The next day, Amy and I went on a run, since we had been slacking since coming here. I dressed in light pink, cotton, tight, short short and a clingy, light grey, tank top. I usually didn't wear a bra when exercising because it made me feel constricted and that's the worse possible feeling while you're running. Somehow, Amy talked me into running barefoot with her, crazy thing that she was. I pulled my hair up in a simple ponytail and strapped my IPod to my shorts and we began to run. Amy and I rarely talked while running, simply enjoying the company and listening to our music. I loved the change of scenery and actually being able to breathe in the fresh air. It was different but a good different. I could feel the sweat build on my body, my shirt practically molded to my body. On the trek back home, I felt like I was being watched. I knew it wasn't Amy after looking at her out of the corner of my eye. After a few more minutes of this unsettling feeling, I suddenly heard a loud honk over my music and jumped out of the way with a gasp. I watched as the truck passed with the guys in it. Charlie's eyes were glued onto me as he passed. I smiled slightly and waved. All the boys waved back and one of them shouted,
"Looking good!" I rolled my eyes and scoffed. Amy looked at me and frowned. I just shrugged and began to run again once the truck was out of sight. Eventually I felt her catch up to me. A small piece of relief filled me as I saw the barn and house. Once we got towards the gate of the house, I slowed down to a walk. My lungs sucked in the fresh air and I could feel the sun shine on my sweat soaked skin. My shirt seemed to stick to my skin, even more, clinging to the curves of my body. My nipples were hard, from the slight breeze that blew around me, and my shirt proudly showed it off. I looked up at the 4 men on top of the barn and noticed all of their eyes on me. Not my face, but my body. I frowned and looked Charlie square in the eyes and raised an eyebrow. I could practically feel them devouring me with their eyes. I felt violated. I sped walked into the house, Amy close behind me. I quickly grabbed a peach and tossed one to Amy, then grabbed a knife. I hopped up onto the counter and slowly munched on the juicy fruit.
"Taking a break?" Amy asked David. David was leaning across the island, reading the newspaper.
"The world is at war. 400 companies are going bankrupt and the lead story is that football season is just a week away." David began to rant while fluttering his arms around.
"Well, Blackwater isn't at war. Although it was a big deal when John Burk came back from Iraq." David huffed and looked down at the paper while smiling slightly.
"You and Deputy Burk, returning heros."
"Only town heros come from one place around here, that football field." Amy scoffed. I sat there silently, simply observing them and eating my peach.
"Like the guys fixing our roof. A bunch of straw dogs." My eyebrows furrowed and I frowned. I didn't like when David acted like this. Like he was better than everyone else. It had gotten quite bad while we were here. It was not blatant, more like subtle rude mannerisms. He just didn't understand that people from a small town would only tolerate a little bit of that shit.
"Straw dogs?" Amy asked. I piped in.
"Ancient Chinese rituals. Dogs made of straw. They were treated with the utmost respect and worshiped during the ritual. Once it was over though, they were tossed aside, to be trampled on and destroyed. Sad really." I sighed.
"Yep. When these boys's football careers are over, that's all they become." David input. Then he stood up and looked at Amy as she stayed silent and huffed.
"What, you don't have to take it personally. I'm not talking about you. You're not one of them. Not anymore you aren't." David said shrugging. I rolled my eyes as she scoffed.
"No it's not that. It's just, I could practically feel those straw dogs out there, licking mine and Rose's body." I frowned and looked down at my peach.
"You could practically see them raping Rose with her eyes." I narrowed my eyes at Amy. I didn't want to think about it. It was disturbing enough when it happened. David turned to me and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really now? And what did you do to provoke them?" My narrowed eyes turned on David.
"Provoke them? What?! David, I didn't do anything to provoke them! Amy and I were simply running! Tell me how I apparently provoked them!" My voice started to raise. He glared at me and started to walk towards me.
"Well, your clothes practically invite them to look at your body." I glared at him harshly and jumped off the counter, setting my hands on my hips. My chest started heaving as anger wormed its way into my body.
"My clothes?! What the fuck do you mean by that?"
"Well, your shorts practically show off your ass, I'd bet it'd cover even less as you ran. Then you don't wear a bra under your shirt. You're flaunting your body! How you dress pretty much screams, 'Hey! I'm an easy fuck! Come on, I'll spread my legs for just about everyone!'" Silence followed. I watched as surprise grew upon both Amy and David's faces. Rage and hurt coursed through my veins. I walked directly up to David and just looked up at him.
"Rosie. I'm sorry, I didn't mea..." I cut David's sentence off by reeling my hand back and slapping him hard across the cheek. His head flew to the side and he instantly grabbed his cheek which was quickly turning an alarmingly red. He looked at me in shock. I wasn't a normally violent person, but when I became angry all bets were off. I glared at him, fiercely.
"Some teens, are getting pregnant at my age, some are addicted to drugs and alcohol, and some party every night. Me? Well, I sit at home. I spend time with my family. I've never had sex, haven't found an interesting enough guy yet. I don't drink, I've never done drugs. Now as my clothing choice is in question, yes I wear things to get guy's attention. Because all women have a slight vain side in them that likes the attention she gets from men. You should be thankful that you have a niece like myself. Don't talk to me, David. Not tonight. I can't be held accountable for my actions if you do." I turned around and started to go up the stairs to my room.
"I'm taking a bath. Don't disturb me." I mumbled as I treked up the steps. Once I was in my room, I locked the door and then leaned against it. I took deep breaths, trying to calm down. Then, an idea wormed its way into my head.
"Call me a whore. I'll show you a fucking whore." I walked over to the window and opened it. I was directly in front of the barn and could easily see the guys on it's roof. Slowly one by one, they all noticed me as I began to take my hair out of my ponytail. My eyes instantly found Charlie's. I kept our eyes locked as I grabbed the bottom of my shirt and slowly started to pull it up. Slowly, inch by slow inch, the expanse of my white, smooth, flat tummy became exposed as well as my wide hips. Then, I ripped off the rest of the shirt and just stood there for a moment, staring at Charlie. Charlie seemed stunned, as his eyes slowly trailed down my torso. When I met his eyes once again, I could faintly see a fire burning there. I quickly slammed the window doors shut and ran a hand through my hair.
"What the fuck did I just do?" I moaned to myself quietly with a sigh. I then walked into the bathroom and started my bath, already regretting what I just did.
