Tame

by India Marshall

  She sure sounded upset.

  "What was that Farrah?" My Aunt asked me, her eyebrows raised. She knew I was speaking my thoughts aloud, and warned me in code before Hayley could hear. I nodded a thanks.

  "We're going to go see Riley. Have you seen him?" I asked.

  "Out with the horses."

  "Thanks." I smiled. "What's her name?" I gestured towards the kitten, genuinely worried about it, unlike Hayley, who was just walking away.

  "I was thinking Trio? Because of her legs?" Aunt Tessie mused, looking at the little ginger kitten. Her big green eyes looked between me and my Aunt.

  "Trio." I said to her.

  "Meow." She squeaked.

  "Trio." We nodded together. I added, "See you later, Tessie."

  "What took so long?" Hayley whined.

  "I wanted to know the name of the kitten." I said firmly. I couldn't stand it when people had 'no time' for pets. I knew Hayley had had lots of pets; fish, cats, dogs- but they had all either died or been given away. I'd already warned Aunt Tessie to not sell Hayley any animals.

  "Oh right, yeah." Hayley nodded. "Anyway, Riley's just there! Go talk to him!"

  I breathed out dramatically, and poked Riley's back. "Hi."

  "Hey Farrah!" He enclosed me in a hug, and he smelt a little like horse dung. I tried not to vomit on his back.

  "Hm, hi." I repeated. "What's up? Hayley said you wanted to talk to me?"

  "Yeah." Riley beamed. "Now I know our date kinda went...well, awful."

  "Yeah." I nodded, not really paying attention. The horse behind Riles was flicking it's tail irritably.

  "So, to make it up to you, I want to take you on another date." Riley grinned. My mouth fell open in horror. Another date? No! I just wanted to be friends! I silently cursed my love for my friends, and how that could be taken in the wrong way.

  Riley frowned at me. "Farrah?"

  "I...um, I don't know, it's just, I think, uh-" I stumbled over my words, picking at my fingernails at the same time.

  PLOP.

  "Ahh! Ugh! No! Oh my God!" Riley yelled, cursing. "That horse pooed on me! Ugh!"

  "I think he was uncomfortable." I explained, comparing my thoughts to the horse's. We were in a similar situation with awkwardness. His leg seemed to be stuck in the hay.

  "Around me? No way." Riley shook his head. He shuddered as a wollop of horse shit slipped from the back of his legs to the floor.

  "I think he maybe was." I faltered, trying not to laugh.

  "Never mind!" Hayley cried, butting in. Oh no. "You can come back to Farrah's, take a shower, and then stay over! We're having a movie night, right Farrah?"

  "Well yes but-"

  "Yay!" Hayley cut me off.

  "Stop, stop, stop." I wagged my finger at her. "Stop inviting, and de-inviting people to my house."

  "Sorry." Hayley mumbled, going pink.

  "It's okay." I muttered. I breathed out. "We can still have a slumber party- but Riles?"

  "Yeah?" He asked, his eyes bright.

  "You're not showering in my house, not with shit on you." I smirked.

  "Seriously?" Riley asked, his face dead.

  "Yes." I nodded, mentally face-palming at his stupidness.

  "Well, see you soon then." Riley beamed.

  "Later." Hayley waved.

  "Bye." I agreed.

  ***

  We were half way through watching Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 1 when the doorbell rang. Mom yelled at me to get it from upstairs. She was going out in the end, she'd decided not to stay upstairs the whole time, but to enjoy herself elsewhere. As long as we threw no parties, drank no alcohol or locked the pets away, (why would we?) we were allowed to do anything we wanted.

  I got up and made my way to the front door in my pajamas. I wore a simple football shirt over some lilac shorts. I never really bothered with matching pajamas, I was only going to sleep in them.

  "Hello?" I sighed, tired. We had just got to the part of the wedding of Bella and Edward in the movie. (I'd seen the movie at least four times and knew that particular scene word for word)

  "Hey there, Farrah Chambers." A common greeting to me now, welcomed me.

  "Cameron? Jason? Tanner?" I gasped. Oh my God- what were they doing at my house? Tanner was at my house. Tanner West was at my house! Woo!

  "Your Mom invited us." Jason explained. "Not Tanner, but he came anyway, hope you don't mind." He winked at me, and then pushed past into the living room.

  "H-hi." I stammered. Cameron rolled his eyes at me and followed Jason, but Tanner stayed at the door.

  "Hi Farrah." He said softly. "I've wanted to talk to you for a while, you just disappeared with Cameron when we were at Jason's house."

  "Really?" I choked. "Wow! Come in, come in!"

  "Thanks." Tanner smiled, making me melt. He came in, and collapsed on my couch. He was so perfect. His brown-blonde hair was blown a mess by the wind, his brown eyes focusing on the television.

  "What are they doing here?" Riley demanded once I had shut the front door and re-attached my jaw.

  "They...they've come to join the party." I announced.

  "A party?" Cameron echoed, looking round.

  "Cool." Tanner grinned at me. I smiled dreamily.

  "A party." Jason winked at me, rubbing his hands together. "Well, that's my kind of thing. Let's get this party started."

  Chapter 15

  "P-party?" I echoed. "Party? A...a party?! No, no, no, no, no."

  "C'mon Farrah, what would you rather do? Have a party with us or watch soppy movies?" Jason groaned.

  "I...I'm not, you...shouldn't, oh no...MOM!" I yelled, turning from my friends and charging upstairs. I got half way up, when my Mom, dressed in a deep blue dress, her hair loose and flowing down to her shoulders, appeared at the top.

  "Go back downstairs, Farrah. We'll both fall otherwise." Mom instructed.

  "Woah, you look great, Mom." I smiled as I backed down the stairs.

  "Thank you, sweetie." Mom replied. "Um, Farrah, I don't think you should-"

  BAM. BAM. BAM. BAM. DOOF.

  "Neeowwwww!" I whined, sounding like a cat. From walking backwards I had tripped and fell backwards over the last few steps.

  "Roo roo roo!" Rolo barked, charging at me from no where, thinking I was Milly.

  "Go away, you daft dog." Mom swatted at him. He looked at me, sniffed me, and bounded off to where my friends were in the living room. I heard Cameron laughing and Hayley cooing at my dog.

  "Ow." I sat up and rubbed my head. I had knocked into the wall at the bottom of the stairs. I made a note to myself to not walk down any stairs going backwards.

  "Are you okay, sweetie?" Mom panicked, letting go of the earring she was fixing in her ear and helping me up.

  "I'm good, I'm good. All good." I said dizzily.

  "Are you sure? I could ask everyone to leave and not go out? You can lay down upstairs if you like." Mom worried, straightening my top and peering into my eyes.

  "I'm fine, I'm fine." I giggled. Then I turned serious as I remembered what I had gone looking for my Mom for. "But I am not fine with the fact you invited over Cameron and Jason and didn't tell me!"

  "I was going to..." Mom said slyly, smirking.

  "Bad Mom." I scolded. "But...thank you." I added in a whisper, "They brought Tanner!"

  Mom grinned, but didn't look me straight in the eye. "Well that's great honey!"

  "I know! Anyway, what time are you coming home?" I asked her, doing a happy dance with my hands.

  "About half eleven, is that okay?" Mom inquired, as if I were the Mom, and she were the child. I laughed at how sometimes it could be seen that way.

  "That's awesome." I nodded.

  "Good, well have a great night, sweetie." Mom put emphasis on the word, 'great' as if she knew something I didn't.

  "Ew mom!" I groaned. "Not cool! I don't like any of them in that way. Except Tanner, and I doubt he'll talk to me much."

  "We'll see, we'll see." Mom said, more to h
erself than me.

  "Excuse me?" I gaped at her.

  "Don't get too rowdy, and don't invite any more people over." Mom winked. "Bye honey."

  With that, she opened the front door, and closed it in my face, laughing like a teenage girl trying to set up her friend with someone.

  I had the weirdest Mom ever.

  I pushed the door to the living room open and made my way back in.

  "What took so long?" Cameron asked me, his eyes twinkling.

  "Nothing." I shook my head, looking at Tanner. I couldn't believe he was in my house!

  "Good, so let's get our party on!" Jason howled.

  "Please never say that again." I face-palmed.

  "I agree with Farrah Chambers." Cameron cringed.

  "Good to hear, Cammie!" I teased. He cringed again. I smirked, looking away from him. My gaze landed on Riley and Hayley, and my stomach dropped. Oops.

  "So what now?" Hayley squeaked.

  "Uh...food?" I tried.

  Hayley and I stood in the kitchen, an awkward silence filling the air. We filled bowl after bowl with potato chips, sausages, popcorn, candy and anything else we could find. It was like a crazy slumber party/kid's party mix.

  "I'm so sorry!" Hayley suddenly blurted.

  "What for?" I wondered, jumping as she threw herself at me for a hug.

  "It's so awkward, and I've been a bad friend. At first I thought it'd be cool for Cameron to know you, he's a popular! But then I thought he was taking you away but that was selfish of me and I'm sorry." Hayley gabbled.

  "Hey it's okay!" I chuckled. "I haven't been the best friend either!"

  "I know." Hayley mumbled into my shoulder.

  Gee, thanks.

  "Do you like Cameron by any chance? Or Jason?" Hayley quizzed, pulling away. She had a gossip-loving look on her face and I knew my best girl friend was back.

  "No way!" I cried, laughing. "But I do like Tanner, which makes me feel awful because he's here and so is Riley and Riley likes me!"

  "I know, it's a shame." Hayley nodded.

  "A shame?”

  "A shame." Hayley confirmed. "But how awesome is it to have Tanner West in your house?"

  "Very!" I cheered.

  "Exactly. So let's go out and get you two hooked up!" Hayley clapped her hands. She took several bowls in her arms and proceeded through to the living room. I followed her, and managed to drop several potato chips. But Rolo, who appeared to have turned into a hoover, followed behind me, munching up every last bit.

  "Food!" Jason cheered, diving at me before I even had the chance to put the food down.

  "Wait, wait, wait!" I squealed. Cameron pushed over to me too, and Tanner followed suit.

  "Gimme some!" Cameron roared, his hand rumaging around the bowl of candy.

  "That's what she said." Jason cackled. They slapped each other a high five and I rolled my eyes.

  "Let Farrah put the food down, guys." A smooth voice I recognised as Tanner's said. He smiled at me, and I nearly fainted then and there. He took two bowls of food and the cola bottle tucked under my arm from me, still smiling. What a gentleman.

  "Goody two-shoes." Cameron poked his tongue out at Tanner. I winced, that was what they had called me for some time.

  "Just being nice." Tanner shrugged, sending me a grin. I returned it, and then, to stop myself from passing out in happiness, I collapsed to my knees on the floor next to Hayley.

  She elbowed me in the ribs. "Get in there."

  "That's what she said!" Jason barked, pointing at Hayley, laughing as if it were the funniest thing in the world. I had a suspicion he was drunk, but it was too funny to care. I laughed, and so did Hayley, and everyone else. Riley remained silent.

  "What's up, Riles?" I whispered to him as the other guys prodded each other and played on their phones whilst making up more, 'that's what she said' jokes.

  "Cammie?" He asked coolly.

  I blinked in surprise. Damn. "Um, yeah. That's my n-nickname for him. It annoys him." I stammered.

  "Right. And what's with the stupid face every time Tanner West looks at you?" He snapped icily.

  "Riley, calm down." Hayley told him.

  "They're not stupid..." I faltered. I probably did look stupid though. "I'm sorry."

  Riley perked up as soon as I said that. "It's okay. Hey you never gave me answer!"

  I felt Cameron's head snap up and his eyes stare at me as Riley announced that.

  "Answer to what?" He narrowed his eyes, looking between me and Riley.

  "I asked Farrah out on another date." Riley told him, almost smugly. What the heck? Ugh, I hated being so inexperienced with guys. They confused me to no end.

  "Oh dude, you won't get anywhere then. Farrah Chambers likes me." Cameron chortled, his eyes shining.

  "Go away you prune." I poked my tongue out childishly.

  "Prune?" Cameron echoed.

  "That's right, a prune." I repeated. Cameron stood up, making his way closer to me. He leaned right over me, pressing me into the armchair. Shit. On Toast. The Holy kind.

  "Wanna say that again?" He purred.

  "You wouldn't hurt me, you hate fighting." I grinned, glad I could finally use something against Cameron- even though I made a pact with myself to make him my friend.

  "You what?" Cameron blinked. His big green orbs stared at me in confusion. "How do you know that?"

  "A little birdy told me." I smirked.

  "J?" Cameron growled.

  "Haha!" Jason suddenly broke into laughter. I looked at him and whined. He had taken a picture of me and Cameron in the position we were in. "You guys make it so easy!"

  "Delete it!" I begged, trying to straighten up. Except I forgot, (somehow!) that Cameron was on top of me. As I brought my legs up to get up...

  "Holy shit!" Cameron hissed, getting up and backing away, clutching his- uh, private place.

  "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" I cried in horror. Jason was practically dying of laughter now, and everybody else had joined in too. Riley was hooting and haa-ing with smug laughter. I had to resist the urge to smile at Cameron's face.

  "Little bitch." He croaked, sitting down next to Tanner, who shot me a wink. I nearly died.

  "Don't call her that!" Riley snapped.

  "Riley-" I began.

  "What are you gonna do about it?" Cameron raised an eyebrow.

  "Don't try it with me, we all know now you hate fighting." Riley scoffed. Everyone looked at me in annoyance. Oops.

  "Give it a rest, kid." Jason flicked him off.

  "I'm the same age as you!" Riley pointed out.

  "But you act younger, probably why Farrah won't give you an answer. She prefers men like me, not kids like you." Jason grinned evilly. He was the devil in boy-form, I swore.

  "Farrah?" Riley turned to me.

  "Um...I...Riles-" I tried.

  "Get on with it, this is good!" Cameron cheered.

  "Shut it." I said pointedly. "Look, Riley, it's not that I don't like you. I do. Just as a friend."

  "Oh right. Okay." Riley smiled. Smiled?

  "You're okay with that?" I tested delicately.

  "Of course, we're still friends." Riley nodded. "That's what I wanted most."

  "Aww." I cooed, wrapping my arms around him. I saw Hayley shake her head over his shoulder and took that as a 'don't-lead-him-on' look. I instantly pulled away, and instead made my focus, food.

  "Where is all the food?" I shrieked.

  "Um...we may've eaten it." Jason told me.

  "How...when...fast...you...boys." I settled.

  "Cameron's right, your reactions are quite funny." Tanner chuckled. I swallowed and bared a big grin at him.

  "What can I say?" I giggled.

  "I say when the heck did you get so many friends, little sister?" A new voice boomed.

  "Ugh Troy!" I whined. "Why are you here?"

  "Uh, I live here?" He replied in a 'duh' tone.

  "Not funny."

  "I thought it was."

  "That's becau
se you're you." I rolled my eyes. "Wait, who are these people?"

  "My friends." Troy replied simply.

  "Mom said don't invite any more people over!" I wailed.

  "When did she say that?" Troy asked, chugging down some lemonade. Really, what kind of man drank lemonade? Oh that was right, Troy wasn't a man.

  "You seriously need to think inside your head." Troy snapped.

  "Whoopsie daisie!" I laughed. "And she said it after you went out. Wait a sec, when did you go out?"

  "Earlier."

  "Earlier?"

  "Earlier."

  "When 'earlier'?" I questioned. "Mom's already gone out, and she will kill me if she finds more people here!"

  "I thought your Mom was cool." Some guy said to Troy.

  "She is. It's just my sister who skipped that gene." Troy replied.

  "Hello? Right here!"

  "So are we- hey we can have a huge, proper party now!" Jason cheered.

  "No..." I whined.

  "Yes!" Troy cried.

  "Guys-"

  "Farrah Chambers." Cameron winked.

  "Will. You. Quit. Calling. Me. That." I grinded my teeth together. This night was not going how I had planned.

  "Well it's your name, isn't it?" Cameron laughed.

  "Her full name is Farrah Poppy Chambers, if you wanna use that one." Troy suggested very unhelpfully. Oh, the joys of big brothers.

  "Thanks, man!" Cameron slapped my older brother a high five.

  "He's a boy, remember?" Jason chortled. I grinned at him.

  "Ugh, what is he doing here?" Troy complained, pointing at Riles.

  "You could say that quietly." Riley frowned.

  "It's my house." Troy retorted.

  "And mine. Can't you go to someone else's house?" I whined.

  "No way! Party! Party! Party!" Jason bellowed. He was another helpful person in the room. Sense the sarcasm.

  Soon everyone, including Hayley, was chanting, "Party! Party! Party!"

  "If you were going to do it anyway without me saying yes, why are you asking me now?" I sighed.

  "Woo!" Some random guy I didn't know the name of, one of Troy's friends, cried. "I have drink!"

  Holy shit on toast. Sorry Mom, I tried to stop them.

  ***

  "Farrah..." Cameron whispered. I spun around and cocked my head to one side.