“I suddenly wish I had gotten the peach gown instead.” Bea was holding up the blue gown she had chosen yesterday. She had been to one to insist that she wanted the dress even though it was very expensive. I already knew the color wasn’t going to look good on her, it made her skin look pasty. She threw the gown over the chair that faced the dresser. “What can I do now?” She looked up at me. I was already dressing up for the dinner party that was about to start in just one hour. “Jess,” she started looking through her lashes at me. “Let’s switch clothes.” “Oh hell nah,” I laughed. “We are not kids anymore.” My gown was a very rosy shade of pink that added a slight rosiness to my skin, the bodice was sewn in a wrapped style and the skirt was short and I had chosen some heeled sandals with silver straps to go with it. “Besides my gown was made for a tall girl.” “Oh fuck you Jessica Underwood. Whatever.” She crossed the room and picked up the stilettos she bought yesterday, they added a
Shit just got real! I could literally taste the tension in the air, cut the tension between Tyler and his father with a knife, and maybe touch it with my fingers. It was that solid. Both Father and Son stared each other down. I could see the veins in Tyler’s neck rise as though he was holding himself back from doing more than just holding his father’s hand away from his face. Maximilian Edwin laughed but it was more like he was baring his teeth like a predator than an actual smile or laugh. He jerked his hand away from Tyler’s and walked back to the huge table that overlooked the equally large window displaying a view of the gardens at the back of the house. His hands were in the pocket of his trousers and his back was straight and tall, the image of a rich powerful man. Once again the resemblance between Tyler and his father struck me like it had the last time we were here for dinner. Both father and son were tall, handsome, and blessed with arrogant jaws, and dressed in dark blue
I faintly heard Bea call my name as I left the table. Apparently one of Mr. Maximilian’s friends wanted to take a picture with our family. I didn’t look back as I walked hurriedly to the door to follow Tyler out but by the time I wiggled my way to the door through the throng of guests smiling and dancing he was already descending the stairs. I tried to follow him but my heels tilted to the side, with a frustrated sigh I pulled them off and walked barefooted after him. Geez, with how fast Tyler is walking I doubt even a fox on fire would be as fast as him. But then again I would be the same if I was trying to escape my hypocritical father and his life of pretense. I got to the bottom of the stairs in time to see Tyler walk out the main door, following him I found out he was heading for the gazebo in the garden and I went with him. The garden, if I had taken the time to admire it, had flowers of many kinds arranged in decorative pots, the hedges that lined a stone-paved path that le
Monday came with all the excitement of rain on a beach day. It was hard enough reading for the exams but imagine trying to read for exams while hot, messy family gossip races through your head. Yes, that’s what I was faced with. I couldn’t still wrap my head around the fact that Heather’s mom and Tyler’s dad had an affair. How did that even happen? And since Tyler’s dad referred to her as ‘that bitch' some messy stuff must have happened. I thought about spilling the tea to Charlie but then it’s none of my business to share that kind of story with my bestie. So here I am alone in an empty class lost in my thoughts with an open book in front of me trying to revise for my Biology exams. Since my exam was at noon I took the 2 hours I had to go through my notes. Charlie had wanted us to read together but she wanted Heather to read with us too and to be honest, I don’t think I’m ready to face Heather yet. I mean we became enemies the very moment I stepped foot in this school so it’s not
Saturday was the best day ever since the start of the exams. Everyone was either resting in the hostels or finally taking time to unwind in the sports fields or wherever. Zoe had come in earlier to tell Charlie that she was going to the pool behind the gym where the cheerleaders sometimes practiced their routine. Charlie had declined the invitation not just because she was faithful to Heather but because she wanted to sleep away the stress of the week. I had planned to sleep the day away too when Helen elegantly walked into the room in her pink robe. Her hair was washed and tied on her head and she had pink slippers to match with the robe. “Oh, did I disturb you?” she asked. I was rubbing my sleepy eyes even as I shook my head to tell her no. “I’m so sorry. I thought you would be awake and reading.” “Nah I don’t think I can read anything anymore. At least not until Sunday.” “Me too.” She closed the door and leaned against my bed. “Anyways, Jess, since you’re
“Charlie and I lived on the same block as kids…” “Thank you so much for watching Heather for me, Mrs. Fudge.” Charlie and Heather lived beside each other since they were born and it was natural that they become best friends since they attended preschool together. At the age of seven, Heather’s father left when he found out that Heather’s mom, Rachel, had cheated on him with an ex. Heather’s father was unaware of the fact that Rachel was a chronic cheater but Heather was aware since she knew her mother dropped her off just to visit her boyfriends and since she was spending more time at the Fudge’s home than in her own home Charlie became like a sister to her and the Fudge’s became like second parents for her. The divorce was a messy one, Heather’s dad wanted to keep her, and her mom wanted to keep her but eventually, it was Heather’s mom who won custody of her. Since the divorce between her mom and dad, things at home got worse for Heather. Her mom was inviting her boyfriends over ev
“The first time I met Maximilian Edwin was when I turned 13 I think…” Before then Rachel was beginning to stay out late again and Heather spent more time at Charlie’s than ever before. “Going out again tonight?” Mrs. Fudge would ask. Rachel would laugh and reply. “Yes, I am working late hours again tonight.” But Heather knew she was lying. She knew that because she saw her mom pack an overnight bag containing fishnets, handcuffs, a black whip, and some packets. On one of the packets the words “Cummy edible panties” were written across the black package. And since she had heard her mom tell someone over the phone to meet her at someplace in an hour she knew she was not going to work but was seeing another man. But she didn’t say anything to Rachel, she simply allowed her to drop her off at the Fudge’s, at least she got to study and play with Charlie. The Fudges were very kind to her. Mrs. Fudge baked the best cakes and Heather loved cakes as much as she loved her mom, it was uncondi
“As you already know I was impressed with the view of Mr. Maximilian’s house. I finally understood how he could afford to take care of my mom and me…” The house was huge, at that time the gazebo was still under construction. Rachel’s car drove up the long drive to the front of the house where a maid welcomed both Heather and her mother. The interior was the house was quite impressive for a small-town girl like Heather. Immediately they arrived the maid ushered Rachel into the study where Maximilian was waiting for her. Heather was taken to a separate room where a TV was turned on and a show was running. She wasn’t as interested in the show as she was in the ornaments that adorned the room. There were ceramic figurines of ballerinas, shepherds, and sheep on a shelf, polished bronze, and gold sculptures, and some beautiful paintings were arranged on the wall. The maid who brought her to the room appeared with a tray of juice and chocolate chip cookies that smelled delicious. As soon as