Two

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There was no need to be quiet but still she tiptoed into his room. She knew that he knew she was coming.

"Rosaline, just come in already," he said in a slightly annoyed tone.

"I didn't want you to know it was me," she said looking at him innocently.

"It's always you."

"I love you so much Jackson," she said throwing her arms around his neck.

"I love you too darling. You shouldn't be here though."

"But Jackson, we're fine. Nobody knows."

"We are now but what happens when your mother finds out. What of when you are married?"

"I will marry only you."

"Do you promise this?" he asked with a raised brow.

"I promise, and with all my heart; I swear I will never love another." Rosaline kissed him. He lifted her up and carried her to the bed.

"Miranda? Miranda!!" I roused from my sleep. Debbie was shaking my shoulder. "Wake up sweetie, Brandshaw is coming."

I picked up my head and resumed typing. He paused as he walked by. "You might want to try snoring louder so that the whole building can hear you," he said in a stern voice; then he chuckled. I raised my eyebrow in confusion. Why didn't he fire me if I was such a bad employee?

.

The music in the club was loud enough to make my skin vibrate. It hurt my head; the blood was pulsing so hard. The floor was pounding in time with my head. I wouldn't be here very long, it was my routine. I wasn't really in the mood for it tonight but it would be the same. If I didn't have my routine I would fall apart. I don't know where my need for routine came from; I had never had any kind of mental trauma.

I found him, my next tryst. I walked over exuding confidence. "Hey."

"Hey."

"Miranda," I said extending my hand.

"Jackson," he said; when he saw my face he added, "Thomas Jackson." He took my outstretched hand. Wasn't that the name of that guy in my dream?

"Did I say something wrong in the four words I barely spoke?"

"Oh, no. It's just the name; reminds me of someone."

"Well as long as it is a good someone," he said smiling. I took his hand and pulled him on the dance floor. I let the music take my mind away. Thomas was a good dancer; sometimes I wish that things were different for me, that I didn't have these one night stands.

"Let’s go somewhere," I said in his ear. He nodded and I led him away. "So where is your place?" I asked him, I didn't like having guys over to my apartment.

"It's near 21st street."

"Oh, that’s pretty far away. My place is just around the corner... 3 blocks down," he chuckled and we started off to my place. 'Why did I say that?? Now he's going to be there when I wake up. This isn't what was supposed to happen!

She could feel the tight corset, the thick material of the dress kept her beating heart in her chest. The thick cake of white makeup felt like it would crack if she smiled to wide. She put a content look on her face and let herself be taken to where her suitors would try and win her heart. She wanted to cry, her mother had found out about Jackson and she was going to marry Rosaline off to the wealthiest man she could.

She could feel her eyes water up. She would never be with Jackson; it wasn’t fair. She needed to be with Jackson, or else she would never be happy.

Rosaline could feel her insides crawling around in her stomach. She held a hand to her stomach to try and calm herself. She gathered herself together and entered with what everyone thought was a genuine smile. The men hung off her like she was their last hope for survival. Rosaline barely looked at them. Eventually they gave up and one by one they left her side, seeing how hopeless it was.

"I have good news," her mother said when she got home.

"Could it possibly be that you are deathly ill?" She asked with a sour look on her face.

"Rosaline, how dare you talk to me like that!" her mother said appalled. "You are going to marry Francis III. Its arranged so don't try to get out of it."

"How could you do that to me? You didn't even ask?" she said, her mind unravelling.

"You will marry him and I don't care how much fuss and mess you make. He will make a fine husband."

"A better husband then Jackson? A man who loves me completely!"

"A better husband than Jackson because he has a lot of money!"

"Is that all you care about? The profit you'll make off him?"

"Certainly not! I am thinking of your future and you will thank me when you realize it. You'll thank me for getting you away from that pond scum you claim to 'love'. There is no such thing as love as you have explained to me."

"Just because you've never experienced it does not mean that it doesn't exist. I love him mother, more than you could ever comprehend!"

I rolled over again and stared at the clock on my nightstand. 1:32 am. Sleep evaded me once again, the bastard. Thomas was breathing heavily beside me and I looked at his face, so peaceful. I didn't want to disturb him so I got out of bed quietly and went over to the window. I shivered from the coldness of my apartment. The cold floors froze my bare feet and the draft could not be stopped from hitting my skin with the skimpy silk slip I had on. The box ( end table as some people would call them ) beside the window had a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. It was only for times of extreme stress or insomnia. I lit the end and exhaled the putrid smoke.

"I didn't think you were up..." a voice said from the bedroom.

"Couldn't sleep," I replied groggily. I heard heavy footsteps on the cheap hardwood floor but didn't turn around. I shivered as I felt two hands slide around my waist. The silk bunched where his hands were and he rested his cheek on my shoulder.

"You'll fry your lungs if you keep smoking you know," he said in a know-it-all tone.

"Everyone knows that."

"Then why?" he asked not understanding why I would engage in a habit so disgusting.

"I don't know. It started off as some dumb thing and now I just do it when I'm stressed or can't sleep," I said brushing off the question.

"...It helps you sleep?" he asked.

"Not particularily. It gives me something to do. Better than having a coffee," I said with a chuckle.

"How about you put it out and we just go lay down. I don't know about you, but I have to work in the morning," he said with a smile. I put out my cigarette and he took my arm, gently guiding me back to my bedroom. He laid down and then I followed suit. He put his arm around me and I snuggled into his warm body. I don't even remember falling asleep.

The field was full of tall lush grass and Rosaline was so happy to be free of the confines of the heavy dresses and constricting corsets. She laughed as she saw a small deer prancing through the field. She gasped as someone grabbed her from behind and twirled her around.

"Did you miss me my love?" he whispered with a raspy voice.

"I always miss you Jackson," Rosaline said with sorrow in her voice. "My mother is starting to become suspicious, that I am doing something unlady-like. She wonders about my strange facination with nature. Although nature is always more facinating when I'm with you," she whirled around to look him in the face. 'Such young, handsome features on a boy should not be allowed. If only he had more money and something to show for his hard work, then maybe mother would approve.' Rosaline smiled as not to worry him and he took her into his arms once more kissing her with passion.

"I don't know what I'll do when mother tries to marry me off to some wealthy man. I can't stand the thought of living without you," she said burying her face in his chest. He held her tight and wished that he would've been born to a family with more wealth; but that was not so and he had always known that there would be a day when he would have to let her go.

Jackson took her hand and pulled her through the grass until they were both running and dancing in the reeds, unaware of a stranger watching them.

I groaned as my alarm made the same annoying sound it always made.

"When did I set my alarm clock? I never sleep in late enough to need one." I asked nobody in particular.

"Sorry, I didn't know when you needed to get up so I just set it for 7," A man's voice said from the bathroom. Thomas appeared at the bathroom door smiling. He still had wet hair from when he was in the shower. I only have female products so I bet he smelled like a bouquet of flowers.

He tousled his hair, "I like you're shampoo, it made my hair really soft," he said smiling.

"Thanks," I said looking around my bedroom disoriented. This scenario had never occured to me. I liked having him showering and being so relaxed at my place. It felt normal.

"Are you just going to wear that to work?" I asked. It was the same clothing he had worn the night before.

"Sure, why not. I mostly work from home," he said shrugging.

"Oh," I said looking at the clock; I slept for five and a half hours. I probably could've slept more but I didn't really want to right now. What was so different about this guy?

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To Be Continued.