The drive back feels like it takes forever. I check the clock after an hour has passed only to see it's been five minutes. Uuuughhhh...
But, I'm heading home! I'm coming home to the love of my life in a spectacular new dress!
The slow 80mph drive is nice. The sun looks so bright and the fields we're passing look like they're made of vibrant seaweed. And I know my home is at the end of it! Miss Melanie is waiting patiently for me to come back! We'll see each other, my dress, makeup, and hair will capture her heart, we'll go on dates, walk down the aisle, and do other stuff couples do. It'll be great!
Ooohhh I just can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait!
"Are we there yet!?" Darrion misses my question, and the boy only answers me with a passive stare.
Fine, I'll be patient. I can wait.
I open up my phone to try and pass the time. It has restrictions because Miss Melanie says that it'll rot the few brain cells I have if I play on it. I can at least look at her contact though. The way her name's spelled, her phone number, the little picture I snuck of her that sits as the icon. I could look at this for hours... probably days...
Maybe I could call her and tell her we're on our way! That way I could hear her voice!
My finger hovers over the call button, but it won't make the decisive move to hit it. If I wait, I can surprise her. If I'm patient, I can see her proud face in person for myself. So I'll be patient, I'll be-
A tug at my hip brings me back, and Glenn is pointing to a familiar house on a familiar street in a familiar neighborhood. We're here! This is it!
And that's- It's-!
Waiting for me on the doorstep, Miss Melanie's wrapped tightly in her bomber jacket. She's beautiful. I can't believe I thought Laura was even close to Miss Melanie.
It's like not having water for days and seeing the ocean, and I need a drink! The door on my side almost shatters when I open it, and I run to her inviting glare.
"Miss Melanie!" I open my arms to latch onto her, preparing to pick her up in a loving hug! But... she probably wouldn't like that. So instead, I let my eagerness sag to my side and wait for her to greet me back.
"Vilma." That icy refreshing tone... And she's looking! She sees the dress, she sees my hair!
"I completed the mission!"
"Did you now?" She's not saying a lot about my new look... But she's probably just in shock at how pretty I am!
"Mhm! The boy killed Bianca just like you said!"
"The boy did?" Oh no.
She doesn't know I'm lying. I won't get in trouble, but my stomach feels all wrong when the words come out... Maybe I should just tell the truth, tell her that Arthur came up with the idea. But I don't want to get Arthur in trouble. If I just stick with it, everything will turn out fine.
"Yes. I did what you asked!"
"Alright." She passes me, walking toward the limo door.
That's it? She didn't say anything about my dress or my makeup. I thought she'd be all over me by now...
But do I deserve her praise? I lied to her. She had full faith in me and I lied! Maybe this is that karma thing I heard about! If I do something bad like lie to Miss Melanie, then she won't compliment me! So if I want her to notice me, I have to tell the truth!
"Miss Melanie-"
"Yes, Vilma?" She turns back to me with those trusting eyes.
Say it Vilma. Be courageous and say it! "I was lying! Arthur killed Bianca, not me!"
Phew, that feels a lot better. Like a whole other person was lifted off my shoulders. But that wouldn't be that heavy. Maybe like twelve or fifteen. But that's not important right now! I just admitted I'm a dirty liar to the love of my life, my one and only! Please don't hate me!
"I already knew."
Wha- "You did!?"
"Of course, I did. I was expecting you to return to me with your head hanging low and beg me for forgiveness. So, imagine how I felt watching you come to me like you followed even a word of what I told you to do. Imagine watching what should be my most trusted employee, the person I assign my safety to, attempt to lie to my face."
The inside of my ears are throbbing. Every word banging against my skull. I tried my best, I really did. I didn't want to lie... I... it just...
"Whoever could have put that idea into your head? Was it Arthur?" All I can do is nod my drooped head. "Then let's look at this as a learning experience for you. I have eyes and ears everywhere. Lying to me will only hurt you in the end. Now will be your first and last warning for that, understand?"
"Yes ma'am..."
"It's good that you admitted to lying to me when you did. I was ready to go urn shopping if you had kept the façade up. I like you Vilma, just don't act like a nuisance and I'll keep you by my side for as long as you want."
"You like me!?" It worked! My womanly charms are finally working on-
"And take off that cumbersome dress, it's not practical for your work as my bodyguard. Refrain from wearing it when you're around me in the future."
"Oh." But I rarely separate myself from Miss Melanie. Does that mean I can't ever enjoy this feeling again? Feeling like my body isn't wrong. Arthur worked so hard to make the dress for me. And Kristie woke up early in the morning just to repair it. And she didn't even say anything about the makeup Laura put on me!
But- Miss Melanie is never wrong. A dress would make protecting her more difficult. She's just being cautious. She never said she didn't like it, she just said it wasn't practical. Yeah- She likes it, she just doesn't want to encourage me to wear something that makes my job harder.
She knows what's best.
So why does it hurt so much? My beach feels smaller like the tide is rising around me. I turn around and see the ocean on the other side, crashing closer inland. I'm on an island, isolated- and the only thing I love, the short-haired crab, isn't here to talk with me.
Why can't I be pretty or charming like Laura? Or smart and cool like Arthur? Or dependable like Kristie? Or… anything that Miss Melanie would like? Why does the one person I love hate me? Why can't I be anything different than myself?
"Where's my mom!" Glenn's screech snaps me out of my spiral. He's broken out the limo, blocking Miss Melanie's path.
But she ignores him, looking wholly uninterested in answering his question.
"What about his mom?"
She exhales, probably tired of both of us. "She had an unfortunate accident while waiting for you to come back. So, Glenn will be under our care until she feels better."
"What?"
"Where's my mom!" He squeals again. Glenn's giving her the same look he gave Arthur when he had Arthur at gunpoint.
And Miss Melanie's responding with another look I recognize. Miss Melanie's annoyed at his crying like I was when I first met him. And it's my job to clear out the annoyances in her life. The boy looks through her to me. He's putting his trust in me. Like he wants me to fix his mom and bring her home.
"Vilma." Oh, now she looks annoyed at me. I'm sorry, I know.
"Yes, Miss Melanie." I cross her side, towering over the child. He falls over after a quick smack on his head and I catch his shirt before his head hits the ground.
"If you're done disappointing me for one day, get in the limo and wipe off your makeup."
"Yes ma'am."
I know she's right, but why does my chest feel so tight? It's a dress, nothing compared to her. He's a child I've known for a day, so why do I feel like falling apart? My hands rub at my eyes to keep these bad thoughts away. But they keep coming and coming, clouding my vision, burning my cheeks, slicing my breaths up. Why doesn't she like me? What's wrong with me!?
"You look awful Vilma, take a nap and calm down. I need you back to normal at our next stop. There's word about an Antique in New Jersey that's in contention."
"Ye- yes Miss Melanie." That's a good idea, Miss Melanie is always full of them. Whatever is making me feel like this, I'm sure I'll forget about it when I wake up.