Char

by Amare, Mercy

  With that, his dad leaves, and it’s just the two of us. Tristan gives me the grand tour. The rest of the house is just as elegant as the foyer — expensive paintings, designer furniture and rugs — this house, or penthouse, is a dream.

  “I can’t believe you live here,” I tell him as we walk into his bedroom.

  Tristan’s bedroom is much larger than mine, and the view from his room is to die for. He has a huge king size bed with a simple black comforter. His walls are dark red, and he has a huge flat screen TV on the wall in front of a red leather sectional.

  “I don’t really like it here that much,” he says. “I generally spend every moment I can in Hamptons.”

  “So why are you here now?” I ask. “And you spent like two weeks here before school started.”

  “I came back to talk to my advisers at Columbia. I wanted to change my minor. And Christian was throwing a party, so I thought I would stay the night in New York City with my little brother. Then I met you, and I wanted to get to know you.”

  “That’s crazy. You changed your summer plans for a girl you barely knew…”

  “You were worth it,” he says. “And if you weren’t, I would have went back to the Hamptons. No big deal.”

  “Am I really worth it?”

  “Definitely.”

  “I’m excited about going there next weekend.”

  “Me too,” he says. “Do you want to head out on Thursday night with me?”

  I consider his question. Aaron is flying in on Friday morning, and we were supposed to drive there together. I suppose I could have my driver, Daniel, drive Aaron there and I could go early with Tristan. I’m sure Aaron won’t mind.

  “I’d like that.”

  1pm

  Screwed up family.

  Tristan and I are eating sushi for lunch. He was nice and went out to get us food, because I’m not quite ready to face the public yet. While we are eating I get another phone call from my mom. I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. I wonder what else she’s going to tell me. Maybe she has a sex tape too. I don’t think anything could surprise me anymore.

  “Hello,” I answer.

  “Charlotte Ashley York.”

  Oh no. She’s using my whole name. This can’t be good. “What did I do this time?”

  “You called Candice a whore on camera?”

  “What are you talking about? I would never call Candi a whore on film…” My voice trails off. Because I did call her a whore on camera. With the paparazzi. I thought they were just taking pictures, and I had no idea they were actually recording me. “Oh, I guess I did. The paparazzi was standing outside of Dad’s penthouse waiting to ambush me. I just wanted them to leave me alone.”

  I get up from the table and walk into the other room. Tristan already knows that my family is screwed up, but I really don’t want him to witness any more craziness.

  “Yeah, well you’re headline news.”

  “Stop being dramatic.” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see through the phone. “They have more important stuff to report than me calling Candi a whore. Besides, she is a whore. I’ve always known it, and now that her sex tape is releasing, all of America knows it.” Though I’m sure they knew before. She has a new guy on every episode of Shores of Malibu.

  “I don’t care what you’re feelings are, Charlotte. You can’t call your sister a whore. It’s rude and it’s disrespectful. I raised you better than that. You need to call your sister and apologize right now.”

  “Candi never answers my phone calls. Or texts.”

  “I wonder why.” My mother’s voice is icy. She should’ve went into politics, because I swear she could scare her way into the White House.

  “Mom, chill!” I yell. “I live with Dad now, so you can’t tell me what to do anymore. I’m not apologizing. Candice is a whore. She knows it. I know it. And you know it. Hell, you encouraged it. So excuse me for telling the truth. Grow up and be my mom. You’re making this a bigger deal than it is. Obviously Candi doesn’t think it’s a big deal or she would be the one calling me, not you. Seriously, stop creating problems. I’m so over the drama.”

  “You know what, you’re right. You’re definitely not cut out for the industry. Go ahead and stay in New York and kiss your daddy’s ass.” With that, the phone call comes to an end.

  She hung up on me.

  I take my phone and throw it across the room. Then I go pick it up to make sure I didn’t break it. I’m glad to see that it is still in one piece.

  “Are you okay?” I hear Tristan ask.

  “Not really, but I’ll live. My family is so fucked up.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Definitely not,” I answer. “Seriously, I’ll get over it. Just more bullshit.” Which is the story of my life apparently.

  We finish up our lunch, and then chill the rest of the weekend. I tell Dad that I’m staying at Tristan’s house, and he doesn’t care. In fact, he actually seemed happy about it… Of course, Tristan sleeps on his sectional and I sleep on his bed, but still… I stayed in a guy’s room. Which makes my dad seem like the biggest hypocrite on the planet. He got so mad when he saw Aaron sleeping over. Why doesn’t he care with Tristan? I must admit that I am glad he doesn’t care. I like spending time with Tristan. He is my normal.

  Is it too much to ask for a drama free life?

  For me, I guess it is.

  TUESDAY, AUGUST 27

  7pm

  Dark Side

  Tonight I am having dinner with Chloe, which I am super excited about. I love having dinner with her. I don’t have to try to impress her by dressing up. I can wear jeans and a tank top and just be comfortable. If I was with Candice or Mom I’d have to wear some crazy expensive dress and fix my hair and makeup… Okay, well I do wear a little makeup, but that’s because I don’t like to leave the house without it. Especially since paparazzi have been camped outside my dad’s penthouse since Candi’s sex tape was released.

  I am meeting Chloe at the restaurant, but she texts me to let me know she’ll be fifteen minutes late. I guess they’re doing some filming today, and it’s not going as planned. As I wait, I get a text from Candice.

  Candi: So am I not going to get an apology?

  Me: Sorry for telling the truth.

  Okay, so maybe I just threw gasoline onto an already hot fire, but I don’t care. I’m so sick of Mom always taking Candice’s side. And I’m sick of Candice thinking she’s better than Chloe and I. I just want my sweet big sister back. The sister that I had before she was famous.

  Candi: You’re so cruel. Does it make you feel good about yourself to attack me?

  Me: I’m not cruel. I’m just telling you what Chloe is too nice to tell you, and what Mom should have told you the first time you agreed to pose naked. Stop being a whore. It’s embarrassing.

  Candi: Embarrassing? Try watching the news and hearing your LITTLE SISTER call you a whore. THEN we’ll talk about embarrassing.

  Me: Whatever. Get over yourself.

  Candi: GROW UP. You really hurt me. We’re not kids anymore, and you can’t just run your mouth. This is my life… MY CAREER… And YOU are messing with it.

  Me: Boohoo. Cry me a river.

  Candi: Until you accept responsibility for your actions and apologize to me, I only have ONE SISTER. And that’s Chloe. Goodbye Charlotte. Hope you’re happy being with Dad. Because you’re just like him.

  I don’t reply. I’m so pissed at Candice for saying I’m like Dad. It’s not true. My dad is cruel. He’s heartless. He’s selfish. And he’s pretty much been absent from my life since I was born. I hate being compared to him, and she knows it. But more than pissed, I’m hurt. No matter what I do, it’s never good enough for Candice or my mom. I’ll always be the one left out and it’s not fair. I hate being treated like I’m not welcome in my own family.

  Finally, Chloe shows up. She’s still in her Spencer makeup and clothes. It’s funny seeing her like this, because she actually looks my age. “Sorry, I
didn’t have time to get changed.”

  “It’s okay.” I get up and hug her. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed you too.”

  We both sit down at the table, and the waitress comes over to take our order. After we order, Chloe gets a very serious look on her face.

  “Mom told me that you called Candi a whore on TV.”

  Ugh. No. Not her too. “I did. I didn’t think that I was being filmed. If I knew, I wouldn’t have said it. But I did, and it’s true. So I’m not apologizing to Candi.”

  “Even if it is true you shouldn’t have said it about your sister. Family is important, Char. We have to stick together, especially right now,” she says. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  “Come on, Chloe. You know it’s true.”

  “True or not, you shouldn’t have said it.”

  “Well, it’s too late now,” I say. “What do you expect me to do about it now?”

  “Apologize.”

  “No way. I’m so sick of everybody always treating poor Candi like a baby. She’s a grown woman. It’s time she take responsibilities for her actions.”

  “And you think calling her a whore is helping?”

  I sigh. “No. But I don’t want to talk about it. Please, can we just have a normal dinner. I desperately need some sister time.”

  “Fine,” she says. “I have something to tell you anyway.”

  “What?”

  “I have a boyfriend.”

  I sit up in my seat. “Oh my God! Phillip?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m so happy for you!”

  “Me too,” she says excitingly. “And we finally did it the other night.”

  “You had sex?”

  Chloe’s face turns red, but she smiles. “Yes.”

  “How was it?”

  “It was amazing,” she answers. “Like it hurt at first, but he made me feel comfortable and sexy. We’ve done it quite a few times since then. I’m glad that I waited for somebody I’m in love with.”

  “Love?” I choke on my water. “You’ve known him like two weeks. That’s crazy.”

  “Wait,” Chloe says. “You think it’s crazy that after two weeks I’m in love with him, but it’s not crazy that after two weeks we’ve had sex?”

  “Sex is different. Landon waited three months to tell me he loved me.”

  “And how soon did you have sex?”

  “Three months.” We actually had sex the night he told me that he loved me. And then I waited another month before I said it back. I wanted to be absolutely sure. And after about nine months of dating, we both kind of stopped saying it. I didn’t say it, because I wasn’t sure that I loved him anymore. Maybe that’s why he stopped too. We both knew it was over long before it was actually over.

  “So what? I fell in love fast. When you know, you know.”

  I wonder if that’s true. Tristan tells me that I’m the girl he’s going to marry, but how can he know that? And shouldn’t I be freaked out that he knows? Because I’m not. And maybe it’s just the little girl in me. I want to believe in love at first sight. I want to believe in TRUE LOVE. I want a happily ever after. But do I want it with Tristan? How can I know for sure he’s the one? The truth is, I can’t. Not until I get to know him better. Maybe it wasn’t love at first sight, but attraction. He saw something in me that he wanted, and I with him. The more that I get to know Tristan, the more my attraction for him grows. That attraction could eventually turn into love.

  I look at Chloe. She looks a little sad, and I know it’s because of me. Who am I to question her feelings for this guy?

  “I’m sorry,” I tell her. “You’re right. I don’t know what you’re feeling. If you say it’s love, then I believe you. I just don’t want to see my big sister hurt.”

  She smiles again. “Thank you, Char.”

  “Have you told Mom?” I ask.

  Chloe laughs. “Puh-lease. Mom is already planning our wedding. You know how she is.”

  I do know how she is. Nosey, pushy, and she has this uncontrollable need to marry all three of us off. She told me when I was sixteen if I wanted to get married she would sign for me. Like, seriously? Let me grow up first. Maybe graduate high school?

  “Candi has been really supportive.”

  What? Candice knew before me? Ouch. “Oh, so Candi already knows?”

  “Yeah,” she answers. “I actually went to her for advice. I was scared about my first time. She explained a few things to me, and made me feel better.”

  “Why didn’t you come to me?”

  “She was there. And I don’t know. You’re so young. I felt weird going to my seventeen year old sister for sex advice.”

  “Right. So instead you went to Candi, who just turned nineteen by the way, for advice. She’s only like one year and three months older than me.”

  Chloe sighs. “But you’re here, and Candice is there. And she isn’t still in high school.”

  “You know what, I am not hungry anymore.” I stand up. “I hope you are happy with Phillip, Candice, and Mom. You’re officially on the dark side.”

  “Charlotte!” I hear her yell at me, but I don’t stop, and she doesn’t follow.

  My whole life I’ve had one person on my side — Chloe. Now, I’m all by myself, and it sucks.

  THURSDAY, AUGUST 29

  6pm

  Traitor

  Wednesday at school I had trouble concentrating. I kept thinking about Chloe, and how betrayed I felt… So, I skipped Thursday. I know, I know. It’s the second week of school and I’m already ditching. But I think heart broken by sister is a good excuse.

  I spend the first part of the day in bed, eating junk food. I was waiting for a text from Chloe that never came. But then I decide to stop feeling sorry for myself, and get up. I take a really long shower, and get ready for my weekend.

  Tonight, Tristan and I are leaving for Hamptons. And tomorrow I get to see Aaron. So I refuse to let anybody or anything ruin my good mood.

  As I’m packing, my phone vibrates with a text from Aaron.

  Aaron: I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I’ve missed you way too much!

  Me: Me too! <3

  Aaron: My plane should arrive about 6am your time.

  Me: Awesome! Maybe we’ll get to surf in the morning once you get to the Hamptons.

  Aaron: What do you mean once I get there? Don’t you mean WE?

  Me: I’m going early with Tristan. I’m sending my driver for you.

  Aaron: Oh.

  I almost question my decision. Maybe I SHOULD wait for Aaron. He’s flying all the way to NY to see me. But I want to go. I desperately need to get away for a little bit. I double check my suitcase and make sure I packed everything. I’m bringing all of my bathing suits that I packed, all my flip flops, and sundresses. It’s my last chance to wear them before the weather gets cold, so I plan on spending the whole weekend in my bikini.

  Earlier today, I straightened my hair. It takes so long that I normally just leave it wavy. But I wanted to look cute. For Tristan. Which makes me almost as pathetic as Chloe professing her love after two weeks.

  I put on a brand new white sundress and a pair of matching flip flops.

  There is a knock on my door, and I turn to see Tristan standing in the doorway. He looks good. He’s wearing a pair of dark denim jeans, and a tight t-shirt. It is tight enough to show the contours of his muscles, and I’m trying not to stare. But I’m failing.

  “Are you ready to get out of here?” Tristan asks.

  I finally look away from his perfectly chiseled chest. I’m hoping he didn’t notice me checking him out, but from the look on his face he definitely noticed. “Yeah, I’m all packed and ready.”

  “You look nice,” he says. “I like your hair best when it’s natural, but it’s great straight too. It looks darker. I’m beginning to think you’re a brunette.”

  “Should I dye it?” I ask. I remembered that Aaron said my hair didn’t look as good darker.r />
  “No way. You’re perfect the way you are.”

  I smile at his words. “You’re the perfect one. Seriously. Do you even have a flaw?”

  “Nobody is perfect. Not even me.” He grabs my suitcase off my bed. “You ready?”

  “Yep.” I follow him down the stairs. I’ve never been the kind of girl who lets a guy carry her stuff, but it’s kind of nice. Maybe I am a traitor to the feminist movement, and women all over the world. But I don’t care, I like it.

  9pm

  One kiss.

  We arrive in Hamptons just after nine that night. I go to my dad’s house to put on my bathing suit, and Tristan goes to his house next door to get ready. I always forget how big his house is. It makes my dad’s house look small, but it’s not.

  I put on my favorite white and pink polka dot bikini and walk out onto the beach. As I watch the waves rolling in, I feel anxious. I can’t wait to get out on the waves in the morning. My hair is blown away from my face by the gentle breeze, and the smell of fresh salt water is in the air. It’s not the same as California, but I could definitely get used to it here.

  “Already in a bikini?” Tristan asks. I turn around to see him walking up behind me. He’s wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.

  “This is my normal attire,” I tell him. “When I lived in California, I hardly ever wore anything else.”

  “Hey, I’m not complaining.” I watch as Tristan’s eyes slowly trail down my body, and I swear I can feel his eyes heat up my skin… It’s not like I’ve never had a guy check me out before — I have. But this is different. This is extremely hot. His eyes once again meet mine, but there is something different about the way he’s looking at me. “Maybe you should put on a coverup.”