Chapter 51: Bestie Saturday Night
Funny how an ordinary basement can feel like a tomb. I emerged with a huge sigh from my forced confinement into the warmth of the last of the sunlight flooding the kitchen on the other side of the door. I actually paused for a moment to enjoy it, but not long enough for my mother to catch up, just in case.
I heard her first footfall on the step below as someone knocked on the kitchen door. Relieved to have another warm body to use for a buffer against her, I rushed to answer it just as Mom reached the top of the stairs.
Alison Morgan, my best friend and rescuer, grinned at me from the doorstep, her normally long, flowing blonde hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, contact-tinted blue eyes sparkling. I can only imagine my expression since Alison laughed at me without me saying a word.
Goofy, best bet. And desperate, I imagine.
She walked in without asking, brushing past me to greet my mother. I silently prayed she would just say 'hi' and let it go.
Why did my best friend have to like my mom so much?
"Hi, Mrs. Hayle," Alison quickly hugged Mom. It always amazed me. When was the last time I hugged my mom on purpose and without some huge, horrific circumstance hanging over my head? I think I was five.
Wonders, Mom always hugged her back. "Hello, Alison, so nice to see you, honey."
Blech.
"You look very beautiful this evening, Mrs. Hayle," Alison gushed, and I knew she meant it. I didn't know what this fascination was with my mother, but I often asked Alison if she wanted to keep her.
Mom laughed a little, clearly flattered. "Thank you, Alison, how sweet. Taking notes, Syd?"
Double blech.
"Sure, Mom," I drawled. "Sweet it is."
Mom returned her attention to Alison, ignoring my obvious sarcasm. "I have to tell you how grateful I am you were willing to fill me in the other day." Mom winked at Alison, refusing to look at me, so I knew humiliation was on the way. "Syd won't tell me a thing about this handsome Brad boy who likes her."
"Really? Still?" Alison shot me a wide, innocent stare and I made a shut up face. She ignored me completely.
"Really," Mom said. "I haven't had even two seconds alone with him to find out what he's like."
"Oh, you'd like him," Alison said as I cursed her to hell in my seething mind. She would so pay. And pay. "He's a really nice guy." Her eyes sparkled with mischief and despite the fact I knew she baited me, I still wanted to yank her bouncing ponytail out of the back of her head and feed it to her.
What sucked worse? Mom knew it and played the game. I couldn't win.
"So nice to hear," my mother said. "I wouldn't want her dating some mean boy, after all."
"We're not dating," I choked out before I could stop myself.
They both focused their attention on me.
"Did you say something, Syd?" Mom's lips twitched. "About your boyfriend?"
That did it. Seriously, could my mom be more embarrassing?
"I said," I grated between clenched teeth, cheeks so hot I was sure I would set off the smoke detector any second. "We're. Not. Dating."
I could tell Alison was slowly losing a battle with hilarity, about to burst into silent howls at any moment. Meanwhile, Mom stubbornly refused to allow the huge smile tugging at her face to fully form, giving her cheeks an odd twitch.
My best friend ganging up on me with my mother? How much did that suck?
I guess I was mostly happy they got along so well, considering. Part of me wondered if I should be jealous. The other part wished I could keep Alison in my pocket to pull out at random moments when Mom lost her temper. Those dimples and wide eyes were a great distraction.
Alison took pity on me and changed the subject. "Hope you don't mind me dragging Syd off tonight." She laid it on like two scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough and I wasn't sure if Mom would swallow or choke.
"Of course not." My mother smiled at me, then back at Alison. "Some kind of party, Syd said?"
Alison shrugged and bobbed her head, blonde ponytail bouncing with way more energy than I had at the moment.
"Yeah. An outdoor party, first of the spring. Can't wait!"
"Yeah," I muttered. "Can't wait."
Alison made a fake-hurt face. "You'll have fun, Hayle, trust me."
"Why don't you want to go, Syd?" Mom seemed genuinely confused. No comment. "It sounds like fun."
"Don't worry." Alison winked at my mother. "I'll make sure she has a good time. Won't I, Syd?"
I managed to muster at least basic enthusiasm. "Sure, Al."
Truth was, I didn't know why I was resisting. For the first time in my entire life, I actually felt like I belonged somewhere. Of all the little towns we lived in over the years, of all the schools, bullies and messes I came in contact with, for some reason the combination in this one turned out to be right. Of course, being toughened up by a savage attack on my family might have had something to do with it. Especially considering I had a major role in suppressing said attack.
My demon hissed at me and I sighed. Okay, we.
But the prospect of spending an evening with the very people who started out the year to make my life miserable seemed less than appealing. The last party I attended ended with Alison publicly humiliated and the bulk of the partygoers throwing up their guts at my magical suggestion.
Still, I agreed, if only to mollify my new friends, the only real friends I ever had. And because it was far easier to go out on a Saturday night than sit home and listen to my mother badger me about why I was sitting home on a Saturday night.
Go figure.
"Well, you two have a good time." Mom smiled at Alison. "Syd, try to have fun, honey, okay?"
"Do my best," I muttered as I grabbed Alison's arm and physically hauled her away.
"Bye, Mrs. Hayle." Alison waved a little.
I missed Mom's farewell as I guided Alison toward the stairs. She sighed a big deep breath and smiled at me as we went up to my room.
"What?" I said as I closed my door behind me.
Alison ignored my question, letting out a squeal of happiness. She planted herself on my bed and immediately started to love up my silver Persian, Sassafras, waking him from what appeared to be a very deep nap. Still, his purr came instantly and he even allowed her to rub his round belly while he stretched and yawned.
"You have the best cat," she said, planting a kiss on Sassy's nose. "The best."
She totally missed the wink the arrogant little fur ball threw my way. If only she knew the real Sassy like I did. The demon boy being punished for all eternity, trapped in the body of a cat for who knows what offense to earn that kind of sentence. Maybe she'd be more selective.
"Yeah," I said with no enthusiasm. "Want him?"
Alison laughed and continued to rub his tummy as Sassy purred heavily, drooling from one corner of his mouth onto my fresh comforter. Gross. His fat cat paws kneaded the empty air in total contentment.
"Are you kidding?" She said. "I'd take him in a heartbeat."
"Consider him yours," I said, sticking my tongue out at the scowl he leveled at me. I ducked into my closet for a heavy sweater and my oversized raincoat. It wasn't supposed to downpour or anything, but it still sank to chilly at night and I didn't feel like topping off a wonderful evening by catching pneumonia.
"Seriously, Syd," Alison said, the exasperation in her voice making me turn around, "I really don't understand you."
"Sorry?" I pulled the heavy turtleneck over my head, voice muffled in the collar.
Alison continued to stroke Sassy's fur, but in silence. It took me a moment to realize she was close to tears. I crossed the room and sat on the other side of the bed, fingers instinctively going for a silver ear. Sassy's purring became heavier, but his golden-eyed gaze told me he paid close attention to the conversation.
"Al, what's up?" I tried to ignore my cat and focus on her.
She shrugged a little and gave me a smile, brittle and glassy, putting on a brave face. "It's just... you have such a great family. Such an awesome mom, a cute baby sister, not to mention Sass here." She looked back down at him. "You always seem, I don't know, like you don't want to be here."
"You don't live with them," I said.
"I wish," she whispered. My heart skipped. I was really starting to understand how lonely Alison had been her whole life. Despite our friendship of several months, I also realized I never met her parents, despite the fact she met mine. Met them? She spent as much time with my mother as she could wrangle. And my little sister Meira loved her.
"Sorry, Al," I said. "I know I complain a lot. But seriously, you have no idea. Things aren't all rosy, you know."
She smiled at me again, the edge faded this time. "I know, Syd. I just really love your family. And I hope you appreciate them."
I pointedly ignored the paw swiping at me as Sassy threw in the only means he had to agree with her.
"Most days," I said.
"Careful what you offer, by the way," she laughed, humor coming back as the dark mood passed. "I just might kick your butt to my house and let you deal with my mother." She faked a shudder. "No way. Wouldn't wish that on anyone."
"She can't be that bad," I said.
Alison rolled her eyes at me. "You think your mother is embarrassing?"
I laughed. "Does that mean I get to meet her?"
Alison hesitated before shrugging. "We'll see. Ready?" She pulled herself up from the bed after one last kiss for Sassy.
"Almost. I'll meet you downstairs?"
She headed for my door. "I'll go keep your mom company."
I looked down at Sassy and stared back into his hard, flat glare.
"Yes?" I said.
"No comment necessary," he said, righting himself and beginning the compulsive grooming of his right paw.
"Seriously?" I said. "Nothing? Nada?"
He switched paws, eyes half closed as he worked at the pads of his foot. "Don't you have a party to go to?"
I stood up and shrugged. "Don't say I didn't give you the chance to lecture me on family responsibility."
He stopped grooming for one moment and fixed those amber eyes on me.
"I think you already got the point," he said.
I left him to his bath, hating he was not only getting the last word, but the fact he was right.
Damn it.
***
