AN/ (again), I don't own anything.
Hi everyone...Man this is a long chapter or at least longer than my other one. Anyway I'm sorry for it taking so long to get this chapter done. I've been graduating from my first year of college and just got out of an abusive relationship so I'll try to get the chapters out sooner now that it's summer. Thanks everyone for the reviews they make me write better. Anyway here is the second chapter written just for all of you!
Real Girl
Chapter Two
The same Morning as the previous chapter...
It was still dark outside the two bedroom apartment in downtown Tortall. It was so dark that not even the birds were awake to 'catch the early worm.' The stars could be seen in the early dawn sky and were meet with a silence that many would say was 'golden'.
In the smallest bedroom a lumpy figure covered in blankets slept through the early morning...until,
"bark...bark...whine...whine.'
Stirring slightly, the bed lump rolled over, burrowing deeper in the shelter of the covers.
"Whine...whine...bark!"
"Juuump, go back to sleep." Refusing to be ignored any longer, the dog grabbed the covers in it's jaw and pulled. Exposing the bed lump to the cool morning air. "Jump!" Jumping up from the bed, the boy chased the dog down the dark hallway, "Stop it come back with those blankets!" Continuing to run, the boy didn't notice the bag laying in wait at the foot of the sofa until it was to late, "Ow! Goddess bless! That hurts, damn you Jump, when I get my hands on you..."
"Tobe, I thought you knew better than to forget to take him out before bed." Looking up to the door, Tobe meet smile for smile his sister Kel.
"Hey sis, another late night I see."
Sitting down on the sofa Kel took some time to lay her head back and sigh, looking up at the ceiling for a bit then turned stern eyes to her brother, "Did you finish your homework?"
Smiling to the young women on the sofa, "Yes, of course i did, I knew you would have a heart attack if i didn't finish it all tonight." Moving to the kitchen he began making her a hot tea. "You do realize that life isn't all about school?" Ignoring the grumbled reply Tobe turned back to the boiling water. "Oh, Neal was here about an hour after you left, he dropped off another blind date folder."
"Grrr, when is he going to learn when I say no, I mean no." Laughing at her obvious aggravation he pours her drink and carried it to the sofa. Kel took the hot drink with murmured thanks.
"You know it's because he cares about you." Sitting down in front of the sofa, he takes her right foot in his hands and massages it.
"Ha, with friends like that who needs enemies?"
Looking up from his self assigned task Tobe replied, "Now don't be like that, he just cares about you as much as I do. He wants to see you happy." Continuing to rub her foot he continued, "He just wants you to find you a man who would make it were you didn't have to work so hard." Laughing out loud but still serious he continued, To be your knight in shinning armor."
"Yes and he'd take one look at my night job and turn his noble stead in the opposite direction."
Releasing her right foot and reaching for her left, Tobe continued with his task. "Maybe a man would be good for you." Rubbing her eyes tiredly and pulling a mismatched pillow to her Kel asked, "Tobe, how many times have we had this conversation, and how many times have I told you that I don't have time for a man."
"Maybe you would if you didn't have to work so hard, let me get another job." Pulling her foot away Kel stood, Tobe's words continued after her, "Come on it would really help yo..."
Stopping to look back at him Kel replied, "Tobe, you need to focus on your studies, one job is hard enough on you. If you were to get another you wouldn't have enough time to do anything else."
Looking up from the floor pleadingly he watched his sister make her way to the bathroom. 'What is it going to take to get her to realize she's working way to hard? I know she's lonely, even with me around she needs a guy who will treat her right.'
"Whine." Looking down Tobe couldn't help but smile at the lovable dog, "Soon Jump. Soon we'll get her to slow down a bit." Getting up from his seat he led the dog toward the door and out into the cold morning air, the birds were just starting to wake up.
Long dark hair obscured his features making it impossible to see the color of his eyes. She could see him from across the room as she danced on the stage. 'Oh he's so handsome, I wish I could see his eyes.' BANG! He moved around near the back by the bar wandering aimlessly, looking around at all the waitresses. 'Oh please come this way, man of my dreams, up here near the stage.' As if he actually heard her he walks toward an empty table right up front. BANG! He sips his drink as he turns to watch her dance. 'Oh if only you could be interested in me for me.' BANG! He sits there through the entire dance never looking away, and she still couldn't make out his features. BANG! As her dance ends he stands, moving toward her slowly as if he has all the time he needs. She knows she should leave the stage for the next performer but she couldn't move, BANG! not until he reaches her. BANG! He circles her in his arms and carries her away from the loud music, "Come with me my warrior princess." BANG!
Thrown from her dream, Kel wakes to find herself on the floor trapped in her thin sheets. "Goddess bless! Who could be at the door? Look out Jump." Moving the dog out of the way she heads down the hall toward the person who wouldn't be breathing for much longer.
The banging continued but being this close she heard a voice behind it, "Kel! Open the door, it's chilly out here!"
'Mythros keep me from killing him this time.' Yanking the door open Kel was meet with the image of a soaked Nealan Queenscove. "Neal, you do know your suppose to put your clothes on after you take a bath right?
"Oh ha haMindelan, now let me in before i freeze to death." Moving away to let him in, she ran to get a towel from the bathroom. "Man, I won't ever go running in the rain ever again." Throwing him the towel Kel made her way to the kitchen,
"Now why would you be running around in this weather anyway Neal. Unlike me, you have a car."
Wringing his hair out with the given towel, "Well Yuki needed it because her engine went out and..."
"And being the wonderful fiance you are you lent her yours." Kel finished in an over sweet love struck voice. Throwing the damp towel at her Neal sat on her sofa, and turned the t.v. on. Smiling Kel asked, "How's she and Shinko doing, do they like owning there own store?
"They love it, I can hardly get Yuki to spend time with me anymore", in a whiny voice Neal ignored the eye rolling he was given, "I mean I am her boyfriend." Sitting down beside him they both watched the fuzzy pictures on the old t.v. set, "So... did you look at the profile I sent you?" Ignoring his question Kel got up, retrieving the damp towel from the floor, she headed to the bathroom to hang it up. Feeling her sadness, Neal followed. "Kel come on, it's time you found someone for you, I have."
"Neal, I don't have time. Don't you see, it's hard enough with just me and Tobe, I don't have time for anyone else." Turning her gently around so she was facing him he pulled her chin up to meet his eyes,
"But Kel, a man, a good man, won't take from you. He'll give you all you need, time, help, love. You would be able to quite your night job, I KNOW how much you hate it, but I also know it's the only way you can pay your bills without Tobe taking on another job. I even know you don't want him to know you hate it so much..." She looked away at this. "Kel, I see how unhappy you are. I know you hide it from him, but you can't do this forever it will kill you if you work any harder."
Urging her to accept this he enfolded her in a tight hug, "Your my best friend, don't make me lose you Kel." Reaching around his shoulders she hugged him back with the same fervor as him,
"Neal, I just wan..." The phone interrupted her words, "Mythros. Hold on Neal, I have to get that." She sprinted toward the phone, leaving Neal to look at his reflection and hear Kel from the other room, "Hello... yes this is Keladry Mindelan... yes...He What!? No, I'll be right there...yes, thank you." Confused about the phone call, Neal runs into her halfway down the hall,
"What's going on? Is everything alright?" She ignored him, running to her room and started throwing day clothes on, "Kel talk to me." looking up from her rush she said,
"Tobe was in a fight at school, there holding him in the office right now. I'm going down there to talk with the principle and pick him up." Following her out the door he grabbed her arm,
"Come on, I'll drive you."
Pulling Jump inside and locking the door she turns to him, "You don't have your car remember." He stops her again as she heads toward the rainy afternoon,
"I might not have it, but Yuki can be here in five minutes. Just sit tight, and I'll give her a call." Looking at her long time friend, she couldn't help but smile, 'All this crazyness and my friends are still here for me. Gods, what would I do without them?'
"Thanks Neal."
Sitting in the spacious office of the high school Principle, Tobe was doing his best to examine every object in the room with his one unblackened eye. While his sister was looking only at him, anger in her two green ones,
"So as you can see, he was in a fight involving two other boys at lunch." The principle, who wore what hair remained cropped short and had a scar running down the right side of his face, was not a humor filled man. He was very strict and didn't take rule breaking very well. He looked at Kel as he continued, "We were able to break the fight up and the other boys will be punished just as Tobius is, detention during lunch and after school for one week, starting on Monday."
"Thank you sir, for the leniency. We'll make sure this never happens again, Won't we Tobe?" Looking away from the sculpture of a hawk Tobe replied, "Yes sir, this won't happen again."
"Good, now Toby please wait outside. I want to speak with your sister alone." Looking defeated, Tobe rose and shut the door behind him, Turning his gaze from the door the boy just closed, Wyldon looked at Kel,
"Thank you for not being more sever in your punishment sir." Kel said before Wyldon could say what was on his mind. "I'll make sure this doesn't happen again."
"It's alright Kel. We've never had a problem from your brother before, so I can overlook this transgression." After a long silence form both occupants Wyldon continues, "The fight was over you actually. It seems that one of the boys he fought snuck into the club you work in and brought it to your brother's attention by calling you some unsavory names. He actually has a harsher punishment waiting for him. I won't put up with that kind of talk, especially to some one I have a friendship with."
Smiling at him Kel moved to leave, "Just a moment longer Kel," after she sits again he asks, "I know things are tight right now with money, and I know how proud you are, but know that you can come to me or my wife for anything." He was meet with silence until,
"Am I a bad step in parent, now that our parents are gone?" Wyldon was thrown by the question but understood were it came from. Moving up from behind his desk, and sitting in front of Kel he grasped her hands in his,
"No Kel. You are a great sister and you are doing the best you can, which is no more than anyone can ask of you. Just know that it's ok to ask for help sometimes."
Looking at him with disbelief in her gaze until finally..."Thank you sir."
"That's alright, ahem..." Turning from her and becoming once again the 'Stump' that he was nicknamed by the students, he resumed his seat, "Now if you will excuse me. I still have to talk to the other two students. Have a good day Keladry." Knowing better than to smile at his change of attitude she leaves the office with a goodbye wave.
Tobe and Kel were silent all the way back home, neither wanting to have the conversation, that they knew was coming, in front of Yuki and Neal. "Thanks for the ride guys, I'll be leaving for work at seven so if you could come by and pick Tobe and me up before then that would be great."
Sticking his head out the passenger window Neal replied, "Sure thing Kel, see you then." Yuki chimed in,
"Bye Tobe, see you tonight." Both brother and sister waved as the car rounded a corner.
"OK Tobe, just tell me why you would want to get into a fight with those boys." Opening the door with his key and moving into the kitchen for an ice pack Kel followed him waiting for an answer.
"They said some things they shouldn't have, and won't again after today."
Knowing already Kel sat beside him on the sofa, "Tobe look...people are going to say alot of things if they know what I do for a night job. I'm sorry that it embarrasses you."
"It doesn't embarrass me! I know you hate that job. But I know your doing it so we can live together. Without it, I know we couldn't pay the bills. Please Kel, don't think that I'm ashamed by what you do, I'm not! I know you do it because you love me. That's why I got so mad at those jerks. They called you some bad things and I know you aren't."
Feeling a great weight come off her shoulders, 'He's not ashamed to call me his sister! He's not ashamed of what I do!', Kel wrapped her arms around her younger brother, "Oh Tobe. You have now idea how much better that makes me feel. To know you aren't ashamed of me." Wrapped in her arms he replied,
"Of course not sis. I love you."
They held each other for a long while until Kel moved away so she could look him in the face, "Yes, but you can't punch anyone at school anymore ok?"Looking down in embarrassment, he nodded his head. "Good, now lets get a light meal in shall we?" Meet with another nod Kel rose from the sofa and headed tot he frig, "Lets see, we have spaghetti, or cereal... I guess I need to run to the store again. So what will it be?" Both deciding to have speghetti they sat in idle chatter, eating and making a grocery list until Kel went to take a nap. "Wake me up at six would you Tobe?"
"Sure sis. Have a good nap."
"Thanks again for the ride Neal. I'll see you later Tobe." Running through the rain toward the bead covered tinted front door, Kel stopped to say hello to the bouncer and continued on to the dressing rooms.
"Kel! There you are, what took you so long?"
Glancing at the clubs owner, Tony, she took in his dark eyes and shoulder length straight blond hair that many girls longed to run their hands through. 'His looks are wasted on me, he's just a jerk.' She had never seen him in anything designer suits, and the burly bouncers all call him sir. He couldn't be older than 25 yet he owned this place, and everything in it. "Tony, I'm not late and I have plenty of time until I go on."
Grabbing her by the arm he steers her toward a table he said, "That might be true, but maybe I just enjoy your company." Flashing her one of his, what the other girls called, bacon sizzler smiles.
"... are you done yet Tony?" Getting up from her seat Kel heads toward the dressing rooms. But still hears his parting words,
"I like a challenge Keladry, and you are definitely that."
Opening the door to the dressing rooms, Kel was meet with the smells of overpowering perfume, and many naked women as she heads to her mirror. "Hey girl, how did your day go?" asked a petite African girl who was applying fake eyelashes.
"It was... tiring to say the least Peliwin."
"Tony still giving you problems?"
Looking Up from her own makeup Kel fixed Peliwin with a serious look, "How on earth do you get him to leave you alone? I've been trying for months." Laughing at her comedic expression,
"Well, I let him know right from the start that I bat for the other team. You know...my offer still stands," Looking at Kel up and down Peliwin gave a sweet smile, "If your still interested." Smiling at her friend and ruffling her hair Kel replied,
"Sorry sweetie, but I'm happy with the team I'm on. What's your skit tonight?"
"I'm an Egyptian slave, you?" About to reply when on of the bouncers called for Peliwin saying she was due on stage. "See ya later girl, don't let Tony get you down." Waving bye to her Kel returned to getting ready. Thirty minutes later Kel was waiting behind the curtain to go on,
'Gods, I don't want to do this tonight. Neal's right, I can't do this much longer, I need to find a new job and quick.' Hearing her cue, Kel took a second to check her school girl costume before sauntering onto the stage straight to the cool metal pole in the center. Dancing around the pole for a while Kelshed her tie and white shirt with seductive little tugs. Grabbing the pole again she swings her feet off the floor, 'I wonder how big the audience is tonight.' Dancing to the slow sensual music she took a glance out to the seats, 'Damn, there's Tony, ass. I bet he wants a lap dance, yeah dream on buddy. Let's see... Drunk men, that's normal. Hmph, the average table of phrat boys right up front.' As she continued to observe the group her eyes rested on a black haired man that stole her breath. 'Oh my...'Disentangling herself from the pole, Kel makes her was down to the dark haired beauty. Standing behind him she ran her hands through his hair, 'It's so soft, and he's so handsome.' Deciding to enjoy herself for the first time on the job she straddled his hips and said, "You can touch back you know. Don't be afraid pretty boy." After licking him on the underside of his jaw she looked closer at his features. His dark hair was long but shorter than his shoulders and curled beautifully around his neck like Michelangelo's 'David', It matched the small stubble on his strong chin. His skin was tan either from the sun or a tanning bed. His nose was long that curled slightly up at the tip, 'I've seen this nose before, where?' Continuing to admire his features she worked her way to his eyes, 'There so blue!' Stunned by the shade of blue Kel hardly noticed the music drawing to a close. 'Damn, i have to leave, well a goodbye kiss won't hurt anyone.' Lifting herself from him she dropped a quick peck on his cheek and climbed back on the stage and sensually stripped of her skirt, finishing her dance in her matching red bra and thong.
Leaving the stage she ran straight to her mirror and started dressing in her street clothes. 'Man he was fine, but not even he can make up for how much I hate this job. I'm getting a new one and soon. Oh, if only I could have meet him outside of this place.' Her thoughts were interrupted by arms around her waist,
"My my, you were getting quite friendly with that boy in the audience Kel." Looking down Peliwin was grinning madly causing Kel to do the same, "Well, did he give you his number? Well...did he?"
Laughing at her friends' impatience she steared her back to her mirror to sit and clean herself of her stage makeup, "No he didn't slip me his number, and you know that I wouldn't use it anyway." 'But for him...would I?"
Pouting Peliwin replied, "Yeah I know, but maybe you should date again. It's been a really long time." Exciting herself she continued, "I know this great guy, he's a painter and he..."
"That's alright Peliwin, I'm not really interested right now." Interrupting her friend before she got anymore into the idea of setting her up for a date Kel picked up her bag and in a playful tone said, "I'll see you on Friday, behave until then alright?" Laughing at the comment Peliwin waved bye and started for the stage again.
Turning toward the door that leads to the street, Kel was stopped once again by a pair of strong arms turning her around, "Well I quess you can be warm to the opposite sex when you want to be huh Kel." Looking up into the ticked off face of Tony Kel stared right back. "And were do you think your going?"
Pushing him back Kel picked up her bag that she had dropped while being turned around, "I'm going home." Eyes squinting in anger Tony tightened his grip on her arms,
"And who said you could do that sweetheart? I'm your boss, and I say your shift isn't over yet. Now get back in costume and get to serving the men outside." Their argument was cut short by Darla, Peliwin's girlfriend of the week, came to tell Kel that she had a wannabe client. Pulling away from Tony Kel moved away with Darla,
"Great timing Darla, now what is it you said." Looking over her shoulder she could see Tony had left. 'Probably to go find another victim, the smuck.'
Looking at Kel Darla told about the guy at the bar, "And he wants some private time with you."
'Could it really be him? The same guy wants a private dance?' "Tell him that I'll met him in room five in about 10 minutes. I have to go get ready again." Giving her a big grin Darla wished Kel luck and went to tell the guy the good news.
Hurrying back to the 'Hospitality' room number five Kel dressed in a red silk robe with a black bra and garter belt below it. She placed a chair at the foot of the bed, and draped herself on it. Waiting for the man of her dreams to arrive. 'He probably just wants me for sex, like all the others. What else could he see in me.' Frowning at her own mind putting her down she quickly thought back, 'But he didn't grope me in the club like all the other men do, maybe he's different. Yeah and maybe Tony goes to orpahnages on weekends with sweets and tells stories to the unfortunate kids, come on there's no way he's interested in you for anything more than you look good in underwear. Yeah well what if he does like me for me?" Her internal brain fighting was cut short by the sound of knocking on the door. Gathering her courage Kel yelled,
"Come in."
She watched the door handle turn and the hallway light brighten the dimmed room,
'I quess I'll find out.'
To Be Continued...
AN/ Sorry for the cliffy but now you'll here their thoughts together. Man this was a long chapter. But I feel really good about it, I hope you all enjoyed this one and that you can't wait for the next. Thanks again to everyone who read and reviewed and I ask that you continue to do so.
