Chapter 10 LIES, DECEIVING INFORMATION AND BETRAYAL
LIES, DECEIVING INFORMATION AND BETRAYAL
“Allison!” I smack my pillow on her face.
“What the fuck-”
“Wake up!”
“Okay, okay, I’m up!”
“Good. I don’t have anything to wear.”
“I never thought this day would come! Madelaine Brown is asking for clothing advice for a date!” I stand a foot away from her, kind of scared she’ll self-combust.
“It’s not a date, and would you stop yelling and help me out?”
“Of course! I’m gonna get you dolled up!”
“No dolling up.”
“Fine.”
We finally decided, with a bit of resistance from her side, that I would wear a white t-shirt and black high-waisted shorts. Then I put on my black Converse, and she put my hair into a messy ponytail, which, holy hell, looks beautiful.
“Time for makeup!”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
She makes me sit on a chair, and then she starts to put makeup on.
“Allison Bridge, I trust you enough not to make me look like a clown.”
She glares. “I’m not turning you into a clown.” A bit over here and a touch over there… “I’m almost finished! Stay still… Done!”
I look in the mirror, and she really did a good job. She made the makeup bring out my amber eyes and my face’s bone structure, but not too much.
“Wow.” That’s all I can say. I look naturally stunning.
“I know! Ready to go?”
“Yes, but I have to eat breakfast.”
“Why don’t you forget breakfast and eat it after you meet Prince Charming?”
“Don’t ever suggest that again.” I feign seriousness. “But seriously, I need to eat.”
“Fine, but if you spill anything on your clothes, I will kill you.”
I chuckle.
We go downstairs and make our way to the kitchen. My dad, sitting at the breakfast table, looks at me with surprise.
“What? What’s wrong? Is something already out of pl-”
“No, no, no, honey. You look beautiful.” He stares at me, eyes getting foggy, and I don’t like where his mind is going. Because I know it has something to do with her.
“Thanks, Dad…”
“What’s the occasion?”
“Um…”
“She’s going to meet a nerd.” Allison responds.
“I’m going to meet Miss Patty’s grandson, and I wanted to look presentable, that’s it.”
“Hmhmm.” My dad sends me a knowing look, hiding a suspicious smile beneath.
“I’m serious!”
“Okay, honey, in a few years we will talk.”
And with that, I grab a piece of bread and a glass of milk and eat fast.
“I sure hope that on her first date she won’t have to eat…” I hear Allison whisper.
“What was that?” I say, my mouth full.
“You can’t keep eating like this!”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t look human.” She reasons.
“That’s fair.” I smile.
“You done?”
“Yeah.”
My dad shakes his head in amusement while he looks at both of us. I sprint upstairs, brush my teeth, and surprisingly, everything is still in place. I rush downstairs and meet Allison outside the house.
“Okay, off to the Geeks.” She mutters.
“Allison!”
“What?” She asks innocently, flashing her eyes at me.
As we’re walking there, I remember the look haunting my dad.
“Next time, no makeup, Alls. I mean it.” I try to reason, and she notices how serious I am.
“But you look-”
“Like her.” I only add, and I see her face drop in regret.
It’s not her fault I’m my mom’s exact copy, even more so when I’m wearing makeup.
We make our way to the library, and when I open the door, I see Miss Patty at the desk.
“Good morning, Miss Patty.”
Before she can answer, a tall figure turns around and…
“West?”
“Brown?”
“What are you doing here?” We ask at the same time. Meanwhile, Allison met Riden and both of them started laughing.
“What?” Jake and I ask, annoyed.
“The look on your faces!”
“You knew about this?” Jake asks Riden.
“Well, no, but this is hilarious.” He laughs some more. “Seeing that the girl of your dreams is also the only girl in the world who can’t stand you.”
“Girl of your dreams, huh?” I smirk.
“Uh…” He’s speechless. And for the first time since I got here, he looks at me and looks amazed. My smirk only grows larger.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” I tease.
He gets back to reality, and he’s about to respond when Allison says, “I wouldn’t be so cocky if I were you, Madelaine.
Weren’t you the one who said The boy plays guitar and reads!
Who can be more attractive?” She quotes with the same dreamy expression I had when I said this, and I shove her to the side.
“Attractive?” This time, he smirks. Miss Patty, who has been quiet, seeing the scene, finally says something.
“It looks like you two already know each other.”
“Well, yeah, unfortunately for way too long.” I say, side-eyeing West.
“Good. It will be a lot easier when Jake starts to work here, since you already know each other.”
“He’s going to work here?!” I turn defensively to Miss Patty. “Are you even sure he knows how to read?”
“Maddie!” Miss Patty scolds me and then informs me. “Starts this afternoon.”
“It looks like you will have the privilege to spend time with me, Madiekins.”
“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”
I could actually burst out in anger right now.
“Yes, captain.” He salutes, surrendering, and winks.
“I’m leaving. Allison?”
“Right after you. The smell of books was giving me a headache anyway…” She excuses, and I sigh.
“See you after lunch.” I tell Miss Patty.
“I can’t wait!” Jake responds with an amusing tone.
“Wasn’t talking to you, Tweedle Dumber!”
“I’m Tweedle Dumber?”
And I only hear Riden laughing.
I start to exit when I hear Allison say to Riden, “See ya, Tweedle Dumb!”
“See ya, Ally!”
Once we’re far enough from the library, I cross my arms and stare at her, an eyebrow raised.
“Ally?”
“Yes, cupcake?” She responds, clearly pretending not to know what I’m talking about.
“Oh, come on, don’t pretend!”
“Riden and I communicate that way, that’s it.”
“You know, for someone who mocks me for a boy liking me, you clearly don’t see what’s happening right in front of you.” I reason.
“Riden and I are matchmakers, nothing else.”
“It seems to me that in the future the matchmakers are gonna get matchmaked.”
“It’s made, Madelaine, and you and your ridiculous ideas.” She sighs.
I’m not kidding. They would be the perfect couple.
We enter the house, and my dad’s already cooking lunch.
“How did it go?” That suspicious glint from earlier in his eyes makes me remember why I came from the library so mad.
“Maddie here, got a pleasant surprise.” A giant smile starts to form on Allison’s face, and she reads my dad. “You knew! That’s awesome.”
“I can’t believe you, Dad! I really thought I was meeting someone interesting…” I state, disappointed.
“Don’t be mean, Madelaine, he’s a great kid.”
I bite the inside of my cheek and nod along.
My dad always thought that Jake and I would grow fond of each other and get along, so he couldn’t understand to this day why I disliked him so.
To be honest, when he’s not around, I sometimes forget why I don’t like him, but he reminds me with his presence.
“There’s nothing I can do now, so I’m just going to ignore that I have to work with that idiot and eat my problems away. Dad, serve me the biggest piece of meat you have.”
“Here you go.”
I start to eat, and Allison looks at me with an apologetic look.
“It’s not that bad!” She starts. “Look at the bright side. He reads, he plays the guitar, maybe even sings, he’s sweet, and he likes you!” I gain a pointed look from her. “And aren’t you people that say Don’t judge a book by its cover?”
“Whoa, hold on. Who likes who?” My dad questions.
“Glad you asked, Mr. B. It seems that your little dinner only confirmed my suspicions that the idiot, Jake West, likes your daughter.”
My dad gives a curious look as if the idea of him liking me wasn’t that bad at all.
I almost choke.
“You actually like that idea, don’t you?” I ask, horrified.
“Maybe not date him, but at least be friends with him.”
“Okay, Dad.” I say, but I’m not convinced.
Before I leave, I go upstairs and grab my headphones, just in case Miss Patty has to leave.
I go to the library alone, ‘cause Allison says she has already looked at too many books for one day.
When I arrive, I’m ten minutes late, and Miss Patty is at her usual spot.
“Good afternoon, Miss Patty!”
“Maddie, late as usual.” She sends me a reproving look.
“Anyways, you, I was expecting, but Jacob should already be here! If you excuse me, I’m going to drag that boy over here by the ear, and I’m going to pay a visit to my son after I make sure that boy is working.
So I’m not going to be here the rest of the afternoon.
” She says, her voice with a passive-aggressive tone, and then she leaves.
Glad I brought my headphones. I Won’t Say I’m In Love from Hercules starts playing, and I obviously start to sing.
I have a good voice, but I don’t like singing in front of other people.
Only my dad, sister, and Allison heard me sing, and it was only in the shower.
I love singing almost as much as I love music.
I just get lost in the song, and my voice follows. As simple as that.
I’m organizing some books on the shelf, and I continue to sing
I let the backing vocals continue, and then my turn again.
Suddenly, someone taps my shoulder, and I get scared. As a reflex, I turn around and smack the book on my hand on who I now recognize as West.
“OW!”
I start to laugh and take my headphones off.
“But what were you thinking? Coming behind me and tapping me on the shoulder! You scared the shit out of me!” I’m dying from laughter.
He’s quiet for a moment, and then he starts laughing too. Once we stop laughing, I start to organize the books.
“You have a good voice.”
“Thank you…” I forgot that he heard me sing. Wait, why is he complimenting me?
“All these years and I never realized…” He seems to be talking to himself.
“Maybe because you were too busy with Amanda.” I say her name as though it were disgusting.
“I never understood what you two had against each other…”
“When we were kids, she would… Say that I was a nerd and weak and built like a stick.”