Confessions of a Teen Nanny 01 - Confessions of a Teen Nanny (12 page)

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A drienne walked up to Van Rensselaer High on Monday morning committed to changing everything in her life.

I made out with gross Graydon, I bailed on Tamara, and I feel like crap. She took a deep breath, crossed the threshold of the school, and headed to her locker.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around.

It was Brian."Hey!" he said, looking a bit bashful."I'm glad you're back."

"I'm glad to be back," Adrienne said, pulling him to a quiet corner. "Brian, why were you talking to Cameron in Florida?"

Brian blinked.

"I trusted you." Tears started to well up in Adrienne's eyes.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Brian said. "Nothing happened. Cam was just being nice.We're just friends."

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"Brian, Cameron wasn't just being nice." Adrienne took a deep breath. She had practiced this speech a hun- dred times on the plane ride back from Palm Beach. "Cameron isn't a nice person. If you want to be with me, you'd better back away from her."

"Fine," Brian said. "Are we still okay?"

"I think we will be."

Brian leaned over and kissed her gently.

"Listen, I have to go.Tamara is going to kill me. I really need to make things all right with her." Adrienne hurried down the hall to Tamara's locker. Lily was there, too, talk- ing to Tamara. Adrienne rushed over. "Tamara, I'm really sorry. The Warners wanted me down there, and I didn't have the guts to say no. So many things got screwed up. I can't have you mad at me--"

Tamara interrupted. "Honey, don't worry. There is only one thing I want."

"What's that?"

"I just want my friend back. I don't know you any- more."

Adrienne nodded.Tamara was right.

Adrienne didn't know herself anymore, either.

That afternoon, Adrienne entered the Warners' apart- ment feeling more confident than she had that morning, but still a little nervous. The apartment was quiet, except

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for Bisquit, who came out to greet her. "You are the only normal thing in this house," she whispered to the dog. He barked and ran away.

"Hey, gorgeous you! Come on in, my favorite partner in crime!" Cameron walked across the hall to meet her. "People can't stop talking about the party, and they can't stop talking about you! It was so much fun. I decided-- now stop me if you think I'm a genius--that we are going to transform you into an heiress. I'll teach you everything you need to know to get along in society. I'll teach you how to walk, how to sit, who went to what school, how much money everyone has . . ." Cameron continued, detail- ing the heights to which Adrienne would climb under her tutelage.

Adrienne interrupted her. "Cam," she said with her newfound sense of self, "I already know how to walk and how to sit.We had a great time, but I'm your sister's nanny. I think we should draw the line. I'll never fit in with your crowd, and I want you to back off from my boyfriend. Okay?"

Cameron stared at her. "What?" she said calmly.

"I said back off Brian, Cam."

Cameron stepped back and took a long, careful look at Adrienne. "That's Miss Warner to you, Nanny Lewis. I wanted to be nice to you and your idiot boyfriend, but if you want to still work here, you'd better watch your ass.

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I don't think the Warner household needs someone who takes us for granted and uses us--"

"Uses you?" Adrienne laughed. "Don't you think it's the other way around?"

"No," Cameron said smoothly. "The first day in this house you stole a sweater out of my closet. Then I caught you sneaking your trashy boyfriend up into this apartment and throwing a PARTY, which my brother and I stopped, thank God, before our parents found out. And what about the clothes you took from Bergdorf 's? They were charged to my mother's account. Guess what? They weren't free. I lied. The clothes aren't in my closet, are they? And, of course, what about paying that drug dealer, Hector, to throw a party in the servants' quarters down in Palm Beach?"

Adrienne's eyes widened. Cameron had been setting her up all along. Cameron could make it look like all those things were true.

"I never . . . I didn't . . . ," Adrienne mumbled. Until now, she had never realized just how incredibly two-faced Cameron really was. It hurt to be so betrayed.

"And," Cameron said, coming in for the kill, "what would your precious Brian say if he saw the photos that Emma took of you kissing my brother?"

"Hello, Adriana." Mrs. Warner entered the room. "Good to see you."

"Hi, Mrs.Warner," Adrienne said, avoiding Cameron's

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icy gaze."Thank you for the trip to Florida. It was a lot of fun. But I was just wondering when the new nanny is arriving."

"Cameron! Didn't you tell her the news?"

"I was just about to," Cameron said, her eyes glinting. "But we were too busy gossiping about Florida. Guess what, Adrienne! The nanny didn't come from London again, and we want to hire you for two more months!"

Adrienne blinked. There is no nanny coming, she thought. Not now. Not ever.They just keep saying that because they know no one wants to be here any longer than they have to be.

Adrienne looked at Cameron. Without Mrs. Warner seeing, Cameron mouthed the words,"I'm going to tell." I can handle this, Adrienne thought. All I really need to do is stay clear of Cameron.

"Okay, Mrs. Warner," Adrienne said, averting Cameron's gaze. "I can stay.That would be great."

Mrs. Warner smiled. "Wonderful. Mr. Warner and I have an important benefit Saturday night, so I'll need you to help Tania take care of Emma all day and night on Saturday. Oh, and Cameron is staying in the city this week- end, too, but she has plans, so she won't be around the apartment much. Right, darling?"

"Right!" Cameron said.

Adrienne pasted on a smile. "Sounds great."

Kane suddenly appeared, and so did the elevator. Mrs.

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Warner said good-bye, stepped into the waiting elevator, and was whisked out of sight.

"So, Adrienne. Isn't it great that the new nanny couldn't make it and you get to stay on?" Cameron smirked.

"Yeah, Cam, a real laugh riot," Adrienne said.

"Oh, and Adrienne," Cameron said, looking her in the eye. "I hope you'll bring Brian around. You know how much I like him." She winked and left.

What a bitch, Adrienne thought.

Adrienne stepped into the kitchen with all the enthu- siasm of a condemned prisoner sitting down in the electric chair.

"Hello, you!" Tania said, completely unaware of Adrienne's situation. "Miss Emma, she wait."

"Thanks," Adrienne called as she headed to Emma's room.

Emma sat at her desk, CNN was on, and Mozart played on the CD system.

"Hey, Em. How are you?"

"How are you?" Emma asked, her nose buried in a book.

"I'm not great, Emma, not so great," she replied, sit- ting on the bed.

"What's the matter?" Emma asked, turning away from her work.

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"Do you like me?" Adrienne asked.

"Sure," Emma said.

"Then why did you take those pictures of me?" she asked.

Emma shrugged."I don't know. I thought it would be funny. Cam thought it was funny."

"I didn't think they were funny,"Adrienne said."They upset me."

Emma turned back to her computer.After a few min- utes, she handed Adrienne an envelope. Inside was the photo CD-ROM.

Well, at least, I have one friend in this house, Adrienne thought. She slipped the CD in her bag and let out a sigh of relief. She would make sure no one would ever see these photos! "Thanks, Emma," she said.

"No problem." Emma turned and gave Adrienne a mischievous grin. "And if you ever lose that CD, don't worry. I can always make you another copy!"

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"to us!"

S aturday afternoon, when Adrienne and Emma returned to the apartment from the new exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum, Adrienne found a note on the front hall table.

Adrienne,

I'm having a BIG party tonight. Need you to set up

some things. Instructions are in the kitchen. Party will

be a blast--invite your friend Liz. (Parker will be

there.) Make sure Emma is asleep before party. Home

at 8. See you then.

Ciao! Cameron

P.S.You keep my secrets, and I'll keep yours!

Adrienne tore the note in half. Somehow, her nanny job had morphed into party planning as well. But whether she liked it or not, Adrienne knew she was going to have

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to do what Cameron asked--until she could think of a better way out.

Adrienne asked Liz to help with the party prepara- tions. They worked all afternoon getting the apartment ready.They moved furniture, arranged platters of food, and accepted alcohol deliveries. Luckily, Liz didn't have to watch Heather and David that day, and Emma was in her room much of the time--first with her French tutor, then with her calculus tutor.

Finally, after giving Emma dinner and a bath and say- ing good-bye to Tania and Kane, who were both off for the night, Adrienne tucked Emma into bed. The apartment was quiet.Adrienne gazed around. Everything was in place for the party, except the hostess herself. Adrienne had no idea where Cameron was. But she had no doubt Cam would show up soon.

Adrienne looked at herself in the front hall mirror. "I'm a wreck!" she said to Liz.

"Me, too." Liz moaned. "What should we do? Everyone will be here soon. I can't have Parker see me like this. The last time I saw him I was covered in cupcakes. I need to look good tonight--sexy."

Parker had been e-mailing her since he returned from Florida. Liz hadn't said anything about the hot tub, and neither had he. In fact, she had almost forgotten about it.

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Well, not really, but what was important was that he said he couldn't wait to see her again, and he sounded like he meant it.

"Follow me,"Adrienne said, grabbing the brightly col- ored duffel bags that she and Liz had brought with them. "We'll go into Mrs.Warner's room.We'll get ready there."

Once inside the bedroom, Adrienne pulled out of her bag the Dolce & Gabbana cocktail dress she had gotten during her shopping spree with Cameron at Bergdorf 's. She had debated if she should wear it now that she knew that it wasn't free after all. But, in the end, she decided to go for it--next to it, everything else in her closet looked tacky.

"Oh, no!" Liz groaned, staring at Adrienne's designer dress. "I can't wear the dress I brought with me if you're wearing that!"

Adrienne had an idea--an idea that, a few weeks ago, she never would have considered. But a lot had changed since then.

She opened Mrs. Warner's closet door. "Let's go shopping!"

Half an hour later, Liz and Adrienne sat waiting for Cameron and her guests in the living room of the Warners' apartment.They had raided Mrs.Warners' closet and dressed Liz in Chanel and used her expensive perfume. Adrienne poured glasses of the champagne for each of them.

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"To us!" Liz said. And getting Parker! she thought.

"To us!"Adrienne replied. And keeping Brian away from Cameron, she thought. Adrienne had "neglected" to tell Brian about the party tonight. He thought she was work- ing late. There was no way Adrienne was going to bring Brian together with Cameron. Ever.

Within a few minutes, Cameron arrived, looking gor- geous. She walked around the apartment, surveying the setup. "You guys did a great job," she said appreciatively. "Honestly, my mom has hired caterers for thousands of dollars to do what you two have done practically for free!" She smiled. "You guys are the best!"

The elevator opened, and the first of an unending stream of New York's most glamorous and popular kids arrived.

An hour later Parker found Liz. "Hey!" he said, and took her by the hand. "I'm back! Miss me?"

Parker moved closer to her and kissed her deeply. Liz closed her eyes and kissed him back.

"Hey," she said, finally pulling away.

"Hey," Parker repeated, his eyes glazed and unfocused.

He's stoned again, Liz thought. She wondered if she should say something, but Parker leaned forward and began kissing her neck. His fingers moved through her hair. Liz kept her eyes open this time, staring at his gorgeous face as his lips found hers.

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A few minutes later, it was Parker who pulled away. "Listen, I need to go talk to someone. Don't leave, okay? I really want to spend time with you."

"Who do you have to talk to?" Liz asked.

"Just a guy from school. It will only take a few min- utes. Promise you'll be here?"

"I promise." She watched Parker walk toward the kitchen. He was so cute.

Adrienne came up to her. "Isn't this wild?" Adrienne shouted over the noise. The music was loud, the cham- pagne and cocktails flowing. Mimi was dancing on a table with Bandar, and there was a huge line for the bathrooms.

"Exactly what I expected!" Liz shouted back. "These kids are animals."

Liz looked around the room at all the beautiful teens in their designer clothes. The hip-hop music pulsed, and Liz rocked to the beat. She gazed at the crowd around the bar and sucked in her breath. She thought she saw . . . no, it can't be him, she told herself.

She took a few steps to her left, to get a better view, but he had disappeared. Or maybe he was never here. Liz had to find out.

"I'm going to look for Parker," Liz told Adrienne. Liz forced her way through the crowded living room and library and hall, all the while searching not for Parker, but for Brian. What is Brian doing here? Adrienne didn't invite him!

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Could Brian really be at this party without telling Adrienne? The thought of it seemed kind of ridiculous. But she was pretty sure she had seen him by the bar.

Liz searched all the party rooms and couldn't find Brian anywhere. Catching sight of herself in the front hall mirror, she realized that her lip gloss was gone. I'll duck into Cameron's room, she thought. The lines for the bathrooms are way too long.

Liz opened the door and walked into the quiet hall that led to the bedrooms. Emma was asleep in hers, so she tiptoed quietly. She carefully opened the door to Cameron's bedroom and took a step inside. Then she stepped out quickly.

Cameron was in there. On the bed. Making out.

With Brian!

"Oh, my God!" shrieked Adrienne, who had just come up behind her.

Liz shut the door. Adrienne opened her mouth to speak, but then turned and ran down the hall. Liz hurried after her friend. She found Adrienne pressed into a corner just past Emma's room.

"It'll be okay," Liz said softly to her friend.

"No, it won't,"Adrienne said, taking a deep gulp of air.

"Don't worry, we'll figure out what you should do." Liz grabbed her friend's hand and led her back down the hall. "But you can't hide here. If you do, Cameron will

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know she upset you.You have to pretend to be strong--at least for a little while."

Adrienne nodded and wiped her tears. She took a steadying breath.Together, they headed to the living room.

"Okay, everyone!" Cameron appeared. She stood on a marble tabletop so people could see her. "There are lim- ousines downstairs to take everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, out to Vapor!" The kids roared. Vapor was the hottest club in town. Cameron had called cars to take everyone less than two blocks away."You're all on the list!" Cameron called. "Let's get moving!"

Everyone streamed out of the apartment, leaving their glasses, their half-eaten food, and a big mess behind.

Adrienne, Parker, and Liz were the last to reach the elevator door, where Cameron was standing in one of her mother's floor-length sable-fur coats."Come on, you guys, get in!" Cameron said cheerfully, pulling Parker into the elevator.

Adrienne pressed her hands on the front hall table, watching Cameron. She willed herself not to cry again. She would never cry in front of Cameron.

"Aren't you coming?" Mimi called to Adrienne and Liz from the packed elevator.

"Adrienne can't come," Cameron said."She has to stay here and clean up this mess up."

"I am not cleaning up your mess!" Adrienne said.

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Cameron stepped out of the elevator. "My mess? I don't think so.You're the one my stepmother left in charge here tonight. I didn't have a party. I wasn't even home. So I think that it is your mess, isn't it?" she said with a sneer.

Adrienne stood aghast as Cameron slithered deep into the crowded elevator. Hiding in the back, she could see the top of Brian's head.Adrienne wanted to scream. But all she could do was stare. At her cowering boyfriend--with Cameron.

The elevator door closed, leaving Adrienne and Liz with the wreckage of the party.

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