I started reading "The Help" and it just inspired me to write something. So I decided on some good ole Homestuck. And I'm sorry, the summary was awful. I really suck at summaries.
Miss Peixes unlocks the door early every morning for my arrival. She sits there and waits for the door to creek at exactly 8 every morning with the exception of Sundays. Any sooner than 8 she scoffs and makes a snarky comment about my eagerness, any later, she whines and complains about my laziness. However, today as I stepped through the door at 7:56 whilst adjusting my tights and she didn't utter a word. This evening we were expecting a special guest for dinner. I wasn't given any information past "special guest" but I assumed it was another potential suitor for Miss Peixes's beloved daughter, Feferi. Now that she had come of age, Miss Peixes had them lined up. It was my job to prepare the meal, set the table, and clean the guest bathroom. Everything was to be spotless by 11:00 A.M. and dinner was to be ready by 4:30 P.M. The guests would arrive at 4. Then I was not to speak with the guests. Because I might affect the boy's decision. Pfft. That is what Miss Peixes scribbled on her fancy fuchsia lined paper stuck to the fridge with a magnet. On the bottom of the paper it read endearingly,
Do something nice with the flounder in the icebox. Don't let the ghosts snatch it away. Hehe~
Thanks, Love.
"..." I sighed to myself. Bitch.
Feferi stepped down the steps groggy in her nightgown, rubbing the sleep out of her big bright eyes. She beamed when she saw me and took a seat at the kitchen table. "Hi, Aradia!"
"Hello, Feferi." I returned her warm smile. I really did like Feferi. We practically grew up together, and she didn't treat me like her mother did. We were equals in her eyes. Even if she came from a wealthy family and she was clearly the more beautiful out of the both of us, even if I was her maid, she still considered me her best friend. Maybe even her sister. It was flattering. But I couldn't help feeling jealous of her wealth and beauty. Such flawless porcelain skin, rich dark brown hair and soft bouncy curls. I wanted a waist that slim, perfect curves, a perky bust, and everything that made a man crane his neck to get a second glance.
But I was pudgy, with strong arms and long strong legs, and breasts that never grew to their full potential (or at least what I thought they should have been). I chose to wear loose turtleneck sweaters and long skirts to cover my body. Even at work.
I cautiously lit the stove's burner with a match and placed a greased pan over the flame. Feferi fiddled with the radio on the kitchen table.
"Did you have any visions last night?" Feferi asked. Unlike her mother, she took my bizarre abilities seriously and was interested in hearing about some of the things I saw. She liked to call them my special powers because she couldn't think of a better name. I shook my head.
"Slept like a rock last night." She nodded, staring off out the window.
"Oh! Aradia, did mother tell you about the boy that's coming over tonight?!" I poured her a cup of coffee and snatched the bowl of leftover pancake mix from the fridge.
"I wasn't told anything about him. Why?" I poured the batter over the hot greasy pan. I pulled out a small container of freshly picked strawberries and swiftly cut the ends off and slid them into the garbage like a pro. Feferi watched in amazement and I smiled to myself. Years of experience, child.
"Oh my cod! He's a Captor. And I heard he's so cute. And tall. And intelligent. And mysterious!" She sighed dreamily. I flipped the fluffy cake over in the pan and poured myself a cup of coffee.
"Sounds like quite the keeper." I sipped my coffee.
"And I heard he has a brother." She winked. I shot her an apprehensive glance and fought the slight smile threatening to crack my lips from the suggestion.
"I heard the one is stupid. And taken." I said and I slid the plate of steaming cake and rich strawberries down the kitchen table to her.
"Oh, come on." Feferi giggled.
"Not to mention older." I cracked an egg over the burner. The older Peixes likes sunny side up over a slice of toast.
"He's like Meenah's age! That's nothing!" The princess protested and pouted like a five year-old. I didn't waver and she quickly gave up. "Fine, Aradia...oh, wait! Can you do my hair tonight? I want to look my best and you do hair the best." I smiled at her compliment.
"I have a ton of stuff I have to do first. I'm cooking tonight and I also have to clean everything." I told her honestly. I actually liked doing the young woman's hair so I was hoping I would have the time.
"I'll help pick up the foyer and dust a little if you want." I popped a slice of bread in the toaster.
"You don't have to. Besides, your mom wouldn't be too happy with me if she sees you doing my work." Feferi waved me off.
"Pfft, she's going to be upstairs all morning prepping herself for the night." The girl backed from her seat and headed toward the foyer. "Besides, I haven't showered yet anyway. I'll get everything out of the foyer and the corridor then pull out the duster."
"Ha, well, if you're so willing to help, maybe you can do that bathroom too." I pointed down the hall to the guest bathroom.
"Haaa, yeah, that one's your job."
Frank Sinatra was playing on the radio as the older Peixes stomped down the steps. She slept in her long tight braids, now loose and messy, and struggled to turn her glasses upright on her face.
"Breakfast is on the table." She groaned in response. I threw the scalding pan in the sink and ran water over it. The sound of sizzling and steam rising blocked out the radio for a short moment before I heard the older Peixes running her mouth.
"Feferi's got another suitor coming over tonight, don't she? Why I gotta sit through 'nother fancy smancy dinner? Why don't dat beach just put her princess's fine lil' ass outside wid a sign dat says 'Free'. She jus' turn eighteen and da boys are knocking down our front door a'ready."
"How'd you sleep?" I poured some dish soap on the pan and started scrubbing. The older Peixes stuffed her mouth full of toast and egg. The yolk broke and poured over her hands in a deep sickly rich yellow mess.
"Fine." Her mouth was full of half chewed food.
Believe it or not, the older Peixes and I got along fairly well. After talking to Feferi for so long, the older Peixes's vulgarity could be refreshing. She was a living tragedy to her mother. Like Feferi, she was gorgeous. Perfect body, lovely face, rich colored hair. But she chose to rebel against her mother in every way she possibly could. She held so much hatred toward her mother for whatever reason, it was not my business to intrude. And as a result, her mother seemed to hide her from public, ashamed that her daughter was so vulgar. "Ya know, mom ne'er tried setting me up wid a man. Am I not good nuff?" I wasn't about to mention the Amporas and how her mother had tried to get her to marry the eldest son of the wealthy Mister Ampora. But Cronus Ampora was just as rebellious as the older Peixes and rumors spread quickly that the two slept together. Something neither her nor her mother are proud to admit. But Miss Peixes was so embarrassed that she never offered her eldest daughter to another man again.
"It's not really my place to talk about Miss Peixes."
"Well, I sure as hell can an' let me tell ya, she's a bitch." We shared a common enemy. "So who the boy comin' over dis time?"
"He's a Captor from what I heard."
"A Captor!?" She wailed. "Good God, don' tell me we givin' Feferi that dolt? His brain is as good as dried PlayDough. Jegus, even I think she better den dat!"
"It's the other one." I inform her politely.
"I ne'er met da other one." She sucked the yellow from her fingers and wiped the remaining residue on her pajama pants indignantly. "Still don' like da Captors." The older Peixes left her plate on the table, stomping back up the steps to get a well needed shower.
It was noon, and I was marinating the flounder in lemon juice and garlic. Miss Peixes rose from her room, inspecting the bathroom and the fireplace mantle for any specs of dirt left.
"Aradia!" Miss Peixes called from the living room. I abandoned the flounder in the sink and rushed to the living room where Miss Peixes was examining her reflection in a polished vase. I was wiping my hands with a damp towel when she turned to me, standing tall over me with her ridiculous heels.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"I need you to do me a favor." She offered me a fake toothy grin.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"After you serve everyone dinner, I need you to stay out of the way. You know, stay in the kitchen for most of the night. You can't come out until dinner has been finished and our guests have left."
"Yes, ma'am." I didn't dare question her why. She'd give me that death glare and purse her lips till her gooey lipstick glued her lips together then mention how it was none of my business. I didn't care much anyway.
"Oh and..." She looked uneasy, "Keep Meenah out of trouble. She's been extra rowdy lately."
"Of course, ma'am. I'll try." I was glad Miss Peixes was occupied with her daughters. The worry over the dinner kept her busy so I could keep busy with work of my own. I returned to the kitchen to find Feferi fiddling with the radio again.
"Are you going to be able to do my hair?" She asked slightly worried that I might say no. I looked at the clock and nodded.
"You should go get your shower soon. I should be done with the flounder in a little. The bread dough may take a while though. But I should be good to go in about an hour." The princess clasped her hands together joyfully, squealing to herself.
"Oh, thank you, Aradia! I'm so nervous for tonight, I'm sweating bullets right now." She fanned herself for emphasis. My attention turned to the flounder in the sink. Why the girl worried, I never knew. "I was thinking a nice updo. I read somewhere it's good to show your neck. It's flirty or something."
"Whatever you want." I told her. I felt more like her mother sometimes. I sure as hell acted more like one than her actual mother did. Drove Miss Peixes insane how Feferi spoke to me. She sat there, watching me like a child with those big curious eyes as I finished with the flounder and stuck it in the icebox. She marveled the way I made bread, said I made it seem so easy.
"You're so graceful and elegant. And I'm so clumsy." Feferi pouted. I shrugged my shoulders, cheeks flushed pink from the compliment. "Hey, Aradia. Have you ever thought about getting married and having kids?" I froze. "You know, like living together with the man of your dreams, making him supper and sitting together on the couch watching movies on the tube."
"I never really thought about it. I enjoy being independent though." I answer and return back to molding the bread dough. Miss Peixes asked for braids specifically.
"I have...I'm not sure if I'm ready." She admitted. "I want a boyfriend and all. You know, to hold hands with and...well, stuff. But I'm not used to having to make a committment."
"Fef, you know you have the power to make that decision. You can get married whenever you want to whomever you wish." I reassured her. But she just sat there, her eyes staring out at nothing in particular. I watched her remove her glasses from her face and rub her temples.
"Not exactly..." Her smile had fallen. I watched her brows furrow and twitch as that sodden expression twisted her features. Her voice dropped to just above a whisper. "Mother has been making all the decisions. I mean, I want to meet this boy, but all this business. And marriage? I don't know. I just want a boyfriend. Just a boyfriend." Miss Peixes was wandering the room just right outside the doorway.
"It's your life, Fef. You do what you have to do to make you happy." It was the first time Feferi ever shared something about her mother to me. The older Peixes let it all spill out like a kitchen faucet, but Feferi wasn't nearly as rebellious as her sister. She kept her mouth shut and did what she was told. And that's why Miss Peixes loved her so dearly and shunned her other. I washed my hands off on a towel and gentle hands on the girl's shoulders. "Why don't you go get your shower now. I'll be done with the bread soon. By the time you're out, I'll be able to do your hair and help you pick something out to wear." A wide grin returned to the girl's face and she skipped merrily up the steps.
But our short talk got me thinking. As much as I envied Feferi, I was also glad I wasn't her. I could put up with a some belly fat and dirty dishes if that meant I was going to decide when and who I would marry. That is, if I ever did.
I finished up with the bread and put the dough on the windowsill for the yeast to set. I made sure to wash the flour and sticky dough thoroughly from my calloused hands and made my way up the steps to wait for Feferi. I pulled several dresses from her closet, sorting through each and contemplating what would be the most appropriate for the occasion. The ball gown? Definitely out. Flapper dress? Hell no. Fish pattern sundress? Too casual. I pulled out a dark fuchsia strapless dress that extended to the lower thigh. Ever since the rumors about her first daughter, Miss Peixes made sure her daughters dressed modestly. Well, at least Feferi. I looked at the dress again. God, her mother would flip if she just wore this. I glanced at my other options. Second thought, this is good enough. I searched through the closet and pulled out some black tights and a cute white sweater to cover the shoulders.
I heard the water stop and the shower door slide open. I approached the bathroom door and knocked quietly with the knuckle of my forefinger.
"Hey, Fef. I found an outfit I think might be good. The other dresses I found were...eh...well, a bit too revealing."
"Okay, thanks, Aradia. Can you toss it on the counter or something?" I open the door just a crack and throw the folded clothes onto the bathroom counter. I wait patiently on the bed, crossing my legs and exploring my thoughts. The bathroom door squeaked open and there's Feferi in her fuchsia dress, black tights and a towel around her shoulders to protect her dress from the dampness of her hair. In her arms, a hair dryer, the one with the extended power cord that she loved so much, and a bag filled with hair products and other utensils. She skipped to the empty space in front of me, plopping herself down on the floor and handing me all the utensils out could possibly need. Hair scrunchies, bobby pins, hair spray, curlers, flower accessories, anything a girl could imagine.
"So an updo? Right?" She nods her wet head as I begin my work. I spray some of that heat protectant crap in her hair and turn the hair dryer on full blast. I had her hand me an extra rag to soak up the extra moisture scrunch her hair to bring her curls back to life. She had so much hair it took twenty minutes just to dry the whole thing. "You need to trim these ends, they're splitting like wood."
"I know," She whined. "But going to the hair salon always makes me nervous."
"You're a piece of work." I chuckle and get to work on shaping her bun atop her head. Her natural curls were bouncing back in place. Thank god, I wouldn't have to use the curling iron. I french braided the loose ends of hair that weren't long enough to fit in the bun and pinned them to the side of her head. I fastened the bun to her scalp with forty-three bobby pins, a black scrunchy, and half a bottle of hairspray. "Don't get too close to any open flames. You have enough hairspray in your hair to blow a hole in the wall."
"Oh boy. I'll make note of that." She giggled. I spun her around and tugged a few pieces of hair loose from the bun to frame her unmade up face. I checked the clock on the wall next to the door. Almost 3 already. After looking her over again, I give her the thumbs up.
"You're going to have to do your own makeup. I got to get the appetizers ready before you-know-who throws a fit." I told her. "Don't overdo it. Just a little mascara and some lip gloss." I said with a smile.
"Alright." She shook her arms, "I've got the jitters, haaa..." That Captor boy better be something if she's getting this worked up.
"You'll be fine." I heard the Captor family was kinda desperate anyway... I made my way downstairs, greeted by a busy Miss Peixes.
"Aradia! Did you finish the appetizers?" The woman asked.
"Starting them now, ma'am." I rolled my eyes behind her back.
"Ugh! Hurry up! I'm starting to get all worked up." Why was she worrying over this one so much? From what I gathered, the Captor family wasn't that much wealthier than Nitrams or the Leijons. Surely there were wealthier and more prestigious families willing to hand their sons over to her. Why she was freaking out over this dinner was beyond me.
"Right away, ma'am. Do you want me to make something to calm your nerves? Maybe some tea?"
"I'm fine..." She started pursing her lips again. "Remember, you cannot talk to our guests. And I mean at all. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am." I nodded. And I went back to my kitchen to make tomato risotto and crescent rolls for Miss Peixes to oogle over later.
The clock struck 4 and soon enough, there was a polite knock on the door of the Peixes residence. I washed my hands with my cloth to answer the door when Miss Peixes stepped in front, holding her arm out to me like I was a dog.
"I'll get the door. You go work on dinner, please, Aradia." She smoothed out her dress and patted down the frizz in her hair before she opened the door.
"Of course, ma'am." Just trying to do my job, dumb bitch.
"And remember, you cannot talk. Nothing, okay? If I hear you utter even one word to one of our guests, so help me-" I nodded. It wasn't necessary to finish that sentence. I strolled back into my kitchen to check on the flounder baking in the oven when Feferi came in. Freshly made up and bun still in tact, she smiled nervously.
"How do I look?" She whispered.
"Like a million bucks. Get in there and turn some heads." I reassured her, flashing a broad grin and two thumbs up. Feferi took a deep breath and mumbled a thank you before scurrying off to the living room.
I didn't have to turn around to see that fake smile curling Miss Peixes's painted lips and her sugar-coated voice welcoming our guests inside.
"Hello, Mister Captor, how are you?" Her voice boomed and echoed throughout the empty walls of the foyer. I couldn't hear the voice of this Mister Captor too well but it sounded like Miss Peixes was dominating the conversation. He introduced his two sons and Miss Peixes took over again. "Dinner will be ready shortly."
The kitchen is in the back northwest corner of the house surrounded by doors and other rooms. Connected to kitchen is the dining room to the east and to the south is the corridor where the bathroom and laundry rooms are. Further down the corridor is the sitting room, merged with the living room and Miss Peixes's study that she never lets me clean. She must be hiding bodies in that room. In the south-eastern corner of the kitchen is a door that peeks into the living room. You can almost see the front door from the kitchen so I kept the door open by a crack to try to get a glimpse of this Captor boy Feferi's been worrying over since this morning. All I could see was Miss Peixes's huge head of hair. My God, she needs to stop teasing all that hair. She turned around, guiding the Captors to the living room. I quickly spun back around so she wouldn't see me sneaking a peek.
"Please, have a seat." Miss Peixes's offered.
"Thank you." Mister Captor had a deep, soft voice with a hint of a slight lisp in his talk.
"Would you like anything to drink? Maybe some coffee?" Miss Peixes always smiled too much whenever she was trying to be a good hostess. Especially tonight. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably in her lap and her lips twitched every now and then.
"Just some water would be nice." Mister Captor played with his hands, also looking uncomfortable.
"Sollux, Mituna, would you like anything?" Miss Peixes's offered. I peeked through the crack in the door, stealing a look at the two boys. They both had thin dirty blonde hair and the same pale complexion. One boy who I assumed to be the elder one, desperately needed a haircut for his hair went past his eyes, blocking his vision completely. He didn't seem to make an effort to comb it or brush it out of his face for the occasion. His childish face donned a sweet smile for his hostess. But he seemed a bit out of it. Then again, I heard that one's a little...special.
The other one had a long pointy face with sharp features. He wore strangely colored glasses and had the most miserable look on his face. Oh God. I thought. I hoped he wasn't as unpleasant as he looked for Feferi's sake. He wasn't that bad looking. But I wouldn't say he was living up to all the rumors Feferi heard about him. He turned his head and caught my stare. I froze for a minute in panic, his cold eyes piercing through me like a bullet. My heart stopping for what felt like a whole minute before I quickly whipped my head back in the kitchen. Out of sight, out of mind.
"We're fine, thank you." Oh, Lord. He sounded like a stereotypical nerd from those TV shows Feferi watched all the time. I almost broke out laughing. I wonder what she's thinking about this guy.
"Alright then." She grinned at the two boys. Aradia!" Miss Peixes called. I inhaled sharply and pushed the door open, not daring to look any of our guests in the eyes. But I could feel all eyes on me.
"Ye-" I stopped myself, remembering what Miss Peixes said. I held my chest, pretending as if it was just a hiccup. No one questioned me.
"Can you get the nice man a glass of water?" I nodded and she wiggled a finger, gesturing for me to come closer to whisper to me. "And I think I'll have that cup of tea. I'm sweating bullets." I nodded again and returned to the kitchen to fetch their orders. The older Peixes sat next to Feferi, crossing her arms and pouting like a toddler until she yelled, "Yo, Aradia, when's dinner gonna be ready? I'm starvin' to death here!" I watched Miss Peixes grit her teeth, pink blooming in her cheeks as she muttered something to her daughter.
The oven timer dinged and I pulled the flounder out to cool a little before I sent everyone to the dining room to serve. I walked back into the living room, holding Mister Captor's glass of water and Miss Peixes's cup of tea. I handed the glass of water to the man, not stealing a glance at his eyes knowing he was studying me hard. His stare followed me as I handed Miss Peixes her tea. It was like he was trying to recognize a face he never seen before. I pointed to the kitchen after handing the woman her tea and she nodded, understanding.
"Dinner is about to be served. Shall we take a seat in the dining room?" Miss Peixes announced.
"Finally." Muttered her daughter. Miss Peixes escorted them to the dining room, the Peixes on one side, the Captors on the other. I came in, holding a tray of tiny crescent rolls and freshly made tomato risotto, the ones I made only an hour ago. I could still feel Mister Captor's eyes studying me, examining my features from me large turtleneck sweater, my auburn eyes and dark brown curly hair. It made me shift uneasily, especially as I came to serve him, placing one of each appetizer on his small plate. It didn't help that it was dead silent the entire time, all eyes on the maid as she handed out food like a nun in an orphanage.
"Thank you, dear." He said. I nodded to him in acknowledgement and moved on to his son, Mituna. The boy seemed so out of it, almost as if he didn't even realize I was there. I moved on to the younger son, Feferi's suitor, Sollux. I got a better look at his face while he watched my hand place the food on his plate. He didn't have that unpleasant scowl disgracing his face. Without it, I might actually say he looked handsome. Good. I thought to myself.
"Thank you." He said, looking me directly in the eyes. It sent a shiver up my spine. I walked over to the other side of the table, starting with the older Peixes who sat next to Feferi, away from her mother.
"My god, I'm starvin'! Thanks Aradia!" She grabbed a few things off the plate herself. Miss Peixes was fuming on the other end of the table, giving me a look that said, Do something, you peasant! I tapped her daughter's hand and pointed discretely to her mother. "What you sayin'?" She smirked. "C'mon, talk, girly!"
"Meenah!" Miss Peixes finally scolded. Feferi looked as if she wanted to die of embarrassment between the two of them. When I got to Feferi, she frowned at me. I gently patted her back, offering a sympathetic smile and moved on to Miss Peixes.
"Thank you, Aradia." I nodded and she tugged at my sleeve to whisper in my ear, "Can you bring everything out? I just want this night to be over already." I nodded again and returned to the kitchen to follow orders. Plate after plate, I put individual slices of flounder meat with a side of vegetables and garnish and brough them into the dining room, serving Mister Captor first. As I worked in the kitchen, gathering the other plates, I could hear Mister Captor's deep smooth voice, "What's your maid's name again?" Miss Peixes perked up, suddenly ten times more nervous than she was a minute ago.
"Oh, that is Aradia." Mister Captor contemplated this. "She's just a dear." She added with a nervous laugh. Miss Peixes flashed a tight-lipped smile. She glanced into the kitchen, sending me one of those hurry up and get your ass out here and hand out our dinner kind of looks. I promptly slipped out into the dining hall, dishing out the rest of the food.
"Miss Aradia," Mister Captor called. I spun around to meet his gentle gaze, "If you don't mind, I have a question for you. It may seem a bit personal." I turned my head to Miss Peixes for refuge. Certainly she did not want me answering any personal questions. "Did your mother happen to be a Megido?" Her fake smile was wiped clean off her face and she quickly pounced on the situation.
"She's mute!" She blurted out. Feferi shot her mother a ghastly look and the older Peixes just laughed to herself. "The poor thing has hallucinations all the time, used to say she saw ghosts and things of the such. But one day, she just stopped talking." She seemed content with her lie. "Poor thing, must have had a traumatic experience. Must've been a nightmare or something." Feferi almost smacked her mother's arm for sharing that bit of information. I shrugged it off.
"That's a shame. Why she looks exactly like a Megido." Miss Peixes chuckled, biting her lip and glancing away. I guess she wasn't going to tell him that I was, in fact, a Megido. And so was my mother. I looked over at Mister Captor. He seemed disappointed and muttered a quiet "Such a shame." and dropped the subject. But I could see from my peripheral Mister Captor's youngest son eyeing me suspiciously. He was supposed to be exceptionally intelligent according to Feferi. And he was already questioning Miss Peixes's white lie and my willingness to play along.
I retreated to the kitchen where I was told to remain for the rest of the night until the Captors left. And so I did. I pulled out One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and sat at the kitchen table to continue where I left off. McMurphy was walking out of the bathroom in his Moby Dick boxers, irritating Nurse Ratched last I remember. The kitchen table was in the corner of the room, out of the sight of everyone sitting at the dining room table but I was still able to hear their conversation. I tuned most of it out. Afterall, it was mainly just Miss Peixes making a sales pitch about her daughter to Mister Captor. The Mister Captor talking about his son and what he has accomplished and his future plans. It didn't interest me much. I'd hear it all over again from Feferi so I just focussed on my book.
I was so caught up in my story, I didn't hear footsteps in the kitchen until I saw Feferi's suitor standing there, looking at me with those piercing eyes. We both sat there, waiting for somebody to say something but I was bound by Miss Peixes's lie to remain silent. So he spoke up first.
"What you reading there?" I lifted the book to show him the cover. "Ah, I see...do you mind telling me where the bathroom is?" He asked with his lisp. I pointed to down the corridor, trying not to crack a smile. "You know, I'd much rather you use your words." I narrowed my eyes at him, gesturing that I couldn't speak. But he knew better. He glanced at the dining room, moved closer to me, out of sight from everyone. His voice was a low whisper, "I'm not an idiot. I know that you can talk." I shook my head. He got closer. "And I know that you are a Megido." I just stared. He moved even closer and my anxiety started working up. He smirked knowingly. "You aren't going to deny that one." I could hear his steady breathing, he was so close. I turned my head away, taking an interest in some of the grease stains on the wall. I'd have to clean those later. "Say something for me." He was just as serious, even with his crazy lisp. But there was a hint of flirtatiousness in his tone. "Why do you let that woman speak for you?" I could feel him breathing on me. "Do you really see ghosts, Aradia?" I shivered. His breath was hot on my ear. "Say one word and I'll go. I know I'm making you uncomfortable." His nose was practically touching the side of my face. I could smell his scent so close. The smell of unwanted cologne and men's shampoo. He smelled like your average boy. My hands began to tremble. Even more than Miss Peixes's. "Or maybe you like the attention I'm giving you." He chuckled. It was a lose-lose situation for me. I had no choice but to surrender.
"I'm just a maid..." I mumbled, ashamed of how meek I sounded under his stare. But he still lingered for a moment longer. Then he backed away with a satisfied chuckle.
"Well, I'll be seeing you again, Aradia." Sollux whispered and walked back into the dining room. He didn't even go to the bathroom. That son of a bitch. He left me shivering, flustered and red in the face. I hope Feferi doesn't like him. I did not wish to see that boy that close to me ever again. I treasured my personal space.
I turned and saw the older Peixes standing there, her hand covering her sly smirk. How long has she been standing there? I felt my cheeks flare and she cackled even more.
"Aww damn!" Her voice was just above a whisper, "Someone wants da V." The older Peixes glanced back at the dining table. "Pfft, I'd give it to him." My eyes went wide, "Don't be worryin', girly. I won't be tellin' nobody. It was gettin' real boring 'round here anyway." She winked.
"Wait, I didn't eve-" She already disappeared back into the dining room. "I'm so confused..." I sighed to myself.
Dinner was done, and the Captors were getting ready to leave. I peeked my head out of the living room into the foyer and accidentally caught Mister Captor's gaze. He smiled which was strange. Usually the guests ignore the maid but I suppose he is still curious about the whole "is she a Megido" thing.
"Thank you for the meal. Tell Miss Aradia it was delicious." They rarely ever thank the maid either. I kind of liked Mister Captor. He was much more polite than most of Miss Peixes's other guests. And he's appreciative. Then my eyes met his son's. I quickly retreated back to the kitchen, but not before catching a glimpse of him smirking my way. I heard the door shut and Miss Peixes sigh in relief.
"Aradia!" She calls, stomping into the kitchen. "I need some ibuprofen. And some tea would be nice."
"Of course, ma'am. I'll bring it upstairs." The woman dragged herself up the steps to lay down. As soon as she left, Feferi skipped in the room, completely radiant.
"Soooo," She grinned, biting her lip.
"Soooo?" I looked at her puzzled. The older Peixes passed by, wiggling her eyebrows and disappeared down the corridor. I inhaled a nervous breath.
Feferi then held up a sheet of paper to my face, "I got his number and he has mine now." I smiled at her, guilt building in my chest. I thought of what Feferi's sister said, what Sollux said, and I got to thinking. Is he using Fef? I hope he really does like her.
"So you really like this boy?" I asked her. She nodded furiously. Damn.
"Must've been the hair." She patted her bun dramatically and hugged me around my waist. "I'm so happy, Aradia! He likes me! He actually likes me." I didn't have the guts to tell her what happened. I didn't want to break her spirits now.
"When's he coming over again? Do you know?"
"Sometime next week. It'll be just him next time." Just great. "I can't wait!" Feferi sighed dreamily.
"I bet."
"Well, I think I'm going to head up for bed." She yawned. "Goodnight, Aradia."
"Goodnight, Feferi. See you tomorrow." I watched her twirl around and skip through the kitchen into the living room and vanish up the steps. Don't worry, Aradia. There's nothing to worry about. Everything will turn out fine. I brought Miss Peixes's tea and ibuprofen upstairs, left it on her nightstand and started my walk home.
Whew! I wrote a lot. Thank you guys for reading and please review!