When I woke up I was slumped against the side of a car door. My neck ached as I shifted a little, my head felt like it was in a vise. The sun shown brightly through the windshield, the sky a perfect pale blue, not a cloud could be seen. "Well, hey there little lady." I lifted my head and turned to look to my left. Ingrid turned down the radio a little a smiled at me, keeping her eyes on the road as she did so. "Where we going?" My mouth was parched, my lips cracked and hurting badly. "To the church, where'd you expect?" Her straight blonde hair was tucked up into a black cap, bits and strands of it flowing freely here and there. I sat upright and propped my elbow against the window, leaning on my hand and cradling my head. My fingers swept over numerous cuts and tender spots, dried blood was everywhere.
Suddenly I sat alert, remembering what had just happened, as fragments of the recent event came floating back. "Where's my bike?" My voice was frantic and unstable. Ingrid glanced at me, her face twisted in concern and curiosity. "So you do remember what happened?" "Part of it." I turned around in my seat and glanced out the back window. My wrecked bike with it's crooked front tire was resting soundly in the bed of the truck. Sighing with relief I turned back around and settled myself. Before any more thoughts could enter my mind, the church came into view, a tall white castle against the morning blue sky. What a bitch, she wasn't even going to ask me if I was feeling okay or what happened.
As soon as Ingrid pulled the truck up onto the curb I jumped out and slammed the door, making a mad dash for the double wide doors. "Meg wait!" I turned around sharply and squinted in the sun. What'd she want now? That's when it suddenly hit me, when I finally noticed something important. I had been riding in a green Ford pick up truck, just like the one that had tried to run me down. Ingrid was coming towards me, her face twisted into a frown and in disgust. Slowly I backed away from her, holding my aching wrist, ready bust a move if I had to.
"I want you to meet my sister Meg. Come here." She began walking toward a blue Sunfire that had just pulled up next to the sidewalk. I followed far behind, standing a good ten feet from the car and from Ingrid who was talking to the woman inside the car. When I had just about enough of this pounding heat and was about ready to turn around, the car door opened and out stepped a pretty red headed woman with a pale face and sea green eyes. She was tall and slim, about 27 years old and athletically built. She stood there in her dark green crop top and cream colored khakis, her arms crossed and she looked me over from head to toe. I stood there and stared back, not believing this woman who looked even more gothic then I did, could be Ingrid's relative, let alone her sister.
"Jo! You dyed your hair red! And permed! It looks wonderful! Meg! Come say hello to Jo!" "Hi." I muttered, raising my hand and waving a little. The other girl smiled in amusement. Slowly she walked up to me and extended her hand. "Jo Tristen. I'm Ingrid's damned-for-life elder sister." I laughed and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you Jo, I'm Meg Jones. Daniel's forbidden-in-the house pet." She smiled and nodded. Ingrid came between the both of us, rolling her eyes like she was annoyed. "Come on Jo, you have a dress to try on. Meg, you're still in the wedding. Get to rehearsal." She commanded, pushing Jo towards the church doors. Jo turned around and waved at me, mouthing 'Talk to you later' as she did so.
As I walked around the church to a side door where I could enter without being bombarded by 600 people, I thought to myself a little. You know, that Jo girl could actually be something good that came out of all this hell.
"You may now kiss the bride." Ingrid turned to face Daniel, a bright smile on her face, as he lifted her thin vale and their lips met for a few moments. When they turned to face the audience, everyone jumped up and applauded, slapping Daniel on the back and gently patting Ingrid as they made there way down the aisle, the bridesmaids following close behind. Near the door where we were to exit I caught a glimpse of Jo. She waved and smiled, rolling her eyes and sticking out her tongue. Putting my hand carefully over my mouth as not to smudge my deep red lipstick, I let out a small giggle. I was beginning to like Jo already.
Next to me was Luna, in her cream colored bridesmaid's dress, her chest sticking out proudly as she showed off her figure for our now sister-in-laws cousins. Apparently she had caught quite a few of the boys' eyes. Well, I had too, but they didn't stare at me like they did Luna, they more gawked. The guests followed us outside and took pictures of the newly wed couple as Dan and Ingrid made their way to the long black limo, awaiting to take them to the wedding reception, clear across town. Jo came up behind me and put her hand on my shoulder, speaking rather loudly over the people talking and shouting and the car speakers blaring. "Hey Meg, wanna ride with me?" I turned around and nodded my head gratefully. Quickly we made our way through the dense crowd of people, toward her blue Sunfire. She unlocked it and together we slid in, me picking up my dress so it wouldn't tear and be more loose on me than it already was.
"Don't you need to ask your mom?" Jo asked, sliding her keys in the ignition. I shook my head. "She won't miss me." Jo nodded her understanding. "I hated my parents when I was your age too. Actually I still don't get along with them." The nice cool air conditioning came on and the bass speaker in the back thumped dully to the sound of the radio. Slowly we pulled out onto the street, and soon we were cruising smoothly down the road, the car hardly bumping at all. "So, do you and Ingrid get along well?" Jo looked at me out of the corner of her eye with a 'What do you think' look on her face. I nodded. "My sister and I are total enemies." She nodded. "You're sister is a bitch. I ran into her when we were changing." She shook her head unbelievably. "Some people say respect your siblings. But you know, the only people that I know that say that, well, they're an only child!" I laughed. She completely understood! "You're a rare adult." "You're a rare kid." "What do you mean?" "What do you mean?" I smiled again. "Well, you're funny, you understand all I say, we're both kind of in the same positions here, you have a cool car, and you don't smell like cheap perfume that only old ladies wear." She laughed too. "Well, you're very smart, you're funny, you understand things that not even most adults understand, and you don't care what you look like, or what people think of you." I nodded and propped my elbow up on the window and rested my chin on my fist.
"Isn't your bike in Ingrid's truck still?" I nodded. Wait, how did she know? Oh well. She looked at me and then rolled down her window and spit her gum out, something that my mom would have killed me for. "Can I come live with you?" "You mean you want to move all the way to Perth with me? Where I grew up? That city is so boring!" I shrugged and thought a moment. "Wait a sec, Ingrid said you guys are from Melbourne." "Ingrid also thinks the Earth is flat and that it revolves on a lollipop stick." My shoulders shook with laughter as my face began to brighten from it's usual evil expression. So that means that Ingrid had lied...I wonder why...
"Hey look we're here!" Jo sped into a parking space that another car was about to take. The driver honked and cursed at us, but Jo smiled and laughed. "Wedding drivers." She shook her head and rolled her eyes, her wavy red hair falling in her face. People were already filing into the large one story building that was the size of about an NBA basketball court, with a little lower ceiling. Together we walked inside and everyone parted, smiling as politely as humanly possible, yet we could still see the revolt and wonder in their faces as they stared at the two oddest people known entered the room. Jo put on a mischievous face and looked straight ahead, straightening her shoulders and walked boldly toward the long table with white lace on it.
Two large white wicker chairs stood behind it, the chairs close together, one occupied by Daniel and one by Ingrid. Daniel saw me coming and got up, smiling as happily as I had ever seen him. "Meg!" He held out his hands as I came around the table and gave him a small hug, his black tuxedo smelling of Ingrid's expensive and strong perfume. "I want you to meet someone." He drew me back and looked into my eyes, his eyes showing more emotion than his smile. I looked at Jo and she nodded, waving her hand to gesture me off. I looked back at Dan, yet he was staring across the room, looking rather excitedly at someone.
I looked across the room to see who he was staring at. My mouth almost dropped open in amazement. There, coming through the doorway, was the most beautiful man I had ever seen! He was about 5'8, big shoulders, his muscles giving him a nice figure in his neatly kept black tuxedo. His smile was big and kind, his pale blue eyes sparkling with excitement as he waved and greeted everyone, shaking all's hand as they extended welcome to him. His hair was short and freshly buzzed, the blackest hair I had ever seen, his lips were pink and soft looking, the gloss on them glistened in the florescent lights. I couldn't place him from the wedding. But then again I hadn't seen any of these people at the wedding. Shows how much I paid attention. Oh my God! He was coming over here!
Daniel went around the table and opened his arms to the man. They embraced each other and gave one another a good slap on the back as they greeted like old buddies. Suddenly Dan turned to me, as so did the guy. "Meg, this is my best friend, Darren Hayes." He extended his hand and I slipped mine into his, feeling the warm tingle shoot up my arm and down my spine as I shivered in my dress with delight. "Hi! I've heard so much about you! Although, you're even more beautiful than Daniel said." I blushed and shook his hand, not wanting to let go. His voice was higher than most guy's voices, yet it was cheerful and full of good. He flashed me that wonderful smile of his, those sky blue eyes looked me over with interest and curiosity.
"Daniel! Pictures!" Someone across the room shouted. Daniel sighed wearily. "Well, you two stay here and talk, I gotta go be a slave for a moment." He smiled and winked in my direction. Ah! Daniel knew I liked Darren! Great, now the teasing would never stop. "So," Darren said, pulling up two chairs for us and sitting down in the one next to me, "Tell me a little about yourself." I looked at him and smiled shyly. "There's not much for me to say." He folded his arms across his stomach and slumped a little in his chair. "How old are you?" I asked, hoping that maybe he was secretly 16. "28. But don't worry, I'm sure Dan wouldn't mind if we dated." "Geez! You've known me for what, two seconds, and you're hitting on my already?" He laughed.
"Well, I'll stop if you want. It's just that I can't help but admire how strikingly beautiful you are." "Oh please Darren give it a rest! Stop sucking up to the girl!" Ingrid cried from behind me, giving him a dirty look. He frowned, his eyebrows knitting together in an annoyed expression. Good, at least someone else disliked her. Without saying anything Darren turned back to me and whispered, "Want to go some place private? I mean, if you really want to, we can stay right here if you want." Readily I got up. "Right behind you." He smiled and got up, slipping his hand into mine and taking off for the door. I felt my cheeks flush as we passed all the people who whispered behind their hands about us. Maybe this wasn't right...
Before I could say anything Darren and I were outside, sitting on the freshly swept concrete stairs of the building. He let go of my hand and crossed his arms, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward. "So, uhhh where are you from?" My voice was unusually high pitched. "I'm originally from Logan, but I've been living in America." Wow, his voice was so amazing! "Really? Dude, you've got to tell me what the States are like." He shrugged and kicked at a small stone with his glossy shoes. "They're quite nice. Different, definitely. The food's really great, but I miss Oz so much!" He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I shifted uncomfortably.
The warm night breeze blew loose strands of hair around my forehead, making my scalp tickle deliciously. "You're shivering love." Before I could say anything he took off his black jacket and wrapped it tightly around me, and then scooting closer so he could wrap those large muscular arms around my tiny waist. "Darren...we just met..." He smiled warmly and turned my head with his index finger, making me look straight into his those deep reflecting pools of love and kindness. "Yes, but I feel like I've known you my whole life." Okay, this was confusing me. He saw my confused expression and was quick to explain. "Like I said, your brother's told me so much about you and he's sent me numerous pictures. And in those pictures I see this bright young women, trapped in a girl's body. I love the mysteriousness that's in your face, the dark, wanting look that you sometimes had." Man, not even the camera lied this time!
He brought his large strong hand up to my face and began stroking my cheek, his touch soft and making the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end. This is your chance Meg, go for it! Before I could respond to my head he leaned forward and his lips met mine. I sat there, stunned in his sudden move, yet to wrapped up in the moment to move away. Slowly yet definitely I began to get the feel of things, and started to kiss back. He smiled and lifted his lips from mine, guiding them up to my nose and nibbled on the tip of it. The inside of my nostrils began to tickle with delight. I couldn't help but smile and giggle a little as he did so. The door behind us swung open abruptly. "Meg get in here, like pictures. Duh." Luna stood there, her arms crossed, staring at Darren and I in amazement, and then slowly a proud grin crossed her face, as she realized that she had just ruined a hot moment. "Ohhhh boy Meg. Daniel will just love to hear this!" Her voice was thick with sarcasm and evilness. Quickly I got up, dropping Darren's coat hastily on his lap and then spun around to face a devilishly smiling Luna. "You wouldn't dare!" I hissed, clenching my fists at my side. Beside me Darren got up and put his hands on my shoulders. "Now Meg, just calm down. She won't do it." "Oh yeah?" Luna retorted, putting her hands on her hips and looking at him, her head high and taunting. "Watch me!" And with that she turned around and dashed back into the building, Darren and I quick on her heels. But it was to late. Luna was already standing on the stage, microphone in her hand, making the dance music stop and everyone go quiet.
"Hi everyone, how yall doin' tonight?" Luna cooed cutely into the mic. People all around me nodded their heads and smiled. "Good. I know one happy couple in here who are doing just great!" She looked at Daniel and Ingrid who were posing in front of a candle lit scenery and waved at them. "Actually, I know two happy couples!" People began looking around, whispering questions about this mystery couple. My face changed from white to deep maroon as Luna went on. "My sister Meg and her knew boyfriend Darren Hayes!" The crowd began to snicker and murmur as they glanced at us. Behind me I could hear Darren swear under his breath, the grip he had around my hand tightened. Meg remain calm, don't kill Luna in front of all these people who were now, in some odd way, your relatives. My mind pleaded, I tried calming my mounting temper, but nothing worked. Before anyone could stop me I was out of reach and up on stage, hurling myself toward a frightened Luna. "Die!" I screamed and grabbed a fistful of her perfectly pinned hair, yanking the pins out of it and pulling her towards me. She screamed and dug her nails into my hands, biting and scratching whatever part of my body she could get a hold of. "Quit it Meg!" She howled, her make up running as she cried from embarrassment and pain. Before she could say anything else I kneed her in the mouth, making her lip bust open. Within seconds blood began to trickle down her chin and onto the floor. The crowd stood still and watched with horror as the scenario continued, as Luna and I twisted and tumbled around the stage, me pinning her to the ground and slamming her head onto the hard floor, as she jabbed her elbow and knee into my ribs and stomach.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Daniel and Darren, making their way frantically up on the stage where they dashed in between Luna and I, Daniel peeling me off the top of my sister and Darren holding me back as Daniel helped Luna up. The look on his face almost broke my heart, he looked, angry, sad, and hurt all at the same time. Together Luna and I were dragged outside, where the doors were slammed behind us and we were left alone with Daniel. He stood staring angrily at us for the longest time, his arms crossed, his beautiful face twisted with pain.
Finally after melting us in his accusing stare he spoke, with such distaste and disgust in his voice it made me want to cry. "How could you both do this to me?" He whispered harshly. "Daniel, it was all her fault..." Luna tried, putting on her innocent face. I wanted to puke in revolt. She was so immature! "Enough!" Daniel snapped, uncrossing his arms and letting them dangle at his sides. "You both have ruined my wedding night, the most important night in my life, gone! Vanished in the depths of hell! All because of you!" He pointed a shaky finger at us both. One glance at Luna told me she was silently crying, her bottom lip stuck out and trembling, like a baby whining for something they want. I, well I was so angry and disgusted with myself, I just wanted to smash my head against a cement wall and get this over with.
But to make matters worse, Daniel himself began to cry. Right there in front of us. His head bent down and cradled in his delicate hands he sobbed, desperate and sad the sobs sounded, such awful noise to my ears. Behind me the door opened and Jo popped her head out. She walked silently up behind me and Luna, putting her hands on our shoulders and frowning. "Come on girls, let's go home." She whispered, pushing us lightly with her hands.
The car was thick with silence as Luna, Jo and I drove slowly, steadily home. Not even the radio could be heard over the immense silence ringing in our ears. I had tried making conversation with Jo, but she only nodded sullenly to all of my questions and said nothing more. It seemed like an eternity had passed by the time the little blue car had pulled into our driveway. Luna was the first to climb out, covering her face with her left hand as she scurried towards the house. I sat in the car, alone with Jo, waiting for her to say something. Indeed, she did.
"What you did back there was really awful Meg, but I can't say I blame you for it." She seemed almost to regret the last words. Even though she was slightly on my side, I felt no hope for soon recovery. "Yeah." I mumbled and opened the car door, my dress rustling softly as I stepped out into the still summer night. No more words were exchanged between us as I slowly walked down the drive to the front double wide doors.
Inside Luna had locked herself up in her room, the lights out, soft music coming through the closed door. She was probably sulking pitifully in there. When I walked into my bedroom I sat heavily down onto my bed, feeling to weak and sad to light candles, to upset and angry to play any music. For the longest time I sat there and thought about nothing, yet things never ceased to run through my mind. I didn't try to grasp any thoughts, didn't dare think about what my mother would do to me, or worse, what Daniel would do to me. He would never forgive me. He would never want to see me again. We would never be close.
Read on...
Draw back...
