LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 9: Menacing Reality.
2016
Atlanta, GA
July 19, Thursday
4:00 P.M.
Heaving heavily, Alycia threw herself onto the floor of the Store while Mr Brown arose from behind the counter and rushed over to his employee's body, kneeling down onto the floor right beside her. He scanned her body for any wounds before gripping both her shoulders to shake her into giving an assuring response. "Cici, little girl" he yelled directly into her ear resulting in Alycia lifting herself up from the ground, letting a few drops of tears flow from her eyes. "You hurt anywhere?" Mr Brown questioned whilst roughly pushing her forward to examine her back for any type of wound, scar or mark obtained from a potential physical struggle. "I'm fine, Mr Brown" she managed to get out before rising onto her feet, an action followed by Mr Brown as he kept a firm eye on Alycia. She walked over to her work station in the store which was the register. "You ain't tellin' me that you still gone stay up in here after that" he asserted sternly with astonishment. "Mr Brown, I'm serious right now, I can finish my shift" she insisted but Mr Brown wasn't keen, he could tell the shock she was in by the way her hands shook on the counter, her widened eyes as she starred into nothing with glistening eyes which told that she had been crying. A moment of silence between the two drew in as he continued to contemplate and notice her body language. "Lil gurl" he called but she was so deep in thought, it was as if she'd gotten so acquainted with the silence that she hadn't heard him. "Alycia!" He called out, pulling her out of her thoughts she quickly turned her attention to him, eyes still widened, lips tucked into her mouth. "You gotta go, I'll see you on Monday" were his final words before pressing his right hand into his back to try relax the aching muscles that held his posture. Letting out a sigh of defeat, Alycia arose from her seat and checked the time. The next bus would only arrive in an hour and usually she wouldn't have long to wait for it to arrive being that her shift would end with a few minutes to spare. Walking was a frightening action to take but today was only worse after the traumatic experience she'd just encountered. Standing in between the entrance doorframe of the store she couldn't find the courage within herself to leave on her own and returned to find Mr Brown, managing to convince him to drive her home.
Returning to a quite and empty home, Alycia went straight up to her room. Mother was probably at work and was due back anytime soon to get started on dinner. Plunging onto her bed, gradually she shut her eyes and took a much needed nap.
5:00 P.M
Awoken by a call of her name. Alycia arose from her relaxed position and directed focus to the door frame. "Why you back early?" She questioned with her arms folded. Rubbing her eyes gently before returning mothers gaze. "Mr Brown had somewhere to be" she lied. It was probably the first lie she'd ever told, but if she told the truth, Debra would have taken extensive measures. One possibly being to make her quit the job she actually enjoyed, only because it kept her out of the house. A short silence sparked as she gawked at Alycia trying to catch her in a lie but quickly reverted back to her senses when she recalled something. "We've got company for dinner" and following that statement, Debra's lips moulded a closed lip smile "-go freshen up" she added before turning on her black 2 inch heels, making her way down to the kitchen. Scrunching her eyebrows at what she'd just seen, "She smiled" she thought. It was definitely a first for her and she began to wrap her curiosity around who would be sitting dinner with them.
7:00 P.M.
Sitting by the dinner table, posture up, both hands on her lap under the table. Alycia wore a long quirky red skirt with white polka dots on them, which she tucked a white turtle neck top into, a white rosary around her neck and finally black pumps. Her hair, bone straight and mother even consented her to apply some lip gloss. Three knocks on the door and you could see the excitement in Debra's eyes as she rose onto her feet to answer the door. Alycia heard her mother welcoming three voices. Joining the Bella women for dinner were two men who shared a resemblance, one young and the other much older as well as a woman who looked to be mother's age. They took their seats and dinner commenced with mother's introduction. But it only sparked confusion as the two older men and woman were introduced as mother and father, the younger stranger introduced by the name, 'David'. Food was plated and the only conversation going on stood between the adults while Alycia and David sat across from each other without any exchange of words. Alycia hadn't been paying attention to the conversation until 1 word from the unidentified woman caught her attention. "Oh we've been planning this for ages, basically since they were born I can't wait for the wedding" shooting her head up to meet the eyes of the women, she looked between her mother and this woman, "wedding" the word traveled around her head but she later brushed it off hoping it was in reference to another couple.