I got dressed for my dinner with Shelly. I put my tight dark red blouse on that V necked to let my cleavage show. A tight pair of black jeans that hugged my hips. I put my white tennis shoes on and left my house. My hair up in the half bun. The rest fell behind me, as the curl still wouldn’t go away. It was like it was wanting to stay on my head. I parked going to our meeting spot. I was a few minutes early and she hadn’t showed up yet. I sat on the bench outside the restaurant. It wasn’t too long till I saw her car turn the corner and park. I stood as she came walking up. Wearing a knee long skirt that swayed with her hips, a short sleeved blouse that looked the same design as mine. She was always the one wearing the dresses, I took to pants most the time. I smiled as she came up.

“High five girl!” She exclaimed. With my eye brows arched I held my hand up to receive hers.

“What was that for?”

“Starting a fight between Jason and mom.”

“And I deserve a high five for that?”

“Of course! You must be getting to Jason bad.”

“Whys that?” I asked as we made our way into the starting to crowd restaurant. I smiled at the hostess as she picked up two menus and lead the way to our in the back booth. I always enjoyed going places with Shelly. I got first class treatment. Always at the diner but never at more expensive places. We sat, looking over the menu. I already knew what I was getting but it was fun looking over the items for new ones.

“The argument was about you.” I looked over at her as she turned her attention to the waitress. “Red wine and peach tea.”

“Oh.. um….. Peach tea too no wine though.” She nodded and walked off.

“You had called yourself the black sheep of the family.”

“Yea.” I said putting the menu down as she continued to look. She always got something new and would let me try it. But I wasn’t that bold.

“I heard them arguing in the hallway. I stood by the door way. He told her it was her fault for making you feel that way. That ever since father past away she has been nothing but a bitch to you.” I gasped.

“He didn’t say that… in church!” She nodded.

“He sure did.” She came by with our drinks. “Few more minutes.” Shelly said as the waitress nodded and went to another table. “He’s right though. I think that’s why he made Jason promise to give you a job at the mansion. Mother had always smiled at you, treated you like a daughter because father told her she should. But since he is gone there is nothing that’s stopping her from making you feel like a black sheep. You know, father wanted you to marry Jason.” I swallowed a small piece of ice as she said that. I looked over at her as the waitress returned. “Go a head and order Candice.”

“Fettuccine Alfredo please.”

“Chicken?” The young girl asked I shook my head.

“No thanks.” She nodded. Shelly looked over the menu again.

“I will try the shrimp fettuccine Alfredo.” She said. The waitress smiled.

“I will be back with your bread and salad.” We both nodded then she looked over at me.

“He saw how we all played together. How Jason would tease you. How well you got along. When he had asked Jason about it he didn’t say anything. Just asked his father to mind his own business. He was going to be ruler soon and he will have to marry the women mother chooses for him.”

“How did they ever meet anyways?”

“Olyvia is mom’s new friends daughter.”

“Oh… the really wealthy people that I was introduced to at her birthday.”

“Yea them. If you ask me mom was planning this the moment father became sick so that Jason didn’t get any bright ideas.”

“We shouldn’t fool ourselves, Shelly. He has no interest in me. He was playing with us because I was your friend and forced to live with you. That’s all it ever was.” Shelly just looked at me as I looked at the other guests.”

“You really think that?” She asked.

“Of course what else would there be. Besides, if it was anything to do with loving me he wouldn’t let his mother get the better of him and tell her to shove the wench in the closet were she belongs…”

“Potato bag and down the dam would better suit her.” I shrugged.

“I was trying to be nice.” She laughed.

“Don’t be nice to her. I’m not.” I laughed with her while the waitress came with our food. “Anyways..” She said mixing her plate.

“He would tell her so. And rather she approved or not it wouldn’t matter. I came from a wealthy family. I still have the money that father gave me.”

“She doesn’t think you do. She thinks you spent it the moment you turned 18 that’s the reason father wanted you to be working for Jason.” I shrugged.

“She can think whatever she wants. I do have plans for that money and I’m not changing them for anyone.” She nodded as we ate.

“I plan to help you, you know.”

“What about Jason and the business?” She shrugged.

“The way Jason’s talking he is going to higher a few people to work for him. I don’t want to be part of the family business at all. If wench is going to come and stay at the palace. I’m not staying. I don’t want her negativity to ruin my days then have to go work with Jason. I’ll pass.” I nodded knowing exactly what she was thinking. “Jason was going to start hiring people after those rooms are cleaned up so not so soon after you leave, I can work with you.”

“With me, not for me.” I said. “We can be partners. I am looking for a building with an apartment above it.”

“There are a few around. Not many anymore.”

“I know. But it’s my ideal building.”

“I can take your parents house.” She said pushing her empty plate away. “That way you wouldn’t have to sell it.”

“It doesn’t matter to me what happens to it. I don’t want to be reminded of them every time I go into the library. Or the study.” The waitress came by as we dismissed desert, got up, and paid. We always fused over her paying for mine and she was always the one grabbing the check.

“Ride with me. I will bring you back to your car.” I nodded as I followed her to her car. “Well, we will work out something. It just would seem odd to go to an apartment to see you.”

“Yea but I will own it all my own. After my schooling next week, I can do anything. Jason still throws it in my face that I know nothing about business when I have been taking classes this whole time.” She chuckled as we got in her car.

“Well, I still can’t believe that Olyvia needs to know where he’s at and who hes with at all times.” I shrugged looking out the window.

“That’s what he chooses to do. I can only do what I am doing until D day or he opens his eyes and realize that if he can tell a stranger that he loved her then he didn’t need to be with her.”

“I agree.” She parked and we got out. We were walking up to the building. We looked at the posters and decided to switch things up and see the scary movie. She loved them while I got really involved in any movie I saw and hated seeing scary movies in the theater. But we did see what I wanted to last weekend. We paid for our tickets and waited at the concession stand for the next available teenager to help us.

“Well, at least we still….”

“Shelly!” We both turned to the male voice that we both knew belonged to Mike. We both waved at him, then I stopped as I saw the black head bent, hands in pockets, lean man walking behind Mike’s jogging. “Hey girls what are you up to?”

“Not much.” Jason caught up to him and stood a few feet behind him.

“What are the chances right?” He said almost excited that he had bumped into us. “Jason wanted to see a movie since Richard wasn’t here. Richard hates scary movie and that ‘From the Beyond’ looks awesome.”

“Really! That’s what we are going to see!” Shelly said acting excited. I walked forward as they stood behind me. I ordered what I wanted as I listened to them.

“But Candice hates scary movies.” Mike said.

“Yea but we saw ‘Like a rock’ last weekend so it is my pick.” Shelly exclaimed. I pretended to be interested in the teenager who was filling my cup, then the popcorn, adding some butter to it. I leaned against the glass counter and sighed. “Besides, she has my arm to claw. She’ll be alright.” I took my snickers, pop, and popcorn giving the teen the money. I turned handing Shelly the popcorn. I hated pop corn. We always shared a drink. Jason took my place at the counter as we stood talking to Mike. I could feel Jason’s blue eyes on my back.

“Well now you ladies have two strong arms to claw and hang to.” Shelly laughed as I sipped the Dr Pepper.

“I am sure that Candice would enjoy a strong arm to hang on.” She said. “Theater 2?” She asked. Mike nodded. “Awesome! See you guys there.” She grasped my arm linking it with hers as we walked to the theater.

“Great!” I exclaimed. “We just had to see a scary movie the same time Jason is!” I exclaimed as we climbed the stairs to the middle. “Any way you can hang onto his arm and I can take Mike’s.” She chuckled as we sat right in the middle.

“Don’t you want to get him to break off with Olyvia?”

“Yea but how is hanging unto his arm in a scary movie do anything?”

“Well, more physical contact. Maybe that’s exactly what you need. You know, make him want you.”

“Desire! That’s not what I want.”

“Shh here they come. We will see what they decide to do OK.” I sighed nodding. Jason had leaned against the wall letting Mike go up first. He came around and sat next to Shelly as he watched Jason move up and around missing our seats all together. Maybe he will sit by himself. That would be respectful to Olyvia right. Since he wasn’t suppose to be around me at all. Work was going to get rather interesting if that was the case. Mike sat next to Shelly.