AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you sure?” I asked, pulling her into my arms for a hug.
“Just tired.” She replied holding me tight. I knew there was more to it, but I let her walk away and go to bed by herself. Dad was still in his office. He was always in his fucking office if he wasn’t on the phone. I headed up to my room and dropped on my bed, grabbing my phone from the charger. There were some messages from a few friends as well as some hookups. I ignored all of them when I saw Rosie’s name, opening her text.
R: I got into a fight with Dad. He keeps pushing Rich on me, working for the business. I hate him, Sting. I really hate him.
S: Are you still awake?
R: Yes. I can’t sleep.
I thought for a moment before I pulled my shoes on.
S: I’m leaving my house now. Can you sneak out?
R: Yes.
I slipped my phone into my pocket and stepped out into the hallway. The house sounded quiet, and I walked quietly down the stairs. I knew that Dad might be up and looked that way as I edged towards the front door. I was glad that we didn’t have an alarm as I stepped outside and ran down the driveway. It was cool and dark out as I jogged down the street towards her house, I paused at the edge of the driveway, looking closely at the house before a small figure walked my way. Rosie was dressed in leggings and a loose sweater with her hair up in a messy bun.
I pulled her into my arms and held her tight.
“What’s going on?” I asked as she sucked in her breath.
“He’s just being a jerk. I told him I want to write for a living and he said that I’m on my own if that’s the choice that I make. He’s in such a terrible mood and I don’t know why.” There was a tremble in her voice as I stroked her back before leading her down the street away from the houses.
“It must be contagious. Shit is weird at my house too.” I offered as she looked at me. I held her hand as we walked to the small park down the street, watching as she sat in a swing. Rosie was beautiful even when she was stressed, and I watched as she stared up at the sky.
“Remember when we used to play here as kids?” Rosie asked softly as I laughed a
t the memory.
“I do. Those were good times, running down the street in a group screaming at the top of our lungs. I think everyone probably hated me.” Rosie laughed with me as gave her a small push. She held on tight and I pushed her again. We talked about the old days in soft tones for a while before she stopped the swing with her foot.
“I miss that.” I watched as she stood and walked over to the picnic tables.
“I do, too. Things were so much easier in some ways and hard in others.” I mused as she turned to face me. “Violet is moving back to Texas after she graduates, and I can’t afford an apartment on my own. I’ll be looking for a job same as any other student. That means I’ll have to live at home with them where he’s going to put my idea down every day. How is that fair?” Rosie stepped forward to nudge my chest with her head, sighing softly
I hadn’t decided at a school for the same reason. Dad entertained me getting a bachelor’s degree because he was expecting me to go into the business once I worked college out of my system. I kept pushing for law school and wanted it more than ever, but it was risky with my family threatening to pull my money. Even though Rosie and I didn’t love our parents, they did have us by the balls. I pulled her into my arms, stroking her back gently as she cried softly. I hated seeing Rosie cry. I longed to have my own funds to take care of us both, but the trust fund wasn’t available until I was thirty. I suspected that my dad had something to do with that. Gram never would have made that limitation, knowing that I had dreams.
I comforted Rosie until she has ready to go home and sleep. We walked back down the dark street and I kissed her at the end of the driveway. I wanted to take her to a hotel and hold her in my arms the entire night. I wanted to tell our families to fuck off and live my life that way I wanted to. I wanted to do all of this, but my parents had the most important string attached to me. Rosie was the same way. They had money to get us by in life.
25
Rosie
I walked back into my quiet house and walked upstairs. The tears were dry on my cheeks now, but I still longed for Sterling to be holding me.
I wanted to sneak off to some quiet part of the park with him and ride his cock. Sterling made me forget my troubles with the way he made me feel. I craved it all the time now. I stepped into my room and slipped off my flip flops before dropping into my bed. The house was so quiet, making me wonder if the stuff happened here that remained in my mind. It was such a gorgeous place in a great neighborhood that offered so much potential. It was fun when we were kids and played outside together. I felt like I was a normal person back then with friends and family always surrounding me.
Once my father went against Sterling’s in some business deal, things changed. They hated each other, and it was their kids that suffered. Their wives who were friends and supported one another had to end their relationship. I remembered seeing them pass one another at the mall and the way both women were so stiff. It hurt seeing it even though I didn’t say anything to my mother.
I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. Maybe I should consider moving with Violet and starting over there. I wouldn’t have money, but I could start working there. We could start small with an apartment and move up as we grew successful. I loved Violet and knew that we’d have a great time together. She was my constant in life and had been for the last four years. The only problem was that Sterling was my constant as well. He wouldn’t be in Texas. I wasn’t sure if I could live without him.
I fell asleep, tossing and turning while I dreamed an exaggerated version of my life. It involved my family leaving me without a place to live and Sterling abandoning me. I ended up with Violet the way that I was considering doing but it was harsh and painful. I woke up with tears in my eyes, remembering the way that Sterling walked away from me. He didn’t look back or even say anything as he disappeared in the dream even though I was calling out his name. I was sobbing as I begged him to stay. I rolled to my side and wiped at my eyes as something shifted in my stomach.
Today we were baking cookies with my aunts. They either didn’t know how bad my father was or they ignored it. Mom seemed to be okay in her big house with money. She was the one that was the best off in the family and since she lost her parents in a fire, the girls only had each other.
I showered and went downstairs for coffee, smiling softly at Mom as she pulled stuff out of the pantry. I knew that she loved me. Dad ruled the house and controlled so much of that to the point that I questioned her loyalty so much of the time. Even today when he was gone at work, his presence lingered.
Mom was allowed to love my brothers freely. They were a part of every aspect of the family and their wives were playing their part my popping out babies. My brothers loved their families but a part of me wondered if it was the same way my dad looked at us as trophies of some sort. I knew that I’d be on the shelf right along with them if I went with the business and married someone like Rich, having several kids to help carry on the business through the generations. I dreamed of having kids and showing them the world through creativity and art. I wanted them to write, draw and just show me their thoughts through color. I didn’t want to force them into anything the way my dad was doing to me. I could never imagine doing that.
