4.
Different But Also The Same
PRESENT DAY
Lenley
“LEN!” SARAH BURSTSinto my room rather than entering it, wrapping her arms around me so tightly that I risk passing out due to oxygen deprivation.
She pushes me back, keeping hold of my biceps to assess me. “Holy shit, I came here with the intention to give you a fucking piece of my mind for the way you just left in the middle of the night and didn’t show your sorry ass back home for an entire year, but ...” She gives me a once over. “France definitely agrees with you, you look fucking amazing. What have you done with my cute and slightly nerdy bestie? Were you body snatched by a super model while you were overseas?”
I laugh at her antics; if there’s one person who’s always able to put a smile on my face, that’s definitely Sarah.
“Don’t be silly.” I smile. “I just got new clothes and makeup and a different haircut, I’m still my old, nerdy self, just in a different packaging. And by the way I’m way too fat to be a super model.”
Sarah rolls her eyes. “Right, whatever. But let me just tell you that you’d look more at home on a Hollywood red carpet than here in Star Cove. That dress is to die for. And those shoes!”
I smile, looking at my reflection in the full-length mirror of my bedroom; I’m not sporting my usual tan but the silver, glittery fabric of my minidress enhances the milky complexion of my pale skin.
I kept my makeup understated but classy, with dramatic, long lashes and bright red lips. Four inch heels in the same color of my dress complete the look.
“Thank you. My Mémère was adamant that I couldn’t leave France before I learned to walk in heels. And I got some gorgeous shoes for you and a pair for Kiara too.”
Sarah narrows her eyes as I go to my closet, coming back with a shoe box with a huge red bow on top. “Oh my God!” She squeals when she sees the hot pink sky-high sandals I got for her. “If you were trying to buy my forgiveness for leaving overnight with drop dead gorgeous shoes ... it totally worked!”
She hugs me tight and then looks at me again, with a serious glint in her blue eyes. “I’ve fucking missed you though. Next time you decide to run away to the other side of the world, I’d appreciate a little notice.”
I nod. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know I screwed up.”
Sarah sighs. “Nah, I actually get it, babe. After what happened between you and that dumb-ass you’re in love with, I don’t actually blame you.”
I had sent my two besties a tearful text just before my flight from New York to Paris took off. I explained what happened on my birthday and then spent most of the long flight crying, until I eventually passed out from exhaustion.
“So from your stunning look, I take it you’re back to show Darrius what he let go?”
I shrug. “Kinda.”
Sarah fixes her gaze onto mine. “Why else would you dress like this? Granted it’s a big party tonight, but that never made you want to look like ... this.”
I admit it, there’s no point lying to Sarah; she knows me better than I know myself. “He said I wasn’t his type. That I was too ‘girl next-door’ for him.”
I grit my teeth at the memory. Darrius said girl next-door but what he really meant was plain. And nerdy.
Sarah nods approvingly. “So now you’re going to show him what he’s been missing out on for the sake of chasing Lisa’s skanky ass. Rumor has it that the reason they broke up is that she was cheating on him.”
That doesn’t surprise me at all.
“And it wasn’t the first time.” Sarah adds.
“I’ve always known that Lisa wasn’t faithful to him; but I never had the courage to tell him.”
Sarah takes her shoes off, trying on the new pair I’ve just gotten her. “Well fuck, he got what he deserved, if you ask me. You know I don’t slut shame. But come on! If you want to fuck around, stay single or make it clear that you want an open relationship. She made him look like an idiot, everyone knew what she was up to, except Darrius.”
I succumb to the urge to defend him, it’s almost second nature. “You know how much pressure there’s always been on Darrius’ shoulders. He’s the face of the Cove Angels and all our hopes at bringing the world title back to Star Cove rest on him.” He’s the real heir to my dad’s legacy.
Sarah narrows her eyes. “You aren’t here to rub his face in your new, sexy look, aren’t you?” she accuses me. “You’re here because you think that your new look will change his mind on you not being his type, am I right?”
There’s no point in lying to her, she knows me way too well.
“Sarah,” I whisper. “Is it that wrong? I stayed away for a whole year and I never even texted him. I was hoping to get him out of my system. But I think that saying ‘Out of sight, out of mind,’ is total bullshit. I just love him so much, there’s no one else for me. And if he doesn’t see it, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
My best friend crosses her arms over her chest. “I just hope your new look heals his obvious case of blind stupidity, because if it doesn’t ... I’m going to fucking kill him. It’s his fault that I didn’t see my bestie for an entire year.”
I throw my arms around her. “I missed you, babe!”
She hugs me back. “Yeah, yeah. You can stop buttering me up, you know? Your pretty face and the gorgeous heels went a long way toward earning my forgiveness.”
I look at her, like she knows me so well, I can tell that she’s still unhappy. “What is it, Sarah?”
She shrugs. “I just don’t think he deserves you, Len. I’ve never thought he was right for you. Your mom and his dad have always treated him like he’s the golden child. The only one who can carry on your dad’s legacy; and I think that made him a spoiled brat who only cares about himself.”
I know how Sarah feels about Darrius. “You just don’t know him like I do,” I defend him.
“It might be true, but he better not be an asshole to you tonight,” she grumbles. “Or he’ll try my new stilettos where the sun doesn’t shine.”
I can’t help but laugh at the colorful threat, but she’s dead serious.
“Come on, Sarah,” I attempt to mollify her. “He isn’t that bad.”
She shakes her head. “I hope so for his own sake, Len. And I’d think twice about being his girlfriend, even if he wanted you. Then you’d be related to his father and to Anna.”
I sigh. “Uncle Kyle isn’t as bad as you think either. You know he was my dad’s teammate and best friend. They were like brothers and he’s Mom’s business partner, he owns half of the Angels. My dad might’ve been the star athlete, but they founded the team together. So it doesn’t matter if I date Darrius or not, Kyle will be in my life regardless. He’s been a father figure for me since Dad’s death ten years ago. And Mom told me he was the one who secured Wild Horse as a sponsor, so if we have a better chance at winning Nationals, we owe it to him. And Anna is at Harvard, so I’ll only have to see her a couple of weeks a year.”
As usual, Sarah knows a lot more than me. “Anna is back. She graduated two semesters early.”