by Bry Foster
“No. Lena asked that I make sure you have all of the basics to make you look decent. If the wardrobe you brought here is any indication of your style then I know only the things acquired on this trip will suffice.” Her accent gets thicker the angrier she gets.
“In case you forgot, I just got a lifetime supply worth of designer clothes. You’re doing this for you, not me. And I am perfectly fine with my wardrobe.” I yank Liz towards me.
“You guys-“
“You are floundering for a spot in a family I am already married into, I clearly out rank you. If you wanted to be the one giving orders, I’m sorry to tell you, you’ve met the wrong brother!” She yanks Liz towards her.
“Ladies-“ One of the guards starts. I don’t even look at him as I narrow my eyes at Clara. I pull Liz towards me roughly and she grunts.
“Clearly I chose the right brother, seeing as you tried to shag him yourself.” Clara’s eyes grow wide and she throws Liz’s arm away from her as she lets out a fast retort in French— that I know to be offended by from her tone and body language. I let go of Liz’s arm too and we both push her away from us so we can invade each other’s space.
“I don’t know what he sees in you anyway, tu es putain!” She remarks with disdain dripping from every word in that sentence. Her lip is curled back repugnantly. I swear she is the French Marley Evans and it makes me want to rip her hair out. I’m getting ready to let another nasty retort leave my lips when we hear shouting and look up to see we are surrounded by people. Lights blind us and keeping us from seeing any faces outside of our circle. Only dark shapes are noticeable outside of the strobe like glare of flashes. Cameras and camera phones are pointed at us and I don’t get to say anything before we are all being carted off again by the body guards. People shout questions at us, asking my name, where I’m from, where Cash is. The worst question comes as the body guards are slamming the car door closed.
“Clara, did you sleep with Cashel Ca-“ The door slams and I wince. They heard our fight. They recorded our fight. I look up at Clara and the face she gives me would put me six feet under if it could kill.
“Nice going. Guess what story is going to be all over the news tomorrow?” Guilt oddly rakes through me and it feels as wrong as a car key in a house lock. Instead of admitting that (insert comma) I swallow harshly and straighten my back.
“Hey, you started it. If we’d just gone back to the hotel when I suggested it, no one would have even known we were still here.”
“Are you two kidding me? Are you kindergarteners? You just put us all in danger because you almost had a cat fight in front of a designer store. No one is a winner here. When we get to the hotel, I suggest both of you go your separate ways without speaking to each other or God forbid, I will put each of you in a headlock.” I fold my arms and huff like the child Liz just insinuated we were. When I notice I unfold them and tuck my fist under my chin, looking out of the window. Clara surprisingly stays quiet as well.
We arrive back at the hotel and go our separate ways as we were told to. It took us longer to get back since the driver had to circle around a few times to lose any paparazzi that were trying to find us. Neither task was easy in New York traffic. I’m just about to pull the key card out of my bag when one of the guards says.
“Yes. I will tell them.” Liz and I look at him. “We need to get you two packed and ready to head to the airport. Quickly please.” The guard nods at us in dismissal. I sigh and stick my key card into the door. Liz and I make quick work of packing up our things. The guards return with a bellhop that loads all of our bags into a trolley thing and takes them down to the car. I am more than grateful that Liz and I get to ride by ourselves to the airport this time. Besides the guards we are alone and we enjoy the peace of just being in each other’s company. It’s weird to go from it always being me and Liz or me, Cash, and Liz, to always being out numbered and surrounded by others. We need a girl’s weekend or something, but I have a feeling it won’t happen anytime soon.
The flight back is filled with Corisande drilling me about my family life both outside of and with my dad. I give her the abbreviated version of the story wherever possible and make Liz chime in to help take the heat off of me wherever possible. I did try some classic jokes to keep her at bay as well though. I think about when she asked me about my father’s drinking.
“Has he always indulged so much?” I shrugged.
“From as far back as I can remember.” My cheeks betray my embarrassment.
“There is no need to be embarrassed. I too have family members who struggle with overindulging in alcohol.”
“Aren’t you part Russian? I would imagine the entire country struggles with over indulging.”
“Very funny. Shall I have the pilot make a detour so that you may spend a week with your new belle-mère and Clara?”
“Touché.” I raised my glass to her. Corisande may seem a little cold but I was strangely starting to feel close to her. She was kind of like that old neighbor that had watched you grow up. The one that would yell for you to stay off of their tulips, and that you still invited to your wedding once you were older. We weren’t quite on a family level yet but she was definitely growing on me.
Cash couldn’t meet us because he had a soccer game but, I do fall asleep while I’m on the phone with him that night. I swear I didn’t sleep with a smile.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Monday morning comes and I dread it more than anything I have ever not wanted to face in my life. The night before I tossed and turned after my fight with my father and I can’t believe that everyone is now aware of my engagement and the social status of my fiancé. I dearly hope that security has been vamped up, because if everyone here knows, that means the paparazzi knows where to find us.
I wake up on time, since I never actually went to sleep, with dark half-moons under my eyes. I apply concealer and foundation to make me look normal. It’s more than I’ve ever needed to put on for school and it signifies what kind of day I’m about to endure. My phone rings and I answer to a fuming Lena.
“On t'a bercé trop près du mur?”
“Huh?”
“As a child, was your cradle rocked too close to the wall?” She repeats in English. My eyebrows disappear under my hairline.
“I don’t think so.”
“Then why would you find it appropriate to have such a fight in the middle of the street? Because you sleep with my son you think it is acceptable to embarrass me in such a fashion? I don’t tolerate this from him, and I will not tolerate it from you. The next media frenzy you create will result in serious consequences.” She threatens before hanging up on me. I can do little more than gape at the phone as I lock up the apartment and wait in the parking lot for Liz.
“Wow, you look great!” She gushes when she sees me in one of the new designer tops I own. We wear uniforms but, other students add to the ensemble to make it more fashionable or their style. I now have the means to do that too. Plus, throwing out my old sneakers and wearing designer flats makes me feel a little fancier. Most of the clothing I received is being delivered to Cash’s house but I got some of it home with me.
“Thanks. I’d feel like I looked great if mother dearest didn’t just threaten me.” Liz looks much more rested than I do and she chats easily with me before asking what happened. I explain and she appropriately bashes her idol to make me feel better. This trying to treat them as normal people thing gets easier as they piss me off more. By the time we are almost at school Liz has stopped fussing enough to change the subject.
“Me and my mom think it might be best for you to move in with us.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, you don’t exactly live in the best neighborhood.”
“Understatement.” I snort.
“We just think that things could get a lot more dangerous once people find out where you live and how little security there is here.”
“I live in the ghetto Liz. That’s the security.”
“I understand that you don’t think anyone would purposely go there looking for you, but you don’t live in a gated area. You don’t have a security alarm, and whether or not your dad will be home at night is as unpredictable as whether or not Kim K will wear clothes in a photo shoot.” I give her a look.
“You and I both know she is more than likely going to be nude.”
“The point is it isn’t safe.” I am about to tell her she is wrong when we get to the school and notice the heavy traffic.
“What the heck is going on?” Liz slows the car down— as she has to since no one else is driving more than ten miles an hour. Traffic is almost at a complete stand still. When we get closer to the gate, we see that there are tons of people with cameras photographing the school and the cars coming in. School security stands next to them, stopping them from coming inside the gates and probably reminding them that this is private property.
“It hasn’t been this crazy since that scandal with Jimmy Lyndon’s dad stepping down from office after they found out about the affair between him and his boyfriend.” I say in awe.
“Duck, Khloe.”
“Wha-“ She shoves my head down by the glove compartment as we get to the gate. I narrowly miss it but my knee catches the brunt of it because I jump upward at her abrupt push. The paparazzi barely gaze at Liz before continuing to look around.
“If they see you, they will probably run out in front of the car or something so they can get pictures. I just got this thing out of the shop. I’m not taking her back for stranger related damage.”
“You don't know what could happen!”
“Uhm, hello? Do you not remember what happened in New York?” I wish I could forget.
School security looks at Liz and notices me tucked down but they let us through anyway without saying a word.
“So much for this being a normal day at school.” I tell Liz as we park. Students are everywhere outside as usual, in groups talking and laughing. When Liz and I get out and walk towards the stairs in front of the double doors the school yard grows quiet and then louder as whispers break out and people point or nod in our direction.
My face heats as I make eye contact with everyone. I can’t imagine what the rumors being spread are actually about, but I’m sure I will hear a few before the end of the lunch hour.
When we walk in to the entrance hallway, people start to rush over to me.
“Wow! Is that Khloe Henderson?” I hear a guy say. I don’t think the clothes make me look that different but, I guess they do.
“Hey Khloe! Is what the gossip blogs are saying true?”
“Since when are you and Cash engaged?”
“Where’s your ring?”
“Can you all move? I just want to get to class.”
“Marley’s pissed just so you know.” That one catches my attention and I turn to hear the girl out.
“Really?” That makes my heart smile.
“Yeah, she totally started a campaign against you, telling everyone that will listen that you’re a fraud and you and Cash aren’t really together. I even heard she was snooping around in the front office for your records. You might want to watch your back.” She continues.
“I heard she sent in a statement to TMZ about it.” Another girl I’ve never seen before says.
“That bitch.”
“Yup. So are we invited to the wedding?”
“Okay, that’s it, all students report to your homerooms immediately!” A teacher yells over the commotion. Some kids try to get more questions in but they disperse quickly when staff starts threatening to cancel prom.
I could care less about prom so instead I stomp off to find Marley and confront her about going through my private records. When I find her, I also find Cash and a quarter of the senior class girls all over one table in the Cafe. I push my way through the girls and lean over the table.
Marley gives a tilt of her lips before saying, “Penny, Penny, Penny. When will you learn when you are not wanted?”
“I could ask you the same; since you’re the one nearly sitting in my fiancé’s lap.” Cash starts to unfold himself from the table so that he can stand.
Giving him puppy eyes Marley says, “Please don’t leave, tell us more about France.” She says while twirling the end of her dark ponytail between polished fingernails. All the girls around her immediately start trying to convince him to talk more too. It’s quite pathetic.
“Maybe later, I need to go with Khloe.” He replies. My face heats with the glare of everyone’s eyes on me and I say, “By the way Marley, why don’t you get a life so that you can stop interfering with mine.” Sharp gasps go around the table.
“What life? You stole my boyfriend and then you stole-“
“He wasn’t your boyfriend okay? You are so delusional it’s borderline obsessive!”
“You jealous bitch! You think just because you finally got a decent outfit that you can even compete? I don’t know what he thinks he sees in you but eventually he will know what we all do, bottom feeder!” I want to scratch her eyes out and I must look like I will because suddenly Cash is putting me over his shoulder and walking out of the Cafe.
“Watch it Marley.” He growls out at her. He doesn’t speak again until we are a safe distance away and he sets my feet back on the ground. “Don’t worry about her. How did the trip go?” I step back and cross my arms over my chest defensively.
“It was great. I love being harassed by a family of wenches over a fake engagement.” I tell him shortly, his eyebrows rise up his forehead.
Cash looks around before grabbing me and dragging me to a corner. A lot of people are watching us closely. He backs me against a wall and presses close to me so that when he whispers it is not possible for anyone but Liz to hear us. “What is your problem?”
“How could you let her talk about me that way.” I yell at him.
“What? I don’t know why you bother to let her get to you. She’s just looking for attention. She feeds off of it. Plus, you’ve never seemed to need my help.”
“You just don’t get what it’s like to be constantly…ugh! I can’t put up with this bull!”
“Koko-“ Liz interjects softly.
“No. I’ve had just about enough of this.” I say before rushing into my first class.
The entire day is madness. Students ask me questions all day long.
When did Cash and I start dating?
How long have I known who his mom is?
Is it true that we are getting married?
Why don’t I have a ring?
Over and over and over again.
By lunch I want to put a mechanical pencil through someone’s eye. On top of that, Cash is constantly touching —and despite my reiteration of no longer going along with the plan—kissing all over my face and making me go to war with my emotions. I’m so confused that I don't know if I am the one crossing the imaginary line I made in my head or if we are collectively destroying it. I wouldn’t dare ask if we were a normal couple because there is absolutely nothing normal about this situation. Like, at all.
By the end of the day, I’m ready to pull my hair out and give Cash the finger. All his touches and caresses are followed by a mocking smile. Like he knows something that I don’t. I thought this was all cleared up after my trip to New York, but apparently I’m getting a taste of my own medicine here. I’m so distracted by my own thoughts that when Liz and I pull away from the school parking lot I don't duck down when Liz asks me to and the once small population of cameramen that were outside our school gates has doubled. They spot me and start snapping pictures, running out in front of Liz’s car so that she can’t drive.
Liz shrieks in surprise and fear and slams on her brakes. Strangers with cameras surround the car immediately coming to the passenger window and standing in front of my side of the windshield as they ask me questions. Cameras flash so brightly that I feel like a cartoon character after it is beaten over the head with a ridiculously large object. School security mana
ges to get them out of the way so that Liz can speed off after what feels like an eternity and by the time we get to the main road I still see bright spots from the flashes of the cameras in my face.
Liz and I are both quiet for awhile before I let out an exhale.
“Are you okay?” I ask her. She nods, not taking her eyes off of the road.
“Yeah, it is just different when I am the one driving. In New York, we had a hired driver that is used to that madness.” I reach out and pat her shoulder.
“Thanks for getting us out of there. If I knew how to drive I would so you don’t have to.” I tell her, trying to lighten the mood.
“About that, don’t you think you should try and learn?”
“Why? What car will I be driving? Maybe one of my father’s liquor bottles will sprout wheels, seats and side mirrors.” I feel Liz take her eyes off of the road long enough to look over and laugh with me.
The next day, I’m getting ready for school when I get a call from Liz.
“What’s up?”
“Turn to the Newz.” She says instead of hello. From her tone, I don’t argue I just drag myself out to the living room and put on the basic cable. My dad’s passed out on the couch so I stand as I watch the attractive journalist ask questions. She sticks her microphone out and a girl I vaguely recognize looks at the screen as she fidgets with her long blonde hair.
“Do we know her?” I ask.
“That’s Gina Marshall. She’s on the cheer squad.” I’m about to ask more questions when I hear Gina continue.
“Yes, she’s super poor. I’m not even sure how she got into our school. I heard she’s on some kind of scholarship.”
“Do you see her around school often?” The reporter asks.
Gina shrugs, “Sure, she does attend. But she’s usually hanging around with her friend…Elizabeth I think it is. I hardly ever saw her and Cash together. That’s why this whole engagement was such a shock.”
“Is she nice?”
“She’s actually sort of a bully. You would think if someone was worse off they would be nicer to people but she’s always kind of touchy. My best friend has science with Khloe and Cash and I heard she threatened to stab him with a pencil once.” She says with big eyes feigning disbelief.