24.Is this a Joke?

Is this a Joke?

Aubrianne Ivanov

"That's the million-dollar question, now, isn't it?"Daniel answered my earlier question when I asked why?

The anxiety of the entire situation overwhelmed me yet again, and my body had gone through enough shocks for the day. My quota was filled.

"I think I have had enough excitement for one day. Is there anything else?" Aubrianne cautiously queried.

He stood next to the vehicle, his bent elbows resting on top of the hood as he played with the keys, sending them back and forth from palm to palm. A beautiful smile graced his lips, and his dimples showed true. "No, that's it for now. At least what I am aware of."

"Ok?" my answer was unsure. Yawning, I excused myself and asked, "Hey, Daniel, can you stay a bit longer just for me to shower?"

I was ready to shower, eat and sleep.

"Sure, I will. That's not a problem at all. Now, don't you want to check out this bad boy?

"No, it is ok. I will be returning it." I said with finality, tilting my face to look him in the eye when he stopped throwing the keys back and forth. Shock plastered across his facial features.

With that, I turned away from him to head into the house.

Coming up behind me, he asks, "are you ok?"

Turning to look at him, I told him I was ok, and then we headed back to the living area, where he plopped down on the couch right after handing me a key chain with the keys to my vehicle, house front, and back door keys. Plus, the remote for the gate.

I took it reluctantly and walked back across the room, up the two steps to my bedroom...

I quickly stripped after shutting the door close, gathering my toiletries, although, by the looks of it, I didn't need to. Then I grabbed a towel I had seen laid neatly at the foot of the bed earlier.

Sliding the shower doors and stepping in, I immediately reached for the handle. I turn, attempting to get the right mixture of hot and cold.

The shower roared to life and spread over me. It was just right! Not too hard on my skin. The droplets fell on me, soaking me head to toe. I quickly scrubbed and rinsed, then got out.

Getting out, I dried my face, then did my face care routine rather rushed.

I dried my skin, wrung my wet hair as dry as possible, then wrapped it with a towel from the small cupboard in the bathroom and changed into a pair of short pants and a t-shirt I got from my travel bag.

I quickly checked my face, then my eyes, ensuring no yampee. Then head out the door and back down the corridor towards the living room, where I left Daniel sitting.

He got up, meeting me at the door before I could descend the two steps. He told me he had put the rest of my bags in the guest room when I was ready for them, then he came in for a hug and said, "it was really nice meeting you today. I will talk to you tomorrow. Go get some rest."

There was a look in his eyes that I could not decipher, or maybe I was too tired to even try figuring it out. However, he had a polite smile.

I nodded in agreement and said, "nice meeting you as well, and thank you for picking me up and grabbing dinner AND getting me here safely. You get home safe now, and oh wait."

I realized I didn't have his number. "Please give me your number, you mentioned calling me, but it dawned on me that I don't have YOUR number."

I quickly returned down the hall, grabbed my phone from my bag, and took his contact info. We hugged, and then he was off in the SUV we came here in.

I locked the door and went straight to the kitchen, where I'd put down the bags of food. I immediately saw that Daniel had left without his food. Yea, I was not calling him back. Finally, have my quiet time to catch my bearings.

But trust and believe it will not go to waste. For now, though, I placed Daniel's in the refrigerator, which was fully stocked, just as he had mentioned earlier.

Juice, eggs, milk, cheese, butter, sausages, bacon, ketchup, greens, vegetables, the works. Everything you need to prepare a meal fills the fridge and cupboards with lots of stock.

I don't need to go shopping for groceries after all.

Grabbing a plate, I took out my burger and fries, placed it in the microwave, and heated it a little, sipping on my red soft drink, which I immediately noticed got watered down.

Gagging, I returned to the fridge, looked over the choices, and pulled out an apple J.

Sitting at the counter on one of the high chairs, I ate it all. My burger and fries, and I drank the apple j down as my mind roamed to the new home and the sweet ride I had full access to.

I can't keep it, that is for sure.

I washed up as I finished and went to my room, taking off the lights.

Feeling so tired, I couldn't wait to dive into my bed and go off to la la land. Removing my towel from my head, I notice my hair is still somewhat damp and cold as it drops down my back, some falling on my face.

So I decided to head to the bathroom and use the dryer I saw there earlier.

After drying my hair for about ten minutes, I brushed my teeth and finally got into bed. I push aside the Mac book and other items, then lift the comforter. Setting the ac unit to the right temperature, I slid under

the comforter and found my comfy position.

I lay on my side, a pillow between my legs, one wrapped in my arms, hugging it tightly, and my head resting comfortably on another. I did a full stretch like a kitten, then settled back, pulled up one leg to drape over the pillow, and waited for sleep to consume me.

But it didn't.

I then thought of calling Jada but thought against it as she would be busy. I propose calling her tomorrow.

What if all this was for nothing and I am only here as some gosh, I don't want to think about it. Is this a joke? Was someone pulling an elaborate prank on me?

Restless, I turned in my position on the bed, bringing the pillows to the other side with me, and I allowed my mind to try and relax and not overthink today's events, as it would serve me no purpose but to keep me awake when I needed rest.

That was a mistake.

After a moment, I lost it in the peaceful dead of the night.

Not sure if it's the quietness or the fact that everything stopped. No more distractions, keeping my mind occupied, and not to mention, I am entirely alone.

By myself yet again at another stage in my life.

My mind started racing, and my emotions consuming me had me frantically gasping for air as memories of THAT night came crashing down on me like a mountain on concrete blocks. Burying me in the aftermath of its destruction.

I relive that night at the club in its entirety for the first time.

Here in this room, this quiet moment, my stomach churned, and I groaned as I thought about what had happened with Ron, what he did to me, and what John might do to him.

In all honesty, if John gets his hands on Ron, Ron is as good as dead, and they will never find him.

I lay there, terrified as I was that night when I realized I may have had to fight for my life.