Sweet Dreams-17...Cinderella? Hey Aren't Glass Shoes for Hookers?

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Sweet dreams-17...Cinderella? Hey Aren’t Glass Shoes for Hookers?

Chapter 17

I’m standing waiting at the front door and I can’t help it I’m nervously leaning back and forth from foot to foot and trying not to be nervous, try to do something with my arms which for some reason seem to be in my way until I end up sort of crossing then and kind of hugging myself. The door opens and I’m looking at this stunningly beautiful blonde.

Yes beautiful, super model like even. I’ve no idea if she’s had work done or not but she’s in work out gear and slightly sweaty and I feel a stirring that I seldom feel below since being with Alex. April is five eight, maybe a hundred and forty pounds, most of that is these firm big perky DD’s and the rest seems to be legs. Blonde hair and these striking blue eyes blue with grey in them that’s so light that her eyes pop with this blue sky and clouds on a sunny day king of thing.

If April was a trophy wife then she’s the academy award of them.

“Hello, Mrs. Donovan….I’m Hunter, I’m Alex’s girlfriend…I need your help.”

She’s looking me up and down then her head tilts to one side than the other.

“You need my help? How can I help you then?”

“I…I…I don’t have the slightest clue to what I’m doing with this fancy dinner thing that we have to go to. I don’t know how to dress or how to act and … and you do…this has never been my world ma’am…”

Yeah I used, ma’am I can use some of the manners that I picked up along the way.

“Hmm, you’re interesting child I’ll give you that. You’re the first one of Alex’s girls that’s ever had the guts to do this.”

“Guts…oh no I’m plenty scared ma’am.”

“Honest too. Well come in and we’ll talk.”

It’s the first time I’ve actually been into the main house…holy crow, I’m almost afraid to look at things. But I do, I can’t help it. The place is huge, I’m actually in a house that has a foyer and the stairs that go upstairs curve and it’s small but it is a chandelier that’s there.

There’s this feeling following her that’s a lot like the way I feel with the cheergirls, that actually feeling attraction to them a little but more than that wondering, wishing even that I could be that way. I’m seriously not a dummy and I know I’ve got gender and sexuality issues all tied up with my PTSD stuff. I’m kind of scared to be a girl, I mean if I could be a real girl…I mean look how my mother had turned out.

There’s a hand on my shoulder and she’s looking at me. “Hunter? You still with me? You were a thousand miles away there.”

“Y..Yeah, I’m sorry I was just thinking about something.”

“Well you look like what you were thinking didn’t agree with you. Come into the kitchen and we’ll talk. Do you like coffee?”

“Oh yes please I practically live on the stuff.”

“I think that’s one thing in the list of stuff we have in common thing.”

I give her a bit of a weak smile at that. God have you ever been in the company of a girl or a woman so beautifully female that you can almost feel the light she’s giving off showing up every single flaw that you have? April’s like that she’s not bubbly but she was one of those bubbly happy naturally beautiful people.

“Alex says you’re not a real fan of the kitchen.”

“He’s right; I’m so not a domestic. I had to take Home economics when I was in school and I said that’s the last time I’d do stuff like that. But who care’s right? I don’t need to cook and all that stuff when I can afford not to.”

That being said she takes me into this very cheffy looking kitchen that’s actually bigger than the Apartment that Alex and I have over the garage. It’s all hardwood and glass and wrought iron with those high end black enameled appliances to match.

There’s some thing about all this black and Adam that kind of makes this feel like Darth Vader’s kitchen.

We got to this part of the counter that got these machines on it and she takes out this coffee packet that looks like it’s a mini ice cream cup and drops one in two machines and puts these black big round bowl styled coffee cups underneath.

I’ve never seen such a fancy home coffee making thingy. I’m feeling right out of my depth here. The coffee is really good though. But April looking at me is still freaking me out.

She finally say’s. “Get up Hunter and let me take a look at what I’m working with.”

“Okay.” I get up. She motion’s at me go and walk around the kitchen and back again. I do and she’s sipping her coffee and watching me.

“You’re really skinny, not a bad thing you certainly have that waif thing going on. You’ve got a really nice little butt though and not bad hips for your size, nothing really going on up top but that’s not unusual for skinny girls like you. I think that we can work with this.”

“Okay…I really have a cute butt? And my hips are okay?” I’m asking because that’s news to me.

“Mmm, definitely and you’ve got great hair too, long and blonde and straight you can do a lot with that and great legs too.”

I’m blushing because…Well I don’t know I guess because I’ve really never had the chance to get used to praise before. And April’s not as bad as I thought, yeah she’s a little superficial but I guess not really as bad as I thought she’d be.

“So you will help me?”

“Sure! It’ll be fun and maybe it’ll score me a few points with Alex.”

“He doesn’t really seem like your biggest fan sometimes.”

“Oh I know but I can live with that even if it still kind of hurts. His Mom had really messed him up and Adam has all his issues too and he was really messing Alex up even more until him and I got married but both of them are a ton of work.”

“How so?” I sit and finish my coffee. It’s kind of weird being one of two women sitting and talking about their guys. But it’s still kind of intimidating sitting and trying to be on an even female state with April who just kind of radiates her sex. Early to mid thirties and she still must attract a huge amount of attention and she’s still in what looks like morning work out wear.

“Well take Adam he was this up and coming driven young lawyer who married his high school sweetheart and she just didn’t get into the drugs and the alcohol but she tried to kill his son. Then there’s the fact she was wiping out their accounts with her habits and he was trying to pay for the house and everything else that they had though that he could afford he still had to prove himself to his family who told him that he was turning his back on the family because he chose to become a “Scum-sucking Lawyer.” Rather than a cop or get a “Decent, honest job.” Like the rest of the family at one of the auto-plants.

“But he’s doing the same thing with Alex. Alex doesn’t want to be a football player; he doesn’t want the same things for his life as his father does.”

“Yeah, I know and I’ve tried to tell them both that but Alex barely stays in the same room as me and Adam say’s it’s none of my business and it’s been that way for a long time. Eight years.”

“Eight years?”

“Yuh-huh, I married Adam when Alex was about eight and between the times between the “accident” and the time he was in recovery and the nannies after that they both had fallen into this rut-slash-war between the each other.”

“It just seems like his dad takes it too far, he had him followed and his computer bugged and who knows what else?”

“He’s trying to protect Alex in his own way. He doesn’t think Alex really has any idea of what he wants other that getting lost in his dreamworld.”

“Dreamworld, Alex is an artist and he’s a damned good one too.”

“Yeah he is but Adam doesn’t call that real work.”

“But that’s…that’s just like what his folks told him about being a lawyer.”

“Yeah but for all of Adam going against the family he’s still raised by Detroit blue and I don’t think his family would think of Alex being an artist as work either.”

That’s making a bit of sense; people around here can be sort of generationally valued. Your family were cops then you’re gonna be a cop, the same thing with the auto-trades and steel workers and stuff like that, the tough guy jobs…even the gangers like Cliff and them have this whole bringing in family as the next generation thing. Don’t get me wrong if you want to be part of something like that…well the cop or family trade thing that’s great but go too far out of the norm and you’re making the family look bad.

We’re raised in our prejudices, we might not follow them but those little reactions and voices are still there. Adam’s deal with Alex is likely part of that. I know that it was a bad marriage now and I’ve lived in enough shitty places that I’ve seen simple family arguments spin out of control. If Alex’s mom was messed up that bad and just about destroyed Adam’s life then almost taking Alex with her…that can mess someone up. Especially if under all the pain and fighting and bullshit he still loved her.

“I’m thinking that, I’m starting to get a picture of what’s going on. God we’re in quite a mess with these two.” I run my fingers through my hair and tuck it back. Aprils looking at me.

“You know Hunter; you’re the first girl who seems like she’s given a shit about Alex and the family. Come on, we’ve got a lot of work to do before the party tonight. You’re really clueless about all of this stuff.”

I look her in the eyes. “My Mom was a hooker April and she turned tricks to support her drug habit, I grew up in a really bad part of town and I’ve never even been to this side of town before Alex rescued me.”

Yeah I looked her in the eyes and opened up and told her some of my shit. April’s looking at me as she’s taking our cups. “Rescued?”

I help taking the stuff from her and washing them or rather rinsing them off and putting them into the dishwasher. “I met Alex when I had to hide from some thugs in my old school, I ended up falling asleep and when I woke up the bus company had switched the one I was on to pick up Alex and them from their field trip. I helped Alex out and he gave me some cash and we sort of clicked, sort of not…we actually had a fight or rather I did and yelled at him.”

“Over what?”

“He kissed me a few times to throw Jennifer off and stuff; I had some serious issues with someone like Alex liking me…”

I almost actually get upset; I’m not used to this…opening up. Not to some one like April, Hali’s different, she’s more my kind of people. April’s one of the big scary better than me types…this is like that baring your throat to the wolf thing. She puts her hand on my shoulder.

“Hunter….”

“No…no…I’m okay, it’s just meeting someone like Alex really put back into place who I was and where I came from….” I take a big breath. “Anyway Alex gave me a bunch of money and it lasted a bit with me buying a bit of groceries and stuff but they found out and things went south and…..Alex got me…out of there when I didn’t have anyone else to call. I’ve never….mom didn’t know anything like this and ……”

I shake a bit like a mix of anger and fear and “God I hate this…I’m so scared…”

“Hunter…Hunter relax, take it easy. I’m going to help; I’m going to get you through this.”

Okay, I’m getting that headache again, that wanting to cry, needing to cry but I can’t. I stomp my foot….I can feel the stick pins…hear Cliff’s whisper… “Crying ain’t gonna make me stop…it ain’t gonna bring no one, crying’s nuthin but useless ya little faggit.”

I sink to the floor and she’s helping me breathe. Yup, hyperventilating. “Why…why are you helping me…? (pant…pant…)…I’m not like you…”

“No, no you’re definitely not like me Hunter but that’s not a bad thing. I was a total self serving bitch when I was your age and it took a few lessons with some real users and it made me rethink my life a lot Hunter, It’s why I ended up marrying a widower with a traumatized eight year old boy.”

“You weren’t in it for the money?” (Sniffle, weak laugh.)

“Oh, I knew Adam was heading places but he wasn’t this flush when we got together. And well he was getting to that point where being single again wasn’t going over well with the firm and my parents had money enough to get us started in setting up his own firm so we just sort of happened too. I was looking for a guy that I knew could take care of me don’t get me wrong on that, I’m a spoiled Daddy’s girl and I know it but I wanted a guy that could stand up for himself too.”

I run my fingers through my hair again. “But taking on a widower and a kid like that. That’s a lot of stuff on your plate.”

“Yeah it was but as much as I wanted what I wanted in life, it was just something I couldn’t walk away from. Both Adam and Alex are totally different people when you get to peek past all the walls and defenses.”

“Yeah I saw that in Alex. You’re not as bad as I was dreading. I was expecting an older version of Jennifer.”

“Oh well I guess we’re both cut from the same cloth but different designers. I was Jennifer when I was her age only not as aggressive but that’s got to be the generation or something. It’s likely why I didn’t like her. I knew what was going on in that head of hers.”

“You didn’t like her but she told me that you too got along and went shopping and stuff like that.”

“Keep your friends close and enemies closer Hunter.”

“So what am I?”

“You’re a friend, and a kid who needs some help I’ll be your fairy step-mother there Cinderella.”

“Who?”

She’s looking at me. “You’ve never seen Cinderella? The fairy tale? With Prince Charming and the glass slipper and the fairy godmother?”

“No…the Step-shit didn’t allow stuff like that around it was a waste of money him and mom could blow on other things.”

I’m getting up and she’s helping me to my feet. “Well, that’s just wrong, go get changed something easy to slip in and out of because we’ll be trying on clothes and stuff. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of Cinderella.”

“April…the only people I know who wear glass shoes are hookers.”

She looks at me a few minutes and she starts laughing. It’s a tension breaker and I join in a little bit to and she smiles at me then gives me a push. “Go on, I need to get changed too.”

I head out through the garage and up into the apartment and get into the shower. I’m just drying off and slipping into some new clothes an undershirt and a sweater with a skirt and my plain-Jane shoes and making sure I’ve got my money and stuff in my purse. Alex comes in and he’s drinking one of his shake things right out of the blender. “What’s up you’re changing again?”

“I’m going out with April.” I look at him and he stopped drinking his shake.

“My Step-Mother April?” His voice got all somber and serious.

“Yeah, it was kind of Jen’s idea.” He starting to look pissed off. “Wait, Alex wait, Jen was right. If I went about it the right way then she can show me the stuff that I’ll need to know to get ready for this and she might even know where we’re going and stuff so I can prepare in advance.”

He stops and he blinks. “Are you sure, April’s….”

“She’s not that bad as all things go Alex, she is a lot like an older version of Jen, she could be a hell of a lot worse and we both know it.”

“Yeah…I guess you’re right. It’s just …..”

“Her and you never connected and there’s lots of good reasons for that, heck she even knows that Alex. She’s spoiled and rich Alex and she admits to that she’s not really looking at getting in good with you Alex she just kind of wants a truce more than anything.”

“Huh, I didn’t even get her that much credit.”

“Well you were looking for reasons not to like her after your mom and stuff.”

He’s stopped drinking his shake again and he’s staring at me but I’m not going to let him getting upset get to me this time. Alex needs to hear some of this stuff and face some of the stuff in his life.

“Not pulling any punches are you?”

“No, I love you too much for that.”

“So…”

“So…”

“So…what do I do?” He moves and takes a seat on the corner of the bed. He’s looking at me.

“Just let the stuff with your mom go with her, she’s not her, she’s not trying to replace her she’s just kind of trying to do something at least decent with the hand she was dealt.”

“Decent?”

I go over and run my fingers through his hair and lean down and kiss him and put my forehead to his. “Alex, she came into this marriage with a husband who’s a widower and a child who had been through hell and back.”

“Yeah but she was looking for the money…”

“She was but Alex, she could’ve made off with half of everything a long time ago, but she didn’t she stayed.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s not that bad as you’d made her out to be in your head Alex, she’s still what she’s like but there’s some good stuff there too. Part of her honestly gives a shit about both of you Alex and that’s why she stayed.”

“So what do I do?”

“Play their game with our plays? Is that the right football thing?” Alex nods and there’s that ghost of a smile there. “Go to where your Dad’s playing golf and have a game with him or shoot some balls with the bucket thing…”

“Driving range, you’re such a girl.” He’s smiling a little more.

“Shut up, You pay for the balls or whatever.” I slap his arm/shoulder.

“Why would I want to spend time with him?”

“Alex he’s your Dad, you two should try to get along…shit look, just tell him that I’m going shopping with April and that I told you to go and spend time with him.”

“And I’d do that because you asked me?”

He’s got that little smirky smile on his face now and that makes him just so damned cute…he looks like that Tim Riggins guy from that show Friday Night Lights but with about another forty pounds of pure hard muscle on him.

“No……….You’d do that because you love me?” I smile, Blink, blink, blink…I give him my best innocent girl charm exaggerated look.

He get’s up and kisses me. Okay we kiss for awhile; it actually gets into that whole making out stage of things and everything when the apartment phone rings. He picks it up. “Hello? Oh hi April, yeah she’s ready…uhm…thanks for this, I’ll send her right down.”

“She’s ready huh?”

“Yeah. Hunter here, I want you to take this with you.” He passes me a wad of cash.

“Alex…this, this is too much…”

“No…I used my company expense card, I took it out of the ATM but just bring the change back and the receipts. I don’t want him to have an excuse to bitch and moan.”

“Okay…and Alex.”

“Hmmmm?”

“That was nice, thanking her. I’m proud of you.” I smile and I take both my hands and touch his face and give him a long passionate kiss. He kisses me back and he’s blushing after I break the kiss. “I’ll see you later Alex.”

I leave and I’m smiling and heading down the stairs and April’s waiting for me at the door to go outside and she’s staring at me. Her eyes are a little red and shiny. I rub her shoulder and she hugs me.

“What did you say to Alex? He hasn’t talked to me like that in a long time.”

“The truth, I told him that it wasn’t just the money, and that He and his Dad mean something to you…I mean you didn’t leave. A lot of people would have bailed.”

She hugs me again and we step outside and there’s a limousine there waiting for us.

“A limo?”

“Yup, Adam’s booked it for the entire day so I figured the best way to get you started is to get you used to being in one of these things first.”

“Oh, well that makes sense.”

We get into the limo, with April showing me how to and we take off leisurely cruising while she puts in a video into the DVD player. This thing is huge and so very, very posh. I really sort of am feeling out of place yet kind of blown away by the experience. I actually settle down with her as the flat screen TV lowers from the ceiling and I get to watch Disney’s Cinderella for the first time in my life. Okay it’s dated and old even if it’s been redone but my biggest thoughts were….Holy shit, that’s kind of me…

We even sit in the parking lot outside of this mall way out on Michigan Ave called the Fairlane Town center until we’re done the movie and we both head inside after the driver get’s out and opens the door for us and helps us out. April shows me how to do that too and we actually do it three times just to be sure that I’ve got it down.

He comes with us our shadow to carry things. I’m a little Huh and wow do rich people really live in their own universe kind of thing.

Then we start shopping…me I’m mostly looking but so’s April, apparently when you have a lot of stuff you can be picky and don’t have the need to spend money like a drunken sailor.

We check out places like Bath & Beauty Works and The Body Shop and I get a few scented candles at the first one and then we head to a bewildering amount of clothing stores and places and I get two extended hem tops at Forever 21 for a really good price Like seven bucks each and they’re a nice neutral grey color that I can just wear with just about everything. I get a textured grey and black striped one there too for like twenty dollars and a silvery and black striped sequined tank for like another Twenty dollars oh yeah I spent like sixty bucks already and stuff but it’s worth it because I...I’ve never had new clothes before even Hali’s stuff is new.

It feels really good to buy stuff with my own money. We’re there awhile trying on dresses well I’m trying out dresses that we think will look good for a nice night out but a business night out. I get myself their lace back double knit dress it’s sexy, it’s short and great looks great with my legs and I got it for eighteen bucks. It’s not for the party but it could be but I have my very first little black dress.

I’m a little freaked with April just sort of barging in with stuff and either she just hasn’t said anything yet or just hasn’t noticed it becomes a sort of non issue after like the fifth time that she does it.

She buy’s me two nice tank dresses I was looking at one in blue and another one in this brown they call faun and I try to protest.

“I can’t that really too generous, I should pay for my own things.”

“Nonsense, you barely own a thing and if you had your mother would have pawned it off or something, I’d hand you down some things of mine Hunter but anything I own would just hand on you. Think of some of this as housewarming presents okay”

“I don’t know…”

“Please…do you know how long it’s been since I was shopping for clothes like this, in a store like this, not since I was a teenager too. You lose track of the people who you used to hang around with, I really don’t have a whole lot of people to shop with and have a good time like I used to when I was you’re age.”

“Okay…okay… as long as you’re getting something out of this too.”

I end up blowing a hundred dollars there once I buy some new underwear. It was a pretty good deal on the panties and I got three pair of the cheeky kind in just black with lacy trim and two of these black sheer lace bralettes given my lack of anything up top. They look good on my too in that Hunter’s a real girl kind of way.

Okay one ten, I buy myself these Gel Posies basically boob inserts in a flesh tone and they end up giving me more that a little something….okay I’m in the A cup ranges with them but with them in the bralette and the panties…I really don’t look like me and all that awkward body movement and trying to find the right ways to pose or to stand just goes away….no matter which way I turn or move it all screams… Hunter is a Girl!

I’m not even wearing make up right now. April convinces me to wear them out of the store.

I think I’m catching the shopping disease. There’s so many things that I like, that I’d like to have that I feel just mixed up. I hate materialistic people but it’s almost like I’m becoming one. But I know that I don’t really own sweet fuck all really and I can still stuff everything I own into my old army duffle. And I’m hurt and mad at Mom and at Cliff for doing this to me. And I want to not spend a damned cent on my dress for this diner tonight and Adam can see the fact that I don’t give a shit about his money.

Once we’re out of there April comes to my rescue with the suggestion of coffee. I love coffee it’s good to me…But the bad thing about coffee is the fact that if you’re a smoker than coffee goes really well with a smoke. My craving kicks in too, I fidgeting as she’s ordering. “Hunter you okay?”

“I quit smoking for Alex just a couple of days ago; I’m right in the middle of a nic-fit.”

“Oh well here.” She orders me a square a brownie but with this dark chocolate on the top and drizzled caramel and salt? She get’s one too. “I remember when I quit, dark chocolate helps as well as cinnamon and chilies. There’s all three in this.”

I bite into something that I’m pretty sure made my brain burst into a puddle of goo and slid down to tickle my toes and make me giggle. Oh…oh…if you’ve never had salt and chocolate you must…must…must…it’s actually so good it almost gave me the shakes.

Dark chocolate molle caramel brownie….with hazel nuts instead of walnuts.

We’re at it for quite awhile going though Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney, Hot Topic…god I’m in lust with some of the stuff there and a few other places in a bewildering shopping thing. I end up spending another thirty dollars at payless and April gets me two pairs of shoes to go with the dresses she got me. I’m blushing when she does.

“Hunter stop, while it’s really nice getting a dress if you don’t have the shoes to go with it then it’s just not right. It’s like I didn’t get you all of the present besides, I’ve never had a daughter or even a kid sister and you’re kind of both. I’ve never had this much fun with any of Alex’s girlfriends before.”

It’s at Charlotte Russe where we find my dress. It’s a black lightly runched tank dress that’s sleek and clingy and sexy and short but it’s a more elegant sort of little black dress. Yeah short about three quarters of the way above my knees and yet once I’m in it…oh dammit mom…why couldn’t you just not have been so…

And Again… I’m trying to fight tears or maybe it’s fighting to cry and fighting those shadow hurts, Cliff’s voice in my head…it takes awhile before I can get a hold of myself in the changing room.

It’s going to haunt me the rest of my life isn’t it?

Too bad for them, I’m starting a new life, I’m Hunter Williams now not William Hunter. Will died back there in my old apartment when the beat me and then took off leaving him for dead…Alex hauled Hunter out of there.

Fuck you Mom, fuck you Cliff. You couldn’t kill me.

I look in the mirror and take a deep breath and step out to show April. The way she gushes and goes on makes me blush and actually wipes some of the crap away. She’s only met me really today and she’s not really the kind of person that I’d have associated with before but she’s also treated me better than most people have ever treated me.

Out of my pay and the commission I have just enough to buy my dinner dress at a steal being only thirty nine dollars, and after another pair of shoes to go with them these cheap but nice high heels I’ve six dollars left to my name and I feel so good.

I’m broke all over again but I paid for it myself. It feels like I’m standing a little taller and it’s not just the four inch heels.

After that though it’s training time and for my girl lessons April has me in my “for me” little black dress and my heels as we move through the mall. She gets me to stop and sit, get up, move, go up the stairs to the next level and back down but combines it all with our shopping and we even go to one of the better restaurants to have dinner around two in the afternoon and there she shows me all the fancy manners and stuff.

Its fun and it’s not fun at the same time. Its work and more than that. It’s more distance between who I used to be and who I am now. This is me getting a chance to learn something that normally I’d never have a chance to learn. You know when you’re learning about something totally new but it just speaks to you? Yeah I’m having one of those moments coupled with the fact that every time I look at my reflection its Hunter, me, the girl in the picture.

I’m so not used to the attention that I’m getting either, some older guys but most of those are scoping April out and she’s not shy about showing the world she’s smoking hot but at the same time there’s this vibe she’s giving off that she’s in a whole other leaguer than most of the drooling guys.

But I’m getting it too, getting stares and checked out by most of the guys probably from twenty five on down. Heh, if they only knew right? Well for one I’d likely be dead. It’s a heady feeling to catching some of those glances and stuff. It makes me wonder about me in the other dress and Alex’s reaction.

We end the shopping and get back into the limo and there a few more stops for some more coffee which is us going into Starbucks so I can practice more and so we can get refueled.

We ended up at this place some swanky salon place called Eternia. I’m really careful to keep my panties on but it’s not a huge problem but this…this is like you see in the movies, massage and those hot stones, getting slathered in creams and hairs removed and plucked and a manicure with a lot better fake nails and my eye brows done and then some kind of special soap in the shower before I’m put through the tanning machine…I fell asleep in there, it was so toasty warm and stuff.

The final bit was a dress rehearsal in our outfits after they did our hair and our make up. It’s never felt like this to be me. Seriously, I’ve never felt, pretty, or beautiful or even worthwhile for so much of my life and in my diner dress and my heels all made up. It honestly feels like there’s this rusty and crusty stuff on my heart that’s cracking and falling away.

I wasn’t expecting Adam and Alex to be waiting for us outside the salon when we are at our best and spiffiest but I walk outside and they’re there and Alex is wearing this black cotton dress shirt with one of those really sharp looking collarless suit jackets and really nice dress pants and dress shoes he looks so…

………………………...Ow my Heart.

And the way that he’s looking at me right now is the best and purest thing I’ve ever felt in my life except for when we made love.

………………………...Ow my Heart.

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The Good Stuff

How do you do this Bailey? Hunter's voice is just so very clear I can her hear her. The pain and that sarcastic courage (I'm going to spit in your eye before falling) is so rich in this character.

That Cinderella remark about the shoes nearly had me rolling on the floor because it's so true. Okay, they're usually 8" clear plexi-glass heels, but princesses these day normally wear Italian shoes. LOL (Must be getting close to Halloween. Because I swear I just heard Hunter ask if they're made from real Italians.) :)

Great story!
hugs
Grover

Hey Grover:)

Thanks a lot, Hunter comes in pretty clear for me sometimes, it's a combination of things really for me like watching the scenes like a TV show with a strong narrative from the main character.
Now Hunter would more likely say about Italian shoes. "The thing is you gotta be careful with Italian Shoes, pay cash because you miss one payment and Minolo is sending over a couple of paizanos over to axe you why you're late wit your payments."

I'm really glad that you enjoyed it.
Great Comment.
*Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

That look?

Andrea Lena's picture

...when they're old and grey and they cuddle, that look will still be just as wonderful and magical as when she first saw him looking at her in pure and sweet adoration. You certainly know how to make an old girl cry, Bailey. Now stop that! No...don't stop at all! Thank you!


Dio vi benedica tutti
Con grande amore e di affetto
Andrea Lena

  

To be alive is to be vulnerable. Madeleine L'Engle
Love, Andrea Lena

Thanks Andrea:)

One of these days I'm going to have to write a story with that old and grey and happily ever after together moments. I'm so glad that you liked this chapter Andrea.
Thanks for the wonderful comments:)
*Great Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Cinderella

that description hits really close, but don't mess with this Cinderella or you will wonder what just happened to you.
great chapter, thanks

Thanks Lonewolf:)

Yeah there a lot of Cinderella in here a lot of "Ever-After" too come to think of it. I just thought the analogy was querkily perfect.

Thanks for reading and commenting:)
*Hugs and howls*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Need more..... Great

Need more..... Great chapter, love this story, yeahs it was dark to begin with but it's getting brighter, from this chapter it seems Hunter has begun finding herself, will we see her goth/emo style replaced with a more sophisticated young woman? I hope so :)

April seems really nice and despite her silver spoon upbringing quite down to earth, her happiness at Alex being civil shows she cares about him, if she didn't care it wouldn't hurt.

Thanks for sharing I hope mom and the step shit keep away.

Lizzie :)

Yule

Bailey's Angel
The Godmother :p

Hey Lizzie:)

There'll be more for sure, I've stuff in my head that's got at least another ten chapters or more to write out to those points and once there there'll be more too. Hunter is going to have an extremely interesting journey.
I liked April, kind of a surprise in how she turned out, I never planned her out at all.

I'm Glad that you liked this chapter.
Thanks for the wonderful comments.
*Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Did it again

You did it again Bailey ...a great chapter and one that we all cherish because of your clarity in voice over.
There seems to be no end to the wonder of your good stories and excellent lines! Yes the Cinderella line is what I speak of. I am in awe ...I bow to your inventiveness and excelent writing .
Keep it up and give us more !
Thank you Darlin'

Danielle_O

"Life is pain, Princess ~ anyone telling you different is trying to sell you something."

divider_001a.jpg
Danielle_O

"Life is pain, Princess ~ anyone telling you different is trying to sell you something."

Thanks Danielle:)

It means a whole lot coming from you. I liked the whole idea of it as a line too. I'm so grateful for the awesome comments giving what you've been juggling yourself.

Thank you back Darlin:)
*Great Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Glad to see...

... April and Hunter getting along so well. Kinda neat how they hit it off, a surrogate mother/sister relationship totally makes sense.

There's certainly more depth to the story now. We're seeing that what was apparently this monolithic evil/enemy in the form of Adam and April is really nothing of the sort. The facade has faded somewhat, and we're left with a picture of humanity, yearning, even damaged. Brings to mind the saying, "Money can't buy happiness".

It's really going to be interesting to find out how Adam and Alex's day went (Erm, tangent. Adam, April, Alex... Coincidence much? hehe). After eight years, could they hit it off again, starting fresh, or would the strained memories of fighting keep them from forgiveness. Perhaps they'd find common ground in simply bonding over a shared activity, as so often happens.

Hunter's day really was a Cinderella moment in many respects. Coming from her background, it's easy to see how overwhelming everything could be. And yet Hunter again shows us how strong she is, taking it all in stride despite her few wobbly moments.

This chapter was sooo tongue-in-cheek lol. Just had to love it

Another fantastic chapter, Bailey, thank you so much for another look into Hunter's life. =]

~Hugs n Stuff~
Da Lynx

Thanks Lynx!

I so love your comments, you really help pick me up with them. I'm going to have to write the Alex stuff now thanks to this. You're right about the Hunter and April bit, Hunter hasn't had a positive role model of any sort in her life so far and I can see April filling that role and Aprils at that point in her life where she's wanting to pass on some of her experience to someone in a good way. It's always good to be needed right:)

I had to throw in some tongue in cheek stuff and the wobblely moments because the shopping scenes aren't really my strong suit but kind of needed really in some stories.

You've given me lots of Ideas Lynx, Thanks again!
*Great Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Deep Conented Sigh

Bailey, Thank you... it is so wonderful to see Hunter healing and managing to heal others as she does. The pain of her past will probably never fade fully away, but her F**K you attitude towards the past will help lessen it. April is wonderful and the nicest thing is, we get to see behind all the masks and preconceptions and facades to who is really there...in all of these wonderful people...
Now you foodie... How dare you make me hungry when i'm trying to finally lose weight? (i have a reason for that now) That brownie...ohhhhhh Stop It This Moment!

Thank you for showing us (in this and so many of your tales) love is so powerful, that it can save us all.
Hugs,
Diana

I really try to make characters more like people.

Even though we start with some characters as villains or just asses there's sometimes two side or more to everyone. Hunter's got lots of fight in her and she's not going to give into her demons because she grew up in a place where you see everyday what happens when you give up.

As for the Brownie...I've made that...is it ever good.

You're right. Love can save us so much can't it? I know Jonelle's changed my life for the better in so many huge ways:)

Thanks for the great comments Diana.
*Great Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Thank You Abby:)

It's always great to get your take on the things that I write even a great little comment like this helps and really appreciated.
*Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Ow, my heart...

Loved it, Bailey. April looks to be an ally now, even a friend (or becoming one). Admittedly, she really wants to get in good with Alex, and even find some way to get Alex and Adam to repair their relationship, but I think she reall does like and respect Hunter (certainly more than she felt for any of Alex's past girlfriends).

I think describing her as a grown up Jen is accurate. Yes, she still has many of those traits, but I think she's basically decent and really would like to help Alex (and now Hunter).

Jen started as a pretty cardboard cutout character, until Hunter got to know her more. Once she knocked the wind out of Jen's sails and showed she wasn't going to put up with the BS, Jen treated her with grudging respect, honesty, and even, dare I say it, a growing fondness or friendship. Which I think both of them are finding surprising.

April seems to be someone who started off a lot like Jen, but grew out of some of the self-centered snobbery from her school years.

Unfortunately, her understanding of Alex and his problems with Adam (and what Adam's first marriage and wife were like) are heavily biased toward what Adam told her they were, but with Alex avoiding her (even borderline hostile to her) for so long, she had no way of finding out his side of things, and so far, Hunter only got Alex's view of Adam and Alex's mother. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Do I think Adam is a self-centered asshat? Yes, he probably is. Is he a control freak? Certainly. Does he go beyond the bounds of what a parent should do in how he treats Alex? That's obvious too (bugging his computer, intercepting email, hiring guys to follow him, forcing him to move back home, etc, etc). But maybe in his own head, it's all justified and he thinks he's doing it for Alex's own good. Hunter looks to be the first girlfriend Alex has had who cares enough and is gutsy enough to build a bridge over the chasm between them.

Or maybe Adam really is as big a sleazy douche as he seems, only caring that he can force/pressure Alex to live according to his father's dictates, in ways that reflect well on Adam to his peers.

But I'll still bet on Hunter winning (or winning him over) eventually.

Loved the shopping trip. Looks like Hunter is getting good at it (and enjoying it a lot more), and got some great deals, nice outfits but affordable to get with her own money.

Now she has GOT to break the behavioral modifications Cliff did to her (so she wouldn't/couldn't cry, etc)... That shit's not healthy. Physical beatings heal a lot easier and faster than stuff like that.

Your friend (and nearly number one fan)
Lisa

Comments like these make me want to write.

I Loved this comment so much I really like where the story is going and the stuff with Adam's going to have to be a surprise. The stuff to over the things that Cliff's done to her are going to be awhile in getting over if ever. Things are just starting for this though. The deals were pretty good and Took awhile to find the mall and stores online in RL though. But I liked her resolve to pay for things on her own.

Thanks for the great comment Lisa.
*Great Big Hugs*
Your Friend Bailey:)

Bailey Summers

Huh....

... reading your comment got the gears turning in my head a little. Particularly the comment about Adam 'protecting' Alex in his own way.

Hmm. We know that Adams' family is cops, yes? And the folks that were tailing Alex seemed to be off duty cops also... Perhaps there's something more nefarious going on, such as potential family enemies in organized crime, or something equally dangerous. And Hunter seems to be from the 'wrong side of the tracks', so to speak... Something like that could seem like a reason for a father to be overprotective.

Just saying, what if Adam, in his law practice, somehow learned something he shouldn't have and was leveraged to keep silent or Alex would 'get it'? Heh, to take it even further, what if Alex's birth mother had been used as a pawn- Getting her strung out on drugs as a means of control, the accident collateral damage even?

LOL Mkay, enough out of me for now.

Awesome take on things Lisa.
~waves~

Awesome take on things...

Hey, you have some great ideas there too.

Maybe Adam helped put away some organized criminals that dealt with (among other things) art smuggling, and thus Adam doesn't want Alex getting involved in art and maybe coming to the attention of the bad guys, so he blocked him from joining artist websites, art classes in college, etc... trying to steer him toward football and more left brain school subjects.

Okay, maybe that's a reach, but I still like some of your ideas, Lynx.

Lisa

My God You Two Are Awesome:)

I Love the idea bouncing that you're doing and I'll have to say that I just might be using some of both angles as well as my own but you're both close....Remember what happened to Hunter's Dad?

Hugs to both of you:)
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Hunter's Dad

Oooohhh...

Remember him? I remember bawling my eyes out when little William said, "I miss you, Daddy. I want to die so I can be with you..." or whatever it was.

So he's involved in Adam's Monkey Business too... *gasp*

Okay, hushing up now. Letting the wonderful author work.

Dang, I love this story.

*big hugs*
Lisa

LOL! Close...

I'm glad you love the story Lisa.
*Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Ooohhhh....

... the plot thickens!

~gets out the popcorn~ All ready for whatever happens next =D

~Hugs n Stuff~

Behavioural modifications, i.e., forcing not to cry,

Doesn't surprise me at all, not after nearly seven years of being constantly beaten with a two inch wide, half-inch thick leather belt.

I know I cried a lot through the first few years of the beltings I received from the adoptive father. Somewhere along the line, though, the desire to cry was beaten out of me, a likely part of the "make him a man" shit he spouted before the adoption even started years before.

It's also relevant to state that, by the time I was ten or eleven, I was getting that belt sometimes two or three times a day. We're not talking just a few swats to warn me to behave, we're talking 40 or 50 hard lashes each time, leaving bruises that covered my back and upper legs.

As I've stated elsewhere, by the fall of my grade seven year, I had to wear long sleeves and long pants all the time to hide the bruises.

Even the rapes and other shit that happened in the group home after the adoption broke down rarely brought me to tears. I was far more likely to just bugger off by myself, find somewhere to just get away from everyone and grouch/bitch/scream/vent my anger at the world.

To this day, I find it very difficult to actually break down and cry. Most of the time, I'll end up with damp eyes, but that is about it. I've only had three or four major cries in the last twenty years, the last of those being a serious bawl session that lasted two hours in January of '17.

You're quite right, it is definitely not healthy. I honestly wish I could cry more often and more easily, but it may be too deeply set to change.

I can very easily understand Hunter regarding not crying, it hurts like hell when you need to bawl and literally can't to save your soul.

And yes, physical beatings will heal and hopefully fade into the past fairly quickly; emotional trauma, though, often lasts a lifetime.

I get the feeling Adam may not be as much of an asshat as we have been led to believe from Alex's comments in earlier chapters. Maybe Adam just needs a chance to loosen up a bit, stop being such a control freak and learn that Alex isn't hell bent on throwing his life away.

There is a chance that they could become an actual family, not four different people going in their own individual direction all the time.

Excellent comment, Lisa. I'm definitely enjoying rereading this story, Bailey. Thanks.

Reconciliation?

First, Hunter worked on Alex, getting his attention and falling in love with him.
Then she worked on Jen, calling her out on her faults, and is building a friendship in that direction.
Now she's worked her magic on April - although, to be honest, April appears to have been largely misunderstood by Alex.

So it'll be interesting to see what happens if / when she has a direct confrontation with Adam...

He does appear to be a bit of a control freak (to put it mildly), and as others have suspected he may have business reasons to keep a close eye on Alex's art hobby and the growing relationship with Hunter. However, just because someone's very good at art, takes art classes and sells a few paintings, it doesn't necessarily mean they have any intention of pursuing a career as a full time artist. For most it's a pleasurable hobby, and possibly a chance to make a bit of extra money. Perhaps if Alex demonstrated he was considering a 'normal' career with art remaining purely a hobby - and Hunter continues to demonstrate that she's not a spendaholic and would ensure both Alex and her wouldn't spend money frivolously, then maybe, just maybe, Adam can be persuaded to loosen the proverbial reins.

 

Bike Resources

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

Hey Mittfh:)

Adam is a bit OTT that's for sure, but who knows how things are going to turn out when Adam learns about the fact Alex went to play golf with him because Hunter thought it'd be a good idea. I like the take on Alex and art too, I never considered that even as an option. I think Hunter wanting to be her own girl shopping wise is a nice take off of the usual shopping thing.

Great Comment Mittfh:)
Sorry to respond so late to it, and I really appreciate them.
*Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Hey Mittfh:)

Adam is a bit OTT that's for sure, but who knows how things are going to turn out when Adam learns about the fact Alex went to play golf with him because Hunter thought it'd be a good idea. I like the take on Alex and art too, I never considered that even as an option. I think Hunter wanting to be her own girl shopping wise is a nice take off of the usual shopping thing.

Great Comment Mittfh:)
Sorry to respond so late to it, and I really appreciate them.
*Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

April is rather surprising

April is rather surprising here - apparently Jen didn't see this side of her because, well she was neither ready nor willing to see it. I kinda think though that in a few years Jen is going to become an actually fitting girl friend for April, that with Hunter's influence. Seriously, if April ponders she will realise that Jen's suggestion was already a step forward.

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!

Jen knew April before she met Hunter.

And April only saw the typical spoiled, greedy, wants what she wants and screw everyone else girl that Jen was. Jen's another character that will change since Hunter has come into her life. April will find Jen changed a lot if they ever get together and talk.

Thanks for reading and the great comments Faraway:)
They are always insightful and always appreciated.
*Great Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Very nice

Very nice chapter Bailey!! Not sure what to think of Adam and Alex being out there, should be interesting for sure.

At the golf course or at the end.

I might still write some of the whole golf course bit but at the end of the chapter they're there to pick the girls up right as the come out of the salon fully made up and changed into their dresses.
I'm really glad that you liked this Mel.
You commenting with all the catching up stuff you said you had to do is really appreciated.
*Great Big Hugs*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Can't wait till next installment

Just caught up on this richly textured story, and now I can't wait for the next installment.
Should be comming any day now :>

Amy

Actually you're right I'm working on Chapter 18 right now

I'm hoping to have it done today and 19 by the weekend. I'm glad that you enjoyed the story so far:)
Thanks for reading and commenting Amy.
It's really appreciated.
*Big Hugs.*
Bailey.

Bailey Summers

Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pamreed's picture

Aw!!!! This was so special!!! Hunter is getting to see some of
the funner things of being a girl!! At least I feel that way!!
She is doing her thing making people feel better about themselves!
I think Alex's family is going to be so much better for it!!
I would love to have a friend like Hunter!!

Thanks Bailey,
Pamela

New start

Jamie Lee's picture

Hell has been in control of these four people's lives for a long time. Alex pulled Hunter out of her hell and she's been there to help him through his.

April saw two wounded people and knew they needed help but knew it would be difficult unless they acknowledged their pain. By Alex talking to April he created a crack in his relationship with her, something she has wanted.

Adam acts like a jerk, controlling and uncaring. But he's using all this to hide behind and cover his fear for Alex and their relationship. He really doesn't know how to have a relationship with Alex because he wasn't shown how by his father. So it's easier to hide behind something than admit his weakness.

And Hunter is the key to opening up and helping this family start to heal. She is straight forward, she knows no other way. BS isn't something she cultivated while getting abused. Being straight forward is what this family has been needing since Alex's mom died in the wreck.

April wants to be needed by Alex and Adam, and them showing they need her. Alex needs an adult woman in his life so he can learn from her how to be more than just a man placed in a slot by other males. Adam needs April so she can help him see how much he's smothering Alex because he's worried about Alex's safety. He also needs her so she can show him how to love.

Others have feelings too.

Reading the pevious comments

was almost as much fun as reading the story. I will say I'm not into erotica, emotions are different matter. My SRS turned me into a Barbie doll, any sex drive I may have are a thing of the past, I don't miss it.