Building on Lies (18 page)

“ I know. I think she’s so cute. She’s so little," Samantha said, even though she was barely taller than I was.

“ I mean, if you think Portuguese girls are pretty. I think most of them look kind of cheap," Bethany added, nastily.

I looked at her, my eyes widening. She blinked at me a few times, and I knew she was just trying to distract Samantha.

“ Aw, Bethany. Don’t talk like that. That’s not nice," Samantha said, pouting. She continued to stroke my hair, even though I’d moved away from her.

“ It doesn’t matter," I said. “ I’ll see you around”.

I started to walk away, but Samantha stopped me. She came up to me, stood right in front of me, her eyes locking with mine.

“ Let me fix this for you, sweetie," she said, smiling, but her sleepy eyes were flat, expressionless. She lifted the collar of my sweater. “ You’ve got a red mark on your neck.”

My hand flew up to my neck, but I managed to give her a shaky smile.

“ Th-thanks," I stuttered, and then raced out of there, as fast as I could.

“ It’ll be OK, Nellie. Trust me, it’ll be fine," Ro said later on that evening. We were in our bedroom. I was so shaken by what happened in the bathroom I couldn’t stop pacing. Ro had to stop me from biting my nails.

My mom came into my room, concerned. “Nellie, did you see a spider? Do you want me to make you some tea?”

“ She’s fine, Daisy," Ro told her.

“ Are you sure? I can hear you pacing downstairs, Nellie.” My mother put her hand to my forehead.

“ I’m OK, Mom.” I wrapped my arms around my chest. “ I’m just feeling anxious”.

“ Anxious about what, meninha?” my mom asked.

“ Just stuff. Winter Dance. Exams. Joaquim”, I said. I couldn’t meet her eyes because I really felt like I was going to cry.

“ I’ll be downstairs if you need me, Nellie," my mom said, and I think she understood there wasn’t anything she could do to help.

“ Maybe you should call Channing," Ro said, once my mom left. “ I mean, even if it’s just to warn him about the other girl. Ava”.

“ Yeah, but then if he confronts Samantha, she’ll wonder how he found out. And then she might find out about us," I said.

“ He could say Bethany told him?” Ro led me to my bed to stop me from pacing. “Nellie, you need to calm down. You’re going to get all worked up like when you get your panic attacks”.

I tried to calm myself down, but I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath, and my palms were sweating like crazy. I rubbed them up and down my jeans.

“ I can’t do to that Bethany," I said. “ Ro, you had to hear that girl. She sounded so crazy. And I don’t mean crazy like Ty. I mean crazy like dangerous”.

“ She has to be mental if she’s got a guy like Channing sneaking around scared. He's a smart guy, you know? If he’s so cautious around her, it must mean something”. Ro took my hands, and held them in hers.

“ Ro, my hands are all sweaty," I said softly, but I was grateful for her comfort.

“ It’s OK," she murmured, holding them tight. “ Just relax. I’m sorry you had to hear Samantha talking like that. It must not have been easy”.

“ I just wonder how a sweet guy like Chan got involved with someone like that in the first place," I said, closing my eyes.

“ Well, maybe she wasn’t so weird when they first got together," Ro said. “And she’s been through a lot, too. I mean, she’s only seventeen, and she’s been pregnant, and had to give up a child. She’s possibly dealing with some mental issues”.

“ And she’s in love with someone who doesn’t love her back," I added.

Ro looked doubtful. “ I don’t think she’s in love with Channing. When you love someone, the last thing you want to do is hurt them. Or force them to love you back. I mean, I’m positive Joaquim is in love with you. But I don’t think he’d ever try and force you to be with him, or do things to try and hurt you”.

I considered this. Ro was right. I was in love with Chan, and as much as I wanted to be with him, I’d never force him to be with me. If he ever told me he wanted to be with Samantha instead of me, I’d respect it. I wanted him to be happy.

“ So, Tommy’s writing a speech of what he’s going to say to your Mom," Ro said, cheerfully.

I was grateful for the change of subject. “ That’s so adorable, Ro," I said, squeezing her hand.

“ Isn’t it? I told him he should just say what’s in his heart, but he told me he wants it to be perfect”.

“ So, we’ll be planning a wedding, soon huh?" I asked. “This will be fun”.

“ I think so," Ro hesitated, then asked, “ Do you think Tommy is hot?”

“ Um…yeah. He’s cute”. I didn’t really know how to reply. Tommy was not as hot as Channing, or Joaquim. He was kind of stocky, and he wore his hair in a low buzz cut that made his hair look electrified. But he had really nice brown eyes, and dimples when he smiled.

“ And he’s funny, right?” Ro seemed to be thinking aloud, but I answered her anyway.

“ Sure. He can tell some funny jokes," I said.

“ No, I don’t mean is he funny like telling funny jokes funny. Like is he funny because he’s just funny?”

“ Ro, what are you talking about?" I asked, thoroughly confused.

“ Ty Sutton gave me his cell number today," Ro muttered, letting go of my hands. She inspected her nails as if it were the most serious thing in the world.

I gasped. “ He gave you his number?”

“ Yeah”. Ro looked at me with an unsteady smile. “ He came up to me today, just before school let out, and he gave me his number. He said to give him a call if I ever wanted to hang out”.

It took me a moment to get my voice back, I was so shocked.

Ro saw my expression, and laughed. “ I know! Crazy, right?”

“ But how did he give you his number? Was he all flirty about it, or was he friendly…what?" I asked her.

Ro shrugged. “ I couldn’t tell. He just kind of came up to me and gave me his number. It was surreal”.

“ Was anyone around?”

“ No, not really. It all happened really fast.” Ro glanced upward, as if she was still trying to fit the situation in her head. “ I’m not calling him, of course. I’m practically engaged”.

“ Yeah. You are," I agreed. “ And you’ve liked Tommy for a long time. Such a long time”.

Ro nodded, but then she looked back down at her hands again. “ What’s with these A-boys falling for us Cove girls lately, huh?”

“ I don’t know," I murmured. “ But they’re trouble. Trust me, I know”.

Ro laughed. “ Yeah. But darn it…Ty Sutton is kind of sexy”.

“ Sexy is not the word!" I agreed. I was crazy about Channing, but Ty Sutton was definitely sexy. Sexy and funny, and a little wild.

Definitely not the kind of guy for Ro. Ro needed someone steady and responsible, like Tommy Garza. Ro had had enough chaos in her life.

“ Anyway, doesn’t Ty have a girl? What’s with these Sutton guys and cheating?” Ro said, but the she clapped her hands over her mouth. “ I’m sorry, Nellie. I didn’t mean it like that”.

“ It’s OK," I said. “ Anyway, you’re not entirely wrong. Samantha did say their dad was cheating with the housekeeper. So maybe Ty and Chan think it’s normal”.

“ Well, I hate players. Bad guys get me down," Ro said.

“ Chan’s not a player. Or at least I don’t think he’s one on purpose. But Ty? I’m not so sure. He’s cute and he knows it," I said.

“ Yeah. You’re probably right," Ro said.

“ Beside, Tommy would make mince meat out of Ty if he ever came near you. Tommy’s bananas over you," I said.

“ Yeah, he is pretty crazy about me, isn’t he?" Ro said, smiling happily.

“ So, have you seen the ring?" I asked. “ Did you pick it out?”

Ro put her hands over her heart. “ Oh, Nellie, it’s so beautiful! It’s not anything fancy, but it’s just perfect for me”.

Ro began to describe it, and then we started talking about what kind of ceremony she should have. We were so caught up in talking about Ro’s dream wedding we didn’t pay any attention when the doorbell rang.

A few moments later, my mother opened the door to the room. “ Nellie, there’s a young lady here to see you.”

Ro and I exchanged glances.

“ A girl?" I said. “ What does she look like?”

“ She’s tall, blond”. My mother made a funny face. “ Definitely not a girl from around here from the car she’s driving. Says her name is Bethany, and you two go to school together. Should I send her up?”

My heart started pounding again, but I managed to speak. “ Yeah, she can come up”.

Bethany entered our bedroom a few seconds later. She looked nervous, and stressed out…nothing like the sassy Bethany from the bowling alley.

“ What’s up, girls," she said, hesitantly.

“ You tell us," Ro countered.

“ I came by to talk to Nellie about what happened in the bathroom today," Bethany said, awkwardly swinging her hands at her side.

“ I’m not sure I want to talk to you, Bethany," I said. I wasn’t sure whose side she was on. Yeah, she’d helped me patch things up with Channing, but I still wasn’t sure she could be trusted.

“ Listen, Nellie, I didn’t mean what I said to you in the bathroom. I just didn’t want Samantha to think I knew you, or that we were friends," she said, apologetically.

“ I figured that”. I gave her a small smile to show it was OK, but then I looked over at Ro. Ro wasn’t smiling at all. Her blue eyes were narrowed suspiciously.

“ You came all the way from A-Park to apologize to Nellie?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“ No, not just for that”. She stopped swinging her arms. “ I came by to ask Nellie not to say anything about what happened today to Chan.”

“ Why? Why shouldn’t she tell Channing? Nellie was really upset over what she heard, Bethany," Ro informed her. “ I mean, I’ve only just got her to calm down”.

“ Ro, trust me, I feel bad Nellie had to hear Samantha talking like that, too. Abby and I are used to it, but I know it must seem really weird to people who don’t know Sam”.

“ Why are you even friends with someone like that?” Ro wrinkled her nose in disgust. “ A girl who threatens to scalp people? Who goes around collecting hairs? How freaky is that?”

“ I’ve been friends with Samantha all my life. Just like you and Nellie. And trust me, if I could get rid of Samantha, I would. But she’s not the kind of person you can just cut out of your life. She’s really cruel, and vindictive. And her parents practically own A-Park," Bethany explained.

“ So what? If she’s not a good person, then you shouldn’t be around her. It’s as simple as that," Ro said, with a small shrug of her shoulders.

Bethany looked at me, as if willing me to understand, since Ro wouldn’t. Ro did have a tendency to see things black and white. But I knew people could be complicated, and they didn’t always find it easy to make the right decision.

“ Ro, let’s hear Bethany out," I said. “ I’ve already decided I’m not telling Chan. But I do feel like I should tell someone in school about what Samantha said. I don’t want anyone to get hurt”.

“ Sit down," Ro said to Bethany, pointing to her bed.

Bethany sat down at the edge of Ro’s bed, her hands on her knees. “ First, I’m glad you’re not going to tell Chan. It would really stress him out. More than he already is. Chan feels personally responsible for Samantha, and everything she does, you know?”

I nodded. He held a lot of guilt over Samantha’s pregnancy, and her breakdown.

“ Samantha manipulates Chan like you wouldn’t believe. She’s always blaming him for getting her pregnant. Which is kinda messed up, because it’s not like he raped her or anything. It was just an accident. Then she blamed him for losing their kid. She said she wasn’t mentally well when her parents made her sign away her parental rights, and Chan should have done something about it. But he was only fifteen himself, you know? He thought he was doing what she wanted, what their parents wanted”.

Bethany shook her head, then continued. “ She’s tried to commit suicide twice, and each time she blamed Chan. She makes it seem like he’s this controlling, obsessive guy, when it’s the other way around. And she totally has his parents on her side. The Sutton's think Chan doesn’t appreciate Samantha”.

“ But how can they not see her for what she is?" Ro asked.

“ Money, I guess," Bethany replied. “The St. John’s are like A-Park royalty. They’re old money, you know? Every family in A-Park wants to associate with them. You’re nobody if the St. John’s aren’t friendly with you. The Sutton's think it’s like a blessing from above one of their sons is seriously involved with a St. John. Even my parents get upset with me anytime I try to cut Samantha out of my life.”

“ I can’t even imagine," I said. Ardsley Park sounded so different from Egg Cove. In Egg Cove, everyone was pretty much the same. Sure, there were some families, like Joaquim’s family, and even my Mom, who’d achieved some financial success. But having money wasn’t enough to have people admire you or respect you. In Egg Cove, people liked you if you were decent, kind, and gave back to the community. Money wasn’t everything. But maybe was because there wasn’t much of it anyway.