Jacob: Three Years Ago
I almost regret telling Maddie to find me in the library. Ever since I told her, I always find her there. When she spots me, she'll come over with a book she's just checked out and read it silently while I study.
Today she's reading a battered copy of the Hunger Games and keeps making noises. I'm not sure she even realizes she's doing it, but every time she reads something dramatic, she'll audibly gasp. If it was anyone else, I'd find it annoying. But I like having Maddie near me when I study. When I get bored with my Math homework, I take a break and just watch her. She has the most expressive face I've ever seen. Her freckled nose is scrunched in concentration as she reads whatever scene she's reading. She's so absorbed in her book that she doesn't even know I'm staring at her.
I look back down at my notebook and force myself to finish the last few equations. All the while, I'm thinking of things to ask her. Maybe I can ask her what chapter she's just read. All I know is that I like talking to her. She always has interesting things to say, and an opinion on everything. The only problem is that I like the sound of her voice while she's saying these things just a little too much.
I prop my chin up on my hand, scribbling away with my left as I do. I really, really regret telling Maddie to find me in the library. Now that I've spent more time with her, it really sucks that our parents are engaged. In all seventeen years of my life, I've never had a thing for a girl. It's always been school, sports, and studying. But now, I've met the first girl I've ever really liked and she's going to become my stepsister. The worst part, though, is that Maddie's choice to spend free periods with me has nothing to do with getting to know me better as a person. When she first came by the library, I asked her why she was here, and she told me she wanted to get to know her 'future stepbrother' better. But 'brotherly' is the last way I want her to think of me.
I'm on my last Math sum when I feel someone snake their arms around me. I stiffen when Betty's Chanel perfume assaults my nostrils.
"Hey, handsome, I thought I'd find you here," She whispers. Maddie looks up from her book, her eyebrows rising up into her hairline as she sees the way Betty hangs off of me. I not-so-subtly shake her off and she comes down to sit in front of me (and next to Maddie) while frowning.
"Someone's touchy," She says, sniffing. I've known Betty, unfortunately, my whole life. Our fathers have been friends for years and so we've grown up in each other's orbits. The problem with Betty though is that she thinks this means she has a claim on me. I've also never had a serious girlfriend which she once confessed (while drunk) she thought meant I was waiting for her to be ready.
She gives Maddie, who's gone back to reading her book, a sideways glance.
"And you are?" She asks. Maddie looks up from her book again and closes it when she sees Betty looking at her expectantly.
"Maddie Culkin," She tells Betty, returning the other girls 'better-than-you' look. Betty keeps her snarl in check when the surname registers in her brain. Her eyes widen and something like a genuine smile crosses her face.
"Josh's sister, right?" Betty says, sounding way too relieved. "So, another sister to add to the pile, hey, Jacob?" She asks. I snap my notebook shut and try not to let her words bother me. She runs a hand over her bleached-blonde bob as she continues to survey Maddie.
"I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?" She asks Betty. The smile slips off her face at the words.
"I'm Betty? Betty Rowland? Surely you've heard of me," She's the mayor's daughter. Something she's a little too proud of.
"Maddie's not from around here," I remind Betty, standing up and shoving my things into my backpack.
"Hmm," Betty says, following suit and standing up. "Whatever. When are you getting ready for the engagement party?" I look at the watch on my wrist to see the time. Truth be told, I'd completely forgotten that that was today. It had felt like a normal Thursday until just now. Usually, I have soccer practice at this time but the coach was sick and it was canceled.
"Later," I say, swinging my backpack over my shoulder. I don't need much time to get ready. I'll probably just go home and study some more there, away from Betty.
"Oh, ok," Betty says. "I guess I'll see you there then. By Maggy!" She calls over her shoulder, fluffing out her hair.
"It's Maddie," Maddie mumbles even though Betty is too far away to hear the correction. "Is that stupid party really tonight?" She asks, throwing her bag on the table so that she can pack her things away.
"Stupid party?" I ask, even though I agree.
"Yeah, we already know. Why do they have to have a whole song and dance about it?" She asks after she's put everything away. She stands up and together we walk out the library.
"I guess it has something to do with declaring your love for the world to see and sharing the moment with all the special people in your life."
"Isn't that what the wedding is for?" Maddie asks. I hold open the door for her and she thanks me with a small smile. It makes my heart start beating faster and I have to cough to cover up my blush. "Well, whatever. I have nothing to wear. I've never been to a fancy, schmancy country club. Tessa says I have to wear something nice."
"Who's Tessa?" I ask, unfamiliar with the name. Maddie tucks a piece of dirty blonde hair behind her ear and eyes me suspiciously.
"Why do you want to know?" She asks. I just shrug. I can't tell her I like learning all there is to know about her. Not only is that weird but it's beyond inappropriate. "She's this girl I met in English. She's super cool," Maddie eventually answers.
I open up the door that leads outside and we both wince when we step out into the sun. After being holed up in that windowless library, I feel like a vampire being eviscerated.
"I'll see you later," she tells me and then runs over to a car that looks like it's about to leave. The car stops just before it collides with Maddie's thighs.
"Are you crazy? I could've killed you," Laughs a red-haired girl.
"I was so scared I was going to miss you," Maddie says jumping over to the passenger side and pulling the door open. "I need a ride home." I don't hear anything else after she closes the door and the beat-up Honda pulls out of the parking lot.
-
I'm stuck at the table alone with the twins. While I agreed to wear a black button-down shirt and pants, I drew the line at a tie and jacket. Mary sits next to me scowling. Our mom forced her into a flowy, pink dress and I've never seen her so unhappy. While she doesn't hate the color itself, wearing it is a no-no in her manifesto. On my other side is Shelley, who's happily texting away on her phone. Usually, at shindigs like this, I'm not forced to babysit my sisters. Unfortunately, there was an accident with the curling iron earlier and an accusation: 'She burnt me intentionally!' that means I have to watch them in case revenge is served.
I'm glad for it because when Betty arrives, she asks if we can go outside to talk and I've never been happier to have murderous twin sisters.
"Unfortunately, Betty, I really have to stay with the twins," I tell her. Both of my sisters are mortally offended by my implication that they can not be left alone but the excuse was worth the bruises they gave me.
As the night grows on, more and more partygoers come and go from the main dining hall at the country club. Most of the people in here today are guests of my mom's and Keegan's engagement party. But a few people are regulars who pop in to see what's happening in the hall.
I glance at my watch. It's almost six and neither Maddie nor Josh are here. I couldn't care less where Josh is. He could boycott this thing and I wouldn't notice. But it's been too long since I've seen Maddie. God, I feel pathetic. What is wrong with me?
I wonder if people are noticing what I have because I see my mom go up to Keegan anxiously. He's in the middle of a conversation with a group of men I don't know when I see her go up to him and pull him away.
She gestures impatiently to him, but besides seeming a little annoyed, Keegan doesn't seem too distressed by the situation.
For some unknown reason, I find myself calling Josh. Wherever he and his sister are, they are obviously together.
He picks up almost immediately. "If you're calling to hurry us up, don't bother. The car broke down and we're waiting for a mechanic." I spring out of my seat, heading in my mom's direction.
"Where are you?" He tells me the directions and I hang up. When I'm by my mom, I gently touch my fingers to her arm. "Is everything alright?" I ask, looking at the furrows in her brow.
She lets out a long breath, her hand still wrapped tightly around Keegan's forearm. "It's Keegan's kids. I think they're protesting the engagement by boycotting the party."
I know it's inappropriate but I can't help but laugh. Only a lawyer could be this suspicious of a situation. Keegan glares at me for laughing at my mother but before he can open his mouth to lecture me, I say, "I'm sorry, it's just I just got off the phone with Josh. He told me they were on their way when the car broke down."
"Really?" My mom says as though she's not sure this is the truth or a story I've concocted to placate her.
"Really. The mechanic is too far out. I'll drive over and help with the car."
My mom doesn't seem to like that idea but Keegan smiles and claps me on the shoulder. "Thanks, son. That would be wonderful."
Before my mom can ask me to stay, I turn on my heel, grateful to get out of this place.
-
Josh and Maddie are pulled over on the side of the road, sitting next together at the back of Josh's truck. When Maddie sees the headlights, she jumps down and runs over to my car while I pull over in front of them.
"Are you going to give us a lift to the party?" She asks, and I can't answer right away. Maddie's put her hair half up in an intricate hair-do. The pieces of hair that remain down, curl around her face and shoulders. Despite her protests from earlier, she's found something to wear. She's in a knee-length shimmering silver dress that hugs her curves in all the right places. Right now, the strap of her dress has fallen down her shoulder, and every thought I've ever had leaves my brain as I find myself fascinated by that spot on her arm.
Josh clears his throat. "Actually, Mads, one of us needs to stay back for when the mechanic gets here."
"That's not a problem," I say, my rational mind slowly coming back to me. "Do you have a toolbox in your car?" When I see Josh nod, I start rolling up my black shirt sleeves.
"What are you going to do?" Maddie asks, looking at me strangely. When she gets closer, I see she's applied little gemstones around her eye makeup. Everything about her sparkles in the setting sun and it's almost a shame I didn't get to see her enter the room with everyone else. Almost, because at least this way, I get to see how beautiful she is first.
"I'm going to fix the car," I tell her, opening Josh's toolbox once he's handed it over. I pop the hood and survey it before starting to fix the problem. It's a little hard considering I can sense Maddie staring at me the whole time.
"Mmm," She says. I look over my shoulder to see her. Her face is scrunched and I smile, wondering what she's thinking about.
"What's wrong?" I ask her.
My words seem to snap her out of her trance, and despite the fading light, I see her neck and ears turn pink.
"Nothing. Just continue," And she goes around the truck to sit with Josh in the back again.
-
By the time we make it back to the party, our parents have announced their engagement and are receiving their congratulations. I have to excuse myself to go to the bathroom to properly wash all of the grease from my hands and arms.
Luckily, by the time I enter the room again, they're serving food. I take my seat. Everyone's swapped positions at the table and I find myself wedged between my mom and Maddie. But before I can dig into the food, Maddie puts her hand on my arm, stilling my movements.
"What is it?" I ask, looking into her eyes. She's smiling at me and then brings up her hand and touches my cheek. I stop breathing as she gently swipes her thumb across my cheek back and forth.
"You had a bit of grease there," She whispers.
"Oh," is all I can say, my stomach suddenly so full of butterflies that I can't even think of eating.