“Then you won’t mind if I take a little peek at it.”
“Dad! No! You know better than anyone. It’s against the code.” She lectured him while pouncing on her sketch book. She fought the blush as it threatened to sweep the surface of her skin.
“Did you have fun with your mom today?” Iris sighed. She didn’t know why her father insist on asking her this question every time she and mom went out.
“It was okay. I rather have been here in the studio though.”
“She just want to spend some time with you.”
“No she wants to live vicariously through me. Dad I’m not her. I’m me.”
“Sweetie, don’t be so hard on her. The news of having a girl was the greatest joy she could ever have. She would finally have a little girl to splurge and share all her hobbies with.”
“Well I’m sorry that I’m not what she wants me to be.” Iris picked up her sketch book and stormed out of the studio. Her dad was supposed to be on her side. He didn’t understand how stifling it could be to have someone always imposing themselves on you. She felt like she was drowning.
Closing the door once she was in her room, she let out a deep breath. The one thing she could be grateful to her parents for was the east wing of their home that was dedicated to her. She had all the space she would ever need.
She picked up her phone and checked for texts messages. She laughed when she saw messages from all the girls. Out of all the girls Natasha was the one she was closest to. She never demanded anything from Iris like the others. She didn’t press for information; she waited for Iris to feel comfortable enough to tell her. Natasha had caramel colored skin and light brown eyes. Her hair was black as sin and drew attention wherever she went. Iris was just glad it didn’t go to her head. Now Crystal was completely different; she was the captain of the cheerleading squad and thrived in the center of attention. She could be nice sometimes, but she was always gossiping and Iris didn’t particularly like the fact that she seemed to enjoy other people’s misery. Crystal was the typical bright blue eye blond hair girl. She was about five feet five inches in height and cute. Amie recently joined their group, from what Iris could discern she was a quiet girl; but it was obvious she aspired to be like Crystal. There were good traits about Crystal, she was smart and participated in school government. Iris met the girls in sophomore year of high school and now they were starting their senior year. She giggled when she saw the text from Natasha.
My little sister is a brat. Don’t you want a spawn?
Iris quickly texted her back.
She can’t be that bad. She’s only five.
She giggled when her phone beeped.
Come take her! Do you want to go to ice cream shop? We should eat all we can while Crystal isn’t breathing down our throats.
Sure. See ya in twenty.
Iris quickly read the other messages from the other girls. Crystal talked about the hottest guy in school which was Axel of course. She would die if Iris told her she met him in person and she actually turned him down. She smiled at Amie’s simple message of hello.
Changing out of the dress from earlier she threw on a pair of jeans, sandals and a tee-shirt. She left her hair down. She needed to find Ryan. He was the family’s driver and Iris usually spent her time with him. It was a little sad when you thought about it. Hanging out with the driver; but she come to think of him as an endearing grandfather.
“Ryan!” She called running through the house.
“Here, miss.” He said waving her down. She gave him a hug and told him her plans to go to the ice cream shop.
“Alright miss. Let’s go.”
She waved a goodbye to Ryan as she got out a block away from the shop. She still hadn’t told her friends she was wealthy and she had planned on keeping it that way—well she might tell Natasha. She wasn’t sure yet. She often heard stories from other people in their circle of people using them for their money and Iris wanted to avoid that. She wanted to remain down to earth and hoped to develop good people skills so she could instinctively tell when people were trustworthy.
She smiled when she spotted Natasha. Taking a seat, she gave a sigh of delight when a root beer float was placed in front of her.
“You are a saint.”
Natasha rolled her eyes at Iris’ theatrics.
“Any plans for the school year?” Natasha asked.
“Hmm, not really. You know me. I avoid trouble like plague.”
“A typical Iris answer. What about guys? I haven’t seen you date one person.” She huffed digging into her sundae.
“I date…ish, okay fine; so, I don’t date but it’s not a priority.”
“I guess there isn’t anyone good enough for Iris,” she said teasingly.
“That’s not true!” Iris shouted with indignation. She thought about Axel and it felt as though all the blood in her body rushed to the surface of her skin.
Natasha gave a yell of triumph looking at Iris flushed face.
“Girl you are borderline purple. Who is he?”
“No one!” she squeaked out.
“Don’t tell me, it better not be Axel.”
“What? Why?” she asked confused.
“So you are crushing on him. You and every other girl out there. Have you even talked to him?”
“Sort of, but Natasha you have to swear you won’t say anything. This remains between you and me. I’m serious.”
“Well duh, everyone knows Crystal is one of the biggest gossipers in school. I got ya back.”
Iris smiled. She knew she could trust Natasha, maybe she would tell her where she lived. Her mom would love her; Natasha was very girly and yet she remained down to earth. It was good plan.
4
Secret Meetings and Wishes
Iris enjoyed spending time with Natasha; at the end of the day she chickened out and didn’t invite her over. Iris swore, it was going to be the first thing she did. School would be starting in a week; in that time, she would once again face Axel. At least her birthday was tomorrow, and she had that to distract her. She had a license but hoped for a horse. Her birthdays usually consisted of celebrities, and their children. Her mom loved social gatherings. The person she really wanted there was probably touring the world. It was impossible. Why did she even begin to think of him at a time like this? She needed a cup of tea to distract her from her thoughts.
Settling with her cup of tea she turned on house hunters. She loved the show watching new homeowners buy a house and seeing all the different styles and architecture, maybe she should be an architect. She didn’t know what she wanted to do. She knew her mother always pushed for her to be a doctor. She thought about Axel’s mother again. She wondered about types of heart condition—was she really that sick? Stretching she got up, her birthday was tomorrow and it’s wasn’t everyday a young woman turned seventeen. She climbed into bed and fell asleep.
***
She jerked in her bed.
“Dad!” she whined. It never got old. Each morning on her birthday he would serve her breakfast in bed. Even after seventeen years, he still startled her.
“No matter how old you are, you’ll still be my little girl,” he said giving her hug before leaving her. Iris flushed. She wasn’t good with emotions. They scared her, she felt it was something that should be done in private. She hated being vulnerable. She looked up as her dad paused in his steps.
“We’ve got a surprise for you.” He said closing the door.
Did they get her the horse she’d always dreamt about? After eating her breakfast, she jumped into the shower, her thoughts flickered briefly to Axel. Was his mother’s sickness responsible for the pain reflected in his eyes?
Gah! Why am I so interested? I practically blew the guy off anyway.
Jumping out of the shower, she dressed quickly to meet her parents below. Anticipation filled her she as rushed downstairs. Her parents greeted her at the bottom of the stairs. She smiled as her dad held a long black box. Opening it she gas
ped when she saw the tear drop necklace. It was a two-karat diamond and very expensive. They were over the top…still they were her parents and she loved them dearly.
“Sheesh dad, when am I supposed to wear this thing?” she said gasping at the sparkly diamonds. The light danced off it blinding her with its brilliance.
“Told you, she does have feminine qualities,” mom told her dad smugly.
“I can’t help it,” she whined. “They’re diamonds!”
“It’s only the first of many surprises that are coming your way. Now turn around young lady,” her dad said taking the velvet box from her. She held her breath as he placed the very expensive diamond around her neck.
“Mom, dad, this is too much. I can’t—I…”
“You are fine. You are our only child. We have a right to splurge. You are seventeen now and soon you’ll be an adult. I don’t want my baby to grow up!” her mom cried pulling her into a hug.
“Mom you’re killing me,” she managed to gasp. She got her curves from her mother and currently, she was smothering her in her bosom. Her mother finally released her, relieved she watched as dad took her sobbing mother into his arms. You’d think someone died. She backed away from her parents. They were acting weird.
They’re contagious. Must get away!
“I’m just going to have a cappuccino.” She darted away from them and into the kitchen. She placed her flavor of choice in the Keurig machine, and hummed as the smell of mocha filled the air. She giggled as she sat out on the terrace with the newspaper, her mother always called her an old woman. She said she had an old soul. Iris liked to think that she was maybe a gypsy or a wanderer in a past life. She enjoyed being outside and didn’t like staying in one place for too long. Her father told her that she had a free spirit. She supposed he was right.
She set the paper aside and stood up to get ready when an article caught her eye. She didn’t even know he was in the country.
“Iris!”
“Coming mom!” she shouted.
“Go. Get out the house already. It’s time you made yourself scarce so we can get this place ready for you.” Iris rolled her eyes. Every year on her birthday she spent two the three hours holed up in a library so her parents could get prepare for the guests.
“Wear a dress!” her mom shouted at her retreating form.
“But mom!” she groaned.
She gave up; she was nothing more than a life size doll, at least she wasn’t bogged down with more shopping. Reaching into the closet she pulled out a teacup dress. It was a metallic black which suited her needs. An impish smirk stretched her lips; she would wear her black vans with this dress. Her mother only told her to wear the dress. She had to give it to her. This dress was a nice one and suited her personality. It had character. It was designed with a jewel neckline, a back-zipper closure, and a fit and flare silhouette. It was perfect for her; it gave her a little spunk. She jumped into the shower to get ready for the activities that were soon to follow later that evening.
Iris gave an involuntary yawn. She’d been reading some manga; don’t judge her. The art was beautiful and the characters’ faces were always so expressive. Yes, she was one of those people that could read endless number of manga, and would turn into a vampire from streaming anime all night long. She was getting to the good part when someone interrupted her.
“I thought you didn’t wear dresses?” Startled, she fell ungraciously out of the chair and onto the floor, at least it was carpeted.
“What are you doing here?” she asked mortified. Her butt hurt and she fought the need to massage it, and ensure there was no permanent damaged done to it. What were the odds of her running into Axel at the library? She gazed at him. Something was off. She watched as he blushed and began to stammer.
“Are you okay?” she asked with wide eyes.
“Yeah, I’m good.” He avoided her eyes. His heart raced in his chest and he felt jittery around her. “I saw you reading some manga.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I hope they turn it into an anime.”
“What’s it called?”
“Cerberus.”
“Sounds like the guardian of the underworld,” he said holding out a hand.
Omg! Don’t tell me he’s into mythology. A man after my heart! So hot! I can definitely do the shy, dorky thing. It’s different…but volcanic like.
Her heart skipped a beat when she grabbed his hand. It was large and warm. Was this his nerdy side? She didn’t think the star football player would have a geek side.
“So are you stalking me now?” she asked smiling coyly at him. She had no idea he could be so awkward. It was cute. He was completely different from that day in the car.
“Um, no!” he said flushing. She made him nervous. He started to feel dizzy. He couldn’t hyperventilate here; it would destroy his chance getting to know her. He liked her. She was different and she had kind eyes. She was gorgeous and totally out of his league, maybe it was how she felt about him. He could only hope so.
His phone rang.
“I’m sorry I got to take this.” It was his dad.
“Boy! Where are you?” Iris looked on in shock. She could hear the yelling from where she sat.
“I’m in the library studying.” She watched as Axel answered his father. She could see his large frame hunching over. He must’ve turned the volume down; she couldn’t hear the man anymore. It seemed there was much more to Axel Rotterdam than meets the eye. It was a good thing she loved mysteries.
“Look I’m going out!” he suddenly yelled into the phone. Iris eyes widen slightly. She quickly excused herself. His eyes pleaded with her, but she was already embarrassed enough and she didn’t want to miss the party. Her mother would have a cow. It was scientifically impossible but she wouldn’t put it pass her mom to surpass the laws of science.
Damn it! He almost had her. He just had to go ruin things. Everything was going smoothly. He gripped the strands of hair in his fist tightly. Sometimes he just wanted to scream. Let everything he was feeling out, but that wasn’t what men did, so he swallowed his emotions and shoved them in a box. He’d deal with them later.
Iris thought her encounter with Axel was very strange, but it still didn’t stop him from taking her breath away. Those startling crystal blue eyes still managed to make her heart go pitter patter. She was starting to think that she was in a Nicolas Spark book. She sighed dreamily as she got out of the car. Would he find her at school? Would he still be interested in her? He was one of a kind; he managed to see her on two different occasions and in a dress, nonetheless—that was a rarity in itself. She climbed out of the car when she heard Ryan’s chuckle. How long had she been sitting there with a starry-eyed look?
“Young love. I remember those days.” She leapt out of the car totally embarrassed by the situation. She didn’t do girly and emotions. It got you in trouble. She opened the door, and her shock took center stage—the party completely slipped her mind. Her mother was in a black fitted number that hugged her curves, white strappy heels adorn her feet. Her dad was dressed casually in a nice pair of jeans and collard long sleeve shirt. The house was full of people and it looked like everyone was having a good time. She gave a small smile at her mother. She was such a social butterfly, only in this type of environment her mother thrived whereas, Iris was more reserved.
“Good, the birthday girl has arrived. Come darling, come greet everyone.”
Iris groaned internally. She wished she had superpowers and could make herself disappear, or wings so she could fly away.
“Darling, this is Jean Pierre. I’m sure you remember him.”
Iris gave him a friendly smile and blushed when he took her had into his. She couldn’t remember how old he was, but he was handsome. His eyes were midnight black and his hair dark as sin. The thick Spanish accent was a plus. She heard or rather read about all his escapades with various women, and she couldn’t blame them. He was tall and had the nicest nose she’d ever seen, his full lips only added to
his deadly repertoire.
“Giselle! Why didn’t you tell me about this beautiful lotus?” he asked placing a kiss on her hand. She watched him with dull eyes. He was laying it on pretty thick. Her eyes widen slightly when she felt his tongue touched her hand. It was for a nanosecond. She wanted to snatch it out of his grasp but she had a feeling he would enjoy that reaction, so she gave him her own mysterious smile, while secretly plotting to kill him. Wait until she told her dad, he would totally kick his ass. Her dad was a painter but he went through an MMA phase. He would cover his hands and feet with paint and create abstract art. It was very inspiring to watch.
“Today is Iris seventeenth birthday,” her mom said proudly. Iris was relieved to have her hand back.
“That makes her legal…err a legal adult.” He said smiling. What a prick she thought. He was monopolizing all their time.
“Mom, where’s dad?” she asked cutting into their conversation. She’d do anything to get away from him. Noting another unwanted figure, she huffed. Abigail Hunter—she was the daughter of an upcoming actress and she was someone Iris liked to avoid at all cost. It was either spend more time with the perverted old man or snobby witch. Her future looked bleak. She turned her brightest smile towards Abigail. She seemed like the lesser of the two evils.
“Iris, nice party. Your parents are the best,” she said smiling at her mom. What an attention seeker Iris thought, while her mom blushed a pretty red.
Dear god! Don’t fall for it mom! She’s Satan in disguise.
“Have you heard the latest news about Chester Livingston?” Iris bit her tongue. Chester was a popular international rockstar sweeping girls off their feet. She really didn’t care. Just another celebrity. Did the girl know her secret? She guarded it well. There was only one or two people who knew about it. “He’s in the country.” Abagail said excitement evident in her eyes.