A rose should be red: Part 1 - Secrets

by Akaku Red

  They were the only people who treated me normally … like a normal girl.

  I started to put on the dress.

  My mother helped me looping the tie straps on the nape of my neck.

  Then she made me sit down on a chair, to do my make-up.

  After that, she styled my hair.

  It was an up-do, she even let two strands fall down on the sides of my face, and curled them a little.

  I didn’t know how long I was sitting on that chair; it felt like a decade, and I was tired of sitting, but Elise didn’t seem tired at all, she was focused and worked on me with a happy face on.

  That’s why I couldn’t show her that I was getting sleepy; or even how uncomfortable it was for me wearing the dress or being touched.

  “You are so beautiful. This is the picture I had imagined!”

  Elise whispered.

  “But your look isn’t complete.”

  The sound of the doorbell ringing made us both jump.

  “That must be Tyler! We need to hurry - but first, stay still! I will be right back.”

  She ran out the room, just to come back with a pair of red heels, a red clutch bag with sparkling stones on it, and a red see-through shawl.

  “Now wear this!”

  She rushed me to put on the shoes, and then she helped me with the shawl.

  After that, she pushed me out of my room, into the bathroom and stopped me in front of the full body mirror.

  “Ta-da!”

  Her face was shining proudly.

  It took me a moment to settle, but as I looked at the mirror …

  I looked at myself and couldn’t believe what I saw.

  Was this reflection in the mirror, really me?

  Everything matched from the shoes, the dress, the cape and my hair.

  It was the first time in my life I felt … pretty.

  My pale skin matched the deep red dress, which reached to my knees. It fitted my body well and made my little curves look fuller.

  Even though the V-neck form was deep, my scars and the other marks were fully covered.

  I turned to look at the back, the V-neck there was also reaching down, but still above my lower back, so the scars were completely covered.

  There was also a thin lining of material between the V at the back, which was transparent, and helped to cover up my skin.

  “You just need to be careful, because when you turn or move too much, the dress moves with you … some might see a bit of the scar on your chest.”

  She pointed out.

  I nodded and turned back to face the mirror again.

  The make-up was simple; a smokey eye which enhanced my amber eyes and my full lips had red lipstick on.

  Everything was well matched, and nothing was too much.

  She had always been an elegant person, but I never imagined myself to look like this.

  I suddenly felt shy.

  “Thank you mum, but … isn’t it too much?”

  She sighed.

  “Nope, not at all! You deserve all the best! You look stunning and you need to shine more, my little angel.”

  She gave me a kiss on my cheek and pated my shoulder.

  “You have grown up so fast. You have grown up to be such a strong and beautiful woman.”

  Her words meant a lot to me, because I never thought that I was strong or beautiful, and to hear her say these things made me feel loved.

  I didn’t love myself at all, yet her love … kept me moving on.

  “Thank you.”

  I muttered.

  “Let’s go! Tyler is waiting and I don’t want him to be late.”

  She took my hand and guided me down.

  The heels weren’t really high, but I had never worn such shoes, so it was hard for me to walk in them.

  Thankfully, Elise helped me out; we made it down-stairs without an accident.

  “Mister Williams is waiting in the living room.”

  Olivia announced.

  She was standing in the hallway and looked at me with a smiling face.

  “Miss Brown, you look stunning!”

  The compliment made me shy, I wasn't used to them at all.

  I already felt awkward.

  “Doesn’t she? I am trying hard to hold back my tears, I am so proud.” My mother said, while wiping her tears away.

  “Mum … Please!”

  I said, patting her back, whilst trying to cover my embarrassment.

  “I won’t. I promise!”

  “Shouldn’t we take a picture of Miss Brown?“

  These two made me feel so awkward!

  “Next time! Tyler is already waiting, we can’t hold him up any longer.”

  Hearing his name made me feel more nervous than I already was— and somehow I suddenly felt afraid to face him.

  Or … was I excited?

  This feeling was … new. I didn’t know if I felt shy, excited or afraid!

  Or was it a mix of feelings?

  I wish I knew.

  “Olivia! Do you know if they’re ready?”

  Footsteps and the deep wondering voice of Tyler made me startle.

  My stomach had the tingling sensation again, as if butterflies were flying all over like crazy.

  Elise started jumping excitedly from foot to foot and waved me with her hands in the direction of the voice.

  Tyler met us halfway and stopped moving as his eyes met mine.

  In this moment, it seemed like there was only us.

  My mother and Olivia disappeared from my sight.

  He captured me again.

  His whole appearance, was stunning…

  He wore a black suit, different from the others that he always wore.

  It looked more elegant, fitting his body perfectly, as if it was only meant for him to be worn … perfect for an event.

  His long blonde hair was freshly cut and styled back, so his forehead was shown, which I personally find more attractive. I also noticed that he stiffened for a moment, as he saw me, he even started blinking several times.

  The tingling sensation was all over my body now, as Tyler started checking me out.

  I wasn’t sure if his appearance or his stare, made my heart race more.

  But one thing was for sure; his longing gaze took away my breath.

  He gazed at my body from head to toe, and even though he didn’t touch me, I felt him.

  He eyed me with an expression full of desire and a yearning which made me feel dizzy.

  It seemed like he was undressing me with his eyes!

  I suddenly had the feeling that I was standing naked in front of him.

  My cheeks were burning up, I pulled the red cape closer and covered my chest.

  “Aaand? What do you think? Isn’t she beautiful?”

  Elise said out loud, interrupting my thoughts.

  I didn’t know how to act anymore, I just wanted to flee, those crazy feelings made me insecure.

  “Mrs Brown, I think you are making Jenny shy.”

  Olivia meddled.

  “Nonsense! I don’t make her shy. Anyway, Tyler you need to take care of my beautiful child!”

  And then everything happened fast.

  Elise pushed me closer to him, and locked my arm with his.

  “She still can’t walk in heels, so you need to help her out.” She winked and whispered something to Tyler. I couldn’t hear what she said and Tyler didn’t really show any reaction, which made me wonder.

  She pushed us through the hallway, until we were outside the door.

  “Don’t be too late and have fun!”

  Before she closed the door, she gave me a kiss on my cheek.

  “Be careful and tomorrow you need to give me a report!”

  She closed the door, and now I was left confused.

  Everything now was too rushed.

  I still didn’t realise, that we were already standing on the gateway.

  But as Tyler coughed slightly, I was back in reality.

  I noticed th
at I held his strong arm, and that he was tensed.

  “You … wow. Err … you are truly beautiful.”

  He was lost of words, which made my body tremble from … excitement.

  “This is … wow. I need to be careful, that nobody takes you away from me.”

  I started blushing hard, but he didn't stop there.

  “If being beautiful was a crime, you would be guilty as charged. And even as a lawyer, I couldn’t help you.”

  I sighed, tried to keep my cool.

  “Then you are a bad lawyer.”

  “In this case, yes! And I would personally charge and lock you up.”

  His words made me laugh softly, which made him tense even more.

  “Wow.”

  I pulled my arm away from him, to maintain a little distance; but nothing could stop my heavy heartbeat.

  “There most be something wrong with my eyes, I can’t take them off you.”

  “You should stop talking nonsense, we need to go!”

  I reminded him.

  “Right now— I have anything but the celebration on my mind. I would like to take you to my house and …”

  He stopped and swallowed hard, as he noticed my shocked face.

  Hearing him saying those things left me speechless and the heat was rising more and more.

  I felt like I could burn just from his stare.

  “T-Tyler I didn’t know, that you could talk like this-”

  He wrapped his arm around my hip, a strong yet gentle grip that made my heart rate speed like crazy.

  “Sorry, but I do. It’s a side that I no longer can hide, especially when you look like this.”

  Getting closer to my ear, he whispered with a deep voice.

  “The dress looks really good on you, but it would look better on my bedroom floor.”

  Chapter 7

  Tyler and I were sitting in the car.

  I pressed my clutch hard against my chest and stared outside the window, while he was driving.

  Yeah, I silenced him.

  After he whispered those words, I slapped him as hard as I could — and he just laughed about my reaction.

  Even though he apologised, I still didn’t talk to him.

  This was too much.

  And I was angry at myself, because my body didn’t react the way I wanted.

  I felt weak, even excited … but my mind was afraid.

  My ear still prickled, as if his breath was still on it.

  I couldn’t describe this feeling.

  I felt too much.

  “You have a strong right. My cheek is hurting.”

  He said, patting it like a big wound.

  “And I told you already, that there is another way of silencing me.”

  Pointing at his mouth, he said the next words with a huskier voice.

  “Your lips on mine … for example.”

  I was glad that my punch hurt, because he really deserved it!

  Covering my chest with the clutch, I ignored his comment and tried to think about anything else, just not about him - which was really hard since he was right next to me!

  “Jenny, I am sorry! I didn’t want to make you feel embarrassed. It’s just … you already are beautiful but today you look … truly dazzling.”

  I couldn’t take it anymore.

  “Thank you, but you are too much!”

  He slightly laughed and lifted his hand to put it on my shoulder, but I blocked it and made it clear, that he was not allowed to touch me.

  “Put your hands back on the wheel.”

  He stopped laughing, but he still had a breathtaking smile on his lips.

  “I will just remind you, that you can’t walk in heels - so in the end I will touch you, whether you like it or not.”

  My grip on my clutch got stronger.

  Damn it. He was right!

  “But… I feel hurt. I never would have thought that you disliked me that much.”

  He really did know how to make me feel miserable.

  I even started over-thinking my own reaction.

  Maybe … I did something wrong?

  “We’re here now.“

  Tyler announced.

  He parked near a sidewalk and opened his door, but before he could get out of the car, I stopped him by grabbing the hem of his jacket.

  I looked into his eyes, with an apologetic face. As he saw me looking like this, his pupils dilated.

  “I-I don’t dislike you! It’s just, the feelings are too overwhelming. And … too much for me to handle.”

  Before I could loosen my grip; he took my hand and pulled me closer, so our faces were only millimetres apart.

  “I am glad… that I am not the only one feeling this way.”

  The clutch was sliding down on my lap, I caught it before it could fall.

  “I really mean it.”

  He whispered, which brought my attention back to Tyler.

  I thought, I would meet his eyes, but it wasn’t the case; his gaze was on my chest.

  Well, particularly on my cleavage.

  As he pulled me closer, my dress moved a bit so that the neckline pushed up more to the left side.

  My ugly scar was shown.

  Within a second my body started to feel cold, I was shaking, as he kept staring at it with an undefined look on his face.

  I didn’t want him to see it.

  This scar was disgusting and would always remind me … about how ravished and broken I was.

  It was not something that I was proud of.

  This scar happened, as Thomas hit me with a glass bottle, as a punishment for trying to escape. He punched me hard and laughed while doing it. Till the glass broke. Then he placed the broken side of the bottle on the left side of my chest. He asked me if I regretted my attempt to flee, but I couldn’t answer because of the pain. The longer I didn’t answer, the harder he pressed the bottle against my chest. He pressed so hard, it pierced through my thin shirt, through my skin. If he kept on pressing, he would have killed me, that’s why he stopped and brutally pushed me to the ground, which was covered in my own blood. I was breathing heavily… and I wished that I would have just died then and there. “I hope you survive, because I am not going to stop here, I will remind you, to whom you belong.”

  Remembering this made me feel sick and dirty.

  Tyler’s eyes tightened, he looked like he was in pain, as if … he felt my suffering.

  I tried to free myself, to cover the scar, but his grip was strong.

  “Stop it! Please, stop! I don’t want you to see it.”

  I pleaded and tried my best to cover the scar.

  But he stopped me and lowered his head.

  The next thing he did, made me shiver hard.

  He kissed my scar, softly and gracefully!

  Which made my heart nearly jump out of my body, and hammer loudly…

  Even my chest was lifting and lowering with the same speed that my heart was racing.

  Suddenly I felt warm again.

  No, not warm, more like hot.

  His lips were still on my scar, as he was looking up to me.

  Those deep blue eyes of his were shining and captured me.

  My scar was burning up, from his touch, I even stopped breathing.

  I was used to any other reaction, but this.

  This was the first time, that someone kissed my scar so dearly — so gracefully, as if I was someone special.

  Tyler’s reaction showed me that he was not afraid, nor disgusted by my scars.

  It was more like he was feeling my pain and wanted it to vanish.

  “I will never let something like this happen again.”

  While he talked, his lips brushed over my scar, then he lifted his head just to make me hear him more clearly.

  “And you shouldn’t fear me seeing your scar. It won’t change my feelings for you, in fact … it-”

  He was interrupted by a man wearing a grey uniform, who was standing next to the driver’s seat.

  �
��My apologies Sir! I am from the valet parking service and I would like to ask if I can take the car for you now.”

  Tyler sighed and carefully moved.

  He didn’t take his eyes of me, as he answered this man.

  “Yeah, just a moment…”

  Even though I felt dizzy; I still grabbed my shawl, pulled the dress in the right position, before I covered myself with it.

  I tried to control my heart-beat, tried to control my feelings, but it was hard!

  Tyler didn’t rush, he got slowly out of the car, just to come next to my side and help me out.

  Sadly, the little amount of distance couldn’t calm me!

  As soon as he held my hand again, my heart was beating like crazy.

  “Did you change your mind? We could still go to my house.”

  I couldn’t slap him, even though I wanted to.

  My body felt weak because of him, the only thing I could do was to not answer him.

  I just slightly looked away to distract myself.

  Noticing the big hotel which was standing in front of us.

  It looked like an expensive one, because it had its own valet parking service, uniformed doormen who were standing and greeting the people, and even a red carpet which was rolled up till the entry of the hotel.

  “So, you didn’t change your mind…”

  Tyler whispered before he pulled me closer and guided me into the hotel.

  We were received by a hotel worker, she greeted Tyler in a friendly manner and she even knew that we were guests of the celebration.

  “This way please, Mister Williams.”

  The woman looked like a life-sized version of Barbie, if she stood next to Tyler, I was sure they would look perfect together.

  And the way she was checking Tyler out made me think that she had an interest in him.

  “I already know the way. You don’t need to accompany us.”

  Tyler said coldly.

  Somehow … the woman wasn’t really pleased to see me by his side.

  Even though she smiled and greeted me slightly; her expression changed on me, everything looked forced. It felt awkward.

  “Yeah … I nearly forgot. Then please, enjoy the night.”

  She gritted her teeth, which made me feel more uncomfortable.

  It was only Tyler who didn’t seem to care about the reaction of this woman.

  His grip got a little stronger, as we moved to the elevator. He pressed a button and leaned his back against the wall.