Hello World (11 page)

After
growing up with his mother, Charlie has become a firm believer in the whole “
some things are best left unsaid”
mantra. After seeing Nadine twice in the week up to Christmas outside our usual
time slot, I’m beginning to become a follower of the phrase myself.

To his
credit, Charlie does his best to keep their coffee dates out and about rather
than in the house, which I thank him for. Having Nadine around that much would
just be too weird, even if it is only twice in one week.

So I try
not to let it bother me, and in no time at all I’m peeling my eyes open one at
a time on Christmas morning.

I lay
awake in bed, staring up at my paper cranes when a harsh, crushing pain
suddenly hits me.

This is
going to be my first Christmas without Alex.

I don’t
know why it hasn’t occurred to me before because in that moment it’s the only
thing I can focus on.

Squeezing
my eyes shut, I dig my nails into my palms to calm me and blink away the tears
that have formed, eventually pulling myself out of bed. Something else hits me
then, a strange smell.

Burning.

Groaning,
I slip on my slippers and hop down the stairs two at a time, just as the fire
alarm starts blaring away. The kitchen door is wide open, thin wisps of black
smoke beginning to surface.

‘Merry
Christmas!’ Charlie chimes, a red, novelty Santa hat sat lopsidedly on his head
while he tries to save the food he is currently burning. It looks like
pancakes. Alien pancakes.

‘Merry
Christmas. What are you doing exactly?’ I raise an eyebrow, leaning against the
doorframe and trying to suppress my laughter.

‘Well, I
figured we were in need of a special breakfast, so I thought, hey! Pancakes,’
he explains before frowning at the burnt mass.

‘Why
pancakes exactly?’ Not that I don’t love pancakes, it’s just that they aren’t
exactly Christmassy.

‘It was
either this or attempt a full English breakfast.’

‘Touché,’
I laugh. Last time he had attempted one of those, it hadn’t gone well. ‘So what
do we do now?’ I ask, staring pointedly at the pan.

Charlie
winks, dumps the lumps in the bin and holds up a packet.

‘I also
bought back-up ready-made stuff.’

I roll my
eyes, grinning as we assemble our ready-made breakfast and move into the
lounge. Charlie gets out his present first, a large, hard rectangle. I eye it
curiously and shake it although it doesn’t make a noise.

Pulling
off the wrapping, I burst into laughter. The name
Alfred Tennyson
stares up at me.

‘You were
right, he does do poems,’ Charlie remarks, winking. ‘And you seemed to know so
much about him the other day, so…’

‘Well, now
you can do your research for your next bookshop romance,’ I tease. ‘Thanks.’

‘Don’t
thank me too quickly!’ Charlie announces with another grin, reaching behind the
sofa and holding up a bigger box this time, wrapped once again in cheesy
Christmas paper, grinning reindeers jumping across the paper.

I raise an
eyebrow.

‘Two
presents? Man, I feel bad now that I only got you a pair of socks…’

‘Seriously?’
Charlie asks dryly. I haven’t given him his present yet, it isn’t actually a
pair of socks. I make a mental note to make sure it is
never
a pair of socks.

‘I’m
joking, now gimme,’ I say greedily, holding out my hands with anticipation.
Charlie finally passes me the parcel and I rip this one open to reveal a brown
box. I open the box and sit there with my mouth hanging open.

‘Oh,
Charlie...’ I trail off, handling the contents as if they are the crown jewels.

Inside is
a new set of paints and sketchbook, drawing pencils and inks. I have received
art stuff before but I can tell immediately that these are different. These are
extremely good quality and most importantly, expensive.

‘You’re
serious about this college thing? Well I figured you should have some decent
materials to start off with. They’re the right things, right?’

‘They’re
perfect,’ I whisper, running a hand over the paint set. ‘I don’t know what to say…’

‘Well, you
can start by doing the dishes for the week.’

‘Stuff
that, I’ll do the dishes for the month,’ I laugh, reaching over to tackle him
in a surprise hug. ‘Thank you so much.’

‘You’ll do
me proud,’ he says softly, kissing my head. I simply nod.

‘Now I
feel really bad about the socks…’

‘Okay,
sentimental moment over. I want my present.’

I grin and
detach myself before picking up the terribly wrapped present beside me. It is a
new shirt, long-sleeved and checked. It isn’t as great as the art set but
Charlie insists he loves it and goes so far as to put on a little fashion show,
acting the campest I’ve ever seen him as he catwalks the length of the lounge.

After the
usual wrapping-paper war, I march upstairs to assemble for the Ellsworth’s. I
was right in that I don’t have a dress so I pick a light blue pair of jeans and
a quirky burgundy Christmas jumper. Picking up the curling tongs I haven’t used
in God knows how long, I tame my hair into falling into soft red curls before
applying light red lipstick.

I had been
particularly bored last night so my nails were currently adorned with various
Christmas designs. Since it’s Christmas, I also decide not to feel guilty about
wearing my converse to the fancy estate.

Charlie
gives me a lift down to the house, gazing in approval at the fancy homes around
us. Joy had also invited Charlie along, but after suffering so many of his
mother’s parties and family gatherings, he tries to avoid them as much as
possible.

I walk up
the path and knock on the door. Jay answers in seconds.

‘I knew
your Christmas wouldn’t be complete without me,’ he chimes, winking. I stand
there and fold my arms.

‘Er, this
is kinda awkward. I actually came to see Blake.’

Jay slams
the door shut in my face.

Laughing,
I knock on the door again.

‘I’m
joking! You’re lovely!’ I giggle. He still doesn’t answer. ‘I brought
presents.’

Slowly,
the door opens and Jay peers around suspiciously.

‘I also
brought chocolate,’ I volunteer, holding up the plastic bag in my hand. Jay
grins and finally opens the door.

‘In that
case, come on in.’

‘You’re
too easy,’ I laugh, striding into the warm home. Other guests won’t start
arriving until about twelve but Jay had insisted I be here before then. We
shuffle into the living room where Joy and Harold are happily snuggled on the
sofa, a warm fire already burning.

A huge and
extravagant Christmas tree takes up one corner of the room, a few presents for
the younger children who will be here later still gathered under the tree,
although most of them have been opened before I had got here.

‘Merry
Christmas!’ we all greet, Joy getting up to hug me before we settle onto the
sofa opposite.

Blake
finally stumbles downstairs, still in his pyjamas, his hair a complete mess yet
still annoyingly stylish. It appears both of the Ellsworth boys have the
ability to look good in any situation.

He must
have opened presents with the family earlier and then gone back to sleep
because he looks as though he has just rolled out of bed.

‘You know
you don’t actually live here, right?’ Blake smirks, remarking on the early
hour, rubbing his eyes and then slumping onto the sofa next to me. I raise an
eyebrow.

‘Don’t be
a jerk, Neve is welcome anytime she wants,’ Joy chastises, smiling at me. It’s
only a small comment, but it fills me with warmth. A small smile plays on my
lips and I snuggle further into the sofa. When no one else is looking, Jay
winks.

Meanwhile,
Blake is still in shock at being called a jerk by his own Mum.

‘Mum!’

‘Oh shush,
it’s Christmas, I’m allowed to say whatever I want,’ Joy teases.

‘Only on
Christmas?’ Harold raises an eyebrow dubiously. Joy slaps him playfully on the
shoulder,
tsking
.

Blake
nudges me. ‘You are totally a bad influence on Mum.’

‘Oh shush
and open your present,’ I laugh, handing him a wrapped gift. I also give Jay
his and pass a bottle of wine and chocolates over to Joy and Harold.

For Jay, I
had been very careful to find a collection of the scariest movies I could,
which he pretends very well to be thrilled over, and the latest
All Time Low
CD for Blake. After
bullying Jay mercilessly for a good ten minutes, Blake hands over mine, a new
swanky pair of bright purple headphones.

To my
surprise, Joy and Harold also pass me over a present, a sweet smelling perfume that
I fall in love with immediately. I haven’t really worn perfume before.

Jay goes
last, handing me a pale envelope. I pull out the piece of card.

I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until later
for mine. For now, here’s a clue
.

Curious, I
peep into the envelope, digging out a tiny keyring with a globe on it. I give
Jay a questioning look but he just laughs and then Joy announces that she needs
to start getting ready and finish cooking, finally persuading Blake to follow
suit. I think it’s the threat of a shirt and tie that finally gets him to go
and get dressed.

Over the
next two hours or so, people start trickling into the house, no one turns up at
exactly twelve o’clock, and I’m amazed that Joy is cooking for this many people
until I’m informed that she has roped in some cousins to help in the kitchen.

I can’t
help but notice that everyone else seems to be in fancy dresses and heels, only
the odd person in a pair of jeans. Nervously, and slightly angrily, I tug on
Jay’s zipper hoodie.

‘You said
it was casual!’ I whisper harshly into his ear. Jay chuckles.

‘I’m
dressed casually, okay? Besides, you’re the only person here who looks decent,
everyone else looks like rich snobs. So relax, okay?’

I laugh
but shake my head to say I still haven’t forgiven him, although I do try to man
up and get over my clothing mishap.

In total,
I count three aunts, two uncles, several cousins and three close family
friends. There are four second cousins too, two of which run around happily,
exploring the huge house and tackling each other as little boys do.

‘Come on,
lets go get you a drink,’ Jay laughs. I nudge him but continue following
anyway.

Yet I’m
stopped halfway to the kitchen as Blake catches my arm and reels me into him.

‘Here she
is,’ he chimes happily, before pulling me in close and kissing me straight on
the lips.

It’s only
a small peck and is over as quickly as it started, but the action takes me by
complete surprise and leaves me feeling dizzy. It takes me a moment to register
that a blonde girl is standing opposite us, watching with amusement.

Looking at
her, I want to strangle Jay even more for telling me to dress casual. Casual my
arse.

The girl
seems to be Blake’s age, certainly a lot taller than me with long legs that are
on show thanks to the short, red, designer looking dress she wears, sparkling
crystals sewn into the dress so that she shimmers at the slightest movement.
The neckline of her dress is far too low for a family get-together and the
tight fixture of her dress flaunts her curves in an annoyingly perfect fashion.
 

Her skin
seems flawless and her crystal blue eyes shine in the low lighting, ringed with
dark make-up to make them stand out further.

She’s
beautiful and she knows it.

Everything
about her screams Queen Bee.

‘Neve,
this is Charity. Charity, this is Neve,’ Blake introduces, wrapping an arm
around my waist. Although he’s pretending to be, I can tell Blake is anything
but relaxed.

‘Pleasure
to meet you,’ Charity smiles, the biggest fake smile I can ever remember being
sent in my direction. What can I have possibly done for this stranger to hate
me so much already?

Her
expression almost looks as if she expects me to know who she is already.

Jay has
somehow snuck around Charity and is watching with amusement from the corner,
leaning casually against the wall. Blake pinches the small of my back.

‘Ow-oh of
course!’ I beam, doing my best to stand on Blake’s foot. ‘Blake’s told me all
about you.’

Like hell
he has.

‘Oh
really,’ Charity smirks. ‘Blake, I didn’t realise you were so vocal about who
you sleep with,’ she laughs, the sound making my skin crawl.

The penny
drops.

Before
Blake can make a sound, I put a hand on his chest, the kiss finally making
sense.