she’d only now come back to town? Away at school? He’d heard the Trenton’s had a son and a daughter, but she’d sure never gone to school with them and he’d never seen her. Lia had come home, and her parents, for some reason, had decided she was to go to public school. And here he’d thought the Merc was their family car, but he knew the Trenton’s were either driving a Mercedes or at least, a Rolls. He’d seen Warren Trenton in the Rolls. The Merc was probably the car she drove when she went slumming.
“Man, Dari, I never woulda thunk it! Lia always seemed a little shy, backward, you know, like she didn’t have a pot to pee in. One of the Trenton’s? I just can’t believe it!” Butch shook his head, staring at Dari who was staring straight ahead, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
“Just goes to show how people can fool ya, don’t it, Butch? She was probably laughing at us the entire time, thinking how stupid we must be to believe her shit.” He hit the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. “And to think I saved for weeks to buy her that necklace for Christmas! She probably has underwear that costs more than that necklace did.” And he remembered back to the tears that filled her eyes when he’d fastened the gold chain around her neck, as if he were giving her something really special. Man, how could he have been so taken in by the girl?
“Well, at least you know that now. Just what are you going to do about it? Are ya gonna tell her you followed her, or wait until she tells you? You know she’ll have to say something sooner or later. Hell, her mom ain’t strict. Lia was just usin’ that. She just has to grow up and marry somebody named C. Henry Smythe III or somebody like that.”
“Just keep this under your hat for the time being, Butch. She’s been laughing at us all this time, going home after bein’ out with us, calling all her rich friends, and puttin’ us down. That’s probably what she’s doin’ right now and her own family party was why she had to leave my house early. Did you see all those Caddies, Jags and Lincolns parked in that fancy circular driveway in front of the place? Oh, they were having a party, all right. And she had to get home before midnight.” He laughed a bitter laugh. “Just like Cinderella, only that Merc won’t turn into a pumpkin. Just let it ride and we’ll see how she feels when it all blows up in her face.”
Dari was talking tough to Butch, but he felt as if his world had just fallen apart. How could she do that? How could she pretend to care so much for him? With her ‘Oh Dari, you’re the only boy I ever wanted to kiss’. God, he felt like such a fool, and now that Butch knew, everyone in school would know, too. He wished he hadn’t brought Butch with him then he could have simply broken up with her, after he’d told her that he knew about her cruel deception, and that would be that. But now everyone would know that he’d been a fool, going around bragging about his beautiful, sweet, wonderful girlfriend. And she was nothin’ but one big fat lie!
When they arrived back at the party, he tried to pretend nothing was wrong, but couldn’t pull it off. His mom asked him what was the matter with him, but he just said he didn’t feel good, must have eaten too much and drank too much soda. He was actually glad when everyone had gone, and he’d warned Butch again not to tell anyone about Lia being one of the Trenton’s.
Darian went to his room, sat down on his bed, and put his head in his hands. He sat in the dark, his heart feeling like one big block of ice. How could she do this to him? And how could he not have known that something was wrong? Sneaking around in that big car, never letting him come to her house or telling him anything much about her family. Had he had blinders on or something that he couldn’t tell it was all a game to her? They’d even talked about a future together, and he did remember that she hadn’t wanted to talk about it. No wonder. She knew there could never be a future with him. To her, it had all been a lark. And everyone talked about how boys took girls for a ride, but buddy, he had been picked up and taken for a three month love trip. And he’d followed the rich bitch like a homeless puppy. Feeling guilty for even thinking that way, he couldn’t call her that. She wasn’t like that. But what was she?
He hated to admit it, but even now he wanted to be with her. To be holding her in his arms. To climb into that warm bed with her and… Oh, God! How was he ever going to get over this! For the first time in his life, he felt like running away from home. Just going someplace where nobody knew him and especially what a sucker he’d been. The bad part about that was wherever he went, Lia would go with him. She would never leave his heart.
Five
Mylia parked the car in the garage, and as fast as she dared because of the thin glaze of snow that covered the steps, she hurried to her mother. She knew that her mom hadn’t been feeling well when she left to go to Dari’s but May Li would not hear of Mylia staying home and missing the party. They’d argued about it, but May Li had told her she was going to go to bed and she had everything she needed close by. Mylia could forget about her for the time she would be away and she wanted to hear all about the party when Lia returned.
“You have good time, Mylia. I go to bed. I just tired. Give Dari big kiss. Yum, yum. Love you, my Mylia.” Those were the last words her mother had said to her.
Lia couldn’t wait to tell her mom what a great time she’d had at the party, about all the good food, and especially how nice Dari’s parents and younger sister were.
“I’m home, Mom. How’re you doing?” Her mother was evidently asleep because the customary ‘Mylia, that you?’ was not forthcoming.
The woman lay on the bed, not answering, and did not have the quilt pulled up as she usually did. Mylia rushed to her. She’d surely get cold lying on top of the quilt like that. But when she got to her, she felt cold and clammy to the touch. Alarmed, Lia quickly became more terrified than she’d ever been in her life. It felt like someone had punched her in the stomach and rammed their fist all the way to her spine.
“Mom? Are you okay? Mom!” May Li did not answer her and Lia anxiously put her head to her chest. A heartbeat. Yes, there was a faint heartbeat. She had to get some help!
Not even thinking, she ran back down the steps, sliding, but determined to get to the back door of her uncle’s house. She knocked, rapidly and loudly on the glass. Terrified, she knocked again, hoping to be heard over the music and laughter evident inside the large place. She never thought of the doorbell, which was at every door in the mansion.
Finally, a maid answered. “Yes. May I help you?” She didn’t even recognize the girl.
“I’m Mylia and my mother is very sick. Please! I need to speak to Uncle Warren. Tell him to come. She’s very sick.” And she ran back to the rooms over the garage.
She waited, rubbing a warm wet cloth over her mother’s face, holding her mother’s hand, talking to her, trying anything to get her out of the stupor. May Li looked so helpless and it seemed she’d lost her color, and even though Lia had covered her well, she was still cold to the touch. Her breath was shallow, but she was breathing.
Evidently she had gotten weak and just fell across the bed. If only she hadn’t left her tonight, knowing she was not well! But she had wanted to go to the party so badly, to be with Dari, and her mother had talked her into going, assuring her that she would be all right.
Her Uncle Warren finally made his way up the steps. After assessing the situation he spoke to Mylia. “She looks pretty bad, Lia. The only thing I know to do is get her to a hospital. You have the car. Take her to the Baptist Hospital over on North High Street. They take charity cases. I’m sorry, but I must get back to my guests. It will be midnight soon and my wife will never forgive me if I’m not there. Call me, Lia, and let me know how she’s doing.”
Even though her uncle had acted concerned, she was on her own, with
