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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
My parents are going on vacation, so they leave me in Veronica's hands.
Mom has known Veronica since college.
They quickly say their goodbyes and get into the taxi waiting outside.
I can't help but feel a little extra and unwanted.
I look at Veronica's back as she locks the front door and then turn to see her striking blue hair in a bun on top of her head.
I wonder, how does someone get hair like that?
Is it natural or dyed?
"Why is your hair blue?"
I ask her curiously.
She turns to look at me, and I'm startled by her dark brown almost black irises.
I've never seen anything like it.
"It's called contacts honey," she tells me, and then I notice how her eyes move when she talks.
I follow her into the kitchen.
She opens a few cabinets, looking for something.
She opens the pantry and finds cocoa powder and sugar.
Then she opens the fridge and pulls out milk.
She stands behind me, and I feel her breath on my neck as she guides my hands to measure the ingredients into a saucepan.
She tells me what to do with each ingredient as we stir it together in the saucepan.
The smell of chocolate fills the kitchen.
When it starts to steam, she reaches past me for two mugs.
Her body presses against my back as she pours the hot chocolate into the mugs.
"Do you know why your parents really left you with me?" she asks, her voice low and almost conspiratorial.
I shake my head, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
"They're not just on vacation; they're looking for someone, someone important to both of us."
I clutch my mug of hot chocolate, the warmth of the liquid not enough to dispel the chill that runs down my spine.
Veronica hops up onto the kitchen counter, her legs dangling in front of me as she sips from her mug.
She watches me over the rim, her dark contacts glinting in the light.
The question burns in my throat, but I hesitate, unsure if I want to know the answer.
I look down at the marshmallows melting into brown swirls in my mug.
Finally, I gather my courage and look up at her.
"Who are they looking for?"
My voice comes out smaller than I intend it to.
Veronica's playful expression falters, her painted lips pressing into a thin line.
"They're searching for your real parents," she says quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I blink, the words hanging in the air between us like a tangible weight.
"You mean... they're not my biological parents?" I ask, my heart pounding in my chest.