Rhonda

"Maria, watch where you poke me with those things you twit!" I snapped, angry that this was the fifth time this non-English speaking ingrate managed to poke me with her damn needle and thread. How hard was it to fit me for an evening gown without killing me in the process? This was a Vera Wang, crafted with artisanal taste and divine purpose. All she had to do was bring it in a little since I lost five pounds around my hip and thigh region with my smoothie regimen. "If you get one ounce of blood on this dress I swear I will call immigration to deport you and your children."

"Rhonda, darling, stop being so rude and racist." Thaddeus echoed from his chair. He got up to give me a small peck on the cheek before saying something in Spanish to the cowering woman. I rolled my eyes. "And her name is Marisol, not Maria."

"Does it matter?" I scoffed, getting back to messaging Nadine to bring the shoes I had allowed her to borrow for her date with the guy she met online. Chad Walker I believe it was. He was half Columbian and half Nigerian, a tall, darker-skinned man with suave and finesse. He spoke seven languages and attended an ivy-league institution on scholarship with ambitions in becoming an astrophysicist. Nadine was so impressed by his resume that she overlooked the fact that she was dating some mutt from two exceptionally poor countries. He was unexceptional to say the least.

"No, Rhonda, my love. We don't want to anger our employees; she is the one holding the needle and thread that could be the difference between a beautiful figure and an ass the size of Texas."

I slapped Curly so talking to me in such a manner. I would have him know I have the best weight-loss trainer money could buy and was in impeccable physical health. "Curly, say one more thing about my ass and I swear to Cosmopolitan that I will hurt you."

"Now that's my queen; feisty and aggressive as usual." He breathed, rubbing his cheek. "I like them spicy!"

I shoved him away from me, getting off the pedestal in my closet. I told Maria…Marisol…whatever her name was to take a short break and I would call for her when I was done. I needed to get a drink of sparkling water to clear my head. "Curly, why are you even still here?"

I watched him shuffle from my bedroom to meet on my balcony. It was a little crabby, rainy, and wet today but it was the beginning of summer and felt so refreshing to get outside and breathe in cool air. I reached out my arm to touch the slow tempo of the rain that fell from the willow tree next to my window. The short, sweet breeze that passed through and whisked with the drooping branches of the willow soothed me in their light shuffle. If I was not dressed in a twenty thousand dollar gown I would have grabbed my rain boots, umbrella, and took a short stroll around the neighborhood. One thing that people did not know about me was that I was very fond of rain and sudden thunderstorms excited me.

"You can't just sleep with me and throw me out, my darling." I felt him slink his arms around my waist. "Besides, who is going to keep my sane aside from you?"

"Curly, get a grip and get with the program. What happened to that girl you were just about ready to screw last week when I called you?"

He shrugged, kissing my neck. I felt the sudden gust of wind spray a mist of water against my neck. It felt good and electrified against the butterfly kisses Thaddeus was placing against my tender flesh. "I call her every now and then to hang out if I am not around you, my sweet. You know you are the light of my eyes, the breathtaking soul of my spirit, the wind beneath my wings, the…"

"That's enough, Curly." I deadpanned, cutting him off. I allowed myself to turn to face him, giving him a small kiss on the lips as his reward. "Still doesn't explain why you are still here?"

"Your parents are away for the weekend, you have this mansion to yourself for a while seventy-two hours, and…someone has to keep you from being overtly racist towards your employees."

"Not my fault they are unexceptional beings."

He sighed, grabbing my hands to place a chaste kiss. "Don't forget that I fall into the category as well, Rhonda."

I grew silent, feeling myself go numb. I had no idea what to say to that. Instead of outright addressing it, I smoothed it over with another kiss; wrapping my arms around Curly's neck to deepen the attraction. He stuck out his tongue, asking for entrance to intertwine with mine before I allowed him in. I moaned, loving the way he tongued me. Curly was an exceptional kisser and those two years in France really taught him a thing or two. I was the first to pull away, afraid of starting something we both could not finish. Today was the third, four days after the last day of my cycle and where I was relatively fertile. I did not believe in that contraception stuff in fear of damaging my reproductive system and with Curly's dislike of protection, I was not trying to have any unexpected surprises. It was bad enough we fooled around this morning; I was not trying to make the same mistake again.

"We better stop before we find ourselves in my bed again."

He smirked, beginning to tug at the straps of Vera. "I would not mind that."

He grinned his way into another kiss, this time managing to slip my arms through the loops of my gown. I had to pull away. "As much as I would love to dominate you, Curly, we can't. You know the week and a half after my period is off limits."

He sighed. "You act like I didn't come prepared, my love."

"But you detest those dreadful things and besides, what if one of them breaks and I get pregnant with an unexceptional child? I would be shunned, disowned, or worse…a mother to a…mutt."

The word mutt rolled off my tongue like the bitter taste of a freshly squeezed lemon. I tried to clear my thoughts on even having a child, let alone an indecent one. I could not imagine toting a toddler in my Jimmy Choo pumps and having sour milk stain the calf-skinned leather of my Chanel caviar. The mere thought disgusted me and just thinking about children made my skin crawl. Thaddeus and I talked about children briefly during the time we were together but I always cut the conversation short or dismissed it altogether. Truth be told, I was uncertain if I even wanted children; but I knew that if I did I would not bring them into the world with less than what they deserved. I look at how Helga got pregnant from Arnold so young and how she and Arnold are struggling to make ends meet with a messy three year old in tow. I did not want to see myself as fat, depressed, and wearing riders by Lee at the tender age of twenty-one.

I watched Curly pull away slowly, his face growing solemn as he turned away to fall back into my room to pack his things. I stood on the edge of my balcony, watching at his sudden change in mood. I always grew fearful when Curly would grow abnormally calm and quiet. I knew Curly was clinically diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and was even being evaluated for borderline personality disorder, but it was sometimes challenging understanding his mood swings half the time. One minute he was his normal self, very affectionate and creepy as usual, and then he would turn into this quiet type from The Lovely Bones.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Rhonda." His tone was dismissive, almost irritated. I knew he only used my name when he was upset with me. "I just remembered I had something to do today."

I crossed my arms across my chest, huffing. "And leave me all alone by myself? What happened to us spending the weekend together?"

"Why don't you call that Peruvian guy you fawn over so much and leave me the fuck alone?" he snapped. I honestly was caught off guard, taken aback to say the least by his use of vulgarity. I clutched my chest, feeling a non-familiar pain begin to cling against my heart.

"You can't be serious!"

"I have to go, Rhonda." He slung his backpack over his shoulder, grabbing his jacket before he headed downstairs. I angrily followed, nearly stumbling from the six foot train of my lace gown.

"So you are going to leave without a proper goodbye?" I shouted from the middle of the stairs. He gripped the knob of the front door for dear life, lowering his head. I watched him release it slowly; turning around to face me with the most stoic face he could muster. I noticed his eyes grow glossy, his cheeks turn a shade of deep crimson as his hands grew into fists. I settled at the bottom of the staircase, keeping my balance on the picturesque lion's head at the foot of the staircase.

"Rhonda, I'm tired of this. I can't do this anymore with you."

"Do what, Thaddeus? What are we doing?"

"You are playing me like this is a damn game but my feelings are not to be toyed with, Rhonda. You seriously don't think I am worthy of you and that shit was okay but in fourth grade but we are adults now, Rhonda. Contrary to your belief, my sweets, but I have options aside from a prissy stuck up racist like you."

"I beg your pardon!?" I screeched, unable to fully understand where this was coming from. One minute we are making out on my balcony, and next he is telling me I am some kind of rude racist? "I would have you know…"

"I wasn't finished." He cut me off swiftly, lunging towards me. I drew in a short breath. "I have loved you since we were nine, Rhonda, and all I have ever done to you was loved you like the queen I believe you to be. I have always been there for you even when you did not deserve a shred of kindness. You have burned almost every bridge with people but yet I stayed."

"Curly…"

"I have longed for the day that you would return my unrequited love but it is clear that day will never come. You are repulsed by the idea of even carrying my seed, let alone marrying someone like me. It's clear you want some Peruvian guy that beats on you rather than a man like me, Rhonda."

"Now you just hold it!" I grabbed his shirt, twisting it in fury. "How dare you talk to me like that!"

"See!" he shouted, pulling away from me in anger. "That, right there, is your problem. You think you are royalty Rhonda but you aren't. You are a snobby brat that has always had things her way."

"So what is the alternative, Thaddeus?" I asked, getting irritated at the conversation. I hated when Curly got like this. Whenever I said something the least but offensive he wanted to pretend his feelings were hurt. "Do you expect me to live like a pesant?"

"I'm not a peasant, Rhonda!" he roared, punching the wall beside the staircase in rage. I immediately gasped, growing scared. Thomas and my personal chef, Abigail, had scurried from the kitchen to see what was going on. From the corner of my eye, I could see Thomas begin to worry. "Just because I am not as well off as you, 'thoroughbred' as you, and come from royal lineage does not mean a damn thing."

"Curly…please calm down." I whispered. I tried to place a hand against his cheek but he turned away, still fuming.

He sucked in a breath, backing away from me. He fell silent for a few short moments before looking at me with tearful eyes. He gnawed on his bottom lip before sniffling. "I'll never be good enough for you, will I Rhonda?"

I remained silent, unsure on what to say in response to that. Curly knew I had feelings for him but it meant nothing if I did not show them on a consistent basis; today fully showing that. I began to speak but he put up a single hand to silence me. "Me being Armenian won't ever go away, Rhonda. I have watched you degrade and insult my people on countless occasions without muttering a word though it burned me to the core. Well, now I'm done and I can't do this anymore with you."

"What are you saying, Curly?"

"That I think it's best we just sever ties now and avoid one of us getting…hurt."

There was a small spell of silence before either one of us spoke again. I watched as Thaddeus picked up his things to head towards the door again, this time not pausing to think it through. I didn't know whether or not to chase him, but when I finally made a decision he was already in his God forsaken car heading out my driveway. I reached for my cell in my bra, dialing his number in complete panic. It rang several times before being forward to voicemail. After calling repeatedly for an hour, I was met with the message I dreaded the most.

We're sorry, the number you have dialed has requested no further calls from this number at this time. Goodbye.

A/N: I have no idea why but I LOVE writing Rhonda. She is the character that comes most easy to me and I am guessing it is because I am a Rhonda in my own right. LOL. I am not as bad as her but…I have my daily diva moments. I am surprised my husband can deal with my on the daily basis. Anyhoo, I am so humbly grateful for you guys' readership and love. I really enjoy writing as a hobby and it just soothes me after a long day.

On a side note, I am officially a published author! I will be featured in Zane's upcoming installment of the Chocolate Flava Chronicles and a copy my manuscript of an original piece of fiction was picked up from Kimani Publishing! (BlackRob, I know you aren't surprised. I am such an erotic writer it's not funny. LOL. Hope I didn't kill your childhood yet) *screams* I love you guys so much and I appreciate all you all have done to support me through these- almost seven years. I promise that though I will be writing more professionally now and my REAL name will be out in the public, I will still be on where it all started showing love to the very people that supported me through the years. I thank you and You all are amazing.

Thanks for enjoying my twisted, dark fantasies. -SensuallyPassionate