You

by Nella Tyler

  “Are you hungry?” She shook her head, but never took her eyes off of the food. “Are you sure? Did you eat today?”

  She put her free hand across her stomach. “I couldn’t eat anything. I really would throw up. I just want to look at it.” I noticed that she wasn’t just looking at the food. Her pretty green eyes were taking in the glossy ballroom floor and the people milling around in their expensive party attire. A waiter walked by and I grabbed two flutes of champagne off of his tray and tried to hand her one. “I don’t drink.”

  “Oh…okay, good.”

  “I’m eighteen.”

  “I know that.”

  “You’re trying to provide alcohol to a minor.”

  I laughed. “You’re not a minor.”

  “True, but I’m not of legal drinking age, either.” I rolled my eyes and downed both glasses of champagne before sitting the delicate flutes down on one of the tables.

  “There, better?” She raised an eyebrow at me, but she didn’t say anything. “Let’s find a table and sit down.”

  “Sit at my table, little brother.” I hoped my flinch at the sound of my sister’s voice wasn’t apparent.

  “Hi, Chrissy.”

  “Hi.” My pretty sister smiled at me and then looked at Summer. “Hello, I don’t know you.”

  “Summer French, this is my sister Chrissy Spencer.”

  “Hello,” Summer said with a nervous smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “And you,” my sister said. She slung her arm through Summer’s free one and said, “I love that dress! Did you get it at Felton’s Boutique?”

  “Yes.”

  Chrissy started walking. Summer had no choice but to go with her, and I followed. “I love that store. When I don’t have time for an original, I go there every time. From across the room I thought this one was multi-colored, but I see the sleeves are your own.” Summer grimaced slightly before Chrissy said, “Where did you and my brother meet, Summer?”

  Summer glanced up at me and I tried to hide my smile as I heard her say, “We were in the surf shop in La Jolla at the same time one day…and the rest is history.”

  “Isn’t that sweet? So, you’re a surfer? I guess that explains the ink.”

  We both ignored the ink comment as I said, “I’m helping her get ready for a competition.”

  “Oh, well, you’ve always wanted to teach, so that worked out good.” My sister led us to her table. I was horrified to see who was already sitting there. Her friends Paris and Searcy were sitting there with a few others I didn’t know. Paris and Searcy are two of the biggest stuck-up bitches I’ve ever known.

  “Chrissy, I think we’re going to sit up closer to the bandstand.” Chrissy kept her grip on Summer’s arm.

  “Nonsense, it’s much too noisy up there. You won’t be able to hear yourselves think.” She introduced Summer to her friends. The whole time, Summer hadn’t looked at me. I suddenly realized what a mistake this was. She looked better than all of them put together, but they were all still looking at her like she was an outsider and for some reason, my sister’s claws were already out. “Sit down, Summer, and tell us about yourself. Where does your family come from?”

  Summer did look at me then. I wanted to pick her up and carry her out of there. I saw her pull on the hem of her dress as she sat. Of course, Chrissy never misses a thing. I saw her rake her eyes across the tattoos on Summer’s legs. I took a chair across from them as Summer was saying, “I grew up mostly on Long Island, but we traveled a lot.”

  “Of course,” Chrissy said. She thought Summer was talking about the kind of ceaseless traveling we did as kids, one vacation after the other.

  “My grandfather was a professional surfer.”

  “Oh my! But what about your parents?”

  “I never really knew them,” she said.

  “That’s a shame,” Chrissy said. Paris rolled her eyes and said,

  “Oh I don’t know. Some days I wish I’d never known mine.” They all laughed. Summer didn’t.

  “Summer, why don’t we go get something to eat?”

  “You go get her a plate, Drake,” my sister told me. I wanted to strangle her. “Be a gentleman.”

  “I’m really not hungry,” Summer said.

  “Go get her some appetizers, she can pick at them.”

  “Really, it’s okay…” Summer’s green eyes had panic in them. She didn’t want me to leave her and I wasn’t about to.

  “We’ll eat later. Do you want to dance?” Her eyes got wider. I hadn’t thought to ask if she could dance. I’m an idiot.

  “Sure.” Maybe she could dance. I got up and went around and took her hand.

  “We just started talking!” Chrissy pouted. “You’ll come back, right?”

  “Sure.” Summer scooted back her chair and stood up. All three of the women were looking at her legs now. Summer looked down and pulled on her skirt to cover the tats peeking out. As she did that, she teetered on her heels and had to reach forward and grab onto the table. I hoped she missed the subtle looks of amusement on my sister and her friend’s faces, but I doubted it. I started to lead her towards the dance floor, but she leaned in and whispered, “Maybe some air instead.”

  “Good idea, I’ll take you out and show you the garden out back.” I led her towards the French doors in the back of the ballroom. I opened them for her, and she stepped out into the fresh air and sucked in a breath.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe in there.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She smiled at me. “It’s not your fault. Everyone’s being really nice. I just never talk so much about myself. It’s a little bit uncomfortable being the center of attention.” I wondered if she didn’t notice the looks as we left the table or if she was choosing to ignore them. I wasn’t going to bring it up, just in case.

  “Let’s take a walk,” I said instead.

  She nodded, but stopped and gripped my hand tightly as she bent down and pulled off those dangerous heels she was wearing. She slung them over her fingers and said, “Okay, now I’m ready.”

  I walked her through the beautiful gardens that the hotel was actually famous for. There is a labyrinth of paths that wind through the center of dark green plants and flowers blooming in a multitude of vibrant colors.

  “It smells so good,” she said. She stopped to dip her face down into a rosebush.

  “Yeah, it does. I like it here. Sometimes when I’m home, I just come here to think where it’s so quiet and relaxing.” We walked in silence from there, just breathing in the night until we came to a decorative wrought iron bench surrounded by tall shrubs. “You want to sit for a minute?”

  She answered me by sitting down and looking up at the sky. Earlier tonight when the sun went down, I’d noticed how pretty it looked streaked with bright orange and purple. Now it was a vast expanse of black, dotted with only a few small stars. The moon hung in one corner like a crescent and the only other light came from the windows of the grand hotel. It was a romantic setting and I was surprised at myself for noticing that. My former idea of romance was Netflix and beer.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  SUMMER

  I wasn’t exactly lying when I said Drake’s family had been nice to me, but I also haven’t missed the looks they gave me and each other as they perused my tattoos and asked questions I hesitated to answer. Society girls don’t normally tat themselves up and it was the one thing about me that we couldn’t “class up.” Most of these girls love talking about where their money comes from, too. I told myself I wasn’t going to stress over it, though. I loved being here with Drake and that was all that mattered.

  “So, are you doing okay?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m a little nervous, but I’m okay. I just felt like I couldn’t breathe there for a second. They have a lot of questions about where I came from and what I do…those are the worst.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. We can go if you want.”

 
“No! No, I’m okay. I’ll get some fresh air and we’ll go back in and eat. I don’t know how to dance. I should have told you.”

  He smiled and put his hand on my thigh. Goosebumps shot up my body and down my spine. This guy touching me is the equivalent of touching a live wire while standing in a puddle wearing steel-toed boots. “I should have asked you. But slow dancing is a lot like making love and you have that down pat. Maybe just one slow dance?”

  I started to agree when I saw the woman step through the thick layer of greenery that surrounded us. She was wearing a burgundy gown and her long blonde hair touched her waist. She was probably six inches taller than me and her tits were big, high, and perky – just the kind of girl that intimidates the hell out of me. Drake saw me look up at her and he looked over, too. I could only see half of his face, but I swear he cringed.

  “Hello, Drake.”

  “Sabrina. Hi.”

  “I’m sorry to disturb you two, I was just walking by and heard your voice. I was hoping you’d be here tonight.” I couldn’t help but wonder if she was hoping he’d be here alone. She was looking at him like he was a piece of chocolate. I swear her mouth was watering.

  “Um…it’s okay. We were just getting some air. This is Summer. Summer, this is Sabrina.”

  “Hello, Summer, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  I looked at Drake who looked as confused as me and slightly paranoid. “You have?”

  She smiled a brilliant white, perfectly straight-toothed smile. “Yes. Lance and I had lunch today.”

  “Sabrina…” Drake’s voice had dropped. The tone was low and warning.

  “Oh, stop it, Drake. I’m not going to tell anyone about your little friend’s…situation. Lance didn’t even want to tell me. But, I could see that he was upset about something and I got it out of him. He’s worried about you.”

  I suddenly felt like I was caught in that nightmare where they all pointed and laughed. I was frozen to my spot, though. I didn’t want to hear any more of this, but I didn’t want to get up and walk past this bitch who so badly wanted to see me upset. “He has no reason to be, and who I choose to spend time with isn’t his or your business.”

  She made a “Tsk-tsk” noise and shook her head. She made eye contact with me then and I saw that she had milk-chocolate-colored eyes with the strangest patches of blue. I wondered if they were contacts, I’d never seen anything like it.

  “You know why it is my business, Drake. I’m supposed to be selling you to a Fortune 500 company. I have a meeting with the CEO of Catalyst the day before Laguna. I can’t go in to something like that blind. I need to know everything. I need to know if your picture is going to pop up on some tabloid with your new friend and details about her background.” I stood up. I’d heard enough. Drake reached out and grabbed my wrist and stood up next to me.

  “There’s nothing in her background that would worry me,” he said. Although that was nice of him to say, he really had no idea. I’d never been charged with anything, but there were a few times I came close. Who knew what story anyone might be willing to tell for the right price?

  I cleared my throat. “If we’re going to talk about me, then maybe I can have a chance to speak in my own defense.”

  “You don’t have to defend yourself to anyone, Summer.” Drake was glaring at the blonde. She was looking at me with and excited look. She wanted to hear about my life, I’m guessing because she knew that it would make her feel superior.

  “You’re right,” I said to Drake, “But I’d like to say this, anyways.” Turning back to the woman, I said, “I don’t know who you are, but I don’t have anything to hide. My name is Summer French. I’m eighteen years old. I grew up on Long Island in New York with my grandfather, who was a professional surfer. My mother was a prostitute who used a lot of heroin. She had no idea which John knocked her up and the only reason she didn’t abort me was because she stayed so wasted that she caught the pregnancy too late. My grandfather ended up with a drug-addicted infant, and he raised me as well as he could until he died. I was fourteen then and they tried to put me in a foster home. I ran away, and for the past five years, I’ve been living on the streets. I’m homeless, but on a positive note, I haven’t killed anyone and I’ve never been in jail, so you can rest easy that there aren’t any public records that might pop up. I don’t know who this “Catalyst” is, but if it’s important to Drake, you can be sure I’m not going to get in his way.”

  Sabrina was still holding onto the shocked look that crossed her face when I admitted my mother was a prostitute. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s also nothing for me to be ashamed of. I’m not, nor have I ever been a prostitute or a heroin addict. I had no control over her issues. Drake slid his hand down and linked his fingers through mine. His muscles were tense and when he began to talk, it was in a low, controlled voice. “Listen to me, Sabrina, and listen well. I pay you to do a job, but that job does not extend to my personal life. You deal with Catalyst and I’ll do what I need to do for me. Lately, that’s been spending time with Summer. I don’t have any plans to change that, either, so if it’s an issue for you, that’s too fucking bad. We both know you don’t need this job, anyways. It was just your way of keeping tabs on me.”

  Her look went from shocked to haughty in an instant. “Keep tabs on you? Are you kidding? You are still so full of yourself-”

  “I get the feeling I really don’t want to be around for this part of the conversation,” I said. I pulled my hand away from Drake’s.

  “Summer, wait, I’ll go with you.”

  “No, you finish here. I’ll wait for you inside.” I looked at Sabrina. She was looking at me with those strange eyes. I couldn’t really tell what she was thinking about me, but I’m pretty sure she wants to be more than Drake’s “employee.” I got the feeling she had been more than that at one time and she was not happy with the job change.

  “I don’t have anything else to say to her,” he said. He grabbed my hand again and we both pushed past her. As we walked away I looked over my shoulder. The look on her face was pure evil and I got the feeling that Drake was about to lose his chance with this Catalyst, whoever they are. He led me in through the French doors and straight onto the dance floor. I was still holding my shoes in my hand. He stopped and took them from me, stuffed them into the pockets of his jacket, and took me in his arms. He was right – just like making love. I followed the slow and seductive movements of his body with my own and within seconds, I was lost completely in him…and Sabrina was forgotten.

  *******

  After we danced, we fixed a small plate for ourselves and found a nice, quiet table in the corner. We could see the rest of the ballroom from that vantage point and suddenly, I felt like all eyes were on me. I told myself it was my imagination as I picked at a crab cake and tried not to make eye-contact with any of them.

  “I was impressed with how you stood up for yourself out there with Sabrina. I’m sorry she put you in a place where you felt like you had to do that.”

  “What’s Catalyst? It’s the same thing Lance was talking about the other day at the beach.”

  Drake sighed. “It’s a brand of clothing. The make beach clothes and surf equipment. I’m hoping to get them to sponsor me so that I don’t have to depend on my father’s money any longer.”

  “I don’t have much experience – or any – with fathers. But this man coming towards us looks an awful lot like he could be yours. And, he doesn’t look happy at all.”

  When Drake looked up, I saw a visible change in everything about him. His facial expression, his posture, and his demeanor were suddenly guarded and even slightly intimidated. He pushed back his chair and stood up. Putting out his right hand, he said, “Father.” His father shook his hand, but his eyes kept going back to me.

  “This is Summer French. Summer, this is my dad, Neil Spencer.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” I told him. He gave my hand a quick, but firm handshake.

  “Drake,
I need to speak with you, alone.” He was finished with me, and it was obvious that I was supposed to excuse myself. Drake looked at me with an apology in his eyes. I tried to give him a smile so he wouldn’t worry.

  “Excuse me,” I said, more for his father’s benefit than Drake’s, “I’m going to use the ladies room.”

  Drake squeezed my hand underneath the table. His father sat down as I stood up, never making eye-contact with me again. I escaped to the ladies room, or I thought I did, anyways. I went into the stall and seconds later, I heard two women’s voices. One of them I recognized as Sabrina’s. The other sounded familiar, maybe Drake’s sister.

  “Homeless…as in she lives on the streets?”

  “As in a cave. Lance told me about the cave, but I didn’t believe him. After listening to how proud she was of her street status, I don’t doubt it now.”

  There was stunned silence. “You’re fucking kidding me!”

  “I wish I were. Your brother is setting himself up.” Damn it! It was Drake’s sister. I drew my legs up so they couldn’t see I was there. I really wanted to throw up now. “I don’t think he realizes how competitive this sponsorship is. Being with the wrong person at this stage in his life can kill it for him. Besides…homeless? Imagine what kind of nasty diseases she has.”

  My blood was boiling as Chrissy laughed and said, “Maybe my father is paying her to be with him. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t thought of something like that. He wants Drake to stop surfing and come to work with him.”

  “Right, but that’s not what Drake wants. That’s why this sponsorship was so important to him.”

  “And, why is it so important to you, Sabrina?” The other woman didn’t answer and Chrissy continued, “You’ve been in love with my brother since high school. He told everyone you broke up with him, but that’s not true, is it?”