Love Used For Crime Ch.3

My eyes opened to the bright spill of morning light.

I shuddered in disgust as a small, ugly beetle crawled from underneath my bedroom door, into my room. “Ewl. Get out!” It crawled across the floor and stopped next to my bed. “Ugly thing, go away!” Was I really expecting a bug to understand me?

My room door opened slowly. “What is it darling?” My father’s eyes fell to the floor. “It’s just a harmless bug, sweet heart. Don’t be so afraid.” He scooped the green and blue beetle in his hands and tossed it out my window. “There, you see. Absolutely harmless!”

“It’s gross,” I snapped. “Really gross.”

He sighed. “You young ladies are quite afraid of creatures, aren’t you? Anyway, good morning, and come downstairs for breakfast. If you do not wish to eat any, you shall miss it, and will have to wait until lunch is ready. Understand?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”

He turned to leave, as I said, “You forgot to knock again, Dad.”

I could tell he was smiling as he left the room. He whispered, “Silly me. Next time I’ll remember if you’re not screaming.”

I giggled and sat up straight.

My room was bright and beautiful this morning. I felt lively and excited for no apparent reason. My face felt as if it was glowing, and I realized that a smile was spreading across my face.

The phone rang from downstairs.

“For you, Sara!” My father shouted.

“Who is it, Dad?” I called back.

“I will hang up if you don’t pick it up now!”

I rushed out of my room and picked up the nearest phone. “Got it, Dad!” He hung up as I ran into my room and said, “Hello?”

“Hey, Sara, baby,” a smooth, cool voice answered.

“Hey, Ean. Why are you calling me so early?”

“I figured you’d be awake now.”

“Well, yeah, but I didn’t think you’d get up so early.”

“I’m up though, so there’s no point in complaining. Anyway,” he changed the subject, “did you get my little gift?”

I recalled the note by the windowsill. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did.”

“Can I have your answer then?”

“I already told you no.”

The tone of his voice changed. “I don’t understand you, Sara. You’re so-so stupid!”

“Stupid? You’re calling me stupid?” I yelled.

“Yes, I am! Because you are too busy living in your little dumb world, that you don’t have any senses to just go with what you want!”

“What if I don’t want to, Ean?” My throat tightened. “You have to think about what I want as well.”

“You want me, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I replied doubtfully.

“Then let’s go, baby! Get out of the house and let’s get a private room!”

“No, Ean,” I replied firmly. “I don’t want to.”

“Stupid girl!”

I hung up before he could say any more.