by L. A. Sable
Charlie rolls her eyes. “That’s the spirit.”
My phone pings and I glance down at it to see a message from Lukas. The guys are on their way. I knew they’d all be here because our entire class is coming and it would look strange for them to miss it. But none of us actually think this party is a good idea, except maybe Asher because he has an insane need to mess with things.
The night hasn’t started, but I already know it won’t end well.
Chapter 9
I’m surprised when Trish lets the champagne flow freely during the party, because she’s never been a fan of drinking. But she wants this to be fun so she can live vicariously through people who still think they have their lives in front of them. And if she gets arrested for providing alcohol to minors, making bail won’t be a problem.
Or maybe she just wants to have fun, I realize when I pass the kitchen and see my mother chatting with some girls in the drama club. Her laughter rings off the ceiling and her smile doesn’t have the slight droop at the edges that I’ve been seeing ever since my accident.
I filter through the party on my own, as I take stock of who’s here and what they’re doing. Charlie has wandered off to join a group of people by the pool after I assured her at least a dozen times that I wanted to do a few circuits on my own.
An itch has started under my skin like tingles of uncomfortable heat. Even though the party is going off without any apparent hitch, I still have this sense of impending doom as if something awful is about to happen.
“Can I get you a drink?”
I turn to see Jayden behind me with a sardonic smile on his face.
“I’m good,” I reply, holding up my still half-full glass.
He leans closer to inspect the drink, peering over the rim. “That looks like apple juice.”
“Apple cider, actually I thought it might be a good idea to keep my head clear tonight.”
“You’re the only one,” he assures me as he takes a sip of champagne from the flute held loosely between his fingers. “If anyone should get a free pass on behaving badly, it’s the birthday girl.”
“What are you up to?” I ask, changing the subject. “Shouldn’t you be standing on a table and leading everyone in a game of truth or dare?”
He laughs at that, the move lighting up his eyes so they practically sparkle under the lights. “It’s way too early in the evening for that. You have to get people just the right level of inebriated if you want to hear the juiciest secrets.”
“I’ve had my fill of secrets, thanks. I’ll be happy with birthday cake and getting to bed early.”
“Good luck with that on a night like this.” But his gaze has grown hooded at the mention of secrets, because he knows precisely what secret I’m referring to. “Why are you wandering around by yourself?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
He shrugs. “Actually, I was looking for you.”
“For me? Why?”
“I have something I want to give you. Call it a birthday present.”
I glance down the hallway, but it’s nearly empty and the random couple making out in the corner isn’t paying any attention to us. “You have something here now?”
“Come outside with me and I’ll show you.”
I follow him downstairs and out to the backyard. The decorators didn’t skimp out here either. Lights hang from the trees so that it looks like a glowing canopy. Candles have been placed along the path so it’s illuminated in the darkness, looking like it should lead to something from a fairytale.
There isn’t anyone else out here. The quiet and the darkness surrounds us, but in a way that’s more romantic than it is foreboding. The ambience soaks into me like a warm cocoon.
“What did you want to give me?” I ask, striving to keep my voice light even as anticipation skitters along my spine. “Something expensive, I hope.”
It’s a lame joke, but he laughs anyway.
“Well, it’s not the Hope diamond. I’m saving that for Christmas.” He pulls a small black jewelry box out of his back pocket and holds it out to me. “Happy Birthday, Lily.”
I take the box with a shaking hand, unable to ignore how very much it looks like the perfect size for an engagement ring.
A million thoughts scurry through my head. Falling in love with Jayden is definitely well within the realm of possibility, but we’re way too young for marriage. My mind whirls as I try to figure out if there’s a way to let him down easy without ruining the relationship if he’s crazy enough to get me an engagement ring when we haven’t actually ever been on a real date.
Taking a deep breath, I open the box. It is a ring, but definitely not of the marital variety. “What the hell? Is this what I think it is?”
Jaden looks just like the cat that ate a gigantic canary. “That is the Z-cipher ring, you know from my show.”
As if I didn’t recognize the thing immediately. This decoder ring had been a major part of the show, with teen spy Zach Zachary using it to decode the secret messages he received from the government about his missions. I desperately wanted one of these rings when I was a kid, but Trish always told me they were too expensive. This one looks just like the one from the show, which was made of solid gold and emblazoned with the initials ZZ.
I lift the thing out of the case, surprised at how heavy it is. “But this a replica, right?”
Jayden looks confused for a moment. “That’s the real one. The producers let me keep it after the show ended as a sort of farewell gift. I thought you’d like to have it.”
My mouth falls open as I stare down at the ring. This thing would be worth tens of thousands of dollars to the right collector, significantly more than most engagement rings. “You know I can’t accept this.”
“Too late, no takebacks.” He pulls both hands away when I try to hand it to him. “And it’s a useful. They created a real cipher for the show so the ring can actually encrypt messages. Now, you can use as many naughty words as you want when you’re passing me notes in class and no one will ever know.”
“Is this where your obsession with passing notes came from?”
“Probably.” He can obviously see me waffling and presses the advantage. “It would make me happy to see you wearing the ring. Otherwise, it’ll just go back to gathering dust on a shelf somewhere.”
I let him take the ring from me and slide it onto the ring finger of my right hand. It’s a perfect fit which means he took the time to get it sized for me. Flat metal disks of different shades of gold, from practically white to an almost copper color, are layered on top with each one able to spin so that the symbols and letters along the sides can be moved to line up in different ways.
“I’m not sure how useful a secret decoder ring will be to me, but at least I’ll have it if I need it.” Despite the flippant response, my hand rises to gently touch his face because I am moved by such a caring gift. It isn’t even about the money because I know there are dozens of expensive gifts for me piled up in the entryway, but this one is special. Jayden knows what it means to me to have it. “Thank you. I will treasure it forever.”
He pulls me against a tree and kisses me. His mouth tastes like moonlight and spring flowers, even though I know that doesn’t make logic sense. His hands are warm as they slide up the exposed skin of my arms and I shiver in the slinky cocktail dress that Trish insisted I wear tonight.
Jayden kisses with the assurance of someone who’s done it in front of a camera a million times before. He tilts his head to the side as his fingers curve over my chin and I know that if caught from the right angle, this moment would be picture perfect.
“Lily, I’ve got everyone gathered for birthday singing — oh, excuse me. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Jaden and I part slowly, neither of us all that concerned with being found out. With a sigh, I turn to see Trish’s grinning face as she regards us with a wide smile on her face. She has always had great timing when it comes to embarrassing me. “Got it. We’ll be right there
.”
But even if she could take the hint, Trish makes a point of ignoring it. “You didn’t tell me you’re seeing someone.”
Several someones, in fact. I shift away from Jayden to put a small distance between us, but his hand stays on my arm so I can’t pull away completely. It’s as if he’s staking a claim, in front of my mother of all people. “It’s very new.”
“But we’re very happy,” Jayden replies with a crooked grin, laughter in his voice.
Trish surveys him for a long moment and then her eyes widen. “Aren’t you Jayden Heart, the actor?”
“I am.”
“You already knew that,” I remind her, although in hindsight I can’t remember if I ever actually told her that my childhood celebrity crush has been a classmate for the past year. “Let’s go blow out some candles.”
“Wait a minute.” She holds up her hand when I try to slip past her. “This is the kid that you were obsessed with, right? Didn’t you have a poster of him up on the wall you used to kiss at night?”
“Trish!”
But Jayden just laughs. “She still has it in her room at Black Lake, luckily we got it laminated so it doesn’t fall apart from all the slobber.”
“Okay.” I push him away. “Go make sure everyone is gathered for cake. We’ll meet you in the dining room.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here and talk about your obsession with me for a little longer?”
“Oh my God, just go.”
He swoops in and kisses me on the cheek before I bat him away. “We’ll have to catch up later, Mrs. Bellamy. I think we have a lot to talk about.”
I make sure he’s out of sight before turning back to Trish. “Is it your mission in life to embarrass me as often as possible?”
“I am your mother, after all.” Trish grins, one of the rare smiles that I don’t see much these days. “So how long has the teen heartthrob been your boyfriend?”
“He’s not, well not exactly.” It isn’t as if any of us had actually sat down and given a name to whatever it is that we’re doing. “I’m actually sort of seeing more than one guy right now.”
Trish’s eyebrows go up. “And they’re all okay with that.”
“It’s be okay with it or walk, I guess.”
She seems taken aback for a minute but recovers quickly as a knowing smile spreads over her face. “You’ve come a long way since we sat on the couch while you cried over a pint of Ben and Jerry’s because that silly boy dumped you in the ninth grade. I think I remember you telling me that you were certain no one would ever love you again.”
I can’t fight the blush that reddens my cheeks, especially with the knowledge that Jayden is probably just behind the trees and listening to all of this. “I remember, no need to ever bring it up again.”
Trish can’t keep the smile off her face. “Just make sure you’re protecting yourself.”
As if this moment could get any more embarrassing.
“It’s a little late for the safe sex talk. You don’t have to remind me to use condoms.” As long as I’m not drugged out of my mind, at least.
“That’s important, but not what I mean.” Trish falls into step beside me as we take the path back toward the house. “It’s your heart that you need to keep an eye on.”
My heart. As if I need to worry about anything else being broken.
I manage to get through the birthday singing without wanting to crawl into a hole. Most of these people aren’t my friends and are only here because of what it would mean socially if they weren’t. Not because they actually care that it’s my birthday.
It’s only now that I’ve reached the top of the pyramid that I realize how much of being Diamond is about the performance, always being on display. The eyes staring at me as I lean over the cake to blow out the candles are indistinguishable from what a zoo animal sees from its side of a glass enclosure. Close enough to touch, but the invisible barrier between us is impossible to actually penetrate.
My birthday cake, courtesy of Trish’s desire to be over-the-top, looks like something out of a competitive baking show. Five tiers tower over me on the table, each one decorated with a different version of a starry night, from the Van Gogh painting at the bottom to the top tier that’s made of a swirly black and blue galaxy punctuated with edible sugar diamonds..
The applause that washes over me as I blow out all the candles with one breath seems like it’s coming from a thousand miles away. Trish stands behind me and Charlie is next to her, both of them smiling like this is just a beautiful scene. But the sense of foreboding that has been hanging over me since the party started hasn’t gone away.
I pose for a few pictures that Trish insists on taking, but I let the maid standing next to me with a cake knife in her hand take over as quickly as possible. I used to envy the girls who seemed to always have a spotlight following them around. But now that I’m forced to constantly be the center of attention, I realize that I kind of hate it.
Trish strides up to me and shoves a cake plate into my hand. “We’re almost out of refreshments. That damn party planner didn’t buy nearly enough. I’m going to run to the store.”
I have no idea why, but it seems like a bad idea. I’d seen her at more than one point with a glass of champagne in her hand. “You don’t need to do that. We’ll be fine with what we have.”
“People are complaining.”
“What people?” I look around at the sea of barely familiar faces, wishing all of them would evaporate into thin air. “None of these people matter.”
“Don’t be silly. You don’t want your friends going home early because we ran out of ice. And Asher made some very specific requests. That boy is more spoiled than a month-old apple.” She swings her key ring around her finger, making it jingle. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Just stay here. Let the party end early. Who cares?”
“I care,” Trish insists, wrapping me in a bear hug. “This needs to be the best eighteenth birthday ever. Now, try to enjoy yourself a little and I’ll be back before you know it.”
She turns away and disappears before I can stop her. I move to go after her when Asher steps in front of me, as if he’s materialized from thin air.
“Nice party,” he murmurs, tipping a cup full of some mysterious and likely alcoholic liquid in my direction. “Your mom did better than I thought she would.”
“I need to go after her,” I say, trying to push past him. “She’s trying to go to the store, or something.”
“Let her.” Asher catches me with his hands around my arms, grip tight enough that I can’t break free without making a scene. “We’re running out of ice and the snack table is empty. You don’t want to end up embarrassing yourself.”
“I have to care what people think to be embarrassed by them.” I wrench my arms away, but take a step back, regarding him through bleary and tired eyes. At the moment, all I want to do is crawl into bed and stay there for the rest of the weekend. “And since when do you care what people think?”
“I don’t, but you’re the one who’s gotten all status obsessed. Or did someone else harangue Chloe until she had to transfer?”
“You’re the one who set me up against Chloe in the first place, remember?” I glare up at him, sparks flying between us in the way they always do. I could never keep in my head what we’re supposed to be: enemies, lovers, something in between. All I know is that I’ve never met a more frustrating person in my life. “I need to go after Trish.”
“She’s already gone. I heard the car start.” Asher holds his nearly full cup out to me. “Care for a drink?”
To my surprise, someone else speaks up from behind me before I can respond. “I hope whatever’s in that cup is non-alcoholic.”
Schooling my features, I turn around to see Liam Cardill standing behind me with a sardonic expression on his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Your mother invited me, actually.” He’s dressed in more festive attire t
han would make sense in the classroom. His well-fitting blazer is bright red with a green dress shirt underneath so dark that it’s nearly black. Trousers in a matching green complete the look. Save for the lack of facial hair, he looks like a sexy Santa Claus. “She invited all the faculty, although I think I’m the only one who took her up on her offer.”
“Probably because the rest of them know how bad it would look to show up here.” Asher’s voice is dry as he leans back against the nearby wall and crosses his arms over his chest. “Especially for someone who just got his job back after allegations of behaving inappropriately with female students.”
“I was able to convince Dean Felton of my innocence and I can only hope to earn your trust as well at some point, Mr. Bellamy.” Liam turns to me with a crooked smile. “Happy Birthday.”
But Asher isn’t done. “It’s her eighteenth, although I’m sure you know that.”
“It’s certainly a milestone,” Liam agrees, voice placid. “I’m just here to help you celebrate it. If you’ll excuse me.”
Liam wanders away and I turn back to Asher with a glare. “Why are you such an asshole?”
“Are you really coming at me over Liam Cardill.” Asher raises his hands in a defensive move, looking offended. “I’m just thinking about you. That guy is a snake. You shouldn’t trust him as far as you can throw a grand piano.”
“Wow, Asher. You almost sound jealous.”
“Of him?” Asher raises a wicked eyebrow and then gives me a long once-over. “I’m not the creep that has to skulk around until you’re eighteenth birthday. I can have you anytime I want.”
I bristle at that, wanting to wipe the smirk off his handsome face. Asher Bellamy has spent way too much of his life getting what he wants. “Well, I hope you don’t want me anytime soon because you’re going to be disappointed.”
Before he can respond, I stride away in the direction of the foyer where Liam was headed. When I get to the bottom of the wide staircase, I look up to see his red blazer disappearing down one side of the hallway. Knowing that it’s a terrible idea, I mount the stairs to follow him.