“Shut up, Dina” Jason snaps back.
“Yeah, Jason that doesn’t make any sense. We’re rich too.” Emile says.
“Whatever, we’re nothing like these people, and now that you guys are here we’re going to be running this place.”
“Jason, it’s high school, not Vietnam” Christian says.
My brother doesn’t care about superficial drama. Besides, it’s his last year of high school. He plans to go to New York University next year. He’s lucky. I’m a junior along with Emile. Dina, Jason, and my sister are sophomores.
“He does have a point, Christian. We already have an enemy here, the Assistant State’s Attorney’s daughter. The same attorney who not only lives here, but also hates our father.” My sister points out.
“Hey man, she’s hot” Emile says.
“Ugh.” Ella rolls her eyes. “Whatever.”
“She’s right.” I never agree with her, but Ella is right. We do have an enemy here. I refer to her as the enemy because I’m sure she was raised to hate us. “But since he wants to make our family lives a living hell, we might as well do the same for his daughter here.”
Everyone smiles and agrees with me, except Christian of course. I don’t care. I’m a Pierce and Pierces hate Stonems. Besides, I’m bored and I tend to do stupid things when I’m bored.
“Would you guys listen to your selves?” Here comes one of Christian’s infamous lectures. “We don’t know this girl and she doesn’t know us. It’s not her fault who her dad is. Just like it’s not our fault who our father is. As long as she keeps her distance, I’m keeping mine. I won’t give them a reason to be right about us.”
“Of course Christian, you always do the right thing.” I’m annoyed by my brother’s statement even though deep down I know he’s right. We are being hypocritical and judgmental, just like the people who judge us. Unfortunately, what my dear brother fails to realize is that is what people do. It’s no changing it.
“Donovan, one day you’re going to learn everything isn’t black and white.”
“Whatever, man.”
“Okay, I’m tired of this. Let’s go to the party.” Ella says, sensing the tension between Christian and me.
“Yes, Lets!” Dina shouts, waving a wine bottle in her hand.
As we get ready to leave, Christian stops me.
“Hey, all I’m saying is, no drama this year brother. We can have a normal life too”
I’ve never believed we could have a normal life in this family, but Christian does. Maybe he can, but I can’t. After what happened last time we lived here, I don’t think I can ever have a normal life.
“Yeah, no drama, I promise.”
Claudia
“Eric is looking for you.” Jade points out as if I already didn’t know this. I’ve been spending the first half of this party avoiding him.
“I know. I’m trying to avoid him.” I tell her.
“Well, I’ve decided to leave Dean alone if that makes you happy.”
What? She did? Yes!
“That’s cool.” I say nonchalant.
She laughs. “Don’t act like you’re not happy!”
“Okay.” I direct side eye her and smile. “I am happy.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m about to go get another drink, you want one?”
“Sure.”
Yes! I’m so happy something good came out of this night. My best friend wasn’t going to sleep with that jackass. Now all I have to do is continue avoiding Eric.
I see all these people and as usual it’s the same. There is never anything new and exciting in this town. Dawn is playing some good music from her IPOD, though. The whole school is here and other schools. There are even college kids here. I did hear Naomi is dating some Fraternity guy from Madison University.
Boy I could use a drink. Now that’s a shame. I’m sixteen years old and I could use a drink. Well I will be seventeen in a month so it isn’t that bad. Yeah, stop making excuses Claudia. This is what we do here in my little suburban community. We drink, we gossip, and some of us have sex. As of tonight, I can officially declare myself as a participant in underage drinking at least. As for gossiping, I try not to be a part of that. As for sex, I’m a virgin. Probably the only virgin left in Eastbrook.
My usual brain rant is interrupted when I see him.
Who is he? I don’t know why he has my attention, but he just does. Maybe because he’s doing the same thing I’m doing, watching everyone. From the balcony, I see his golden hair and golden skin peeking out from his red v neck t-shirt. God, please be cute. I just need him to turn around just a little bit… Yes! He’s cute. No, he’s hot. He’s tall, slim, but muscular. I can tell by his shoulders, they are so broad. He continues looking around the room. I wonder what or who he’s looking for. I hope he isn’t looking for his girlfriend.
Have someone ever just captured your attention to the extreme? This boy is for me. It’s like I’m compelled to watch his every move. I’m curious, I guess and extremely attracted. Wow, I wish he would look up here.
Oh my God. He’s looking up here.
He just came out of nowhere and he is looking up here. I think his eyes are blue, but I know for damn sure they are beautiful. His hair is golden and covers r his forehead. His lips look plump and very kissable. It’s like a shiver goes through me as his gaze intensifies. I’m sure he thinks I’m crazy, staring at him like this. On the other hand he’s staring back at me like he isn’t bothered by it, but rather intrigued.
Who is this guy?
Donovan
Who is that?
We’ve been here for at least twenty minutes and so far nothing exciting or special was happening. I’ve been to parties like this. There’s always a group of kids somewhere doing coke while a group of jocks, who are secretly gay, compare their muscles. There is also as usual, a pair of girls who are so drunk, they get talked into making out while everyone watches and records them. The results is seeing themselves not only on Pornhub, but also YouTube and Twitter the next day. Damn those social networks. Of course I was about to entertain the girl on girl action, but that was before I saw her.
The girl on the balcony in a white dress, which looks amazing on her, has long, brown hair and beautiful eyes. I wonder what color they are. Besides eye color, I could see everything from down here. Her face, her body, damn near her soul. The funny thing is that she was looking at me first. She was looking at me in a different way, not like she was confident and wanted to approach me, but more like she was nervous and intrigued. I don’t think I’ve ever been stared at in that way by a girl before. Well, maybe the nervous part because people are scared of me and my family, but she doesn’t know me. Does she? No, I don’t think she knows who I am.
All of sudden she smiles at me and I am completely enamored. She is smiling at me in such a sweet way. Not seductive nor fake, just an innocent sweet smile. A smile like its Christmas morning and you get that one gift you’ve been begging for all year. Yeah, that’s it. I’ve never received a smile like that before. It’s so overwhelming that it makes me want to stop looking, but I can’t. I can’t take my eyes off her.
Smiling doesn’t really come naturally to me, but she is giving my instinct motivation. I really am literally showing teeth right now. I must look like an idiot.
A blonde in a very revealing red dress comes out of nowhere and grabs her hand and guides her to the stairway. I don’t take my eyes off them as they walk down the steps. The blonde leads her to the middle of the room where everyone is dancing. The lights start to dim. Emile comes out of nowhere pushing me towards the bar where the drinks are served, but still I keep my eyes directly on her.
She’s looking around while dancing. Not to be cocky, but she’s probably looking for me. So what do I do? Do I go out there? Wait, why am I nervous? I’m never nervous to approach a girl. I guess I’ve found my kryptonite in the form of a 5’7 maybe 5’8, medium brown haired, beauty. As I intensify my stare at her, I feel my emotions running all ove
r the place. I feel like my heart beat is matching with the beat of this song that’s playing through the speakers right now. Get it together, Donovan. Get it together.
I start moving through the crowd as another song comes on. As I move through the crowd, a guy that’s smoking blows smoke in my face, I brush it off. Now usually I would punch a guy in the face for doing that, but it’s like this girl has turned off the “Don’t be a dumbass, Donovan mode” and turned on… well something I’d never experienced. I finally reach the middle of the dance floor and I can’t move. What the hell, I’m freezing. She’s dancing and moving her body to the beat. I must say, she moves her body very well.
Before I know it, she turns around and faces me. She has this shocked and confused expression on her face. Oh shit. Did I make a mistake? Never mind she’s smiling now. She’s cheesing pretty hard. This time I’m going to try to keep it cool with the smile. I don’t want to look like a total dork. She bites her lip which causes my friend below my belt buckle to jump. How do girls do that? When they bite their lips, we instantly want to have sex with them. Well, at least that’s how I feel.
She takes a few steps towards me. I’m still standing here, nervous as hell. I may not look like it, but I am. Suddenly, I calm down once she puts her arms around me and starts dancing. I move to her rhythm. I don’t dance a lot, but I will with her. We’re dancing and it’s amazing. Who is this girl?
I start to get more confident with my dancing. I grab her hand and turn her around. She leans back on me. I rest my chin on her shoulder as she grinds on me. My heart is beating faster. Now I’m nervous as hell again. I don’t want to lose my cool. I don’t want to be the guy who gets a hard on while a girl grinds on him on the dance floor.
Please, don’t get hard. Please, don’t get hard. Please, don’t get hard.
She lets me off the hook and turns back around to face me. She wraps her arms around me and lays her head on my chest. She must be drunk or maybe she is just feeling the same thing I’m feeling. The real question is what am I feeling right now?
She lifts up her head and leans into my ear. “Hi” she says softly into my ear. I hear her voice clearly through all the music playing.
My I think my heart just skipped a beat ... if that’s possible.
Claudia
Hi? That’s all you could come up with Claudia?! Well I guess that is appropriate. I mean I don’t know the guy.
When I saw him on the dance floor he automatically gave me the confidence to dance with him, touch him, and I guess to say hi.
“Hey.” My heart skips a beat at the sound of his whisper in my ear.
Another song starts, but I’m tired of dancing. I want to know this guy. Without asking I grab his hand and lead him through the crowd. I take him out to the back patio of Naomi’s mansion.
Great. Nobody is out here. I let go of his hand and look up at the view of Naomi’s family’s huge backyard. They have a giant pool and a brick stone path that leads to the pool house. The rest of the backyard is just green cut grass.
I’m trying to avoid eye contact with him because I don’t know what I’m going to say. I need to be cool about this.
Come on Claudia, get it together.
I breathe in and out and turn around to meet his eyes gazing at me. I was right. His eyes are blue. They are baby blue at that. They are so bright and full of color that they leave me in a trance.
Well don’t just gawk at him, Claudia. Say something!
“I thought maybe we should get some fresh air.” Really? I mentally roll my eyes. I really want to slap myself for these simple sentences I’m giving him.
“Yeah, it was pretty hot in there.” He says in a not corny, but very sexy way like he isn’t even trying. His voice is soft, yet he also has a hint of rasp in it.
“Yeah, it was.” I’m trying to be sexy. I’m such a lame. Come on Claude be bold, be cool, what would mom do? What would Julia do? Better yet what would Jade do?
“So, you’re not from here are you?” I ask.
He sticks his hands in his pockets. “No, I’m not”
“You go to another school?”
He opens his mouth, than stops. “Yeah,” Maybe he’s nervous too. “In the city. Me and my friends decided to come out here and enjoy the suburbs, I guess.” He frowns to himself. He is probably trying to figure out why he just said that. I think its bothering him more than it should.
“That’s cool. I bet it’s more exciting than here.” I love visiting the city. I hope to move there one day.
“Yeah, well, I did think that at first,” He looks me up and down and arches his brow. “But now I’ve found it to be very interesting here.” Obviously he’s flirting with me. Yay!
“So, what is your name?” He asks.
I could tell him my name, but my attraction mixed with my hopeless romantic personality, mixed with liquor has me deciding to pull out the Jade card.
“Let’s not say names yet.”
“What?”
“Let’s not say names yet. Let’s be spontaneous, it will make a great romantic story to tell someday.” Jade has a habit of not telling guys her name. At the end of the night if the guy passes her so called tests, she will give him her number. Once they call that’s when she finds out their names. Though she has never used it for pure romantic reasons, maybe I can.
“So, you’re a hopeless romantic?” Great, he probably thinks I’m a dork now.
“Yeah, I am. I know it’s kind of lame.” Why am I telling him this? Don’t admit you’re a lame! He probably wants to leave now.
I quickly glance down at my feet. I’m too scared to see the reaction in his face.
“No, it’s not.” I focus my gaze back at him. He said it with so much assurance. It’s like he wants me to know that I can be myself with him. The way he’s looking at me I can tell that he doesn’t think it’s stupid at all.
“So are you?” I ask with curiosity.
“I don’t know really. My parents are in love, have been since before I was born. So yeah I think I’ve always known that I would want a love like that. A love that never dies I guess.” Not many guys I know would admit that. By the look on his face right now he’s shocked himself.
“That’s really cool.” I want to reassure him. “That your parents still show that kind of love. Not many parents do.” My dad included.
“Yeah. So now can I get your name?” He sneaks in smoothly and anxious at the same time.
I smile and shake my head. “No, but since were opening up why don’t we play a question game.”
I walk towards the pool area and sit at the bench right beside the pool. He sits next to me, placing his legs on both sides of the bench so he can face me. I would do that, but I have on a dress.
“Like twenty one questions?”
“Yeah, but we’ll just keep asking questions until your tired of me”
Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy) Page 3