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Inspired by a true story.
Chapter 2: Time to Pretend
I woke up the next morning in a surprisingly comfy bed. For a while I was confused and I didn't know where I was. Then it all came back to me in a mass jumble. I remembered being picked up, taken to a nice town house. There was a brown dog, a nice guy who turned out to be a cop, then I was at my old place saying bye to Jake and Beau and then I was back here. Wow, I guess I'm just realizing now how much my life has changed in a matter of hours.
I sat in my bed taking it all in when I heard a scratching at the door which disrupted my thoughts. I got up from the bed and cautiously went to the door. I slowly opened the door and the dog (Scout...I think) came running in. He seemed like he was getting antsy and he looked like he wanted to go outside. I was going to tell Eric to take Scout for a walk or something, then I looked at the front of my bedroom door and saw it had a note on it. It read:
Left for work. Be back by 5 pm. Don't get into trouble. ~ Eric
Great now I have to take him out. I looked down at the dog and he was sitting on his hind legs looking up at me. "Looks like it's just you and me Scout." then he barked like he was agreeing with me.
I put on shorts, a T-shirt and I put my hair in a ponytail. I know what you're thinking, 'a ponytail on a guy, gross'. But I have hair that goes down to my shoulders and it's hot outside. I led Scout out the door and sat on the steps in front of Eric's townhouse for awhile, just trying to get my surroundings. I didn't really know which way I to go so I sat for awhile, letting Scout run around in a circle chasing his tail and then peeing on a tree.
I was just about to get up and start walking with Scout when a guy came out from the house connected to Eric's. He was walking towards me so I couldn't get up and walk away. He was quite handsome but I could tell he was a bit cocky. He had that suave look about him with his black tousled hair and cool demeanor.
Maybe I shouldn't be talking to this guy. If he's Eric's neighbor then he probably knows Eric and if he's knows Eric then he might know that I'm not Eric's cousin. I should just turn around and go back inside. But I didn't and it was too late. The guy was now standing right in front of me with a smile... actually more like a smirk on his face.
He was kind of starting to bug me. "Can I help you?" I asked sharply as I stood up from the step I was sitting on.
"Yeah, oh I didn't mean to be rude. Hi I'm Shaun... Eric's neighbor." He said while putting his hand out for me to shake it. "And you are?"
Great, he's got the 'nosey neighbor syndrome'. Okay who did Eric say I was supposed to pretend to be? Oh yeah, his cousin.
I shook Shaun's hand and replied, "I'm Eric's cousin, Lemmy." He had one of those obnoxious handshakes that was a bit too strong.
"Nice to meet you. Well I've never seen you around here before and I certainly would have remembered if you were. What brings you here? If you don't mind me asking."
Eric didn't prep me for this. Now I have to make up a story on the spot. "Um, I'm staying with Eric because I got into some trouble at home and my parents sent me to my responsible cousin to keep me in line." I hope he was buying that story.
I didn't let him have a chance to butt in. "Look I have to walk Eric's dog around because he's getting a bit antsy." I said gesturing to the dog.
"Oh well, I was just going to walk down to the local coffee shop. Do you want to come with? You can walk the dog and have some company." I think he could tell I was about to decline so then he said, "At least do it for my sake. I'm very bored and I could use some company." then he gave me a pleading expression.
"Okay I guess so, but where will I put Scout when we go into the coffee shop?"
"They have tables outside, we can sit out there."
I walked over to Scout, took his leash and then let Shaun lead the way since I didn't know where we were going. Once we started walking I got to wondering what he was doing home on a weekday when most people are at work.
"Why are you home and not at work?" then I thought that might sound rude. "If you don't mind me asking." I said meekly.
"I'm a writer so I do most of my work at home. Right now I'm suffering from severe writer's block, so I'm procrastinating."
"Oh, okay... so does this mean that I'm your distraction?" I asked coyly.
"Yes, that's exactly what it means. Please distract me more, I'm begging you." he said playfully with a laugh.
"It'd be my pleasure to distract you." I said matching his tone.
Then I thought about it and it kind of sounded like we were flirting with each other. Are we flirting? Suddenly I got quiet and felt a bit awkward. We walked silently for a while. Then Shaun stopped, it startled me and I had to pull on Scout's leash to keep him from walking any further.
"Why did you stop?" I asked.
"Because we're at the coffee shop."
I looked up and saw the shop right in front of us. "Oh," I said dumbly.
"Yeah, you just sit right over there and I'll go inside and get a cup of coffee. Do you want anything?"
I hesitated, "Ah, no not really."
"Are you sure?"
"Well I don't have any money to give you." I replied guiltily.
"That's fine I'm going to pay for it."
"Oh well then could I have a pastry. Any kind is fine."
"Okay," while he walked in the place I took a seat at one of the tables that was outside. Scout sat down right next to my feet.
Great, I just realized now I have to talk to him. We'll just be sitting here awkwardly and I'll have to keep pretending like I'm Eric's cousin. I wonder how much this guy know's about Eric. I mean, after all he is his neighbor. What if he knows a lot about Eric and asks me something and he finds out that I know nothing about him? I'll just ask Shaun how well he knows Eric.
Shaun came back a moment later with a coffee and pastry and sat down in the chair across from me.
"Thanks," I said as he handed me the pastry.
"No problem, so since we have some time we might as well get to know each other. Wait you do have time right? I'm not keeping you from anything?"
"No, I've got nothing to do." I replied.
"So, how old are you?" Shaun asked.
"I'm 19"
"Oh, well do you still go to school?"
"No I - " before I could finish someone behind me interrupted.
"Lemmy is that you?" the familiar voice asked.
I slowly turned around and was greeted to the sight of Jake. Oh my god, my cover has just been blown.
"Hey," I said shakily as I tried to act casual, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I just left my trick's place. It was real late when he picked me up and I stayed there pretty late, so I was wondering around for awhile, saw this place and decided to get something to eat with the money he gave me."
I didn't want Shaun to hear anymore, he'd already heard enough to get me in trouble. So I tried to get Jake to go away.
"Oh, yeah that's great... okay bye." I said quickly as turned back around in my seat.
"Hey Lem, is this your sugar daddy?" Jake said teasingly.
Shaun looked shocked and confused. I quickly got up and grabbed Jake's wrist a pulled him off to the side.
"Jake what the fuck are you doing." I said in a harshly but still quietly so that Shaun wouldn't hear.
"What's your problem man?"
"That's not the guy, that's not Eric."
"Oh is that a trick? I thought you said you were done doing that."
"It's not a trick either."
"Is it a date -"
"No, Eric is the one you refer to as my sugar daddy. That " I pointed to Shaun, "is Eric's neighbor. Eric told me that I could stay with him as long as no one knew that I was a hustler So he told me to pretend to be his cousin. That guy over there doesn't know about my past and thanks to you now he does and I'm going to be in so much trouble with Eric." I babbled.
"Sorry Lem I didn't know. " Jake looked guilty.
"No it's fine Jake, you didn't know. You know what I gotta go do some damage control, maybe I can make up something or swear him to secrecy and seal the deal with a blow job."
"Whatever works right. Well I guess I'll see you later?" Jake asked hopefully.
"Yeah definitely, we'll hang out soon."
I turned around and slowly walked back to the table where Shaun was sitting with a curious look on his face.
"What was he talking about?" Shaun asked, while still looking shocked.
"Oh, him... he was just joking. He's got a weird sense of humor doesn't he." I could tell he wasn't buying it.
"What did he mean by 'sugar daddy'?"
I was going to make up this elaborate lie, but I could tell it was useless. I'm just going to have to tell him the truth and hope that he doesn't use it against me.
"Okay, I'm tired of lying, so I'm just going to tell you the truth and hope that you don't get me in trouble."
"Sure, tell me. I won't get you in trouble I promise."
"Well first of all I'm not Eric's cousin."
"I knew it!" Shaun exclaimed and then saw my face and calmed.
"Anyway, Eric and I met last night. He was on duty undercover and he was supposed to pick up a um 'street walker' and then arrest them or something like that. Well he picked me up but then he hesitated and long story short he didn't arrest me and instead we made a deal. He told me he wouldn't arrest me as long as I stopped hustling. He also offered to let me stay at his house. I agreed but he told me I'd have to pretend to be his cousin, so that no one would think that it's weird that I kind of moved with him. Also he said never to mention to anyone that I was a hustler."
Shaun looked in awe of the whole situation. "So you're a hooker?"
"The term is hustler and I used to be."
"You gave it up a day ago."
"Still, the point is I'm starting a new. You're not going to hold this against me or anything like that?" I asked wearily.
"No, of course not. I think it's fascinating. It's really... inspiring. This could really help my writer's block. Could I possibly ask you some questions?"
"Uh, sure" I hesitated.
Then he pulled a small note pad and pen out of nowhere.
"Where did that come from?" I asked.
"I always carry it with me just in case I get an idea."
Then for the next hour Shaun asked me a lot of personal, kind of awkward questions. I didn't really care, I was just relieved that he wasn't going to get me in trouble. I was dreading thinking that the beginning of my new life was about to end. Once we were done talking we walked back to our houses with Scout in tow. And when we got to the door of Eric's house I asked Shaun if he wanted to come in. We were getting along quite well, I didn't want it to end.
We ended up sitting on the couch watching lifetime movies since that was all that was on. They were all so ridiculous things like: 'Married to the Enemy' or 'Sleeping with My Daughter's Killer' or 'Raped By My Online Stalker'. Soon it was late and I guess I fell asleep because when I woke up Eric was staring at me accusingly and Shaun was gone.
"Hey Eric when did you get home?" I asked sleepily. Looking at Eric in his police uniform (it was kind of sexy).
"What were you doing with Shaun?" Eric asked angrily.
Why was he using that tone with me? "What do think I was doing with him?"
"I don't know that's why I asked."
"Well I was going to take your dog for a walk cause he was so fucking hyper and your welcome, by the way."
"Then how did you run into Shaun?"
I was just about to go for a walk and he came up to me and started talking and we walked to a coffee shop near by. We got to talking and then we got along so well that I invited him in. Then we watched movies for the rest of the time."
"Well when I came home your head was in his lap." he replied with one eyebrow cocked up.
"I had fallen asleep and I must've fallen into his lap. What the fuck are you trying to say?" I know he's not saying what I think he's saying.
"Can you cool it with the profanities?" Eric said while rubbing his head.
"No I'm not going to fucking cool it. Just say what you really mean." I stood up from the couch and got closer to him.
"Okay fine. Did you give Shaun sexual favors in exchange for money?" he said harshly.
I can't believe he just said that. "Do you honestly think that I would do that. After the deal that we made and everything." I said lowly.
"I don't know I've just met you a day ago and you were a hustler before. Not the most trustworthy of people." As soon as he said it he looked like he regretted it, but it was too late he had already said it. "I didn't mean that Lemmy - " but I interrupted before he finished his sentence.
"Save it... you're right you don't know me at all." I replied sharply and then ran upstairs and went to "my room". I no longer feel very welcomed in this house. Great, am I going to be homeless now?
I sat on the bed and ran my hands through my hair in frustration. God, why can't he trust me?! I mean he know he's only known me for a couple days but still we had a deal.
Then a knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. I looked up and Eric was in the doorway.
"What do you want?" I said exasperatedly.
He walked in the room and sat on the bed next to me. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what I said and I didn't mean it the way that it sounded. I have only known you for a little while but that's not why I overreacted. The real reason why I thought you had done something sexual with Shaun is because... he's a bit of a slut." Eric said the last part quickly.
"What did you say?"
"I said he's a slut. I've been his neighbor for awhile now. I've seen many different men and women go in and out of his house. He never seems to be in a relationship, just sex. I just thought that if he was around you for long enough and he gets you when you're vulnerable then something might have happened. He is very persuasive. I'm sorry if I implied that you were the one at fault here."
"I'm sorry if I overreacted a bit as well. I just thought that I had gotten past the label of untrustworthy whore."
"I never said that. Look how about we forget what happened and spend this time trying to get to know each other. I'll change out of my uniform and we can talk or watch a movie or something." Eric suggested.
"Okay that'd be great."
To Be Continued...