CHAPTER FOUR

                                      ORC

     She was here, the counterfeit gold big ear loops she always wore were rusted and her skin tight jeans were dirty. The expression she wore on her face was forlorn and distant, her dark hair done in a rough ponytail and she wasn't wearing her flip flops. She was barefoot.

          "Momma?"

    She didn't answer, almost as if she couldn't hear him. She stood by his bedside, her sharp blue eyes boring into him but it appeared she wasn't really seeing him.

           "Momma."

    She shook her head and got up, walking slowly towards the door.

     He tried to get up but he couldn't. It was like he was tied down, couldn't breathe. He needed air.

    "Momma wait."

   She didn't turn back. In the blink of an eye, she was no longer there.

    He jolted up from the dream. He gasped and breathe heavily, trying to take in air as sweat dripped down his face. His eyes shifted around his surroundings as he did so. Sunlight drifted in the open window, as he gulped. It'd been a dream. 

    It surprised him. He hadn't dreamt of her for a very long time now. He rubbed his face and checked the time from the wristwatch on his bedside table. Quarter past eight. 

    He got out if bed and made his way to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and had a quick shower before entering the kitchen/sitting room. He filled a glass with water from the tap and drank it all, while sitting on a chipped stool. He down turned the glass on the shaky table and rested his elbows on it.

    Something flared in his memory. Last night, he'd been kissed. He touched his lips as he reran the incident that'd happened. The party, the angry guy and then, the kiss. His heart thumped as the feel of lips on his still lingered in his mind. Someone had kissed him. He didn't know how to express what he felt since it was alien to him. He cheeks turned upwards.

     Then he remembered what happened afterwards. The disgust on his face. He'd never forget. It wasn't new to him, but this time it was different. The appalment shown vividly shown on his face, as if he couldn't believe he'd kissed someone like him. 

    His stomach churned. He knew he was not a sight to behold but his kisser shouldn't have shown how revolted he was. Humiliation filled him. It wasn't his fault, damnit. He'd been just a waiter at a party, doing his job and the bimbo had to ruin that for him. He'd left the party with Miss Sarah's car and without his paycheck. He'd been embarrassed and furious, emotions running through him and he'd tried ignoring them all. 

    He'd never felt so raw since his Momma had left him.

    "Arc?"

    He didn't turn to look at his sister, he kept his gaze fixed on the table and fingered the blue ragged tablecloth.

    "Are you okay?"

    "You saw it, didn't you?"

     She didn't speak for a moment.

    "Sarah came back early yesterday and suggested we watch the event live on her television."

     Arc sighed. His sister had seen him live, on tv.

     "Are you hurt anywhere?" Her voice sounded almost quiet. She was treading carefully. "The tray of glasses you were holding shattered on the floor. You're not injured?"

     "Don't treat me like something that'd break down Penelope. I'm fine." He hardened his voice. " Last night was just bad luck. It happens all the time." No it didn't. Last night was worse than bad luck. It's not everyday you get a kissed at a party and get revoltingly rejected for how you looked.

    She sat on the stool beside him. "Don't let what happened last night get to you. The guy clearly has poor taste in men." That wasn't a lie. He'd gotten cheated on and he'd kissed a distorted guy next. Expertly poor taste indeed.

     "I'm headed out to work."

     "Won't you have breakfast before you leave?"

      "I'm not hungry. I'm gonna be late."

   He got up and reached for his satchel. When he got back, he'd apologize to Miss Sarah for losing the mask. He didn't think he could go back there and look for it. He couldn't blame what'd happened on the woman. She'd tried to help and it had resulted in something dreadful. 

      "You didn't eat last night." She protested, her face scrunched up in disagreement.

      "There's gonna be free breakfast at Bill's today."

        "What, pig food?"

    He slung the bag on his right shoulder.

        "Your limp is worse, did you take your pain killers last night?" She said as he tried to walk, his right leg screaming in protest.

        "I'm fine." He managed to walk to the front door without groaning.

        "But you don't look fine. You look like you're in pain." He paused at the door. "You should stay in today. Bill wouldn't mind."

        "You know he will."

        "He wouldn't miss one worker for a day."

        "I can't. We need the money."

        "I'm sure we can manage for a day or two. And Bill is like his pigs. I couldn't put up with him that's for sure."

        "I have to put up with him, he's my boss."

        "Who says you have to?"

  They've had this argument more times than he could count. 

        "I have to work Penelope, don't wait up for me if I'm running late "

        "Arc."

     He mustered under his breath. "What?"

       Her eyes shone as her lips trembled. "Someday, someone will make you realize that you're so much more valuable than you think you are."

     He doubted that.