Thread: Start of Darkness (Google and Skittish_butterfly)

RE Start of Darkness That first morning of Erin's senior year was just like all her other mornings in every way except one. Yeah her Mom was too hung over to remember the water for her oatmeal was supposed to be hot, or even to get out of bed for that matter. And her latest boyfriend Kurt, or was it Kirk... no this one was Doug -- the even dumber asshole, Kirk or Kurt, was last week -- Doug it was, he had the usual string of profanity for her as she walked through the house gathering her books that he'd been using as coasters for Vodka tonics the night before, and making sure his eyes were the only things undressing her in the process. Doug, like a few of Mom's men, had made it awkwardly clear his very first night how he felt about petite redheads with tight figures. Erin wanted to disappear already, but her mom just laughed with some twisted sense of pride, as if it validated her own fading, tawdry looks. No, none of that was different, just like the last year and the year before and every year since Dad died. Just change Doug for Lance or Herman or whatever. Erin checked her hair in the mirror right by the trailer's door, doing her best to fluff it out to show off the body and the shine, anything to make sure she didn't look anything like her mother. Check of the short white skirt and pink tshirt to make sure she hadn't sat on any of her Mom's old puke stains. Then she bolted out, purse and books in hand, and slammed the door behind her. Tradition. The long wait at the bus stop. Smell of pee from the homeless guy snoozing in the seat next to her. Glaring at the hoodrats who propositioned her in the lewdest possible terms. She hated her life. But at least she was out, going back to school after a summer cooped up cleaning up after her mom and her Fuck-of-the-Week club. Erin didn't even bother trying to convince mom to dump them anymore. She just accepted it. Coped. Scarcely hoped for anything more than the boredom of a school year spent gazing out the window while teachers droned on, doing well enough on tests based on simple intelligence to keep the dim hope of some sort of college alive, barely. More likely she succumb eventually, give in to one of the football players asking her out, let him be the first of her own boyfriends, find a nice trailer to live and drink in. The guard holding the metal detector at the door got first crack at her again, lingering with the squawking device, playing it around her bottom as if he was fondling her with it. Ok, Ms. O'Neal. We're going to have to do a cavity search. Always the same snicker shared with the big guys in the letterman jackets gathering around as she pushed her way past. All the same. But this was her last year, and when her class schedule was messed up she had to go to the office to set it right. She needed the history units to qualify for State, if she was going to qualify for anything at all. She hardly even noticed the handsome boy she was making wait while she rejiggered her schedule with Mrs. Mullbridge, but then things changed. Her life. Finally. Mrs. Mullbridge had to change the printer cartridge for her, which takes the old lady forever. Erin turned to the boy who was waiting so patiently right behind her Erin couldn't imagine how he wasn't bored to death. Then when she turned to apologize for the delay she suddenly realized he hadn't been staring at the soft swell of her ass, or the slender sway of her back. Was he checking her schedule out instead of her body? A slight shy curl to her lips, the softest hint of her first smile in... forever. They shared the time in comfortable silence while the old lady fussed, and Erin's initial blush even faded, but he didn't call her fire hydrant or any of those other names some of the kids had been calling her since 3rd grade. They didn't talk much, but somehow she felt something with him. Little smiles, hopeless shrugs shared over the sight of arthritic fingers fumbling forever with the printer. Then it was done and she had to go to class, slow return to cold reality. Reality lasted about 5 minutes. The new student was introduced to 1st period English. Dominic Something. She hadn't heard his last name over the pounding of her heart as he took a seat right next to her, then leaned over and whispered to her after handing a note to the teacher. She was to guide him around. As class wore on she explained the basics of what they'd covered the previous year, let him share her textbook and told him where he could buy his own. And for his part Dominick smiled, paid attention, and of course asked her out, just like practically every other boy in school. But not like them. She said no on instinct, that part of her that knew the moment she said yes she'd end up drunk and miserable and living her mothers life taking charge, protecting her from herself as always. But his smile didn't fade, and he didn't fold up his tent or turn on her like the others. By the end of the day she'd agreed to a movie with him, his steady persistence and strong nature having pushed aside her usual concerns. She saw the looks of the other students as they whispered, could only imagine what they were saying, how the trailer trash Ice Queen was finally on the prowl like her whore of a mother, or something like that. She couldn't worry about it. At home she dressed, her door locked tight and a chair pressed against it so Doug wouldn't accidentally see her again. The light green blouse that highlighted her eyes, the matching hair-band drawing her thick red mane back into a pony tail. Tight skirt, playing with how much leg to show and ending up showing more than ever at school, smiling as she looked in the mirror. The swimming and running were good stress relief, but they also kept her out of the trailer most nights and in great shape. Erin thought she looked good. She added her highest heels, worried less about their slut factor than her being 5'4 and Dominic looking like a giant that belonged on Mount Rushmore. Erin even brought out the makeup, something she hadn't done since Gary or Jerry had insisted she had the face of a model when she was 14. It wasn't like her freckles could tolerate that much makeup anyway, but a little lipstick and eyeliner made the statement she was looking for, just a touch of color on her cheeks. Understated, but stated. She smiled back at the reflection, trying out different smiles and angles. Finally she was ready. Bus to the theatre, a little change and her cell phone in her tiniest handbag. As her heart started pounding and the little anxieties started yapping at her about how this could end up, how it was sure to go wrong somehow, she pulled out her phone and called Betsy, told her to call her back in 15 minutes and tell her the trailer was on fire or something, that her mom was dead. They both laughed but Betsy understood the need for an emergency plan, having used Erin for just the same job so many times. Erin hung up and scanned the crowd figuring Dominick would have to be easy to see. She was up on tip toes, scanning the crowd, but couldn't see him. Just when she started to worry it was just a big joke at her expense she felt a touch on her arm, light but warm, and his voice right behind her. She turned, surprisingly close but not pulling back, looking up into his eyes even in her heels, and smiled easily, even her eyes in agreement with her mouth. Don't be silly, silly, of course I would show up. I am your guide after all. You need someone tough like me to keep you out of trouble and show you the ropes right? She made a play muscle with her right arm, knowing it must look ridiculous to him given how much he must workout to maintain his amazing physique. He looked perfect, at ease, relaxed to be with her. With her. She slipped her arm in the crook of his elbow like she saw all the ladies do in the romcoms. So, should I guide you to the theatre? Her eyes twinkled in the lights of the box office right in front of them.