I watched Granddad sneakily replace his red wine with rum as I sat at the dinner table. He looked up to see me watching him and gave me a wink. I nodded back to my Granddad letting him know I wouldn't tell anyone, as always.
He smiled and went back to eating starting a conversation with my father. I studied their faces as they talked; My father's crow's feet were deep and moved with his mouth. The wrinkles around Grandfather's mouth extended as he talked and this only reminded me of how old he really was. Despite his young way of acting.
I looked around, high ceiling, big room, with a big table and china set spread across it. My mother was strict about family dinner we were to always wash up, meaning changing our clothes into a more formal attire. She was one of those types that wanted everything perfect, including me.
I could feel the eyes of my mother on me. I looked down to my half empty plate, not making eye contact with her. She had an odd way of thinking, complex is what I would call it and she really wanted the perfect family which caused her to over react sometimes.
"May I be excused?" I asked to no one specific keeping my head straight and not making eye contact. I could feel my Mothers gaze upon me once again. "I believe please is the word missing from that sentence." She said with a sweet tone but, I knew better she didn't mean it sweetly.
I looked over to her making direct eye contact, coldly I store back at her. I could see her face slack as I looked at her seeing the numbness in her face I smiled "Please" I repeated with the same sweet voice she used."Please may I be excused?" My mother looked at me. "Yes, Roxanne. You may." She said but she dropped the sweet tone.
I took my plate and began to walk out when I was stopped by her voice. "You can leave that plate on the table sweetie." I stood still. My Mom was always saying that the maids could take the plates in and that it was their job but, I liked to bring my own plate in.
I started to walk again disobeying my mother's order.
I sat on our back porch swing for a long time after dinner, drawing out dining room. Looking out I noticed all the yellow flowers and green, green grass. The trees stood tall and strong.
Granddad came out after a while and sat down next to me. I kept my eyes on the paper. "Quite the drawing." He complemented me. I nodded my head. The summer's breeze was cold and blew through my thin sweater. It told me it's getting late.
"You hear that Rocs?" I looked at my Granddad and knew what he was talking about.
"Yeah I hear it." I said "It bothers me." He looked at me questionably.
"What?" he asked.
"The way the day ends. It's like saying goodbye to life." Granddad smiled the smile that makes the lines around his eyes stand out. I knew that they were from laughing and smiling so much and they weren't like my father's who's were from squinting his eyes at paper work all day.
"Nonsense Roxanne!" he told me "It's just saying, Hey it's time to go to bed." He laughed. And I smiled back at him.
"Atta girl, there's that million dollar smile."
My Granddad was my mother's father but, you would have never guessed it he was so much more different. Not as serious, he had fun with his life and never worried about the little things. My Granddad always wore a polo shirt and suspenders, along with his journalist hat I loved so much. Thats how I would always remember him, in those clothes.
"I think maybe me and you should go to bed." He said very seriously. I looked at him questionably, he was never the kind to say "Come on kids let's get to bed you got to get up early tomorrow." Or anything like that. He looked back at me smiling before reaching behind the swing to the end table behind him.
Granddad pulled out two bottles of beer. I smirked at the thought of my dear old grandfather giving his dear little granddaughter alcohol. Yeah so much for old people being wise I laughed to myself.
I wiped the smirk from my face and popped the cap off using the wooden swing's arm. "But, before we do." He said popping his cap off as well "Cheers." We clicked are bottles together and each took a big sip out of it.
I wondered if I was the only girl getting beer from their grandfather.
Before I went upstairs to my room I gave my unfinished drawing to my granddad and ask for him to finish it. I believe he was the one who gave me my talent for drawing, he was really great but he would have never admit it.
I examined myself in the mirror late at night, I couldn't sleep. softly waved Jet black hair so black it has a tint of blue, weird I thought it reached to the lower, mid back. Not too much of a tan mostly flawless fair skin. Skinny and if I my say, a nice body shape. Large almond shaped eyes the color of a bluish storm cloud. A finely draw jaw line and small ears that stayed at the sides of my head, not like some peoples ears that stuck right out. Sixteen and probably a little under the normal height limit.
Not that I liked talking about and bragging about myself, it often bothered me when girls did that, but I think it is important to know exactly what you look like. I took one last look, I couldn't lie to myself and say I was ugly but, no one can say they are truly happy with themselves. Everyone has stuff they want to improve and what not but, seriously I can admit I am beautiful.
The phone in my room rang and I walked across the cold tile floor to answer it."Hello" I said.
"Hey Roxanne." I recognized the voice right away as Trisha my dearest friend.
"Hey Trish what's, going on?" I asked not caring to tell her that she could have woken my parent's because honestly I didn't care.
"I was wondering if you were still coming to the party tonight?" She asked sounding excited. I had totally forgotten about Will Healers party tonight. It was suppost to be wild.
"Yeah I'm going, you goona pick me up?" I asked not wanting to drive myself.
"Sure I'll pick you up." Trisha said.
"Ok make sure you turn off the lights my parents don't want me going out, so just wait and make no noise." I told her.
"Sure thing, I'll be there in twenty minutes. I have to pick up Rodger." Great I thought. Mr. Rodger is coming, I wouldn't dare complain because he was Trisha's "soul mate" as they called each other. I don't believe in love though.
"Alright bye." I mumbled hanging up the phone. I walked over to my closet and pulled out a red pencil skirt that cut off at the knee and a white button down shirt that I tucked in. I decided on wearing a pair of dark tan cow girl boots that came just below the knee lacing all the way up.
They didn't match but I had to break them in for riding and I didn't like wearing heels like most girls did. I preferred sneakers or boots and looking closely the boots didn't match my outfit to bad but, I didn't care what other people thought anyway.
I put a brush through my hair and in seconds it formed back to those soft waves. And it wasn't long before I heard Trisha's car pull up through my open window. I walked out of my room and to the kitchen as quietly as I could because everyone was asleep and I didn't want my parents waking to me sneaking out of the house, it was 10:00pm.
I walked careful, to not click the flat bottoms of my boots on the floor. I chose the kitchen door all the way on the other side of the house. That lead out to the side yard and it was the only door in the house that didn't make any noise when opening it.
As soon as I crept out I walked calmly to the front of the house to the car. I was relieved she remembered to keep her lights off.
Rodger sat in the driver's seat of Trisha's car, and I wondered why he hadn't just taken his car if he was driving.
"Hello Roxanne." Rodger greeted me in his usual preppy voice. I kept my straight face and didn't bother saying hello back. We have all heard the saying if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.
"Nice boots" Trisha said, and not in a sarcastic way either. "I like them." She continued, "Their different but, they go with the outfit ya' know."
"Yeah, Trish I know." We drove out my neighborhood and down a few block's to Will's. Rodger began to tell me about how unsafe it is to ride a horse without a helmet. He finally shut up when I ask asked "Rodge, wasn't your beloved Grandfather some sort of a cowboy?" Rodger smiled proudly and nodded.
"Yes, he was." Rodger was definitely mama's\grandparents boy.
"Well cowboys don't wear helmets so why don't you go tell him how dangerous it is to ride without one." He seemed to ponder this idea before saying.
"Education is good for everyone young and old." I closed my eyes and shook my head slightly at the boy's stiffness. He wasn't the one to let loose and I wondered why Trisha even liked him.
Sure I could see why Rodger liked Trisha, she was the type that had a contagious laugh and you couldn't help but, feel wanted around her, Trisha was very inviting. She was gorgeous too, straight Ash blond hair and milk chocolate eyes, flawless tan skin, and tiny she was very beautiful.
But, Rodger wasn't too bad looking; he was decent, nothing special. He had dark curly hair and dark brown eyes, that all matched his tan freckled face. He was tall and didn't have exactly muscle but, I knew he could do some damage.
When we arrived at the party you could hear the loud music from outside. There were some people who lingered in groups outside but, you could tell the real party was inside. Rodger walked around the car and pulled open Trisha's door, she took his arm. Rodger proceeded to my door but, I opened it myself pushing it open to where it accidentally hit Rodger slightly.
I walked up to the house ahead of the love birds who took their time. I opened the door knowing if I knocked no one was going to answer. People walked around, dancing to the Beatles that was blaring on the radio. I stepped inside and walked over to the corner to wait to see someone I knew.
It wasn't long before Will Healer spotted me and walked over. I liked Will plenty he was kind and had a funny kind of mind. He had dirty blonde hair and dark ocean eyes he was tall and muscular from playing football.
I met Will a few years ago from Trisha, we went to different school's she a public one and me a Sister Mary's Catholic school for girls. So Trisha introduced me to her friends and we all got along and I found it funny how I was more popular at Will Rodger's Trish's school than my school.
"Hey Roxanne!" Will said excitedly.
"Hey Will" I said back "Some party."
"Yeah my parents are on vacation in Europe." Will said.
"Cool, I think my old man said something about going there." Will smiled and took my head. I starred at him.
"You wanna drink or something?"
"Sure." Will led me- now holding my hand tighter- across the house to the kitchen where he pulled out a bottle of some kind of liquor. I waved my hand dismissively "I don't drink." Will put the bottle on the counter and pulled out a coke from the ice box. I know I would drink with my Granddad sometimes but, that was the only time and I mean, only, time I ever drank.
I looked over at Will who was staring at me. I nodded my head. "What?" I asked. He smiled at me with his straight white teeth.
"It's just that, that" he pointed to the cup. "Nothing, never mind."I shrugged.
"ok?" He shook his head, I don't think he knew what he really wanted to say anyway.
"Don't know." He smiled again. "Come dance with me?" he asked suddenly. I thought for a moment before putting down my drink. I nodded my head yes. It wasn't like I had anything better to do.
Will and I spent his party together, we danced and talked with other people and I was pretty sure Trisha and Rodger went somewhere together, leaving me with no ride home. I figured I could easily get a ride or just have Will take me. After three hours I wondered up stairs unaware Will was behind me.
When I reached the top of the stairs, the sound was still loud but, I heard Will say "Where are you going Roxanne?"and didn't answer. I walked down the long hall to what I thought was Will's room.
I turned around to face him, "Is this your room?" I asked. He smiled a smug smile.
"Yeah" he nodded. I turned away from him and opened to door to walk in.
Will's room had a big bed and big dressers with a big floor that had a rug set on it, the room was dim only light with the moon light shinning in through the big window.
"Your room has a lot of big stuff in it." I said. I wasn't facing but I would have imagined he shrugged.
"I guess so." I heard him shut the door and walk towards me. Knowing this I walked over to his big window it was from the floor almost to the ceiling and led out onto a balcony, like I had in my room.
I turned to Will to asked him a question and was startled to find how close he was to me we were literally nose to nose and I hadn't even noticed him approach me. He smiled at me again.
"Do you go out on your balcony a lot Will?" I asked him still nose to nose. He shook his head.
"No…" he said I shook my head.
"That's a shame." I said turning back around.
"Roxanne why'd you come up here?" I felt his hands on my shoulder, they were warm and I noticed how cold I was. I tried to think. Why did I come up here? I asked myself. I couldn't figure it out, it's just something I did. And now I was so cold I wanted warmth badly.
"I don't know." I said. I turned and walked past Will to go sit on his bed, because I didn't feel like standing and luckily it was warmer.
He smiled that same smug smile, it bothered me.
"You're some kind of wonderful Roxanne." He laughed. I wondered what he exactly meant so I just smiled. Will walked over to the bed by me where I sat at the corner and stood there towering above me. As he inched closer I stood still and looked him in the eye as he looked back at me.
I swore he was going to kiss me and even if that's not what I wanted if those weren't my intentions for coming up here, I was going to kiss him back anyway. I was getting warmer as he came closer, it made me more comfortable being warm. I'll never find out if we were going to kiss because right as he had another inch towards and boom he would have kissed me in walked a cop.
He was younger but had a permit scold on his face. He stood there and watched us as Will and I snapped are heads back to look at him. I looked to Will who stood tall but, petrified. "Um… Officer." Will tried to say.
"This your house boy." The officer said looker older now as he approached us.
"Yes" Will nodded his head. I watched and was amazed how Will could be scared by one man. Will was bigger than him yet he was scared I guess that's what authority did to people, but, not me. Will reminded me of a scared dog with his tail between his legs.
"I got a disturbance call." The officer said "You have illegal drinking going on here too." Will stood there and seemed to slump down. I've seen officers let kids like us go off with less than a warring for doing stuff worse than this. But, I'm guessing this officer was a stern one who enforced the law harshly.
"Yes sir." Was all Will said. The officer nodded.
"I'm going to need you to come with me" The officer said with a low voice and then he pointed to me. "You too."
Will started to walk and I jumped off the bed following behind him towards the door. The officer waited by the door frame. I looked at his straight face his eyes were lifeless and dull I stared into them and I gave him a smile.
The officer looked at me deeply and said "Don't be a smart-ass kid. You don't want to get yourself into more trouble than you already are." He angered me by saying this. I stood looking at him with a straight face
"Maybe I do." I said to him. And I walked off down the long hall and stairs, the officer following me. When I came to the bottom of the stairs everyone had cleared out leaving a giant mess and I wondered how Will was going to clean all of it up by himself.
I'm not quite sure what they did with Will but, I don't care to much either. I know they decide to take me "down town" as the officer said. He said it was for my breath smelling like alcohol. I think if I hadn't said the smart-ass comments as he called it I wouldn't be in too much trouble. But, I did because I couldn't keep my mouth shut.
I rode in the back of the officer's patrol car. I kept silent all the way there and watched the houses and buildings go by as we drove.
When we arrived I stepped out and walked side by side with the officer into the big building. I thought about how I always wondered what it looked like in here because I passed it every day going to and from school. I couldn't help but feel happy instead of mad or sad about getting in trouble. I just kind of sat back and watch my small adventure unfold before my eyes.
I wondered if this is what most people feel when they get in trouble with the law for the first time but, I highly doubted it.
Inside the walls were white and there were two small offices in the corner with two small holding cells and tons of seats spread across the large room. The bright plain walls bothered my eyes and I wished my grandfather and I could paint this large white canvas of a room.
I looked back around this time noticing a few people spread out across the room and I wondered what they were feeling and what they did to deserve to be here.
"Sit here kid." The officer said who's name I learned was Lenny. He pointed to a second row seat and I continued to walk over to the third.
"This cool Lenny?" I asked "I don't like even numbers." I said referring to the row of seats he ordered me to sit in. It was true too I didn't like even numbers they reminded me of blank people like Lenny cold and boring.
Lenny scolded even more than he had permanently on his face and said, "The names Officer Lannded."
I laughed "Lenny Lannded, nice ring to it." Lenny rolled his eyes.
"Last time I'm going to tell you, you going to be in big trouble if you don't keep your mouth shut little girl." He practically yelled. I nodded my head looked around to all the people who were watching me. Except one boy who continued to stare at the wall as he sat a couple of rows ahead of me. His row of seats faced mine so I could see him where I sat easily.
"Ok" I mumbled to Lenny keeping my eyes on the boy. Lenny walked off after telling me to stay put.
The boy continued to stare at the wall as I stared at him. He had dark brown hair, long so it fell over his forehead in wisps and kicked out in tuffs behind his ear and in the back, curling along the nape of his neck. His eyes were a blazing blue. I could see them even when he wasn't looking at me. They were amazing and I wanted him to look at me.
The boy sat there in his black t-shirt, jeans and, jean jacket. I wondered what he was thinking. He looked bored and ready to just fall asleep.
Five minutes after I sat down the boy turned his head and looked at me. His eyes were cold and hard, enough to kill someone. I didn't break my stare as he stared back. I tried to think of what someone would name him with those eyes. Not just any name would fit him. The name would be different, unexpected.
After a long minute of staring at each other the boy smiled. Not a friendly smile but the kind of smile the devil himself would smile and It sent chills down my back. I didn't smile back I just kept staring. I broke my gaze away and looked down to my skirt. It seemed like I had forgotten I even had clothes on.
After what seemed like an eternity someone said "Let's go Winston." I looked up and watched. As a meaty officer came up to the boy. Winston I thought, different name but not his, maybe that's his last name. I'll just have to call him Winston for now on.
The meaty officer put his hand on Winston's shoulder and gave him a shove towards the door. "Watch it man." Winston said in a powering voice, the officer put his hand on Winston's shoulder again "Get the fuck off of me." He said roughly shrugging his shoulder to shake the hand of.
Winston walked to the door and glanced over his shoulder at me making that last wonderful eye connection. He turned away and walked out the door without his devil of a smile and before I could smile at him, a good-bye smile.
"Roxanne Mastriani." The same meaty officer said shortly after. I stood up "Yeah?" I said.
"Go call someone to pick you up." He said pointing to the pay phone handing me a dime. I tried to think of who I should call, Mom and Dad were a definite no. Granddad maybe but I didn't want to wake him. Trisha, I could call her I mean Rodger has a strict bed time set by himself so I bet Trisha was home judging by what the clock said that was hanging above me which read 2:30am.
I picked up the payphone and dialed Trisha's number. The phone rang a few times before a very sleepy sounding Trisha answered "Hello" she said.
"Trisha" I said sounding way more awake than her "I need you to come pick me up from the downtown police station." I told her deciding to skip right to the point.
"What?" Trisha asked sounding shocked. "What'd you do?" she asked.
"I'll tell you later get come on, get up, get your car keys, and come get me, or else I'm going to have to walk home and then I'll get jumped and killed and it will be all you fault." I said to her. I heard some rumble on the other end of the line like she was getting up and I thought about stopping talking but, kept going to be on the safe side. "How would you li—"
"I'm coming." Trisha said sounding grumpy me.
"Ok." I said and we both hung up. I hung up and turned to the officer for direction.
"You can wait outside kid." The meaty officer said. I Walked out of the building wondering if Winston would be out there. And if he was, would talk to me or maybe I would talk to him.
As I opened the door I could see through the window no one was out there. Outside a dull light was on and everything else was dark and eerie. I waited outside and watched the late night driver roll by. Some looked over at me and watched as I stood there while they waited for the light to go green.
Trisha finally arrived in her blue stingray. She pulled right up to the curb where I was standing and I walked the few steps to her car.
I sat down in the seat and looked over to Trisha before I could say anything she blurted out, "What did you do?" I frowned; honestly I wasn't sure what I did that was so wrong. Why had the officer taken me down town, I mean come on every one sassed the cops.
I laughed which made Trisha pound the gas pedal shooting us out of the parking lot which was not like her because I was the one who always went super fast and she was more controlled, so I must have pushed a button making her mad and setting her off, like I was always doing with my mother. "Nothing big." I told her with a smile.
Trisha gave me one of her Don't give me that bull shit look and began to slow down. "Will and I were up in his room and I guess the cops showed up, I don't know we didn't hear, but when the officer took us down stairs everyone was cleared out."I explained.
"What were you doing in Will's room." She asked in a shocked yelling voice. I shook my head.
"Nothing it doesn't matter." I said "But, they took me down town because I was being a smart-ass and the officer said my breath smelt like alcohol, and I was drinking a coke, not alcohol." And for the first time I realized that I really hadn't been drinking except for earlier this evening with Granddad but, it couldn't be from that.
"You wanna get something to eat?" I asked suddenly. Trisha looked at me like I was crazy.
"I don't know how I live with you." She said "Your ridiculous." I knew she didn't mean it.
Trisha and I have been best friends since the 1st grade and Trisha was always trying to be good, live up to her parents expectations which was exactly how Trisha's older sister Jade acted. So, Trisha was always trying to be like Jade, I never liked Jade much but, she was my best friend's sister so I dealt. In result to trying to be a god sent child Trisha was up tight mostly and constantly worrying, for everyone. I believed she needs me to live or else she would die from winding her strings to tight and suffocating if you know what I mean.
"Seriously Trish I'm hungry." I said.
"No." Trisha said with authority. "You gotta get home. You know how much trouble I could get in for doing this?"
"It'd blow over with your old man, don't worry." I said. She shook her head.
"You're crazy Roxanne." Trisha said one last time; it was the last thing she said back to my house too. I also kept silent, even though I was bugging me.
I hated the silence especially at night too, that's why I'd been sleeping with the radio on ever since I was a little kid. I guess hearing the voices made me feel like I was with someone, helping me fall asleep easier.
Trisha turned her lights off as she pulled up to the curb right outside my house.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Trisha asked as I was exciting the car. I smirked knowing how Trisha and I really couldn't stay mad at each other.
I nodded my head "Yeah, I'll call you." I said.
Trisha drove away and I smoothly slipped into my house, up into my room and into bed, after changing. I fell asleep to She's a woman, by The Beetles.
Author's Note: Ok so my other story was deleted. But I like this one better anyway so, I hope you didn't find it horrible. I don't mind bad reveiws. Though i really enjoy good reveiws.