Chapter 10

Rick didn't bother me anymore since Marcus scared him. School became a lot more easier and a safe place for me. I was happy to go there every day and forget about all. The company of my friends was really helping me clear my mind. But the weekends and the holidays came, where I would usually stay at home. I didn't want to be around the house too much, and when I was, I simply avoided everyone.

I still wanted to get rid of Marcus. Somewhere deep inside me I was very grateful for the things he did for me, even though that was his job. But we became too close for me to like it. I didn't want to enjoy his presence there, nor to give my father satisfaction for his stupid ideas. Those ideas brought me far from mom; I wanted to be against every single one of them. But how should I get rid of him?

We would usually spend a lot of time together, until I realised my father was watching this. We went from strangers to friends and then to strangers again. He didn't ask me anything about the sudden desire of closure and then the disappearance of that feeling. He was under his job so obviously he wasn't allowed to ask such questions. Although, sometimes I wish he did, I could see the confusion on his face when I distanced myself from him. He even looked a little bit hurt, but maybe that was only in my mind.

I didn't know how I felt for him, if I regarded him as a friend or not, but I knew he had to leave. I spent nights planning on ways to kick him out, but my mind went blank every time. Instead, I would think about the possibility of us staying in touch after he would leave. I don't think there was one; I would get him out of a well-paid job. Somehow, this thought of never seeing or speaking to him again made me back off in my plans.

One night, after another fight with my father, I decided to finally start my plans. He found out about Rick. I don't know why I thought he wouldn't, he had his ways. He told me I was irresponsible for not telling Marcus earlier, he didn't even flinch when I told him the entire story. I was forced to tell him, but he didn't hug me or pity me for what I've been through, he just yelled at me for not telling Marcus.

After the fight I went to my room and cried. I was so angry and confused, I couldn't believe that my own father didn't care about how much I suffered because I was bullied. Then, I heard a knock on my door. I didn't answer but I could hear the door opening and see the shade of a tall man enter, it was Marcus. I smiled through my falling tears and tried to wipe a few.

-You know it is impolite to enter? I didn't let you in.

-I'm sorry Miss; I hope you don't get upset over that.

-I will allow it just now. What are you doing here?

He came slowly and sat by my side; he gathered his knees to his chest and embraced them with his arms, imitating my position.

-I thought you may need some company. I hope I didn't bother you.

-No, I wasn't really doing anything.

-Yeah, I can see that.

I laughed and he smiled too, showing satisfaction that he succeeded in making me smile.

-Do you want to talk about it?

-Not really, I should be used to that. My father and I argued a lot since mom died.

-Every time was this bad?

-No, I feel like it gets worse as time passes.

-Me and my father aren't close either.

-Really?

-Yeah, he hates me because I remind him of mom.

-I think dad does too. I often thought that he loved mom more than he'll ever love me.

-Do you really believe that?

-Yes, he acts like it's true.

-Maybe it's just the pain.

-Possible.

-Do you want to rest now, Miss Vivien?

-You can call me Vivien when we are alone.

-Your orders.

-Well you have new orders now.

-Yes, Miss…I mean Vivien.

-Perfect. You can also stay. I enjoy your company.

We talked for hours. We switched the subjects, from our favorite foods, to movies and future. I wasn't surprised when I found out Marcus wanted to be in the police or army. He was perfect for this; he would make a great soldier.

-But you didn't finish high school, right?

-I did.

-But you are only 18.

-I did earlier, worked hard to get in the top and have more possibilities.

-Why are you here then?

-I took some years off to get money for college.

-Where are you thinking of going?

-I don't know, away.

-Sounds good.

-What about you?

-Well, I will probably go to Harvard and then take over my father's business.

-Sounds like a great future.

-It sounds like a prison.

-You are not happy about it?

-Not necessarily, I don't think the business field is for me. I would more love to be a designer.

-Have you told that to your father?

-He wouldn't even listen to me. I have no choice in this.

I never expected to tell Marcus so much about my relationship with my dad. I didn't usually talk about it with any of my friends, but with Marcus it was different. It was easier to talk with him about the things that were bothering me; they just came out my mouth without me thinking about it. He listened to me and comforted me, made me feel better, but I tried to say as less as possible.

-What about your father? How is he?

-Uhm, I don't really know where he is right now.

-Oh. Did he give you to adoption?

-No, he left when I was 15.

-You never seen him since then?

-I chose not to.

-I understand.

I decided not to pursue this, it was clear that he didn't want to talk with me about this. I was staying there quietly, searching for my next words when he suddenly got up and walked to the door.

-I think it is time for us to go to sleep, it is very late.

-Uhm, yeah…sure. Goodnight.

-Goodnight.

I checked the time confused, it was past midnight. When did the time pass so quickly? I haven't even noticed, we just kept on talking and talking. I tried to go to sleep, but it was hard. Tomorrow I had to put my first plan of getting rid of him in action. I felt heavy with guilt but I had to do that.

I thought of treating him badly again, but that didn't work the first time. No matter how spoiled I acted around him he wouldn't have enough and quit, he was so patient. Instead, I decided to try to sabotage him, make my father fire him.

Tomorrow was going to be a trip day to a big city close to ours. Marcus was assigned to verify the car and make sure that it was ready for the two hours trip. We were going to stay there two days over the weekend and we should leave tomorrow afternoon after I finish school. Marcus had to check the car three times, including one right before we leave. In the morning I was about to make the car lose fuel, so Marcus will fix it wrong since I'm going to do the same before we leave.

I woke up very early to make sure I was awake before anyone. I went quietly to the car and arranged so it will lose fuel. My mother forced my father to teach me everything I need to know about cars since an early age so I would never depend on someone else and I will be able to see what's wrong with my car if I get stranded in an unknown place. I knew how to both repair and disassemble a car. After, I tiptoed back to my room and fell asleep until I had to really wake up.

I tried to act natural like every day. Marcus was waiting for me in the kitchen as usual; he smiled at me and put my breakfast on the table then took his own breakfast and sat beside me.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-Did you sleep well? I hope you aren't too tired, today is a long day.

-I am fine, thanks. How about you? You have to do more work today than me.

-Don't worry about it, I am very well-rested.

He smiled.

-Plus, I don't think the car needs too much repairing.

How wrong you can be.

-Yes, you are probably right.

I went to school normally. It was a day like all the others, but the plan I had in mind to make my father angry at Marcus was eating me alive. I felt guilty, but I had to get rid of him as fast as I could.

I was trying so hard to act like I didn't know anything when I entered the house again and saw Marcus dirty of fuel. He was wearing a white tank top which was soaked in gas. I stared at him and when he noticed me I tried to defrost. I had to hide my guilty feeling.

-How's the car?

-Looks like I was wrong, it's losing gas.

-Do you know why?

-Have no idea, it was good yesterday.

-Did you fix it?

-Yes, but I will check it again later.

-The second check?

-Yeah.

-Did you refill it?

-Not yet, going to do it after the last check.

Good, my plan was working. I won't sabotage it again, for the next two checks I will leave it like that so Marcus will think that the problem is solved and then I'm going to break it again. If the car will be completely full it should lose all fuel and stop in the middle of the road, somewhere at least one hour away. Now, I just had to wait until the last two checks pass.

Approximately 3 hours later my dad announced me that all the checks were done and we were ready to leave in half an hour. I snuck carefully so no one would see me and sabotaged the car. I even broke the thing that showed how much gas the car had so it wouldn't show that the car was losing fuel. Then I quietly went to my room and prepared. My baggage was already ready so I only had to dress up. 20 minutes later I heard a knock on my door.

-Enter.

-Hey, are you ready Miss Vivien?

-Yes, do we have to leave now?

-Yes, if you could go down.

-Of course, I am ready to leave.

-Perfect. Can I take your luggage?

-Yeah, sure.

Marcus took my bag and preceded to the stairs, I glanced one more time at my room making sure I didn't forget anything and then I followed him. I carefully put my things in the back of the car and hopped in. It was just me, my father and Marcus. Marcus was the one driving, he started the car and we left. I wanted to invite Caroline to have some company but my dad refused, he said it was a family trip. In reality he just had some business to do and didn't want to be disturbed by our noise.

We were on the road for one hour now when the car suddenly stopped. As expected we were in the middle of nowhere. My dad looked really annoyed when he threw a frustrated glance at Marcus.

-What's happening? Why did we stop?

-I don't know sir, the car stopped. I'll go check.

We waited there in silence for approximately 10 minutes until Marcus opened the car door with a worried look on his face.

-The car was losing fuel; it stopped because it's out of gas.

-What?!

-It had this problem in the morning too.

-I thought you were supposed to fix it!

-I did sir, I don't know what happened. It didn't have this problem at the last checks.

-Well you clearly didn't check it right!

-I'm sorry sir, I thought I did.

Dad left out a frustrated sigh and started rubbing his temples with his fingers.

-Call the car services.

-Yes sir.

I was staying there watching the whole thing, my plan worked even better than I expected.

-They are not picking up.

-Ugh, of course they are not is 7 PM on a Friday.

-What should we do now sir?

-You tell me Marcus is your fault that we are stranded here not mine!

-Maybe there's a hotel nearby dad.

-God damn it Vivien, we are in the middle of nowhere!

-We should at least look.

-Fine. You go and search for a hotel. I hope you are clever enough to find your way back to the car.

Marcus got out from the car and left to search. I stood there with my father in complete quiet. He was very angry.

After a few minutes an unknown car parked right behind ours. I could see Marcus getting out of it accompanied by a stranger. The stranger looked at our car and then opened the door of my dad's seat.

-Good evening sir, what happens to be the problem?

-My car stopped in the middle of the road.

-I can see that, I was asking about the car's problem.

-Apparently it loses fuel.

-That ain't good. Well, lucky you this handsome boy came to me and explained your situation. I am the manager of Grande Hotel, David Moja. Imma take your car there and you can spend the night there until you figure your problems out.

-Thank you very much.

-Aight, help me out boy!

It was already 9 PM when we were finally at the hotel in our rooms. Every single one of us had a different room. The first thing we did when we got there was to go to the hotel's restaurant and eat, we were all so hungry. Then we all went to our rooms. About half an hour after we parted I could hear a knock on Marcus' room which was on my right and then my dad's voice telling him to come. My dad's door snapped behind them, my dad's room was on my left so I could hear them talking. I tried to fall asleep at the sounds of his screams towards Marcus. I imagined him standing there taking everything he received. I wanted to go and say that it was me, but instead I fell asleep on the tone of my own guilt busting in my heart.