The photographer thanked us then Tru opened the door of a car that had been waiting by the curb.
“Leo, can you take us to my favorite spot?”
“I thought Page Six was something they made up on Gossip Girl,” I said.
“No. On the contrary, it is very real.”
“Your dad must be pretty important if they know who you are.”
“I guess,” was all he said to that. The car pulled into a spot and the driver opened our door and helped us out.
“The Shake Shack?” I asked as I read the sign.
“Also known as the best food on the planet. Let’s go. I’m starved.” Every part of me was relieved. Between Haley’s detox food or the fancy dinners we had attended I had not had a normal teenager meal in two months. “We have to get cheese on the fries. I hope that’s ok.”
“Are you kidding? That’s perfect! Fries are life.”
“No truer words have ever been spoken,” he said as he nodded his head in agreement.
We sat down at one of the outside tables with our boxes of fries and burgers and I stared off in the distance as I nibbled at my food.
“You ok? You got really quiet all of a sudden.” I nodded my head yes. He untied his bow tie and unbuttoned the first button of his shirt. “Ready? I can drop you at your building, but not before we exchange contact info.”
5.
I didn’t want this night to end and I groaned out loud when we pulled up to the curb. He got out first then gave me his hand to help me out.
“I am beyond happy that I ran into you tonight.”
“Likewise,” I replied. He lifted my hand and placed a kiss on top of it. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. No one had ever kissed my hand or any other part of me. “Goodnight Tru,” I said, nervously. I dashed up to the loft and leaned against the front door once I was safely tucked inside and could not hold back the giddy scream that came from my mouth. Luckily for me Haley wasn’t home yet. The thought reminded me that I needed to text her so she wouldn’t worry.
Sorry- left with a friend. Home now. All is well.
I know. His dad told me. Be home soon.
So, he made sure my aunt knew I was safe. I was impressed.
It was hard to fall asleep. My brain replayed the events of the day and night in my head. I hoped that we’d get to hang out for the next few weeks, but that had my mind going in a different direction. I was going home and no part of me wanted to. As if on cue my phone buzzed with a call. It was Hunter again. I didn’t have the energy to deal with him. I hit the ignore button and it immediately started to buzz again. I was annoyed now. He was probably drunk dialing while hanging out with his friends.
“Hunter, it’s late here and I’m not in the mood,” I snapped into the phone.
“I’d hate to be that guy,” I heard Tru say. I hadn’t looked at the screen when I answered.
“Oh my gosh! I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
“No worries. You really are mad at him,” he said with a laugh. “This Hunter guy seems to be a pain in your ass if you don’t mind my saying so.”
I sighed a heavy sigh. “Only if I let him be. I’m assuming that’s not why you called?”
“Right. I don’t know all of the rules about calling girls and the proper time to let pass before you do so. I feel like an hour after I just saw you may be too soon. Thoughts?”
“Only if the girl finds you terribly annoying or doesn’t enjoy your company at all.”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“I found your company delightful. This isn’t too soon. Maybe not soon enough,” I joked and I could hear him laugh on the other end.
“I’m relieved. Now I can rest easy, but first I need to know what you think of a combination of fries and breakfast foods?”
“I think I would be in heaven.”
“Great, supposing you don’t have breakfast plans? It’s only eight hours away.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Aunt Haley knocked on my door lightly then entered with a tray of food and a newspaper. She placed it on the bed and opened the curtains to let the bright sun in.
“Aren’t you curious about today’s current events and news? Particularly page six?” She asked with a smirk.
“What are you talking about? Oh, right.” I remembered the photographer from the night before. “How bad is it?”
“I don’t know,” she said with a coy shrug. “You tell me.”
I opened the paper and was shocked at what I saw. I expected a tiny corner with a picture you’d need a magnifying glass for. I assumed I’d be cut out, or chopped in half. Instead I found an almost full page photo of Tru moving a lock of hair out of my face, but it translated as something completely different in the photo. It looked like a rare and intimate moment between two people who couldn’t take their eyes off of one another. I gasped when I read the headline. “A Rare Tru Penn Sighting with Stunning Mystery Date. Who’s the Lucky Girl?”
I could feel my face turn red as I sunk back into bed and covered my face with my blanket.
“They said stunning. See? I told you you’re drop dead gorgeous!” She yanked the covers off of me. “You need to eat.”
“Actually,” I said, punctuating each syllable, “I have breakfast plans with Tru, but thank you for bringing this up to me. Even if it was just a guise to bring in the paper.”
“Well, well, well...breakfast with Tru. Andre’ is here to get me ready for some press. Want him to help you with hair or make up?”
“No, I think I can handle this one, but thank you.” I could easily get spoiled by her lifestyle.
I found a little a-line black sundress in the closet and an army green cardigan to go over it. I pulled on my flower print Dr. Martens and went to the bathroom to tackle my hair and makeup. I decided on a messy bun and some raspberry colored lip gloss, but before I was able to get out of the door Aunt Haley handed me some oversized sunglasses. I rolled my eyes with a smile and slipped them on. Just as I stepped out, a vintage, yellow Vespa pulled up. Tru’s hair was hidden by a yellow helmet and he was holding one out for me.
“You did this just so we could match again, didn’t you?” His faded blue jeans and white tee shirt were the opposite of my color scheme, but they looked perfect on him. Once my helmet was on I was glad I didn’t let Andre’ fuss with my hair.
I had an inner struggle with what to hold onto once I was on the bike, but Tru answered my question before I could ask it.
“Just put your arms around me and hold on,” he instructed. I did as I was told, holding on with a loose grip. “A little tighter, Fenley.” I tightened my hold and he nodded in approval.
The Vespa was the fastest transportation I had been on in the city. We were able to weave in and out of traffic and ended up at our destination in no time. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I stared at the huge pile of waffle fries, complimented by tiny bites of bacon and eggs. It really was the perfect combination. I tired not to woof it down in three bites. I took small bites, pacing myself, but Tru had no problem inhaling his food.
“Stop eating like a girl and tear in,” he teased me. I wondered for a second if he was a mind reader. I let my guard down and started eating like a normal hungry person.
“Will you help me? I don’t think I can finish all of this.” He didn’t hesitate. He shoveled a few bites in his mouth before turning his fork in my direction with a heaping bite attached.
“Open up,” he said as he held the fork in my face. I did as I was told, unable to stop laughing, and just as the bite entered my mouth I noticed that a photographer was snapping pictures of the whole scene.
“Uh-oh. We have company,” I said with my mouth full.
“Son of a bitch,” he said in an annoyed tone. He took out his wallet and tossed some bills on the table. “Sorry. Try to keep your head down.” He took me by the hand and we dashed over to his scooter. He tried to block their shots with his free arm and I stared at the ground like I was instructed to b
ut it didn’t stop them.
This time I didn’t think about how tight I should hold on to Tru. I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight as he sped away.
6.
We were stopped at a red light and far from the photographers, so I decided this would be a good time to ease up my grip on Tru, even though I felt super cozy against his t-shirt, but when I started to pull away he put his hand over mine to stop me. He turned his head in my direction and gave me a warm smile as he squeezed my hand. I was thankful he couldn’t see me blushing.
We spent what felt like a comfortable eternity riding along the streets of the city. He pointed out so many things I hadn’t seen before. We finally made a stop at a park that looked directly at the Brooklyn Bridge. Tru ordered two Italian Ices from a cart nearby and we found a bench that had a perfect view.
“I don’t want to leave,” I groaned. “This city is endless and amazing. Phoenix will seem so boring when I go back.”
“That’s funny. I think the city is going to be pretty pedestrian when you leave.” I let out an embarrassed laugh and shook my head no. “Maybe it’s not about the place. Maybe it’s about the company you keep,” he added. “I have lived here my whole life and I am just now starting to have fun.”
“Well, I’m sure Phoenix would be so much better with you there, but you probably have a lot of friends who would miss you.”
“Um, no. Only a few friends. Not many. That’s the price of being home schooled and traveling with my dad all the time.”
“That sounds great, but it also sounds lonely,” I said, looking away from the view and over at Tru who seemed far away.
“It can be,” he agreed. “But I’m not lonely now.” He met my eyes when he said it and the look in them made my breath catch in my throat. “I should get you home,” he said, almost in a whisper. I only nodded yes and we were on our way.
I hopped off of Tru’s Vespa and handed him the helmet.
“Thank you. I had so much fun.”
“Me too.”
“I’ll see you later,” I said as I turned to walk up the steps, but Tru caught my hand and pulled me back in his direction.
“Cofftea tomorrow?”
“Cofftea?”
“Coffee and Tea.”
This made me laugh. “Yes. Cofftea.”
His giant grin caught me off guard. “Sweet. I’ll text you later.”
Haley was gone when I got inside so I used my time to make my weekly call to my parents. My mom answered on the first ring.
“Hi sweetie. I’m sitting here with Hunter and his mom. They came over for brunch. Poor Hunter is bored over here without you.”
I rolled my eyes, thankful she couldn’t see.
“I think he’ll survive,” I said, trying not to sound too bitter.
“Hi Fen.” She must have handed him the phone.
“Hey. Waffles or pancakes today?”
“Waffles,” he said with a slight laugh. My mom always hosted brunch and let Hunter and I decide if it would be a waffle or pancake day. I laughed a little too. We’d always flip a coin, a little dime we had painted black and pink one day when we were bored, and I would always win for some reason which meant pancakes. “It’s good to hear you laugh.” This comment silenced me. I didn’t want to forgive him, but it was so hard when he seemed so sincere.
“Well, I better get going. It was nice talking to you Hunter.”
“You too Fen. Can’t wait til you get back,” was the last thing I heard before the line went dead.
I sat in an over stuffed chair that faced a window with a gorgeous view of the city, but I stared at my phone instead. Hunter, my only friend, had become like everyone else who made me feel insecure. His betrayal had felt like a punch in the throat and now he seemed sincerely sorry, but did I want his friendship out of pity? Then there was the slight complication of the crush I had been nursing. Would I have been so hurt if I didn’t have a crush on him? I sank into the chair and groaned. All Hunter did was remind me that I’d have to go home in a few weeks and back to my real “life” if you could call it one.
7.
“Ok, I don’t want you to freak out, but I have to show you something,” Tru said hesitantly. We were on our seventh cofftea date when he pulled out a popular pop-culture magazine. He flipped to a page he had ear marked and opened it. I was shocked at what I saw. I had seen a picture like this a thousand times. Some famous person shielding their face from cameras in mid stride as they tried to get away from the press, but this was different. This was my face, and Tru’s. We were hand in hand doing exactly what I described. It was our breakfast date day when we dashed away on his scooter. I was too stunned to speak.
“Oh my gosh,” I whispered. “This isn’t just page six. People back home will see this.”
“Tru Penn Caught with Stunner Again,” he read aloud. I hadn’t even noticed the headline. He proceeded to read the paragraph printed next to the picture. “Has the son of our favorite media mogul finally found the one? Tru and the redheaded stunner have been seen cozying it up all around the city.”
I responded the only way I knew how. I hid my face in my hands and sunk into my chair. Tru glanced at the picture then back at me and when he saw my reaction he pulled my hands away from my face.
“Hey, none of that.” He lowered his gaze to meet mine. “The press is super curious about you. They’re probably figuring out who you’re related to as we speak.” A wave of panic washed over me. Would they dig deep enough to find out about my recent past as “Double F”? I suddenly felt sick.
“I need to go home.” I got up to grab a taxi but Tru pulled me back and stood in front of me.
“What’s wrong Fen? Don’t run off. Talk to me. Do you have a rap sheet back home I should know about?” He was trying to make me smile but I was too nervous. “Seriously, what’s wrong?” The space between his eyebrows creased in genuine concern.
“I’m just not used to this much attention. It makes me feel exposed.” He let go of my hands and sighed.
“I’m sorry. I forget that you’re not from here. I guess I’m used to always having an eye on my every move. I’m just not usually interesting enough for them to write about.”
“Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable that they assume we’re dating?” I fidgeted with my hands as I asked it.
“No. They’ll believe what they want to believe. Besides, how can it be bad for them to assume I have the attention of the most beautiful girl in the city?” My cheeks were on fire and I couldn’t look at him, but he tilted my chin up to meet his eyes. “Do you not like the assumption?”
“No. I mean, I don’t mind,” I stumbled over my words. “But look at me and look at you.” I could tell he was confused by the look on his face.
“I’m starting to question if you should return back home to whatever gave you this inferiority complex,” he said. I could tell by his face that he wasn’t joking.
I smiled and tried to lighten the mood. “I have survived this long,” I said with an exaggerated sigh. His face softened a fraction. “I really should get back to the loft.” Tru hailed a taxi for me and gave me a tight hug before tucking me into the back seat. He smelled like baby powder and the scent stayed with me the entire ride home.
8.
The next day I woke up to an apology. Tru was canceling our plans because he had to help his dad with something. My mind automatically jumped to the worst conclusion. He didn’t want to be seen with me.
I pulled the blankets back over my head and tried to think rationally. I figured a good run would shake off my paranoia so I got myself dressed and out the door. I ran through the park and to our cofftea spot. Part of me expected to see him there, but I was glad I didn’t catch him in the act of flaking out and avoiding me. I ordered an iced tea to go and decided to take it easy on my way home. I roamed through second hand stores and grabbed some gluten free cookies from the bakery for Haley. I was an hour later than usual when I got back.
Normally, Haley would
be off doing interviews or recording studio work, but I found her waiting for me instead. And she had company. Tru stood up the moment he saw me and there was an older Tru who stood with him. He was an exact copy with silver hair and a much more sophisticated suit.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in surprise.
“Fenley, this is my dad, Ryan Penn.”
Ryan Penn was intimidating. He took my hand and gave me the firmest handshake I had ever felt. It was hard not to wince.
“So you’re the one the press is so curious about,” he said.
“I’m not sure, Sir,” I answered even though he hadn’t asked a question.
“Well, I sure can see why!” he said with a warm smile that matched Tru’s, and suddenly he didn’t seem so intimidating.
“Why don’t I get us some tea to go with those cookies you brought,” Haley offered.
I handed her the box and stood at a loss for words.
“My dad has some business with your aunt so I decided to tag along,” Tru offered as an explanation.
“Oh, are you and my aunt working on a project together, Mr. Penn?” I asked.
“Call me Ryan. Please. And possibly. We are negotiating a soundtrack right now.”
“How exciting and what a small world.”
“This city is a lot smaller than it looks,” he responded.
After a few hours of polite chit chat and giving his dad my life story (sans Fugly history) they made their exit. Tru’s dad went ahead of him to wait for the car and Haley walked him out.
“Please say I get to spend the whole day with you tomorrow,” he pleadingly joked.
“That’s a lot of hours. Are you sure you’re up for the challenge?” I teased.
Fugly: Book One of the Fenley East Series Page 2