Char (4 page)

“You can still see Candice and Chloe, even from New York. And your mother is a grown woman. She can take care of herself,” he says. “And don’t say shit. It’s not very lady-like.”

“And now I get why Mom divorced you,” I mumble.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I say.

“Charlotte, this is your
future
. I didn’t pay for a private school just so you could throw it away by going to a community college.”

“If it means that much to you, I will consider it.” I actually won’t, but I know this conversation won’t end unless I agree to at least look into college there. What could it hurt?

“Thank you.”

I force a smile.

“Even Aaron could come visit you in New York.”

Aaron in NYC? I picture him walking around in his flip flops, shorts, and a t-shirt. Ha. That would be hilarious. “I’m not so sure Aaron would fit in there.”

“There are plenty of gay people in New York,” he says.

“Aaron isn’t gay.” He knows this. “His
dads
are gay. That doesn’t make him gay. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this, but it’s kind of offensive. Aaron likes women.”

And we pretty much confirmed that this morning when he was feeling me up in his sleep.

“No wonder the kid is so weird. He hasn’t had a very normal upbringing.”

“And I have?” I am getting a little defensive. I don’t like it when people talk bad about my best friend. “I was raised in freaking Malibu. My parents are divorced. Both of my sisters are celebrities… And
you
have the balls to say that Aaron is weird because he has two dads instead of a mom and a dad? At least his dads are still together — after
twenty
years. If anything, I’m jealous of him because he comes from a loving home where both parents want him. But I don’t. I have a mom who wants me because she thinks I’ll make a great model someday. And I have a dad who wants nothing to do with me outside of dinner once every three months. And you wonder why I spend so much time with my best friend. Maybe because
he
actually loves me.”

Dad snorts. “Please. He doesn’t love you. He is an eighteen year old male. He is just using you for
one thing
.”

“I have never
had sex with Aaron.” Oh my God, does my dad really think I’m
that
easy?

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“Yeah. I do.” I get up from the table. “You know, I don’t think I’m hungry anymore. I’ll see you in three months, or whenever it is you decide you want to badger me about my future again.”

With that I turn and walk out of the restaurant.

It’s official.

I hate my father.

4pm

You’re way too California.

“My dad sucks.” I take a hit off of a joint, and pass it to Aaron. I seriously don’t know how I would deal with all the bad shit in my life if it wasn’t for him. And weed. But definitely, more Aaron.

I tell him everything that happened with my dad, except the part where he was a jerk about Aaron having gay dads. That was too cruel to even repeat, and I don’t want to hurt him. Besides, he’s heard it all.

Aaron laughs as I tell him about my dad wanting me to go to college in New York.

“I’m imagining
you
in New York City,” he says. “With your cute little short shorts, and your surfer girl tan. You’re way too California.”

I roll my eyes. But he’s right. “I’d get pale as time passed, I suppose. But I’ll always be a California girl. Besides, it totally doesn’t matter. I’m not going to college at Columbia. Not that it isn’t a great school, but it’s not for me. Me on the Upper West Side? No thanks.”

“Doesn’t your dad live on the Upper East Side?”

“Yep.”

“Next time you visit him, take me with you. I’ve always wanted to see how people in New York City live. Especially on the Upper East Side. That’s where all the super rich people live. We can go crash some fancy party.”

“My dad is like all about ritzy shit. I bet we’d be invited,” I say.

“Lame. Parties aren’t fun if you’re actually invited.”

“My dad thinks you’re a bad influence.”

Aaron laughs, and takes a hit off his joint. “I probably am.”

“He also thinks were sleeping together. And that you’re using me for sex only.”

“If you and I slept together, you’d like it — a lot. So you’d be the one using me,” he says. “Your dad should probably be more concerned for my
well being.”

“Ha. Ha.”

“I’m serious. It’d be the best sex ever.”

“Stop talking about having sex with me. It’s gross.” And hot. Definitely hot. But he so doesn’t need to know that.

“You know you want me.” As soon as the words leave his mouth, he farts.

“Ew.” I scoot away from him. “Oh yes, baby. I totally want you. No wonder you’re single.”

“Whatever. I’m only like this with you because I’m comfortable with you. That, and all the healthy shit we eat at your house makes me gassy.”

I laugh. “Aaron, thank you for being awesome. But seriously, the farts are gross.”

He just shrugs. “Two for one special here.”

Best friend love. What can I say? It’s awesome.

MONDAY, JULY 29

7am

Good girl goes bad.

On Monday morning it’s back to surfing as usual. We only have another couple of weeks before school starts, and I want to enjoy every wave while I can. We are about to head out when I hear my phone ringing. Nobody ever calls me this early, so I look. My mom is calling.

Weird.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Charlotte Ashley York!”

Uh oh. She used my full name. And she’s yelling. This can’t be good.

“What?” I ask.

“Have you not been online? Or seen any gossip magazines?”

“Nope.” Duh. I don’t look at that trash. I don’t care what celebrities are doing. Most of the crap they print is lies anyway.

“You need to get home right this instant.”

“I’m about to surf. I’ll come home after I’m done.”

“No. You will come home now. Your father is on his way here, and we are all going to sit down and have a nice long conversation about your behavior,” she says.

My behavior? Oh, hell. What did I do?

“Fine. I’m coming.” I hang up my phone, and gather all my stuff.

“Where are you going?” Aaron asks. Everybody is on their way to the waves. Except me.

“I’m going home. Apparently I’m in trouble for some unknown reason, and my dad is coming. So I know this can’t be good.”

On the way home, I bang my fingers against the steering wheel. I’m nervous. And I should be. My dad doesn’t come over to the house. Ever. He and Mom don’t exactly get along since their divorce ten years ago. Actually, they didn’t get along so great
before
their divorce either. But still he’s coming over, and whatever this is, it can’t be good.

I pull in front of the house, and walk inside. Both Mom and Dad are sitting in the living room. They’re on opposite sides of the living room, but still. They’re in the same room! This is bad. This is really bad.

“Hey, Dad.” I glare at him to let him know that I’m still mad about yesterday. Because I am.

Mom throws down a gossip magazine on the table.

“Why do you have this? I thought you told Candi and Chloe not to read it.” I roll my eyes.

“Just because they don’t read it, doesn’t mean I don’t. I’m their manager. It’s my job to keep up with what everybody is saying,” she says. “But that’s beside the point. Look at the cover.”

So I do.

And it’s me.

I’m on the beach sitting beside Aaron, but he’s cut out of the photo.

And I am smoking a joint.

The headline reads:
Good girl goes bad. Is rehab in the future for this socialite?

These people have nothing better to do than photograph me? Really?

“What’s the big deal? You know I smoke weed.” I shrug.

This causes a reaction from my dad. “You
let
her do drugs?”

Mom looks nervous. “Well… She’s a teenager. It’s not like I can tie her up and not let her do anything.”

“She’s seventeen. It’s your job
to make sure she’s controlled.”

“How was I supposed to know she was going to get photographed?”

Dad sits forward on the couch and looks at me. “Do you have a drug problem?”

“Oh my God. Seriously? I’m just smoking weed. It’s not even a big deal.” I roll my eyes. “I don’t do any other drugs. Never have. And I don’t drink.” Okay, that’s a lie. I do drink, but not very often. Just at the occasional party. And I don’t get drunk. But right now is
so not
the time for this conversation.

“It is
a big deal, Charlotte.” Dad turns to Mom. “I think she should come stay with me in New York for a little while. It’s obvious you’re too busy to manage both Candice and Chloe, and still raise Charlotte.”

“I am not
going to New York with you.” But I am ignored.

“Charlotte belongs here. With me, and with her sisters. I have managed the three of them just fine for the past ten years without any help from you.”

“Oh I helped you
plenty
,” he says. “And if you want, we can do this the legal way. With a picture like this I could have full custody before the day is over.”

“Hello, I am right here.” I hate that they’re talking about me like I’m not freaking sitting right here.

“You know I will treat our daughter good. She’ll come to New York, and get away from those awful friends of hers,” he says, continuing to ignore me. “I’ll send her to the best private school money can buy.”

My mom looks at me, and forces a smile. “Your dad is right. I think you should go stay with him. I think getting away from Malibu may be good for you.”

What?

No, no, no, no, no!

“No way!” I yell. “This is so not fair! Mom, you can’t let him do this!”

“You can still come visit,” she says. “And it could be a lot worse than the Upper East Side.”

“We will leave first thing in the morning.”

I let out a frustrated growl and storm out of the room.

Fuck. Me.

3pm

I’d totally tap that.

Aaron is laying on my bed while I pack my suitcase.

“I guess I won’t need my bikinis,” I say sadly, looking at my drawer full of bikinis. A lot of them I haven’t even had a chance to wear yet.

“Take some anyway. Maybe you’ll get invited to some pool parties.”

“Yeah, right.” I put four of my favorite in my suitcase. “People in New York are so uptight and serious. I’m too laid back and fun for them. I definitely won’t be getting invited to any parties.”

“I can’t believe you’re moving to New York. What am I going to do without my best friend?”

“More like what am
I
going to do. You have Byron, Kim and Ryan still. You’ll go surfing everyday, and have fun. I’ll be in the city where I know absolutely nobody… Where it’s cold. And it snows. Yuck. I hate snow.”

“No you don’t,” Aaron says. “You freaking love
snow.”

“Shut up. Okay, maybe I do like snow, but not all winter long. I like visiting snow for a couple of days, and then coming back to the beach where it’s nice and warm. I don’t even have winter clothes.”

“Your dad is loaded. I’m sure your closet will be stocked with winter clothes in no time.”

Ugh. I don’t want winter clothes. I want flip flops, dresses, and bikinis. I throw in some of my favorite dresses and shoes. “Yeah, I really am going to need to clothes shop.” I smile at the thought of running up Dad’s credit card bill. “It’s New York, the fashion capitol of the world. I have look my best…”

“I so know that smile,” Aaron says. “I have a feeling Robert is going to regret taking you back to New York.”

“I bet I’ll be back here by Christmas at the latest.” Actually, I know I will be. I turn eighteen on September twenty second. It will be
my
decision then.

Aaron shakes his head at me. “You are a mess, Char. But maybe it won’t be so bad. You will get to spend some time with your dad. And maybe you will make some friends there. You’ve lived in Cali your whole life. It might be interesting.”

“Might I remind you that you’re the arm beside me in the photo? We were smoking together. It was
your
joint. And my dad is an ass. I don’t want to spend time with him.”

“I’m glad nobody in my family is a celebrity.”

“It wasn’t so bad until Candi started modeling. She’s so controversial.” I shake my head. “Seriously, she did that ad…
I’d rather go naked than wear fur
… And that night she came home and ate a burger. I watched those videos. I couldn’t eat meat for like a month.”

“How does Candice eat burgers and have her body?”

“When I say she ate a burger, I mean without buns. And she works out like five hours a day. Everyday. I’ve been working out with her some. She’s very hardcore. She works on everything. I was so sore the first time. I hurt in places I didn’t even know there were muscles. Of course, I am usually only there for two hours at the most.”

“Yet you still look better than her.”

“Yeah right. Candice is definitely the hottest of the three of us. Chloe is the beautiful one. She has the face of an angel. And I am the little sister that surfs, and smokes way too much weed.”

“You just don’t see yourself clearly. And I know. Cause I’ve seen you topless. You have nice boobs.”

I throw my flip-flop at Aaron. “Shut up. Any girl looks good naked to a teenage boy. All you see are boobs.”

“That’s not true. I see you in your bikini all the time. And even right now, in your little dress…
Hot
.”

“What do you know? You’re high all the time. Besides, you’re my best friend. You’re supposed to tell me nice stuff.”

“I’m so serious!” Aaron smiles at me. “I’d totally tap that.”

“Ugh.” I cover my ears. “Sex with you would be so weird.”

“No. Sex with you would totally be hot, but it’d be awkward after.”

I nod. “Yep. So let’s just
never
have this conversation again.”

“Agreed.”

I go back to my closet and look inside. I can’t look at Aaron right now. I’m trying not to cry over the fact that I’m leaving and he’s staying. “I’m going to miss you.”

I feel arms go around me. I turn around and step into Aaron’s embrace. “I’m going to miss you too. Life without you won’t be the same.”