by Gemma Weir
“Hello, Tallulah.”
She doesn’t lift her head as she speaks. “Hello, Arlo.”
“How is it possible that no one knows you exist?” I ask bluntly, not bothering with any expected social niceties.
She stops walking and lifts her head to look up at me, her violet eyes so bright and mesmerizing, I doubt I could look away even if I wanted to.
“Because I’m not going to inherit billions of dollars,” she says succinctly, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
I laugh, actually throw my head back and laugh, because it’s ridiculous and so painfully honest and true. When the last chuckle slips between my lips, I look down and smile at the girl in front of me. Dressed the way she is, in the same uniform, her hair styled the way Carrigan’s always is, her makeup heavy, but flawless; it really is uncanny how identical they are.
“I should go,” she whispers, smiling sweetly at her driver who glares at me, his stance almost protective.
“Goodbye, Tallulah.”
“Goodbye, Arlo.”
Thoughts of Tallulah plague me for the rest of the night and when my dad gets home, I can’t help but bring it up.
“How long have you known the Archibalds?” I ask.
Dad pauses for a minute, his expression pensive. “I’ve known Freddie since school, but we lost touch after St Augustus. He was still an acquaintance. We ran in the same circles, but I wouldn’t exactly call us friends. I suppose we became reacquainted when you and Carrigan started St Augustus together.”
“So that’s why I’d never met Carrigan before high school?”
“She didn’t go to Haversham?” He asks, obviously not aware.
“No, she was home schooled.”
He nods, like this makes sense. “Yes, I think I remember Vanessa mentioning that they used to travel a lot with Freddie’s business, although I’m not sure why; everyone knows that Freddie’s role is more of a title than anything else.”
“So, no more kids, just Carrigan?” I ask, even though at this point I’m pretty much convinced that Tallulah is not public knowledge. I wonder if it’s always been that way, if they’ve always hidden her, or if it’s just been since the inheritance was revealed.
“Well I’ve never met any, have you?” he says on a laugh. “Does all this interest in Carrigan mean you’ve changed your mind about the engagement? I know you’re not convinced on the idea, but she’s a sweet girl and I married for business; it’s what’s expected in our world.”
Sighing, I push my plate back and eye my dad. “Yeah and look how well that turned out for you. Mom is a nightmare and you were miserable for fifteen years,” I say dryly.
“Well, yes, but we had you, so that worked out pretty well,” he says, smirking at me.
I can’t help but smile back. I love my dad even though he’s trying to force me to marry a girl I can’t stand, whose family are actually turning out to be a hundred times worse than I thought. “Look, Dad, I know the idea of having access to the Archibald billions is making your dick hard, but I can’t stand her. I can barely tolerate being in a room with her for more than an hour at a time. If you force me to marry her, I will be more miserable than you ever were with Mom and there’ll be no grandchildren, because I’ll never touch her. Fuck, even the thought of having to share a bed with her is repulsive. Is that what you want for me?”
His eyes go sad and his lips dip down into a frown. “No, that’s not what I want for you, but you have to...”
“No, I don’t,” I interrupt him. “We have money, Dad, plenty of money. Tying myself to them, changing my life to abide by the rules of that will is not something I’m prepared to do and as my dad, the only parent I have a relationship with, I’d think you’d understand that.”
Dad rubs at the back of his neck and exhales loudly. “Okay. I didn’t realize you felt this strongly about it. I’ll stop pushing for an engagement, but I don’t think the Archibalds will. We can’t afford to alienate them. When Carrigan gets this money they’ll be too powerful to have as an enemy, so tread carefully.”
I nod. “I will. Thank you, Dad.”
“It’s a good job I love you, kid, because you just cost us billions,” he says with a horrified shrug.
A burst of laughter falls from my lips, “Love you too.”
The next morning, I text my driver to let him know that I’ll be making my own way to school, sliding into the seat of my Range Rover and leaving my house so I can get to school a little earlier than normal. My dad and I have several garages full of beautiful cars, but Lamborghinis and Porsches aren’t exactly covert and I don’t want Carrigan to know I’m watching.
Parking my car at the front of the lot, I have the perfect view of the town cars and chauffer driven limos as they deliver the children of the rich and famous to the school steps. When I recognize the license plate on the Archibalds’ car, I’m prepared to see Carrigan emerge from inside the blacked-out interior. When the driver closes the door behind her, then leaves however, I find myself leaning forward in my seat to watch where he goes.
More cars arrive but Tallulah isn’t in any of them and as the clock ticks closer to the bell ringing, I consider that maybe she isn’t coming. Opening my door, I grab my bag and climb out of my car, just as a very familiar car appears at the entrance steps for a second time.
The driver circles the car and this time Tallulah appears, so similar, but so different to her sister when I really compare the two. A scoff falls from my lips as I watch her mount the steps in a faux Carrigan strut, but Tallulah just isn’t her sister, no matter how much she looks like her.
An idea blossoms in my head and it’s so delicious that a smile spreads across my face as I think about it. I hate Carrigan, she basks in the afterglow of the money that will eventually be hers, flaunting her so called superiority and acting like every single person is beneath her or a tool for her to use. Her parents are leeches and Carrigan is little more than a puppet, whoring herself out on her great grandfather’s demands with the dangled carrot of that money leading the way.
I’m never going to marry her, and after our conversation last night, I think my dad gets it now, but the Archibalds won’t. I’m number one on their wish list for a son-in-law and I will be until they either pick someone else, or I force them to.
I don’t believe the bullshit they tried to feed me on Monday about Tallulah just being antisocial. It doesn’t explain the weirdness that she’s like a ghost here, wandering around hidden by the fact that her and her sister have the same face. There’s something more going on, but I have no idea what it is. I doubt Carrigan or her parents will ever admit it, whatever it is.
Perhaps I can play with the Archibald twins a little? Teach Carrigan that I don’t give a fuck how much money she comes with, that I have no interest in her at all and that I’ll never make any kind of alliance between our families.
Nodding determinedly, I quickly forge a plan, trying to convince myself that this is just a fuck you to the Archibalds. It has nothing to do with Tallulah, even though something about her is taunting me.
It bothers me that she’s hiding. It’s bothering me that no one knows she’s here, that no one sees her; when now I know what she looks like, I just don’t seem to be able to look away.
I expect to see Arlo again, but when I walk toward Greg and the car at the end of school he’s nowhere to be seen. I’m not disappointed by that. Honestly, I’m not. But it was nice, if only for a brief moment, to have someone at school talk to me and really know who it was they were talking to.
Shaking off the stupid thought, I climb into the car and settle into the cool leather seat. Greg climbs back into the driver’s seat and starts the engine, a moment before we smoothly pull away from the curb.
“Mr. Lexington isn’t joining you tonight?” He asks, his eyes catching mine in the rear-view mirror.
“Of course not. I don’t really know why he was here yesterday. It’s not like we’re friends or anything. I think he just wanted
to double check he didn’t imagine me,” I say with a self-deprecating laugh.
“The offer still stands. Any time, just call and I’ll help you run.” My sweet driver says, his voice laced with so much sincerity I have to swallow past the lump of emotion in my throat.
“Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me that you care enough to want to help. But it’s actually easier now he knows, they can’t ask me to...” I trail off, because even though he probably knows exactly what’s going on with my family, I still can’t actually come out and admit it.
“If that’s true, then I’m glad. But the offer’s still good.”
When he opens my door outside the house, I place my hand on his arm and squeeze. “Thank you,” I whisper and he nods, his eyes full of worry and concern.
The next morning, I get ready for school and eat as much of my breakfast as I can before Carrigan announces it’s time to leave. Just like every other day we make our way to St Augustus and slow to a stop at the bottom of the steps. I don’t bother to look up as Greg climbs out and opens her door, rather I consider asking him to make a quick detour to the drive-through coffee place. I barely managed two sips of my coffee with breakfast. I jump in shock when the door on my side of the car opens and Arlo Lexington’s smiling face appears in the open space.
“Hello, Tallulah,” he says brightly, as he leans in further, grabs my backpack, then scoops me into his arms and boldly lifts me from the car.
A squeal falls from my lips as he swings me into the air, and proceeds to move away from the car with me still in his arms. “What are you doing?” I cry, “Put me down.”
“Now, Tallulah darling, why would I want to do that?” He laughs, as his grip on me tightens and he strides up the steps, pausing when we get to the top and oh so gently lowering me to my feet in front of him, his chest pressed against mine.
My eyes feel painfully wide as I try not to gawp at the faces of the other students that are watching us.
“Tallulah Archibald,” he cries loud enough for everyone around us to hear.
Leaning toward me, he cups the back of my neck with one hand and wraps the other firmly around my back, before he peppers a soft kiss against my lips.
When he pulls back, he winks at me, then releases me and drops to one knee at my feet. “I know we’re young, but you are my everything,” he announces loudly, grabbing my hand and bringing it to his lips.
Not releasing me, he stands and points straight at my sister who’s still stood at the bottom of the steps her mouth open, anger flashing in her eyes. “Carrigan,” he calls. “I’m in love with your sister.”
Then he turns back to me, pulling me forward by the hand he’s still holding, until my chest is pressed against his. He kisses me again. This time it’s not a quick peck, it’s a real kiss, his lips on mine and his tongue in my mouth. I know I shouldn’t, but I kiss him back, closing my eyes and just letting go in this moment of madness with a guy who thinks my parents are awful and my sister is a whore.
There are a few whoops and someone claps as Arlo dips me, cradling my head with his palm. He places another kiss on the pulse point in my neck, flashing me a devious smile before he lifts me back up and makes sure I’m steady on my feet before he drops to one knee again and then very loudly says. “Tallulah Archibald, will you marry me?”
What the hell is going on? I part my lips to ask, but before I can speak, Arlo is leaping up from the floor and lifting me into the air.
“She said yes,” he announces jubilantly, twirling me around before kissing me again.
There’s an audible gasp from the crowd that’s amassed around us, that quickly turns into more whoops and congratulations. I’m sure in a normal high school an engagement would be unusual, but in the world of the uber rich, it’s not uncommon for people to be committed at a young age.
“What the hell is going on?” Carrigan demands, her heels clacking up the steps as she approaches us.
She literally took the words right out of my mouth, because I have no idea either, but Arlo is calm and exuberant as he pulls me to his side, dropping his arm over my shoulders. “Carrie, although I should probably start calling you sis now shouldn’t I? She said yes,” he says loudly, smiling widely as he addresses my sister.
Suddenly the people around us seem to multiply and all eyes are on us. Both of us. As in me and my identical twin sister, in the same place, at the same time, and all because of Arlo fucking Lexington.
“Arlo, dude, I take it she said yes,” A guy with almost white-blond hair says as he rushes up the steps toward us. When he reaches us, he claps Arlo on the arm, then scoops me into the air and into a dramatic bear hug. “Tallulah, I’m so fucking happy for you guys,” he says, like we’re the best of friends and he’s genuinely congratulating me.
“Tallulah,” Carrigan snaps from beside me.
The blond guy releases me, wiggles his eyebrows, then spins around to my sister. “Carrigan, you must be over the moon. Your sister engaged and to a Lexington no less,” he coos, moving to stand beside her and resting his hand on her shoulder as he looks at her expectantly.
“Err, of course I am,” she says from behind gritted teeth. “Tallulah, could I speak with you for a moment?” she says, turning fury-filled eyes on me.
I feel myself shrink beneath her barely restrained anger, but I literally have no idea what to say. I have no explanation for anything that’s happened this morning and I’ve never even seen the blond guy before.
“So?” Another guy shouts as he rushes toward us, his mop of chocolate brown curls bouncing as he runs up the steps.
“She said yes!” Arlo cries, pulling me close again.
“Congratulations,” the curly-haired guy says, hauling Arlo in for an enthusiastic hug, then turning to me. “Welcome to the family, Tallulah,” the guy says, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to my cheek like we’ve known each other for years. “I mean you’ve been family since you and Arlo got together, but now it’s official.”
“Tallulah,” my sister all but screeches.
“Sorry, Carrie, but I’m not letting you steal my fiancée. You can have girl time later,” Arlo says, winking at her mockingly as he pulls his arm from my shoulders and reaches for my hand, wrapping his fingers firmly around mine and pulling me away before I even get a chance to argue.
“What the hell are you doing?” I question.
He ignores me, simply smiling widely at everyone we pass.
“Arlo, let go of me,” I say, a little louder this time, but he ignores me again, leading me through the hallways until we stop outside a familiar door.
“Open it,” he says, not releasing me as he tips his head in the direction of the darkroom door, my darkroom.
“I,” I say, stalling and trying to think of something to say.
He tuts loudly, then pulls me roughly toward him, unbuttoning my blazer and removing the key from the inside pocket. Smirking at me, he uses it to unlock the door, then pushes me inside, following me in and closing and locking the door behind him.
Stumbling forward, I move away from him, my eyes wide, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. “What are you doing?” I cry, taking a further step back from him, my heart hammering in my chest as I realize I’m locked in a disused room alone with him. No one knows we’re here and after the other night, and the things he said—what he asked my ‘sister’ to do—I’m scared.
Fear hits me like a ball of ice to my chest and I move behind the couch, placing the old dusty piece of furniture between us, like it will protect me.
“Calm down,” Arlo says, his lip curving up at one side.
“I don’t know what’s going on. Why are we in here? What was all that...?” I pause, unsure what to even say. “All that show outside for?”
A knock on the door startles me and I instinctively take another step back. Arlo turns and unlocks the door, opening it slightly and peering out for a moment before opening it wide. The two boys from the steps push into the room, moving to eithe
r side of Arlo, matching grins etched across both of their faces.
My fingers tighten, gripping the back of the couch like I could use it as a weapon. I have no idea why I’m here or what they have planned for me, but whatever it is, I’m trapped in the one place in this school that until now had bought me peace. This was my safe haven, and now I have an awful feeling it’s going to become a nightmare.
“Jesus, they really are fucking identical,” the blond boy says, his eyes running over me like I’m a painting at a museum.
“I told you,” Arlo murmurs, staring at me with the same intensity as his friend.
“I think we’re scaring her,” the curly-haired boy says.
“Tell them who you are,” Arlo demands.
“Tell me why I’m here first,” I say, hoping that some fake Carrigan style bravado might get me some answers.
“You first,” Arlo snaps back, crossing his arms across his chest, making the sleeves of his uniform blazer pull taut across the muscles in his arms.
“My name is Tallulah Archibald,” I say quietly, the words feeling strange on my lips even though it’s my own name.
“How long have you been at St Augustus?” The blond boy asks.
“Since I was a freshman,” I answer, realizing that I should have forced Arlo to tell me what’s going on before I gave them anymore information.
The curly-haired boy laughs, and the sound is so infectious, so full of mirth, that I bite my cheek to stop myself from smiling. “Bullshit,” he cries, amusement lacing his voice.
“How is it possible that you’ve been here for years and yet no one knows you?” Arlo demands, his brows furrowed together.
“Tell me why I’m here and why you put on that show outside first, then I’ll answer your question,” I say trying to sound braver than I actually feel.
His eyes narrow and he assesses me again. It feels like he’s measuring me, judging me, but I’m not sure what he sees. “I don’t intend to marry your sister. I don’t care how much money the alliance between our families would bring my father. I don’t like Carrigan, I don’t like your parents, and I don’t like the way our families have tried to force this on me. Something’s going on with you and your sister. I don’t know what it is, but whatever it is, it’s shady as fuck. So when I saw a chance to fuck with Carrigan, I took it.”
