Grapes

Luna sat on the steps of the library. She had on a pretty black dress. She also had on red cowboy boots. They didn’t match at all. She’d come out for a break and lit up a smoke. Alex came out and saw her. He ripped it from her lips.

“Luna, what the hell are you doing?”

“Hey! Give that back!”

“Not a chance.”

“Don‘t do that, dammit! Why did you step on it! That was my last one.”

“Good! That’s disgusting. Why aren‘t you inside studying?”

“I needed a break. Is that okay?”

“Not really. Is there any particular reason you wore your fuck-me boots to the library today?”

“Oh, so you like them do you?”

“Don’t start with me.”

“You want to fuck me in these boots, don’t you?”

“Settle down.”

“Fine, but you started it.”

“Luna, what are you searching for in your bag?”

“What do you care?”

“Don’t get pissy with me.”

“There, I was looking for these!”

“Grapes?”

“Yes, these are called grapes, sir.”

“Luna.”

“Sorry.”

“Did you finish your history paper?”

“No.”

“Are you close to finishing it?”

“No.”

“Did you catch up on your reading then?”

“No.”

“Did you start on your…..  Luna what’s with the funny face?”

“I think I might be chewing on a grape stem.”

“Well, stop pulling faces and spit it out!”

“Yuck. That was gross.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Grape?”

“No thanks.”

“They’re green.”

“Speechless.”

“Whatever.”

“Hey don’t throw grapes at me!”

“Why, does it hurt?”

“Hey knock it off.”

“Fine.”

“Get your ass back inside and study, will you?”

“Fine.”

“Not fine and sit there… fine and move it!”

“Fine! I‘m going. Sheesh.”

“Don’t forget your grapes.”

“I won’t”

“And tomorrow wear something more appropriate.”

“Why? What’s wrong with the way I look?”

“Go!”

“Fine, but I have something for you first…”

“The bird. That’s real mature Luna. Get inside!”

“Oh look, here’s another one!”

“Go! God dammit!”

“Fine, I’ll see you later.”

“Don’t you dare take a nap in there!”

“I won’t!”

“You better not.”

“Goodbye sir!”

“Wait!….. Hey Luna!….. Wait! Come back here!….. Luuuuuuna!……. Oh never mind. Silly girl. She forgot her grapes.”

The Drive

Asa took Luna for a drive.

He took her way across town. He took a very dark place. She didn’t want to go inside.

He offered to fuck her there, against the car in the street. She turned to him and said okay.

Asa told her to shut-up. He hauled her ass inside. He wanted to teach her a lesson, about who was the one in control.

She wasn‘t getting away this time. He tied her up real tight. Luna grinned. He fixed it with his tie.

He grabbed her in all the wrong places. He told her all the wrong things. Asa wanted her attention and got it but she didn’t know when to quit.

Luna begged for more. Asa lost control. She didn’t like what he did next and quickly changed her mind.

By then it was too late, he went further before he backed off. He growled in her ear and set her free, then he took her home.

She wasn’t allowed to talk in the car. He didn’t say anything either. Back in the garage he let her out.

He held her chin and kissed her lips, then he finally spoke.

He said, he wasn’t the enemy and not to treat him like one. He straightened her chain and kissed her again, then he let her go.

Gunfire

Gunfire broke out at the party. Everyone hit the floor. A disgruntled wife took out her man. His girlfriend appeared to be next.

Luna dove under the table. The men were much too big. Alex ducked beside her. Michael went to intervene.

He summoned the angry woman. He tried to calm her down. She didn’t want to hear it and fired another shot.

The girlfriend dropped to the floor. The crowd got more upset. The woman reacted poorly and aimed at everyone.

A hand reached under the table and grabbed Luna by the arm. First she thought it was Alex but it was cold and very unkind.

Asa pulled her out and took her from the room. He passed her off to Jordon halfway down the hall. Both men were heavily armed. Asa went back inside.

Jordon took Luna outside. He put her in Asa’s car. It was parked out front and surrounded by more of his men. He told her to stay. He turned and went back in.

Luna tried to move but her dress was caught in the door. The lace was torn but she was scared and sat there perfectly still.

Screams poured from the building, gunfire rang out again. This time, from more than one source.

The guards started to move. They made a nervous shift. The car door suddenly opened. Luna lost her breath.

Michael took her hand and pulled her from the car. He took her home and calmed her down but kept her uninformed.

The following day was cold, no one would talk at all. Michael stared out the window and held her in his arms.

Alex packed for a vacation. He said he needed a break.

Asa called him a coward and sat down to clean his gun.

Black Lace

Luna stood in the mirror.

Michael stood behind her.

He fussed with her hair and straightened her dress.

It was black and made of lace.

Michael had an event to attend. He wanted her there. She hid in his arms, most of the night.

Alex appeared, after a while. Michael left for a moment. Luna got nervous and played with her purse.

Alex teased her for having it. He noted she would need it for her belongings, since her dress wasn’t in  a position to hide anything tonight.

Luna smiled.

Michael came back.

The room went quiet after that, eerily calm.

Nothing about it felt right,

because nothing about it was.

Promise

Asa ran out of time to take Luna for a drive. He wasn’t happy about it either. He escorted her home and forced her down the hall. They got to her room, he slammed the door.

Luna crossed her arms. Asa paced in front of her. He offered to let her run but she declined.

He shoved her to the floor. He straddled her and pinned her down. He told her it wasn’t smart to spit in his face. Luna closed her eyes.

Asa examined her neck. He saw her chain was gone and he asked where it was. She opened her eyes and told him it was on the nightstand.

Asa leaned down and kissed her. He entertained his dirty mind and kissed her again.

“I wanted to take you for a ride, Luna. You fucked it up. That’s okay. I’ll get what I want sooner or later… I promise.”

Asa got up and left her there. She got up on her own. He found her chain and fastened it, once again around her neck.

“When I buy you a gift, you fucking wear it. ”

Asa looked around. He started knocking her things on the floor. He opened the window and tossed out a few clothes.

Asa found a bottle of wine. He smiled and told Luna to stand back. He broke it against the wall.

Luna complained. He put her on the floor again, this time face first.

“If you don’t like it when I get pissed off… DON’T piss me off!”

Michael kicked in the door.

“What the fuck’s going on?”

Asa let up. Luna scurried over to Michael.

“I said hands off Asa… What the fuck!”

“The bitch spit in my face,” he said.

Michael paused.

“She what?”

“Luna spit in my face.”

Michael looked down.

“Is that true?”

She nodded yes.

Michael let go of her shoulders and went to remove his belt.

Asa decided to leave and Luna dove under the bed.

Michael sighed and walked on over, to pull her ass back out.

The Chase

Evening came. Michael prepared to head out. Asa caught him before he left. He wanted a word with Luna, about what happened in the garage.

Michael grew concerned.

“Fine… but hands off.”

“No problem.”

“…and she stays here.”

“Fine.”

Luna just stood there. She knew better than to speak. Michael threw his jacket over his shoulder and kissed her.

“Good luck,” he said and shut the door.

Luna leaned against the couch. Asa lit a smoke.

“Get over here,” he said.

She did.

“Luna, we have a problem.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Shut up… We should go for a drive.”

“No!”

“Yes. Let’s go for a drive. Just you and me.”

“I’ll get in trouble!”

“You already are.”

Asa pointed towards the door but Luna didn’t want to go. She didn’t know what he had planned. She didn’t want to find out.

“I don‘t want to…”

“GO! God dammit bitch I swear…”

Asa shoved her. Luna tried to run but Jordon wrapped her up. She stomped on his foot and bit his arm.

He didn’t have to let her go, but he did. Asa swore at him and chased her.

Luna made it outside.

It was raining.

She ran towards Alex’s office. She kept looking back and made a wrong turn.

Luna wound up trapped, in between buildings.

Asa closed in. She begged for mercy. He didn‘t listen. He was angry and had horrible plans for her. Rain dripped from his chin. His shirt, melted to his chest. He tortured her with a smile...

Luna spit in his face. She ran.

She made it to Alex’s place but her key wouldn’t unlock the door. She banged on it hard. No one answered.

Luna leaned against the building and slid to the ground. She buried her head in defeat.

A man came up and grabbed her shoulder. It scared her half to death. She tried to get away.

It was Alex.

He struggled to calm her down but it has hard. She was mad at him for changing the locks.

He tried to coax her inside.

They ran out of time.

Asa showed up.

His gun was drawn and aimed at Alex.

“Luna, come with me or I’ll kill him.”

Luna went to his side. Alex spoke. Asa fired a shot. He missed on purpose.

Asa backed up with Luna in tow.

Alex could only watch.

They disappeared around the corner.