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Post by Tiff on Mar 11, 2011 13:24:01 GMT -5
He startled me, I'd been too preoccupied with playing, I forgot he'd be joining me and that anything else existed. I searched his face and then my eyes found the PB&J in his hand and I shook my head. "I have to get myself one of those first." I grinned and claimed a sandwich for myself before returning to the bench. "Ok." I took a deep breath after swallowing my first bite. "First do you think the Conrads are privy to my abduction? I mean I was thinking a little and I can remember an accident." I turned to adjust myself on the bench. "It's definitely Frankie's accident, she must have fallen down the stairs and broke her neck or something, I don't know, I can't imagine she's alive still, but maybe, maybe they rushed her to the hospital and simply told the doctor's they'd pay whatever it cost to get their little girl back." I searched his eyes for any understanding or even a hint that he was following. "So, what if I, as Maggie and Joe's daughter, looked similar enough, maybe even shared the same name or characteristic's." I eyed him. "There are dozens of piano competition trophies in our trophy room with my name on it. If I only went missing two years ago, then perhaps Frankie and I were both good at the piano." I stopped and shook my head. "I'm just saying maybe they really do think I'm their daughter and that the doctor's simply fixed her and she came back with new hair color or slightly taller, and they could easily look past those details because Frankie was home again and seemingly normal."
"And let's just say they know. Then they would know, and maybe what ten other people would know? But surely not everyone. I'm not everyone, but I'm sure not every Rich person in our town would be for switching a poor child as a replacement for the sick or dead rich child. Even if it's not strictly morally wrong, they have to be thinking about bloodlines and their pockets. For example, if everyone on the Rich side knew that the daughter of Conrads was really a replacement poor child, they'd be calling the talking heads and demanding they put a stop to this engagement between you and I. Even if they didn't tell you, the rich fathers in this country wouldn't want to see their rich daughters trumped by a poor girl brought in to ease the pain of the loss of a child from another. It would soil your blood, any children you'd produce would be 'dirty' for lack of a better word and why let that happen? Why not put a stop to the engagement and let you remain clean and pure?"
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Post by kristay on Mar 11, 2011 19:26:58 GMT -5
I couldn't get a word in for a while so I silently listened while I chewed thoughtfully on my sandwich. "You have a point there. It seems like you've been thinking about this a lot actually." I chuckled. "Well for one, I'm pretty sure your parents are aware that you aren't the real Frankie Conrad. No matter how similar you may be to their real daughter, you still aren't their real daughter and I'm pretty sure parents, rich or poor, can tell." I knew it sounded sad and a bit mean but it was the truth and I was pretty sure Frankie was aware of this as well. "I'm also pretty sure that no one but your parents, and the person who took you from Maggie and Joe are aware that you aren't really their little girl. What would their friends say? They'd be considered a laughingstock and you know how afraid they are of what other people would say about them." I took another sandwich for myself and bit into it, chewing thoughtfully before I looked her in the eye again. "You're already a daughter to them, even if you aren't the real Frankie... So I guess they're still glad that you were able to snag the 'elusive Alec Wilson' because it means they get whatever your getting." I finished my sandwich and lightly touched her cheek, brushing against the smooth skin with the pad of my thumb. "Besides, if they insisted I stop the engagement, I'd refuse." I grinned even if I knew it wasn't really the time for it. "I like you too much."
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Post by Tiff on Mar 12, 2011 0:23:00 GMT -5
Everything he said was complete true. I couldn't hold onto this tiny shred of hope that the people I thought were my real parents actually had an ounce of decency in their bodies. "I just wish it weren't so, it just makes me dislike them more for searching out some creepy person to steal someone else's kid just so they can continue to carry out some fantasy. I mean honestly, if they'd talked to the doctor's and were legitimately upset that Frankie was too sick to cure or dead and they'd do anything to get her back and some idiot went and stole me from Maggie and Joe, then I wouldn't be so angry at them, but this is just ridiculous." I searched my brain for an alternative for them. "Victoria isn't that old, she could have had another child." That was the best I could do.
"I suppose it was decent of them to treat me right while I was in their care, but goodness, I couldn't imagine doing that to anyone." I wondered if that was the poor girl inside of me. I blushed as he stated he would refuse to stop the engagement because he liked me too much. I liked him too and as far as I was concerned he was the only person I currently had at the moment. "What about Maggie and Joe, can you tell me anything about them? Or even Raina? It's like the people who altered my memories really wanted me to forget her." I paused a little scared and found Alec's eyes. "You said Raina's brother was killed, why? The goal, I'm assuming, was to get rid of my memories of my poor life, but from the looks of things, it seems they did a crap job of it except with Raina and if I was friends with Raina then wouldn't I have known her brother? Was there something about him that the doctor's or politicians or whatever would have wanted me to complete forget if I didn't forget anything else?" I had a feeling he probably didn't know the answers to these questions and I might simply have to suck it up and ask Raina myself. "And why wouldn't they erase the memories of me from everyone who knew me? It's bad enough their stealing a daughter and a friend, why not ease their minds so no one feels there has been a significant change?" As this question left my mouth two possible answers sprung to my mind. Punishment and/or cost.
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Post by kristay on Mar 12, 2011 2:47:00 GMT -5
I couldn't help it, I chuckled as I once again put my hands on her shoulders. "You have time to ask these questions, Frankie... Take it easy and breathe." I shook my head in amusement, knowing that she had a lot to ask, a lot that seemed to have disappeared from her and I was one of the few people who could help her with that. It seemed like a very big task but I wanted to help her in anyway that I could. I shrugged at her comment about Victoria. "I was pretty surprised that she even allowed herself to get pregnant, simply because she's so vain about her appearance."
I put my fingers to the keys; I wasn't very good but I knew some songs that my mom coerced me to learn with her. I played lightly so my voice could be heard over the piano. "Regarding Maggie and Joe...", I knew a lot about them but I paused and turned to her, "Wouldn't you rather get to know them yourself? I mean, I know a bit about them since we've been friends for a while but they are your parents... I'd think that was a bit personal, don't you?" I paused again and turned my eyes to the white and black keys of the piano. "Raina is my age and from what I can remember from what her brother told me before, you two were really good friends." I was still one of the 'rich' then so I couldn't really tell her much. "Raina's had a hard time what with the loss of her brother and now me being an 'overbearing substitute'; her words not mine." I shook my head just because I couldn't really figure out what Raina wanted; there were good days where she and I had been very close and even laughed together, but then there were most days when she could hardly stand to be in my presence and railed on me constantly. "She's a nice girl deep down... And she really does love her friends... Even if she can't seem to show it to them."
I consciously rubbed the leather bracelet on my wrist. "This was her brother's. He died because he was protecting me... He didn't want me to be caught so he gave up himself; he was shot 3 times and he died from blood loss... They didn't even have the balls to give him a headshot; they wanted him to suffer." I shook my head and closed my eyes, not wanting to remember the panic and the despair that had filled my being as I carried Raina's brother back to the camp, void of life... "They didn't alter anyone else's memories Frankie because of the simple fact that you had become the example. If anyone tried to rise above their station, the same thing could be done to one of their family... Someone could be taken and never returned."
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Post by Tiff on Mar 12, 2011 19:50:41 GMT -5
I considered what he had to say about talking to my parents and getting information from them instead of from him, but I wasn't sure about that. "I don't know them." I finally said. "I'm not comfortable." I leaned forward and touched his 'camouflage' clothes. "I'm more comfortable with you than them." I was probably wrong to call the Poor, my parents and Raina, them, but I couldn't help but feel like I belonged in Alec's world more so than theirs. "I'd rather you tell me a little about them before you leave me alone with them. I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings."
I didn't like the things he was telling me. It was just too hard to imagine any human being being that awful to another, no matter the class. "I don't want any of this." I moved even closer to him, pushing my head into his chest. "It's not right, I don't want anyone else to suffer because of me." I knew Raina's brother hadn't died because of me, but Maggie and Joe had and maybe even Raina herself. "When will the resistance be strong enough to take down the people in charge? Soon?"
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Post by kristay on Mar 12, 2011 20:39:25 GMT -5
I was surprised when she suddenly moved to bury her face in my chest but I wrapped an arm around her waist anyway and smoothed out her hair. "Well... Maggie and Joe lost you two years ago... They told me that they took you at night at home and though Joe could have fought them, he didn't because they threatened to kill you and Maggie if he put up a fight." I shook my head and sighed softly. "Maggie is a really nice lady and she always manages to make Raina shut up which is nice sometimes. She may be older now but she's still sharp and is very active in the resistance.", I shrugged and paused as I moved to lightly rub her back. "She's a good cook and sometimes she comes here to work in my kitchen with Martha." I paused again to collect my thoughts before I spoke about Joe. "Joe's a very hard working man but he loves his family. He missed you a lot and though he didn't speak about you much-- I think it's because it hurt him to think about it. You can tell that he adores you." I pulled away so I could lightly tip her chin up so she could meet my eyes. "He keeps pictures of you in their house... Everything that reminds them of you, it's there... Everything. Anyway..." I cleared my throat, "He's pretty handy; good at electronics, carpentry... He's good with his hands in general."
I shrugged again before I answered her. "If all the plans go well, then very soon... Probably before the month is up." That gave us a month to plan and I was pretty sure that with Charlie's ideas and my leadership, we'd be ready very soon. Hopefully.
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Post by Tiff on Mar 12, 2011 21:22:58 GMT -5
I took in what he told me about Maggie and Joe. I was still unsure about them, but I at least felt that if I were stuck in a room with them I wouldn't be distrustful of them. "I'm afraid they might get suspicious now." I pulled a face and looked up at him as his fingers lifted my chin. "If Maggie comes to work in your kitchen and they find out about it, they won't look past that right? Alec, she can't come here anymore." It's too suspicious." I looked down, tired of my own pessimism. "Is Joe good with a gun?" I asked, I honestly didn't want to know the answer to this question.
"Good, I don't know how I can help make it happen, but I want to do whatever I can. I don't have many skills outside of playing the piano, but I'm a fast learner, do you think I can help at all?" Or maybe I'll simply be in the way...
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Post by kristay on Mar 12, 2011 23:25:34 GMT -5
I nodded, "Alright then. I'll ask her to stay put there. Martha can take care of us fine here." I lightly skimmed the pad of my thumb across her jawline and smiled lightly. "I'm glad that even if you don't remember anything... I'm glad that you still care about them." I shrugged at her next question. "He's been fighting longer than I have, Frankie... I don't know what he's capable of but he must be pretty good since he's survived this long."
I smiled at her, glad that she was bent on joining the resistance. Aside from that though, I wondered whether she truly understood that sacrifices she would have to make in helping the resistance... I really hoped she wouldn't have to sacrifice anything though.
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Post by Tiff on Mar 12, 2011 23:37:37 GMT -5
He answered my question, the one I didn't really want him to answer, but he did it in such a roundabout way it didn't have such an unsettling affect on me. I was so thankful to him for being aware of my need to be unexposed to the gore. I knew this luxury wouldn't last long and I'd see it sooner than I'd want, but it was nice for the moment. His fingers on my skin was relaxing too and I didn't want him to stop touching me. "So, um, should I change soon?"
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Post by kristay on Mar 13, 2011 1:44:55 GMT -5
I glanced out the window and when I noticed the setting sun, reluctantly pulled away from her. I nodded and smiled at her. "Yeah I think it's time for you to get changed; the clothes are in your room." I stood up slowly, knowing that if I stayed longer beside her, I wouldn't want to move... And we had a lot of things to do. I shook my head, remembering I had to make up with Raina or her brother's ghost would probably haunt me at night and I sighed softly.
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Post by Tiff on Mar 13, 2011 1:50:24 GMT -5
I nodded and noticed how reluctant he was to pull away, but I didn't comment. I went to my room, found the close that were set out for me and pulled them on. When I was dressed I made my way back to the sun room, he hadn't specified where they should meet once she was finished dressing, but she hadn't taken a lot of time, there wasn't much to fuss over. The only thing she liked about the outfit was the jacket and hood.
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Post by kristay on Mar 13, 2011 1:58:18 GMT -5
When she left, all I could do was pace and pace I did. I walked circles around the sun-room, probably leaving tracks in the wood flooring. I didn't even notice when she returned because I was busy muttering to myself as I continued to pace. I needed to speak to Raina and then the leaders of the resistance and then speak to Frankie's parents and... I sighed, knowing that thinking of these things and worrying about them was not the same as getting it done. I finally looked up to see her there and smiled. "I like the hood."
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Post by Tiff on Mar 13, 2011 11:16:03 GMT -5
I examined my hood, touching it with my fingers. "I like it too." I did, I liked the way it covered me and the way I'd be able to disappear into the hood to conceal my face, another plus was if we wound up on the ground again, the long sleeves would protect me, but that was minor. "Should we start out now?" I was simply eager to get away from his house and our town where all the walls had ears, even a little excited to talk to Raina.
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Post by kristay on Mar 13, 2011 17:28:52 GMT -5
I nodded and offered her my hand as I headed out the door, down the stairs and out of the house using the back door. Once we were out, I pulled away and tugged on her hood, concealing her hair and most of her face. I smiled. "You're excited aren't you?" I took her hand in mine again and started to walk towards the hidden trail that I often used for these night time excursions. It was darker than most pathways but that worked in my advantage. I hoped Frankie wasn't scared though...
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Post by Tiff on Mar 14, 2011 1:01:40 GMT -5
I let him conceal me from the sight of anyone who might be watching and then nodded, careful not to shake too hard, lest my hood should slip. "I am." I let him take my hand and then followed him to the trail that he obviously used quite often. I don't know why I was so petrified of the darkness, but I tried not to let it consume me. "Alec..." I begged, I let it get to me, and desperately wanted some light.
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