Beautiful Bedlam (22 page)

“Starting a new high school in junior year, huh? Don’t worry I think you’ll like it there. Sienna offered optimistically. Candice smiled weakly in return.

“You know you should be a lot more like Candice here. She gets all A’s in her classes. Always works hard. Still goes to church on Sundays.” Her dad said beaming with pride at his niece.

“Oh goody.” Sienna muttered under her breath.

The first thing that Sienna noticed when the girls went up to their bedroom was Candice was
not
the same girl she had been pretending to be downstairs. She flung threw her glasses on to her cabinet and jumped on to Annie’s bed and began texting on her cellphone straight away.

“So give me deets about this school. Are there any hot guys there?” she asked drolly without looking up.

“Uh, yeah.” Sienna replied with a shaky laugh confused by her change of tone.

“So what’s the deal with you? Let me guess. Cheerleading?”

“What? No. Why does everyone always think that?”

“Oh right. Choir club? Debate club? Oh not glee club?” Candice asked derisively.

“No. I’m just…I don’t know what I am but I’m none of the above.”

“Ah, you’re the hot alternative thinks she’s too good for everybody else type. I gotcha.” She said with a wink.

“No, I’m not like that.” Sienna refuted defensively.

“Alright. So, are you dating anybody?” Candice asked curiously and put her phone down.

“No. You?”

“Define dating.” Candice smirked.

“Oh, my daddy’s going to love you. You know I think I could get used to you living here.”

“Hurry up, we’re going to be late on my first day!” Candice presaged.

“Wait, let me just…okay we’re good.” Sienna announced to have mastered the skill of parallel parking having only attained her driver’s license prior to a few weeks.

They ended up rushing and running as fast as they could only to find out Miss Bloom had fallen sick and they had a free period wherein they were all trapped and forced to ‘study’ by themselves. Sienna closely followed by Candice shuffled in to class and walked straight in to Logan Jackson without realizing. Sienna looked up startled.

“You know if you wanted permission to touch me. Its polite to ask first.” He drawled out with a lazy devil may care grin as he steadied her from falling back by holding on to her arms.

“Oh look somebody think he’s funny today.” She countered mordantly. 

“What’s that line in the movies which confirms the birth of a beautiful romantic love story where the guy most certainly always gets the girl in the end? We have got to stop bumping in to each other like this.” He replied back smoothly.

“Oh bite me, Jackson.” She rolled her eyes and sat down at a desk.

“It’s a little kinky, Rivers, but I aim to please.” He remarked humorously and much to Sienna’s chagrin he came and sat next to her.

“Whose Red?”

“I’m Candice. Sienna’s cousin. From her dad’s side…not that it matters.” She stuttered, her eyes were wide as she stared at him. Sienna didn’t really blame her. Logan was the kind of guy it took days for the eyes to adjust to. The cure to breaking this spell Sienna found was just to spend years loving him and have him punch your father and sleep with your best friend. That usually killed the mood.

“Well, aren’t you going to introduce me to Cousin Red?”

“Meet Logan Jackson, smug, self-entitled, proud, arrogant, trust fund brat.”

“Don’t forget cocky. She’s so sweet. She always forgets cocky.” 

“Oh will you two please get a room and get it over with? Some of us are trying to study!” Lee Young hissed from under his mountain of books compiled on to his desk.

“Sorry.” Sienna whispered apologetically.

“Oh! He’s the boyfriend Cora told me about. I get it now.” Candice whispered as she stared at Logan with awe.

“He’s not my-“
“Nice to meet you Cousin Red.” He said and shook her hand. She didn’t let go of his hand and continued to shake it until he gave her a bewildered look.              

“And I was like ew! She actually thought that Capri pants would be able to hide all her fat. I mean seriously? Have some self-respect. That’s what my mom always says anyway. Oh, hey Logan.” Bethany Simmons said as she walked in with a couple of her girlfriends, among her inner circle consisted of a new member, Rose Matthews who looked at Sienna for a second then quickly averted her gaze.

“So the winter formal’s next week. I heard you haven’t asked anybody yet.” Bethany cooed and sat on Sienna’s desk.
Delightful
.

“I have.” He replied confidently and leaned back in his chair nonplused by Bethany’s obvious attempts of trying to gain his attention and affections.

“You have?” Sienna asked before she could stop herself.

“Come on guys, take it elsewhere.” Lee sighed exasperatedly. Poor guy.

“Hush child. Mother is talking.” Bethany said melodramatically and put her hand up to silence him. It worked.

“Who?” Bethany asked outrageously. Sienna’s eyes flickered to Rose who stood a few steps behind Bethany in silence; apparently she had more personal bodyguards than the queen of England. Given her appalling behavior, Sienna reckoned she needed as many as she could get. Even she had the urge to push her off her desk or at least stab her dress with a sharpie.

Rose? Imagine he’s taking Rose? Imagine he lied to me? What if he actually has feelings for Rose?
Sienna’s mind immediately drifted back to fifth grade, under the glitter ball, but this time the girl dancing in his arms was Rose and not just the typical run of the mill airhead. Sienna had spent many nights running the thought of them together over and over again. Remembering every time Rose had complimented him, how often she’d leer at him and praise him and she marveled at how blind she was to the fact that maybe her best friend also had a crush on Logan Jackson much like many other girls in their little town did.
What if he reciprocated those feelings? What if they’ve been together behind my back and were too afraid of hurting my feelings and didn’t know how to tell me? How long have they been-

“The girl I’m taking…she is…” he let out a low whistle and chuckled in a gravelly tone.

“She is spectacular.  Believe me, when she walks in the room everybody notices.”

“I’m sure they do.” Sienna couldn’t help but roll her eyes. God dammit! She was jealous. This was the last emotion she’d ever wanted to feel, it was petty and ate away at her like a maggot in a rotten apple. And the more she looked at Rose staring and listening intently to Logan’s words, the more it confirmed the identity of the girl he was so clearly smitten with.

“Who are we talking about?” Trent asked nosily as he dragged his chair over.

“Logan’s date to the winter formal.” Candice told him.

“Who’s this?” he asked bewilderedly.

“Yeah, who’s the ginger?” Bethany inquired puzzled

“Cousin Red.” Logan told them airily not taking his eyes off Sienna as she tried to hide her obvious discomfort and jealousy.

“I’m Candice Greene. I’m new here. I just transferred from-“

“Back to the date. Who is she? And more importantly is she hot?” Trent asked slimily. Honestly if Trent O’Connell hadn’t been blessed with god given good looks he would have come off as an even bigger creep than he already was. By this point Lee Young gave up and picked up his mountain of books and left. Oh man, that kid was so going to take Sienna’s valedictorian spot next year.

“The most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.” He said softly and so sincerely Sienna knew he wasn’t lying which only hurt even more. Bethany scoffed at this showing she wasn’t the only one.

“Oh come on, since when were you coy? Specifics dude!”

“Urgh you’re such a pig, Trent.” Sienna scowled at him.

“Face like an angel, a body made for the beach, and a smile that could light up the sky.” He said instantly the words slipping off his tongue so easily.

“Yeah, I’m sure she’s real smart too.” Sienna couldn’t help but add satirically.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.” Logan replied with a smile.

“Do we know her?” Trent asked the obvious question on everyone’s mind. Sienna found herself holding her breath as she stared at Rose.
Oh god, it’s her, isn’t it?

“Quiet study time. Talk later!” Mr. Collins said as he came in quickly to check up on them thus ending their riveting conversation, which left Sienna in emotional tatters although she didn’t show it.

“Wow, your ex is crazy hot! Why didn’t you tell me?” Candice whispered fervently as they rushed out of class when the bell rang.

“He’s not my-“

“Sienna! Hey, I missed you.” Noah said jumping out at them as if from nowhere or as if he had been waiting outside her class for her. Sienna opened her mouth as to greet him but was quickly stunned silent and shocked when Noah leaned over and gave her a light peck on the lips.

“Oh, thanks. Did you just kiss me?” she asked hesitantly, her fingers on her mouth still surprised and unsure of what to say or do.

“Yeah well I figured since we’re dating. Oh I’m so sorry. I didn’t even see you standing there.” Noah said quickly as he noticed Candice standing there gaping at the amount of action her cousin got in one morning. No wonder her parents were so strict. The girl was a freak! All Sienna could think about was how asking a guy out on one date which they hadn’t even gone on yet qualified them as ‘dating’.
Oh good lord.

“She’s my cousin. Cousin Red. I mean Candice. Sorry.” Sienna winced.

“Hi, so I’m confused are you two…?”

“Dating? Yeah.” He answered easily and put his arm around her shoulder. This was her chance. This was the moment where Sienna should have pulled Noah to the side and explained and let him down gently just like he deserved but then she saw the way he looked at her so full of hope and affection, she just couldn’t do that to him. And then she spotted Logan from the corner of her eye, the same Logan who had only moments before so clearly been demonstrating his love or lust or whatever it was for Rose despite claiming she meant nothing to him.

“That’s us! We love to date. We’re just so…” her voice drifted off as she saw Logan talking to Rose in a low voice. She couldn’t hear what they were saying but they looked as if they were in a heated argument of some kind.

“Happy.” She exclaimed with a smile and squeezed Noah’s arm for emphasis.

“So happy.” She purred delightfully.

18.

“Zip it up. You’re not pulling hard enough!” Candice groaned out of frustration as Sienna with great difficulty finally managed to finally pull up the zipper of her prom dress.
Thank God, I didn’t rip the zipper; otherwise promzilla would have butchered me,
Sienna thought feeling a rush of relief that she didn’t so far screw anything up tonight.
Candice collapsed against her closet, breathing hard, not daring to even sit down in fear that her little black dress would suddenly come undone. She secretly wished that she had listened to her cousin and bought her outfit a dress size larger, she wasn’t a size two but she was not going to admit that to anyone least of all slim anorexic Sienna who could squeeze her body in to anything, she thought sourly.

“You look so pretty Candice!” Sienna complimented politely.

“You think?” she retorted happily as she twirled analyzing herself in the mirror. She had spent hours getting ready and it showed. She wore hair extensions that were a darker shade of red than her natural ginger hair color, which matched her bright red lips. Her make up may have been a little too much, but who cared? She could cake herself as much as she wanted. Sienna winced as Candice applied more black liquid eyeliner on to her eyelids.

“Don’t apply too much.” She advised kindly not wanting her cousin to look like more of a raccoon than she already did. Candice rolled her eyes and applied more. Sienna must be jealous of her and Candice didn’t blame her, she looked hot tonight and it felt amazing to be the prettiest girl in the room for once. Her dress was strapless and the hemline fell alongside where her fingertips rested on her mid thighs. It was had ruffled dark feathers over her chest causing an illusion of a larger looking chest. Which was a bonus, seeing as Candice still wore an A cup.

“Wait a minute, why aren’t you dressed?” she snapped suddenly noticing the time.

“Well, it took so long curling and styling and fixing your extensions, or hair or whatever.” Sienna replied as she stretched her arms upwards. She was already tired. She wanted nothing more than to skip the dance altogether but she didn’t want to stand her date up. She knew what this dance meant to him. It would be their first public outing as a ‘couple’. Sienna cringed at the word. Smeags jumped on to her bed and stretched his legs and yowled and meowed loudly.

“Shh.” Sienna hushed him soothingly.

“No I will not shhh! I can’t wait for you! I’ve got to pick Trevor up in like twenty minutes!  We’re already late for the dance. Sienna you should have at least done your hair by now!” she scolded as she pulled on her strap on black heels. She had been at Haven Falls high school for all of six days and had landed herself a date just in time for the dance. It only took Sienna almost seventeen years minus the awful Cooper Godfrey debacle. She shuddered.

Sienna ran in to the bathroom with her make up bag, which consisted of barely any items. She deftly moved her make up brush along her skin gently going for a more natural look and ran out of the bathroom and pulled her dress out of her closet and threw it on to her disheveled bed. She whipped off her robe and paused as she caught her reflection in the mirror. Perhaps she should make a little more effort; it was a high school dance after all. Everyone was going to be there. Including Logan’s dream girl, AKA Rose the backstabber. So she rushed back in to the bathroom and redid her face slowly taking her time. Noah could wait. She then quickly ran back to her room and slipped her gown and stilettos. “Honey, your date is here!” her dad’s voice rang and echoed upstairs.