Chapter Twenty-One
“Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus…”
It was now Christmas Eve, and the feeling Christmas was in the air was not lost on anyone who chose to celebrate it. Shopping malls were open from early in the morning, in order to assist all those desperate shoppers who decided to do their gift buying at the last minute. The gift wrappers at the malls were working their fingers to the bone, ensuring that presents looked pristine, and ribbons were properly tied, once customers left their stores. Car parking at the malls was packed out to capacity, as everyone was racing to secure the best parking spots to do their shopping, and, even sneak in a little recreation at the same time.
On the home front, people were preparing to gather with their relatives and friends, and toast in Christmas together. Homes were decked out in authentic festive style, with wreaths, and Christmas trees especially, adorning lounge rooms. Some homeowners went to the trouble of assembling outdoor ornaments and lights, and entire streets devoted themselves to doing this. Tables were being set with elaborate place settings, and ovens were working to the max, the aromas of Christmas pudding, roasts, and other scrumptious delicacies filling the air. All of these gave an atmosphere of warmth and lightness to what was a rather chilly Christmastime.
The late afternoon of Carrie’s Christmas Eve party had finally arrived. Amy was at home, in her bedroom, getting ready for the evening. She had already put on her dress, applied her makeup, and, after finishing this, paused for a moment. Amy looked into the mirror, remembering Jake, and how things could have been different between them, but, shook her head in disappointment. She wanted to not think about Jake, and, trying to take her mind off him, looked around her bedroom. Amy noticed her wardrobe door was open, and her costume from the fancy dress gala caught her eye. She felt as if something was compelling her to gaze at it, and Amy walked over to the dress, taking it off the rack.
Amy placed the dress in front of herself, and stood in front of the mirror. She smiled, and reminisced about the gala, particularly about Jake, and how he really was her Prince Charming that evening. Amy was being swept away thinking of Jake, and how he kissed her that night, but her dreamy, pensive mood was interrupted by a knock at the door. She reluctantly came back to reality, and quickly put the costume back inside her wardrobe, before grabbing her small evening bag, and going downstairs.
Amy opened the door, and saw it was Chad waiting for her. He had a wide, beaming smile, and appeared very handsome. Chad was wearing a black suit with a humorous bow tie, and had his hair slicked back. While he seemed a little overdressed, and dressing older than he was, at the same time, this look seemed to suit him. While Chad seemed, at times, to belong more to the pages of a menswear magazine through the way he dressed than to real life, Amy knew he always liked to dress really well.
“Ready Amy?” he asked, all smiles.
“I’m ready,” she replied, taking a second to steal a look up the stairs, and at her bedroom door. Amy thought once more about the fancy dress gala, and Jake, before leaving with Chad.
* * * *
Jake was at home in his bedroom, getting himself ready for the party. He was sitting on his bed, and had just done up his shirt buttons. After putting on his shoes, and tying his shoelaces, he moaned slightly, and went over to his bedside table. Jake took out a framed photo of Amy from the drawer, and, after studying it intensely for a few moments, held it close to his chest. He held it there for a few minutes, and closed his eyes.
Jake remembered the time he bumped into Amy at school, and how their eyes connected that day, and smiled to himself. Jake then recalled Amy’s angry face after their argument at school, and how Chad came between them. With this, his happy memories of Amy suddenly crashed, and Jake abruptly pulled the frame away from his chest. Jake emerged from his daydream, and looked at the photo again, unwilling to put it back into his drawer. He knew, though, that moping around would not do him any good, and, soon afterwards, left home, preparing to pick up Francine.
In a short time, Jake was in front of Francine’s house, and knocked on her door. Francine had been ready for the Christmas party from the late afternoon, and waited downstairs in the lounge room for half an hour before Jake’s arrival. She had checked herself many times in the mirror, as she wanted to look absolutely perfect for Jake. Francine took a deep sigh as she arose from the sofa, and opened the door, seeing Jake.
Jake looked very handsome in his dinner suit, and Francine believed she had never seen him so good-looking before. Francine, though, felt Jake could be handsome even wearing casual clothing, or better yet, swimwear, like she saw him several weeks ago. Jake was the type of person who knew how to wear clothes, but not let them wear him. Chad was the same as Jake; clothes really did enhance his looks, and, mainly, his body. Francine, though, was at a loss why she was thinking again about Chad, especially after she vowed to only think of him as just a friend, but she shook this off, instead concentrating on Jake.
Like Francine, Jake was also happy to see Francine looking so beautiful, and smiled at her. For a split second, Jake thought he was seeing Amy’s face instead of Francine’s, with her smile, and light chuckle, filling him with happiness. Francine smiled at him, unaware of what Jake was really thinking. She thought he was admiring her, and felt all warm inside. Jake, though, eventually came back to his senses, and shook his head, a little shaken by his vision.
He remembered that he was going to the party with Francine, not Amy, and it was not fair to Francine if he kept thinking of Amy. Jake knew Francine had tried so hard to help him over the last while, and he owed her at least some gratitude. While Jake’s attitude had not been the best lately, Francine had always been there for him, and never complained about this.
“Ready Francine?” Jake asked.
“I’m ready if you’re ready,” Francine said, her green eyes literally shimmering with happiness. Jake extended his hand out to Francine, which she smilingly accepted. They happily walked out to his car, and drove to Carrie’s house.
* * * *
Carrie was at home with James, putting the finishing touches on her Christmas party. She was hoping it was going to be a great night for everyone, but, especially, for Jake and Amy. Carrie and James eagerly checked that the food and drinks for the night were all ready, and that the lounge room was spotless. She had spent a lot of time decorating the room, and wanted to make it look just right.
Carrie was not a person, though, for overdosing on Christmas decorations; she wanted the room to look relaxed, but at the same time, festive. Everything was tastefully decorated, and her parents had also brought in a designer to help Carrie for this purpose, which had been really helpful. Carrie looked around one more time to see she was happy with everything, and smiled at James.
“It all looks great. Couldn’t have done it better myself.”
“Yeah, you’ve done really well. Now it’s time to let some other people do their work,” James said, indicating the caterers and their staff. Carrie smiled at James, knowing he was right — he wanted her to be calm, and not bogged down tonight. James looked over at the front door, and saw that Carrie’s friends were starting to trickle into the house. “They’re here…” Carrie and James moved together to the front door, and began to greet her small group of friends to the party. As her friends started to move inside, Carrie looked anxiously outside her front door, and said to James,
“Jamie, wonder where Amy and Jake are?” James frowned at Carrie’s comment, but not out of anger for her. He knew Amy and Jake had been split up for a while but hoped, for Carrie’s sake, that her plan to reunite them would work.
“Don’t wanna be a party pooper, but Amy and Jake may not come together tonight,” he said, with a slight smile.
Carrie arched her eyebrows, and shook her head.
“But they said they would,” Carrie asserted.
James sighed, and looked up at the ceiling. For him to get Carrie to believe in a worst case scenario about Amy and Jake wa
s like getting a leopard to change its spots.
“I dunno, but…”
“Don’t be dumb James, I mean, who else’d they come with?” Carrie said, cutting James off, to his frustration. As if she had overheard Carrie and James talking, Amy popped up at the front door, surprising Carrie.
“Merry Christmas Carrie, James,” she said, embracing them, handing them presents.
“Merry Christmas Amy,” Carrie and James replied, James placing the gifts on a nearby table. Carrie was on the edge of her seat, as she was waiting to see if Jake was with Amy.
“Carrie, I've got a surprise for you,” Amy said, cheeks aglow.
“What? I love surprises,” Carrie said, with great expectations of seeing Jake. To Carrie’s shock, and disappointment, it was not Jake, but Chad, coming towards the front door, beaming at Amy.
“Merry Christmas Carrie, James,” Chad said, smiling ironically, as he and Amy quickly moved towards the lounge area. Carrie was flabbergasted by seeing Amy arrive with Chad, and was speechless for a few moments. James sensed this, and whispered to her,
“Don’t be dumb James, who else’d they wanna come with?”
Carrie shook her head, and looked worried.
“Now I’ve really done it,” Carrie said. “My plan will work after all,” she murmured, smiling cheekily.
James thought her heard Carrie say something, and jerked his head.
“What Carrie?”
“Oh nothing, nothing at all,” Carrie said, smiling naughtily.
“Well, anyway Carrie, looks like once Jake arrives, things around here’ll become very interesting,” James said.
Before Carrie and James had a chance to absorb what just happened, Jake and Francine came to Carrie’s front door, also bearing gifts. Francine looked as if she was bursting at the seams with happiness, but Jake appeared a little more subdued.
“Merry Christmas Carrie, James,” Jake and Francine said.
“Merry Christmas Jake, Francine,” Carrie replied without much interest. They all shook each other’s hands, with Carrie looking at Francine with a highly subjective glance. Francine smiled off Carrie’s cold stare, and indicated to Jake they move away. Francine and Jake also moved down to the lounge area where Chad and Amy were seated, and sat down there themselves. There was a tense silence as the foursome traded nervous glances, with both Chad and Francine feeling victorious.
Amy, Chad, Francine and Jake all exchanged Christmas greetings amongst themselves, with Amy and Jake’s being the most strained of the group. Francine and Chad were delighted to see this, and smiled impishly. The atmosphere in the room was so heavy one could cut it with a knife, and this was not lost on anyone in there. Carrie picked up on this, and said,
“I’ll put on some music.” There was a slight pause, as the foursome were silent, but James said, with brave gusto,
“Good idea, Carrie.”
After turning on the CD player, Carrie again approached James and said,
“Oh god James, what’ve I done? Didn’t think Amy and Jake would do this.”
James raised his eyebrows, and looked at Carrie with doubt.
“Well Carrie you never know, some good might come out of all this.”
Carrie’s head swiveled when she heard James’ comment. It was bad enough Amy and Jake had come with other people, now James was saying that this was good?
“What good? What’re you talking about?” Carrie asked, watching Amy and Chad, and Francine and Jake talking, supposedly interested in each other. “Look at them — they’re just acting. Amy and Jake’re just using Chad and Francine to make each other jealous; anyone can see that. You don’t need glasses to see that.”
“I dunno Carrie,” James said, curling his lips. “From what I see, Amy and Jake may be showing each other they’re finished, and’ve moved on.”
Carrie shook her head, and looked worried.
“No, no, this doesn’t seem right,” Carrie said. Carrie felt she needed some space, and, to James’ surprise, left his side, going to talk to some of her other friends. Around this time, Carrie’s caterers began serving snacks, which were received with much approval from her friends. Carrie had made sure there was a bit of everything on offer, like meat, chicken and seafood snacks, and everyone eagerly sampled these treats.
Carrie had decided not to have a sit down meal for the party as it might have been restrictive to some of her friends. She felt that serving snacks would bring out the casual friendliness she wanted to encourage, as people at dinner tables sometimes have the habit of trying to dominate the conversation, which makes other people uncomfortable. Carrie thought this worked out well because with Chad and Francine around, they would have less chance to hog the spotlight from other people.
The caterers made their way through all the guests, and finally arrived at Francine and Jake. They each picked one snack, and Francine proceeded to eat hers seductively, her eye on Jake the whole time. After this, the caterers next went over to Chad and Amy. It was now Chad and Amy’s chance to show off, and Chad fed Amy her snack, and she laughed cheekily after eating it. Amy and Jake, though, kept close tabs on each other the whole time through the corner of their eyes.
Carrie was talking to some friends, and another of her friends, who saw the whole escapade, told her to look over at the foursome. Carrie caught these ‘displays’ of affection between Jake and Francine, and Amy and Chad, and knew it was time for her plan to begin unfolding. She excused herself from her friends, and caught James, who was talking with some other friends, and dragged him away from them.
“James — I’ve had enough of this. I’m gonna do something about it,” Carrie said, quickly walking towards Amy, Jake, Francine and Chad. James watched her with interest, unsure what she was going to do next. Carrie walked directly in front of all of them, with arms crossed, looking defiant. After a little while, the group realized Carrie was standing in front of them, and they eventually fell silent.
“Excuse me Amy, Jake, can I speak to you for a sec?” Carrie said, with an icy glance.
Both Amy and Jake looked at Carrie, unsure why she would interrupt them at this time. Carrie saw Chad and Francine were not too happy to be separated from Amy and Jake, and they frowned at her. With a wry smile, Carrie said to them, “Don’t worry, I won’t keep them away for too long. Anyway, I know you’ll find something to talk about.”
The foursome watched each other in bewilderment, and Chad and Francine were just a bit annoyed by Carrie comment. Jake and Amy, with reluctance, decided to get up, as they wanted to see what Carrie wanted. They began to follow her into the back of Carrie’s house, and through the corridor. Amy, though, was a little suspicious as to what Carrie wanted, and her face was red with anger.
“Carrie, why’d you have to interrupt me now? What’s so important? Can’t it wait? I was in the middle of something.”
Carrie smiled impertinently at Amy, and rolled her eyes.
“It couldn’t wait? It’s not like you were doing anything that couldn’t wait,” Carrie said, being equally as touchy as Amy. Carrie led the unwilling Amy and Jake into her bedroom, and both looked at her with suspicion, to which Carrie smiled sweetly. After the three of them were finally inside, Carrie closed the door, making sure Francine and Chad were not in the vicinity.
“Okay Carrie, what do you wanna talk about? Why couldn’t you tell me in the lounge room?”
“Because we can’t,” Carrie said, looking at Amy with a stern expression. “Anyway, there are more important things to talk about than…than Chad and Francine.”
Amy shook her head, and frowned.
“What do you mean?” Amy pleaded. “What’ve Chad and Francine got to do with this?”
Carrie laughed ominously, and smirked at Amy.
“Everything, then nothing,” Carrie said. Amy and Jake watched Carrie, unsure what she meant. “Anyway Amy, you can’t fool me, I’ve known you too long. I know what you’re both up to,” Carrie said, eyeing Amy and Jake as equal suspects.
“What do you mean? You’re not making any sense,” Amy asked, both she and Jake looking at Carrie with enquiring expressions.
Carrie started walking around the room, both Amy and Jake watching her in confusion.
“Well, where do I start? First Amy, you bring Chad here tonight, and you Jake, bring Francine. Then, you try to make each other jealous by mmn… feeding Chad and Francine, and stuff like that,” Carrie said, flaring her nostrils. “What you’re doing’s so fake,” Carrie declared, with an ironic laugh.
“Like what?” Jake asked, like Amy, also acting innocent.
“Oh Jake, thought you forgot how to talk. You’re just trying to make each other jealous. I mean, I know you both, but anyone with eyes and a brain can see what’s going on,” Carrie stated.
Amy laughed nervously, and shook her head at Carrie’s words.
“You’re kidding Carrie. I haven’t been with Jake for a while, and nothing’s going on now,” Amy said.
Carrie looked at Amy square in the eye, and laughed.
“Okay, yeah, maybe, whatever you say… still, why don’t I believe you?”
Amy shrugged her shoulders, and looked at Carrie.
“Dunno Carrie — maybe it’s too hard for you to accept,” Amy responded. “I’ve accepted it — so should you.” Jake looked away in dismay after what Amy said, and this only showed Carrie how much Jake and Amy still wanted each other, despite how they were acting.
“I’ll only accept what I honestly believe. I’ll never believe you and Jake’ve ever stopped wanting each other,” Carrie said, both Amy and Jake bowing their heads after she stated this. As Carrie watched Amy and Jake, and what they did tonight, an idea began to form in her mind, and she smiled with mischief. Carrie’s smile developed into a full-bodied laugh, but Amy and Jake were becoming puzzled just watching her.
“I think you both need to be taught a lesson by me tonight.” Carrie swiftly walked towards her bedroom door, backing herself up against it, and smiled at them.
The Great High School Love Game Page 26