by Anne Eliot
Vere leaned back against the steps. “Lighten up, Charlie. All you can do is catch a brown ball, run fast and knock people down.”
Charlie shook his head. “Don’t get me started on your lack of skills.” To Dustin he added, “You’re going to have to be a drama dork.”
“The people in drama are not dorks! You jocks are the dorks. Besides if we’re driving him around, he might as well join something. He’ll have to wait for us after school either way. What do you say? Join up?”
Hunter shook his head. “I usually do school solo. My tutors check my work and test me. I’m not joining anything.”
“So you’re home schooled?” Vere asked.
“Studio schooled. Kind of like home school.”
“Have you ever been to a real school?” Charlie asked.
“Not since fourth grade. I don’t remember it much. When I was nine I had an ongoing cereal commercial—Happy Pops? It paid really well so my mom pulled me out and started the tutoring.”
“OMG! OMG! You’re the Happy Pops Kid?” Vere squealed. “That is so neat. I loved Happy Pops. I still get Happy Pops on my birthday! SO COOL!”
Dustin grimaced and shook his head, glancing at Charlie. “Is she trying to torture me on purpose? GuardeRobe sold six million albums last year in the US alone, and she only recognizes me two days later for her love of a cereal that might be toxic. Dude. I so feel your pain. Your sister is unbelievable.”
Charlie laughed long and loud. “Yep. I’m aware.”
“Hey. Happy Pops is fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals,” Vere protested, crossing her arms.
Charlie shrugged. “Told you. Hopeless. What else have you done that we might know?”
Dustin sighed and looked up as though this conversation pained him. “From there I was on a soap. St. Clair Town? You know it?”
“I don’t,” said Charlie.
“I do!” Vere beamed. “OH MY GOD. You must have been Doctor Lamber’s sickly, long lost SON! Ahhh! DYING!”
Dustin scowled, but Vere could tell he was biting back a smile. “Yes. And thankfully, the kid wasted away after one season because that part sucked. The Newt Network Kids-Club job started after that, so I never went back to school.”
“I remember that Kids-Club thing. How strange was that? They made you all wear matching knee socks for awhile,” Charlie said.
“Not very. I’m still on it, syndication and reruns on various national and Canadian cable networks. My contract is not up for another three years. It was what I did. What I do. Until now, I mean.”
“But what about GuardeRobe? How did that come about?” Charlie asked.
“GuardeRobe was launched through NewtNet’s teen marketing program. Most people don’t make that connection, but it’s all married to the parent company. It’s one huge, intertwined, incestuous machine. Is this some sort of interview? I feel like I’m at a tribunal of pushy reporters.”
“Oh. Sorry,” Charlie mumbled, not so smug any more. “Just curious.”
“Yeah. We’re curious,” Vere said, keeping her own list of questions silent. She couldn’t help but be impressed, though. He was really smart, and like yesterday, she had the sensation that he was way older than seventeen. He’d probably had to grow up fast. She could see why he kept calling her clueless.
According to him, and the world he came from, she wasn’t even born yet. Vere didn’t envy him, though. She never wanted to grow up. Not to the point where you had to talk about things like syndication and parent companies, whatever those were.
“It is one heck of a weird life you’ve had compared to ours,” Charlie added, his tone apologetic.
“Ya think? Well, it’s all I know, so it’s not weird to me.” He gestured at the trees around him. “I think hiking and swimming in lakes is twice as weird.”
“Well, my Dustin McHugh is a great hiker, and he’s gonna swim in that lake eventually.” Vere grinned, going for a subject change. “So ramp up. I need a list of ‘things we did’ to tell my best friend Jenna.”
“Yeah. And if anyone’s going to recognize you, it’s going to be her. That chick is a GuardeRobe freak and a freak in general.”
“Hey. She’s beyond awesome, and funny, and perfect. You’re too dense to notice,” Vere defended her friend before turning back to Dustin. “Be warned though, Jenna is a channel surfing, music-loving, social-media maniac. If anyone will test your disguise, it will be her.”
Dustin shook his head. “I can’t wait.” He sounded worried, but Vere couldn’t tell for sure, because she couldn’t see his eyes.
UGH. I hate his glasses so much.
“I hope Dustin can keep up with us on this hike. Coming from sea level, he might get dehydrated, altitude sickness—maybe we should do an easier trail,” Charlie cautioned.
Vere frowned. “Oh, I forgot about that. Do you think he’s going to be okay?” Vere jumped up and put her hand on Dustin’s brow. “Does your head hurt at all? Is it hard to breathe?”
“Er, yes and yes, if you must know.” Dustin grinned before continuing. “But it might have something to do with you and this ridiculous conversation.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “She’s treating you like a pet, have you noticed?”
“I am not! I’ll be right back with extra water, just in case.” Vere dashed into the house.
18: promises promises
Dustin
They both watched her go. Dustin felt a cold rush of air when she’d pulled her hand away from his brow. As the screen door slammed, he had another flood of that strange feeling from last night. It was as if he couldn’t function if Vere wasn’t right by his side.
He shook it off, took up the bottle of sunscreen, and slathered some on his calves, hoping Charlie wouldn’t notice his lapse.
Charlie broke the awkward silence. “We’re pretty boring compared to what you’re used to, huh?”
Dustin shook his head. “Not really. Your whole family’s cool. You’re possibly the most normal people I’ve ever met, though. Not going to lie, you’re not what I’m used to. It’s always been me and my mom. My mom is...kind of cold. After my real dad died, she and I started working together. She became my manager for many years. And so the lines between her being a mom and me being a son got crossed.”
He sighed, remembering how he’d cry to go to bed some long nights, and his mom would cry too. But then she’d order him to stay awake at dinners and events like long award ceremonies they’d been invited to. He went on, “Your mom—I don’t know—she’s such a real mom. Cooking meals and folding the laundry without any one hired to help her. And your dad was really great about staying late to order that retainer for me. As for Vere, she’s—”
Charlie didn’t let him finish. “Listen. Before she comes back, I have to level with you about my sister. The fact that she can talk to you like she does has never happened to her before.”
“Yeah. She mentioned that some. I don’t get it,” he said, giving up on the sunscreen.
“She thinks she’s truly a freak, as in broken. But she’s not. She’s really shy, or sensitive. Something gives her these social anxiety attacks. Guys, parties, any normal thing where people are hanging out, seems to set it off. She stutters—turns colors or worse.”
“I’ve seen some of that.”
Charlie nodded. “Sometimes she can control it, but other times...she becomes a total train wreck. And, I wasn’t kidding about the ‘pet’ thing. She’s acting as though you’re some kind of gift to her life. It’s weird.”
“She is? Whatever. No big deal. I’m happy to be her pet, I suppose. For a while.”
Charlie glowered at him as he ran his fingers through his dark blond hair. “She told me that you two were going to be friends? For real? Are you?”
“What’s your point? So what if we’re friends? Maybe it’s a good thing.”
“I don’t want to sound like an ass all over again, but...I need you to know my sister has a way of forming huge attachments to people, that’s all.�
� Charlie shifted his feet, looking supremely uncomfortable. “I can’t have you trying to make a move on her while you’re here. If you touch her, hurt her—in any way— I’ll straight up kill you.”
“Dude! What the hell? I thought we were clear on that. I’m not going to make a move on that girl. I wouldn’t even know how to navigate past that bun and all her—virginal—cluelessness. Come ON. Not my type. Never. Not. Happening.”
Charlie squared his shoulders. “If she thinks you’re friends, Vere could get all sappy. I don’t want you taking advantage of the situation. My sister is completely stupid sometimes, and very impulsive and—sweet and—she could easily—shit, I don’t know what I’m saying.”
Charlie looked him directly in the eyes. Charlie’s point was crystal clear to him.
“Give me a break. We aren’t going to be ‘real best friends’. Have sleep overs, giggle and share secrets until we suddenly find ourselves making out. If that’s what you think, then you’re mental. I like her. She’s a really nice girl. That’s it.” He took off his cap and worked to bend the brim into a better shape. “I told you yesterday. Vere—she’s—like no other girl I’ve met. But in all the wrong ways, if you know what I mean. You can stop worrying. Even if she throws herself at me, I’ll field that ball and put her back. I’m pretty experienced at deflecting girls. Plus, she’s made it clear she’s not into GuardeRobe or me like that. Hell. Not at all.”
“Okay. Okay. Good. Besides, you're right she's not into you. Vere is in love with my-bro Curtis. Always has been. He's also my best friend.” Charlie seemed to relax after that. He shot him a smile and shook his head. “I bet you have some girl stories, huh?”
“Yeah. But it’s not my style to kiss and tell. And if you must know, toying with easy girls who treat you like a piece of meat gets old pretty fast.”
“Right.” Charlie snorted. “I’d sure like the chance to find that out for myself. Lucky bastard.” He shot Dustin a knowing look. “You don’t blame me for bringing it up, though? I had to lay it out there. It’s my duty as a brother.”
Dustin shook his head. “I’d do the same if I had a sister hanging around with a guy like me 24/7, that’s for sure.”
“Man, I’d trade lives with you in a heartbeat.”
“You’d get tired of it.” Dustin shrugged. “Your family is so stable. I sometimes wish I could have a different life, a family that looks out for each other—goes to a cabin all the time.” Dustin moved down the steps and sat on the last one.
Charlie took his pack along with him as he followed, dropping his voice. “Speaking of me looking out for Vere—and now that we’re solid—I’m hoping you might be able to help me with something. For Vere, I mean.”
“Jesus. I thought the conversation about your sister was over. You just told me to stay the hell away from her.”
Charlie laughed. “And now that you’ve promised to do that, I’m enlisting your to be on our family team.”
Dustin blinked, but didn’t answer because there was no way he wanted to be on the family team. He had enough problems of his own. The silence stretched between them.
“So you don’t want to help?” Charlie now looked so awkward, Dustin didn’t have the heart to shut him down like he wanted to. Plus, he was slightly curious.
“Of course I want to help,” he lied.
“I think Vere would die of happiness if Curtis asked her out. Sadly, she can’t even exchange more than a few words with him. Not without turning all red, knocking over lamps, and flailing like a psycho in front of him, that is. It’s been that way between them for years.”
“Okay?” Dustin said, almost laughing as he pictured Vere doing all that stuff. “I just don’t see what your sister’s crush has to do with me.”
“Well, it’s a long shot that Curtis would even go for Vere, but I’m going to drop a couple of hints his way. Give him the thumbs up. Vere’s going to need major assistance before she will even have a chance with Curtis.”
“Still waiting for you to get to the point.”
“You’re the helper.” Charlie flushed, and glanced over his shoulder at the closed screen door. “Look. Like I mentioned, so far, you’re the first guy she’s been able to talk to that isn’t a teacher, or a blood relative. Can you keep working with her? Get her to come out of her shell a little more? I will handle things from the other side. Get her set up with Curtis. Together, we can have her locked and loaded with a real boyfriend by the end of the month!”
Dustin rolled his eyes thankful for the glasses. He didn’t know why he felt half pissed off all of a sudden. “I think you’re nuts. Vere doesn’t need my help—or anyone’s help. She’s fine. Adorable, funny, and cool—as she is. If your-man Curtis can’t see the charm in a girl who knocks over lamps, maybe he’s an ass?”
Charlie leveled him with a steady look. “Dude. Curtis is cool. He and Vere have a very long, twisted past. You have no clue. You’ll understand more when you see how it is for her when she’s in front of the guy. It’s a brutal scene. She chokes on her shyness. The anxiety makes her freeze up completely. She needs this help. Everyone picks on her about it. Heck, even I can’t resist sometimes.”
Charlie stood and leaned on the stair rail, dropping his voice to a whisper. “She’s already convinced you’re going to help cure her; why not bring it out into the open now that she’s labeled you her creepy BGF?”
Dustin choked, and then laughed. “Christ. She’s told you about my new, dumb nickname?”
Charlie nodded. “Yeah. She’s committed to you, Dustin. And for my sister, that means a lot.”
Dustin leaned back against the steps and sighed, crossing his hands behind his head. “Why do I get the vibe you wish it were someone else who could help your sister? Am I wrong?”
Charlie darted him a chagrined look. “Of course I wish you could be someone else—someone more normal. Again, do you blame me? You dropped out of the sky as far as we’re concerned. And now, after only two days, Vere acts all chatty and happy around you. It has me worried as hell.”
“Why? You’ve got my promise. I’m going to treat her like glass.”
Charlie met his gaze. “If you’re gone tomorrow, I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass. But Vere will care. I know my sister. I’d hate for any of your bullshit to carry over onto her. She has enough problems without your high-exposure crap making her even more miserable. Exit her scene carefully when you go. We still have to live here after you’re gone. Please don’t break her—on any level. She’s kind of fragile. The kind of person you could hurt, well—forever. Do you get me?”
“Yeah.” Dustin swallowed. He hated hearing the truth about himself. He realized then how much his presence here really did—and could—affect them all.
“Thanks for the honesty.” He sighed. “I will do my best to not treat the Roth family involvement in my crap-ass life lightly,” he said quietly, meeting Charlie’s gaze. “And you’re right, I’ve got a load of bullshit bigger than you can imagine. I won’t dump any of it here permanently. I promise.” He couldn’t help but be humbled by what they’d all already done for him.
Shit.
He pictured Vere cringing in front of a press mob. Then Aunt Nan with her slow moving gait, trying to get away from a crowd, and he shuddered. Suddenly, his disguise, working, really mattered. And not for him. But for them.
“I’ll help Vere. Any way I can. Tell me what you need as it comes up. I could ask her directly what she thinks she needs? That might be easiest.”
Charlie grimaced, then laughed. “It will be ugly. But yeah direct is best. Ask her about something called ‘the incident’. She’s going to flip, though. Be afraid.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got nothing to lose, and according to you she’s got everything to gain. I’m happy to help. I feel like I owe her a bunch already. Hell, I owe your whole family for helping me, especially Vere. So...thanks for even dealing with me at all.”
Charlie nodded solemnly. “Cool. Good. I’m glad you understand.” Charli
e let out a long breath of air. “Let’s stop talking about this. I’m not going to hug you, dude, so don’t ask. And don’t you dare try to man-hug me, either. You’re too damn ugly to even touch in that outfit.”
“Whatever.” Dustin chuckled. The guy was funny.
Charlie grinned and shoved at Dustin’s shoulder.
Charlie laughed when Dustin shoved back.
“You know once school is open, our friendship fades to nights and weekends. And only when zero witnesses are present. I will have to brutalize you in public on Tuesday, and every day after that to make this believable, DORK.”
“Nice.” Dustin smiled. “Let’s hope this costume works.”
“Dude, no one is going to know that it’s you. I promise. And...don’t worry, I won’t let anyone bully you too much.”
“Why thank you for your protection Mr. Jock Popular, but I think I can take care of myself. I do look forward to your future ridicule, though.”
Dustin hopped back up the steps and walked the length of the porch. “Check the new walk. The slouching was killing my back, so we came up with a way to highlight my height to the worst effect.”
He swaggered, but with his body rigid and straight, keeping his head high, a little too high, as if he were a robot on some red carpet. “I still have to work on it.”
Charlie busted out laughing. “Oh, no. No, you don’t. It’s perfect. You are one wound-tight weirdo. Once you get that retainer in,” Charlie sputtered with more laughter, “you won’t even recognize yourself!”
“I already don’t. It’s kind of fun being someone else.” He returned his laugh and took a deep breath.
Vere rushed back onto the porch, hauling four, dripping water bottles. The bottom edge of her oversized, shapeless, grey t-shirt was soaked, as were half of her shorts from the swimsuit she still wore.
“Sorry it took so long. Dad had to pull these out of the storage area. I stopped to wash them and fill them to the top with ice. Dustin, this is going to be the best water you’ve ever tasted. Just you wait. The best! It’s from the well out back!”
