to communicate in some way, and I am focused on him. I wonder if my poker face is as successful as it was 10 years ago in Rebecca’s living room. He watches it intently, but perhaps my knuckles bulging in my trousers is the most important thing.

“Last warning James, no one has to get hurt here!”

My hand is slowly coming out, bringing something with it. Alexandria squirms in my arms. Our bodies are cooling down and we appreciate our skin being together out in the open. I can feel her think, her fear, her disbelief. But I did not anticipate this. My legs are apart, finding balance, leaving room for her to back kick me. She does not deliver in full force, yet still enough to loosen my grip and hurt my groin. She falls to the ground of the extension and ducks to avoid potential gunfire. A bullet flies, and intentional or not, misses me by some distance. I am stunned but my hand is free, holding only a red rose, bent and deteriorating between my fingers. My foot slipped in the commotion, the stones between my toes are replaced by clear air, and I have only this flower to hang onto. My Alexandria covers her mouth and gasps, I look down at her as my head goes back and I see the blue sky. Stevens rushes to catch me, missing my finger tips by an inch and walking into a fallen petal. I drop, a second away from the approaching darkness that would engulf my mind.

Romance is dead.


THE END