Alright soo thanks to a suggestion by krys723 this chapter is all about Riley and Shantel aka Jewel's backstory/history (well some of it) which I think will answer some of you guy's questions and add more depth to the story, but I must warn you...it gets a little dark when it comes to Shantel's history so if you don't like that kind of stuff then I suggest you skip the ending.
See the love I have for you guys...I was up till 7Am finishing this chapter lol. But that's mainly cause once I get it started I gotta finish it unless I have writers block but with this story I don't think it's coming.
Thanks again to krys723 for the awesome suggestion and I hope you enjoy, on with the story!
"I can't believe you had me in there for over 5 hours." I grumbled voice groggy from drowsiness and boredom. Shantel laughed and thankfully took the last few bags from me. We went to the bank across the street first and as soon as she got her money and we stepped foot in the mall she went crazy. We went to Victoria Secret, PINK, Rue21, Deb, Forever 21, Apple, Aeropostale, Hollister, Aldo, Journey's, Bath & Body Works, Best Buy, Carson Pirie Scott, Hot Topic, Lids, Footlocker, Wet Seal and every other store you could think of.
"Don't ask me for anything cause I ain't helping you put any of this shit up." I stated in all seriousness, she had my truck filled up to the roof with nothing but shopping bags; bought everything from panties to an iMac. I've never seen any girl shop this much...she probably has more clothes and shoes than Mariah Carey. Can't imagine what her closet at D-Mac's looks like.
"Fine...doubt you'd be strong enough to help me anyway." Not gonna fall for that one.
"Yea, whatever." The drive home was once again silent as usual, even my mind was at ease. Didn't take as long as usual since it was still kind of early...well early if your young, but not too far from the legal drinking age limit, and what better to do when you're young than stay out late and get wasted...maybe even laid if you're lucky. Or you could be terribly unlucky...depending on who you wake up with in the morning. Take it from me worst feeling in the world.
"Have fun bringing the bags in and don't forget to lock the truck." I reminded her, she snorted scrunching up her face.
"Are you serious?! You're seriously gonna make me bring all this in by myself?" She questioned in shock crossing her arms, I shrugged.
"Did enough stuffing the shit in the truck...and not to mention carrying half of it around in the mall. So, yea you're on your own." I replied stepping out onto the hard concrete of my driveway.
"You son of a-" I slammed the door before she could start her rant and made my way upstairs with one thing in mind; getting my ass in the shower and finally getting some proper sleep. She'll be ok...not like someone followed us and could snatch her any minute. I stopped in my tracks as that last thought really hit me. Damnit. I reluctantly made my way back outside and started to help her with the bags.
"Look who it is, Mr. Chivalrous." She announced with an amused smirk. I could practically feel the 'I knew it' radiating off of her.
"Shut up." I snapped. The lack of sleep was really getting to me and my tolerance for dealing with her smartass was depleting as we speak. Luckily she took the hint and shut her mouth. Once all the bags were inside I headed straight up the spiral staircase, didn't get very far when her voice called out to me.
"Hey...R-riley," I could tell by her voice she was afraid I'd bite her head off again, taking a deep breath I managed to keep myself calm...somewhat. Without turning around I stopped and waited for her response, "thanks."
With a simple nod I continued my ascend up the twisting stairs withdrawing my clothes as soon as I stepped into the safety of my own room. My muscles instantly relaxed as I stepped under the warm water letting the beads of moisture run down my braids, past my chiseled chest, abs and down my thighs only to return back to sewage. I need this.
"Finally!"
Piling all the clothes in the closet and stacking all the electronics on the desk I decided I should probably take a shower as well. The warm water always helps me think...and I had a lot to think about...on second thought a bath may be better. What am I going to do...I can't stay here for the rest of my life. For all I know he could just be doing all this to set a trap so he can finish the job he failed to do, after all he was sent to kill me in the first place. Why would he go against his boss for me? A girl he barely knows...and I know he gave up a lot of money since I mean...it's me. Anyway, where would I go? Going home is definitely out of the question since my mom probably stopped caring that I was gone a long time ago, my dad was dead and everyone else in my family could give two fucks about me. Sighing I peeled off my clothes grabbing the essentials; Dove Deep Moisturizing body wash, bubble bath from Bath and Body Works; Pink Chiffon my favorite, my iPhone 5 now activated and ready to go and some epsom salts. Sliding down into the cloud of bubbles letting the warm waters engulf me I tapped the Pandora app on my phone and played the Bruno Mars station, closing my eyes I let myself enter my own world...a world where I was free.
"Mommy! Mommy!" A little girl about five years old, with long golden brown hair that cascaded down her back in loose curls and big clear blue eyes that looked like they never held a care in the world called to a woman, who looked too young to be having any child, black skirt swaying back and forth as she ran across the lush, green pasture jumping into the young woman's arms.
"What is it, Telly?" She asked voice smooth as silk, placing the little girl down to get to her eye level. She looked at the girl with such awe and love...wishing in her mind the little girl would be able to stay the same age forever and never have to worry about anything. Forever be able to just stay innocent and pure...never have to face the struggles of growing up and going out into the cruel, dark world we're forced to live in. Never have to go through what her mother was going through.
"Look." The little girl opened her hands to reveal a beautiful winged creature of blue, black and white; a blue monarch. Her mother couldn't help but smile at the child.
"It's beautiful...just like you." She cooed tapping the little girl on the nose causing her to giggle.
"Mommy...when will I get to look like you?" The toddler asked releasing the nature beauty glancing up at her mother through her thick lashes, eyes twinkling with a child's natural curiosity. There was no argument she was the girl's daughter because they were practically twins; same big blue eyes and long brown hair only the little girl's beauty was still pure and yet to mature unlike her mother who's attraction was already so grown-up and well filled out. You could tell the child had never even heard of so much as a bad day while her mother seemed to have been well through quite a few of them.
"You are already more beautiful than me, Tellytubby." The teen replied caressing the girl's flawless, plump cheek.
"Nuh-uh!" The little girl argued poking out her bottom lip.
"Yea huh." Her mother retorted flicking the pouted lip of her child.
"No." Telly chided crossing her arms.
"Yes!" The young woman disagreed snatching the girl up by her tiny waist attacking her tummy which was well hidden by the mini jean shirt tucked firmly into her skirt forcing giggles to erupt from the child's thin pink lips covered in gloss. Her earrings jingled as she thrashed about from the tickling.
"Okay! OKAY!" She squealed eyes flooding. The young woman grinned and nuzzled the child close to her who wrapped her small arms around the young woman's slender neck in response as if on instinct.
"I love you, baby." The teen whispered planting a quick kiss on the child's plush lips.
"I love you too, mommy." The little girl responded hugging her mother as if her life depended on it. They stood like that for quite a while, sun shining down on them as the wind blew through their hair as they relished in the love that surrounded them almost shielding them off from all the hate and sadness in the world and for just that moment...just that moment they were in heaven. Until suddenly lightning struck down in anger as the sky that was one bluer than the sea turned pitch black. The same little girl and young woman were standing in the same position in the same pasture only the girls smile was twisted as she wailed in pain and cried in agony while her mother cried silent tears of hate and depression staring down at a mangled, bloody corpse that had been so cut, beaten and broken it was barely recognizable. Eyes staring back at the two of them in sadness and remorse...the smell of decaying flesh filling the cramped room suffocating the both of them.
Gasping I snapped my eyes open to reveal that I was still in the same tub, in the same bathroom, in the same house. You're not there anymore...and you're never going back. It happened. It's over. The past...is the past.
Climbing into the bed I moaned in pleasure at the sensation of the soft mattress fitting to my form, the soft pillow morphing to cradle my head perfectly and the cool satin sheets wrapping me up in the perfect temperature. This is what I live for...a nigga could get used to this. Only one thing could make it better...if a certain someone was in the bed with me...tangled up in the sheets...screaming my name. Quickly shaking those thoughts out of my head I placed my arms behind my head focusing on one thing and one thing only; sleep. Closing my eyes I welcomed the silence and tranquility that followed with my mind slipping away.
"BOY! THAT IS THE LAST DAMNED STRAW! I SHOULDA GOT RID OF YO ASS WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE! I'M TOO OLD TO BE DEALING WITH THIS SHIT, WHY CAN'T YOU BE LIKE YO BROTHER, HUEY, AND ACTUALLY TRY TO GET SOMEWHERE?! YOU GON BE A DUMBASS ALL YO LIFE?! But that's it...I done had it. Pack yo shit cause I'm sendin' yo ass off to that school for niggas who can't get they shit together tomorrow mornin'." I couldn't believe it...he was actually gonna get rid of me and ship me off to some school for bitch ass niggas who was dumb enough to get caught.
"You...you can't do dat, Grandad!" I yelled trying to keep my voice from cracking. Tears pricked at my eyes but I forced em' back.
"I can do whatever the fuck I want cause I'm a grown ass man! Now get yo lil ass upstairs and pack fo' I get my damn belt!" He barked shoving me up the stairs. Oh I'll pack aiight...but I ain't packing for no damn school.
"Shouldn't of fucked up...maybe they'll teach you something about our heritage while you're there...you could use it." Of course his gay ass just had to say some shit. Before I had the chance to process it I lunged at him and this time caught him off guard. Got one good punch in to his left eye before he kicked me off of him into the nearest wall and got me with a left right combo to my mouth. Swear I felt a tooth pop out.
"Nigga get off me!" I wailed pushing him away from me and darting to my room. Grabbing my bookbag I dumped all the useless books and shit out of it and stuffed as many clothes into as I could along with the one bb-gun Huey didn't find.
"Where do you think you're going?" Huey snapped from my doorway arms crossed, scowl locked and loaded.
"I'm gettin' out dis tacky ass bitch dats fo'sho. Fuck yo gay ass and fuck granddad too." He shrugged and headed back to his won room.
"Fine, leave. You'll be back in about 2 days when you get tired of Ed and Rummy trapped in closet asses or need to be picked up from juvy." Those were his last words. Using the oldest trick in the book I tied my bed sheet and bed spread to the comforter and threw it out the window with one end tied to the edge of the bed.
"See you in hell, bitches." I yelled saluting the house and sliding down the makeshift rope. As soon as my feet hit the floor I ran, ran for all I was worth.
"AAAHHH!" A blood curdling scream awoke me from my 'back track' jolting me out of bed. What the hell!
"AAAHHH! NO!" My legs moved before my mind as I was flying down the stairs and into Shantel's room. She was thrashing about in her bed, hands gripping the sheets so fiercely the blood flow was cut off.
"Stop! Stop! Please!" Even though her eyes were clamped shut tears were pouring out of them like a waterfall and her forehead was caked in sweat. I don't know what it was, but hearing her in pain tugged at my heart and twisted it to the point it ached. I dismissed the feeling and climbed into her bed, pulling her into my arms while I desperately tried to wake her up from whatever was killing her mentally from the inside out.
The house that was once squeaky clean from top to bottom with vibrant cream walls, unsoiled furniture and had a warm and elated feeling whenever you walked in now wreaked of crack, alcohol, sweat and shame, the furniture was soiled with food stains and burn marks, the walls were covered in dirt and peeling and the only thing you felt when you entered the house now was disdain and uneasiness. The same girl that was catching butterflies with her mother in the park was now all grown-up and had the same matured beauty her mother had. Her chestnut brown hair now went down to her waist freshly washed and curled for the big day, her blue eyes were still big and as clear as the ocean, but they no longer held that innocence for she had seen the world and all the ugliness that came with it, were framed by lashes coated in thick mascara, her lips that were once thin were now plump and covered in pink lipstick, her face that was already flawless and always remained that way was covered in make-up hiding her almost translucent freckles and making her look like a doll of fine china. Her body that used to be so thin and fragile was now more filled out and curvy. She gained the same hourglass figure as her mother at the age of 14 and it only upgraded as she got older.
"Put this on." Her mother ordered throwing a dress at her that was barely long enough to cover her ass and low enough to leave almost nothing to the imagination. Her mother. The woman she used to look up to, who used to comb her hair every night, used to sing her to sleep, pick her up and drop her off at art class and ballet and gymnastics, cook her favorite meals and spent every single moment with her...that woman was gone. Once the one man who meant the world to the both of them was gone she left along with him. This woman, this stranger, who was with them now was not her mother. After they found out he was killed she went on a downward spiral and there was no climbing back up. She started doing drugs, drinking more than she pissed out and selling her body. The young woman whose tan skin was silky smooth and held not one imperfection, whose body looked like it was cutout from a Victoria's Secret magazine, whose eyes could bring any man to her knees and held so much love and all the care in the world, she was dried up. Died a long time ago.
"B-but...it's too small." The girl whispered to frightened to meet her mother's blood shot eyes.
"Excuse me?" The woman snapped glaring at the young girl she saw nothing more than a personal money tree now, smirking as the young girl flinched at her tone.
"Nothing it's...it's just that-"
"Do you want a birthday party or not? You know I don't have to waste my money on you Telly, " She growled cutting the girl off, spitting her name out like it disgusted her to even have to speak it, who could do nothing more than sigh and nod, "ok then. Now go upstairs, put the dress on and try not to ruin your makeup. Wouldn't want you looking horrid in front of your guests...and try to smile. It is your Sweet 16 after all." The teen followed her mother's orders and slinked up the stairs to her room which was barely bigger than a port-a-potty with all the crap her mother had piled in there. She undid her robe and slid on the sparkly pink dress that pushed her boobs up to her ears and was so short she could feel a draft. She tried not to cry staring at her reflection in the mirror, yea she looked beautiful but this wasn't what she wanted. She wanted a big extravagant party like the rich girls had on TV...not that she was ungrateful but she just wished things were...better. Like they used to be. She quickly plastered on her fake smile when she heard the steps creaking as her mother shuffled up them. She could smell the cocaine from a mile away before any type of sound was made. Glancing up at her mother who was standing in her doorway smoke pipe in hand, dressed in a skimpy looking crop top that showed off her many unappealing tattoos and belly piercing and shorts that might as well have been classified as jean panties, she tried to look happy and excited when on the inside she was miserable.
"Don't you look pretty...c'mon your guests are waiting downstairs, " Her mom announced in that same scratchy emotionless voice she always used. Telly simply nodded like she always did and followed her mother who stopped her at the top of the steps, "now I have a special surprise for you. Go wait in my room." Once again she gave her the same nod and did what she was told. She plopped down on the old, worn out mattress and prayed that the day would be over soon. Taking her thoughts off of her fucked up life for one second she let her mind ponder what the "surprise" was. Could it have been those new shoes she had been asking for? Or that new outfit she saw at the mall the other day? Her hopes were crushed when her mother returned not with a box of shoes or a shopping bag but two grown men.
"What...what is this?" She asked voice cracking. Suddenly her heart started to thump loudly in her chest and her palms became moist with sweat. Her mother smiled devilishly when she smelled her fear.
"These are your guests...and they're here to give you your birthday present." With that she left shutting the door tight behind her and leaving her baby girl, the one who she was supposed to protect and love unconditionally, alone. No one would hear her screams.
"Shantel! Shantel wake up! Snap out of it, you're here. You're safe...I won't let anything happen to you." I woke up to the warm embrace of big, strong arms. Muscles rippling as they rocked me back and forth in a comforting gesture. Shaking my head I tried to get those images out of my mind, but now they seemed to be burned into the center of my conscious. My breathing was ragged as I couldn't get the feel of them off of me, I couldn't get the smell of them to escape my nostrils, couldn't get my own screams out of my head forcing my tears to keep flowing.
"Shantel?" Glancing up I was met with these hard dark brown eyes that appeared careless and tough, but now I could see the feeling behind them. The love, the adoration, the happiness...the hurt. The same eyes that belonged to the one who had saved me once and was now here to save me again, the same eyes I found myself quite accustomed to in the past 2 days.
Alright so that was it...whew that was a long one. A lot deeper than the other chapters but the story is classified as Angst soo what can I say...I promise there will be some action in the next chapter and more info about their pasts, but I REALLY want to know what you guys' think about this chapter since there may not be another one like it till later on (I mean one as deep and emotional as this one) and with your feedback it'll really help me figure out how to write so it reaches out to you better as a reader. And here are some questions (which I will start posting at the end of every chapter as you can see):
-Who was that little girl? (Though I think you already know)
-Has Riley discovered some feelings he has (or might have) for Shantel?
-What is Shantel's connection with D-Mac?
-What is Riley's connection with Sage?
-Was someone actually following them?
-Who fed the dogs? Lol jk...but someone has to look out for them too you know.
-Will Riley "spend the night" with Shantel so she can forget about her nightmares? ;) (no not like that you nashtees)
Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Buh-bye.
~xXBrokenThoughtsXx