Just Like Heaven (6 page)

“You look stunning,” Arthur whispered to her, pulling her close, his hand wrapping around her waist.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” Demi whispered back.

They danced together on the dance floor, their bodies pressed together and Demi felt herself becoming flush with desire. Arthur caressed her back and kissed her neck leaving her feeling euphoric.

“Why don’t we get out of here?” he suggested to her seductively and Demi nodded enthusiastically.

Mothers not only waved their daughters off on prom night, they also warned them about how to behave come the end of the evening. How to say goodnight like a lady, and how not to let a guy take things too far. But Demi had no mother to see her off, to offer her advice and warnings. And so when Arthur led her back to his car and drove them to a motel, she felt it was all some wonderful fairy tale. Little did she know that the magic of prom night never lasts…

“In all honesty son, I didn’t expect to see you standing here,” Conrad Cooper noted his voice flat and cold as always. Arthur felt his cheeks flush slightly at the insult but tried to remain composed. Feeling self-conscious beneath his father’s scrutiny he began fiddling with his gown.

“I mean, you’ve never had good grades and yet here you are, graduating with the rest of your class!” it was just like his old man to be mean, even at such an important occasion.

“Arthur, we are very proud of you,” his mother said carefully, not wanting to upset either of the men in her life, but her allegiance was always primarily to her husband and always would be.

“Thanks Mom,” Arthur didn’t bother to thank his father as he knew the sentiment wasn’t a shared one.

“I just wish Jared could have been here,” Arthur sighed sadly, feeling a pang in his heart when he considered that his young brother might never make it to his own graduation.

It was a miracle that Arthur had managed to graduate. He had been failing nearly all his classes. Yes, Demi’s influence had been a positive one and for those last few fateful days of high school. While everyone else was winding down for the summer he pushed himself harder than he ever has before, but he doubted it had been enough. His father had probably used his connections to ensure his son graduate rather than cast shame on the family name. The connections were limited, but Conrad Cooper was immensely popular in Collinswood, mainly because he gave free coffee to those in favor, a small gesture which seemed to garner him a lot of weight, especially on the school board at least.

“He’s having a bad day,” Arthur’s Mom said, her voice equally sad. She then looked away in to the distance, fretting about the other son she’d been forced to leave in the care of her sister, hoping he would be alright for the few hours she was away. But he had seemed so weak that morning, and pale.

“I’d best go call Lynne and check up on him,” she told her husband and eldest son, excusing herself.

“She’s just worried,” Conrad said, shifting awkwardly now he was left alone with Arthur.

“Well, I appreciate you both coming,” Arthur told him honestly.

“Yes, well of course.” Conrad leaned in and patted Arthur on the back in a friendly gesture, while around them other father’s embraced their sons, tears pricking their eyes as they welled up with pride.

####

“I feel stupid,” Demi moaned as she tried to balance the square hat on her head, the gown already itching against her bare legs.

“Demi, stop fiddling!” her Dad ordered as he tried to take yet another picture.

“Jeeze, Dad, enough! How many pictures do you need of me in this stuff?”

“I need a wall full because I’m so proud!”

“You’re a dork!” Demi teased, smiling fondly at her Dad. They were both making extra effort to be nice to one another to ensure that the shadow which was her mother’s absence didn’t darken the day. But at any occasion like this, her death was felt more acutely than ever.

“Where’s Hayley? Don’t you girls want a picture together?”

“Oh, we’re not,” Demi felt embarrassed to be explaining to her father how they weren’t friends at the moment as it felt trivial and childish against the enormity of graduating. “We’re not really talking right now.”

“Oh, I see,” her Dad looked saddened by the news but tried not to let it show. “Is it because of that boy you’ve been hanging around with a lot?”

“In part. And his name’s Arthur.”

“Arthur, yes, so you keep telling me,” her Dad smiled thinly, worried by how much time his daughter was spending with a handsome young man, knowing too well the true intent of all young men.

“You could try and look less annoyed,” Demi protested but noticed that her Dad was now looking just beyond her. She turned and saw Hayley approaching, her blonde hair shining against the dark emerald of their graduation gowns.

“Don’t you look smart,” she said coyly.

“Thanks,” Demi replied, her voice deadpan.

“Look, Dem, I know you are mad at me, and you’ve every right to be. But we’ve been best friends since forever and this is our graduation! We at least need a picture together!”

Demi regarded Hayley with sad eyes. For so long it had been the two of them against the world. They would write songs together, camp out in the yard, bake cakes, and eat raw cookie dough. They had grown up together, but in the past few months boys had entered the equation and almost ruined everything. Demi couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the two innocent little girls who would sit and braid each other’s hair while chatting about ponies and swearing earnestly to be bestest best friends forever and ever.

“Yeah, we need a picture,” Demi smiled, not wanting the two girls from her memory to be gone forever. She motioned for Hayley to come and stand with her, which she did gladly and the two of them faced the camera while Demi’s Dad happily clicked away.

“So,” Hayley turned to face Demi after the camera ceased flashing, “you and Arthur Cooper, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s big news.”

“Its old news.”

“Still, I think its big news.”

“Thanks.”

“Demi, I’m pleased for you, really I am. And I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Demi felt herself thawing in the presence of the person whom she’d always told her deepest, darkest secrets to, the person who knew her inside and out. The two girls embraced as Demi’s Dad quickly took yet another picture.

“So you guys are like seriously dating?” Hayley asked, unable to ignore her curiosity.

“Yeah, we are.” Demi smiled shyly.

“And what about in the fall? Where is he going to college?”

“Oh,” Demi felt her smile fall from her face. “I don’t know, we’d not talked about it.”

####

Arthur was relieved to remove his cap and gown once all the formalities were over. In the back of his father’s car he stretched out, exhausted from having spent so many hours either posing or sitting and listening to someone talk.

“So that’s graduation done,” Conrad Cooper said from the front seat.

“Uh huh,” Arthur wasn’t paying attention to his father as he flipped over his phone to see a deluge of messages inviting him to various graduation parties. He’d go to some of them but first he needed to check in with Demi and see if she wanted to go too. Normally it was just the two of them, but this was a special day and they should really spend it with friends.

“Have you given college much thought?” Conrad queried his son.

“What?” Arthur answered absently.

“College?” Conrad replied flatly.

“I don’t know.”

“See, I knew you’d be indecisive and leave it too late to make a decision.”

“Dad…” Arthur braced himself for a berating but his father raised a hand from the steering wheel to silence him, their eyes locking in the rear view mirror; a lion and his tamer – the teenager and his father.

“I knew you’d leave it too late to make a decision so I sorted it for you. An old friend of mine owed me a huge favor, so I called it on your behalf. He’s a lecturer, at Duke.”

“Duke?” snapping his phone shut, Arthur was now giving his full attention to the conversation.

“Duke, it’s a good school and I think you’d do really well there. Obviously you’d need to maintain decent grades given your poor record academically.” Conrad explained.

“You applied to a school on my behalf?” Arthur said, outraged.

“I told you not to bring this up now,” his mother said sadly, her face pinched.

“You knew about this?” Arthur turned his fury on her and she recoiled at the sudden hostility.

“Arthur, your father was just doing what he saw best for you!” she defended.

“Someone needs to look out for your future!” Conrad shouted, feeling agitated. “You should be grateful you have one and stop neglecting it!”

This made them all grow quiet as they knew he was referring to Jared. Guilt swept over Arthur and he let his head fall in to his hands.

“No, Dad, you’re right. Duke is an excellent school and I’m really grateful.”

“They’re Jared’s favorite basketball team, you’ll have to take him to some games,” his mother suggested brightly, clinging to the hope that her youngest son would be well enough to go.

“Yeah, definitely,” Arthur agreed.

“So you’ll go?” Conrad Cooper smiled broadly at this. Arthur nodded, feeling backed in to a corner. His future had been decided and he’d not even had a part in it.

“I knew you’d see sense and want to make something of yourself!” Conrad continued proudly.

“Yeah.” Arthur let the news of college sink in. He’d never really given it much thought before, even when the end of high school had been looming so large before him. He lived in the moment and had never planned for the future. He didn’t like to, as he feared that the future wouldn’t have Jared in it so he focused on just enjoying the present.

But now the future had arrived, whether or not he wanted it to, it was there none the less. More invitations to parties buzzed through his phone and he thought of Demi. Demi, with her beautiful eyes and stubborn nature felt a sinking sensation in his stomach as he contemplated their future together. He cared for her so deeply, but they had never really discussed their future together.

####

“Sweetheart, are you feeling alright?” Demi’s Dad asked his eyes wide with concern.

“Yes, Dad, I’m fine. Just tired.” She threw off her cap and gown and curled up in to the corner of her bed, surprised at just how exhausted she was. All her limbs ached and her head throbbed.

“Well, you’ve had a busy day. Why don’t I go make some hot chocolate while you have a bath and relax,” her Dad suggested.

Demi wasn’t sure if it was the suggestion of hot chocolate but suddenly she felt overwhelmingly nauseous. She sprung up from the bed and barely made it to the bathroom where she vomited down the toilet, her chest heaving as she did so.

“Are you okay?” her Dad called after her, worried.

“I think I’m sick,” Demi said as she fell against the enamel toilet.

“Alright, well get to bed and just take it easy. If you’re not any better by tomorrow I’m taking you to see Doctor Shapiro.”

“Okay, okay. It’s probably just a bug,” Demi tried to reassure him before retching once more.