by MB Mulhall
“NO. I did not like it.” He gave her a sad look.
“Shame…next time I’ll be sure to do better. Can’t have it getting around that my tongue skills are lacking.”
Darcy slid off the hood in a flash and bent down to grab a rock. She lobbed it at his head. Judd laughed loud as he batted it away.
“Don’t you know it’s that fire that gets me going?” He commented with a wink before walking away towards his bike.
Darcy was seething. Jazz, seeing the other girl’s anger, nudged her with an elbow.
“Being a chick means it’s not a low blow to hit them when their back is turned.” Jazz wound up her arm and pitched the helmet at her brother’s head. It hit him dead on. Judd fell to his knees and proceeded to land face first on the damp grass.
Darcy’s anger receded like a guy’s scrotum when he steps into a cold shower. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, her mouth an O of shock. Jazz jumped in the air, arms above her head.
“Bulls eye!”
Darcy stared, incredulously, while Jazz did a little victory dance.
“What if he has a concussion?” Darcy asked no one in particular. Jazz stopped her dance.
“No worries. That kid has a head hard as stone. Do you know how many times he’s crashed that bike?”
“Or how many times Jazz has pushed him down the stairs?” Chaz chipped in.
“He’s indestructible!” Jazz said posing like a super hero. Darcy’s head whipped back and forth between Jazz and Chaz and Judd’s felled body.
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding when she saw Judd start to stir. Jazz noticed as well and skipped over to her brother. She nudged him, none too gentle, with the toe of her pointy heel.
“Rise and shine buttercup!” Judd’s arm snaked out like lightening. Catching his sister’s ankle, he yanked her foot out from under her, causing her to fall on her ass. Jazz shrieked like an angry cat, hissing and spitting as she tried to get back at her brother.
Darcy could not believe the spectacle she was witnessing. Who acted like that? They were rolling around in the grass, pulling hair, tweaking nipples, even biting each other. It was like a Lucha Libre match, sans the freaky masks.
Darcy took a step towards them; worried Jazz would seriously get hurt, when she felt a hand on her arm holding her back. Glancing over, she met Chaz’s gaze. He shook his head. She stepped back and looked down at her arm. He dropped it like she was a leper.
“Sorry,” he mumbled putting his hands behind his back as if he was resting at an ‘at ease’ position.
“Shouldn’t we do something?” Chaz looked surprised she was addressing him.
“Naahh this is normal for them. It’ll die down when they get tired.” Darcy couldn’t fathom siblings, let alone twins, acting the way they were at their age.
“It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.” Chaz shook his head slowly.
“Even that doesn’t stop them. Didn’t you notice Jazz’s glass eye?” Darcy’s jaw dropped.
“Are you serious?!” Chaz gave her a curt nod, but couldn’t stop the smile from breaking out. He laughed until tears starting rolling down his cheeks.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I couldn’t help it. You should see your face!” Darcy pouted and smacked his arm, hard.
“Asshole.” Her comment sobered him immediately. His head dropped.
“You’re right. I am. Sorry…for everything.” Darcy looked him over. He was certainly playing the part of remorseful boy well. Maybe she would cut him a break.
“I appreciate the apology. That’s more than the clown lover over there could handle.” Judd raised his head and looked her way when he heard her. She ignored him. “But that doesn’t mean you’re completely forgiven. Not yet anyway.” Chaz looked up at her. She damned those puppy dog eyes. They would be her undoing someday.
“I promise I’ll work hard to make it up to you,” he said taking a hold of her hand. Darcy nodded and slowly slid her hand out of his. She was not going to make it easy on him; on either of them.
When she looked back, the siblings were on their feet, brushing grass and dirt off themselves. Both had smiles on their faces. Darcy shook her head. Some people were crazy.
“Ta-ta kids!” Jazz called wiggling her fingers in their direction. “Chaz you should stop by sometime soon.” Chaz looked in Judd’s direction and shook his head.
“I don’t know if that’s the best idea Jazzy, but you know you’re welcome to come over whenever.”
“Oooh come on. You can pretend to be my boyfriend. It’ll placate my folks and if you bring Darcy, I can make out with her some more! It’ll be fun. Think on it!” Jazz climbed on the bike behind her brother and they took off, leaving a stunned Chaz and a mortified Darcy in their wake.
After Darcy stumbled through an explanation of Jazz’s comment, red faced and unable to meet Chaz’s amused expression; she bid him good night and headed towards the front door. She entered as quietly as possible, not really looking to confront her step-sister. She still couldn’t believe Mandy was in on the whole prank, especially when Dick was at the helm. Was her step-sister one of those girls who kept going back to the guy who treated her like shit, hit her, and cheated on her? She loathed women like that.
Successfully making it up the stairs unnoticed, she stripped out of her outfit, tossing the clothes out her door and into the hall. Mandy could pick them up from there. She grabbed a makeup removal wipe and cleaned her face so she wouldn’t get caught coming or going to the bathroom. Sucked to have to be stealthy in her own home, but the night had been so emotionally draining she didn’t want to put up with anything else. Satisfied with her clean up job, Darcy crawled into bed and was out as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Streaming sunlight crept in under her closed eyelids. Darcy groaned and rolled over. It couldn’t possibly be day already. The sound of a slamming car door made her sit up like a corpse going through rigor mortis.
“Shit!” Her dad couldn’t be home already, could he?
“Dammitdammitdammit.” She scrambled to get out of bed. Her legs got tangled in the sheets, causing her to fall on her face. It was amazing she hadn’t broken her nose in the past week.
Kicking frantically, she freed herself and made her way to the window, holding her pounding head as she went. Shielding her eyes, she looked down. A red car sat in the driveway. Neither her dad nor step-mom had a red car. It couldn’t be them, back from their trip. Darcy let her forehead hit the glass with a thunk. All that stress over nothing.
She made her way back to the bed, noting the time was only 8:00 a.m. As she was about to crawl back under the covers, a timid knock came on her door. Darcy wondered if she ignored it, would it go away? Voices were coming through the thin door, but she couldn’t make out what was being said. It sounded like arguing.
Rapid fire machine gun sounding knocks rang on her door, making her practically jump out of her skin.
“Geeeeez-us. Hold on, dammit,” she called, clutching her head as the sound of her loud voice bounced around inside her cranium like a loose pinball. She cracked the door, ready to tell her step-sister off, when a hand shot out and pushed the door open all the way, pushing Darcy back with it.
“Gooooood morning my happy love clown!” Jazz strolled into the room, a cardboard cup holder with coffee in one hand and a greasy white bag in the other. She set the food down and gave Darcy a kiss on the cheek.
“You look ravishing in the early morning light, my dear. I am quite jealous of how lovely your skin is,” Jazz said holding Darcy’s face in both hands, turning it from side to side. Mandy stood in the door, watching the interaction with a look of confusion.
“You do realize it’s only eight in the freakin’ morning, right, Jazz?” Darcy asked stepping back out of the girl’s grasp. Jazz’s nails lightly grazed her cheeks as she retreated.
“Early bird gets the worm, or some junk,” Jazz said flippantly, grabbing a coffee for Darcy. The thought of eating or drinking a
nything made Darcy’s stomach turn. Jazz pushed it into her hand.
“It’ll help with the hangover. Promise,” Jazz said.
“She’s right,” Mandy said, still from the doorway. Darcy stared at her step-sister.
“Is there something you want?” she asked, not bothering to hide the anger in her voice. Mandy opened her mouth and shut it before shaking her head.
“I guess not,” she said quietly before turning to leave. Darcy walked over and slammed the door. She held onto the knob, regretting her childish door slamming behavior. Her head did not thank her for it.
“You shouldn’t be so hard on her,” Jazz said. Darcy turned and found the pixie-like girl rifling through her closet. When Darcy didn’t respond, Jazz continued.
“Being popular is all she thinks she has going for her. If she doesn’t go along with their antics, she’s out of the clique and into loserville.”
“Is that what we are, losers?” Darcy asked taking a timid sip of coffee. Jazz laughed.
“Speak for yourself sister. Can anyone this fabulous looking be a loser?” She moved her hands up and down like she was a Price is Right model and her body was the showcase. Darcy rolled her eyes.
“You’re only a loser if you think you are,” Jazz said pushing hangers back and forth. “Or possibly if you dress in these clothes. Seriously? This is what you wear?” Jazz held up a super stretched out cardigan that was black in a former life but had faded to a bleak gray color. The cuffs were unraveling and there was a hole in the armpit.
“It’s warm and comfy,” Darcy said, defensive.
“It’s dowdy and falling apart and well, ugly. No. No, I’m sorry. It’s not just ugly. It’s downright fugly. We need to remedy this.” She dropped the cardigan on the floor and grabbed Darcy by the hand, causing the coffee to spill. “To the mall, Joker! We’ve got a crime of fashion to thwart!”
“I hate to burst your little crime fighting bubble but 1) the Joker is a bad guy and 2) I’m not supposed to leave the house. Grounded and all.” Jazz pouted her bright red lips. Darcy wanted to know how the girl looked so damn put together at that hour when she knew Jazz couldn’t have gotten to bed any earlier than 2 or 3 am.
Jazz looked into Darcy’s eyes, making her feel uncomfortable, like maybe she was going to get another kiss. Jazz was shaking her head.
“Darcy. Darcy. Darcy…Why so serious?” Darcy busted out laughing at her friend’s perfect deadpan delivery. Jazz soon followed.
After they settled down, Jazz grabbed the white bag off the dresser and handed Darcy a fast food breakfast sandwich.
“Okay. So no mall today, but we will definitely be going at some point. Your wardrobe is abysmal and coming from a girl who mostly wears black, that’s pretty bad.”
Darcy was quiet, taking small bites of her sandwich, lost in thought. When it was done, she crumpled the wrapper and tossed it at her little metal garbage can. MISS! She was not surprised. She turned to look at Jazz who only seemed to be picking at her sandwich.
“Is there a reason you’re doing this?” Jazz glanced at her from the corner of her eye.
“Doing what?”
“All this,” Darcy said waving her arm around. “Chasing after me last night, barging in here this morning, wanting to take me shopping. Is there a reason for it?” Jazz put down her barely touched sandwich.
“You got something against having friends?” Jazz asked looking at her lap. “Maybe something against having gay friends? You think I’m going to jump you or something?” Her voice rose with anger. “Well hate to break it to you, but juggling and the ability to make balloon animals does not turn me on. That’s my brother’s department.” The slight girl stood and threw her practically uneaten sandwich in the garbage can.
Darcy didn’t know what to say. She had no issues with Jazz being gay and had no idea why the girl had jumped conclusions, but she realized she was about to lose the only female friend she might have in the damn town if she didn’t say something quickly.
Darcy shot to her feet and put a hand on Jazz’s shoulder. When the other girl turned to look at her, Darcy was surprised to see her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.
“I have nothing against having friends,” Darcy quickly said, “straight or gay. I…I’m just not used to having friends period. Certainly not female friends who want to take me clothes shopping.” Jazz dropped her hand off the doorknob. She turned around and leaned her back against the door.
“I don’t have friends either. Other than Judd and Chaz and well…Judd’s my brother so he doesn’t really count. People here are so narrow-minded they think being gay is contagious. I was in the closet for a long time and when I finally came out, all my friends dropped me. You…you seem to be cool with it and as a bit of an outsider yourself, I thought we could, ya know, bond or some junk.” Darcy cracked a smile.
“A bit of an outside? Just a bit? Wait until you see how they avoid me like I’m the Devil incarnate on Monday. If being gay is contagious in this town then wearing clown makeup dubs me one of the four riders of the apocalypse.” Jazz laughed.
“Oh my God. That’s totally who we are! You’re the rider on the white horse since you paint your face white. You’ve come to conquer and turn all people into ICP fans. I’m the rider on the pale horse. In all black, I best represent death. Judd is the rider on the red horse because…ya know…he has the big sword.” Jazz wiggled her eyebrows and Darcy shook her head at the analogy.
“Do I want to even know why you know how big your brother’s ‘sword’ is?” Jazz shrugged her shoulders.
“We did take baths together as kids you know. I kept asking my folks why he had a big scary one eyed snake and I had a cave. My folks gave us separate bath times shortly after that. Prudes. I was just a curious kid!” Jazz was momentarily lost in thought.
“Maybe those baths are why I’m gay. I’ve always been scared of snakes. It’s all Judd’s fault! Damn him and his python junk.” Darcy giggled.
“Aren’t we missing one? We can’t be the four riders with only three of us,” Darcy said. Jazz rolled her eyes.
“You’re forgetting Chaz, of course.” Darcy raised an eyebrow.
“Mister Perfect Popularity gets to be a rider of the apocalypse? He hardly seems the type.”
“That’s only because you don’t know him. Everyone has a dark side. He’s the rider on the black horse who will tip the scales when he dumps the popular crowd to befriend a lesbian and a girl in clown makeup. Oh my God, we need to get jackets made.” Jazz’s eyes were bright with ideas.
“Like the Pink Ladies, only in black and with two guys?” Darcy asked snickering.
“EXACTLY! I knew there was a reason I liked you.” Jazz grabbed Darcy’s face and planted a big wet kiss on her. *MWAH*
“All right. All right Pale Rider. I like you and all, but keep your lips to yourself, okay?” Jazz grinned at her.
“Sorry, I got all excited. I needed an outlet.” Darcy rolled her eyes but the smile stayed on her face. She walked over and picked up a stuffed doll off her bed and tossed it to Jazz.
“Use this next time.” Jazz raised an eyebrow and smirked.
“A beaver? How…appropriate. Do I want to know why a straight girl has a beaver in her bed?” Darcy blushed.
“Bad overbite as a kid. My mom thought it was funny.”
“Wow. That’s very not funny at all and yet you kept it.” Darcy shrugged.
“She never gave me much so I ended up keeping it.” Jazz nodded her head knowingly before she started making out with the toy.
“Oooh. Ooh Bucky Beaver. You are the best beaver I’ve ever had, and rest assured, there have been many.” Jazz winked at Darcy. “Come on baby. Gimmie some tongue!” Jazz waggled her tongue obscenely.
Jazz continued to make out with the doll when the door opened without warning. Darcy’s dad was standing there, looking confused to see a strange girl in his daughter’s room. To make matters worse, Jazz, who didn’t know they had an audience, thrust the doll in Da
rcy’s face.
“Lick some beaver Darcy! Convert! Convert! Hair pie for all!”
The sound of a clearing throat made Jazz drop the doll and whip around, eyes wide as saucers. Darcy’s dad raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
“OH! Uhh hi. You must be Darcy’s dad. I’m Jazz- Jasmine actually. A friend of Darcy’s. I uhh. We were just uhhh…Ya know, I should go. You look like you might want some father-daughter time.” Jazz, pink and flustered grabbed her bag. “See you tomorrow at school,” she called over her shoulder before scooting past Darcy’s dad.
“Wait.” Jazz froze and turned slowly, unable to meet his gaze.
“You’re a friend of Darcy’s?” Jazz looked up, surprised at the question.
“Yes sir.” Darcy was shocked to hear Jazz being so polite. Her dad nodded his head, a small smile on his face.
“I’m glad to hear she’s making some. Maybe it will help keep her out of trouble.” Darcy barked a short laugh. When her dad looked over his shoulder at her, she covered her mouth and faked a cough. He turned back to the dark haired girl.
“Next time, come over when she’s not grounded, okay?” Jazz nodded enthusiastically.
“I will sir. Sorry. I just wanted to give her some work that she missed.”
“That’s appreciated Jasmine. You know the way out?” Jazz nodded again and turned to leave, knowing a dismissal when she heard one.
Darcy felt a little panicked to see her friend go, leaving her alone to explain to her dad what he saw when he walked in. He entered the room and bent to pick up the toy, turning it over in his hands.
“I didn’t realize you still had this thing,” he said tossing it onto the bed. Darcy just shrugged, not wanting to get into a conversation about why she still had it. She decided it safer to change the topic.
“How come you guys are home already?” Her father sighed and sat on the edge of her bed.
“Carol got food poisoning. We thought it best to come home where she could be comfortable.”
“Oh…sorry to hear that.”
