Fake (A Pretty Pill) (37 page)

You know when you hear too much information about your sibling and your brain begins to crash?  That’s this moment.

“I don’t understand.” 
I don’t, because the two girls I’ve been with – no periods, ever.

“I take comfort in the fact that it was partially her fault for making food that purged her body solidly of her daily pill for four days straight.” He says.

“You tapped that while she had the runs?”  Hank asks with a distasteful look on his face.

We both swing around to look at him incredulously.

“She wasn’t taking a shit while I was fucking her Hank.” Ben growls.

“
Okay.
” I yell.  “That’s fucking enough.  That’s my sister, and I don’t want to hear anything about. 
Fuck.
  I really don’t want to know, all right?”  I shudder.

Hank looks all sheepish, but Ben’s smiling
now at the fact he’s made me shudder…
asshole.

“So
, when are you getting that vasectomy?”  I ask.

“
Well, since it’s the only way she’ll ever have sex with me again, soon.”

“She can’t get pregnant on top of being pregnant.” Hank says.

“This is Jade we’re talking about.  She can obviously get pregnant under any circumstance.” Ben announces.

“So are you booked in to get your nuts clipped?”  I ask, smiling.

Ben winces.

“Yep…
next week.” He says.

“I’m going to laugh my ass off.”  I say, pointing at him and grinning stupidly.

“I’ll kick your ass till it falls off.” Ben grumbles.

“Well, let’s just hope it’s not twins or something.” I laugh.

Ben reaches over and knocks me hard upside the head.

Isi.

Jade and I cruise around the mall shopping for
Christmas
presents.  However, my idea of shopping and Jade’s idea of shopping for them aren’t the same.  I want to get Silas something really nice, something for Ben and her and a little something for little Ben.  Jade wants to buy stuff for little Ben over and over again.  I haven’t even had a chance to see inside any adult stores or departments yet.

Toys,
oh this looks so cute.

Clothes,
what do you think of this one Isi?

Shoes,
I love shoes, but he grows out of them so fast.

Monitors, bottles,
educational action centers?

I get it;
she’s a bit emotional today.  She only found out yesterday that she is pregnant again.  She cried telling me about it on the way over. 

I felt sincerely jealous at her ability to so easily fall pregnant.  I’ll never know what it feels like to grow a human life inside of me, and I’m feeling a little bit sorry for my loss. However, I quickly adjust and realize s
he’ll probably need help when this one is born.  It’s a worry that she might get depression or something, going by her reaction.  I told her I’m happy to give her some baby free time over the next few months so she can rest, and she pulled me in for a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“I have to go to the ladies
.  I’ll take Ben if you like and change his diaper.” I offer.

“Oh, that
’d be so good.  I’ll get the rest of this stuff and I’ll meet you at the information desk.  We’ll go and do your stuff when you get back.  You’ve been very patient.” She says.

“It’s okay.”

“No it’s not.”

“No,
it really is.  I mean I’m not used to it, but it’s nice to have someone to hang around that likes me for being me.” I explain.

“Silas likes you
, he loves you.”

“I know, but I mean female company.”  I reply.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Jade nods.

I give her a laugh and then Ben and I are off to the baby change rooms.

Everything is going to be fine.

I’m able to use the rooms too; there is an adult toilet here.

I manage to change Ben’s very dirty diaper.  Eww… Very, very eww.  How is it that something so cute can offload something so horrifying.

I chat to a couple of mom’s, explaining each time that no, the gorgeous little cherub isn’t mine,
and that he’s my nephew.  (He attracts a lot of attention.)

And then I leave the room.

The door automatically slides closed behind me and I’m in the corridor that will lead me back into the main area of the mall.  There are people here, it’s not as though it’s vacant, but I have the distinct feeling that I’m being watched.

I casually crouch down to push Ben’s blanket in around him
, and I take the opportunity to scrutinize my peripheral view.  I can’t tell for sure whether I’m a person of interest, but a man wearing a pair of jeans and a green sweater is standing at the end of the corridor facing me. He’s leaning up against the wall.

My breathing increas
es and I can see my hands shaking as I continue to tuck the blanket in until it’s perfect.  I close my eyes briefly, breathe in and then stand up and slowly look in the direction of the man.  However, he has turned around and is walking away beside a young woman, who is looking up at him with a huge smile; he’s also wearing a cap, so I can’t tell the color of his hair.

I feel stupid.

Paranoid.

I inwardly kick myself and begin to push Ben
along the corridor and back to the mall center where Jade and I continue to shop.

First we go to the bookstore, where I look for something for Jean and Bonnie.

I buy them a travel book on the Bahamas, since I’ve heard Bonnie mention that they’d love to go there.

What I didn’t expect to find, and it blows me away, is a present for Silas.

“Jade, what do you make of this for Silas?”

She walks over
and begins to laugh, really laugh.

“Do you think h
e’ll like it?”

“I think he’ll love it.”

I look back down at the cover.

‘The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete protection from the living dead’
by
‘Max Brooks’
.

“Published in 2003.” I say, looking inside
and realizing it’s not exactly new, although of course the book itself is.

“I’ve never seen it before, but it’s perfect.” she smiles.

“I was also thinking of getting him a nice watch and engraving something on the back.” I explain.

“Now that
’d be really nice.  I don’t know if you know, but the watch he’s wearing now was a birthday gift from Shae when he turned 17.  It’s a great idea to get him a new one from you.” she points out.

I feel flat,
I don’t want to try and compete with Shae.  I definitely didn’t know that his watch, which he wears all the time and is looking a bit worn out was a present from his ex-girlfriend.

I sigh.

“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?  I did didn’t I?” she moans.

“No, I just sometimes feel like I’m competing with a shadow from his past.”

“No way, there’s no competition. You’re prettier, stronger and definitely what he needs.” She says.

“That’s a nice thing to say.” I smile.

“I’m not kidding.  You’re really pretty.” She begins, “as well as all that other stuff.”

“You’re very pretty too.” I say, trying to stop her from continuing.

She gives me an incredulous look.  I can’t believe she doesn’t believe me.

“You’re gorgeous Jade, as in
extremely attractive.  Every man in the near radius is staring at you. And I dare say a couple of women too.” I explain.

“N
ot every man.” she says bluntly, but not haughtily.  She’s trying to divert the attention back to me.  “There’s a man over there that keeps starring at you.”

“Really?” I feel the hairs on my neck stand up once more.  I slowly turn to look where she just tilted her head in indication.  I
can’t see anyone in particular and no green sweaters.

“He’s gone, but he was t
here. I swear it.”

“Right
.” I say sarcastically and looking back at her.

I buy my books and we head to the jewelers to purchase a chunky dress watch that Jade thinks is way too expensive for Silas, but really nice anyway and
so I ask them to place an inscription on the base.

‘With love ~ Isobelle’

We then walk around for a little while weighing up options for things.

When Jade ducks to the toilet, I
ask the information people to mind the trolley and I keep Ben with me and head to the scented candle store and buy Jade a complete set of beautiful smelling candles and some bath salts.

I walk across the
way to buy an Xbox game for Ben and end up buying two of the same game, since Silas and he play online all of the time.

So now I have everyone’s gifts, including three for Silas.

I return to where Jade is frantically looking around at our rendezvous point for me.

“Sorry, I bought another
couple of presents.”  I explain and show her the games.

“Farcry 3?” she asks
and then looks at the price.  Her eyes pop out.  “You shouldn’t spend this much on Ben and I.” She whispers.

“Sorry, I never really think about the money
when it comes to presents, I just thought it would be a good gift.”

“Oh
Isi.  It’s bloody unbelievable.  I think those boys will be in heaven.” she says, rubbing my arm.  “I’m just being silly.  I’m not used to having family members that think we’re worth it.” she smiles.

“I know
about your grandparents.”

Her face drops.

“Yeah, well it’s their turn to have a good cry about it now.  They’ve been trying to apologize since Silas was reported in the local news as having some success over here.” she growls.

“Yeah, I know.” I sigh.

It seems to me that Silas, Jade and Ben found each other because they’re fractured and as such gravitated to each other like a physics experiment.

It seems that’
s the same for me, and I’ve gravitated to them because I’m fractured too.

I chuckle at the thought.

“What’s funny?” She asks, pushing her purchases as I push Ben.  His basket is filled with my stuff.

“
I was thinking that the four of us are all from fractured families – orphans.  At least you three are, I’m just a castoff.” I say, actually it’s not really that funny.

Jade laughs.

“The association of orphans and castoffs.” She says grinning.  “TAOC for short, oh no I’ve got it – TACO.” She snorts laughter as we go through the glass doors towards the car park.  “The Association of Castoffs and Orphans.” She squeals.

I’m laughing too.

“We’re just a bunch of tacos.” She enthuses.

“You’re weird.”
I reason.  “Yet still beautiful, it’s disgusting that all three of you are like a catalogue of Australian models.” I laugh.

“You know what?  That means
you must be even weirder, because it’s you that turns us into tacos.  Before you we were just TAO.” She laughs, she laughs a lot.

I’m thinking she’s b
een secretly snorting happy gas, or this hormone shit is awesome and I want some.

I giggle at her.

“Oh, and you’re definitely beautiful too, despite making tacos out of us.”

“You’ve been drinking those spritzer’s of your
s again, haven’t you.” I tease.

“No, no.  That guy I was telling you about
? He was right behind you when you walked back to the rendezvous point.” she says.  “He was glued to the back of you, kind of creepy really.  He was totally checking you out.  He probably really goes for women with babies, ugh.”

“What did he look like?” I feel my fight or flight response rising.

“Blond, handsome and maybe about 30?  He was wearing jeans and a…”

“…Green sweater.” I
finished.

“Yeah, you sa
w him checking you out?”  She asks.

“Fuck. We have to
go; we have to go now Jade.  That’s got to be Ethan.” I inform her shakily.

Her face falls.

We’re running to the car.

And when we get there, my heart is jumping into my throat
and beating really, really hard.  The car is literally covered in petals. Rose petals with a large bunch of roses on the top of the roof.

I’m breathing erratically.
  I can feel I’m being watched, yet despite wildly looking everywhere, I can’t see anyone.  I feel violated that he dare approach my car.

“Get in the car Jade and
put Ben in his seat.” I insist.