Goodbye Normal (5 page)

“Have you ever considered modeling?” he continued “You will look spectacular on a magazine cover.” his eyes twinkled and smiled, revealing perfect teeth “or as you Americans put it, a total cheesecake.”

“Ammh… Jean, I don’t model.”

“But you can, you can start. You are tall, stunning and you should keep zose eyes.”

“These eyes are-“

“Oh cammon cherie, let me introduce you to my star zen maybe he will want to feature you in zis shoot, you may never know, this maybe our fate.” Before she was able to protest on his good natured offer, they were already inside the cabin.

Her face creased with disgust.

 They were in a foreign territory. It felt like they had bumped into a sexual scene in a rolling film. Only that there were no cameras on set; It was as real as it appeared to be. A tall muscular shirtless guy was shoving his throat down a girl with a bikini, while another girl who was equally underdressed busied herself by caressing the guy’s back.

 Zoe was too stunned to blink. Jean faked a cough, and the party broke.

To her surprise, not one of the party members looked embarrassed. The girls gave out sassy giggles as the guy turned to face them. Zoe could feel her ears burn. It was Josh.

His usual white skin was beautifully tanned. The abs on his abdomen couldn’t possibly get any tighter. He looked as handsome as ever, but the image she had bumped into was blocking all else.

“josh, take a break from women mon garcon, we have work to do. And see if this one can replace Moira’s absence, I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes” Jean instructed, heading for the door.

“Mind your own shit Jean.” Josh called out to him as he headed outside.

Zoe was so baffled that she barely noticed Jean’s absence until Josh trailed a hot finger over her jaw line.

She jerked his hand from her face with so much energy that nearly landed as a slap.

“It’s okay honey.” He said. Zoe huffed, honey really! Josh then raised his hands with pretence of surrender “There is no need to get feisty. What can I do for you? Or let me rephrase it, how can I do you?” he made his impudent inquiry while going for her waist, a grim smile stretching on his face. The girls supported his boldness by a chorus of annoying titter.

Zoe flinched backwards “Am sorry there was a mistake.” she turned to leave but felt a strong arm pull from her waist towards Josh. She spun abruptly and masked him with a fierce slap.

“Don’t you dare lay those filthy hands on me!” Zoe gnarled. She felt her body shake but her face was boisterous, as stern as a pro.

Josh’s composure wasn’t altered. He didn’t even blench; he just stood still and glared at her with a blazing intensity. It was as if he was sadistic.

The two bikini girls who had been observing with such keenness were exceptionally shocked. No one treated Josh Mickels that way, and got away with it. Maybe it was because she was a girl. He always got what he wanted when he wanted. Apparently grown up Josh was not the sweet, charismatic boy she once knew but an arrogant, spoiled control freak.

She was unaware of another audience by the cabin door, until she turned to leave.

Liz’s face had dropped. She didn’t know what really went down because she caught up to the drama when the slap happened.

When they were out of the cabin Liz tried asking “hey, what just happened in there?” curiosity and panic was a mix up in her tone.

“I don’t feel like talking Liz, not now.” Zoe muttered.

Liz looked at her face as if to decide whether to let her be or not.

“Okay, I gotcha, let’s go to my house though, no one is there. I guess it will be much better.” she suggested.

“Okay.” Zoe agreed abruptly. She needed that.

“Why don’t I drive you?” Liz offered.

“Am okay Liz, really.” she assured.

Liz tilted her lips the shrugged “fine.”

By the time Zoe was on the road, her hands were still shaky and dump. She rubbed her palms consecutively while one arm supported the wheel. She then tightened her grip on the wheel which forced her knuckles to shoot up. It was clear that she was trying to control her body’s composure at the same time. She aimed and forced her focus to following Liz’s car ahead of her, not wanting to be distracted. Desperate seconds later, she saw that it was not working and so she figured a little good noise may work. After trying out a few radio stations for some fine music, the result wasn’t as good either. A sad song got her to the edge, “arrgh” she groaned turning it off brutally. The worst part was the more she strained the more Josh’s image appeared.

The thought of him made her cranky and disgusted. She hated how vulnerable she was feeling.

It was disappointing to think of how much he had changed. How can any one change that much, he became the complete opposite. She wondered if it was the money and power that made him the way he turned out.

 Zoe begun blaming herself for thinking that he would be the cute, cool boy, whom everybody liked and wanted to talk to. He used to be very well disposed. She felt stupid for letting her childhood puppy crush turn to a stupid incoherent teenage big crush. More so were the high hopes that she had piled up had now crumble down into a huge mess.

 Concurrently, she was also sad that he didn’t remember her. Well if he did he didn’t show it. He was busy trying to make a pass at her. But really how could he remember her while they had never even talk. She gave out a big sigh full of frustration and contempt. How much more ridiculous could she get, here she was asking herself irrelevant questions. She was right to fear the unknown, for they were still unknown.

Before she could contemplate her fuzzy fate any further, she noticed they were already in Liz’s street. It was a beautiful neighborhood, conspicuous with well to do families. Judging from their large stylish homes and colorful mowed gardens, one certainly had to earn enough to keep up.

 When she compared it to her own surroundings, the only one word that could summarize everything was modest. Not that she was being ungrateful; Not at all, as a matter of fact she loved her home, serene and neighbor friendly. It was just healthy to want an experience of life in places this different once in a while. Everyone just minded their own business. The distance from one house to another helped emphasize. It looked like a silent rule saying no crossing boundaries.

They parked their cars and strolled inside.  Liz’s house was a one storey, white house with large windows, big mahogany doors and ample space. They were welcomed by a large entrance with a ceiling adorned by a glittering chandelier. It always felt foreign whenever she was in her house. She usually refrained from touching anything with fear of demolition. With such houses one may never know, a simple looking lamb may be worth a fortune.

Liz’s dad was a partner at a reputable law firm downtown, whereas her mother was a manager at a fancy art gallery. That described the exquisite paintings on nearly every wall. Delicate pieces of artifacts were positioned in unbothered corners of the lounge.  The surroundings kinda felt like a mini gallery.

They walked into the huge marble kitchen. It had the kind of facilities one found in restaurants. It was her personal second favorite part of the house, which was naturally Carol’s favorite.

The last and only time Carol was in the house, was during Liz’s birthday party. She had spent every time she could in the kitchen with pretence of managing the caterers. She literally dreamt of owning a kitchen with that status. It became their in-house joke that they were not treating their kitchen fairly. Liz was always complaining on how she was tired of restaurant meals and takeouts. 

Liz pulled the fridge open and she realized how hungry she felt.

She threw an eye on her phone and saw it was fifteen hours.

“You’re up for a peanut butter sandwich?” Liz called out for her, while holding on to a peanut butter jar.

“Yeah, sure” She said, scanning a fashion magazine she found lying on the kitchen table.

The thought of her mother, brought her to registering that she had not informed her of her sleeping plans. Thinking about it, neither had she told her about the car she bought.

She immediately picked her phone, and decided against calling her. She could hear her own voice cranky as she talked. If Carol noticed something wrong she’d want her back home.

 Hey mom, scored a 2010 VW. It’s silver n cute.

 Am spending the night at Liz’s. C u tomorrow.

 Gudnyt to you n Zack. 

Love you both.

She reread the message three times, cross checking for any hints of desperation then finally sent it.

She stared at her display, swirling around her paranoia while wishing so hard that carol doesn’t call. She really didn’t feel like talking. There was no room for faking her irritation at that point. She was too irritated to ace any act that moment.

She was not ready to go home. Not prepared to enter her room and face that poster, confront his face. It had been glued there for two whole wasted years. In the duration, she had been a loyal fan and believer. She was afraid she may destroy her room with rage, with all the excess fury she was beholding. She may end up turning her unsung infatuation frustrations to tearing the walls down.

Twenty minutes after her message was sent, the caller tune called out for her attention. She jumped to her feet and dashed over to Liz.

“It’s mom. I don’t want to talk to her, just um, tell her… I went to take a shower, oh no it’s too early for shower… tell I went to get pizza and to leave you a message if she needed anything”

“Okay” she nodded taking the phone.

“Hey Carol, it’s Liz.” Liz voice was incredibly small. Zoe frowned wondering where she was going with that tone.

“No, she can’t come to the phone right now, she went to buy pizza coz I’m having a piercing headache and she’s kinda babysitting. Hope you don’t mind.” Zoe’s mouth was slightly ajar. Wow. Had she always been too blind to see how good a liar Liz had become? She even forced out words to make it seem like she was struggling to talk.

“Okay, don’t worry, I will… okay, thank you. Good night.” Liz finished her act with a broad grin

“Well how did I do.” her voice held enough pride to accept otherwise. There was still need for confirmation.

“Wow. I am amazed. I almost believed your prank.” Zoe said then added “are you sure your fine.” Zoe faked a concerned look.

Liz laughed, totally pleased. “Well dear, you mama asked for a picture of your ride and asked you to cook me soup and take good care of me. She precisely…and I repeat, precisely  told me to tell you the following sentence, am quoting from word to word “ tell her not to feed you takeouts, tell her to cook you good healthy soup. Eeend quote, then she told us goodnight.”

“Thanks Liz, you nailed it.” she smiled pulling her phone from the marble counter then headed for her door.

“You come back fast, you have soup to make me.” Liz ordered.

“I will make you a punchy soup, very helpful for the sick.” she shouted. Her voice filled the wide halls with so much pressure.   

Understanding the subtext, Liz laughed “I’ll be in my room, waiting.” her reply reverberated through the thick walls.

“You stay put dear. I will treat you like never before.”

 When Zoe got outside, she smiled to Liz’s laughter. Her own tension scale dropping. An hour ago it was ranging between dangerous numbers 7 to 9 and now it was playing around 5 and 3. That was a relief. She needed her mood steady for some fun. No one or nothing will destroy that.

She shot a number of snaps of the Volks and simultaneously sent them to Carol. She walked back to the house, as she climbed the porch step Carol replied with a message …

I like it for you.

It’s simple and girlish.

Good for you sweetie.

She automatically smiled and returned inside. Her smile broadened conspicuously when she thought of her promise to Liz. She playfully took three stairs at a time and was done in no time. Liz’s room was between her parents and the guest room. She got to her door and masked the cold door knob with her warm palm and with no much effort the door was open. Her eyes lit up to the lovely acquaintance.

 Liz was the pink kinda girl but she loved blue nonetheless. Her room was incorporated with both colors. It was painted half baby pink and half baby blue. The colors gave way to a crazy cool combo that did wonders for her little nest. The floor was covered by a smooth blue carpet. Her bed was a perfect fit and had a pink bedspread.

She had a blue bathroom and a pink wardrobe. So much in the room was blue and pink, but the coordination had inspired serenity and liveliness. She grimaced after noticing a certain change which she could not wrap her finger on.

Liz was settled on a couch by the door. In front of her was a table decorated with a plate made invisible by a pile of sandwiches and two unlabeled bottles of liquor. She looked up at her and noticed her uncertainty.

“I removed his picture, that’s the change you see.” Liz offered as she observed her ahaa moment settle in.

“That right,” she agreed dropping her weight on the sofa beside Liz. “I was really stressing about the change” she breathed her eyes on the bottles “Why should I drink from unlabeled bottles?” she inquired while sniffing the contents of the hard drink.

Liz bent swiftly stretching out for a sandwich then settled back on the couch. Zoe observed her taking her time. The way she yanked her sandwich, then smoothly ensconced back on the couch. Her face was impassive and she was certain it was all act. 

She chewed on a small bit then threw her a lazy eye “Don’t feel like talking Zoe, not now.” She contrived, imitating Zoe’s stunt at the beach.

Zoe encrypted the code and lashed out with a pillow on her hands ready for a fight. “You gonna to get it missy.” Liz jumped in defense, rushing for her own weapon. She grabbed a bigger pillow by the bed and as compared to the small one Zoe was clinging to, Zoe had no chance.  She grinned confidently knowing that with this fight she would definitely end up victor.

The pillow fight was short lived. They were both too hungry for a long scrap. They crumbled to the sofa and feasted of the sandwiches like two street children. After feeding their growling tummies, they laid on the sofa silently consuming the first bottle of liquor.

Liz had earlier informed her that it was her father’s recent habits to peel out a label while drinking.  A not so awkward pastime for a hotshot lawyer, who knows it could have been worse.

Liz was staring absentmindedly at her pink door, with a half full glass on her hand. She changed posture and turned her gaze at Zoe. Although Zoe was not looking at her she could feel the intensity of her gaze envelope her. She submitted to the gaze when she heard her speak.

“You know.” she begun leveling their eyes “when I saw you slap him, I remembered one thing” Zoe’s eyes grew smaller with waxed interest. Liz sheered her eyes back to the door and smiled to her memory “I remembered the very first time we met.”

This time Zoe’s eyes shot up and smiled along with her “Oh My God” she whispered, “That was such a long time ago. You remembered Suzanne.”

“Yea, I don’t think I can ever forget that day. It kinda changed my whole life. I still remember the fear in my eyes when Suzanne’s grip was hurting my neck. The way she was forcing me to eat the stupid fish, Plus all her heartless minions craning around us in support of the torture. The allergy always made me look so bad and I hated it with every bone in my body. I don’t even know how she found out that I had fish allergy. So having to go through that humiliation just because of a bully was even more exasperating.

“When I saw you coming towards us, with so much confidence and those blue eyes so angrily fixed on Suzanne, I knew you were my rescue. But when I took a closer look at your tiny physique I grimaced. Suzanne was twice your size! Then I thought, what is this skinny girl tryna to do? Liz chucked and Zoe smiled, her eyes not leaving Liz’s face.

“I was so shocked…. no, not shocked, I was beyond surprised when you came up to her so super smoothly. You whispered God knows what to her ear and she left! running for her life.” Liz laughed again to the images in her memory. “Come to think of it, you never told me what you told her.”  

“You will not believe what sent her running. I wasn’t sure if the trick would work, but you were looking so frightened. It was heartbreaking to just watch and do nothing.” she paused for a few seconds then continued “I told her, have you ever heard any creepy rumors about me? She nodded then I said well, its true, so if you want to sleep at night you better leave the girl alone, or else I’ll give you a week of nightmares.” she confessed.

“Whaaaat? That is what got her off my back?” she asked genuine surprise on her face.

“Yup, that was it.” Zoe asserted “I guess the confidence helped. And I used a creepy tone to spice it up. It was kinda fun.” she chuckled.

“It’s good she tried to bully me.”

“And how is wetting your pants good?”

Liz gave forth a short laugh “Because I met you, if it wasn’t for that incident, do you think we would have been friends?”

“You may never know, our paths might have crossed somehow.”

“Yeah. maybe.” Liz agreed thoughtfully.

Without monish the gray sky had turned dark and the darkness started penetrating into the room. The booze was kicking in her system. Zoe already felt her joints weaken, her body swaying and her humor getting better, way better than that afternoon.

She stood up with difficulty, supporting her back with the couch.

“Are we going to stay in the dark?” she asked.

“It’s kinda cooool, everything is just sooo blaaaaack” Liz’s drunk reply made it sound much funnier that they resorted to laughter.

“I’ll make a quick run on the lights, then will be back in a sec.” Liz’s voice was mildly dry but not as lazy and groggy as hers.

“Okay” Zoe said.