Imprisoned Love

Another few days passed and Tiffany felt more and more confident that she’d get over what Vicki had done to her in time. Sometimes she had the feeling of being watched, but she attributed it to what happened, telling herself that Vicki would’ve contacted her by now if she were planning on it. A part of her, as much as it surprised her to admit it, was rather disappointed that it hadn’t worked out, for when Vicki wasn’t being forceful or threatening in any way, she really was a nice person as well as good-looking. Instead, she was probably threatening and taking advantage of some other poor soul now that she was gone. Then one warm and sunny day, after she’d walked the few blocks home from work, she approached the house and saw something sitting on the top step by the door. Her heart began to race as the object began to take shape the closer she got to it. She knew no one would be home now. Her parents had taken the kids with them to visit their great-grandparents two hours north. That would be her mother’s parents as her father’s were gone. Tiffany stopped in front of the object, stared at it in horror, then glanced around her, her long ponytail swinging with her abrupt movements. All was still. So still it seemed more like a picture than real scenery. No one appeared and not a sound was audible. No humming of engines, no voices, no barking, no nothing. It was dead calm and dead quiet. The only sound Tiffany heard was that of her own fear as her blood pumped fiercely throughout her young, firm body. She then turned to snatch up the bottle of vanilla soda and fumbled with her keys to unlock the front door. Once inside, she slammed the door shut behind her and threw the deadbolt into place. Then she turned and slumped down the inside of the door to the floor. She placed her head in her hands and began to sob. Her first thought was to call her parents, but what could they do from where they were other than worry? And what about Gabrielle? The last thing she wanted to do was to go run crying to big sister and seem like a real sissy. No, she would handle Vicki herself. She had done so in jail and she would do so out of jail as well. The sudden knock on the door sent her heart pounding so frantically that she thought it would jump out of her chest. She stood up on shaky legs, fully expecting to see Vicki when she peered through the peephole. Instead, she found Eric on the other side of the door. She never thought she’d be happy to see the little bastard, she thought as she flung the door open. The sandy-haired guy of average height and weight stared at Tiffany as if seeing her for the first time. “My God, Tiff, you look like shit.” “Well, hello to you too!” she yelled. “Really, girl, what’s wrong?” “What’s wrong is that you don’t call before coming over like you’re supposed to.” “Hey, I just came to see the kids.” “They’re with my parents at my grandparents’ house, and since when do you care about your paternal duties anyway?” Eric rubbed at his slight stubble of a beard. “You gonna let me in?” he finally asked. “Yeah, yeah, come on in,” Tiffany said, closing only the screen door. “God, Tiffany, what’s got you so wound up?” “You!” “I’ll call from now on before coming over, I promise. I even brought you a little money. I know it’s not nearly what I owe, but I just started working at the auto parts place down on Main Street.” “That is until you get fired next week for drinking or for going off at the mouth, right?” “Thanks for the encouragement,” Eric said, his frustration growing. “Ok, ok, thanks for the money. We could use it, as always.” “Tiffy, babe, I know you don’t want to hear this, but sometimes I feel like I’m going to go out of my mind because I get so lonely for you. I still love you, babe, and I want us to be a family. You know, you, me, and the kids all living together. I know my apartment’s small but…” “Forget it, Eric. We’ve been through this before and I can tell you right now it won’t work. I will not resume a relationship with you of any kind for any reason.” A knock on the screen door nearly sent Tiffany flying out of her skin. “Hello,” called out a familiar voice. Tiffany and Eric turned towards the screen door. There stood Vicki dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. “Can I help you?” asked Eric. “I’m here to see Tiffany.” “Now’s not a good time. I’m not…” “I’m leaving now anyway,” Eric said cutting off Tiffany, “so you two can visit all you want.” “Thank you,” said Vicki with a smile as Eric opened the door for her while Tiffany watched helplessly as Eric left and Vicki entered the house. “Think about what I said, Tiff. I meant every word of it,” Eric called out before he was gone. Tiffany turned to face the nightmare before her. Damn, she looked good! So beautiful was this dark feminine creature before her as opposed to the lighter masculine thing that had just left. Tiffany generally preferred women over men, but at least Eric wasn’t violent. He was lazy, but definitely not violent. “Hi,” said Vicki with a smile, looking as confident as she always did. “You look great. Short little shorts look really cute on you.” Tiffany took a step backward towards the hallway leading to the bedrooms. “I-I’ll call for my parents,” she said weakly. “No you won’t,” Vicki said, still smiling. “I heard you earlier. They’re away.” Defeated, Tiffany stilled as Vicki’s smile broadened. “Hey look, I just came to apologize.” “A-apologize?” Tiffany stammered. “Yeah. You do know what the word means, don’t you?” “You don’t have to apologize. Instead, I think it’d just be best if you left. Besides, I’m sure you got yourself a new play toy at the jail by now.” Vicki shook her head, now looking serious. “But I don’t.” “Vicki, I told my parents and my sister as well as my best friend about you. They think I should report you.” “Do they?” Tiffany nodded as Vicki gazed at her as intently as she used to. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. “So why didn’t you?” Tiffany, saying nothing, shifted uncomfortably on her feet as a knowing smile formed upon Vicki’s lips. “You work during the week, don’t you?” Vicki asked. “Why? What does it matter?” “I just think you ought to accompany me to the fair. I’d be quite honored to take you.” “I don’t think so. I’d go with Eric Nickerson, the scumbag that he is, before I went with you.” “Would you go back to jail before you’d go with me?” Vicki asked, still smiling as if she was enjoying herself immensely. “I know you miss our sweaty little delights just as much as I…” Tiffany had had enough. She stepped up to Vicki and shouted, “Look, bitch! This isn’t jail anymore. You have no hold on me, you hear?” Vicki didn’t flinch. “You’re not going to pull this shit on me in my own home, do you understand?” “Then make my home yours and the kids’ home and we’ll take it up there,” said Vicki. “The hell we will. You just turn around and get the fuck out of my house and out of my life. I’ve had enough of you and your shit to last a thousand lifetimes.” “Have you really?” “Yes, I have,” said Tiffany, trying to still her trembling legs and hide her fear. Vicki looked thoughtful a moment, sighed and looked down towards the floor. When she looked back up at Tiffany she said, “Look, Tiffy, I only wanted to say I’m sorry for how I treated you in jail and to tell you that I’d be honored to make it up to you.” “You can’t…” “I know I can’t erase what I did, but we can start anew. I’d really, really like that and I know you’re as attracted to me as I am to you.” “Yes, but I have no feelings for you.” “Then give me a chance to give you a reason to have them.” Tiffany’s fear turned to frustration. Finally, she said, “You just don’t give up, do you?” Vicki shook her head and smiled. “Not when it comes to getting something I really want, and I really want you. In fact, I don’t think there’s anything else I’ve ever wanted so much or ever will want so much.” “Why me?” “Because I love you.” “Oh, come on, Vic! That’s a bunch of bull and you know it. You don’t even know me.” “I know you enough.” “I don’t think so.” Then, to Tiffany's surprise, Vicki turned to leave. “Be ready with the kids at 1:00 on Sunday,” she said over her shoulder. “We’ll all have a wonderful time.” Tiffany was speechless as Vicki opened the screen door and headed out. “Wait!” Tiffany called out, finally running after her a moment later. “Yes?” “They can’t know who you are.” Vicki looked confused. “Remember? I told my family about you.” “Oh,” said Vicki, suddenly realizing what she was getting at. “They know everybody I know, so we’ll say we met at the mall. We’ll have to or else they’ll do something.” “Do what?” Vicki asked as her challenging smile returned. “You arrogant fool! They’ll do whatever parents do to sadistic guards who threaten and even rape their daughters.” “Oh, I see,” Vicki said as if Tiffany had just finished explaining a complicated math formula that she was finally comprehending for the first time. Then she smiled with amusement and added, “I like your spunk, Tiffy babe, I like your spunk.” “Get out of here and don’t come back!” screamed Tiffany, once again enraged. “I hate your sick, twisted guts! Just go get killed in some head-on collision and don’t ever let me see you again!” Vicki turned and strode casually towards her red sports car. So casually that one would never think anyone was screaming at her and that she’d actually come from a pleasant, civilized visit. “See you Sunday,” she called before shutting the car door and backing out of the driveway.