Then Came You

by Cherelle Louise

  Dana sighs. “Look at me, Darcy. What was your first though when you saw me?”

  I blink. “Honestly?” She nods, and I sigh. “Okay, I thought you were a scary bully. But I know now that-“

  “Exactly!” She bursts. “I look like a scary gang banger, or- like, some kind of biker-slut! I know my Ma loves me, but I know she hates the way I look. I’m the kind of person her friends would be scared of if they saw me in the street.”

  I roll me eyes, “well, yeah, but… I wear a hoodie. With the hood up sometime.”

  She snorts a laugh at that, grinning up at me. “Oh, god, Darcy – you’re right. Please don’t kill me in my sleep!” She says sarcastically, before the forlorn look returns to her face. “I never told her about Alex, you know…”

  She whispered it so quietly, I wasn’t sure what she’d said. “W-What do you mean?”

  Lifting her head, she looks up at me with guilty, wide eyes. “I didn’t tell Ma about Alex. She never would have forgiven me. She wanted me to stay pure and true until I found my prince and got married. She didn’t want me to end up like my mother.”

  I blink, waiting patiently for her to carry on.

  “My mum had me when she was just seventeen, she didn’t have a clue who my father was, and she left Ma to look after me whilst she went off to live her life without a care in the world. I don’t miss her – I never knew her. But sometimes, I wish, just for a second, that I did. If only to know what I’m missing.”

  I nod, understanding her completely. “I know what you mean” I say.

  We lie in silence, the silver clock on her dressing table ticking loudly in the room, our breathing light. After a while, she turns to face me, her eyes sad yet hopeful. “Hey, Darcy?”

  “Yeah?” I mumble sleepily.

  “What’s you’re mum like?”

  I take a deep breath, my heart panging as I try to work up the courage to tell her the truth. None of my friends have an inkling of what my home life is like, and I’d always assumed it would stay that way. But, if Dana can tell me her secrets, then I can tell her mine, right? At least one of them?

  “She’s dead,” I choke up at last, tears starting to pool at my eyes making my view blurry. “She died a few months ago; drowned.”

  She gasps, sitting up to look at me properly, eyes turning sad. “Oh, god, Darcy. I’m so sorry…”

  I shake it away, smiling weakly at her through my tears. “It’s alright, really. I’m over it now.”

  She studies me knowingly, looking for any faults in my façade. She’s like me, in a way; always keeping an act, trying to stay strong. But I can play it better, I’m just too stubborn to take my walls down for more than a minute.

  “Are you sure?” She asks me, unsure.

  I nod again, “yeah, I’m sure,” I lie, shoving the pain, the heartache and the memories of my mum back into the box they belong in, deep in the back of my mind, so I can carry on with the act.

  I have to appear strong. Nobody will ever see my weakness again.

  Ten

  I end up staying at Dana’s until it’s really late, the sun having set a few hours ago. Her Grandma is really nice, talking to us happily over our meal of cottage pie, salad and homemade bread. We helped her clean the dishes, which resulted to a mini water fight, and she just laughed at us and made sure we cleaned the mess.

  As we sit in her room, listening to some crazy rock band and reading out embarrassing stories from a bunch of her neighbours magazines she’d found, her Grandma knocks on the door and opens it, smiling at us.

  “Darcy, hun, it’s getting late. Are you staying here, or will your parents be wondering where you are?” She says, nodding at the clock.

  I look up and gulp when I see that it’s almost nine. My dad was bound to be home by now, right? And I wasn’t sure what kind of mood he’s be in. I smile thankfully at her Grandma and sit up, closing the magazine and fixing my top.

  “Yeah, I should probably get going. Thank you for having me, and I’ll see you Monday, Dana.” I say, hugging my friend.

  “Do you need a ride?” Dana asks me, sitting up herself. “I can take you home, if you want; no worries.”

  I shake my head, not wanting to bother her anymore. “Nah, I’ll be alright,” I grin, waving her offer away. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Oh, okay then. Bye Darcy.”

  “By, Sweetie,” her Grandma calls out as I walk down the stairs.

  I close the front door behind me, shivering as the cold night air hits me. The air is cool and crisp when I breathe it in, and the moon shines brightly over me. I sigh, blowing hot air into my cold hands, walking out of the garden and heading down the street.

  The walk was long and tiring, the cold giving me goosebumps. I was tense, my imagination creating footsteps behind me and scary music. In the back of my mind, the theme tune of jaws was playing, which wasn’t helping my sanity.

  Flashes of memories haunt my walk home; darkness, pain, screams and laughter. It plays on my mind, making my breathing heavy and fast. I suck in as much air as I can, my head turning every way possible as my pace increases.

  And then – there really are footsteps behind me. They’re there, meaning somebody is behind me, following me. I want to scream, to run – terror wreaks my body.

  “Darcy?” I hear the male voice – just the voice, not the word. I yelp, jumping slightly, almost at a jog.

  “Darcy!?”

  I jump when someone grabs my arm, turning me around so I can look into those warm hazel eyes once again. “Darcy, what are you doing walking around at this time? Are you okay? You’re shaking.”

  “Tyler! You scared the life out of me! Who the hell stalks people in the middle of the night like that?” I demand, my fear turning to anger the moment my brain registers that I’m safe.

  Tyler lifts his hands in innocence, smiling slightly. “I’m sorry – but I saw you walking around when I was looking out the window and I wanted to know if you were safe – you were walking pretty fast, almost like someone was chasing you.”

  “Well yes,” I snap. “You were!”

  He sighs, “Look, I said I was sorry. Do you want me to give you a lift home?”

  “You don’t know where I live.”

  “No,” he grins. “Obviously. But you can tell me.”

  I roll my eyes at him. “Whatever. “

  He chuckles, walking back down the street until he reaches his car, me trailing after him with my lips pursed. I must seem like a moody tween, I realise, before frowning again and sliding into the passenger seat when he holds the door open for me with a grin.

  I fasten my seatbelt as he jogs round to the other side of the car, jumping in the driver’s seat.

  “So…” he begins before he starts to drive. “Where’ve you been so late?”

  I shrug, “Dana’s. Not like it’s any of your business.”

  He chuckles deeply, turning to grin at me. “Really? It’s none of my business? I’m just making sure you haven’t been hooking up with anyone I know. I don’t want you to get hurt, Darcy.”

  “Well, I wasn’t ‘hooking up’ with anyone, Tyler,” I smirk. “Unless you think I had a quick smooch with her Grandma?”

  He scoffs at that, “Deborah? I doubt it; she’s way out of your league.”

  “Then who is in my league? You?” I snort.

  He clears his throat, looking at me under his eyelashes. “You never know, Darcy. I just might be harbouring a serious crush for you. I may fighting with every bit of strength I have right now not to kiss you.”

  My breathe catches in my throat. “And are you?” I ask him after a few seconds of silence, my eyes locked onto his.

  He sighs, leaning closer to me, his minty-apple breath tickling my face. I want to gasp, to move my eyes away from his bright warm ones and escape, but for once, there’s a tiny part of me that wants to stay, that wants-

  He presses his lips to mine softly for the first time, and they taste just like I’d have expected; apples, c
offee and mint: my three favourite things. I feels his warm lips against mine a second time, more firm this time. I gasp and he starts to chuckle, his hands coming up to cup my face, fingers entwining in my hair.

  We kiss like that for god knows how long, and one thing I can tell you, is that it was one of the best kisses I have ever had. When we finally break apart, he opens his eyes and smile at me, and I return it. We stare at each other for a while before he clears his throat and draws back, hands moving to the steering wheel.

  “We’d best get you home,” he says, his voice huskier than usual.

  I just nod. I can’t seem to find my voice yet.

  The drive was silent, the atmosphere having changed after the kiss. I couldn’t help but sneak glances at him whenever I could, only to grin when I noticed he was doing the same. Deciding I didn’t want to play some silly game, I focus on the window, on the darkness outside, not looking back at him.

  When he pulls up outside my house, he clears his throat, getting me to look at him as he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.

  “So…” He says slowly, drawing out the ‘oh’ sound. I roll my eyes, clicking my seatbelt undone and turning slightly to the door, hoping he gets the message that I just want to leave so that I don’t have to tell him.

  “What are you doing tomorrow?” He asks me instead. Clearly, he’s not good at reading body language. “Because, I was wondering if you’d like to go to this barbeque thing tomorrow. They’ll be a bunch of people from school – you might know some of them.”

  I shrug, “I dunno. My dad’s… not in the best of moods lately. I don’t want to push him.”

  He nods, understanding my reluctance, and smiles sadly. “Well, if you can, call me,” he carries on, grabbing a pen and a scrap of paper from the glove compartment and scrawling out his number, handing it to me with a grin. “You can invite Dana too, if you want.”

  “Really?” I ask him, thinking that she could really do with something fun to do. “We wouldn’t be intruding or anything like that?”

  “Nah,” He shrugs, shaking his head. “They won’t mind. It’s at eleven though, so call me early so I can pick you up.”

  I nod and smile at him, opening the door and climbing out. “Will do,” I promise, before closing the door and walking backwards to the front door, watching as he waves before driving down the street.

  You idiot! My stubborn brain snaps when I close the front door behind me and lean against it with a sigh. You were supposed to avoid him! He’s a player, right? He’ll only break your heart?

  I sigh again, closing my eyes when I hear the sounds of my dad’s snoring coming from the livingroom. One question plays on my mind as I walk up the stairs and collapse on my bed.

  Will he?

  Eleven

  “Darcy! The whole bloody fridge is empty!” Dad shouts, slamming cupboard doors to emphasize this, a scowl clear across his face.

  I roll my eyes as I take a sip of the last dregs of orange juice in the murky glass, watching him deface the kitchen in anger. It’s only seven in the morning – Sunday morning, I might add – and I’m pretty surprised that he’s actually awake and moving.

  “Darcy!” He snaps, turning to face me with a glare. “Didn’t you hear me? Empty! There’s nothing here!” He groans, cursing as he pulls a wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and pulling out a few notes.

  “Go shopping,” he instructs, throwing the money at me and taking the last bottle of whisky into the livingroom, his shoulder knocking me back on the way so I spill the last of my drink.

  I nod, pursing my lips as I rinse out the glass under the tap, placing it on the side of the sink before marching up the stairs to get ready. Twenty minutes later, I’m washed, dressed and dad is semi-drunk and grumbling at the TV as I pocket the money and walk out the house.

  The store isn’t as busy as usual, and I walk around freely, picking out the cheapest brands since we don’t really have any money. The trolley is half full by the time I turn onto the last isle, when I bump into a girl stacking shelves. She turns around to snap at me, only to pause and grin wryly.

  “Oh!” She starts, jumping down off the mini-stand she’d been using, taking the yellow cap off her head and shaking out her mahogany hair. “I remember you! We met at the party, remember? My friend practically jumped on you because she was drunk.”

  I frown, thinking back to the party. “Um, jeans and a camisole?”

  She nods, sticking her tongue out and wrinkling her nose humorously. “Ah huh! Fancy seeing you again. And this time, you’re the one doing the bumping.” She winks at me, and I can’t help but notice the golden stud in her nose as it glints under the artificial light of the store.

  She looks like a different person, with the yellow cap, faded denim jeans and a yellow and black shirt which all the workers wear as uniform. She doesn’t seem as old this time – more high school-y than college-girl.

  “So, you usually do the shopping?” She asks me with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve been there, girlfriend. Two brothers and a sister, all of them younger.”

  I smile at her, shrugging my shoulders. “I don’t mind. So do you work here then?” I ask her before slapping my palm to my face. Idiot, of course she does.

  She laughs kindly, her eyes twinkling. “Yup, but I won’t be for long if I keep talking. My manager’s already giving me the evils.” She nods her head behind me and I turn to see a fat, bald man in a too-tight shirt and black pants watching us with narrowed eyes.

  “Ah,” I say, turning back to her and pulling a face. “I guess I’ll go then; don’t really want to get you fired.”

  “Eh, I can easily manipulate him into getting my job back; I’m good at persuading people,” she says offhandedly, shaking her hand at me as she grins. “But I probably don’t want to push my luck, so I’ll let you get back to shopping.”

  I smile and push the trolley past her, heading towards the till at the end. “Bye,” she calls after me, and I turn and wave quickly, before I reach the checkout. After unloading all the shopping on to the till, I run the trolley round and start bagging up. The old woman behind it smiles at me.

  “It’s lovely to see youngsters helping out at homes nowadays,” she coos at me as she runs the items over the scanner. I just smile weakly at her and carry on shopping, not bothering to explain or correct her in any way.

  I pay her the money and she tells me to have a nice day, which I return with a reply of my own, before I walk out the store with a bunch of heavy bags weighing me down. I’m halfway down the street when Dana pulls up beside me and rolls her window down with a grin.

  “Need a hand?” She asks me, jumping out and taking some of the bags. I sigh with relief as we put them in her boot.

  “Thank you so much,” I tell her in between each lungful of air. “I owe you one.”

  She shrugs as we slide in to the seats, winking at me. “I’ll think of some way you can repay me. Your house?”

  “Yup.”

  We drive there in comfortable silence, with the exception of some weird, jangly music coming from her radio which she bobs her head to as she drives. For the first time ever, she parks up outside my house, and we grab the bags and walk up to my house.

  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous – I’ve never had anybody else see my dad this way before, I’d I’m worried about what she’d think. I shove the door open and she looks around, not commenting on the lack of décor as we make our way into the kitchen.

  “So, where’s your dad?” She questions as we put away the shopping, her eyes watching me curiously. “He at work?”

  I shrug, not looking at her as I pretend to be focused on the job at hand. My hands are shaking nervously, I’m terrified my dad will come out and she’ll know yet another secret. She’s quickly starting to understand more than anybody else, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.

  “Hey! Whose number is this?” She interrupts my thoughts as she waves the scrap piece of paper with Tyler’s number in my fa
ce. I blink; I’d forgotten I’d left it here.

  “Um, no ones. Just, y’know…” I blabber, my face going red.

  She sees through my lie immediately, a wide grin spreading across her face. “Oh really? Then you wouldn’t mind if I called it?”

  “What?” I shake my head clear, but she’s already made a break to the phone and is tapping out the numbers. “Wait, Dana- No!”

  “Hello?” She asks, her voice sweet as she winks at me. “Whom am I speaking to?”

  I stand there cringing as her face brightens up, turning to looks at me with wide, sparkling eyes. “Why, Tyler – how on earth did Darcy get your number? A barbeque? Today?” She shakes her head slowly at me, still grinning like a maniac. “No, Darcy did not tell me. Eleven, did you say? Great! We’ll be there!”

  I watch with wide eyes as she hangs up, looking at me proudly. “You bad girl!” She squeals, slapping my arm playfully. “You didn’t tell me you and Tyler were getting close! C’mon, we have to make you look beautiful!”

  “What are you talking about?” I frown, stumbling as she pulls me up the stairs and into my room. “Dana? Where are we going?”

  “To the barbeque, silly!” She sings, ignoring the poor state of my bare bedroom as she delves into my wardrobe in search of an outfit, humming to herself. “Damn girl, do you have anything in here that isn’t jeans and hoodies?”

  I roll my eyes and flop back on my bed, my eyes drifting shut as she defaces my wardrobe. I’m almost asleep when I’m jolted back to life with a “ah ha!” from Dana as she throws something at my face.

  “Cute clothes! Score!” She cheers, dragging me up from the bed.

  I wrinkle my nose at what she’s picked out – faded shorts and a floral vest top. Where the heck did these come from? “I am not wearing this.”

  She snorts, putting her hands on her hips as she glares at me. “Um, yes, you are. Now go get ready; I expect you to be beautiful by the time we’re leaving.”