Four

       DEVAN

    It was my mind playing tricks on me for the umpteenth time that day. I couldn't explain what I was feeling at that moment. 

    Was it the lacy, black, revealing gown that she had put on that suddenly ignited the embers in my chest? Or her shiny black eyes that never seemed to quench?

    "Shut the door, Devan." Mum screamed jolting me back to reality. I had gone off already, my thoughts and fictitious images had flown beyond the thinkable.

    All eyes were on me now, as I shut the door in embarrassment, and searched for a place to my head in shame. I could feel Ms. Ellen's eyes follow me around the room until I found a secure spot to bury my head.

    "Forgive his insolence, he has a very imaginative mind. Did I tell you he was an avid artist? Well, he is, a gifted one at that."

    "You never told me this before, Julia."  Ms. Ellen responded calling Mum by her first name. None of us dared call her that, but here was Ms. Ellen doing exactly what Mum detested so much. Yet, mum didn't frown or correct, but a smile surfaced on her face.

    "You teach in his school, don't you?" Mum quizzed trying to be overly friendly.

    "Yes I do." Ms. Ellen replied uninterested, avidly searching for a place to lay down the box of pizza she had brought along.

    "Devan, you could show her some of your artworks if you want to?" 

    "My room's in a bit of mess at the moment." I lied to save them of the bizarre scene of seeing bizarre artworks of naked Ms. Ellen.

    "Come over here, and go show her your drawings." She ordered

    I dragged my feet across the floor again, in an attempt to annoy her, but she wasn't moved.

    "Alright, I don't think you've both had a formal introduction." Mum began, as my legs trembled. 'What was she trying to do?' I could almost hear myself scream.

    Immediately I was in front of Ms. Ellen, Mum took my hand, and placed them in Ms. Ellen. "This is Devan, I was talking to you about him earlier on about his drawings. Have you met each other on a previous occasion?" 

    "Mum, that was just a few moments ago." I said with a grimace.

    "I don't think we've had the opportunity to meet, Devan. I'm Ellen, would have had the opportunity to meet you the other day, but you shut the door in my face, and left me in the cold, until your mother came to my rescue."

    "I'm really sorry about that ma'am." I whispered, as she cut the handshake abruptly, and placed her hands on her bosom.

    "Could we go somewhere else?" She quizzed referring to Mum.

    "Of course." Mum replied, and led her through the crowd that had already gathered.

    "When does the party actually start?" I heard Dad ask over the loud booming speaker that stood beside him.

    I was perturbed, as I watched Ms. Ellen saunter off clinging to Mum's arms. There were so many questions racing through my mind at the same instance. 

    Why hadn't she recognised me? Why had she acted so indifferently? Hadn't she had the same response in her body just as I had experienced in mine on the first day we had met each other? There were so many questions I wanted to ask  at the same time. 

    However, who was I to explain to that I had fallen in love with my teacher? Or the neighbour next door...? Maybe Robb? But he had chosen drugs over his own family. I knew Matt would have listened, I knew he would have listened. But he wasn't here now. Instead, he was six feets below the ice, buried in it, just where I had left him, cold and dead.

    

    ELLEN

    The rain had greatly subsided when I took my leave of the Barker's. It was still freezing cold, that I could almost feel my bones rattling.

    I trod the pathway with utmost care. I hadn't been sure of what to put on for the dinner party, so I had just thrown a black gown over my head, and off I went.

    It was raining, and so no one was going to care about what I had on, or so I had thought. But this time around, the reverse was the case. Right from the moment the Barker boy called Devan had opened the door, up until I had exited the party, all eyes had been fixated on me.

    I had gotten used to stares by now, but Devan's had been sort of intense. Like a 'lost in her eyes' kind of stare. His had seemed more emotional or attached, like the kind I had never seen, except probably in Zach in the early days of their marriage.

    Speaking of Zach, I feared what awaited me on my return. I turned the door knob slightly, and found it still locked. I could only hope that he hadn't returned yet.

    I dug my key into the keyhole, trying effortlessly to be stealthy as possible. I opened the door successfully, and stole into the sitting room, shoes in hand.

    I shut the door behind me, and switched on the lights, and there he was. He was seated comfortably in his favourite reclining chair, with a belt in hand.

    "Where have you been, wife?" He began with a loud belch, as the stench of alcohol suddenly filled the room.

    "The neighbours invited me over for a party."

    "I thought I already warned you on interacting with all these folks who mean no good, wife?" He threw in, with eyes half closed. "Why didn't you request for permission before leaving?" 

    I could feel perspiration forming on my brows. All the courage I had managed to build up, were being pulled down roughly, until I was left bare.

    "I knew you weren't going to agree to me leaving the house to a party." I replied, trying to sound as remorseful as I could.

    "Oh!" He exclaimed. "You were very much aware that I wasn't going to agree, and yet you went ahead with it?" He asked staggering to his feet.

    "I'm really sorry Zach." I pleaded as he edged towards me.

    He shook his head in shame. "What have you done wife?" He lamented grabbing me by the neck.

    He reeked of alcohol so much, that I had a sudden nudge to throw up in his face. I fought the urge so badly, because I knew that would only worsen the situation.

    He released his grip on my neck, and brought me around to the table. "Now, pick your punishment." He ordered, as his hands dove quickly between my legs.

    "Be quick about it." He ordered as he satisfied himself with the flesh beneath my flesh, driving ecstatic pains that seemed to never stop, until I was numb.