Char (25 page)

When we pull up to my mom’s house in Malibu, for a moment I feel sad. For so long,
this
was my home. Part of me misses being in California. I made a lot of really good memories here, and had a lot of amazing friends. But in some ways, I was always destined to be in New York.

“Nice house,” Tristan says as we get out.

“This house is a baby house compared to your dad’s beach house in the Hamptons,” I say.

“The key word being
my dad
’
s house
. I don’t have to have a mansion to be happy. This house is perfect.”

My mom’s beach house really is perfect. I grew up here, and I have a lot of really great memories. It really isn’t all that small. It was big enough for Mom, Chloe, Candice, and I. We never got in each others way, and I never had to share a room. Plus, it’s right on the beach. What more could I ask for?

“I’d definitely love to live on the beach again after I graduate college.”

“What do you think of Miami?” he asks.

I think about it for a minute. Miami has a little bit of everything — city and beach. Of course the humidity sucks, but I could get used to that. “I think I would be okay living in Miami. I could still surf, even though the waves aren’t as big as they are in Cali.”

“But the water is warmer,” he says.

“True.” And I could probably surf almost year round. Not that it matters. Tristan could move to the desert, or to the mountains, or even the moon, and I would gladly follow him. But I’m not telling him that.

We walk in the house, and Christian makes himself right at home. He heads out to the beach. My mom isn’t home right now, but she said she would be soon. I am kind of excited to see her. I have missed her a lot.

“I want to see your room,” Tristan says.

And I’m liking the sound of this. I lead him up the stairs to my room, which is just as I left it. The walls are very pink and I have a ton of stuffed animals, which I am a little embarrassed about. One wall is covered from top to bottom in pictures of me and my friends. Tristan walks to the wall and starts looking at them, which concerns me. I didn’t tear down any of the pictures of Landon and me.

“Is that your ex-boyfriend?” Tristan asks, pointing to a picture of Landon and me kissing.

I feel my face grow warm. “That would be him.” I grab the picture off the wall. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to take down the pictures of him before I left. It was kind of a rushed thing. I barely even had time to pack.”

“I’m not mad that you had a boyfriend before,” he says. “It would be stupid of me to think that the girl I am with has
only
ever been with me. Especially considering I’ve been with other girls before.”

“How many other girls?”

He laughs, but doesn’t answer.

“You technically
haven’t
been with me yet,” I say.

“But I will be. Soon.”

“Nine more days.” Yep, I’m still counting.

“Who says I won’t make you wait another month?”

“I’m pretty sure that you can’t resist me another month.” Or at least I’m
hoping
he can’t. Because I’m about to go crazy as it is. I definitely couldn’t handle another month of waiting.

“You’re probably right.”

Phew.

My door opens and I see my mom stick her head in. She’s looking at Tristan. “Who is your friend?”

I’ve been gone two months, and she greets me by asking about Tristan. “This is Tristan Becker. My boyfriend.”

She smiles at Tristan, and then winks at me. “You didn’t tell me that you had a boyfriend. Or that he was so hot.”

Tristan looks uncomfortable, and I am completely embarrassed by my mom. Does she really have to act like that? Aaron was used to it, but this is Tristan’s first time meeting her. God, I hope he doesn’t think I’m anything like her. “Mom, don’t call my boyfriend
hot
.”

She rolls her eyes. “Well he is. And you know it. You’ve got him all locked up in your bedroom.”

Don’t I wish I had him locked up
. “Don’t you have anything to say to
me
?”

She looks at me for a second. “Umm… Not really…”

“It’s September twenty-second.”

She just stands there.

“Eighteen years ago today you pushed me out of your vagina. Ring a bell?”

“Oh right! Happy birthday, Charlotte,” she says. “I would get you a present, but you’re living in New York City now, and what I want to get you wouldn’t do you much good up there. But you know, if you moved back home now I could go ahead and buy it for you.”

Yep, of course she would turn this back on herself. “Mom, I’m not moving back.”

She pouts. “You will eventually change your mind. I just hope you do before your chance has come and gone. There are so many opportunities for you here.”

“Opportunities for
me
or
you
?” I ask. “And Candice told me about how she was in the
hospital
and you didn’t come.”

Mom’s face drops. “I know I should have been there, but you don’t know all the circumstances. You should just stay out of things that you know nothing about. This is between Candice and me.”

And there you have it — shut down, and avoided. But it isn’t between me and her. It’s between Candice and her, she’s right about that. “Fine. It isn’t my business. But our relationship really isn’t so great either. You keep pushing me to be this perfect daughter. You want me to live your dreams. That’s not what I want, Mom. I want to go to college. And I want to do something with my life that doesn’t involve acting. Why can’t you just be happy for me?”

“Because I don’t understand. Why are you going to college when you don’t need to? You could do so much better for yourself if you become an actress. Candice makes one hundred thousand an episode for being on
Shores of Malibu
, and she does thirteen episodes a season, that’s twenty six a year. She’s making over a million dollars just being on the show. That doesn’t include all the other stuff she does on the side.
You
on the other hand will be going to school for four years, and won’t even be making
half
of what she does. Why would you want to go to school?” she asks.

“I think it’s great that Candice has done so well. But being an actress isn’t what
I
want,” I tell her. I am praying that she is actually hearing what I’m saying. “I want to go to college. So what if I don’t live in a beach house in Malibu. So what if I can’t afford a Bentley. It’s what
I
want, and it’s what
I
will be happy doing.”

I see my mom’s face soften. “Okay, Charlotte. If it really means that much to you, I will support you no matter what. I just want what’s best for you.”

“I know, Mom.” I put my arms around her. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she says.

I can’t remember the last time I hugged my mom. This feels good. And suddenly, all is right in the world. I just wish I would have told my mom this a
long time ago
.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2

2pm

You’ve got mail

Today is
the day
… Tristan and I have
officially
been dating one month. Which means we can
finally
have sex. The month of waiting has been torture, but now that it’s here I know that it was worth the wait.

And now I just have to wait five more hours until Tristan get’s here.

My phone buzzes with a text from Aaron. He’s been texting me everyday since he was released from the hospital. He has stayed clean, and even joined a support group. He has even apologized for how he acted when he came up for Labor Day. I’m just glad to have
my Aaron
back.

Aaron:
So, your dad is some kind of miracle worker, because I get to start at NYU in January!

I smile at the text. Dad still isn’t Aaron’s biggest fan, but he knows I’m in love with Tristan. Nothing will happen between Aaron and me. He decided to help Aaron out, and I’m so glad he did. Now him and Candice will be attending the same college in January.

Me:
That’s great news! :) Congratulations!

When I get home, dad is waiting for me in the living room. “You’ve got mail.” He hands me a large manilla envelope. It’s from Columbia.

“Oh my God!” I sit the envelope down on the table and pace back and forth. “What if it’s a rejection?”

“They don’t send rejections out this early,” he tells me. “Or acceptances for that matter.”

He’s right, I shouldn’t have this letter yet. It’s probably just more info on the school. I open the envelope and pull out the papers. I quickly glance over the letter and let out a little squeal. “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I got in!”

“That’s great,” my dad says.

I look at him. “Did you handle anybody’s divorce at Columbia? Is that why I got early admissions?”

“Nope,” he answers. “Well, I’m not sure. I think I handled one of the professor’s divorces… No wait… I handled his wife’s case. Whatever you do, don’t take Dr. Dungmann’s class. I have a feeling that he won’t like you very much. I heard his class was pretty boring anyway…”

“If you didn’t get me in, then
how
did I get in?” I ask.

“Well, you are going to the most esteemed prep school in New York City that money can buy. Plus, you make excellent grades.”

“So I did this
all
by myself?”

“Yep.”

Well, sort of all by myself. I’ve went to a private school my whole life, so I guess I can thank my dad for that, seeing as how he’s been the one to pay for my schooling. If it were up to my mom, she would’ve sent me to a public school. I don’t really have anything
against
public school, but I have a feeling it would’ve been
crazy
there considering who my sisters are.

But I
did
get the grades all on my own. I can thank my dad’s good genes I suppose, because I haven’t really studied all
that
hard. I’ve always done all my homework, and I always turn my work in
on time
. And I do study for upcoming tests. And by
study
I actually mean I glance through the chapter or notes the test is on for about thirty minutes.

I take a picture of my acceptance letter and send it to Tristan. A few seconds later, my phone buzzes.

Tristan:
AMAZING! I didn’t get my acceptance letter until March. Your application must have blown them away ;) Congrats! I can’t wait to have you on campus with me!

Me:
Thanks! Can’t wait to see you tonight.

Tristan:
Happy one month anniversary. See you soon.

I put away my phone, and continue my happy dance. Then I text everybody: Mom, Chloe, Candice, Layla, Christian, Aaron, and even Landon. Because I am
that
excited. I get a ton of
congratulations
texts. But the text from mom surprises me the most.

Mom:
I’m so proud of you!

I almost cry when I read that, because for once in my life, my mom is proud of me.

I actually feel like my life is coming together. Both of my parents are a part of my life, my sisters and I are
finally
getting along for the first time in a
long
time, I’m living in the greatest city in the world, I have a perfect boyfriend, and in a few short months my
best friend
will be moving here. What more could I ask for? Well, other than New York City be moved to the West Coast. But, despite missing the waves in California, I am thinking that I like New York better. We
actually
have weather here. And hoodies are so comfortable to wear. Who knew?

Friday we had our appointment at Vera Wang. I adore the red dresses that Chloe picked out for Candi and me to wear. When Chloe tried on her dress, we all cried. I still can’t believe my big sister is getting
married
. The dress was perfect. She’s going to get fitted for it the week of her wedding since she is currently expanding. You can’t tell she’s pregnant yet, but by her wedding in December she’ll probably have a small baby bump.

Things are changing. I remember when I was younger, I couldn’t wait to get older, but now that I’m older I kind of wish I was younger again. Of course, getting older
definitely
has its perks. Like Tristan.

7pm

Totally
worth the wait.

I changed my clothes a hundred times. I’ve even debated being naked when Tristan comes, but I don’t want to look
too
eager… Even though I have every intention of ripping his clothes off the second he walks through the door… I finally just decide on a cute skirt and top. I’ll let
him
do the ripping.

Tristan doesn’t knock when he comes into my room. He never does anymore, which is fine with me.

“It’s cold outside. You might want to put more clothes on,” he says when he sees my outfit.

“Outside?” I ask.

He shakes his head at me. “It’s our one month anniversary. I want to celebrate.”

“So do I.” Except my idea of celebrating is
not
leaving this room.

“Did you really think that the first time I had sex with you it was going to be in your bedroom with your dad downstairs?”

I actually hadn’t thought so much about the location, but yeah, I guess I did. “Um, sort of. Except I didn’t really think about my dad being downstairs…”

“Well, if I had sex with you in your bedroom, it would be all I could think about. I’d rather enjoy our first time,” he says. “Plus, I don’t want to have to worry about being
quiet
.”

Ha, yeah. I’m thinking I like Tristan’s idea
way better.
I put on a pair of leggings under my skirt, a pair of boots, and a jacket. I tell my dad that I’m going out, and I leave with Tristan. I really have no idea what to expect tonight, so I just go with it.

“I really hope that your not opposed to skipping school tomorrow,” Tristan tells me.

Since school started, I’ve only missed one day, so I think I’m definitely due for a day off. “I don’t think I’ll be too distraught if I miss one day of school. I don’t have any tests tomorrow or anything.”

The limo only goes a few blocks before it stops in front of a really nice hotel.

“Do you know how hard it is to find a five star hotel on the Upper East Side that
isn’t
owned by my father? I swear he owns half the city,” he says.