Twisted Proposal (21 page)

“Jackson’s pushing me to--“

              “Jackson’s pushing you to what?”
I knew it!

              “To meet one of his friends and I just want to be prepared.” She pulled out her phone, leaned in close to me, and snapped a picture of us. She showed it to me and then gazed at it.

“You know we kinda look like sisters.”

              “If you say so.” I caught the hurt expression and almost felt guilty. ”So…what do you want to know?”
Was I ready to answer her asinine questions
? I didn’t wait for her. “The first time will hurt, especially if the guy doesn’t care about you and only about himself. Don’t be surprised if there’s blood. After that, it gets easier and feels better.”

              “Oh,” she said, staring around uncomfortably.
What did she expect?

              “Hello, ladies.” I turned to see Kevin walking toward us. “I thought I heard your voice.”

              “Hey, what’s up?”

              “Get lost, Kevin,” Lexus ordered.

              “Why?” I glanced from Lexus to him. They obviously knew each other.                           

“Because, I’ll call the cops and have him hauled off to jail where he belongs.” She pulled out her cell phone.

“Fine,” he said, throwing his hands up in surrender.

He started to leave, but I stopped him. I turned toward Lexus. "Give us a minute, okay?" We stepped behind some bushes where he gave me his cell number and a free joint.

“Yeah, later.” I slid the joint in my pocket. When I came back, Lexus was staring at me.

“You know him?”             

“We’ve met. But no, I don’t 'know' him.”

“You know, he’s like, a drug dealer.”

“And I’m pretty sure he’s not the only one around.”

“I know, but he sells some really bad stuff!”

“Have you ever tried his product?”

“No, are you crazy? I buy my stuff from legit dealers. Not stupid kids on the playground."

“Too bad for you.” I pulled out the joint and lit it up.

I felt her eyes on me and offered it to her. She cautiously took a hit and then passed it back.

“That’s nice.” She smiled.

“Here’s some free advice. Don’t judge a book by its cover.” She laughed. We finished and headed back to her car. She did most of the talking, and I just listened.
Could I trust her, though?

When we arrived home, I ditched her and played a few video games with Zach, then helped him with his homework. Stuart was working late again, which meant cheating. Thankfully, Petra was out with her friends. So that left us kids to fend for ourselves for dinner. I offered to make dinner, but they declined and ordered from their favorite Indian restaurant. I didn’t know what to get, so I copied Zach minus the meat and loved it.

We all talked and joked like a real family. It was something I always wanted. Why did I feel bad about it? After dinner we went swimming for a bit, and then we kind of all went our separate ways. It was strange not having an adult around. I mean, sure there were maids and other people, but no one to tell us what to do. It was nice.

I made it to my room in time to pick up the ringing phone, hoping it would be Dr. Franklin, maybe she had her baby. “Hello?”

“Addison?” Jackson asked.

Shit! How did he get my number?
“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Why aren’t you returning my calls or texts?”

“What are you talking about?” Then I remembered I hadn’t touched the phone since Monday and opened my night stand drawer where I had placed it. 

“What’s the point of my buying you a cell phone if you don’t utilize it?”

“Wait. You bought me that? I thought it was Stuart.”

“Yes, dear. So please find the phone. It wasn’t cheap.” He hung up. I numbly set the receiver down.
Why would he buy me a phone?
We weren’t even dating officially, and at this rate I certainly didn’t want to be.

I plugged in my cell phone. While I waited for it to power up, I pulled out Kevin’s number. When the phone lit up, I had seventeen missed calls from Jackson and slew of texts.
No way.
He was on the verge of being a serious stalker. I had to tell someone.

I stomped downstairs just as Stuart walked in with Petra. They were dressed up in evening clothes.
Maybe now wasn’t the best time?

“Can you tell me why Jackson bought my phone, Stuart? I thought it was from you.”

              Petra sauntered out of the room and headed for the formal living room. I’m sure she was going to make herself a stiff drink.

              “Addison, can we discuss this in the morning?”

              “No, I want to know why. It’s not right. He needs to return it. Plus there is something wrong with him. Mentally, I mean. There are seventeen missed calls and countless text messages on my phone.”

              “I’m sure he just wanted to make sure I gave it to you,” he said as he started up the stairs.

“But Stuart, I don’t want it. I want you to give it back to him.” I handed him the phone, but he dismissed it and turned left down the hall.

“Just enjoy the phone Addison, it just means he likes you.”

“But I don’t want him to get the wrong impression.”

He stopped at a set of white sliding doors and faced me. “Like I said. We will chat about this in the morning. Good night.” He stepped into his room and shut the doors in my face.

              Unable to sleep, I went back upstairs and made a log of all the calls and messages that were in my phone and then chatted with Kevin for a bit. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. At least he thought it was bizarre that Jackson bought me a phone. It just didn’t make sense.

Chapter Twenty-one

Everyone was already gone by the time I woke, and I enjoyed a pleasant jog to the park and back without anyone’s permission. The cook even let me make my own cheese omelet as long as I promised never to ask him again if I could make something. It was my house, after all. I had breakfast near the pool and went for a swim afterward. It was nice having the freedom to do whatever I wanted. After a few laps, I climbed out and Petra was waiting for me. Something about the way she stood made me feel like I was in trouble. “I was just going for a swim.”

“I can see that. Here, wrap this around you. You have a guest.” She thrust a thick white towel at me. I followed her into the living room praying it wasn’t Jackson.

Morgan stood with her back to me, ogling a painting on the wall. A man accompanied her. He fidgeted and switched his large black bag from hand to hand.

“You’ve been swimming?” Morgan asked as she turned toward me slowly, already with a drink in her hand.

“Yeah, is that a problem?”

“Only if you like the smell of chlorine,” she muttered. She gave me a steady look, as though she thought I should take the hint.

I cleared my throat, glanced at the man next to her. “I’ll go take a shower.”

“Yes, dear, go do that,” she said and dismissed me with a wave.
What a bitch!

But I did as I was told and came back a few minutes later with my hair slightly damp. I didn’t want to waste any time.

“I brought six dresses. I’ll have him take several shots, and then we’ll decide which one is the best.”

Six dresses
. I only needed one, but instead of arguing, I stepped behind a screen she had set up and changed into the first dress. Then I was led outside. For the next three hours she ruined my day by telling me how to stand and pose. It was taxing and frustrating. If she wanted a professional, then she should have hired one. I’m sure money wasn’t an issue.

When she was satisfied, she and the photographer set up camp in the informal living room to review the pictures, and I was allowed to disappear. Personally, I didn’t like any of the dresses. They were all too short and skanky.

I hid in the study room in the basement, hoping no one would find me, but it was short-lived. Lexus came rushing in and shut the door.

“You have got to convince Morgan to let me wear one of her dresses tonight.”

I put down the history magazine I was reading. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“Well, she likes you and that means she might even listen to you. Please, Addie, this is like so important.”

The pleading look in her doe-like eyes pulled at my heartstrings. “Okay.” I nodded and she gave me a hug, squealing. I sighed and went to find Morgan. She was sitting near the pool, still drinking. A laptop rested on her perfectly tanned thighs.

“Morgan, may I speak to you?”

She held up her finger but didn't speak, so I sat next to her in a lawn chair and waited. She turned the computer around. There I was, dressed in a lavender-colored dress while leaning against the deck railing.

“Do you know how rare it is to find someone who can model without tons of makeup?”

I shrugged.

“Of course not. You don’t even like to model,” she said, returning to her work.

I spotted Lexus in the window of the kitchen urging me on. I turned back to Morgan. “I have a question.”

“If it’s to let that waif of child wear my design, she can forget it.”

Damn, so much for that
. Lexus was practically leaning out the door now. I didn’t know why I didn’t want to let her down. It wasn’t like she’d done anything special for me. “I’ll make you a deal.” I couldn’t believe I was getting ready to do this.

“What?” she asked, lifting her eyebrows.

“I’ll agree to model whenever and whatever you want. Just let her wear one of your dresses tonight.”

“And do you honestly think this will matter in the grand scheme of things, Addison? That girl is nothing but a user.” She shut her computer.

I hated to admit she was right, but I wanted Lexus to like me. I craved to be accepted. “You think I don't know that?”

“Apparently not, but I understand how hard transition can be for someone with your past. She can wear the blush-colored dress. I’ll have Rupert bring it up.”

What did that mean? My past?

“Which one do you like?”

None
. “If I had to choose, the champagne-colored one.”

“You’re wearing the blue one,” she decided and went inside.

The blue dress was far from what I would wear to a party. It barely came to my mid-thigh and there was only one strap.

“What did she say?” Lexus asked when I sulked in.

“It’s fine. You're wearing a
blush
-colored dress.”

She screamed in excitement and ran to tell her friends.

Instead of heading upstairs, I went downstairs and played a few games on the guitar. I wondered where Zach was, then remembered he had some kind of sports games afterschool.

Returning upstairs, I found Morgan lounging on the couch at the foot of my bed.

“What are you doing here?”

“Getting to know my...” She caught herself and changed the subject “You should probably get ready; I know my son is planning on taking you girls out for dinner before his party.”

“What were you getting ready to say? You’re what?” I sat next to her. I had to know. “Tell me why I’m here. I swear I won’t say anything to anyone.”

She grinned and picked up a wine glass half-filled and drained it. “All good things come to those to wait.” Then she floated out of the room.

Great.
I found Lexus gabbing away on her phone and informed her of the change of plans, and she went to the bathroom to get ready, shutting the door behind her. I dressed in the closet. 

A knock pulled me away from the full-length mirror. “Come in,” I replied, and Morgan walked in and adjusted the strap around my neck.

“Now let’s do your hair and makeup.” While she worked, she talked about her modeling career. As if I cared. I just wanted the party, the night, everything to be over with. “You know, Jackson will get bored with you,” she said as she applied shadow to my eyelids.

“Let’s hope.”

“Oh.” She leaned back. “You don’t like him, do you?”

“I don’t know him, and what I do know, I don’t like. I mean did you know he bought me a cell phone.”

“No, he did that,” she pulled my head sharply to one side.

              “I tried to give it back to Stuart, but he wouldn’t take it.”

“Well, you should just do whatever he wants. That way, you’re not toying with him.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Are you insinuating something?”

“Only that fighting him keeps him interested.”

“So you just want me to do whatever he says, no matter what?”
              “In a manner of speaking. It is the best way for him to leave you alone. I mean, that is what you want, right?”

I thought about mentioning her affair with him, but chose not to. “Yeah.”  There was no point to look in the mirror. I already knew I looked like a high class call girl. She picked a pair of black heels to finish my ensemble and released me.

I went to Zach’s room to see what he was doing. He was playing video games with a friend. “Hey bud,” I said from the door.

They both glanced up, and their mouths dropped.

              “What?” I questioned. “Do I have something on my face?”             

“No nothing,” Zach said, dragging his friend out of the room after him.

              “Okay.”

Lexus was waiting on my bed staring at me with contempt when I returned.

              “What now?”

              “You look really hot,” she commented and stomped into the bathroom. I reluctantly followed.

              “I think I look like a slut.”

              “Yeah, but that’s a good thing, silly.” She smiled at me.

              “No, it’s never okay to look like a slut.”

              “How’s it going in here?” Stuart questioned, joining us, his eyes widening when they fell upon me.

              “What?” I asked, feeling oddly self-conscious. It was like he was seeing someone else.             

“Uh…nothing,” he said, leaving hastily.

“Girls, let me look at you,” Morgan said. She focused her attention on Lexus, and I slipped out, unscathed.

              I retreated back into my room where I grabbed the small beaded black purse lying on my bed.
What was I getting myself into?

              By the time that Morgan was finished; Lexus had a more natural glow and wore less gunky make-up. It was a nice change.

              Morgan tilted her head and studied both of us, admiring her handiwork. “Now, girls, you have fun and don’t stay out too late.” She glided out of the room.

              “She is so nice,” Lexus gushed as she snapped a picture of herself with her phone.

              “No, she’s not. It’s an act.”

              “Do you always have to be so negative?”

              Sighing, I watched her bounce down the hall where she could watch for the boys to arrive. I wasn’t negative, just honest. It wasn’t my fault she couldn’t handle the truth.

“Addison, they’re here!” Lexus shrieked, running back into the bathroom and practically dragging me to the top of the stairs.

              “Uh, what are we waiting for?” I asked when we didn’t go down to them.

              “To be announced. Duh,” she advised, in an elevated tone.

I almost laughed.
Was she serious?
She was. She stood perfectly still and faced forward.

              “Lexus, Addison, your dates are here,” Petra yelled upstairs.

Shit, my phone
. “I’ll be right there.” I said. Lexus nodded. Clearly, she was glad to go down alone.

I found it still in the charger where I had left it the night before. There were three missed calls from Jackson and a few text messages from Kevin. I deleted them and put the phone in my purse. As I snapped the clasp shut, I paused, feeling a chill run down my back. It occurred to me I might need the phone for more than just taking pictures.

When I turned around, Jackson stood in my doorway with a wicked smile on his face.

              “I forgot my phone.”

              “Uh…right, you look amazing,” he stammered.

              “Thanks. Can we go now?” He looked so...preppie with his dress slacks and matching dress shirt. Jackson stepped aside and gestured for me to go first. I rolled my eyes.

              “You’re in a chipper mood tonight,” he pointed out as he took my arm.

              “Yeah, I just sold my soul to the devil. This party had better be worth it.” I pulled away from him. We met up with Lexus, who was talking to a guy I had never seen before.

              “This is Brett,” Jackson introduced, as if he had read my mind. Brett towered above Lexus and had to be at least three years older than her. The whole situation made me uneasy; something didn't smell right, but Petra didn’t care at all. Her daughter was wearing a designer’s dress and had a date to an exclusive party. What more could she ask for? I, on the other hand, didn’t like where this was headed at all.

              Petra insisted we take pictures. “Smile, Addison,” she directed, and I placed a fake smile on my face, glancing at Lexus, who avoided me.

Once outside, I noticed there were two separate cars.
Even worse.

“I thought we were all going together,” I asked Lexus.

              She smiled awkwardly at Brett and pulled me off to the side. “Okay, freak, don’t ruin this for me. I have been waiting to go to a party at the Van Buren's for, like, ever. If you mess this up, I swear I will NEVER pretend to like you again!”

Morgan was right.
Deep inside, I knew Lexus was just acting anyway, but how could she be so stupid about these two?

              “You girls coming?” Jackson asked, as he waited by a red Fiat. I wondered how many cars he owned. Probably an entire parking lot full.

              “See you at the party then,” Lexus said. She sauntered over to Brett.

This was going to be a crappy night. Jackson opened the door for me, and I slid in.

              “Don’t worry. She’ll be okay,” Jackson said, as he got in. As if that made me feel better. I didn't believe a word he said.

“She’s the least of my worries.” I put my seat belt on, and the car purred to life.

Loud techno dance music blared from the speakers. When I glanced at Jackson, he turned it down, embarrassed. “Sorry.”

              “You lied to me.”

“How so?”             

“You told me that
you
were taking Lexus, and I would be going as the third wheel.”