Chapter 41
ϕVeraϕ
“Oh, a jog? Well, more so a walk, yeah, that would be great.” I smiled.
“Alright, we won’t go far, but it would be nice to try to get out a bit more now that I’m starting to feel better.” He said.
“”I understand, I will support that however I can. Just as long as you know I’m even more out of shape than you are.” I chuckled.
“I know.” He said and I just looked at him. He suddenly shook his head. “I-I mean I didn’t say it like it sounded honest.” I laughed and his shoulders slumped back to their relaxed positioning.
“It’s all good. But, really, you’re feeling ok? I just had a weird feeling in my gut.” I said. He smirked.
“Well it was probably something you ate.” Zak flicked my forehead.
“Smart ass.” I rubbed my forehead a bit and crossed my arms. I thought I heard someone giggle but when I turned around, nothing was there.
“What’s the matter?” Zak asked.
“It’s nothing, I’m just hearing things. You must be driving me crazy.” I smirked back at him.
“Oh yes, because that’s the only explanation to your insanity.” He retorted.
“You just have a comeback for everything don’t you?” I sighed, but couldn’t rid myself of my smile. “Well, you know, almost everything.” I winked and his face flushed a little.
“So, as promised, let’s play monopoly or something.” He said, quickly evading the topic.
“I accept this challenge, and you are so going down.” I cleared off the kitchen table so we could sit and play.
~*~
Unfortunately, Zak and I didn’t go for our jog. After our intense game that lasted well into the night, we called it a draw and went to bed. We woke up to the rain pounding down onto the roof and flood warnings flashing along the bottom of the TV. “So much for that plan.” I sighed.
“What plan dear?” Mom asked.
“Vera and I were going to go for a jog around town.” Zak said.
“Oh? You got Vera to agree to do physical exercise?!” Mom exclaimed.
“Mother, is it really that hard to believe?!” I asked her. She just nodded and Zak laughed.
“Damien, you have something to say to Vera, don’t you?” Mom said to my father who was sitting in his favorite recliner across from her. He finished his sentence he was reading in the newspaper and looked at her with a gleam of nervousness in his eyes.
“I, well, why don’t you tell her?” He asked. Mom shook her head.
“No, you do it.” She said. I was starting to get nervous. Glancing over at Zak, he looked just as confused as I felt.
“Vera dear, tonight you’ll be coming with your mother and I to an upscale dinner.” Dad said. Oh no.
“I…what? Fancy dinner? So that means I-I…” Oh sweet baby Jesus no…
“Yes, that means you have to dress up.” Dad said. I sighed and mom smiled a little, and was trying to hide it. I hated dresses, and heels, and jewelry. Then I looked at Zak, back to Dad, then back to Zak, and back once more to Dad.
“Please please please tell me you’re making Zak go too…” I almost begged. I didn’t want to suffer alone. It was probably for the military and I wouldn’t know anyone and i didn’t want to have to be forced to go through this torture by myself.
“That’s up to him. We have a tux on standby if he would like to go. Actually, I would be very happy if he did come as a matter of fact.” Dad smiled his tiny smile of his and I quickly looked over and up at Zak, practically screaming in my head for him to come.
“O-Oh, um, you’re sure Sir? Isn’t stuff like that meant to be for family?” He asked.
“You are a part of this family Zak.” Mom spoke up.
“That’s right. So it would be nice to have you join us.” Dad added.
“Then, yes, I would be honored.” Zak said, seemingly bought off guard and bewildered. I sighed in relief and nodded.
“Ok, I’ll need to go find a dress.” I said, quickly trying to bolt from the room.
“Wait wait wait Vera, nothing that’s too…well, nothing that shows, um…” My dad stuttered.
“Nothing too obscene, short, or shows off the girls too much! But a little peek is alright.” Mom winked at me and my face felt like it was on fire.
“I got it!” I said and then went up to the extra room with some bins and a closet. Mom had hung my old dresses in here. I figured I might as well use an old one. I couldn’t believe my parents told me the day of this thing to tell me about it! Well actually, I couldn’t quite blame them. Had I known about this event, I would have found a way to weasel out of it. I suddenly heard a crash from behind me and I screamed. Then I heard what sounded like a very quiet ‘oops’, but that was probably my own thoughts since I yelled. Zak was at my side in almost an instant, just like I thought he would be.
“What happened?” He asked and his head turned towards the far corner of the room, then down at the floor. I turned my own head and saw that one of the bins had tumbled down to the floor and burst open. Nothing was broken, it was just a bunch of silverware and metal bowls. Zak bent down and helped me pick things up. Our hands brushed against each others and he stopped. “That must have startled you really good, you’re shaking.” He said. I laughed a little, more embarrassed than anything.
“Yeah, it did spook me good. Kinda like that first day in the house where you tried to scare me.”
“I was so nervous that you were going through my stuff.” He laughed. It was really nice to hear his laugh more often. I hoped he was happy here. Maybe it was just my self esteem talking, but deep down I was worried that he was going to get tired of me. “Vera? What’s wrong? You didn’t get hurt, right?”
“Huh? Oh, no Zak, it’s nothing really.” I answered.
“You’ve been saying that a lot today, you know you can tell me anything.” He said.
“I know I can. It’s alright, I’ve just been stuck in my own head lately. Thank you for helping me.” I said.
“You’re welcome. Any time you need me.” He said.
“Anytime?” I asked.
“Always.” He said. I quickly looked back in the closet and grabbed the dress that I kept coming back to.
“A-Anyway, you should try on that tux. Mom can nip and tuck anything if it’s necessary still.” I said.
“Ok, I’m sure you’ll be just fine, alone.” He said. I blinked, a little confused when he raised his voice a bit on ‘alone’.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Why? You wanna watch?” I grinned.
“No no no, you go do whatever you do for getting ready stuff.” He quickly went out and back towards the living room and I went upstairs to slowly get prepared.
~*~
“Mom, why do I have to do this?” I said as she helped me pin my hair up and curl it.
“Your father wants you to be there.” She answered simply.
“Yeah, that’s true. I know he’s proud of what he has done and does, but sometimes I get a bit embarrassed by it. Is that bad?” I asked.
“I understand dear. He just needs the support, not many people can do what he does and come out as strong. And even then, he’s haunted by things.” She said. I felt a slight tug on my hair and the beep of the curling iron. My hair was so long that it actually made beautiful ringlets that draped to my shoulder blades. I didn’t know how to respond to mom but she smiled as she arranged my hair so it was up off my neck, with delicate curls framing my face. “You look beautiful Vera.” She smiled. I had done my makeup, and I hated to think it, but I did look kinda pretty.
“Now to get the dress on.” I sighed. I had decided on a long evening gown. I wore it to another really important military ball a few years ago. It was dark blue with classy, shimmering sparkles all over with wispy bell cap sleeves. A low V in the back made me feel slightly uncomfortable, but it looked good, and the front came down like a V as well, and it only showed off a bit of my assets. Mom helped me into it. My shoes were waiting for me downstairs and I knew how to walk in those strappy heels, but that was only because they came up around my ankle a bit. I held my breath and followed mom downstairs where Dad and Zak were waiting by the door.
“Vera, my little girl has done a lot of growing up.”
“Oh dad.” I rolled my eyes and then they landed on Zak. His hair was slicked back with gel, and he had a really sharp black and white tuxedo on. We stared at each other for a few moments and mom gave me a little nudge. I blinked and bent down and got my shoes.
“I see it fits you good.” I said to Zak.
“Y-Yeah.” He stuttered. I reached out and grabbed his arm, using him as a balance post to slip my shoes on.
“There, we can go now.” I said.
“Not without a light jacket.” Dad said. Zak turned and got my thin leather jacket from the closet and held it open for me. I slid my arms into it and nodded.
“Thank you Zak, now we can go.” I said.
