by Nicole Adams
“Alright! But just follow us, don’t interfere or get in the way, just walk.”
Chapter 3
“We’re lost, aren’t we?” I ask, already knowing the answer. We have been walking for hours. “I knew I should have brought a map,” I take a seat on a fallen tree.
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Henry asks. “Besides we can’t be far from home, can we?”
I should have listened to my gut last night. Not only are we lost in the woods, but I need to talk to Charlie about yesterday and I definitely can’t ask in front of Henry. He would kill us. This whole experience is awkward.
“Why don’t we retrace our footsteps? Do we know which way we walked?” Charlie asks.
“West,” I reply.
“Great. Now, what time is it roughly?” he asks again.
“About 6:30pm,” Henry replies.
Charlie looks up trying to peer through the thick branches of the trees. The forest was gorgeous, so I couldn’t complain too much. There was thick green moss underfoot like walking across a mattress, the trees were green and lush, some with orchids growing out of cavities within. Even the fallen, dead trees had life within them. Full of insects and forest flowers. It’s as if I were Snow White in the enchanted forest. I pick up a ladybird and let it crawl through my fingers examining its spots. A Coleomegilla Maculata for its 12 spots and pink hue.
“We head this way then. As long as we continue heading East, we should get home before nightfall,” he says proudly.
God he’s cute right now. His dark hair slightly damp from the day’s exercise, eyes gleaming and muscles rippling. If I were a cat, I would purr.
“You trust Faye’s directions?” Henry asked. “Really Charlie? She can’t even go through drive thru right,” he says getting frustrated.
“I trust her. Do you have any better ideas?” Charlie rebuttals. There was a long pause.
“Fine,” Henry shouts, throwing his hands up in the air and starting in the direction Charlie pointed.
Charlie flashes me his winning smile. Lord give me strength. I need to know what yesterday was about. Was it just an opportunity? Maybe he thought he would take me as one of his conquests? Or add me to his list of girls? Something he could use against Henry? Maybe I shouldn’t have kissed him at all.
After about another hour of walking through the woods we finally come across the meadow.
“Oh, thank God!” Henry shouts. “I’m so tired and hungry! I hope food is ready!”
“I know, feels like we haven’t eaten in a week. It’s like we have been abandoned on a barren island,” I reply sarcastically.
“Faye, that was a little dramatic,” Henry replies as he begins to run off towards the house.
“Don’t listen to him, he’s just hangry. At least you two have something in common,” Charlie jokes. “Sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I…” He is interrupted by Henry’s return.
“Seriously Guys! Come on!!” He says with his arms hanging low showing how weak he felt and running away once more.
“I’ll call you later, Faye,” Charlie says, running to join Henry.
What the hell was that! God! Now I am so confused! And he’ll call me? Isn’t that what guys say to shut you down?
I decide to stay put in the meadow for a little while. I really need to think for a minute. There was a breeze through the long grass that made it bow to the setting sun and an orange glow from it that filled the field, illuminating the creatures in the grass. The birds were gone, and the field was silent. This was my favourite time of day. If you concentrate hard you can hear the beating of the butterfly’s wings against the wildflower, like the beating of a heart. I take off my boots and push my feet into the soft ground and lie back and stare up at the tangerine coloured sky, and close my eyes to take it all in.
When I open my eyes. Charlie is sat beside me. He instantly stands up, takes my hands and leads me back through the meadow without saying a word.
“What are you doing?” I ask, feeling a little foggy.
He takes me to the large oak tree on the edge of the field. Leading me around the back and pushes me up against it.
“Charlie,” I say trying to understand what is happening. He had a look in his eyes that I had never seen before. It was almost as if it wasn’t him at all. “I need you, Faye. I want you. Don’t leave me.” he says, as if being pulled deeper and deeper into the woods. “Faye! Faye!”
“Faye! Where are you?” I wake with a jump. I can’t see a thing. I must have fallen asleep! I jump to my feet and head straight for the house.
“I’m sorry, I fell asleep in the meadow.” I say pulling some muck out of my hair.
“God Faye! You had us worried sick! Don’t you think?” Mom shouts at me.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep!” I say. “It’s not like I meant to. I’m just exhausted. With the farm and the last few weeks of school and hiking today, it’s been a lot.”
“Alright Faye, just go inside and eat your food and go straight to bed,” she says.
“Okay.” She didn’t have to tell me twice.
Chapter 4
This week has been ridiculously boring. Here I am sat in the cafeteria, people watching, whilst Gilly tells someone else about her ‘near death experience’.
“My life flashed before my eyes. I’ve never been so scared. I’m so lucky to call her my best friend,” she says, hugging me from the side.
“Oh wow. You are so lucky to be alive! Are you coming to Jenna’s party this weekend? Apparently, her parents are getting a divorce and she can do whatever she wants. I’m so jealous,” Sam says, whilst scrolling through her phone. She was a classic preppy cheerleader. She was blonde, blue-eyed and stick thin. She wore her boyfriend’s letterman jacket (which changed week to week) around school constantly and always has a ribbon in her hair. She’s currently sitting on top of the table, so she is the centre of attention.
“I hope so! I have to go to the hospital tomorrow and see if I can get my bandages reduced to just my palms now. It was those that really got burned anyway but they said they needed to cover the whole hand just in case,” Gilly replied.
“Don’t you think after the last party that’s not really a good idea?” I say, finally coming into the conversation.
Gilly looks at me in disgust. “I’m not stupid. I can look after myself. I won’t be that drunk this time.” She turns back to Sam.
“Have you seen Cole lately?” Sam asks, pointing across the cafeteria to a tall fair-haired boy with a football under his arm. He joined the school this year, so I don’t really know him that well. “He’s bulked up since becoming lead Quarterback don’t you think? I heard a rumour he’s looking for a girlfriend and you’re at the top of his list! He’s looking for a date to the dance and he’s apparently going to ask you at Jenna’s party, so you got to be there!” Sam grabs Gilly’s arms and they both start squealing.
Oh, my goodness, this is more than I can take, I need to quit while I’m ahead. I’ll try and slip away and hope no one notices.
“Faye where are you going?” Gilly says, turning to me. “We need to talk about you know who,” she says in a whisper as if he was Voldemort.
“There’s not much to tell. Nothing happened after we spoke.” I tried to be as vague as possible. I can feel the eyes of the girls around the table burning into my skull.
“Who are we talking about here?” Georgia asks.
“It’s okay you wouldn’t know him,” Gilly says, winking at the table full of girls.
“Have you been seeing someone, Faye? Since when? I would never have thought you would be seeing someone that isn’t from our school,” Sam says, with her hand on her chest as if in shock and putting a little too much emphasis on the you.
“What do you mean by that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow challengingly.
“Don’t get defensive. We just don’t see you talking to many boys that’s all. And you don’t really dress to impress, look at wha
t your wearing now. And the first party we’ve seen you at was last weekend, so like where would you even meet him?” She points to my outfit with distaste. I was wearing a mustard top with jeans and trainers. Nothing special I suppose.
“She’s not the kind of girl that shows all she’s got to every guy that’s around. I wish we all could be like her and have a little self-respect,” Gilly claps back at Sam.
“Whatever you say. At least this guy likes you for who you are I guess,” Sam replies climbing down off the table and walking away, whispering with her friends and giggling as she goes.
“Don’t listen to her, she’s a slut anyway,” Gilly said pulling a face at Sam’s back. “So, what happened?” she asked again.
“Nothing we went hiking, with my brother before you ask, and it was really awkward. We didn’t really speak to each other, apart from when he apologised for kissing me and told me he would call. It’s now Wednesday and he hasn’t. He’s not interested,” I say, opening a bag of chips and picking at them. “I knew it was a little unrealistic. Even Sam can see it.”
“You don’t know any of this, so stop being so pessimistic. He’s just a boy. There are tons of boys! Don’t limit yourself to just one. Get out there! You thought he was good, I bet you’ll find an even better kisser, that was one of your first after all.” Gilly gives me a reassuring hug. I can always count on Gilly for talking me back to reality. I used to suffer with anxiety. Well, I suppose it never goes away, but it does get quieter. It’s like it wants to question everything. Should I be eating that? Do they think I’m ugly? Am I talking too much? Am I not talking enough? Constant questions plagued my mind like a fast-flowing river. Sometimes I can’t even face getting out of bed in the morning. She really helped me through it. She showed me how to love myself.
“I think we need to give you a makeover.” Gilly says. “Not a big one, just to make you feel better. Come to mine on Friday before the party and we will make it happen.”
“Not like last time, okay?” I ask, pleading with her.
“No. This time, we’re going shopping,” she says, clapping herself for her brilliant idea.
Chapter 5
We get to the Mall about 4:30. We were a little later than what Gilly had wanted. She made that quite clear from her virtual sprint through the mall.
“We will head for the Salon first, get our hair and make-up done then we’ll get a dress,” she says gasping for air, directing me to the salon. As I walk in, I’m overwhelmed by the smell of hairspray and instantly feel my hair stick to my head. This was not a good idea.
I sit there in the salon chair while Gilly sits next to me telling the women exactly how to do her job.
“She’s going to want a new style and colour with curls to follow. And with the make-up, make it subtle but wow effect. Think 1950’s style.” Mimicking the movements of the hair and how she imagines my hair to flow past my shoulders. “Blindfold her as well. I want it to be a big surprise.” The scissors coming towards my head was the last thing I saw.
I sat there for an hour and a half. At one point I may have nodded off. When the blind fold is finally removed, they have turned me around in the spinning neon pink salon chair to do my makeup.
“All finished, Darling!” the salon lady said, spinning my chair back to the mirror. It was nothing I had ever expected.
My hair looked in great condition. It was shiny, full of bounce and thicker feeling. God I’ve missed getting my hair done. It had been dyed on the ends a grey- blonde colour that really made me stand out. It was curled on thick twirls around my face and pinned back on one side to show off my makeup. My makeup was classic. Dark eyeliner, full lashes and a matt red lip to finish off the masterpiece. I was me, but version 2.0. I felt like a Hollywood actress.
I look across at Gilly and they have made her blonder and the colour was richer and more defined. Her makeup was edgy, completely opposite to mine.
“Wow Faye! That’s the look! Let’s go it’s time to get you a dress. I’m thinking white. No maybe not, someone might spill something on it. So black then?” she asks, as we pay for our new looks $60 later.
“Whatever you say, fashion guru. But remember, nothing too slutty,” I say, nudging her. She looks at me in appreciation. “What if Charlie is there?” I ask.
“Then you show him what he could have.” She says posing over her shoulder, demonstrating how to model my new look.
As we walk outside the dress shops, Gilly stops and heads back to one of the windows. “That’s it,” she says, and points at a black dress. Not too short, coming to mid-thigh, appliqué patterned with a deep v neck and absolutely gorgeous. “Perfect.” She says.
“You think I can pull that off?” I ask.
“Just go try it on!” she says kicking me through the door of the shop.
“I’m not sure,” I say pulling back the weighted curtain of the changing room.
She stops and stares at me. “I feel like a Mom who taught her kid how to ride a bike,” she says, fanning her face and pretending to dab non-existent tears. “That’s it. That’s the dress.”
As we head to the party, I start to feel nervous. “Do I really look okay?” I ask Gilly again.
“Yes! Now we are just around the corner so pull yourself together,” she says, shoving me with her shoulder. We had to take a taxi this time because of her hands, she couldn’t drive with the bandage and I can’t take the car to parties.
As we walk into the party, I feel eyes on me. I hear whispers amongst the crowd about my dress. Some nice and some just plain nasty. This party was different to the last. This one was more relaxed, lower key. People were huddled in groups. Some discussing pop culture and some discussing other people at the party.
“Gilly, Faye! I’m so glad you could make it!” Jenna says, running up to us. She was already a little tipsy. “Wow Faye, you clean up well! Did you do it for your man?” she says laughing.
“She just fancied a change. If you excuse us, we are going to grab a drink from the bar,” Gilly says, leading the way.
As we reach the bar, I see Charlie just beyond in the living room talking to a group of girls, all of which are flirting with him. What is he even doing here? He’s home two weekends in a row? I definitely won’t get his attention tonight. As I look away from him, Gilly catches my eye-line and sees the flirtation.
“Drink this.” she says pouring a shot down my throat. “And this.” she said grabbing another and doing the same. “Trust me. It will take the edge off.”
“Good cause I need to relax.” I say picking another off the bar and downing it.
“Woo! You go girl!” she shouts to get people’s attention. “Now let’s dance.” She says pulling me onto the dance floor.
“I forgot my drink!” I shout and return to the bar to get it.
We danced for about half an hour when I started to feel dizzy. “I’m going outside for some fresh air.” I head towards the patio, tripping over some empty cans on my way.
“Hey Faye, come sit with us,” a voice calls over. Cole Turner, the quarterback and a bunch of other football players. “Come sit next to me,” he says, coming over and dragging me to the porch.
“I’m okay, I’m going to… g.. go back and dance now.” I say. Why can’t I talk properly? I’ve only had a few shots and a beer.
Cole drags me to him and sits me on his lap. “Come on you know you want to,” he says. I shove him off and sit down next to him. He puts his arm around me and holds me close. “Get off,” I shout, trying to pull away.
“Come on, Faye. We’re just talking it’s nothing to be worried about,” he says in a reassuring voice, but something sinister lingered beneath it, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
He put his hand on my knee. “So, I hear you have a secret man,” he says moving closer again to whisper it in my ear. I could feel his breath down the side of my face, and it sent shivers down my spine. I need to leave. I need help. I try and stay calm.
“Yeah, he’s pickin
g…up now.” I say slowly.
“Ahh see, I don’t believe that. I think you’re just trying to make me jealous.” He moves his hand up my leg. I push it away and I watch as his jaw clenches. I smack him across the face the best I can. Only managing to hit him with my fingertips, the force of my swing pulling me down. A flash of anger floods his face like a tidal wave. He puts his hand back on my leg firmer than before, his fingers digging into my thigh. I’m pretty sure it will leave a bruise. The football players that were surrounding us have now left when Cole give them a nod to leave.
“Don’t be like that,” he says, trying to pull my face to look at him.
