Read Recourse 2 (The Arrangement) for Free Online Page A

turned the page, I did know exactly where his picture would be though. Adams, Chase. The very first person in the first row. Always ahead of the pack. His confident face looking back with a broad smile and those devastating dimples. My breathing slowed as memories took over.

    We were at house watching the Gladiator a couple of weeks after we first met. He was so excited about the movie and tried to fill me in on the interesting tidbits. “Did you know they threw bread into the crowd so the people felt happy about their lives?” He’d say. “Did you see there is a guy wearing jeans in one scene?” I feigned impressed and would overreact by digging into my own Roman knowledge. “Did you know Romans were the first to build roads so they could expedite the troop movement?” He’d raise his brows and reply with “You are so smart, Laura, I bet you’ll be a doctor or something.” but then keep silent for a little longer than before. I let out a shallow sigh as I stroked the page. There was I, Bishop, Laura, too smart for my own good, three rows down and opposite of him. A soft smile came across my lips as I slowly ran my index finger down from his picture to mine. I took another sip of wine as my eyebrows drew inward. Who was I kidding? Even here and now, welcomed in his mansion and with Amy being the most amazing girl I’ve met, the peg still didn’t fit the hole. A month here, and then what? My tiny love from eleven years ago, magnified by the excited and sudden surprise and fueled by pure passion of years lost was up against a world much too far removed from mine. Their world was full of strategic partnerships and important influential families, and creating things that made people not die. The best thing I’ve created within the last three years was the large maroon stain on my bedroom wall when I threw a bottle of wine against it in desperation. As much as my artist friends liked the rawness of the expression, such contribution to the arts was just too far from the secluded reality of those who would never have to regret not drinking that wine first.

    In my dulled awareness, I felt the leg tucked underneath me turn numb. I closed the yearbook and pushed it away from me, crooking my body to the side and pulling my leg out. The thousands of needles rushed through it, immediately causing me to rub the skin in response. I got up from the bed only to feel the needles pulsate harder with each step. Deciding to walk it off, I walked up to the window and looked outside.

    The clouds covered the sky, hiding the moon somewhere deep within. The perfectly trimmed backyard was pitch black. The white modern design exterior of the main building sat solemnly against the backdrop of dark sky. The big panels of glass and metal, a modern take on lavish life. I turned around to climb back into bed when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It looked like a tiny flash of lighting might have reflected off the windows. I turned my head and looked at the mansion. It remained covered in darkness. I looked up at the sky, but didn’t see any more flashes. Deciding that not every lighting deserved a thunderclap, I shrugged and started to turn back. Just then I saw it again. A quick flash in the second floor window. Then another. My heart beat accelerated when I realized the light came from the inside the house. I quickly sidestepped to the TV and turned it off. Mentally picturing the layout I was certain these windows belonged to Chase’s office. My thumping heartbeat rang through my ears as I searched for my phone. I swore under my breath not finding it by my purse, as I could have sworn I brought it in with me. I dropped low and crawled to the window, my eyes wide as I searched the dark backdrop of the bushes in the yard for movement. A couple of rapid flashes pierced the night. Whoever it was, they must have found what they were looking for. I bit my lip as I tried hard to remember when I used my phone last. My eyes darted