IN HIS EYES

Another episode of me trying to find my way out of yet another huge mansion. I can't recall how i ended up in his bed but that's not what I am worried about at the moment, this has become a habit that i no longer care about the details. Now that my job is done here, i have to find my way to the schools theatre before Mrs Scott strips me off my role. I drag my aching body away from his sweaty arms careful enough not to wake him up. Disgusting!! I hate how they all have alot of things in common but at least he is a little different from the rest , he has outstanding features. He is extraordinarily charming even though he seems to be in his late forties. His hair has some strands of grey in them giving his beauty extra credit of becoming an Egyptian god. I grab my clothes which are scattered all over the floor and dash into the bathroom. I am in a marathon with the twenty minutes am left with to be in school. I grab my purse under his inner wear which was thrown near the door. I take one last glance on my watch as i head down the flight of stairs. I do not believe in luck but I wish today be my first and last day of being lucky. I know I cannot make it to school within fourteen minutes being that this jerk lives at the far right end of the city. What if, I mean what if , something happens to Mrs Scott. Will i be spared from losing my hard earned role as the main lead in the play? I'll be glad if her body alarm fails only for today, but again one thing Mrs Scott cherishes most is time. She preaches to us in all our rehearsals how she's sensitive when it comes to time hence the nickname tick-tock lady. What if something happens to her forcing her to miss a day or two of the rehearsal? It won't be that bad right? I jump out of the taxi and pave my way through the hard bodies of students dragging their hangover asses to attend morning lectures. Forty minutes have passed but still I hope Mrs Scott can see through my sincerity. "THE ONE STEP THEATRE" large symbol comes into view but the more steps i take towards it the more my muscles tense. I cannot afford to lose my place in the only source of freedom I went through thick and thin to get accepted. I joined Alleyway University, specifically to the school of Film and Media studies as an excuse to get a tiny bit of my freedom. Being striped off my main lead role means underperformance which will result to my hard earned freedom being taken away. Small crowds have formed outside the theatre. Everyone is busy murmuring and cursing how much time is being wasted. I spot Cate in the middle of her ride-or-die gang deeply engrossed in their talk. "What the heck makes you guys behave like uncivilised minions?" I ask approaching them. "Arielle!" Cate bounces back and gives me a rib breaking hug. "Okay,okay. Get off me. You know I hate touchy people the most," I say lifting up my hands. "Where were you the whole of yesterday? I've been trying to reach you but all my calls went to voicemail. We've been worried sick." "Cut the crap Catty. You all know what am like " "She's been worried about you because of what happened to Mrs Scott," Zack says. "OMG! Is she dead," i say faking to be shocked. "Ar-ie-lle! Shut the f**k up. How can you say that?" Catty fumes in anger. "She was involved in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital. It is said she's in a critical condition," Phil explains. I can't believe my wish has come true though i never meant for her to end up in the hospital. Rule number one 'Everything has a price'. For me to retain my role, Mrs Scott had to end up in the hospital. "Poor Mrs Scott. What will become of us now that our instructor is crippled ... temporarily?" "You're unbelievable Arielle. Everybody is thinking of Mrs Scott's recovery but you're here bluffing of what will become of us. Is this play worth to be compared with her life?" " I have my priorities and you know i can't stop aiming for them because of anyone. Time waits for no man" "I sometimes question myself how I've managed to put up with your selfishness all this while. You..." "Hey, stop it girls. Why don't we find a place to cool down first and clear our mind," Zack cuts her short. "The one who needs a clear mind is her," Catty shouts and storms off. Phil goes after her. "Are you okay?" Zack asks his eyes trying to search mine for nothing in particular. "Do i look not okay to you?" "Come on Arielle. What's up with you today?" "Piss off. " Cate has to understand that not everyone belongs to her little good girl world. For her everything is flawless, everyone cares about her thoughts, opinions and future. She doesn't have to go through so much in order to acquire anything. She lives under no rules and doesn't know the taste of having no say , being imperfect and living under so many rules that you have to memorize together with the punishment that follows if you don't adhere to them. Why should i care about other people when all i can do is survive and we all know survival isn't for the weak. I walk down the pavement leading to the main gate when i spot Fred, my fathers right hand man. My muscles freeze and without him saying a word i already know what his visit means. By now my father should have known about Mrs Scott's accident and it's time i get out of my freedom mind zone. He directs me to the latest model of Roles Royce, all for showing off. Fred keeps throwing glances at me through the rear view mirror. "Have you got something to say old man?" He shakes his head. "Then keep your eyes on the road." I hate it whenever he wears that pitiful look on his face. He supports what my father does, that gives him no right to take pity on me. He pulls over infront of our main door and opens the door for me with a small bow. I broke two rules in the morning and i know the consequences for both. I head upstairs to my fathers office and take in a deep breathe before going in. He is standing by the window looking outside with his hands in the pockets. The more calm he pretends to be the more angry I know he is. I kneel placing my hands on my laps and face down. He sighs and heads to his drawers taking out a whip. "It's good that you're aware you broke some rules in the morning," he says coming towards me, " or do you want me to spell them out for you?" "No sir" "Arielle you know very well I hate it when rules are broken. Not just any rules but the rules i made myself." "Am aware of that sir." "Good. Now, before you receive your punishment i want you to name them out.They have to stick deep down your head so that you won't keep repeating the same mistake over and over again." "Rule number one, Satisfy the client to the fullest and only leave when he or you tell me so. Rule number nine, Never miss out on my daily body fitness with Miss Brea." "Good girl. What of there respective consequences?" "If rule number one is not adhered to the repercussion is to receive twenty whips while for rule number nine is to go for intense body fitness for five hours nonstop." "Am doing this for your on sake Arielle,the dynasty am building will all be yours some day. Do you know that?" "Yes." He straightens out his whip and flogs me on my back. Moving an inch will lead to more severe punishment, I learned this when i was fourteen. I close my eyes and let my mind wonder into the pain. I came to realise that accepting the pain and making it a part of me makes it less painful than when i struggle to reject it. I head straight to the gym after my first punishment. I remember this part of the house used to be my play room when I was a kid. It used to have the kind of stuff all young girls dream to have. My friends loved it when i invited them over on weekends or during holidays for a sleepover.