Page 29 of Her Pretty Things

My clothes from yesterday are folded over the chair. The black skirt. The shirt Heather picked. My choker is laid carefully on top.

The bracelet is still around my wrist.

JAMIE.

I turn it until the letters disappear against the inside of my arm. My hair falls over my shoulder when I sit up. It’s still smooth. I run my fingers through it.

I shouldn’t be thinking about her brushing it. Or asking her to do it again tonight. I get out of bed.

The plaque from my apartment is hanging above the vanity.

YOU ARE FUCKING FABULOUS.

“Yeah, well. Apparently fabulous gets you kidnapped.”

I look at myself in the mirror.

Yesterday’s makeup is gone except for a little darkness beneath one eye. My hair actually looks good for someone who slept on it. The bracelet catches in the mirror. I turn my wrist over again.

A key turns in the lock. Heather opens the door. She’s already dressed. Hair up. Coffee in one hand. The ugly bracelet is still around her wrist.

“Good morning.”

I keep my eyes on her face. “Do you always lock people in overnight?”

“Dolls, yes.”

At least she’s consistent.

“Breakfast is ready.” She turns and walks away.

I stay where I am.

Heather makes it three steps before she stops and looks back. “Jamie. Breakfast.”

“You’re just letting me walk around now?”

“You behaved yesterday.”

I look past her toward the stairs. “And if I don’t today?”

Her eyes flick toward me. “Then today will be ugly and tomorrow will start differently.”

Right.

I follow her downstairs. The front door is visible from the bottom of the stairs. Three deadbolts. No key. I already knew that. I check anyway.

Heather keeps walking.

The kitchen smells like coffee and toast. There’s a plate at one side of the table and another across from it.

I stop.

Yesterday she worked while I colored like a hostage at daycare. Today she made herself breakfast too.

Heather sits and reaches for her coffee. “Sit down.”

I sit.