Fugly: Book One of the Fenley East Series

by Talie D. Hawkins

  “Excuse me?” I asked, not really following what she was saying.

  “I knew you looked familiar. Every few weeks you come up. They always print something about you and Tru Penn. They have nicknamed your relationship ‘Truley’.”

  “Oh, well, he and I aren’t...” I started to explain, but aunt Haley put her hand on my arm and shook her head no.

  “Let’s order,” she said, cutting me off from explaining anything. “I know how much you like fries and this place has some killer ones.”

  The evening rolled on and no one else brought up Tru or the bizarre nickname for us, but the cameras were still there when we walked out of the restaurant and this time I heard the paparazzi say it.

  “Is it true that Truley is over?” I heard one shout. Aunt Haley wrapped and arm around me and shielded me from the cameras as much as she could, but I knew it was too late and that I had been seen. Once we got home she poured herself a glass of wine and after looking back and forth between me and the glass she did something completely unexpected. She took another glass from the shelf and poured me a quarter of what she had given herself.

  “Do not tell my sister,” she said, punctuating each word with the glass before she handed it to me. I took it, feeling very confused and when she raised her eyebrows at me I took a small sip. “I think you’ll need that. There is something you should see,” she said, taking a big manilla envelope from her desk drawer. “I have been clipping and saving these.” She tossed the envelope on the kitchen island where I was sitting. I carefully put the glass down and opened it. The contents made me gasp. It was article after article about Tru and me, or rather the lack of me. Weeks and weeks worth of articles about him being alone and wondering if I would ever come back. “I should have warned you, but I didn’t think it would still be a thing. He’s been gone for weeks, so I thought the attention was dying out.”

  “It’s okay. You didn’t know. I guess I know what I’ll be in for if NYU works out,” I said with a sad laugh.

  “Good point. Be prepared to be on page six again. Ever since they caught him with that other girl this whole story got bigger. Rumor in the tabloids is that he broke her heart because he wasn’t over you.”

  “No, it wasn’t like that,” I said.

  “I know. I know who she is and why he was with her, but do you think the tabloids care? It’s been a long night. The dress is your gift, merry Christmas,” she said as she hugged me.

  “Thank you,” I said, stunned.

  “Get some sleep.”

  I took her advice and did just that. I woke up the next day, a little confused when my eyes opened to the unfamiliar surroundings, but I relaxed when I remembered where I was. I could smell bacon from my bedroom, which was unusual for my aunt the health nut. I got up and pulled my hair into a ponytail then brushed my teeth before going down to the kitchen. Aunt Haley was siting at her kitchen island surrounded by pink boxes of pastries and a few styrofoam boxes of food.

  “What’s all this?” I asked, lifting the lid of one box to see what was in it.

  “This is a gift from one of the local brunch hang out’s. We have sweets and benedicts,” she said, opening a box to show me. “Pick your poison, but I have to post it if you eat it.”

  “Only if it’s a post of both of us.”

  We plated our food as photogenically as possible and she propped her phone on a shelf and set the timer, then rushed to sit beside me. We both posed with our food and I used a large croissant to hide half of my face. After the camera clicked a few times, she hopped up and grabbed it, scrolling through the pictures.

  “You should post too. Oh! This one!” She showed me a picture of us both making ridiculously dramatic faces as we took bites of our food. “I’m posting this one right now!”

  “I’m going to eat this right now, then go for a walk.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  I stuffed myself silly because we both decided we needed to try at least one of everything, and by the time we were done I was more than ready to go for a walk. I changed into an oversized green sweater and some black fleece lined leggings then piled my hair into a messy bun on my head. I grabbed my olive colored parka and threw it on over my outfit then set out on my way.

  It felt weird to walk to my favorite bookstore because I had only run to it all summer long, but now the sidewalks and streets were covered with ice in some spots and that could make for a tricky run. I looked up at the clouds and there was definitely a threat of more snow in the sky, but I wasn’t opposed to walking home in it if I had to. My boots could make the trip if necessary.

  I smiled when I saw the tables of used books in front of me and I couldn’t help but think of how I met Tru here. This is where we had created “coffeetea” and where we would get to know each other as we spent hours talking over the summer at one of the little metal tables on the sidewalk next to the shop.

  I ran my fingers over the spine of one of the used books as I remembered a conversation we had about David Bowie.

  “I must be dreaming,” a voice from across the table said and hearing it seemed so impossible that I froze in place. I squeezed my eyes for a brief second before slowly looking up to see Tru’s face staring at me like he had seen a ghost, but we both broke from the spell at the same moment and ran around the table until our feet were inches apart. We looked at each other, both of us in disbelief, before collapsing into a hug that made everyone around us stop and stare. “How?” he asked against my hair, squeezing me to him. “How are you here in New York and in my arms?” he asked. He pulled away and held my face as he looked down at me with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. My own smile mirrored his and when he pulled me back against him I melted into his arms.

  “What about you? Aren’t you supposed to be gone until after the new year?” I asked, but my question caused him to go completely still. He pulled back, but didn’t let go, keeping his arms around my waist. We both noticed a photographer was standing across the street and they had most likely captured the entire encounter on film.

  “Is that why you’re here? Because you thought I wouldn’t be?” he asked, trying to keep his face neutral. I wasn’t ready to ruin this moment.

  “I’m here for my aunt. She couldn’t come home so I came to her.” The corner of his mouth curved back into a smile and he shook his head as he started down at me.

  “Please tell me you’ll be here a few more days?”

  “I’m here until New Year’s Eve morning,” I said, looking up at him.

  “Do you have time for coffeetea?”

  “I do!” We headed inside and decided to stay in there to avoid the photographer that was still lurking around. We found a couch to sit at and got comfortable. “Is that why you have been in Europe?” I asked, gesturing to the paparazzi outside. He nodded yes and I felt guilty for being part of that reason.

  “That’s some of the reason I went. It’s been a nice break from all of that.”

  “Tru, I’m so sorry. My aunt showed me the articles and pictures. That must be so hard.”

  “It’s okay. Believe it or not, they used to do this when I was little. Everyone guessed they would be back once I started dating and I guess they were right. I’m used to it.”

  “So why else have you been in Europe?” I asked, taking a long sip of my tea as I waited for his answer.

  “I needed to do some soul searching. I know, that sounds so stupid, but...I don’t know. After...after things went the way they did with us I felt like I didn’t know myself at all. Traveling has been good. I have to rely on myself most of the time and I feel like I have done a lot of growing up. I’m even considering going to school over there.”

  “Wow, you must really like it over there.”

  “I do. Enough about me. Had any good fries lately?” We both started laughing hysterically

  “I was hoping to get some of the good stuff tomorrow. I’m on my own while aunt Haley does a recording session.”

  “Please say that I can take you
to do all of the super cliche New York winter stuff! Ice skating at Rockefeller Center, window displays at Barney’s and Bloomingdale’s, and maybe even a carriage ride through the park?”

  “That actually sounds amazing, as long as there are fries. What about that though?” I asked, pointing again to the photographer who was now pressed up against the glass. I thought he would fall through if he pressed any harder.

  “It’s fine. I’m going back after the New Year anyway. I’m only here because my dad had some big industry fundraiser and wasn’t able to join me for the holidays, so he had me fly home instead. Little did I know I had a pleasant surprise waiting for me.”

  Tru walked me home once we were done and I was surprised at how good it was to see him, especially after the last time and how intense that was. When I walked inside, my aunt was leaning against the giant kitchen island with her arms crossed giving me a suspicious look.

  “What?” I said as a put my coat on a hook.

  “He’s here,” she said, raising one eyebrow.

  “That is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. We just happened to run into each other at the bookstore.”

  “How convenient,” she said sarcastically.

  “I’m telling the truth! He’s only here because his dad couldn’t go to him.”

  “You’re in this city for less that twenty four hours and you’re already part of a romance novel.”

  “I am not!” I shouted, blushing. “He and I aren’t dating anymore. A lot has happened.”

  “I need a good story,” she said, making herself comfortable with a glass of wine. “Tell me everything,” she said, and I did. Talking to my aunt was easy and she always had something wise to say, but I hadn’t expected to tell her about Hunter. When I told her about the kiss she could only stare at me, speechless from the story.

  “Damn,” she finally said. “That’s some pretty intense stuff for a bunch of teenagers. I feel bad for all of you. I have known Hunter since he was a baby. Too bad his dad is an ass. He doesn’t deserve that, and Tru! He’s lucky you forgave him.” She sighed and leaned back in her kitchen stool. “What will you do?”

  “That’s the million dollar question and I have absolutely no idea.”

  As I tried to fall asleep I thought about how insane it was that I ran into Tru. Part of me thought it could be a sign, and the rest of me didn’t believe in that stuff. These thoughts caused me to toss and turn until a call from him was waking me up after what felt like five minutes of sleep.

  “Hey,” I said in a voice that couldn’t hide how tired I was.

  “I’m sorry. I woke you, but I couldn’t sleep knowing you are in the same city and I want to leave my apartment right now and get you.” He sounded far more awake than me.

  “Can I have at least twenty minutes to rub the sleep from my eyes?”

  “Not a minute more. I’ll see you in twenty.”

  I put my phone down and groaned before forcing myself out of bed. It was freezing out, so I would need to put some thought into what I wore. I opened my suitcase and pulled out my faded skinny jeans and a white button up shirt with a dark yellow sweater to go over it. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and put a little make up on to hide the lack of sunlight that was showing on my skin, then I went into the kitchen, where I found my aunt drinking a smoothie and reading the paper. She dramatically turned the page and flipped it over to show me. As soon as I saw the picture I gasped and turned red. They had printed a picture of Tru towering over me with his hands on my face and the headline said “Are they TruLey back for good?”. I put my face in my hands and leaned on the kitchen island.

  “Want a smoothie?” she asked, just as if everything was normal. “You look cute today. What do you and Tru have on the agenda?”

  “Classic NYC kitsch.”

  “Sounds fun. I better get a move on. I probably won’t be back for dinner. Plenty of stuff here if you guys don’t go out.” She came around the island and hugged me. “I’ll see you later tonight,” she said as she walked back to her room to get ready. Just then a text from Tru popped up on my phone, so I grabbed my keys and my green parka and ran downstairs to meet him.

  When I saw him I had to take a moment to remember that he didn’t belong to me and take a quick inventory of what had happened between us, but that was hard to do when he looked ridiculously handsome. He sat sideways on the scooter with his long legs out in front of him and the sight of him made my heart race a little. His usual t-shirt and jeans were hidden under a black pea coat, but I could see his black converse and the sight of them made me smile.

  “There you are,” he said as he stood up and somehow he seemed taller than before. He handed me a helmet and I was glad I decided on a ponytail. “Are you ready for cliche number one?”

  “More than ready!” I said. “I just hope it involves food.”

  “Oh, it does.” He revved the engine of the little scooter to life and we were on our way. We pulled up in front of a little cafe that looked like it would be better suited in Paris instead of New York. I could smell fresh baking bread before we opened the door. “All the time I have spent in France and this place still has the best croissant,” he said, as he held the door open for me.

  “They smell like the best.” We sat at a tiny table and Tru ordered a traditional French breakfast for us that was more delicious and simple than I thought was possible. I sipped my tea and pulled a little piece of croissant apart and popped it in my mouth. “This is nice,” I said with a smile, but Tru had been pretty quiet the whole time. He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest as he studied me.

  “You’re different. Something has definitely changed,” he insisted as he watched me eat.

  “Have I?”

  “I can tell.”

  “I think we both have, and I hope for the better.” I wiped my hands and attempted to change the subject. “What’s next?” He sighed and let me know with one look that our talk wasn’t over, but tabled for now.

  “I’m taking you ice skating.”

  “Yes! I’m actually good at this.”

  “A girl from Phoenix, where there is no ice, is good at ice skating?” He raised a skeptical eyebrow at me.

  “Summers in Phoenix are brutal. My mom used to take Hunter and me to the ice rink a few times a week to escape the heat,” I said and the memory of falling on the ice with him made me smile. We started out with ice skating trainers made out of p.v.c. pipe and eventually got comfortable enough to venture onto the ice without them. When we were really little we didn’t think anything of holding hands as we skated, and even though Hunter wasn’t any better than me, he would always try to help me.

  “Then I cannot wait to see your skills in action,” he said with a wink.

  The ice was almost empty as we laced up our skates and I wondered if it was because the novelty of the ice wore off after Christmas. It was hard to take my eyes off of the tree in the center of the rink. Even though it was daylight you could still see the lights twinkle and the ornaments sparkle.

  “Ready?” Tru asked, holding his hand out. I took it, feeling a few butterflies as soon as our skin touched, and moments later we were gliding, hand in hand, along the ice as cameras flashed in our direction. “You okay?” he asked when he saw the tension on my face.

  “Yes, I just feel bad that I’m causing this extra attention.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m tuning them out so I can focus on you,” he said with a reassuring smile. After a few laps I pulled to the side of the rink to catch my breath and Tru stopped with me, holding onto the wall with his hands on either side of me. We were both catching our breath as he looked down at me. “You’re beautiful Fenley,” he said, catching me off guard. I looked down at my toes, unable to respond. “Too much? I’m sorry. It’s just...there are moments when I look at you and you completely take my breath away.” I shook my head “no”.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “Ready to get back out there?” he asked. I nodded yes and
we glided back out to the middle of the ice and skated until it felt like our legs would fall off.

  37.

  We grabbed hot dogs and pretzels from a cart, which was part of the cliche day, but he wouldn’t tell me what the last thing we were going to do was. The sun was already starting to go down, so I was curious about what sort of night time activity he could have on our agenda, but as soon as we got to Central Park I knew.

  The carriage was waiting and ready for us and I knew the paparazzi would have a field day with this one. I looked at him then at the carriage and back at him again. He was trying to keep a straight face but it gave and we both started cracking up.

  “I couldn’t help myself,” he said as he caught his breath.

  “A carriage ride? Seriously?” I asked. “They’re nice to their animals, right?” Tru just nodded yes, then he climbed up and helped me into the carriage.

  “This might be the most cliche thing on the list, but it’s actually beautiful in the park this time of year.” He opened a mug of hot chocolate that was waiting for us in a basket and poured us each a cup. “Candy cane?” he asked, offering me one for my cocoa.

  “Sure,” I said, letting him hook it onto the side of my cup.

  “This is kind of a wish come true for me,” he said as we rode along. He had been right. The snow covered park looked like it had been dipped in soft, silver glitter. “This summer, all I could think about was how I wanted you to be here in the winter so we could do all of this stuff. I didn’t think we would get the chance, yet here we are.” We were sitting very close and I felt his arm go around my back. If this had ben a few months ago I would have leaned my head onto his shoulder and snuggled in, but now it just made me freeze in place.

  “Tru,” I said, but I had no idea of why I started to tell him what I was telling him. “Some things happened recently, some things between me and Hunter,” I blurted out. I could feel him tense up, but he didn’t move.