Scenario:I stared at the clock, counting down the seconds until Veronica knocked on the door. She’s my mom’s friend and was tasked with house-sitting while my parents are away on vacation. Apparently, they didn’t trust me to be alone at the house.
Finally, I heard the knock. Opening the door, I was greeted by Veronica—blue hair tied in a bun, wearing a black tank top and leggings that perhaps showed to much.
"Heyyyy! Long time no see, honey," she said, stepping inside with her suitcase and a bright, teasing smile.
She set her suitcase down and stretched, revealing smooth skin under her tank top. "Looks like we’ll be alone together for a while," she added with a wink.
Her gaze shifted toward the backyard. "I heard you have a pool... Maybe I'll let you watch as I swim with my bikini on."
Create my version of this story
I stared at the clock, counting down the seconds until Veronica knocked on the door. She’s my mom’s friend and was tasked with house-sitting while my parents are away on vacation. Apparently, they didn’t trust me to be alone at the house.
Finally, I heard the knock. Opening the door, I was greeted by Veronica—blue hair tied in a bun, wearing a black tank top and leggings that perhaps showed to much.
"Heyyyy! Long time no see, honey," she said, stepping inside with her suitcase and a bright, teasing smile.
She set her suitcase down and stretched, revealing smooth skin under her tank top. "Looks like we’ll be alone together for a while," she added with a wink.
Her gaze shifted toward the backyard. "I heard you have a pool... Maybe I'll let you watch as I swim with my bikini on."
Christine Windsor
young adult, relationship with Veronica and parents, petite with curly brown hair, curious and naive
Mateo Windsor
Christine's father and Veronica's friend, relationship with Christine and his wife Nicolette, tall with greying hair, protective and trusting
Veronica Carter
house sitter and friend of Christine's mom, relationship with Christine and her parents, striking blue hair in a bun, seductive and manipulative
My parents are going out of town for a few days.
They're leaving me in the care of their friend Veronica.
I've never met her before, but my mom says she's cool.
I'm not so sure, but I trust my parents' judgment.
They wouldn't leave me with just anyone.
Veronica shows up just as they're about to leave.
She's striking, with blue hair pulled back into a bun.
Her eyes are a shade darker than her hair, almost indigo.
She gives me a seductive smile, and I feel my face flush.
"Christine, this is Veronica. Veronica, this is our Christine."
My mom introduces us.
She smiles and hugs me lightly.
"Nice to meet you, Christine. Thanks for having me stay. I promise I won't get into too much trouble."
She looks at my parents and winks.
My dad rolls his eyes, but my mom laughs.
"Be good. We'll be back on Wednesday."
My mom hugs me and kisses my forehead before they leave.
Veronica and I watch them go.
Once their car disappears around the corner, she turns to me.
"So, what do you want to do?"
I shrug.
"I don't know."
She smiles and takes my hand.
"Why don't we get some drinks, then figure it out."
We're at her favorite dive bar a few minutes later.
She orders us both drinks, then we sit at a table outside.
I stare at her hair.
It's a bright blue that seems to shimmer in the dim lights of the bar.
"So, what's the story behind the blue hair?"
I ask.
She chuckles, taking a sip of her drink.
"Oh, this? It's just a little rebellion from my younger days that stuck around."
She twirls a loose strand around her finger.
"Sometimes it's fun to break the rules."
She leans back in her chair, eyes glinting with mischief.
"You know, Christine, there's a bar nearby that I used to frequent. Why don't we go check it out tonight?"
I'm not sure about going out with Veronica, but the idea of doing something new is tempting.
"Sure, why not?"
We finish our drinks, then head back to the house.
Veronica takes a shower and gets ready for the night.
I do the same, feeling a little more confident in my own skin.
When we're both dressed up, we head out to the bar.
The place is dimly lit, with neon signs and a stage in the back.
The air is thick with smoke and the smell of cheap perfume.
Veronica leads me through the crowd to the bar.
She orders us both drinks, then we take a seat at a table near the stage. The music starts soon after we sit down.
Veronica sings along to every song, her voice blending in with the band's lead singer.
She seems in her element here, and I watch her with envy.
I've never been this comfortable in front of people before.
As the night wears on, Veronica gets more and more rowdy.
She's dancing on the tables by the time last call comes around.
I'm laughing and cheering her on from my seat at the bar when a man approaches us.
He looks like he's in his mid-30s, with dark hair and a well-groomed beard.
He introduces himself as a talent scout for a local record label.
"I couldn't help but notice your friend's voice. She has real talent."
He hands Veronica his card.
"If you're interested in talking about a record deal, give me a call."
Veronica looks at the card, then back at the man.
"Thanks, I'll think about it."
We leave the bar soon after.
Veronica is still buzzing from her performance, and I'm happy to see her so carefree.
She drops me off at the house, then heads home for the night.
The next morning, I wake to the sound of humming coming from downstairs.
I throw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, then head down to investigate.
Veronica is in the kitchen, wearing a black tank top and leggings that show off her toned legs.
She's standing at the stove, flipping bacon in a pan.
The smell of sizzling meat fills the air, making my stomach growl with hunger.
When she sees me, she smiles and gestures for me to sit down.
"I figured we could use some breakfast. Hope you're hungry."
I nod, taking a seat at the table.
She slides a plate in front of me, piled high with bacon and eggs.
I dig in gratefully, feeling my hunger fade as I eat. "So, what do you think about that talent scout last night?"
Veronica asks as she takes a seat beside me.
"I think he was serious. He really wants you to come in and talk about a record deal."
She nods thoughtfully.
"I've always wanted to make music my career. This could be my chance."
I nod encouragingly.
"You're talented enough. You just have to go for it."
Veronica smiles at me, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Thanks for your support. That means a lot coming from you."
We finish eating in comfortable silence, then Veronica stands up and begins washing dishes.
I help her clean up, then we head out into the backyard.
The sun is shining brightly overhead, casting a warm glow over everything.
Veronica stretches out on one of the lounge chairs by the pool, soaking up the sun's rays.
I join her, feeling the warmth seep into my skin as I lay back on my own chair. We spend the rest of the afternoon lounging by the pool and chatting about nothing in particular.
It's nice to have someone around who isn't trying to tell me what to do all the time.
As we're relaxing, there's a knock at the door.
I get up to answer it, expecting it to be one of Veronica's friends or something.
Instead, I find a man in a crisp suit standing on the porch.
"Hello, I'm looking for Veronica. Is she home?"
I glance back at her, noticing the sudden tension in her posture.
"Yeah, she's out back. Come on in."
I open the door wider, gesturing for the man to step inside.
He does, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Veronica.
She stands, her shoulders stiff and her jaw set.
"Veronica," he greets her with a nod.
"We need to talk."
The man's voice is firm but polite, and Veronica's smile falters for a moment before she composes herself.
"Of course. Christine, could you give us a moment?"
She asks me, her tone unusually serious.
I nod, retreating to the kitchen where I can still hear their conversation.
I'm not sure what's going on, but something about this whole situation doesn't feel right.
As they talk in hushed tones, I catch snippets of their conversation.
Something about contracts and obligations.
Then, the man's voice rises slightly, "You know you can't keep running forever."
Veronica's voice is sharp in response, "I'm not running. I just need a little more time."
The man's tone softens, "Veronica, you know the deadline. You can't keep putting this off."
I strain to hear more, but they've lowered their voices again.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I inch closer to the doorway.
Veronica's back is to me, her posture stiff and her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
The man steps closer to her, his voice insistent.
"You can't keep running. It's time to face this head on."
Veronica takes a deep breath, her shoulders dropping slightly as if she's resigned herself to something.
The man hands her a document, and she hesitates for a moment before taking it.
She looks at the paper, then at him, and finally nods with a quiet resolve.
Her eyes meet mine for a moment, and I see a silent plea in their depths.
Then, she turns back to the man, her voice firm.
"I'll take care of it."
The man nods, his expression serious.
"Good. Remember, time is of the essence."
He turns to leave, and Veronica watches him go before turning back to me.
"Christine, we need to leave now," she says, her voice urgent.
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest.
I rush to grab my jacket from the hallway, and Veronica quickly gathers her things.
We step outside into the bright sunlight, the air thick with tension.
Veronica glances around, her eyes scanning the street.
"We can't stay here any longer. It's not safe."
I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Where are we going?"
Veronica's grip on my hand tightens as we hurry down the street.
The city lights flicker above us, casting shadows that seem to follow our every move.
I glance sideways at her, noting the determination etched across her face.
Her blue hair shimmers under the streetlights, a beacon in the night.
We reach a corner and pause, catching our breath.
Veronica turns to me, her eyes intense.
"We'll face this together, no matter what," she says, her voice steady.
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest.
We continue on, the city lights casting an eerie glow over the deserted streets.
The sound of our footsteps echoes through the night, a rhythmic beat that seems to match the pounding of my heart.
Veronica's grip on my hand tightens as we approach another corner.
She slows her pace, her eyes scanning the street ahead.
I follow her gaze, noting the dimly lit alleyway that stretches out before us.
The air seems to vibrate with tension, and I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched.
Veronica's voice is low and urgent as she whispers, "Stay close."
We dart through the alleyway, our footsteps echoing off the walls.
The darkness seems to swallow us whole, and for a moment, I feel like we're the only ones left in the world. The alleyway opens up onto a quiet street lined with tall buildings.
The streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement, creating an eerie sense of isolation.
Veronica glances around, her eyes searching for any sign of danger.
She spots something and tugs on my hand, leading me toward a car parked at the curb.
The vehicle is sleek and black, its windows reflecting the city lights like mirrors.
Veronica's voice is barely above a whisper as she says, "We need to get out of here. Now."
I glance at the car again, an idea forming in my mind.
"We should steal a car," I say, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart.
Veronica's eyes widen in surprise, but she nods slowly as she realizes the urgency of our situation. We approach the vehicle cautiously, our senses on high alert.
Veronica checks the doors while I scan the surrounding area for any signs of danger.
The street is quiet except for the distant hum of traffic, and I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched.
Suddenly, Veronica's voice rings out in the stillness.
"It's unlocked!"
We slip inside, and the engine roars to life as we speed into the night.