Confessions of a Wild Child (6 page)

I purposefully walk by them, making sure that they see me, even though it’s kind of dark. ‘Hey, Brandon,’ I say – cool and casual as if I really couldn’t give a rat’s ass.

Brandon unlocks lips and throws me a look. ‘Wassup?’ he mutters, while Lulu gives off a triumphant sneer.

I shrug – ‘Gotta go,’ I say, winking. Yes, I actually do a cringe-worthy wink! ‘Hot date waiting. Y’know how it is.’

‘Hey—’ he starts to say.

Before he can finish, I’m gone – walking away as quickly as possible.

Boys
.

Not to be trusted
.

Not to be believed
.

I’m getting the message
.

Chapter Eleven

O
lympia is not as sympathetic as I expected. She arrives at the dock ten minutes late with messed-up hair, smeared lipstick and a burgeoning hickey on her neck. Lovely. I get dumped and she gets to make out. I’m jealous.

I relay my sad story. Olympia gives a casual shrug. ‘Boys are dicks,’ she announces. ‘Thing is there’s so many of them around that it doesn’t really matter. They’re like trains – one rolls out, another rolls in. Don’t sweat it.’

Sometimes Olympia is smarter than she looks.

We make it back to our private island where Olympia’s dad is having some kind of Greek dance-off with multiple friends and relatives. The music is loud. The natives are drunk. It’s all too much.

‘Bed,’ Olympia whispers. ‘Don’t even think about joining in.’

As if I was. No way. Old people letting loose has never been my thing.

I sleep fitfully, thinking about dumbass Brandon. Was it something I did? Said? Where did I go wrong?

Finally I decide that it isn’t me, it’s
him
.
He’s
the asshole. I’m a Santangelo, and I refuse to be disrespected by some lame boy.

*  *  *

The next morning I am all revved up and hot for revenge. ‘Can we go back to town?’ I beg Olympia, who is looking very sleepy-eyed and pleased with herself.

‘Not today,’ she says with a casual wave of her hand. ‘Poppa wants us on the yacht.’

‘Why?’ I ask, frowning.

Olympia giggles. ‘Set decoration for all the old farts to ogle.’

I am not thrilled with this plan. I need to spit in Brandon’s face – not literally, but somehow I have a strong urge to get back at him.

‘Tomorrow,’ Olympia promises, sensing my disappointment. ‘Today we’ll work on getting the best tan
ever
.’

‘OK,’ I say, still seething about Brandon.

The Stanislopolous yacht is quite amazing. The crew even more so. Why hasn’t Olympia mentioned that her father’s yacht is teeming with a crew of super-sexy young guys in tight white uniforms?

‘Wow!’ I give her a delighted nudge. ‘These guys rock!’

‘Hands and eyes off,’ Olympia warns. ‘They work for Poppa. Forbidden territory.’

Forbidden, my ass
, I think. They might be forbidden to her, but hey – I’m a visitor, I can do what I want.

There is one particular member of the crew who immediately grabs my attention. His name is Jack and I soon find out he’s an Australian. I spend the day trying to stir up some kind of conversation without Olympia noticing. It isn’t easy, but I think I manage to get through to him.

Before we leave the yacht I ask him if he ever goes into town.

This obviously takes him by surprise, but I can tell he’s interested.

‘Yeah, sometimes,’ he says, glancing around to make sure he’s not being watched by one of his superiors.

‘Tomorrow?’ I question. ‘We could meet up.’

‘We could,’ he says unsurely. ‘It’s my day off. So . . .’

‘See you by the main plage at noon,’ I say, adding a quick – ‘And in case you’re wondering, I’m eighteen, so I’m totally legal.’

He looks relieved, but still wary. Fraternizing with the guests is obviously a big no-no.

I smile to myself. Flirting is so easy, and yet major empowering. Men. Boys. Old farts. They’re all the same. A provocative smile, a flash of suntanned skin, a toss of dark hair. It’s all a game, and I am fast learning how to be a power player.

*  *  *

Fortunately Olympia is itching to meet up with Borus again. ‘What’ll
you
do if I go off with Borus all day?’ she asks, as we board the Riva for another day trip to the mainland. ‘There’s no way I’m leaving you by yourself.’

‘Don’t worry about me,’ I say with a casual shrug. ‘I like lying out on the beach by myself. It’s relaxing, and I can keep an eye out for any interesting prospects.’

‘Whatever,’ Olympia says, adding a not very enthusiastic – ‘It’s OK if you tag along with us.’

‘No thanks,’ I say, thinking that Jack better turn up or else.

I have a plan. It’ll work, I know it will. I vaguely recall listening in one day when Gino was talking to Uncle Costa. ‘You always gotta have a plan, an’ you always gotta stick to it.’ Those were Gino’s words of wisdom.

Yes, Daddy Gino, I think I am taking your advice.

Shortly before noon I linger at the top of the beach near the ping-pong tables. I have borrowed a red bikini from Olympia and cleverly stuffed the bra cups with socks for extra appeal.

Looking sexy works, and big boobs are obviously sexy.

Apparently so, for who comes trotting up but Brandon, alone and primed for action.

‘Wassup?’ he mutters.

A boy of few words.

‘Not much,’ I reply, licking my lips in a vaguely suggestive way. ‘You?’

‘Thought I’d take a ride on one of those pedalos,’ he mumbles. ‘Wanna come?’

‘Don’t think so,’ I reply, cool and in control.

His face registers shock. It’s obvious Brandon – with his broody good looks – is not used to getting turn-downs. ‘Why not?’ he demands.

‘’Cause I’m busy,’ I say, keeping it casual.

‘You don’t look busy t’me,’ Brandon says, squinting at me.

‘I will be.’

He cocks an eyebrow. ‘You pissed about the other day?’

‘Are you kidding?’ I retort.

‘It was nothin’,’ Brandon continues. ‘She’s a hanger-on. I was just trying to get her off my back.’

‘Or front,’ I murmur.

‘You
are
pissed,’ he says triumphantly.

‘I am so not,’ I reply.

And then – thank you, God – up strolls Jack in white shorts and a black T-shirt. Tall and tan, an all-Australian hunk.

Without thinking it through, I throw my arms around Jack’s neck and plant a kiss firmly on his lips.

He is shocked but game.

Brandon is livid.

‘This is my boyfriend,’ I say to Brandon.

‘Hey,’ Brandon says, simmering.

Jack gets what’s going on and plays along.

‘Hello, mate,’ he says. ‘Thanks for keepin’ an eye on my girl.’ And with that he grips my arm and whisks me away.

As soon as we are out of earshot Jack starts to laugh. ‘You’re a cheeky little minx,’ he guffaws. ‘What’re you up to?’

‘The dude deserved it,’ I reply. ‘He played me, so I played him back.’

‘And you used me.’

‘I know,’ I say, stopping for a moment and giving him a long lingering look. ‘And for that I owe you. So . . . how would you like me to repay you?’

We spent the rest of the day on the beach making out under a large sun umbrella. I soon realize I have picked well, Jack is an amazing kisser, even better than Brandon – who was not lacking in the kissing department.

I am becoming a woman of experience and I like it!

It occurs to me that the male species are easy to manipulate as long as you know how to play it. And, believe me, I am learning fast!

Chapter Twelve

A
fter an amazing summer in Greece, it’s back to the same old – and by that I mean L’Evier and unbelievably tedious lessons on subjects I have absolutely no interest in. Latin, anyone? Geometry? And of course there are even more boring rules – which Olympia and I have no problem breaking. Since we both get off on taking risks, our night-time outings are becoming more and more frequent. All I can say is thank God for Olympia, she’s my partner in everything – and although at the beginning of our friendship she taught
me
a thing or two, I have now caught up big-time. Oh yes. I might only be fifteen, but I’ve certainly learned how to deal with boys. No more stupid schoolgirl crushes – I have developed a ‘don’t call me, I’ll call you’ mentality. I give ’em Almost – which drives them insane – and I stay in control. It’s the only way.

Shortly after getting back to school I see on TV that Marabelle Blue has gotten engaged to a businessman by the name of Gino Santangelo. Businessman indeed! What a crock! Thank God I’m not connected to him. Nobody knows who I really am.

Ms Blue’s engagement takes place six weeks after her very public suicide attempt. Great. Am I about to welcome a psycho suicide freak as my stepmom?

Ugh!

Daddy Dearest phones to tell me of his engagement.

Too late, Gino, I saw it on the news
.
Thanks for your concern
.

I can’t help wondering how Dario feels. I
do
miss him, although he’s still a little kid, and I’m all grown up. We probably don’t have much in common any more.

Tonight Olympia and I take a major risk. We sneak out, get totally wasted, and smuggle two boys back to our school and into our room. Talk about daring!

My date for the night’s activities, Chad, has brown curly hair and a very nice bod. He is English and attends the boys’ school located near us. I am quite taken with his accent, and his kissing skills aren’t bad either.

I’ve never actually practised Almost in a bed before. But soon I am totally naked with a boy for the first time. Naturally this horny English boy is hot to take it all the way.

‘Everything but,’ I tell him firmly, wriggling out of his reach.

‘C’mon,’ he begs. ‘Let me just put it there, between your legs – I promise I won’t do anything.’

Ah yes, and I have a fine piece of real estate in Central Park I can sell you . . .

Boys! They must think all girls are total idiots.

I dissuade him from his task by doing something to him that all boys crave. Then just when he is about to return the favour, the lights go on, and standing in the doorway to our room – arms crossed, looking like a stern-faced ghost – is the gym teacher, and Miss Miriam herself.

Holy batshit!

Crapola major!

Man!

‘Out!’ Miss Miriam thunders at the two boys, who leap from our beds as if they have a raging frog up their ass. ‘Go now. And never return.’

The boys frantically grab their clothes and run, leaving me and Olympia hiding under the sheets in our individual beds.

‘Tomorrow morning. My office,’ Miss Miriam says, laser eyes decimating us. Then she snaps off the lights with an ominous flourish and the two women make a stern exit.

Olympia dissolves into fits of nervous giggles.

I don’t know what to do. So I laugh too.

Screw it
.
We’re invincible!

*  *  *

‘You have brought disgrace upon the entire establishment of L’Evier. This hallowed school has
never
experienced behaviour like this before.
Never!
’ Miss Miriam removes her pebble-like spectacles and glares at us.

For a moment I think she might burst into tears at the effrontery of it all. But she doesn’t – she curls her lip and continues glaring.

It’s the next morning and we are standing in her office in front of her desk like a couple of criminals caught in the act. I guess in her eyes that’s exactly what we are.

Miss Miriam is on a rant. ‘To bring boys into my school is bad enough. But to take them to your room, and to be found
in bed
with them. Well . . .’

Olympia stifles a giggle.

Miss Miriam turns on her. ‘You may well laugh, young lady – however, I do not imagine your laughter will continue when your father arrives to remove you from this school that you have besmirched with your
disgusting
vulgar behaviour.’

Olympia gulps. So do I.

‘The pair of you are expelled,’ Miss Miriam continues. ‘Both your fathers will be here tomorrow morning to collect you. In the meantime you are to go to your room and
stay
there. Is that clear?’

We nod, only now I’m panicking. Has the old biddy contacted Gino? Will he be coming for me? Jeez, I am in major trouble.

‘Can we go now?’ Olympia asks, apparently unfazed at the reality of being expelled.

Miss Miriam looks down her nose at us. ‘Please do,’ she says, acid-tongued. ‘I cannot stand to look at either of you for one more minute.’

Olympia flounces from the office. I follow.

We make it up to our room, whereupon Olympia collapses onto her bed and starts complaining.

‘What an old witch!’ she moans. ‘My poppa’s going to be major pissed, he hates it when I get thrown out of school and he has to come get me and make nice and apologize for his naughty little girlikins. He made me swear I wouldn’t get thrown out of this one. Shit!’

I can sympathize. Gino is not going to be exactly thrilled. But then he won’t come to fetch me, he’ll send someone – hopefully Marco.

Yes, the sad truth is that I still have a dumb girl crush on handsome Marco. It’s pathetic, I know, only I can’t help it.

‘Well,’ Olympia says with a weary sigh. ‘I guess it’ll be fathers’ day tomorrow. What a trip!’

‘My dad won’t come,’ I say dourly. ‘He’ll send some one.’

‘Why won’t he come?’ Olympia demands.

‘’Cause he’s a busy man,’ I explain.

‘They’re all busy.’

‘My old man’s busier than most.’

‘Doing what?’

‘Stuff,’ I answer vaguely. ‘Gino has a ton of interests. Hotels . . . companies . . . business things. You name it, he has a piece of it.’

Olympia sits up. ‘Does he have a piece of Marabelle Blue?’ she asks slyly.

I am completely startled. ‘How long have you known?’ I ask, wide-eyed.

Olympia yawns and stretches as if it’s no big deal. ‘A while,’ she murmurs. ‘I was waiting for
you
to tell me.’