Vicky Gets Snatched
Sundays were one of Carmen's favorite days of the week.Alongside the Pius family,her family also attended Jesus' Ambassador Embassy.Carmen was still with the Pius',so she went to church with them.The girls loved dressing up for church and on this particular Sunday,they looked very gorgeous.Carmen was wearing a knee length square lined blue gown with her pearl necklace and earrings alongside her black heels.Vicky was wearing a long white long sleeved gown with a green choker and matching green earrings alongside green heels.People in church always said they were meant to be best friends and they were known in the church for being modest and decent girls who had great upbringings.
The Pius' along with Carmen sat at the front of church while Carmen's mother, step father and step siblings sat at the back.The resident pastor,Pastor George Simmons was a tall,dark man who always wore white suits and spoke in a soft manner,his wife,Martha Simmons was his opposite.Martha Simmons was in a certain way a free spirit,she wore short gowns,had tinted her short natural hair dark red,spoke audaciously and was seen by mostly all women in the church as unbefitting for a pastor's wife.Their daughter,Diana Simmons was what many described as an exemplary girl, she led the church choir,was always being 'righteous' and voluntarily led the teens whenever there was an event.
After church service,Carmen and Vicky were waiting by the church entrance,patiently for Mr Pius to be done with his church meetings.They were both envied by most of the girls in church for their friendship and according to most 'better-than-us' attitude.
"Good day girls"Diana,greeted walking up to them.
Diana was wearing a polka dot blouse and skirt with golden earrings and black flats.
"Hi D,what's up?"Vicky asked.
"I came to invite you girls to a teen event I'm hosting this evening,invite only "Dianna said with an air of arrogance.
"Ummm..tomorrow's school Dianna"Carmen stated in a way of rejection.
"Gotta study and there's a group study thing I need to start working on "Vicky said as well.
"You both are missing an opportunity to know God more because of unimportant reasons?Well I hope God forgives you because when He comes,sinners will not be spared "Dianna said,as she walked away obviously upset.
"Babes that was so not cool!Did she just call us sinners for not coming to her teen event?!"Carmen fumed.
"Carrie i really think Diana isn't as nice as everyone gives her credit for, if we weren't truly busy i wouldn't have declined " Vicky said looking upset.
Carmen was about to say more to that effect when she spotted Eli,the hapless chorister approaching them;with his minion,the short Jonas.
"As if Diana wasn't enough "Carmen sighed loudly, alerting Vicky to Eli's presence.
Eli was the son of the choir master,Mr Owen and felt he was a catch amongst the ladies. He was a helpless womanizer and he had the backing of Jonas, the short Lebanese who was his witty minion and apparently, best friend.
"Beautiful Sunday ladies,isn't it?But you both are looking spectacularly ravishing today and I couldn't resist the urge to compliment you both"Eli said,slyly sliding his hand around Carmen's waist.
With an aggressiveness so strong,Carmen gave Eli a resounding slap.
Whack!
The members of the congregation still outside the church all turned to look the teenagers with a mixture of shock and blatant surprise.
"You worm!How dare you touch me inappropriately?"Carmen raged.
"You didn't slap him properly!He deserves a punch that resets her jaw!"Vicky fumed,jabbing a finger in Eli's chest.
"You whores!You dare hit me?I'll ruin you!I will destroy you!"Eli cursed like a wounded tiger.
Jonas cowardly scampered away once he knew they had attracted an audience.Members of the church dragged an hysterical Eli away as the resident pastor and Mr Pius rushed towards the girls.
"What happened,girls?Did he misbehave with you?"Mr Pius raged.
"Now calm down sir,this is God's sanctuary and there shall be no form of violence here; please explain to us carefully what happened" Pastor George said calmly.
"He made a pass at me Pastor; he held my waist inappropriately "Carmen said upset,pointing at the direction where Eli had been dragged to.
"I am going to murder that little scoundrel!He has no right to touch a girl who is like my own child inappropriately without her permission!" Mr Pius fumed.
Just as he was about charging towards Eli, Mrs Pius and the twins,Mrs Claire and Carmen's stepdad and siblings all arrived.
"Carmen darling,hope you aren't hurt?What's the commotion all about?"Mrs Claire inquired worriedly,stretching her hands towards Carmen.
Carmen lunged for her mother,gave a peck on the cheek and said reassuringly "I'm fine mummy,Eli was just being a dog that's all"
Turning to her husband,Mrs Pius scolded "No need to get all hyper here!Why are you acting like an untamed animal here?!"
"Are you mad?!He made a pass at Carmen and must have said something disgusting to both Vicky and Carmen,and you expect me to do nothing?!"Mr Pius roared,looking at his wife viciously.
Panicking,Vicky held her father's arm gently and said "Pops,there's no need to get mad at mom,just please listen to her and don't create a scene at church "
"But..."
"Daddy P...there's really no need for any further confrontations,I'm sure we can resolve this without any unrest "Carmen said calmly,giving him a pat on the arm Vicky held.
Just then an extremely pale Mr Owen arrived with apologies "I am so sorry for my son's irate behavior, I promise he was trained better , please forgive him if that's possible"
Shaking his head slightly, Pastor George said firmly "Mr Owen I'm sorry but I'll have to suspend your son from participating in any church activities for now, including the choir, I hope you understand, we cannot let such scandalous behavior go unpunished "
Swallowing hard,Mr Owen replied calmly "I understand,I am truly sorry " and with that he left.
"Let's go home now,that's enough drama for one Sunday!"Mrs Pius said,hissing as she and the twins went towards their car.
Pastor George then returned back inside the church; counseling an obviously upset Mr Pius.
Turning to face Carmen,Pete said somewhat roughly "Let's go....enough of these tantrums"
"Tantrums?I was molested by that fool!"Carmen said angrily.
"Don't you dare to speak to my father like that "Rogers raged.
"Don't mind the silly girl,acting like she didn't actually want it"Hailey snickered.
No one was prepared for the sucker punch that Vicky landed at the side of Hailey's jaw.Soon Hailey's mouth filled with blood.
"You bitch!Don't ever say that about my best friend again, are we clear?!"Vicky screamed in fury,while Carmen held her back.
"You stupid girl!How dare you hit our sister?!"Hailey's brothers raved as Hailey spat out blood repeatedly.
"This is unacceptable Claire!How could your daughter's friend hit my poor child like this?" Pete said with barely concealed rage as he examined Hailey's face carefully.
Very quietly,Mrs Claire said "Please tell your friend to apologize to Hailey now,Carmen "
Shocked,Carmen asked"Mum,but Vicky was just retaliating to what Hailey said about me,she indirectly called me a slut and you sat there and did nothing,and now Vicky's at fault??"
"This is so unfair Mrs Claire"Vicky said bitterly.
"You will apologize now or I will have no choice but to report this incident to your mother,Vicky "Mrs Claire said with a cold finality that shocked both girls.
With a tight throat and unshed tears,Vicky said apologetically "I...I'm sorry Hailey" and with that,left to sit in the car and wait for her father.
The rest of the family snickered while Carmen stared at Mrs Claire with unbelief.
'Did my mom just go low by threatening Vicky with the one person who could make her life hell? ' she thought sadly.
Looking at Carmen sadly,Mrs Claire started saying "I didn't mean to... "
" But you did Mom!You absolutely did and you've successfully been brainwashed by this man and his horrible spawns!I don't even recognize you anymore,you...you've become his wife true and true....you know what?You all can burn in hell for all I care,I'll have Vicky send a courier with the things I have at her place and take an Uber home " Carmen lashed out in pain, stomping off despite her mother's cries and Pete's bickering.
***********************************
The next morning she texted Vicky before she left for school;
Carmen:Hey V,how're you doing today?
Vicky:I'm good hermosa!How are you?
Carmen; I'm good...;(with a crying emoji)...sorry about my mom
Vicky: No worries Carrie! She's obviously been body snatched by those villains you have for a step family ,so I understand (with a smirking emoji)
Carmen: Lol, you're the sweetest person alive Vicky Pius...thee absolutely sweetest,I guess I'll see you at school then?
Vicky: Yes my child!We shall meet at the institute for learning hermosa!
(With a love emoji)
Feeling a lot better,Carmen slung her school bag on her shoulder and proceeded to go downstairs for breakfast.Everyone was already seated eating and that to,without her.
"Good morning rogues" Carmen mumbled as she sat down far from all of them.
Dropping his tea spoon noisily,Pete glared at Carmen as he said" I will not tolerate any insults from you henceforth; any of act of delinquency will be punished"
Kingsley,Rogers and Hailey all exchanged looks of triumph while Mrs Claire looked at Carmen pleadingly.Carmen exchanged glares with Pete for a while before she said standing abruptly "I'm not hungry after all,bye mum...bye bye step family"
In a state of alarm,Mrs Claire called out "Don't you dare leave without having breakfast!" but Carmen was already out the front door.
***********************************
School was looking a lot fuller than the previous week and all of a sudden Carmen was claustrophobic.She spotted Vicky who was standing with a very nervous looking Reuben who was wearing their school uniform and his funny looking glasses which he adjusted several times.
"Hey Carrie!Look who decided to join us at our school!So we've got a new student but he's in the art class not to worry he's a newbie and he's a 'nice' newbie unlike that grumpy Olympian god and so we've got to show him around school!"Vicky squealed.
"Welcome to our school,Ruby" Carmen said smiling faintly.
"Thanks Carmen...it's still feeling a lot of awkward here,I don't know how I'll manage without my best friends Aisha and Jamal, but anytime I look at Vicky she kinda reminds me of Aisha" Reuben said,smiling nervously at Vicky.
Carmen was not oblivious to the fact that Reuben was crushing on Vicky and Vicky also seemed to have developed a fondness for the cute teen.
'What's happening here,first my mom and now my bestie has a de facto boyfriend ?Who in this world isn't going to abandon me for some...guy?' she thought jealousy sowing seeds in her mind.
"You lads can have fun,I'll be in the cafeteria getting something to eat"Carmen said gruffly,not waiting for a reply before heading towards the cafeteria.
After walking a few steps,she turned and discovered that they hadn't called after her and that they were holding hands smiling at each other like a newly wed couple.