14From where I was hiding, I had a pretty good view of the shit about to go down. You've never seen me move so fast. In the space of Christian and his lover girl, navigating the steps up to the room, I sprung across his bed like a panther- and clambered into his closet.
The stench of Gucci forced me to my knees, as I peered through the crack I left in the door.
The girl came in first. She backed into the room, tugging on the schooltie attached to Christian's neck. Since all I could see was blonde hair, and a svelte figure, I turned my attention to the boy about to get lucky. Christian was transfixed. He watched with narrowed eyes, as the blonde girl let go of his uniform and reached up to unbutton her blouse.
Oh my god! I hyperventilated. School uniform isn't designed for a striptease! It was meant to promote equality amongst students, as they study.
Study. Get it, you two?
As the girl started unhooking her bra, I couldn't bear to witness anymore. This was like 3D pornography, except no mute button to press. I withdrew deeper into Christian's closet, and shoved my knuckles into my mouth. Outside, I heard the pair of them hit the bed, and start to initiate the process of procreating.
"Oh."
"Oh."
"OHHHHHHH!"
My phone started vibrating, clueless and uncaring to the situation I was in. Although it wasn't quite a ringtone, it was a very bad second. My head snapped up, as the sounds of the bedpost creaking abruptly finished, and left an impenetrable silence. Shit. They hadn't heard, had they?
"What the fuck was that?" Christian growled.
Apparently, my luck had run out.
"It's nothing," the girl said with exasperation. Clearly she was still horny and wanted to get back to bedding him.
Yeah! I found myself agreeing with her. You're far more interesting. Please don't check me out. Please don't check me out-
Christian got up, and started walking towards the closet. AHHHHHH! His hands were on the door handles, when my phone started vibrating again. This was it. My apocalyptic doom. My breaths started growing shorter and shorter, as I fumbled to switch off my phone. Unwittingly, I sent it spinning of into the shadows when my movements got too frantic. There was no time to go after it. There was no time for an excuse-
"Christian?"
Oh praise the Lord, I was saved!
"What are you doing here?"
By my mother?
Christian closed the doors behind him, plunging me into darkness as he turned to face my mother. I could imagine her at the door, trying to clock the situation. The girl shrieked and tried to cover herself up, as Christian stepped threateningly forward. I could tell. The light under the door was free to come into the closet again.
"The real question is, why you haven't moved out."
"Don't get shirty with me, Mr Marigold. Arev, that poor boy, was running up and down all night looking for you. He barely got any sleep! And here you are, looking like you couldn't care any less. At least you can come around, when your family are here?"
"I think you should stop preaching about family ethics."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh I don't know," Christian tapped a finger on his chin. "Weren't you the one who got pregnant at sixteen, and abandoned your baby with some old folk, so you could swan around without any care in the world? I don't understand why you're putting up a fight. You're a mess. You know it. I know it. Now let's cut the bullshit, and ship you off to somewhere more productive." He added a cheeky grin. "I can even write you a reference."
"VIOLET!" my mom hollered. "GET UP HERE!"
She didn't have to tell me twice. I was already geering myself to leap into defence. Making the biggest dramatic entrance possible, I kicked open the door so hard, it slammed into Christian's back and sent him sprawling onto all fours. This was how Christian and I first met. It was the ultimate girl power moment.
I scowled down at him, as he stared up at me.
There was no scorn in that gaze. It was like all the puerile hatred evaporated from his body, leaving him with childlike wonder.
"Don't talk smack about my mom," I glowered at him. "She may not be the greatest mom in the planet, but she's there when I need her. That's more than I can say about you. I haven't even met you, and I can tell you're an asshole!"
The last view he had, was of my ass walking away.
...
"I don't know Vi," my mom said, tapping the counter-top with her fingers. "That might've been too far. We could end up in the streets at this rate."
"He deserved it," I said, folding my arms across my chest. I know what my mom wanted me to do. She wanted me to find that berk again, and apologise to him, so he didn't do anything viscious to us. But my pride wouldn't allow it. If the word "sorry" was going to be passed between us, it wouldn't be from me!
My mom started to look mischeivous.
"He did, didn't he?"
We both looked at each other, before breaking out into belly-raucous laughter. It was extremely giddy. By the end of it, we were clutching each other and wiping the tears of our cheeks. I looked at the time on my watch, and realised dinnertime was rapidly approaching.
"Oh shoot. Mom, I gotta go. Vanessa's coming home soon, and I haven't gotten anything ready!"
"Bless my girl," my mom said, patting my head fondly. "You're even more matronly than I am!"
"Better believe it," I said, kissing her on both cheeks. I don't know why I was coming over lovey-dovey all of a sudden, but I wanted her to see she meant a lot to me. A lot of us (in fact all of us) don't have a choice about who's our mother going to be, so it's best to make the most of it. Especially when I knew she wasn't that bad.
"Okay, darling. I'll be here, resting."
Hmmm. Maybe I should take that back.
Giving her another quick peck, I floated out of the room and down the corridor towards the kitchen. It gave me a delight, to see the fridge fully stocked. It was one of the things kids all across the globe should take for granted, but sadly poverty and neglect prevented that. Vanessa shouldn't have really fitted into either of those categories, but it goes to show any child could slip under the radar.
"First home cooked dinner," I perused the fridge. "What shall I give you?"
I was halfway through with chopping an onion, when the back door opened and an excited bundle rushed in. Arev followed close behind, pausing to give me a show-stopping grin. My breath caught in my throat, when I suddenly realized how attractive he was. Any woman who was greeted with that smile, was lucky to have him.
"It smells so yummy!" Vanessa stared at me, licking her lips.
"Wait until you've tasted it," I warned, as tears threatened to overtake my eyes. I wasn't used to chopping onions, okay? I still had that stupid reflex mechanism of tearducts going to overkill, whenever any spice entered it.
"I'm sure it is lovely," Arev said, tactile as ever.
He came closer to the stove, and wafted in the aromas with a hand so they would seep up his nose. Vanessa found that really funny, and started copying him. I wondered if Arev knew he didn't have to search for Christian anymore. The last I saw of him, he was chasing a boy (now identified as Derek) around the mall.
"Arev." I coughed.
"Yes?"
"Did you manage to find Christian?"
"No." He looked really depressed.
"It's okay. You don't have to look anymore. He's upstairs; sulking."
"Really?" Vanessa's ears perked up as Arev asked the question. I hadn't finished nodding, before Vanessa gave a congragulatory whoop and shot off upstairs, to monopolize some of her brother's time. Part of me wondered, if he treated her with as much disregard as he did other members of this household. My mother for instance. His mother, for another.
"I am glad," Arev collapsed in a chair. "That boy will be the death of me."
"Well I'm here now," I said cheerily, turning back to the stove. "He just needs a firm hand is all. All these years of mollycoddling and treating him like an adult, makes him believe he is one, when really he's a scared little boy seeking for approval."
Arev gave a dry chuckle. "You are a breath of fresh air, Miss Violet."
"Thank you," I acknowledged, not thinking of a higher compliment.
The smile was still apparent on my face, as I turned around for the final ingredient of my recipe. It froze, when I saw who was standing in the doorway. Mrs Marigold, back early from work, was appraising me with a faint glimmer of shock in her eyes. Arev hadn't spotted her. He was still running his face through his hands, and probably begging for sleep. But that soon changed, when a voice cut through the room.
"Violet. I didn't know you had a fiery side...to your character."
Arev's shoulders went tense, in a millisecond.
A grin started to form on her face. "I think I like it." She kicked off her shoes, and went to sit beside Arev. When the driver immediately got up, Mrs Marigold instantly told him not to be silly and sit down again.
"We need someone like you," she told me. "Someone who can bring this family together."
Alright then. Way to make the girl feel under pressure to become a fairy godmother.
"Anyways, I know you're schooling was interrupted when you came out here, so it's in our best interest, to get you enrolled as soon as possible."
"Okay," I wiped my sweaty palms on the apron. "When?"
"Tomorrow would be good. St. Davids is an excellent school, as all the brochures would tell you. Consistently ranked first in Huffington Post, I think you could do a lot worse."
"Isn't that the school your children go too?" I croaked.
"And?" She honestly couldn't see anything wrong with it.
"Well I can't cover the fees for a start. And I'd hate to think of you putting yourself out, just to get me enrolled. No. Any old state comprehensive would do me fine. It's only my final year- then I'll be free to go to any college in Ohio."
"That's proposterous!" Mrs Marigold couldn't look anymore scandalized. "How can you sell yourself short? You won't be able to get into Ivy League just by going to any old comprehensive (I opened my mouth to contradict this, 'cause I knew a fair few examples, but Mrs Marigold ploughed on)- and I know you're smart enough to go all the way. No. St. Davids is the best place for you for the forseeable future. Christian is in the same year as you. He would be more than happy to show you the ropes."
I dimly recollected Mrs Marigold telling me the same thing about him collecting me from the airport. It turned out that was a lie, so I was pretty sure this was too. But I could appreciate her trying.
"I suppose that sounds good?" I said, weakly. The issue of arrear fees were still to be fixed. Maybe I could take a bank loan?
"That's sorted then," she said forcefully, just as Vanessa trundled into the room. All the excitement had drained out of her.
"What's wrong, darling?" Mrs Marigold gathered her daughter into her lap. Even this couldn't bring a smile to the little girl's face.
"It's Christian," she pouted. "He won't play with me."
I rolled my eyes.
Tell me something new.
"I even asked him to try Violet's cooking, but he slammed the door in my face!"
"Oh, you poor cookie," her mom rubbed the bridge of Vanessa's nose, as if the door literally hit her there. I hoped Christian wasn't thoughtless enough to cause physical harm if his sister came in the way. The looks I exchanged with Arev told me a different story.
"What's happened to him, mom? He used to be so much fun."
"Don't worry, sweetie. I'll take you to the water park next time," she consoled Vanessa.
"And buy me candy?"
"And buy you candy."
It was bittersweet to witness this moment of bonding between mother and daughter. All of a sudden, I felt like a cow for intruding. Arev looked equally uncomfortable, but to his credit, didn't get up and risk the wrath of Mrs Marigold. Instead he remained all throughout dinner as I served out the stew, and went in search of mom to give her plate. There was even leftovers as I put a plate in the fridge for Mr Marigold, and guiltily thought of the boy upstairs.
Although Christian was an asshole, even he didn't deserve to starve. He must be pretty famished right now, and only his pride was stopping him from venturing downstairs.
Sounds a bit like me, I thought ruefully.
Swallowing any snarky comments, I took the stairs three at a time and knocked on Christian's door. There was no answer. Not wanting to barge in and further present another awkward encounter, I left a plate outside his door. It was up to him when he wanted to eat it. He could shove it down his gullet cold, for all I cared.
The next time I bothered to check, the plate was gone.
...
This was humiliating. When Mrs Marigold had said I was going to be enrolled tomorrow, I guess she really did mean tomorrow. Or rather, today. Since wearing your own clothes meant instant suspension (and that's never good for a first day) Mrs Marigold dug out Christian's old school uniform (the one he outgrew) and told me to wear it.
I wanted to protest.
Hell I did.
But there's nothing you can say, when one's being so chivalrous.
"You look very smart!" she said, the moment I stepped into the hallway. This was a bit rich, considering I looked fucking dreadful. The blazer was a good fit, don't get me wrong and I could just about, get away with the tie. But the shirt was too long at the sleeves, and the trousers hung loosely around my hips. Sure this uniform would look smart on a boy. But on a girl, it looked very transvestite-ish.
To aid this masculine look, my hair was scraped back into a tight ponytail.
But at least they couldn't kick me out.
"I want to take a picture!" she pulled out a camera, as I mentally groaned. With photos, came poses. With photos, came lots of poses. First she was content by snapping me by the rose bush. Then she dragged Vanessa and my mom in, so we could all smile fakely and pretend we're having a ball. Last but not least, she spotted a familiar head marching down the driveway.
Please not him, I begged the gods. ANYONE but him.
"CHRISTIAN! OVER HERE!" her ear-splitting call caused her son to stop walking, and look over. The moment he spotted me in his old school uniform, a light switch seemed to go off.
"BE A SWEETHEART, AND TAKE A PHOTO!"
Mrs Marigold waved the camera for emphasis. There was an ugly smirk on his face, as Christian accepted the camera. He held the viewfinder to his eye, and it was kind of hard to see who he was looking at. But as he pressed the shutter, a creepy awareness told me I didn't have to look any further than myself. Mrs Marigold bustled over to see if the picture was any good, and told him quite loudly, to stand by my side.
I would never forget that moment. I still even have that picture.
What others would see as two darling friends embracing each other by the rose bush, broad grins on their faces, only I could see the truth.
Just moments before the picture was taken, Vanessa and my mother were ushered aside, in favor of Mrs Marigold's son.
Under the insistence of the photographer, we huddled in close and tilted our heads together. I nearly jumped when I felt a hand creep around my waist, and splay itself against my belly. The thin fabric of the shirt did nothing to blot out his heat. I felt intensely aware of his closeness as he lent down to whisper in my ear: "Smile for the camera."
And smile I did.
...
A/N: Couldn't get this story out of my head! In detriment to my own health, I HAD to write it! Please ignore any typos. I'll come back in the morning and sort it all out. Please review! Who knows, might make me update soooooon :)