Jay goes last, handing me a pale envelope. I pull out the piece of card.
I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until later for mine. For now, here’s a clue.
Curious, I peep into the envelope, digging out a tiny keyring with a globe on it. I give Jay a questioning look but he just laughs and then Joy announces that she needs to start getting ready and finish cooking, finally persuading Blake to follow suit. I think it’s the threat of a shirt and tie that finally gets him to go and get dressed.
Over the next two hours or so, people start trickling into the house, no one turns up at exactly twelve o’clock, and I’m amazed that Joy is cooking for this many people until I’m informed that she has roped in some cousins to help in the kitchen.
I can’t help but notice that everyone else seems to be in fancy dresses and heels, only the odd person in a pair of jeans. Nervously, and slightly angrily, I tug on Jay’s zipper hoodie.
‘You said it was casual!’ I whisper harshly into his ear. Jay chuckles.
‘I’m dressed casually, okay? Besides, you’re the only person here who looks decent, everyone else looks like rich snobs. So relax, okay?’
I laugh but shake my head to say I still haven’t forgiven him, although I do try to man up and get over my clothing mishap.
In total, I count three aunts, two uncles, several cousins and three close family friends. There are four second cousins too, two of which run around happily, exploring the huge house and tackling each other as little boys do.
‘Come on, lets go get you a drink,’ Jay laughs. I nudge him but continue following anyway.
Yet I’m stopped halfway to the kitchen as Blake catches my arm and reels me into him.
‘Here she is,’ he chimes happily, before pulling me in close and kissing me straight on the lips.
It’s only a small peck and is over as quickly as it started, but the action takes me by complete surprise and leaves me feeling dizzy. It takes me a moment to register that a blonde girl is standing opposite us, watching with amusement.
Looking at her, I want to strangle Jay even more for telling me to dress casual. Casual my arse.
The girl seems to be Blake’s age, certainly a lot taller than me with long legs that are on show thanks to the short, red, designer looking dress she wears, sparkling crystals sewn into the dress so that she shimmers at the slightest movement. The neckline of her dress is far too low for a family get-together and the tight fixture of her dress flaunts her curves in an annoyingly perfect fashion.
Her skin seems flawless and her crystal blue eyes shine in the low lighting, ringed with dark make-up to make them stand out further.
She’s beautiful and she knows it.
Everything about her screams Queen Bee.
‘Neve, this is Charity. Charity, this is Neve,’ Blake introduces, wrapping an arm around my waist. Although he’s pretending to be, I can tell Blake is anything but relaxed.
‘Pleasure to meet you,’ Charity smiles, the biggest fake smile I can ever remember being sent in my direction. What can I have possibly done for this stranger to hate me so much already?
Her expression almost looks as if she expects me to know who she is already.
Jay has somehow snuck around Charity and is watching with amusement from the corner, leaning casually against the wall. Blake pinches the small of my back.
‘Ow-oh of course!’ I beam, doing my best to stand on Blake’s foot. ‘Blake’s told me all about you.’
Like hell he has.
‘Oh really,’ Charity smirks. ‘Blake, I didn’t realise you were so vocal about who you sleep with,’ she laughs, the sound making my skin crawl.
The penny drops.
Before Blake can make a sound, I put a hand on his chest, the kiss finally making sense.
‘Well, you know Blake, absolutely clueless when it comes to girls. But he’s just so adorable,’ I coo, glaring up at Blake. Blake’s throat works nervously.
‘Funny, I don’t remember you being that clueless,’ Charity says innocently, although the meaning is perfectly clear. Give me strength.
Finally finding his voice, Blake clears his throat.
‘I think I heard Mum calling. I’ll see you later, Charity,’ he says hurriedly before steering me in a direction far, far away from the girl.
I manage to stay silent until we are in the hallway and out of view.
‘What the hell?’ I snap, folding my arms.
‘I.. er…’ Blake stutters guiltily, running a hand through his hair. His usual cocky confidence is definitely down the drain.
‘Nice going man, try to make the girl you used to bang jealous by making her think you’re banging someone else,’ Jay appears cheerily, slapping his brother on the back. There have been a number of times now when I’ve thought Jay seems older than Blake, now being one of those times.
‘Shut up,’ Blake groans. ‘Why the hell is she here? You said she wasn’t coming.’
‘I say a lot of things,’ Jay winks, just managing to dodge when Blake takes a swing at him.
‘So hang on,’ I interrupt. ‘You’re ex, Charity, thinks I’m you’re new girlfriend?’
‘Possibly,’ Blake says, trying to act nonchalant. ‘That wasn’t a Christmas present you were expecting huh?’
I just shake my head.
‘Please, it’s just for a few hours,’ he pleads. He looks so desperate it’s almost adorable. Almost.
I feel like a pawn in a corny rom-com.
‘Her name is Charity?’ I ask with disbelief, shaking my head. I take one last look at Blake. He has avoided the shirt and tie and is in a dark blue polo shirt that shows off his arm and chest muscles particularly well. I could do worse. ‘Fine, just for a few hours. But let it be known, you are a sad, pathetic, wimp of a man.’
‘Understood,’ Blake winks, his confidence starting to return.
I can’t believe this. Beside us, Jay stands smugly as if he has planned for this disaster to happen all along.
‘Neve,’ Blake smirks, wrapping an arm around me. ‘Will you be my Christmas day girlfriend?’
CHAPTER 15
The lunch itself is perfect.
I’m used to having fancy and expensive food when I’m at my Grandma’s but this trumps hers completely.
After elegantly trying to eat as much of the roast as I can, I just sort of mill around, attached at the hip to Blake.
Unfortunately, because we’re acting up for Charity, other people start asking questions.
‘Ah, I see you finally got yourself a girl, my boy,’ one of Blake’s uncles congratulates, a glass of wine, not his first, in his hand. Then he turns to Jay. ‘Figured he was going through a dry patch, I bet she’s a great-’
‘It’s great to see you again, Uncle Freddrick!’ Blake interrupts, abruptly pushing me and Jay away from Uncle Freddo, his cheeks tinting. That’s the last I see of Uncle Fred during the party.
I don’t see Al though, and figure he must be at home with their sick aunt.
Joy watches with quiet amusement, conspiring with Jay at times when Blake and I are trapped in the company of family, trying to blab our way through our “relationship.” I don’t think she is completely aware of why this is happening, but I’m sure she knows it’s a cover up of some sort.
‘It’s been about a month now.’
‘Just a few weeks, we’re still testing the waters.’
‘We bumped into each other at Al’s coffee shop.’
‘She spilt coffee on me and then we just started talking.’
‘A friend introduced us.’
‘I’d known she’d had a crush on me for ages, I couldn’t say no.’
‘He asked me out originally and I said no, but then the second time I thought something could happen after all.’
On and on the strange answers and made-up scenes go, each time different from the next because we can’t remember what we had said before. Yet despite the awkwardness, I can’t help but enjoy myself, and a number of the encounters ha
ve me crying with laughter.
Blake soon leaves me in search of more drinks and with no sign of Jay, I stand awkwardly to the side, leaning against the wall and watching the rest of the party, smiling to myself.
The party certainly isn’t what I had expected it to be, and I’m more relaxed than I thought I would be too.
My mind threatens to bring back the crushing feeling Alex’s loss has left me with, but I struggle to keep it at bay. Maybe, just for today, I will go without punishing myself.
Out of the corner of my eye I see a tall, blonde figure waltz towards me and decide that the universe plans on punishing me anyway.
As Charity approaches, I put my on fakest smile.
‘So, you and Blake, huh?’ she asks though a thin-lipped smile.
‘Yep,’ I say briefly, folding my arms and not bothering to look at her. She chuckles and joins me in leaning against the wall. Some part of me is glad I’m not actually Blake’s girlfriend; I can never compete with the stick that is standing next to me.
‘So how did you two meet? I didn’t realise Blake had started hanging out with minors.’ Although there is obvious venom there, she says it so sweetly and innocently that I can almost imagine her words are dipped in sugar.
‘Actually, I’m seventeen,’ I clarify tightly. ‘Nothing special, I met him through Jay,’ I explain briefly, wondering to myself why I hadn’t just told the rest of the party that in the first place.
She nods and after a moment of silence it clicks that she’s waiting for me to ask her the same thing. Oh, why can’t this conversation just be over already?
‘How about you?’ I ask eventually, not much enthusiasm in my voice. She overlooks this.
‘Oh, we go way back,’ she laughs. ‘Our parents are good friends, so naturally Blake and I meet up whenever he comes into town. We are each other’s summer hooks ups, but you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Unless of course, you don’t even last until the summer, but I’m sure the odds are in your favour.’ She laughs musically again which just sends more shivers down my spine. Luckily for me, I’m not Blake’s girlfriend, so rather than turning into a savage ball of jealousy I laugh it off with her, finding her desperate attempts amusing.
‘Yeah, I’m sure if we ever did break up, you’ll be a great, meaningless shag to distract him. Then again, I always thought Blake had too much class for hook-ups. Ah well, if the waters are ever shaky I’ll let you know,’ I reply just as innocently and sweetly. Charity’s fake grin drops into a deathly scowl but I pretend not too notice. ‘And Omigod, we should totally hang out sometime. I know! I’ll take you shopping and we can get you a dress that doesn’t make you look so… washed out.’ I clap my hands in an excited gesture, milking my inner bitch.
‘Sounds fantastic,’ Charity replies through gritted teeth. Then she stalks off, completely pushing past Jay who looks from me to her in astonishment. I just smile.
‘What did you do? She looks as if she’s about to claw someone’s eyes out.’ Jay raises an eyebrow.
I shrug. ‘I think I just reduced Blake’s chances of getting laid anytime soon.’
‘I don’t even want to know,’ he laughs. ‘Come on, I’ve had enough of the party scene. How about I give you your Christmas present before Miss Heels claws your eyes out?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ I smirk, following him out of the lounge. He leads me up the stairs and I recognise the normal route to the attic. Just before I can put my hand on the ladder though, he stops me.
‘Close your eyes,’ he instructs. I raise an eyebrow.
‘You aren’t going to rugby tackle or abduct me are you?’
‘Red, play nice.’
‘Fine.’ I do as I’m told and Jay guides me up the ladder and into the attic space. After following me up, Jay finally announces that I can open them again.
My mouth drops open and for a moment I think I forget how to breathe or talk so I just walk further into the space, spinning on my heels to take it all in.
All of the usual furniture has been pushed and stacked at the sides, allowing for a bigger space in the middle which has currently been adorned with several bright picnic blankets and bowls of various foods that are laid out in a circle.
Lengths of fairy lights cast warm glows across the room, and several pieces of string have been hung from the ceiling in a sort of circle mirroring the pattern of food on the ground. Attached to the strings is a range of photos depicting different landmarks from various countries.
‘I promised I’d show you the world, and since I’m not that rich, I figured this would be an okay substitute,’ he says almost sheepishly, moving into the centre of the food and sitting down. In a daze, I join him. ‘Oh, I got you this as well,’ he announces, pulling out a tiny box.
Even more bewildered, I slowly open the tiny box and let out a half-laugh, half-gasp. Sitting in a bed of velvet was the gold carousel necklace I had fallen in love with when we had visited Hunstanton.
Not a copy, not something similar. The exact same necklace.
‘How?’ I whisper, staring at it with disbelief. Jay chuckles, green eyes lighting up.
‘When I went in search of dinner I passed the vendor and managed to catch him as he was packing away. Neat, huh?’
‘It’s beautiful,’ I say softly, pulling the necklace out of the box, just taking it in, watching the way the metal reflects off the fairy lights. Then I take another look around the room.
‘Jay, this is amazing. You really shouldn’t have…’ I trail off, still clutching the necklace. Jay grins.
‘Don’t worry about it, besides, I owe you.’
I stare at him in astonishment.
‘You owe me?’ I laugh disbelievingly.
‘More than you realise,’ he says softly, so quietly I almost don’t hear it. ‘I can’t say I’ve ever had a friend like you. You really don’t realise how special you are, Neve. You should start.’
I shake my head, smiling.
‘Thank you,’ I say shakily. ‘Thank you for everything. For taking me on that road trip, for being my friend, for this,’ I laugh, indicating to around the room.
Thank you for pulling me off that bridge.
I feel my eyes start to well up and Jay makes a face.
‘Oh God, you aren’t gunna start crying are you?’ he ask wearily.
‘Shut up,’ I sniff, shoving him before we both burst into laughter. Then my attention turns to the food.
Jay has laid out different tasters of food from each of the different countries, although they are only small portions seeing as we have already eaten a full meal. With most it is pretty simple, fried rice from China, fancy bread from France, Swiss chocolate from Switzerland, but he has been a bit more inventive for some of the others. For Antarctica for example, there is a tub of ice-cubes and we end up seeing who can fit the most ice-cubes in their mouth. Jay wins.
After about an hour or so we are well and truly full and bits of food are scattered across the floor from where we have occasionally taken it upon ourselves to throw food at each other.
After about an hour or so, Blake pokes his head up through the hatch, looking at the two of us with amusement.
‘I don’t even want to know,’ Blake chuckles, shaking his head at the mess. ‘Anyway, I need to steal my girlfriend back, or at least grant me refuge. Charity keeps following me everywhere.’
‘I think Mum will probably kill us if we stay up here any longer anyway,’ Jay laughs, glancing at his watch as if just realising the time. ‘I guess the girlfriend decoy worked then.’
‘She’s jealous alright,’ I laugh, thinking back to our earlier conversation.
‘Nice,’ the boys chime, fist-bumping. I roll my eyes.
We rejoin the party and mill around for a bit longer before Joy puts on a DVD for the younger kids and the three of us end up baby sitting them, lounging around on the sofas as The Incredibles play.
For the sake of the charade, I end up cuddling up against Blake, the action feeling surprising
ly natural until halfway through the film when tiredness overcomes me and I end up resting my head on his lap with my eyes shut while he plays absently with my hair.
Soon afterwards, the party starts to disperse and darkness falls.
On the second floor of the Ellsworth’s house is a large window at the end of the hall that looks out at the front of the house. On my way back from the bathroom, I find myself staring out of it at the night sky.
The sky seems so far away, yet close enough to touch, which is, I realise, how I feel a lot about Alex. I can picture him so vividly, he’s just in my reach, and then I would remember he’s no long here and my hand would reach out to grab nothing.
No matter what I do, everything comes back to him.
‘Red?’ I hear Jay ask, although I don’t move at first.
Then I turn around to face the boy who has been so desperate to show me the world that he has transformed a whole room. No one has ever done anything like that for me before.
‘Jay, can we go somewhere?’ I ask quietly. I hate the way my mood has suddenly dropped, but I also know I have to be somewhere. Strangely, I don’t want to go on my own.
Or maybe I just want Jay to come with me.
I have been here so many times alone that having someone standing beside me is strange. Never before have I wanted someone with me, nor has anyone ever wanted to come, or at least that’s always how I’ve figured it to be.
Yet I’ve brought Jay here, and I’m not sure why.
It’s like I’m showing him another part of me, a part that I have never shown to anyone. Not even Charlie knows how often I come here.
Yet even after that damn text that has been sent around the school, I need to bring him here, to show him this place. I need to prove to myself that I can trust him, and I want to show him that I trust him too, despite what I’ve said.
I don’t quite know what’s spurred on these emotions, but when we were in the attic, something had clicked. I knew I could trust him from that moment; I just need to prove it to myself.
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