ere related!
I opened a drawer in the bureau to unpack my carefully folded panties and socks. I froze, captured by nostalgia, when I saw what was inside.
There were a dozen faded photographs, movie ticket stubs from first dates and best dates. Little notes of love and encouragement in my best friend Tessa’s bubbly handwriting. I looked around the room, searching for my cork board that was their home, but the maid must have been told to take it down and put all the pieces from it in here.
I was overwhelmed with memories, and as I fingered some of Tessa’s notes, I felt a little angry with myself. She had stayed in town and gone to the community college—her parents weren’t as well off as mine, and she was working while getting her basic requirements out of the way—and since I went to New York I had been a terrible friend, barely answering her texts let alone her phone calls.
I was just about to go grab my phone and call her when I spotted an even older piece of paper with a hastily scribbled I.O.U. on it. I shook my head. I had almost forgotten I had actually held on to it. I lifted out the wrinkled scrap of paper and read the whole thing.
TO ALLIE
FROM JAMES
Merry Christmas!
IOU one present
It was typical James. Something sweet and playful about the gesture if you wanted to see it that way, but beneath it, the stink of his rotten selfishness and casual cruelty. His first year away to college he had come home for Christmas with gifts for dad and Nancy and even our maid, Maria. But not for me. He had forgotten, he said. So he scribbled this IOU on some notecard and handed it to me when we opened presents.
I was happy with my high school self for not throwing it away. Its value had to have increased a thousand fold, now that James was for all purposes an actual billionaire. Maybe I’d redeem it this year.
I tucked it into the pouch inside my purse, texted Tessa, then finished putting away my panties and the rest of my underthings. When I finished, I checked my phone for messages. Tessa had responded:
still at work. I'll see you tonight for some fun. call later!
I looked forward to seeing her. In the mean time I stripped down to my panties, socks and bra and grabbed an old pair of pajamas—stained gym shorts and a tank top—that hadn’t made the trip to New York with me for obvious and good reasons. Then I climbed into bed to get a cat nap in. Whatever Tessa had found for us to do, I wouldn't have much to show off if I arrived with huge bags under my eyes and slouched, tired shoulders.
***
Just as I started to doze off, I heard the doorbell and the rubber soles of Nancy’s slippers sprinting to answer it.
From her delighted scream that followed I could guess her boy was home. I was picturing James grabbing her and lifting her off her feet with one of his big bear hugs, usually reserved exclusively for Nancy. He might be a jerk with everyone else, but you didn’t dare touch his mother.
I learned that right away. It was soon after they moved in with us. We were still kids practically. I had made some nasty comment about his mother, I can’t remember what, but I’ll never forget the way he stared me down with pure fury. I was positive he would actually hurt me, physically, if I didn’t take it back. So I did. Right away. And I never said anything mean since.
As I heard the dark rumble of his voice echoing up the stairs I tried to make out what they were talking about, but it was impossible. Especially once my dad finally made it over to welcome him and added his booming voice to the mix.
I wondered if I should get up and go downstairs. My parents knew I was napping, so I didn’t have to, but I was curious to see him again. He had looked... I don't know, different on all the magazine covers. He had hit it big after his little start up my dad had bankrolled was invested in by some big Wall Street firm. I didn’t really understand what he did, but it was some sort of software that did math things that stock traders could use to make a lot of money.
Yeah, he was handsome and smart. And a total ass. Most of the time, anyway.
I was getting up to go say hello when I saw myself in the mirror—the old Allie stared back at me in her silly pajamas.
Hell no.
Maybe I would just sneak a peak at him down the stairwell and wait until I was dressed in that little black dress to have our official reintroduction. When he saw me for the first time I wanted to make an impression.
No, I corrected myself, slowly opening my door and tiptoeing to the edge of the stairs. You want to make him want you, you sick, sick twisted girl.
I saw James’s big, olive green duffel bag by the door and could hear their voices moving around downstairs. I waited until I heard his boots on the wood floor and craned my neck further. Then I saw him.
He reached down, grabbing his bag, and when he turned around he looked straight up at me.
"Well, hello little sister." He flashed his most charming smile. When he got a look at my outfit he raised his eyebrows, as if impressed. "Aren’t we looking good!?"
I gave him a sarcastic smile and retreated to my room.
So much for making that first impression.