Devon
Enjoy!
"You all live here?" questioned Don emphasizing the 'all'. Mikey nodded and smiled.
"Yep, me and my boys!" she replied surprisingly upbeat. She knew her situation must look appalling to him; they simply had no money to spare. They all lived in the one bedroom apartment with a small kitchen and dining area and one small bathroom on the second floor of an old apartment building on the "bad side" of town. Each room was scantily furnished The dining room had an old, worn table with five miss-matched beat up chairs one with an outdated phonebook sitting on top of the seat. The kitchen had all outdated appliances. The bedroom had only a mattress on the ground with a sheet over it and one comforter to keep warm. They each had neat piles of their clothes in the corner of the bedroom and one pile of pillows and extra blankets with dirty clothes hamper in between. In the living room, they had only a few worn out cushions on the ground and a very old worn out couch. They could not afford a computer or television and even if they could, they would not be able to afford the extra money it would cost them on their electricity bill. Mikey began to walk to the kitchen to start dinner for everyone.
"I'm making grilled cheese, do you want one?" she asked.
He did not know to reply-- he did not know how much they had to spare, seeing the measly apartment. However, he complied. "Sure," he replied grateful for the offer. When she opened the door to the refrigerator, he could only gape at their lack of food. That was when he realized their poor state of living. No wonder she was so small. He would put money on the prospect that she had not always that thin. She must have felt a need to explain herself. He could tell she was embarrassed by their living environment.
"When we all moved in together, a couple years ago, we didn't really have very much money. None of us can get jobs because Leo always wants someone with me so I can't get a job and he can't. Raph has to deal with most of the business and, of course, we could never ask April or Casey to make money for us," she hurriedly tried to explain their conditions.
'She needed someone with her? Raph did the business? What was she talking about' his mind was quickly evaluating what she had just said, trying to take in all of the possibilities for the answers he wasn't given. "So, how do you get enough money for your rent and everything?" Don asked slowly.
"When my family needs money, I get them money. I have to because I'm the reason they're in this situation," she replied. 'More unanswered questions' he thought.
Slowly, head bowed, Mikey began to heat the skillet with butter. Next, she laid out a row of bread and cheese. She impishly looked up and excused herself before leaving the room quickly. He heard her leave the apartment and almost followed her, feeling that it had been his fault but when he reached the doorway, she came back in.
Don smiled at the small boy clinging to Mikey's hand. "Did you have fun with Miss Anna, Dev?" Mikey asked the two-year-old. The boy grinned and nodded saying that they had gone to the park. "Okay, you can play here until dinner is ready," she laid out a blanket and some toy cars, "but first you have to say hello to Mr. Don."
"Hi Mr. Don," he mumbled quickly mesmerized by his toy cars.
"Hi there, Devon," Don replied enthusiastically.
Mikey went back to her grilled cheese and began to cook the sandwiches in the now warm skillet. "He's cute," Don said to her, "who is he?"
"Devon," she smiled as if he had asked the silliest question in the world.
"No, I know that. Is he your brother or something?" Don elaborated.
She shook her bowed head, "He's my son."
'Devon is her son?' he reeled. He began to ask her more questions like how old she had been when she had him, for example. Devon's shriek of delight from the living room, though, interrupted his thoughts and questions.
"Daddy! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" the young boy hollered while running into Leo's arms. Leo picked him up and carried into the kitchen where he greeted Don and Mikey.
"Hi, guys. What're you making for dinner?" Leo asked.
"Grilled Cheese," she replied, "but after we eat I got to get out of here, I have an. appointment."
He nodded his understanding, "Do you mind if Raph takes you? He just got home, too." She shook her head 'no' and took the finished grilled cheeses out of the skillet and put one onto each of the five plates. Next, she pulled out a knife and cut each in half and one into fourths. Finally, she placed each of the grilled cheeses on the table with a glass of water and a napkin each except for the grilled cheese she had cut into fourths. With that sandwich, she put a small cup of milk with a straw.
Mikey called Devon to the table, picked him up, and put him on top of the phone book on the chair in front of his grilled cheese and milk. "Thank you, Mommy," he said lightly before picking up a fourth of his grilled cheese. Everyone else sat down in front of a plate and began to eat. Silently, Leo put half of his sandwich onto Mikey's plate. She did not refuse; she only gave him a grateful smile.
Mikey kept everyone entertained while she ate her grilled cheese by telling silly jokes and playing a game where she told two stories, one true and one fake so that everyone could try to guess which the bogus story was.
"My first story is that I went to school once, and I was going around all day with boys hooting and hollering at me and I couldn't figure out why, until finally I realized I had gone around all day without a bra on without realizing it. My second story is that I came home once and Dev was wearing my lingerie and makeup and asked why he couldn't be a girl like me."
Everyone laughed at her stories. Don and Raph guessed that the first was true and Leo guessed that the second was true. Mikey grinned triumphantly, "Two out of three isn't that bad, I don't even try to fool Leo anymore, he can see right through me like a piece of glass. Anyways, though, it's your turn, Leo."
He replied quietly, "Shouldn't you be going?" He said it slowly, deliberately.
"Right. Of course. Raph, shall we?" she turned to him.
"Sure, lets go," he stood up.
"Leo, will you get the dishes, please? And will you please watch Devon?" she requested.
"Of course, you know I will. You know you do not have to go, don't you? Can't we find another way to make money? Please don't do this I can't see you upset again," he stoked her cheek with his thumb as he pleaded.
"Of course, I know that. I also know that it never worked out before and I know this is my fault. Stop it please, just let me go." She smiled her sheepish reassurance. He nodded and kissed her forehead. He permitted her to breeze passed him and out of the apartment.
Mikey inwardly cringed when she heard Raph invite Don to go along for the ride from outside the apartment.
"Sure, if it's okay with her," he peeked out of the apartment, unsure of what to do.
"Yes, that's fine," she permitted.
The three of them drove in the dark and pulled up in front of a small building on a side street. Mikey got out of the car and when Don made a move to follow Raph kept him where he was. After Mikey had disappeared into the building Raph said, "We just wait here, she won't be that long. She's done it before, it's in and out."
"Seriously, dude? Leo lets her prostitute herself? No matter how much you need the money, she shouldn't have to do that." Raph laughed outright.
"Man, she's not having sex, she wouldn't do that. She is just. well. you know, taking pictures. Pictures like the kind boys look at. Why wouldn't Leo let her do that though-I mean, who is he to stop her any more than me?" Raph asked amused.
"Well, they are dating and all," Don couldn't figure out why Raph thought he sounded so foolish.
Raph chuckled again, "Dude, they aren't dating. Not anymore. They haven't been together in a long time."
*~*~*~* "Okay, darlin', just open your legs up a little bit," said the cameraman.
Mikey positioned herself sitting up with her legs spread open and propped up with her arms on her knees and the camera straight in front of her.
"That's a good girl."
*SNAP*
*~*~*~*~
After sitting in silence for a brief period Raph began to chuckle with no warning.
"What?" Don looked over at him.
"Dude-I just realized-just between you and me, Devon isn't Leo's."
Don paused, shocked. "There is so much about you guys that I need to figure out," Don sighed.
"Don't worry, man, it'll all come together. Thing is, we need to know that you will stick with us; you'll have to be here for a while before we trust you with our secrets. That's just the way it is. Do you think you want to stick around long enough to do that? Think about this hard, we don't lead an easy life. If you say you'll stick around right now, there's no turning back-ever.
"Yeah, I'll do it," he replied after a pause. Raph sighed- he was in although he didn't know if he should be pleased or feel sorry for what he did.
*~*~*~*
"That's right, girlie; stretch your arms up more over your head," cooed the photographer.
Mikey positioned her arms out further above her head. She lay twisted up in a white silk sheet with the camera above her head aiming down. Her breasts and upper thighs were exposed.
"That's a love, good girl."
*SNAP*
*~*~*~*
"Wait!" Don exclaimed with astonishment.
"Yeah," Raph looked over curiously.
"How old is Mikey?" he asked.
"She's fifteen, why?" Raph could not figure out what he was getting
at.
"Well isn't that child pornography?" Don wondered.
"Yeah, the guy is private with his stuff though, he doesn't get caught. Usually he waits until the girl is almost seventeen but he says that Mikey is such a pretty face he couldn't turn her down. She's been doing this since right after Devon was born," Raph explained.
"Oh, well how old is Devon?" Don looked at him expectantly.
"He just turned two."
*~*~*~*
Mikey plopped into the passenger seat only a few minutes later and handed Raph fat envelope but exchanged no words. When the threesome were only about half a mile from their apartment Raph silently pulled into a gas station and pulled up to the door to let Mikey out. He handed her a twenty- dollar bill but said nothing.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
"What's she doing?" Don asked when she had entered the gas station.
"She does this every time she goes to work. She can't sleep she gets nightmares, so we just stop and she buys some tranquilizers and usually an apple juice for herself strawberry milk for Devon. Some months she gets more than others months and she gets everyone a small treat. This was a good month."
Mikey came back out, handed Raph chocolate milk, Don a Mellow Yellow, and then handed Raph her spare change. She sipped her apple juice for the rest of the way home.
*~*~*~*
Mikey walked straight to the kitchen, put the bag down on the counter, and then leaned against it. She saw someone stand in front of her, looked up with her troubled blue eyes to meet the concerned brown ones, and broke down into tears. Leo pulled her close to him and she sobbed into his chest while he murmured into her hair, "I'm sorry, baby. God, I am so sorry." Pain clearly etched into his voice. Pain for her-Pain for what he had done to her.
'I wish I had never done this to you. I am so sorry. You do not deserve to live like this you are so much better. If I could take it all back, I would. I love you so much I always have and I would do anything to protect you from any pain. That means, I have to protect you from myself, because all I do is brig pain to the people that I love.' He stared to back away. He wished he could speak those words to her but then it would only bring back all of the pain. It was nothing that hadn't been said before. He could not promise her anything he could only promise broken promises. A life like his came with no promises no certainties nothing but hurt and pain.
"Daddy, why is mommy sad?" Devon looked up at Leo expectantly. He picked up the little boy silently and carried him out of the room. "Can't I give her a kiss? I know whenever I'm sad; if she gives me a kiss it feels better." Leo considered it and let the boy go back to Mikey.
"Hey, baby." She picked him up.
"I love you, Mommy," he gave her a kiss and smiled boyishly. "Is that better?" he asked.
"Yes, all better," she gave the boy another kiss on the cheek. "Guess what Mommy got you?" she turned around, got the strawberry milk out of the bag, and put a straw into it. "I know it helps you sleep better. He took it out of her hand sand drank out of the straw. He fell asleep with his head on her shoulder before she even made it into the bedroom.
"Leo," she whispered, "Put him in the bedroom, please?" she asked and he took the boy from her arms. She took the milk back to the kitchen and put it into the fridge for later. Mikey took out a tranquilizer, popped it into her mouth, and swallowed it with the aid of her apple juice.
"Hey, Leo, I got you something," she walked out into the living room to find that Raph was driving Don home for the night. Mikey handed him a Baby Ruth chocolate bar and a cherry coke. She fled to the bedroom where she fell instantly into dreams on the mattress on the floor with her son curled up beside her. Leo stole into their bedroom in the night to look down at the woman he loved and the little boy who should have been his. She looked like an angle and he looked so innocent in his dreams. If only he was in a position in his life where he could act on his love. Nevertheless, with love only came heartache in his life.
~!~!~!~
Sorry, people, I know I skip around a lot. I really can't help it. I'm trying to make it flow more. I'm getting a lot better than I used to be, trust me on that one. The next chapter should be up soon, I hope. I hope everyone liked it, though. I'm pleased with the chapter I'm hoping for a fun third chapter; I'm needing a break from this dark stuff. Then I think the next chapter will be dark again. I don't know, we'll see.
Thank you so much to:
Walking Contradiction: You have inspired me to keep on with this fic. Thank you so much! I love you with all y heart!
Kelly: You are just a darling. I love you. Thanks for the idea to post on here
Love, Krissy.
Enjoy!
"You all live here?" questioned Don emphasizing the 'all'. Mikey nodded and smiled.
"Yep, me and my boys!" she replied surprisingly upbeat. She knew her situation must look appalling to him; they simply had no money to spare. They all lived in the one bedroom apartment with a small kitchen and dining area and one small bathroom on the second floor of an old apartment building on the "bad side" of town. Each room was scantily furnished The dining room had an old, worn table with five miss-matched beat up chairs one with an outdated phonebook sitting on top of the seat. The kitchen had all outdated appliances. The bedroom had only a mattress on the ground with a sheet over it and one comforter to keep warm. They each had neat piles of their clothes in the corner of the bedroom and one pile of pillows and extra blankets with dirty clothes hamper in between. In the living room, they had only a few worn out cushions on the ground and a very old worn out couch. They could not afford a computer or television and even if they could, they would not be able to afford the extra money it would cost them on their electricity bill. Mikey began to walk to the kitchen to start dinner for everyone.
"I'm making grilled cheese, do you want one?" she asked.
He did not know to reply-- he did not know how much they had to spare, seeing the measly apartment. However, he complied. "Sure," he replied grateful for the offer. When she opened the door to the refrigerator, he could only gape at their lack of food. That was when he realized their poor state of living. No wonder she was so small. He would put money on the prospect that she had not always that thin. She must have felt a need to explain herself. He could tell she was embarrassed by their living environment.
"When we all moved in together, a couple years ago, we didn't really have very much money. None of us can get jobs because Leo always wants someone with me so I can't get a job and he can't. Raph has to deal with most of the business and, of course, we could never ask April or Casey to make money for us," she hurriedly tried to explain their conditions.
'She needed someone with her? Raph did the business? What was she talking about' his mind was quickly evaluating what she had just said, trying to take in all of the possibilities for the answers he wasn't given. "So, how do you get enough money for your rent and everything?" Don asked slowly.
"When my family needs money, I get them money. I have to because I'm the reason they're in this situation," she replied. 'More unanswered questions' he thought.
Slowly, head bowed, Mikey began to heat the skillet with butter. Next, she laid out a row of bread and cheese. She impishly looked up and excused herself before leaving the room quickly. He heard her leave the apartment and almost followed her, feeling that it had been his fault but when he reached the doorway, she came back in.
Don smiled at the small boy clinging to Mikey's hand. "Did you have fun with Miss Anna, Dev?" Mikey asked the two-year-old. The boy grinned and nodded saying that they had gone to the park. "Okay, you can play here until dinner is ready," she laid out a blanket and some toy cars, "but first you have to say hello to Mr. Don."
"Hi Mr. Don," he mumbled quickly mesmerized by his toy cars.
"Hi there, Devon," Don replied enthusiastically.
Mikey went back to her grilled cheese and began to cook the sandwiches in the now warm skillet. "He's cute," Don said to her, "who is he?"
"Devon," she smiled as if he had asked the silliest question in the world.
"No, I know that. Is he your brother or something?" Don elaborated.
She shook her bowed head, "He's my son."
'Devon is her son?' he reeled. He began to ask her more questions like how old she had been when she had him, for example. Devon's shriek of delight from the living room, though, interrupted his thoughts and questions.
"Daddy! Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" the young boy hollered while running into Leo's arms. Leo picked him up and carried into the kitchen where he greeted Don and Mikey.
"Hi, guys. What're you making for dinner?" Leo asked.
"Grilled Cheese," she replied, "but after we eat I got to get out of here, I have an. appointment."
He nodded his understanding, "Do you mind if Raph takes you? He just got home, too." She shook her head 'no' and took the finished grilled cheeses out of the skillet and put one onto each of the five plates. Next, she pulled out a knife and cut each in half and one into fourths. Finally, she placed each of the grilled cheeses on the table with a glass of water and a napkin each except for the grilled cheese she had cut into fourths. With that sandwich, she put a small cup of milk with a straw.
Mikey called Devon to the table, picked him up, and put him on top of the phone book on the chair in front of his grilled cheese and milk. "Thank you, Mommy," he said lightly before picking up a fourth of his grilled cheese. Everyone else sat down in front of a plate and began to eat. Silently, Leo put half of his sandwich onto Mikey's plate. She did not refuse; she only gave him a grateful smile.
Mikey kept everyone entertained while she ate her grilled cheese by telling silly jokes and playing a game where she told two stories, one true and one fake so that everyone could try to guess which the bogus story was.
"My first story is that I went to school once, and I was going around all day with boys hooting and hollering at me and I couldn't figure out why, until finally I realized I had gone around all day without a bra on without realizing it. My second story is that I came home once and Dev was wearing my lingerie and makeup and asked why he couldn't be a girl like me."
Everyone laughed at her stories. Don and Raph guessed that the first was true and Leo guessed that the second was true. Mikey grinned triumphantly, "Two out of three isn't that bad, I don't even try to fool Leo anymore, he can see right through me like a piece of glass. Anyways, though, it's your turn, Leo."
He replied quietly, "Shouldn't you be going?" He said it slowly, deliberately.
"Right. Of course. Raph, shall we?" she turned to him.
"Sure, lets go," he stood up.
"Leo, will you get the dishes, please? And will you please watch Devon?" she requested.
"Of course, you know I will. You know you do not have to go, don't you? Can't we find another way to make money? Please don't do this I can't see you upset again," he stoked her cheek with his thumb as he pleaded.
"Of course, I know that. I also know that it never worked out before and I know this is my fault. Stop it please, just let me go." She smiled her sheepish reassurance. He nodded and kissed her forehead. He permitted her to breeze passed him and out of the apartment.
Mikey inwardly cringed when she heard Raph invite Don to go along for the ride from outside the apartment.
"Sure, if it's okay with her," he peeked out of the apartment, unsure of what to do.
"Yes, that's fine," she permitted.
The three of them drove in the dark and pulled up in front of a small building on a side street. Mikey got out of the car and when Don made a move to follow Raph kept him where he was. After Mikey had disappeared into the building Raph said, "We just wait here, she won't be that long. She's done it before, it's in and out."
"Seriously, dude? Leo lets her prostitute herself? No matter how much you need the money, she shouldn't have to do that." Raph laughed outright.
"Man, she's not having sex, she wouldn't do that. She is just. well. you know, taking pictures. Pictures like the kind boys look at. Why wouldn't Leo let her do that though-I mean, who is he to stop her any more than me?" Raph asked amused.
"Well, they are dating and all," Don couldn't figure out why Raph thought he sounded so foolish.
Raph chuckled again, "Dude, they aren't dating. Not anymore. They haven't been together in a long time."
*~*~*~* "Okay, darlin', just open your legs up a little bit," said the cameraman.
Mikey positioned herself sitting up with her legs spread open and propped up with her arms on her knees and the camera straight in front of her.
"That's a good girl."
*SNAP*
*~*~*~*~
After sitting in silence for a brief period Raph began to chuckle with no warning.
"What?" Don looked over at him.
"Dude-I just realized-just between you and me, Devon isn't Leo's."
Don paused, shocked. "There is so much about you guys that I need to figure out," Don sighed.
"Don't worry, man, it'll all come together. Thing is, we need to know that you will stick with us; you'll have to be here for a while before we trust you with our secrets. That's just the way it is. Do you think you want to stick around long enough to do that? Think about this hard, we don't lead an easy life. If you say you'll stick around right now, there's no turning back-ever.
"Yeah, I'll do it," he replied after a pause. Raph sighed- he was in although he didn't know if he should be pleased or feel sorry for what he did.
*~*~*~*
"That's right, girlie; stretch your arms up more over your head," cooed the photographer.
Mikey positioned her arms out further above her head. She lay twisted up in a white silk sheet with the camera above her head aiming down. Her breasts and upper thighs were exposed.
"That's a love, good girl."
*SNAP*
*~*~*~*
"Wait!" Don exclaimed with astonishment.
"Yeah," Raph looked over curiously.
"How old is Mikey?" he asked.
"She's fifteen, why?" Raph could not figure out what he was getting
at.
"Well isn't that child pornography?" Don wondered.
"Yeah, the guy is private with his stuff though, he doesn't get caught. Usually he waits until the girl is almost seventeen but he says that Mikey is such a pretty face he couldn't turn her down. She's been doing this since right after Devon was born," Raph explained.
"Oh, well how old is Devon?" Don looked at him expectantly.
"He just turned two."
*~*~*~*
Mikey plopped into the passenger seat only a few minutes later and handed Raph fat envelope but exchanged no words. When the threesome were only about half a mile from their apartment Raph silently pulled into a gas station and pulled up to the door to let Mikey out. He handed her a twenty- dollar bill but said nothing.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
"What's she doing?" Don asked when she had entered the gas station.
"She does this every time she goes to work. She can't sleep she gets nightmares, so we just stop and she buys some tranquilizers and usually an apple juice for herself strawberry milk for Devon. Some months she gets more than others months and she gets everyone a small treat. This was a good month."
Mikey came back out, handed Raph chocolate milk, Don a Mellow Yellow, and then handed Raph her spare change. She sipped her apple juice for the rest of the way home.
*~*~*~*
Mikey walked straight to the kitchen, put the bag down on the counter, and then leaned against it. She saw someone stand in front of her, looked up with her troubled blue eyes to meet the concerned brown ones, and broke down into tears. Leo pulled her close to him and she sobbed into his chest while he murmured into her hair, "I'm sorry, baby. God, I am so sorry." Pain clearly etched into his voice. Pain for her-Pain for what he had done to her.
'I wish I had never done this to you. I am so sorry. You do not deserve to live like this you are so much better. If I could take it all back, I would. I love you so much I always have and I would do anything to protect you from any pain. That means, I have to protect you from myself, because all I do is brig pain to the people that I love.' He stared to back away. He wished he could speak those words to her but then it would only bring back all of the pain. It was nothing that hadn't been said before. He could not promise her anything he could only promise broken promises. A life like his came with no promises no certainties nothing but hurt and pain.
"Daddy, why is mommy sad?" Devon looked up at Leo expectantly. He picked up the little boy silently and carried him out of the room. "Can't I give her a kiss? I know whenever I'm sad; if she gives me a kiss it feels better." Leo considered it and let the boy go back to Mikey.
"Hey, baby." She picked him up.
"I love you, Mommy," he gave her a kiss and smiled boyishly. "Is that better?" he asked.
"Yes, all better," she gave the boy another kiss on the cheek. "Guess what Mommy got you?" she turned around, got the strawberry milk out of the bag, and put a straw into it. "I know it helps you sleep better. He took it out of her hand sand drank out of the straw. He fell asleep with his head on her shoulder before she even made it into the bedroom.
"Leo," she whispered, "Put him in the bedroom, please?" she asked and he took the boy from her arms. She took the milk back to the kitchen and put it into the fridge for later. Mikey took out a tranquilizer, popped it into her mouth, and swallowed it with the aid of her apple juice.
"Hey, Leo, I got you something," she walked out into the living room to find that Raph was driving Don home for the night. Mikey handed him a Baby Ruth chocolate bar and a cherry coke. She fled to the bedroom where she fell instantly into dreams on the mattress on the floor with her son curled up beside her. Leo stole into their bedroom in the night to look down at the woman he loved and the little boy who should have been his. She looked like an angle and he looked so innocent in his dreams. If only he was in a position in his life where he could act on his love. Nevertheless, with love only came heartache in his life.
~!~!~!~
Sorry, people, I know I skip around a lot. I really can't help it. I'm trying to make it flow more. I'm getting a lot better than I used to be, trust me on that one. The next chapter should be up soon, I hope. I hope everyone liked it, though. I'm pleased with the chapter I'm hoping for a fun third chapter; I'm needing a break from this dark stuff. Then I think the next chapter will be dark again. I don't know, we'll see.
Thank you so much to:
Walking Contradiction: You have inspired me to keep on with this fic. Thank you so much! I love you with all y heart!
Kelly: You are just a darling. I love you. Thanks for the idea to post on here
Love, Krissy.
