AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Poppy’s eyes glass over as her mouth curves in a way that isn’t enough to call a smile. “Detroit.”
“And Papa brought you guys here? What the hell was he doing in Detroit?” The end was more to myself, but Poppy answers anyway.
“He showed up after my parents were—dead.”
Betty’s hand squeezes mine and I almost forgot she was still holding it.
“Oh,” I murmur, driving us farther out of the city and toward the party. Death isn’t something that surprises me and Betty knows that. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Don’t be…” she whispers. “I mean, my mom was great, but my father….” She shakes her head and my throat swells. A wave of protectiveness washes over me, and now all I want to do is turn the car around and drive us home. “Anyway, I don’t want to kill our night. I really do just want to forget.”
“Then I can help with that.”
“We both can…” Betty adds gently.
Howard Jake’s house is a farmhouse mansion that sprawls out over acres of land. The barn-style rooftops and glass walls showcase the expertise of the architecture. It’s the subject I want to study if I’m ever fortunate enough to actually go to college, but we all know that just isn’t in my cards.
Music plays loudly and bodies of drunk teens spread out over the wraparound porch at the front. Everyone stops to stare at my car rolling down the driveway. It’s not that no one at my school has money, they all do, but I think over time people become fascinated with who I am because I keep to myself. Betty calls it obsession, but I prefer fascination. The same way humans are with animals. That’s what it feels like sometimes, as if I were performing tricks in front of a crowd at a circus.
I cut the car and unzip my long coat, leaving it in the back seat and sweeping up my phone. “Selfie before we enter…”
Poppy leans forward from the back and Betty licks the side of my cheek as I beam a bright smile into the lens. My sharp jaw is prominent, so much so Betty says it reminds her of Angelina Jolie, and my eyebrows are thick and perfectly plucked. My skin constantly has a natural glow to it and my eyes tonight look more green than hazel, thanks to the darker dress. My teeth are white and straight, and I have one simple dimple on the side of my cheek that looks unnatural. My hair remains with a natural wave, and my body is tight and curvy, thanks to my gym schedule.
From what everyone can see… it’s perfection.
I do wonder what they would think of me if they saw the parts that aren’t.
Pushing open the door, I let Poppy out and toss the keys at Oscar who leans against his car that’s parked behind mine.
“You have a bodyguard?” Poppy laughs nervously. “What kind of cop is your dad?”
“Oh, he’s no cop.” Betty chuckles, and I know she won’t say any more than that, but I want to. Poppy shared something with me, so now I want to share something with her.
I take a deep breath. “Papa is the Boss of the Sicilian mafia, Chicago outfit.” I watch for any flinch as her face grows more visible the closer we get to the house.
She blinks slowly. “Okay. I should have guessed that.”
“I don’t know what he saw in Wicked or why he was there though.” I smile at her weakly. “I’m sorry I can’t give you more than that.” And I am, regardless of whether I want to or not.
We pass by people on the patio and I wave and say hello to the ones who greet me. It’s all of them. I make a beeline through the groups of people and pass the lounge where people are making out, mostly half naked or all the way naked with cocaine sprawled out over ass cheeks and someone taking a hit from abong out of a girl’s vagina. I let out a deep breath as I put space between us all and we finally get outside.
“Holy cow!” Poppy screeches, still looking back at what’s happening in the lounge. “That iswhat?”
The music changes to Side Kick, the atmosphere instantly less chaotic. Betty bounces her way toward Jason Bear and I take Poppy’s hand in mine as I lead her toward the group of people all seated around a small inbuilt fire pit. It’s not exactly cold, but you give these boys any reason and they’re lighting one.
“Baby giiirrrllll!” Howard hollers out, his arms stretched wide.
He’s the captain of our basketball team and you can tell. His shirt is off and tied around his forehead, and his jean shorts are pulled down slightly to show the top of his boxers.
“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.” I place Poppy down on a chair before tapping his fist with mine.
“I almost didn’t. This is my friend Poppy.” I gesture with my thumb to where she sits.
They all nudge their heads at her. It’s half of the basketball team and football team out here with their girlfriends or their girls for the night. I know I promised Betty I would let loose and have a good night tonight, but now that Poppy is here, I don’t want to get too stupid. I need to somehow sneak past the fact that Betty is always the one feeding us drinks throughout the night.
“So.” Betty takes a seat on the chair beside Poppy. “How much do you think your brother is going to hate her after he finds out that she brought you here?”
“My brother doesn’t hate people,” Poppy says, and I ignore Betty’s attempt at stirring the pot. “He simply doesn’t care.”
