by Nicola Haken
“Maddie!” Treacle bellowed and then hurled herself towards me, slamming into my body as she wrapped her arms around me.
What the…
“Hi,” I mumbled nervously.
“It’s been a while, Trudy.” I had never been so grateful for my mum’s interruption. Treacle released her constrictive hold of me, but then took hold of my hand, making me feel uncomfortable.
“It sure has, Annie,” she replied in a flawless American accent she must have picked up over the years – the type which reminded me of the gracious Hollywood actresses in the old black and white movies. “I’m so glad you’re both here. Come, meet my family.”
She led us across the red brick driveway/courtyard/piece of land big enough to warrant its own postcode, without even touching my Mum. Why the hell am I getting all the special treatment? Stepping inside the lightwood and glass double doors we entered a vast round foyer bigger than the whole of our new house and grounds put together. Gold-veined marble tiles covered the floor and crystal lanterns adorned the pristine white walls which surrounded an impressive lightwood spiral staircase.
So this is what she left us for? Suddenly, I couldn’t say I blamed her.
“Mitch? Kara?” Treacle called, her graceful voice echoing along the never-ending hallway. Moments later a tall man with salt and pepper hair emerged from one of the many lightwood and glass doors surrounding us. He was wearing black slacks, a crisp baby-blue shirt, black tie and a firm no-nonsense smile.
“Mitch this is Maddie and Annie. Maddie and Annie, this is my husband Mitch,” she addressed all three of us. Mitch offered his hand to shake and I was grateful for the excuse to pull my clammy hand free from Treacle’s too-firm grasp. I nodded and shook his hand then my mum ran her fingers through her hair before doing the same.
Next a young girl with the same chestnut hair as me pulled into a high ponytail, a cute smile and wearing a simple jeans and pink vest ensemble appeared, although I didn’t see which door she came from.
“This must be little Kara,” my mum said with a genuine smile.
“I’m twelve,” Kara snapped, clearly offended by my mum’s term of endearment.
“Of course. You are even more beautiful than in the photos your mum sent me.” Kara shrugged, unimpressed. I guessed her stroppy teenage years had hit a little early.
We all stood motionless in a half circle. Nobody spoke. It was the rich and the poor. Them and us. The dense atmosphere of sheer awkwardness was almost choking.
“Dinner is almost ready. I’ve had Clarabella make spaghetti Bolognese, Maddie. You’re favourite.”
Is it? As far as I knew a McDonalds Big Mac meal was my favourite. And who the hell’s Clarabella? Nevertheless I forced a grateful smile and took hold of my mum’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly when I noticed it trembling slightly. She forced a smile and then hitched her dress down so it almost reached her knees.
The dining room was situated at the back of the house. Seamless panes of glass spanned the full length and width of the far wall overlooking a colossal figure of eight shaped pool surrounded by white loungers and palm trees. Beyond the pool was a large decked terrace housing a brick barbecue and next to it stood a hexagonal wooden structure besieged by steel bar stools and round glass tables.
Seating us at the rectangular glass dining table decorated with contemporary square white plates, baskets of freshly baked French bread and a plethora of white lilies, Treacle turned to her husband.
“Where’s Blaine, darling?”
Blaine! That’s it! I knew it began with a B.
“He’s just finishing up in the gym. Shouldn’t be long.”
In that moment, as if he heard his name, Blaine appeared at the doorway we’d just walked through.
Oh, sweet Jesus…
Blaine is the kind of guy you read about in teen romance novels. The one you see on high school set movies. Utterly, jaw droppingly gorgeous. Nothing like the gangly, acne smothered boys back home.
He propped himself against the doorframe. He stood tall – at least six feet, two. He had an undoubted confidence exuding from him – almost to the point of arrogance. My eyes seemed unwilling to leave his body as they wandered over his dark brown hair which was ruffled and dripping with sweat. Then they shifted focus to his eyes which were a shade of blue so bright and electrifying they were visible across the room. He was sporting some rather impressive designer stubble which I’d never seen on a boy my age before and his tanned arms were covered in quite a heavy coating of pale brown hair.
Was he really my age? Maybe I’d misheard.
I continued to stare pathetically at him. He was wearing grey joggers and a white t-shirt with a translucent v-shaped sweat patch dipping down towards his midriff and it hugged tightly against his bulging muscles. The muscles in his arm which was adorned with a colourful tattoo – a black and grey skull on a bed of vivid red roses - flexed deliciously as he ran a limp towel around the back of his neck.
Christ Almighty, I think I stopped breathing.
“There you are. Blaine, this is Maddie!” Treacle enthused with more eagerness than a Labrador puppy, making me blush like an idiot. Blaine shrugged his broad shoulders and shot me a death glare which dove into my heart like a defibrillator. I immediately whipped my eyes away, embarrassed and certain I’d offended him with my pathetic ogling.
At that moment in time, I wanted to die.
“And this is my old friend Annie.” Again Blaine shrugged and made some kind of grunting noise.
“I’m going to get changed,” he muttered, his voice husky and compelling. Then he turned and left without waiting for a response.
Dinner was good. A little pretentious perhaps, with too many blades of green crap sprinkled on it but it tasted nice – although it was no Big Mac and fries. Turned out Clarabella was the Elwood’s housemaid who came round for four hours a day to tend the house and cook meals. Here was me thinking slavery was illegal. I mean seriously, how could you let someone else wash your dirty knickers?
Blaine never joined us again and I wondered if that was the reason behind his father’s silence and stern expression. Blaine was the only person I would know in a school full of rich kids and he was an arrogant arsehole who quite obviously hated me.
Fantastic.
“It was so good to see you, Annie. I’m so happy you’re both sticking around.” Treacle wrapped herself around my mum who stiffened at her touch. This whole reunion seemed so overwhelming for her and I was eager to get her home before she cracked and made a holy show of herself.
“And, Maddie… I can’t believe how grown up you are,” she said whilst pulling me in for yet another over familiar embrace, and I swear I heard her sniff my hair. Weirdo. “Blaine will pick you up for school in the morning.”
No way.
“No really, I can make my own way.”
“Nonsense. We insist. It will be good to know somebody on your first day.”
Even someone who hates the sight of me?
“Thanks,” I said reluctantly.
“Well, thanks for dinner, Trudy. It was fu- really amazing.” My mum’s cheeks flushed redder than her lipstick when she almost lowered the tone. I was sure I caught the back end of Mitch’s eyes rolling as he looked at her like she was a lump of dog shit. Who the fuck did the jumped-up bastard think he was? I glowered at him, knowing he wasn’t looking my way. So he’d thrown some cash and a few manicures his wife’s way and that made her better than my mum?
Climbing into a taxi after my mum politely declined Mitch’s offer to drive us – or rather Treacle’s offer for Mitch to drive us - I flopped my head back against the seat and exhaled for what seemed like the first time in hours.
I want to go home.
Chapter Two
Blaine
‘What the actual fuck?’ That’s what I thought when I saw Trudy’s friend sitting at our dining table. She’d got to be nearing forty years old and the woman had purple hair for Christ’s sake! Not to mention the b
lack dress which rode up so high I caught a glimpse of her bright red panties. I swear it took all my inner strength not to retch.
As for the daughter… she just stared at me like I had two fucking heads. There’s no denying she’s a little cutie though. A few loose brown curls framed her tiny face, resting just above her plump little lips – the rest was pulled up into a bun. Her skin was as pale as cream except on her cheeks which pinked when she saw me. She had big brown eyes which looked odd intriguing – familiar even. And the fact she was braless, teasing the world with a peek of her perky little tits, didn’t go unnoticed either.
I didn’t hear her speak. She seemed nervous, innocent. But they’re the one’s you can have the most fun with. I betted she was a right dirty bitch underneath that shy smile.
Now I’d been landed with being her personal chaperone. Like I didn’t have better things to do with my time. She’d never fit in with the girls at school. At least not if she turned up in that yellow dress which looked like Walmart spewed all over it. Don’t get me wrong that shit means nothing to me – in fact the way it showed off those long milky legs of hers, I thought it looked pretty hot – but those rich bitches at school know a designer when they see one and they expect nothing less.
After downing two espressos I threw on a black button-down shirt over my blue jeans, grabbed the keys for my yellow Lambo and set off to pick up the charity case. I’d overheard my dad and Trudy discussing her tuition fees. What the hell was all that about? I’d never even heard of this friend of Trudy’s three weeks ago and now my dad was covering the cost of her daughter’s schooling! I had to tell myself it was none of my business before I got seriously pissed and punched something.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I whispered into my dash as I pulled up outside the rusty trailer. My wheels shouldn’t have to suffer such humiliation. I mean, what if it’d been seen by a fellow Lambo? How would it ever look it in the headlamps again?
I beeped my horn. She could fuck off if she thought I was getting out and leaving my baby unattended round here. I saw the old-lady flowery curtains twitch and then almost immediately she appeared at the front door. She turned and called something into the house and then flashed a hint of a smile when she neared my car. I fought against the urge to roll my eyes, and smiled back. She was going to get enough shit today wearing that dusky pink turtleneck in this heat without me acting like a dick.
“Hi,” she practically whispered.
“Hey.”
Desperate to get my car out of that shit hole I rammed my foot hard onto the gas and sped off before she’d even fixed her seatbelt. When I hit the main road she was staring at me. I could feel her eyes boring into me like a laser.
“See something you like?” I asked, intentionally trying to make her feel uncomfortable because I was an ass like that.
“Sorry. I was just surprised when my mum said I would be in your year. You look a lot older than seventeen,” she replied, seeming completely unfazed by the fact I’d caught her ogling me.
“It’s the fluff,” I replied, stroking the thick stubble on my chin. It wasn’t the first time I’d been told how much it aged me. I’d been shaving since I was twelve. Got me a lot of stick from the boys at school at the time but I figured they were just jealous. The girls love it – always have. Why would they want some puny spotty kid when they could have a guy with full-on beard growing potential and who’d been working out since he was eight years old?
I stole a glance Maddie’s way and she was staring longingly out of the window, fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. She looked lost and it set off an unfamiliar flutter in my heart.
“You nervous?” It would’ve been rude not to ask.
“A little,” she replied coyly and I caught sight of her cheeks turn a delectable shade of baby-pink. “I suppose I’ve just got no idea what to expect,” she added in the sweetest most fucked-up accent I’d ever heard.
“What, did you not go to school back home?” I asked sarcastically, expecting – and sadistically kind of hoping – that she’d blush.
“You always such an arsehole?” she snapped. I think I seriously felt the stirrings of an erection coming on. She was feisty. I liked it.
“Pretty much,” I answered. “So? Did you or didn’t you?” I was genuinely interested at that point.
“Yeah but it’s not like here. For a start I left when I was fifteen. I started college but we moved around a lot so ended up quitting. I’ve only agreed to go back into education for my mum’s sake. This is our fresh start. I think she plans on me taking over the world or something.”
Fresh start? I started to wonder what she’d moved away from. Bizarrely the thought of her having a hard time made my insides feel all funny. Weird.
“Plus, this country… it’s all so different. I’ve read through the prospectus Treacle sent me…”
“Who?” I interrupted. That time she did blush and her face contorted into an expression which screamed ‘oh shit’.
“Oh, um… Trudy. I meant Trudy.” She bit her bottom lip as if she was striving to find the next part of that sentence. “It’s just a nickname my mum used to call her. Don’t tell her though… she hates it.”
“Don’t tell her what?”
“Thanks,” she said, sighing as if she had just gotten away with something. She… fascinated me. Strange.
“So… the prospectus?”
“Right, well, I don’t understand half of it. I mean, what the hell is calculus?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her. She really had no idea what she was doing.
“Don’t worry, I got your back. I’ll talk you through anything you don’t understand.”
Shit, did I really just say that out loud? Why did I give a crap? “I’ll walk you to the main office to get your schedule… see what classes we’ve got together.” There I went again. Ridiculous words were just tumbling from my mouth without my consent.
“Thanks,” she said and her cheeks burned into a vivid shade of red. I pictured myself kissing them and feeling the warmth against my lips. What the fuck? I shook my head and flipped my eyes back to the road.
“Blaine?” she asked nervously. I swear the sound of my name on her lips made my dick twitch.
“Yeah?”
“I actually thought you kind of hated me,” she admitted and what I thought was guilt coursed through my veins. Of course she did. I behaved like an ass yesterday. Then again, I behave like an ass every day.
“I don’t know you well enough to hate you,” I said, cutting the engine. She giggled but it was forced, nervous – a smile didn’t reach her peachy lips. “Lips”! I screamed inside my head. ‘Lips’ would suffice… there was no need for the peachy.
I stepped out of the car and she followed, loitering nervously by the passenger door. With ten minutes to kill before the first bell I pulled out my smokes. I tipped the packet towards her, she looked like she needed one, but it didn’t surprise me one bit when she shook her head. I felt her eyes on me as I flipped my lighter then I inhaled the calming nicotine slowly and angled my head to the side to stop it blowing in her pretty little face. Face! Just face!
Sensing her tension, I smoked less than half of my cigarette before flicking it to the ground.
“Come on, lish. Let’s get you inside.”
Maddie
Lish? What the hell did that mean? He didn’t sound mad so I took it as a term of endearment. The Blaine standing next to me today was like a completely different boy from the ignorant arse at his house yesterday. Maybe he didn’t hate me after all. And like he said, he didn’t know me so why should he? I decided to put yesterday down to a bad day on his part. We all had them - I knew that better than anyone.
I followed him towards the intimidating building. The school was ginormous - light-brown bricks and beautifully manicured lawns surrounded every side of me. I eyed up my fellow students and I felt a ferocious fire ignite in my cheeks when I saw huddles of perfect girls – all immaculately pruned and wearing desi
gner dresses – and equally stunning crowds of boys. Turned out Blaine’s unnatural gorgeousness wasn’t a one off – I’d just walked onto the set of High School Musical.
Keeping my head down and my fingers twisted tightly around the strap of my purple rucksack, I followed the trail of Blaine’s white trainers.
“Blaine!” a girl squealed, sending a shooting pain through my eardrum. I looked up and noticed a girl in a short white dress swishing her blonde ponytail from side to side and letting her tongue drape from her mouth. Okay, so I couldn’t actually see her tongue but she was clearly drooling over Blaine.
“Laila,” he acknowledged. He seemed irritated with her and I had no idea why that seemed to please me.
“You’re coming to Wayne’s party a week Saturday, right?”
“Probably,” he answered flatly.
“Cool. I’ll see you there!” And then she skipped away – literally skipped.
I had never felt more out of place in my life. The whole environment and all the people were everything you see in the movies and then some. What the hell had I gotten myself into?
Following Blaine into the building and into the doors of the office I decided I would give today my best shot, but unless some unlikely miracle happened that gave me even a marginal ability to tolerate this place then I was done. My mum would just have to suck it up and watch me work my way to the top in McDonalds.
I opened my mouth to introduce myself to the round, grey-haired lady sitting behind the tall, oppressive reception desk but Blaine took over.
“This is Maddie, um… what’s your last name?”
“Davis,” I stated and felt like an utter imbecile when the round lady flashed me a pitiful look as she clearly pondered why I was incapable of speaking for myself. She ran the tip of her finger down a printout on her desk.