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MidReal Story
Tempted by My Mom’s Friend
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."
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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
"Will you be OK, sweetie?" my mom asked.
I nodded, watching as she and dad packed up the last of their things.
They were going on vacation, just the two of them, and I was staying behind in the care of their friend Veronica.
"You know where everything is, and we'll be back before you know it."
My dad turned to me and smiled.
"Have fun."
I smiled back and hugged them both.
I knew this was something they needed to do, and I was happy to stay behind with Veronica.
Besides, I had a few things that I wanted to ask her, now that my mom wasn't around to listen.
"See you soon," my mom said, kissing my forehead.
"Take good care of our girl," dad told Veronica.
"Don't worry, I will," she said, smiling at them and putting a hand on my shoulder.
With one last look at us, they walked out the door and down to their car in the driveway.
I watched until they drove away, then turned back to smile at Veronica.
"Thanks for doing this," I told her.
"It's no problem at all," she said, waving a hand to me as she turned back into the house.
"I'm happy to help out."
She paused in the doorway and looked back at me.
"Would you mind bringing in a few bags of groceries from the car?"
I shrugged and walked down the driveway to her sleek black sedan.
The sun-heated concrete felt good against my bare feet.
I pulled open the door and leaned in, spotting several paper bags stuffed into the back seat.
I pulled one out, its weight causing me to stumble slightly.
The paper crinkled as I adjusted my grip.
Veronica watched me from the doorway, a teasing smile on her face as I struggled with the bags.
She didn't offer to help, just stood there with her arms crossed over her chest.
Sweat trickled down my neck as I grabbed another bag and turned to head back to the house.
The bags were heavy, and I had to grip them tightly to keep them from tearing.
The driveway was hot against my feet, and I quickened my pace.
Veronica stayed in the doorway, her hip cocked to one side as she watched me.
I climbed the three front steps, the bags rustling ominously in my arms.
My biceps trembled under the weight, but I didn't want to drop anything in front of Veronica.
Finally, I reached the cool tile of the entryway and set the bags down beside her suitcase.
"You're stronger than you look," Veronica said with a smirk, her eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite place.
"Thanks, I guess," I replied, wiping the sweat from my brow and trying to catch my breath.
"You know, your parents didn't just ask me to watch you; they wanted me to tell you about your grandfather's old house," she said, her voice suddenly serious.
I followed her into the kitchen, where she began unpacking the groceries.
She placed each item on the counter with deliberate care, as if it were a precious artifact.
"Where is it?"
I asked, watching her.
Veronica paused in her task, holding a jar of pasta sauce in mid-air.
She looked at me, her blue eyes piercing.
"It's an old Victorian mansion on the outskirts of town. It's been abandoned since your grandfather died ten years ago."
"Why haven't my parents ever taken me there?"
I asked, leaning against the counter.
Veronica shrugged and continued unpacking the groceries.
"They never said. Maybe they'll tell you one day."
I frowned, pressing for more information.
Veronica just smiled and handed me the jar of pasta sauce.
"Put this away for me."
I reached for the jar, and as I did, my fingers grazed against Veronica's.
There was a sharp static shock, and we both flinched.
But she didn't pull away.
Instead, she let her fingers linger against mine, our hands wrapped together around the cool glass.
The prolonged contact made my heart race uncomfortably, and I tried to step back.
But Veronica kept her grip on the jar, holding me in place.
Her blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw something there that looked almost like hunger.
The jar slipped slightly in our grasp, the marinara sauce sloshing audibly inside.
I pulled my hand away, breaking the contact.
The jar remained in Veronica's grasp, and she held it up to the light, admiring it.
I backed away slowly, feeling a strange tingling where our skin had touched.
Veronica's eyes followed me, her gaze unwavering.
"Let's finish unpacking later," I said, reaching the doorway to the kitchen.
Veronica nodded, but she didn't move.
The kitchen seemed smaller with her standing there, watching me.
I turned and hurried upstairs to my room, closing the door behind me.
My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and texted my best friend, Sophie.
"Hey! I'm back. Just got home from the airport and ran into Veronica. She's being super weird. I'll tell you about it later."
I set the phone down on my desk and looked out the window.
Veronica was in the backyard now, laying out a towel by the pool.
I watched her from the window, trying to make sense of the unease that had settled in my chest.
My phone buzzed with a reply from Sophie: "Weird how? Like, creepy weird or just awkward?"
I hesitated before typing back, "A bit of both. She mentioned something about my grandfather's old house. I think she knows more than she's letting on."
After an hour of hiding in my room, my curiosity got the better of me.
I crept downstairs, trying not to make a sound.
Veronica was still by the pool, but now she was wearing a black bikini.
She was lying on her stomach, soaking up the sun.
Her sunglasses were perched on the end of her nose, and her long blue hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall.
I approached her slowly, not wanting to startle her.
She must have sensed my presence because she patted the chair beside her without looking up.
I sat down stiffly, keeping a safe distance between us.
"Veronica," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"What aren't you telling me about my grandfather's house?"
