"Red. Red. I hate it. I hate it so much. But – but -"
"But?"
"But I need it. It's mine. Only mine." He slammed his forehead against the soft padded walls and started screaming again. White melting into red, red seeping into white.
* * *
"You have to be careful. Don't walk so fast. Take it easy."
"We know, Dani. Now for the last time, stop holding onto my arm. I'm not going to speed off." Vincent brushed his sister off and turned to strengthen his grip around Sammy's shoulders, trying to press her into his side and hold her up at the same time. "Are you okay? Do you need a break?"
She smiled in amusement. "It's just down the hall. I think I can manage these few crucial steps." But her face was sheet white and her fingers fumbled to clasp Vincent's hand.
Danielle spoke up again. "You two just couldn't wait until you got better to visit Terry? I mean, I understand your worries, Sammy, but we could just visit him for you and tell him what's going on. It won't do anyone any good if you two collapsed right now."
Sammy shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm just – just a little nervous. I mean, I haven't seen him in such a long time and –" Tears started to fill up her eyes. "- and he was in a coma and what if he's all different now?"
Will patted her back. "Don't worry, Sammy. The nurses said he's making great progress." He bounced on his heels. "Gosh, but I'm still pretty nervous too. I mean, from your pictures, he did seem really cute."
Vincent arched an eyebrow over the top of Sammy's head at Will. "What the hell?" he mouthed.
Will beamed. Vincent rolled his eyes. "I kill you later," he added silently.
They resumed their path down the hallway and they stopped in front of the room the nurse had pointed out to them. Sammy swallowed hard before turning to Vincent and the others. "Do you mind if I talked to my brother alone first?" She squeezed Vincent's hand.
He murmured. "You sure you don't need me with you?"
"No, I think I should talk to him first. Just the two of us. I don't want him getting scared by a large group of people suddenly trampling into his room. Just – can you just wait for me outside?"
Danielle smiled and hugged her gently. "Of course." Vincent nodded.
Sammy turned back to the door and twisted the doorknob.
* * *
She stepped into the room and let the door close behind her. Nearing the bed with soft, hesitant steps, she bit her lip and tried to calm herself. "Terry?"
She watched as his eyes fluttered open, his gaze dazed and unfocused. She heaved a quivering breath. "Terry? It's me. Sammy."
Terry's matching green eyes were fixated on hers. She lifted up a hand, trailed her index finger against his arm, and tried to hold his hand without accidentally yanking out any tubes. "You're – you're so thin now. What happened to Fabio, huh?" Her eyes were blurry and she tried to stop sniffling.
She turned back to him. His eyes never left her face. "Terry? Are you okay? What's the matter? Can you talk?" She looked around the room, now wishing that she had someone else in there to ask. "Terry? Can you say something?"
The tears welled over. "I'm – I'm sorry. I – Terry, can you even recognize me? It's me. Sammy. Your sister. You know, your – your older sister. Well, your only sister, actually." A harsh laugh tore through her tears. She pressed her lips together until they whitened and turned numb. Lifting her other hand, she pressed the heel of her palm against her eyes and shook her head. "You're going to call me a crybaby again, even though you shouldn't because I'm older. You're such a brat." Suddenly, she was on her knees besides his bed and her arms were around him, holding on tight, so tight. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"S - sammy." His soft whisper threaded through the air.
She looked up and his eyes, soft and bright, met hers. "Yes. Yes." The tears never stopped.
* * *
The door opened and Vincent leapt to attention. Sammy shuffled out, sheepishly rubbing her swollen eyes. His hands hovered around her shoulders. "You were crying."
"Yes."
Danielle came over. "Oh Sammy, now your eyes are all red."
"No more than yours were, Danielle."
The other girl snapped her mouth closed. "Hey, that was a one time deal. I'm never going to cry over that idiot again."
Her brother glared. "The idiot will appreciate it if you'll just shut up."
Sammy smiled before reaching out to tug on Vincent's sleeve. "Hey, I want you to come meet him."
Vincent gaped at the open doorway. "Now?"
"No, sometime in the next century, genius." Danielle coughed.
The dark haired boy bared his teeth. "Thanks, sis."
"Anytime, bro."
Vincent turned back to Sammy, his eyes slightly apprehensive. "Are you sure he's up for it? He's not too – tired?"
"Well, considering the fact that he spent most of his time lying around in bed –"
"Alright, alright." He licked his lips. "So you had your talk already and explained everything about the, um, everything?"
"Yes, Vince."
"Alright. Okay. Good. Good. So, uh, do you think he'll like me? Wait. No, I – I was just kidding. Yup. Alright. This is funny. This is good. Let's do this."
* * *
Vincent jammed his hands into his pockets and rocked slightly back and forth on his heels. His gray eyes darted around the room before landing on Terry. "Hey there, uh, Sammy's little brother. I mean, Terry. Hey, Terry."
The boy lying in bed had brighter hair than his sister, but their eyes were definitely the same shade of forest green. Dark, compelling, and for some reason, strangely menacing now. Vincent chuckled nervously. "So the Bastard's gone and everyone's safe. How are you? The nurses said you're recuperating nicely."
The eyes pierced into him. No blinking.
"Yup, they said you'll be back to full functional mode soon – or um, sooner or later. But don't worry, I'll take care of your sister for you until we can all be together again."
If eyes can quirk an eyebrow without moving a muscle, then Terry just did it.
"I mean, she'll be able to retrieve her inheritance soon on her birthday and then she can relax without worrying too much about financial problems. But you know, even if she had any problems, I'll always be more than happy to help her out because – because she's my girlfriend. I mean, because I like her. I mean, because I kinda more than like her. I mean, not kinda – I more than like her -"
"Alright, Vincent. I think he gets it." Sammy's cheeks were a nice shade of pink now and she refused to look over at the flustered boy. "Terry, soon, once you're all better, we'll be able to get a place for ourselves with the money Grandpa, Mom, and Dad saved up. You'll go back to school and I'll work while studying. We'll make do." She smiled. "Just you and me."
Vincent nudged her lightly with his shoulder. Sammy returned his bump, but resolutely ignored him. A hint of a tiny grin played on her lips.
* * *
"Hey, Terry. You don't know me, but I know you. In fact, I think I know you extremely well."
Terry's green eyes were bright with what appeared to be alarm.
"Oh, don't look like that. Unless you're just taken back by the adorable, gorgeous vision before you. Then you should know that this vision is named William Carter. You can call me Will."
Terry darted his eyes to the door.
"Yes, I walked through that door. No, I didn't appear out of thin air like some angel. I am one hundred percent physically male yumminess." Will licked his lips. "Yumminess, indeed."
Terry blinked frantically and squinted at the door.
"You know, I had a major part in saving your sister. She was Sleeping Beauty and I was Prince Charming – oh wait, was Prince Charming only for Cinderella – oh please, they're all the same princes anyway - okay, I was Prince William, come to save her from the evil hag – that will be your ugly uncle. Okay, so there I was in your uncle's house." Will threw out his arms, stretching them toward an imaginary target. "Vincent
was groaning and down, pretty much useless. His mom and his sister are attending to him. And then Frank makes a play for Vincent's mom – not a sexual play, though if you think about it, ew – but a play of utter demented violence with a sharp knife glistening with the blood of his first victim – or Vincent." He clasped his hands to his cheeks and shook his head, his mouth falling open in a silent NO!
"So without any thought of my own safety and with the help of my lightning fast reflexes, I leapt forward!" He bounced two steps and extended his arms forward, his mouth twisting in a battle cry. Terry's eyes widened and if the boy could press backward, he would have done so. "And BAM! Down goes The Bastard! The crowd goes wild! Seriously, Mrs. Grenford yelped like those little curly haired poodles. The monster was still struggling and bucking, but I have super strong legs and managed to lock him in place and pin him down!"
Will pumped his hands into the air and his body undulated. "While I'm wrestling with the crazed lunatic who's practically frothing at the mouth and trying to pull a Mike Tyson on my beautiful ears, the other boys finally come out of their shocked states. They blinked and were all like Oh no, you didn't!" Here, Will swished his hand out and snapped his fingers twice."The Bastard! Only I can chomp on my William's perfect ears! and then they all jumped in on top of him. I had it all under control of course, but no hero is complete without good sidekicks – and besides, I have the notion that they kinda wanted to feel up my hot little bod while they're at it, using Frank as an excuse – but no matter, I'm a generous, free spirit made for loving. It's only natural that they can't resist -"
"Well, I don't think I can resist not throwing you out the window."
Terry glanced over at the door in relief. Will stiffened before turning around to grin happily. "Hey there, dudes and dudettes! I was just regaling little Terry here with some tales of our famous escapades."
Jack scoffed. "Oh yeah, that's right. The Tale of William and His Little Sidekicks Who Protected the Perfect Ears, was it?"
William's lips were stretched from ear to ear. "Exciting, wasn't it?"
Tristan leaned his forearm against the doorway and responded archly, "Oh, very, especially the part where – what was it? Oh yes, when we jumped in after we shrieked Oh no, you didn't!"
Caine's lips curled in disgust. "And felt your body up while we were at it? Please, you must have swapped points of view in your story. As I recall, I distinctly remember a hand on my ass that never seemed to lose its place even when I tried to elbow it off."
"Uh – I don't know what you're talking about -" Will jabbed a finger at Jack. "I can't believe the nerve of you, Jack! Whatever will Carrie say? Molesting Caine in such times of peril! I'm ashamed to call you my friend!"
"That's it." Jack rolled up his sleeves. "Let's kill him now and end it all."
"No, don't!" Vincent stepped in.
Will threw open his arms. "Vinnie!"
"It's a freaking hospital. He'd get sewn up in two minutes and be back in our lives again. I say we drive him to the ocean and drown him."
Will's smile turned upside down. "Vinnie!"
Sammy was too busy laughing as she moved next to Terry's bed. "They're all thrilled to meet you, Terry." Terry rolled his eyes, though they twinkled with amusement.
* * *
Three Months Later
"Mr. Sam Westlane." The headmaster of the prestigious Crestan High School peered over his frames imposingly at the small girl sitting in front of him. "Or rather, Miss Samantha Westlane, isn't it?"
Samantha Westlane kept her eyes cast down. Her shiny red hair had grown out into soft layers that framed her face. Sitting there before him now in Carrie's clothes that fit her form, she was undeniably a young woman. Finnigan now wondered what possessed him the day he mistook her for a boy and allowed her to step into his school.
Her knuckles turned white as she tightened her folded hands. "Sir, I'm so sorry about this whole mess, but I had no other choice then. I did what I thought was best and –"
He interrupted, his voice stern. "That may be so, Miss Westlane, but do you know just how much trouble you've caused our school – not to mention, myself?"
"No – no, sir," she whispered.
"I understand your dilemma and believe me, I empathize with you. You were extremely brave in trying to take matters in your own hand and while I'm not sure how successful your plan was, I'm glad you and your brother are nonetheless safe now."
"Thank you."
"The school is – oh, how can I put this – it was calmer during the period you were in attendance, even though in the aftermath of your kidnapping – yes, that's a whole other matter. You've certainly distracted the attentions of young Vincent Grenford and his friends –" Samatha blushed. "- and the rest of the students had a great year. You weren't completely detrimental to our school."
She looked up. "Then –"
"Still, don't forget about the media who has been absolutely relentless in camping out on our front lawn. Not to mention, all the phone calls I've received from angry parents. In all my years here, I've never had so many problems – from worrying about my students running away to being questioned about my responsibility and judgment – Samantha Westlane, what do you have to say for yourself?" Headmaster Finnigan's laced his fingers together and furrowed his brows.
"I am so sorry about everything. I never imagined – I mean, Headmaster Finnigan, I'm so sorry and I'll take full responsibility for causing all this trouble. I just – can you just give me a bit more time so that I can arrange to be transferred into a new school? Please, if you throw me out now, I don't think I can –" Samantha's stammering subsided and she swallowed. "I'm so sorry."
Finnigan nodded and with a sigh, pushed back from his desk. Leaning back in his chair, he looked down as he tapped a finger against the mahogany surface. "I'm sorry about this, but even you must understand that you can't remain here in an all boys school."
Her heart sank. "Yes, I know."
"So I suppose there's no other way about it. Get your things ready as soon as possible, say your goodbyes –"
"Yes."
"- and prepare to leave within three months."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
He coughed, flustered. "Now, don't look at me like that. Three months is a very long time."
"Yes, yes, I'm absolutely grateful for this and I think I should be able to get a response from other schools soon, but –"
"Mrs. Grenford has kindly offered her assistance in this matter."
"Wh – what?" She almost swallowed her tongue.
"During the last couple of months, she's been an absolute pleasure –"
Again, her tongue lodged in her throat.
"- and she's helped out with fending off the media and irate parents, not to mention that she's asked on your behalf to offer you a temporary space here until you could make proper arrangements."
Samantha gaped at him.
"Yes, Miss Westlane?"
"Mrs. Grenford, as in Vincent's mother?"
"Yes, Mrs. Grenford. I think I'm quite aware of who I'm dealing with."
"No. No, I mean I'm just a bit, um, shocked."
"Yes, well, you do realize that this doesn't mean you've been given complete free reign here. You'll attend your classes as usual, but you're to stay away from the boys' bathroom and locker room and you must immediately move out to another room that will remain secluded from the boys - even Vincent, understand?"
She flushed. "Yes, of course."
"Alright then, now before you go, Mrs. Grenford asked me to pass along a message for you."
"Yes?"
"For now."
"Um, what?"
"She said to tell you for now and said that you should know what it means. Do you?"
Samantha sat there in the seat, blinking for a moment before dipping her head down to hide a smile. "I, uh, I think so. Yeah." She straightened up in her seat and nodded. "Thank you so much, sir. I'll be extra careful for the next three months."
He cleare
d his throat gruffly. "You do that. I'll have someone take you to your room now."
The girl flashed a smile before stepping out of his office.
* * *
"Hey, you! Stop right there!"
The clamor in the hallway immediately died down and everyone stopped what they were doing, leaning in close to their lockers. A boy with shaggy auburn hair halted in his steps and looked around, perturbed. "Me?"
Will crossed his arms and jerked his chin forward. "Yeah, you. I've had my eye on you for quite a while."
The other boy swallowed hard. "Wh – what?"
Will nodded in a slow, leisurely manner. "Yeah. Don't think you can fool me though. I know your secret."
The redhead gaped and tried to back away. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Will took a step forward. "Yeah, you're a girl, aren't you?"
"What?"
"You're a scared little girl running away from some mysterious horror in your past and you've chosen to enroll yourself in an all boys school so that you may finally find some hunk – preferably your roommate - to rescue you from all your troubles! Well, look no more! I am your hunk!"
"What?"
Will threw open his arms and shook his head, sending his wavy locks to curl across his forehead, shadowing his eyes. "My lady, I am at your service."
"I don't need no freaking service! Man, I'm no lady!" The terrified boy started to sprint down the hallway.
"Don't be shy, baby! Don't lie to me! I don't want to be forced to perform a strip search! Come back!" Will started to give chase when a hand caught the hood of his sweatshirt and yanked him back.
Vincent's eyes were squeezed tight as he rubbed his temples with his other hand. His tongue darted out to lick his lips slowly before he sighed. "Will –"
"You're so sexy."
"Will! What the hell is wrong with you?" He throttled the other boy. "This is what – the seventh time you've done this this month? Are you trying to molest everybody here?"
False Facades (Best Sellers: Best Romance/Humor ) Page 34
