Stranger with the Stars

Player One Has Entered

I never liked the city.

I never liked getting lost in big groups of people. It always feels like everyone needs to be somewhere immediately. Briskly walking past without even a glance at the people around them. Large groups of people trying to fit into already crowded place, it always made me nervous. To me, it feels easy to be forgotten or disappear without anyone noticing. No one stops to enjoy the moment in time.

I normally end up sitting at the bar in one of the emptier parts or find a wall to lean on in a quieter part of the room. I generally befriend the employees, being a DD (designated driver) they load me up on soda and French fries, They keep me company most of the evening and remember me if I end up returning on another 'girls night'. I spend a good chunk of the evening avoiding the drunken men while waiting for one of my friends to say it's time to go home.

I feel like a spectator in these situations. Watching the room, seeing how people interact with one another in dim lighting. I enjoy making up possible stories about their lives or what they're saying to one another. What they've come to the club or bar to get away from. Like if a woman getting shitfaced in the 'bride to be' bedazzled shirt, really wants to be a bride. Or if the man taking his time with his shots at the bar, had a rough day at his job.

Going out to bars or clubbing didn't really have a huge appeal. I loved to dance, just not with a huge crowd. It's hard to have a nice time when some tipsy college frat boy wants to put his sweaty hands on you. Not all of them take the word 'no' too kindly.

Most of my days are spent working, at home, or every so often go out with friends. They would help me get out of the house, and I'd help them to get home in one piece.

With the amount of time spent each week doing this routine, you would think we'd actually be close friends. They never asked me anything about myself but of course they had no issues talking about themselves. I didn't mind, it had been that way since high school.

The only person who I was close to was Fleur and she was getting busier each following week with her boyfriend Chris, I referred to him as 'Fuckface' when he wasn't around. We had been best friends since 8th grade, but her first love interest takes up all her time. He was possessive and crude. No matter the comment, she loved him through and through. Fleur and I were close, but the longer time went on, the further we grew apart. She was in love, and I wanted to find myself. 

As for my job, I work for Dr. Saxe in his medical office. I go over the paperwork, handle book keeping, contact insurances to verify patient information, order supplies, and handle general secretary duties. He hired me on when I turned 17, I've stayed since. He started off by giving me very basic tasks (ex: faxing forms), then as time progressed and I provided myself to be capable, worked my way into my current obligations.

I'm paid quite well, with the privilege to choose the amount of hours to work a week, I'll always be paid as a full time employee. Of course, I still go in Monday thru Friday. Dr. Saxe always more than happy to allow me to work from home or to leave early with a heads up (rarely do I use that power). I don't think I'd ever leave him or his practice.

Dr Saxe been a friend of my fathers for as long as I can remember. On the clock he's Dr. Saxe, off the clock he's my lovable Uncle Eren. He'd watch me some days when my father would pick up an extra shift. He and my father look somewhat similar. Uncle Eren stands at about 6'ft with dark brown hair, a thin build, and a light completion with freckles sprinkled all over his face and arms. He has bright blue eyes and a beautiful big bright smile. He can always be found in a button up shirt with matching shoes, and dark dress pants.

"Presentation and comfort is everything, darling." He'd always purr after giving each look a full check-out. If it wasn't to his standards, he'd change it. 

Uncle Eren would jump at the opportunity to take me for the evening to teach me the ways of the medical world. He would sometimes be out of town for several days for some out of town appointments. When he'd return, he'd always go over how much he missed paved roads and the smell of a clean office. If I ever told him I didn't want to hear about the severity of an infection/broken bones/or mangled parts, clutch his robe and throw a hand to his cheek gasping the words, "We don't spare details in this household, it could have disastrous consequences!" He was dramatic, charismatic, and a huge impact on me. He raised me as if I was his own. I've always called him my second father.

Uncle Eren helped in learning how to do makeup, dress to accentuate my body, and to present myself with confidence. He said his key to confidentially doing something, was to practice saying or doing the task in your home, while in heels. Uncle Eren would add that the best way to do it, was in six inches and above. Anything below would feel too safe. I spent many nights practicing speeches for class, walking up and down his long condo hallways. I absolutely use that tactic to this day, causing me to have a hidden stash of heels in his home office closet.

That's also where he stashed my favorite clothing so that Cheryl couldn't toss them. He and my father were the best Dad's anyone could ask for.

My father is the dream father for any man. Worked on cars, houses, construction. Knows the ins and outs of every machine you could name. He will take any opportunity to fire up the grill. He stands at about 6'1. His skin was tanner than it used to be due to working out in the sun all day. His muscular frame and beer belly make him a giant lovable teddy bear. Beware if he wears shorts, you will be blinded by the pale once you got past all the hair. His light brown hair matches up with salt and pepper beard. The scars on his arms remind him not to touch hot engines and not to light the weeds in the yard on fire when he's upset. His eyes are the most striking part, he has one brown eye and one blue. He says it's just everyone's imagination.

 Dad made sure to match his shirts to his socks as to be up to standard for Uncle Eren. Uncle Eren always made sure that Dad had a packed lunch and would call before dinner if he was working late. He taught me how to clean up the home. He was never fond of the dishwasher, we always did dishes by hand. Laundry to be done every weekend, and the lawn was mowed every month. He taught me the value of making a home meal rather than running through a drive through or gas station every night. They taught me the meaning of home.

I've always lived with my father. He's my rock, our home was my safe place, at least home used to feel that way. When my father remarried, things greatly changed for the worse. The house used to be filled with laughter or good times with my father. You couldn't break our bond, even with a jackhammer. He'd attempt to cook or we'd argue over what movie to put on for the night. Our dog, Sparky, sitting patiently waiting for him to give up the left overs. On the weekends, he would ask me to help do yardwork or a car project of some sorts. He had been working on truck for many years. Lifting it, tinting it, and making it into a monster. It was our truck. Our baby that we built from the base up.

Uncle Eren, my Dad, Sparky, and I were the only family I needed. They had been left to raise me when my mother decided to take her things and disappear. I was only 7 or 8 years old at the time of her leaving. I remember her being cruel and unforgiving. I received her curves and wavy hair, however personality wise, we don't compare.

She packed her things and vanished. My father was heartbroken when it all happened. There were no phone calls, no letters, no goodbyes. My Dad would have been a single father if not for Uncle Eren. Sparky, our golden lab, came along as a Christmas present two years later.

When I was getting ready to turn 18, he met a woman who he felt was going to be a real change for us. She claimed to love him. She claimed that she didn't want to change the relationship he and I had, she just wanted to help make the family a 'complete'. It was a lie. But, I just wanted him to be happy. Her name was Cheryl. 

She was pretty short maybe 5'1 with short black hair to match. Her roots and nails had to be done constantly or else she felt 'less like the true beauty she was'. Her skin was sprayed a shade of light tan. She was heavy set but would tell us it was due to her height. Ice cream cones would be jealous of her shape.

Her every day outfits consisted of floral or patterned shirts, pencil skirts, and kitten heels. She always had to have on big chunky jewelry with her hair straightened and hair sprayed to helmet standards. You could smash a board over her head and I guarantee you she wouldn't feel it. Not that I've thought about it..

Her brown eyes held no warmth. They we're mud caked in heavy raccoon eyeliner.

She started off kind, but then it turned south rather quickly. Compliments soon would follow with an insult.

"That's a lovely dress.. if you're trying to be taken advantage of."

"Only a w***e would wear a two piece swim suit."

"Oh my, tight shirt. Aren't we compensating a little for that personality?"

"Red lipstick? Are you trying to seduce the neighbors?"

She'd shake her head and give a sickening smile. My father would always play it off as a joke or that she was just trying to bond with me. If I told him I didn't like the comments, he would say I wasn't giving her a chance to be open with me.

Not long after they started dating, he proposed, and she moved in. They had a court wedding right after. She said that she didn't want to be a stranger in the home. That she needed to know she was valued with all his heart.

She changed the home completely.

The old family photos were replaced with photos of her and what I assume was her family. I only met her parents and one son that had already moved out and away. He was a terrible human being with only the intention of stealing.

Our meeting was anything but nice. I'd come home from work one day to find he was in my room tossing through the drawers looking for whatever valuables he could. I kicked him out and told him I'd call the police. Of course, Cheryl started to cry saying that he was innocent and I was just trying to tear the family apart. Her son and I don't speak to this day. He's not allowed in the home anymore, thankfully, per my father.

I'm not allowed to ask about her previous marriage.

The fridge now only held Cheryl approved foods. She demanded that she be the only one doing the grocery shopping at first, however that quickly ended when my father wouldn't eat half the food she made. Salt was her enemy, and our taste buds suffered. There was no junk food allowed in the home and movie nights were only allowed if Cheryl picked the movie. She'd always pick the Notebook.

Car projects were no longer allowed, if he wanted to do a project, it would be for one of her friends. She'd tell him what to build or fix while sitting inside with air conditioning. I used to help him with those projects, but when I did, she would watch over him like a hawk. Telling him how my work was imperfect and that I shouldn't be allowed to do it at all.

Not long after they had married, she had felt the need to be a mother in my life. Constantly telling me to call her 'Mom' and that I should see her as such. Any achievements I had, she would claim was done with her help.

Needless to say, Uncle Eren despised her. She made a rule that he could only come over if she wasn't home. She didn't like the fact that he didn't want to be her friend after she continuously told her lady friends about him being a single man. He'd swing by to have dinner and surprise surprise, one of Cheryl's friends would magically show up attempting to become his next love.

When he kept rejecting them, Cheryl confronted him after dinner one night, to talk about her friends being rejected. She went off screaming about how she's trying to help him. He then had to explain he was gay. Incredibly, gold card gay. Oh, that didn't stop her. She then tried to say how she always wanted a gay best friend and that she would find him the perfect man.

He told her he wasn't interested and how surprised he was at the amount of friends she had.

"Three seems like so many for you to have when you're such a b***h," He stated with a look of disgust in his eyes. With a huff, he grabbed what items he had in the home, and left with all the grace he could muster. 

She told my father that he had to end the friendship or else she would move out. Of course he refused to cut off his best friend but agreed to have him over less. About twice a week I go over to Uncle Eren's since he refused to come over at all since the incident. He describes her as a half pint of pure s**t.

Opposites could not have been a better word for Cheryl and I. I was 5'11. I had long copper hair that created waves on their own like my mother. I've been itching to dye it. My eyes are light grey with a striking gold around the iris. They really stood out against my ivory skin, which I decorated with only a few tattoos. Scars did litter throughout my body, but I never stayed injured long. My father said I was a reckless kid, but never had injuries the following day.

I had the phases of the moon tattooed onto my the back of left calve, trailing down in a line towards my ankle. Another was a jeweled crescent moon sat in the middle of my shoulder blades. They were expensive, but they were stunningly perfect. The ink for both looked days old, while in reality one sat at the a year old, while the other sat at 6months. I've already started ideas for more in the future. My birthday was coming soon, and I didn't want to spend my 21st without a reward to myself. My ears had dual studs in both lobes. One side had a double upper cartilage set, while the other side had a daith. The jewelry was always stainless steel. Simple yet striking in my eyes. 

Whenever leaving the house, I wore big reflective sunglasses. Often times, I'd forget to take them off at stores. With eyeliner, my eyes would become quite striking, causing people to ask if they were real or just contacts. They were vivid no matter the lighting. My father also got those sorts of questions when he'd take off his sunglasses around new people.

I was gifted in the boob department, counting in at DD's. The hour glass frame it something I never really showed off, however Cheryl decided to go through my wardrobe when I was at the office one day. She placed all the clothes she deemed inappropriate into garbage bags and told me to dispose of them. They went straight to my Uncles for safe keeping, with me giving false promises of them being donated to the local thrift store.

The clothes she approved would swallow my figure. I come in around an XL in clothing, she decided a triple XL would do me better. I didn't bother to argue, I didn't want to cause yet another battle. I had started to think about moving out. On that day, I'll burn the clothes she 'donated' to me.

I don't wear my makeup currently, as much as I love it, Cheryl started to steal pieces of it here and there. Starting with eyeliner. I ignored the problem until I caught her with a very expensive eyeshadow pallet of mine, that's when the makeup also magically made its way to my Uncles. The pallet... well not even fire could cleanse it. RIP pallet.

At the beginning she told my father a new look would do me wonders. He begged me to try what she suggested, he was all about chances. She stated that she 'knew just the thing'. I was able to convince her to allow me to sleep in overly large hoodies and sweatpants so that it's not too scandalous for her taste. She saw everything as an 'opportunity to change'.

Shortly after, the pallet incident, she presented me a hand written list of all the things I needed to change about myself (physical and non-physical).

The home changed, starting with the living room. It went from casual blankets and pillows, on our old long brown leather sectional. It was incredibly comfortable and wonderful to lay across after a long day of working. It's length fit my father laying down both ways. However, Cheryl didn't like the age of it or look of it. She told my father that it was too old and broken to keep using. It was replaced with two small white couches. The new couches were stiff and made from some scratchy material. She then covered them in beaded throw pillows and decorative throw blankets.

Sparky was no longer allowed inside unless he stayed in my room or the kitchen. She constantly threatened to take him to the pound saying things along the lines of "he's just a eating a pooping thing. He's dirty and smells." Weekly baths were the only thing that even allowed him in the kitchen. So, one of the weekends was spent making him a large and comfortable dog house. I made sure to install fan in the roof of the house to make sure the summers wouldn't make it too hot.

Along with helping with the projects of the home, when I was able to start working for Uncle Eren, I'd give my father money for rent monthly and I would take care of groceries weekly. He never wanted the money stating that it was something I should save. So, any money that would have been used for rent went to savings and groceries. We bought take out evenly, one week he'd buy and I'd cover the next. There wasn't any pressure to pay either one back.

Any project or item he wanted to add or fix to the project were done the same way. I'd convince him to let me pay a good majority of the time. It was the least I could do for him to ease the money stress. Each year for his birthday, I'd take him to a*****e or place of his choice and let him pick whatever he wanted as his present. One year it was a hunting store for him to pick out a gun, the next year was a full day at a private shooting range. Each year was something different but his smile always stayed.

When Cheryl came into the picture, the yearly birthday present activities or gifts were done in secret. She had also I pay rent to her, 'to make it even in the home.' She had a point, I was of age to be on my own but my father let me stay home. However, she demanded more than double the monthly bills combined. My father and I never had any issues on who would cover what each month, whoever opened the bill normally took care of it then and there.

She stated the money was to teach me responsibility in the world. eventually, my father convinced her that I would completely cover all the utilities and groceries, while he would split the month rent and insurances with her. She would huff and say how she thought I should already be moved out by now. That him holding me to the utilities and food wouldn't teach me enough about how to be on my own. For groceries, she provided me a list to get of her 'approved' food for the home. Our fridge and pantry was full of the expensive organic s**t now. Well, except the stash I kept in my closet in a closed container. If there was cold food I needed to store, Uncle Eren graciously allow me to use his fridge and the work fridge. He offered to get me a mini fridge, but I declined due to the fuss it would cause at the house about 'hiding' things from Cheryl. She'd definitely notice a mini-fridge in my room if she decided to open my door for a surprise hello (which had happened before many of times).

Each month when her side of the rent was due, she'd bring up the issue all over again. My father ended up covering all of the rent while convincing her to just cover the insurances and her own bills. He made sure not to be included in her credit card debt. I was proud of him for standing his ground, even if she was tearing it away little by little.