Chapter 4: Recovered
Leonid stare at her and Sophia was looking away, he stood up from the bed, and he was just wearing boxers, and he walked closer to Sophia.“ Why didn’t you tell me, you were virgin?” He ask and Sophia stare at him.“ I am sorry sir. Can I have my money now?” She ask and Leonid stare at her.“ Are you all about the money? Don’t you respect your dignity?”He ask and tears fell off from Sophia eyes.“ I thought you are a…” he says and Sophia cut him short.“ That I was a sex worker right?” She says in anger while she still have tears in her eyes.“ You said if I was about the money. Off course, I was all about the money. What do you expect from me? When I have a sick sister that I was supposed to take care of, she is dying in the hospital and I can’t afford to lose her. You are talking about dignity anhh? I do respect my dignity but at this point and I am frustrated and I don’t know what to do, I am confuse when the rich people have refuse to employ we the poor so tell how am I supposed respect my dignity of I see another way to get the money, I have no choice because this is the only way for me, I was at the night club because I needed job but the personal told me I am qualified, guess maybe I am looking so poor and dirty right” she says in anger and she cried and Leonid stare at her and he could not speak.“ You a rich young man but I am sure if I come to your company to apply for a job, I won’t be qualified because I am so poor, the rich has refuse to employ the poor, they prefer to watch them suffer and die” she says in anger and Leonid was short of words.“ Can I have my money now? I need to leave now” she says in anger and Leonid took his wallet and he offered her $10,000 cash, Sophia did not look at the cash and she went out of the hotel room and Leonid forgot to ask her about her name and her contact number.“ Oh gosh, I forgot ask her about her name” he says and he was feeling guilty and upset with himself that he had sex with Sophia.Olivia rushed to the hospital and Sophia was not still yet back to the hospital and she saw Selena and Roseline worried and she tried to tell them to calm and few minutes later, Sophia came in to the hospital, she spoke to the doctor and the doctor told her to go pay the hospital bills, she paid $7,000 and she was still having $3,000 and that was when she knew that Leonid gave her $10,000 and she was surprised and was not expecting and she kept it, she and the doctor went to the ward and Selena and Roseline saw her and her mother hug her.“ Where have you been Sophia?” Roseline ask.“ Speak up Sophia” Olivia says and tears fell from Sophia’s eyes and Selena could notice that there was something wrong.“ Sophia! What is the matter?” Selena ask and Sophia face the doctor.“ Doctor! When will you start the treatment?” Sophia ask.“ We will carried out some test for the patient first before the treatment, the nurse will be here in some minutes to take the patient for the test. Excuse me” the doctor says and he left and everyone was surprised that the doctor wants to treat Selena.“ What is going Sophia?” Her mother ask and Sophia was still in tears.“ Selena will be treated, I already paid the hospital bills in full” she says and everyone was surprised.“ What?!!” Her mum says in surprise.“ Please no one to ask how I get the money. What is important is for Sophia to be treated” Sophia says and she walked out of the ward and Olivia went after her and Sophia was still crying.“ Sophia! What is going? How did you get the money? I left you in the club last night and your mum was so worried and she had to call me to ask after you. Where did you sleep?” Olivia ask and Sophia stare at her and she was still in tears and she could answer.“ Wait a minute! I hope it’s not what I am thinking? Did you go with a guy after I had left?” Olivia ask and Sophia cried more staring at Olivia and she could not answer the question and her silent said it all, Olivia could understand.“ Oh my goodness! I did not expect that from you” Olivia says.“ Please don’t tell anyone. Promise that you won’t tell my mum or other person. I was desperate and I need to treat my twin sister because she is dying” Sophia says in tears and Olivia hugs her.“ It’s fine, I won’t tell anyone but I am worried because you were a virgin” Olivia says.“ Not anymore” she says and the nurse took Selena away, Roseline went closer to Olivia and Sophia.“ Can you give us some minutes Olivia?” Roseline ask.“ Sure ma” she says and she left their side, Sophia could not look at her mum in the face.“ Sophia! Tell me how did you get the money, I am your mother and you can talk to me” her mum says.“ How I get the money is not important, the must important thing is that Selena to fine” she says and her mum stare at her.“ I know you want your twin sister to be fine and you are desperate but I need to know how you got the money” her mum says.“ Mum! Please just stop it, I don’t want to talk about” she says and she left her mother’s side.It’s been 3 days and the doctors had already carried all the test on Selena and it’s time for the treatment, Sophia and their mother pray so that Selena will recovered soon.Leonid kept on thinking about Sophia and he hope he can meet her one day, he stood in from of his window office and he sip his drink remembering all what Sophia said in anger.After week, Selena was treated and she is getting better, she spend over a month in the hospital and she was discharged when she was fully recovered, they went back home and Sophia was happy to see Selena back to her feet, their mother Roseline, still worries about how Sophia got the money, she refuse to speak up, they all seated in their small low quality dining to have dinner and their mother intended to ask.“ Sophia! Now that your sister had fully recovered. Can you tell me how you get money for her treatment?” Their mother ask and Selena stare at her.“ Mum! I don’t want to talk about it “ Sophia says and she already upset and not eating anymore.“ Dear! It’s for your good, I just need to know because I want what will get you into trouble” their mum says.“ Mum is right Sophia” Selena says and Sophia stare at her and Sophia stood from the dining anger and she brings out $1,500 from her pocket because when Selena was in the hospital for the whole month, their mother could not go for her road side business anymore and she lost all her markets.“ Mum! Take this money and use it start a new business and please no one to ask me questions” Sophia says and she stop it but when lignée refuse to accept the money.“ I won’t accept this money until you tell how you get the money” her mum says.“ I am sure, you don’t want us to suffer anymore, I don’t want to stretch matters, I will tell you when I am ready, start a business with that” Sophia says and she went to the room and Selena also stood up from the dining and she went to their small room and she met Sophia was in deep thoughts.Chapter 5:Mix up when Leonid met with Selena Selena walked closer to Sophia on their small bed and she cleans her tears.“ You can tell me! What the matter is? Tell me how you got the money?” Selena ask and their mother stood in beside the door and she was listen to her daughters.“ Listen! I promise, I will not tell mum, remember you don’t always lie to me “ Selena says.“ I hope you will not tell mum but I trust you since you promise then you will fulfill it” Sophia says and she stare at Selena.“ That day that Olivia took me to the night club, they refuse to employ so I waited so that I can speak to the boss my self but a billionaire showed up and he said he wanted to have a night with me and he offered me money so I had to accepted, I was desperate when the doctor said that you have to just little time so I accepted and the next morning he offered me $10,000 and that was how I was able to pay your hospital bills” Sophia says and Selena gets emotional and she hugs Sophia and their
Flashed back in school I couldn’t decide what to wear. At first I thought casual, like jeans and a button-down; then I thought no, in case his parents are there I should wear a dress, something somber like my gray scoop neck with the skinny belt. Then that looked too much like a funeral outfit, so I tried a marigold silk shirtdress, but that looked too spring, too cheerful.The elevator doors ding open and I step out into the hallway. It’s early Monday morning, an hour before school starts. I’m carrying a wicker basket of freshly baked chocolate chunk cookies and a get-well card covered in pink- and red-lipsticked lips. I’m wearing a navy turtleneck sweater and a camel-colored miniskirt, cream tights, brown suede ankle booties with a high heel. I curled my hair and did it halfway up, halfway down.Fingers crossed I don’t look as guilty as I feel.At least it wasn’t as bad as it could have been—that’s what I keep telling myself. It certainly looked bad that night. It looked horrible.
Finally Aunt Bette springs into action. I hear her struggle with my door on her side for a second, and then it swings open fast.“Thank goodness,” I say, relieved. I’m about to step into the hallway when I spot some stuff on the floor. It looks like white sand, or a chalk of some kind. To the left I can see it was laid in a thin, perfect line, but directly in front of my door it’s been totally messed up by Aunt Bette’s footprints.What in the world?I think about stooping over and touching it, but I’m a little spooked.Aunt Bette has always been into weird things, like smudgings and crystals and channeling different energies. She used to always bring back trinkets and lucky charms whenever she went overseas. I know that stuff is all harmless, but I point down at the chalk and say, “What is that stuff?”Aunt Bette looks up guiltily. “It’s nothing. I—I’ll clean it up.”I nod, like Okay, sure, while stepping past her. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”“Wait,” she says urgently. “Where are y
Selena lets out a howl of victory and does a spin, whipping the flannel around over her head like a lasso. “This is a teachable moment, Dan. When I want something, I take it. Boom. End of story.” Dan’s face turns bright pink. I bust up laughing because she’s so crazy.Selena must hear me, because immediately she looks over to where I’m standing. She nudges her chin my way the slightest bit. I smile back, quick, and am about to climb on my bike and ride away, when Selena does something surprising.She holds up a finger, like I should wait up for her.It happens so fast I wonder if maybe I imagined it. We haven’t really ever done this before. Acknowledge each other in public, out in the open. I guess we can now, since our whole revenge plan is over. But I take out the book I need to read for English class and flip through it, so I don’t look obvious. I watch as she grinds out her cigarette.“Come on, Selena. Give it back.”Selena puts it on over her sweatshirt. “But I want to wear it. I
So Kim did steal from Paul? I guess Frank can see the shock on my face, because he shakes his head, like I’ve got the wrong idea. “Think of it more as an inevitable lawsuit settlement.”“But it’s not like this place makes that much money. What could it have been? Maybe a thousand dollars, max? That’s not going to get her far. It’s not like that’s buying her a mansion or something. She hasn’t talked to her parents in years. She could be . . . homeless.”“She’ll be okay,” Frank says again, but this time he’s less sure.The tears come right then. I can’t stop, and Frank looks uncomfortable as shit. Wiping my nose with my sleeve, I say, “If she calls, will you tell her I came looking for her?”Frank nods, but it’s the kind of nod where we both know that won’t ever happen. Kim’s gone for good.I’m crying my eyes out as Frank leads me out of a side door and into the alleyway. He tells me good-bye and then shuts the door in my face. I try to call Kim’s cell, but the number’s disconnected. Of
He’d do the same thing for me,” Rennie says, and I can’t believe she can keep a straight face saying it. As if Leonid would lift a finger for anybody but himself! “Oh, and speaking of that, I’m not going to be at practice for the rest of this week. Leonid got a few appointments off island to see a sports-medicine specialist.” She smiles to herself, pleased. “He’s getting his hard cast off tomorrow, right on schedule.”My head snaps up. “Why do you have to miss practice for that?”Rennie ignores me and says, “Ash, can you be in charge?”Ashlin casts an uneasy look my way. “Sure. Lil and I can do it together—right, Lil?”Incredulously I ask, “Are you quitting the squad or something?”“No, I’m not quitting the squad,” Rennie snaps. “That’s not what I said.”“Well, you have missed, like, three practices already,” I say, and my voice shakes a little as I say it, because I’m scared. I’m actually calling her out on her BS for once.Rennie’s cheeks heat up. “When I signed on to rep Leonid’s n
But my biggest problem right now is that I don’t have enough booth coverage. I got Nadia and her friends to do the scavenger hunt, and I got the drama kids to do a campfire story hour, but I still need judges for the costume contest.And then there’s the face-painting booth.Ever since freshman year, Rennie and I have manned the facepainting booth. We’d paint butterflies and stars and tiger stripes on the little kids’ faces. It was our thing. I think it will be a perfect opportunity for us to talk, away from Ashlin and Leonid and everybody else. Just me and Rennie, like it used to be.I take a deep breath and say to her, “We’re still doing the face-painting booth, right?”Rennie scrunches her face up. “I don’t think I can. Sorry.” Except she doesn’t look sorry.“That’s okay,” I say. But it’s not. It’s far from okay.“I need time to get into my costume. Fall Fest is at what, five? And over at eight? There won’t be enough time, even if I rush home after school.” Rennie shrugs. “Plus, so
I watch Alex chase a group of girls with the chain saw. He almost trips but catches himself. Across the room I can hear Leonid’s guffaw. It echoes throughout the gym.I bite a piece of candy off my candy bracelet. In an hour and a half it’ll all be over. I wasn’t going to go to the haunted maze because I didn’t want to see Rennie, but now I think I will go. I have as much right to be there as she does. They’re my friends too. Look how Leonid and Alex showed up for me tonight. They’re not in her pocket as much as she thinks.I don’t think I ever understood the power of a Halloween costume before tonight. Probably because I never had a very good one.When I was a kid, my mom made my costumes herself. Other kids would buy theirs at the drugstore, the kind that came with a mask and a plastic suit to put on over your clothes. Those kids would run around, breaking sticks as Superman or shooting pretend webs out of their wrists like SpiderMan.Mom wouldn’t allow it. “There’s no creativity in