Matter Point

by GG Shalton

  After a few hours, we stopped for snacks. I picked some Sour Punch candies and a Coke. I laid my items on the counter and grabbed my purse.

  My stepmother gently laid her hand on mine. “I got it, sweetie.”

  Nodding, I let her pay and gave her a half whispered thank you. After walking back to the van, I slid in and heard the boys arguing outside. Apparently, they both wanted to sit up front. Their mother played referee and let Robbie ride in front since Ritchie had already had a turn. Perhaps it was good I’d never had siblings.

  The ride took us through winding roads as we went past mountains. I noticed huge lakes. After a few more hours, we entered a quaint small town that looked like something from the movies. As we drove through slowly, I noticed the homes were extravagant and most of them gated. We finally arrived at a guard shack and Amanda pushed in a code. We went past several trees on each side of the road until it opened up to beautiful houses hugging the lake shoreline.

  I felt someone touch my arm. Lifting my headphones, I looked at Ritchie.

  “It’s not all gated,” he said as he looked out the window.

  “Oh?” It looked as though the community was surrounded by gates.

  He shook his head. “There’s a small strip of land in the back where you can walk across by foot. No cars are allowed though.”

  My stepmother looked back and smiled at me. “It’s not as isolated as it looks. There are a few restaurants over that hill, and teenagers sometimes hang out on the square downtown. We live on the Point, but the whole community is called Matter Point.”

  “That doesn’t make sense,” Robbie said.

  “It was only the point at one time. However, as this community’s popularity grew, other properties were built along the shore and eventually they formed a town. We have thousands of full-time residents now, plus those who only have vacation homes. Ours was a vacation home until we moved here full-time last year. We love it.”

  I nodded, not sure what to say. How long have they been together? I’d assumed it was a short relationship and that was why I wasn’t invited to the wedding, but I guessed now they had been together for a while.

  She pulled into a rounded drive as I looked up at the massive home. It was breathtaking and sported a huge sunroom and dock in the back. A large boat bumped against the dock, and the terrace was full of stone and statues. She parked the car and we stepped out.

  “You can leave the baggage,” Amanda said. “I’ll ask Mikey to carry it upstairs.”

  “Mikey?”

  “He’s our gardener-slash-handyman. Great help to have around. He lives over the garage with his wife, who is our full-time housekeeper and cook. The other maids don’t live with us.”

  I shrugged, grabbing my purse and backpack with a few of my essentials. The boys ran ahead, and my stepmother walked beside me.

  “I have set up your room for you, but feel free to redecorate it,” Amanda said. “Your father wasn’t sure what you’re into now, and since I have only boys, it may not be to your taste.”

  I nodded but didn’t answer.

  She gave me a guarded smile. “I asked Gayle to stock some snacks in the pantry, but if there’s anything you prefer, just write it on the list inside the door of the pantry. We should have dinner in a few hours. Gayle’s famous lasagna.”

  Amanda opened the front door, and we stepped inside a beautifully marbled entryway. A huge staircase opened up to a balcony and wrought-iron statues flanked the stairs. It almost looked like something out of a magazine. Most of the students in my academy had come from wealthy families and I had visited a few of their homes, but they looked nothing like this. My father must be doing well, or my stepmother was loaded.

  I followed her up the stairs and down the hall, passing a few rooms that I guessed were my stepbrothers by the way they were decorated.

  She stopped at the end of the hall and, with an expectant grin, opened the door. “I hope you like it.”

  I walked inside and was greeted by pink. Lots of it. An overwhelming amount of it. I didn’t want to complain, but it looked like something for a twelve-year-old girl. Looking around, I noticed the bed was at least a king size. That was a plus. I saw a vanity in an alcove and another door behind it which I thought was the closet, but after further inspection, I learned it was a bathroom. The closet was in the back of the bathroom, which would be convenient. The bedroom window had a bench built into it, and a huge desk sat in the other corner. The windows faced the lake and the view was spectacular.

  “Thank you.” My stepmother deserved some sort of graciousness. She had been extremely accommodating since she picked me up from the airport.

  My response seemed to affect her, as a huge smile slid across her face. “You’re so welcome.” She glanced around and seemed a bit unsure on what to say next. Taking a deep breath, she stepped away. “I’ll ask Mikey to send your luggage up. I thought maybe we could do some shopping tomorrow for school clothes. The school in town doesn’t require uniforms.”

  I cleared my throat. “When does school start?”

  “In August. You still have over a month. Summer here is fantastic, and your father has a pretty large boat that we spend a lot of time on.” She smiled brightly, obviously trying to impress me. I could tell she wanted me to be excited about being here. “I’ll let you get settled.” Stepping toward the door, she snapped her fingers. “I almost forgot. My friend Jessica has a daughter your age. Her father is friends with yours as well. I’ll introduce you soon—maybe tomorrow. They’re also year-round residents, and her daughter, Paisley, is a cheerleader. I’m sure you’ll be friends.”

  “Great,” I said unenthusiastically.

  I was picky about my friends, and if my father was friends with her father, I wasn’t sure we would have a lot in common. Cheerleading wasn’t an activity offered at Tarragon, but I knew about it from watching movies and it seemed shallow, in my opinion. Watching sports wasn’t a favorite pastime of mine.

  After so much time with my new stepfamily, I just wanted to be alone. I took a deep breath and pretended to yawn. “Do you mind if I rest for a while before dinner?”

  “Of course. You must be exhausted from traveling.” She smiled as she rubbed her stomach. My eyes followed her hand. “I didn’t know you were pregnant. How far along are you?”

  She smiled. “Oh dear. I thought your father would have told you. I am four months. Just getting over the morning sickness.” I nodded as I watched her stare at me with a little pity. “I think you will make a great big sister.”

  I didn’t reply for a moment as I let the news sink in. My father was going to have another child and never told me. How would Amanda know I would make a good big sister? After all, she just met me. Swallowing the hurt, my manners didn’t leave me. “It’s wonderful news.” I managed to finally say. My response seemed to please her as I watched a smile come across her face.

  “I will let you get settled.” She walked out the door as I followed her and shut it behind her. Taking a deep breath, I leaned against the door, thinking about my life. Exhausted, I lay on the bed and fell asleep.

  Chapter 2

  Ariel

  I awoke the next morning. At least, I thought it was morning since the sun streamed through the windows. What time was it? The clock said seven o’clock. A little disoriented, I wondered how I’d slept for so long. Popping up, I unlocked my door and peeked my head out of it. I didn’t see anyone.

  Tiptoeing down the hall, I noticed Ritchie playing video games in his room.

  I must have made some noise because he quickly turned around. “I am about to win. Don’t say a word.”

  I didn’t say anything as I stood in the doorway, watching him scream at the television.

  He threw his headset. “I just died!” He grimaced and looked back at me. “Thanks a lot.”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea how I caused you to d
ie.”

  He studied me for a moment. “You play?”

  I shook my head. “We weren’t allowed to play video games.”

  “What kind of prison was that?”

  I smiled. “What time is breakfast served?”

  He wrinkled his forehead. “Breakfast? Dinner is at seven thirty.”

  I quickly noted my mistake as I looked out his window. Now it made sense. It wasn’t morning—I’d only slept a few hours. Ritchie looked at me curiously, but I chose to ignore it.

  “Do we dress for dinner?” I inquired.

  He finally broke his stare and turned off his television and put his controller away. “Well, you can’t go naked. Although Robbie may want you to. We’ve been teasing him ever since he saw your picture.”

  Wait. What? “I don’t understand?”

  “My brother thinks you’re hot.” He chuckled. “He practically drooled over your picture until we picked you up from the airport.”

  Ew. The kid was either full of it, or I need to make a mental note to watch myself around my new stepbrother. But if it was true, Robbie’s demeanor at the airport made sense.

  I shook it off. I was hardly beautiful. Amanda had only said that as a lame attempt to get on my good side, or she was being kind. My father had told me once I looked like my mother, and I knew from my grandmother that many people had thought she was beautiful. But I didn’t feel that way at all.

  I tried to ignore the awkward silence. My stepbrother’s fantasies weren’t something I want to think about. “Seriously, what are you wearing to dinner?”

  “You’re kind of weird.” He shook his head and looked down his body. “I’m wearing this T-shirt and shorts. I don’t plan to wear shoes, but if we have dinner on the patio, then I’ll wear my flip-flops.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “Obviously.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Look, I got to go to the bathroom. I’ll see you later.”

  He left the room, seeming almost annoyed I would ask such a question. Odd. Dinner’s dress code at Tarragon was strict. We couldn’t even enter the dining hall unless we were in the proper attire.

  “Ariel?”

  I turned around and saw an older woman with long dark hair. “Yes?”

  “I’m Gayle. I wanted to make sure you were awake. Amanda told me you were napping. We’re having lasagna and cake for dessert on the patio tonight around seven thirty, if you’re hungry? I know your schedule may be a bit off with the time change.”

  “I’ll dress and come down.”

  The woman nodded as she turned to leave.

  “Miss Gayle?”

  “Just Gayle, sweetheart.”

  “Very well. Gayle, what is the dress attire for dinner?”

  A half-smile crossed her face, then it quickly went away. “Don’t worry, Dear. You may wear whatever you choose. But a young girl your age would most likely wear some shorts and a T-shirt, or a simple summer dress. It’s really up to you.”

  I nodded, realizing I was to be a source of amusement for the family. Turning on my heel, I walked back into my room to take a quick shower and see if I had anything appropriate. Maybe I really did need to go shopping with Amanda tomorrow.

  Picking something to wear took a lot longer than I thought. Most my clothes were uniforms or dresses. I did have two pair of jeans, but it was so hot outside that I decided against that. That left only the few summer dresses I had bought for my trip with Isabel. I chose one with a yellow flower pattern and spaghetti-strap sleeves. It would have to do. After donning some sandals, I brushed my hair that fell near my waist. I normally wore it up in a bun, but I couldn’t find my hair pins.

  I glanced at the clock. It read seven forty-five. I had to hurry, as I didn’t want to upset anyone by being too late. Running down the stairs, I found the patio, where everyone was laughing and drinking lemonade. They were all dressed informally in T-shirts. Even Amanda.

  Her face lit up when she saw me. “Oh! I’m so happy you could make it. Dinner should be served shortly.”

  “I thought I was late.”

  “Oh no. Seven thirty was just a suggested time. We aren’t formal. Please know the kitchen is always open for snacks or making your own food if you don’t like what we have. Feel free to explore any part of the house that you want.”

  I nodded as I took a glass of lemonade off the table. I eyed Robbie sitting in a lounge chair and looking across the lake. Ritchie was running his finger over the cake, then he licked the frosting off his finger. Then he stuck his finger back into the icing. Gross. I wouldn’t have any cake.

  Amanda followed my eyes and gasped. “Ritchie!” She reached over and took his hand away. “Where are your manners? Don’t act like a heathen!”

  Robbie exhaled loudly. “You’re disgusting!”

  “No, you are!” Ritchie yelled.

  I couldn’t help but to smirk at the chocolate on Ritchie’s cheek. He seemed a little immature for twelve. But really, what did I know?

  “You ready to eat?” Gayle walked onto the patio with a steaming tray of lasagna.

  “Yes, thank you, Gayle.” Amanda narrowed her eyes at Ritchie as I suppressed a laugh.

  I tasted the most delicious lasagna I had ever eaten. They weren’t kidding when they bragged about how good it was. Ritchie spoke nonstop during dinner as Amanda patiently answered his questions. I kept to myself but couldn’t help noticing that Robbie said only a few words when directly asked a question by his mother. I sneaked a few looks at him but did not want to encourage him. Ritchie may have been lying, but it still made me uncomfortable. After dinner, Gayle served the cake—which I politely refused, remembering Ritchie licking the frosting—and we sat around enjoying the breeze.

  “Amanda?”

  We all looked up and saw a woman and teenage girl around my age.

  “Jess?” Amanda smiled and stood to greet them. “What a nice surprise.”

  “I was visiting Mrs. Taggart next door and thought we would drop in. I hope you don’t mind us intruding.”

  “Hello, Mrs. Burns.” The teenage girl smiled.

  Amanda lifted a dismissive hand. “Don’t be silly. You’re not intruding; we were just enjoying some cake. Please, help yourself. I want you to meet my lovely stepdaughter, Ariel.”

  Both women smiled at me as they walked onto the patio.

  “Hi, Ariel. I’m Mrs. Tyler. This is my daughter, Paisley. You two will both be seniors at Matter Point High.”

  Paisley waved. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  I nodded as I assessed the girl. She was pretty—very thin with long brown hair, dressed in white shorts with a green silky shirt and braided brown sandals. Her smile seemed genuine, but one could never tell.

  My stepmother looked at me. “Ariel is adjusting to the time change. It will probably take a few days to get caught up.”

  Jess laughed. “I understand. Whenever we travel abroad, it takes me a couple of days to adjust.” The woman took a seat near Amanda. “Are you looking forward to starting your new school?”

  How did I answer that question? No, I wasn’t. I wanted to go back to Europe. But instead, I smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Amanda beamed as she glanced my way. “Ariel was an honor student at her school in Europe, and from what I hear, she was quite the gymnast at one time.”

  “That’s wonderful. Paisley is the captain of the cheerleaders this year. I believe tryouts are soon. You should try out.”

  I didn’t want to appear rude, but I wasn’t interested in cheerleading. I wasn’t comfortable trying to get a crowd hyped up, and I certainly didn’t understand sports. I should say something fast before anyone got any ideas. “We didn’t have cheerleading at my school. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be any good at it.”

  “Oh, nonsense. Look how pretty you are. You could probably just stand there and
the boys would cheer.” She laughed as she nudged Amanda.

  My cheeks warmed as I looked away.

  Concern briefly swept across Amanda’s face when she looked at me. She could probably sense that I was uncomfortable, because she turned to Paisley and asked, “How is your summer going?”

  Paisley exhaled loudly. “Mother wouldn’t let me go to the Bahamas with my friends, so I’ve been stuck in Matter Point all summer.”

  “There was no adult supervision. And after the spring break incident in Padre, you can wait a few years before going on another girl’s trip.”

  “She is impossible.” Rolling her eyes, Paisley took a seat in the chair next to mine.

  Mrs. Tyler looked at Amanda. “You’re lucky you have boys. These tantrums are taking a toll on me! Do you have anything stronger than lemonade?” She cocked her brow.

  Amanda courteously smiled. “I do. Come inside and let’s get a bottle of wine.”

  The women left as Ritchie walked down near the lake to skip rocks along the shore. Robbie sat on one of the lawn chairs with his headphones on. He didn’t pay any more attention to Paisley or me as he watched his brother.

  “Do you like Matter Point?” Paisley looked at me as she scooted closer.

  I shrugged. “This is only my first day here. I haven’t seen much of it.”

  She leaned back and looked across the lake. “I’m going to a party later tonight. Well, not really a big party, but a few of my friends getting together at one of the cheerleader’s houses. We’ll probably build a bonfire. Do you want to go?”

  “I’m not sure if I would be allowed to.”

  “Really? Amanda loves me. Plus, your dad and my dad are good friends. We’ve known him for years. I was shocked when I learned he had a daughter my age. I’ve wanted to meet you for the longest.”

  Interesting. How long had she known my father before learning he had a daughter tucked away in Europe?

  I shrugged, not knowing exactly how to respond. “I really don’t know my father that well.” I looked away and chastised myself. I barely knew this girl and didn’t want to reveal too much.