C I N: "Lynn, Lynn, the city of sin. You never come out the way you went in." (The C I N Series) (6 page)

“Why would it be pointless, Ally?”

She shrugged. “Then they have something to blackmail you with.”

“You sure are selfish. Having a close friend is like a chocolate sundae on a hot day; pure heaven.”

Ally followed me back to my room. She sat on the edge of the bed. “Did you ever have a best friend?”

“Back home I did.”

“So now you are not best friends anymore?”

“We’ll always be friends, and I even promised to write to her while I was here. Sometimes people grow apart, but that doesn’t mean that the friendship wasn’t real. I miss Katie more than you could imagine.”

Ally touched a single strand of my hair. Pig jumped into the bed and growled.

“Shut up, Pig.” She looked into my eyes for a few seconds as if she were trying to make a difficult choice. “How does one act when they are best friends?”

“Are you serious? Haven’t you ever had a friend before?”

“I am not asking you to be my friend, Lisa Brown; I am asking what one does when they are close.”

“Well, we share secrets, do each other’s hair and make-up, talk about boys, hang out, talk about boys some more, just do stuff, I guess.”

“Let’s play this shallow game of yours, then.” She skipped out of the room and came back with a cosmetic bag. “This is my mom’s. I don’t have any make-up of my own. I think it is stupid but since you like it I will see what the big deal is.”

“Curb your enthusiasm, Ally,” I said, rolling my eyes. I opened the bag and found dried out bottles of mascara, lipstick and nail polish. The make-up must’ve been ancient. I didn’t really want to play dress up with Ally but maybe she would cut me some slack and maybe we could ‘coexist’ as my Aunt wanted. Where was Aunt Millie, anyway?

“Okay, this is just for experimental purposes.” Ally informed me. “This does not make us friends.”

“I wouldn’t dare think that you were my friend,” I retorted. “Sit closer so I can make up your face.” She obeyed, leaning forward. I brushed on loose powder and some bronzer. I put a little water in the mascara and applied it to her eyelashes. Her eyes were very bright. I put some lip gloss on her lips and smiled. Ally was beautiful naturally but with make up she looked like a totally different person. She actually appeared normal.

“Go ahead and take a look in the mirror.”

She got up and went into the bathroom. She stayed in there a long time before returning. Her eyes danced just like my mom’s did when she was happy. Was Ally enjoying herself? What a miracle! I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make her happy. Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all.

“My turn,” Ally grinned. “Close your eyes. I’m going to use liquid eye shadow on you.”

“Okay.” I didn’t remember seeing any in the bag but I hadn’t looked too carefully, either.

“I’ve never put make up on myself let alone anyone else, so be open minded.”

“It’s okay; we aren’t going anywhere—just having fun.” She painted my eyelids, lips and even my cheeks with her liquid stuff.

“Okay, I’m done. Go ahead and take a look in the bathroom.” Ally smiled from ear to ear. “I really think you will like it.”

I got up and went into the bathroom.

I flipped on the light.

Pig snorted.

I looked in the mirror.

…and gasped.

There was permanent black magic marker all over my lips, cheeks and eyelids. “ALLY!!” I looked like a clown. She really was heartless. I thought we were having fun. She couldn’t be nice even for a few minutes. “You, evil selfish jerk! No wonder you don’t have any friends!”

I ran down the hallway and out the front entrance. I slammed the door in Pig’s face. He didn’t need to follow me. I wanted to be alone, anyway. Why had my mom sent me to this horrible place? Who were these people and how could Ally do such a mean thing? If I had half a brain I would punch her right in her nose. But, then where would I go? Millie made it very clear that Alex and Ally come first, then the animals and then, if I was lucky, me. At least I was more important than the hens.

I stopped running when I got to the chicken coop. I scrunched down behind the henhouse with my head between my legs. I wasn’t going to cry. Ally didn’t deserve my tears. Well, maybe a few drops but they were not for her. They were for me. I wiped away the non-tears that trickled down my cheeks.

Rat jumped down from the hen house and stood in front of me. She flicked her tail and growled. “Leave me alone. Do you see what Ally did to my face?” I pointed at my clown face. “It’s permanent marker so it will stick for days.”

Rat continued to growl at me and finally she stepped closer and hissed. She extended her claws.

“You don’t scare me.” I rolled my eyes and turned my back to her. “You look like a Halloween cat when you arch your back like that. It’s stupid and you’re a poor excuse for a cat.”

Rat sat down and began grooming herself. I curled up in the fetal position. I wanted my mom. I wanted to be back home in Florida away from this crazy family. When would I get to go back? When would my mom call and send for me? She’d said it wouldn’t be too long and that I could come back to Florida and finish the school year off with my old friends. That would be nice.

Rat meowed. I looked into her round eyes. She purred.

“Is this some kind of trick? Are you trying to seduce me into touching you so that you can attack me?” Rat pranced in a circle. “Yeah, you’re twisted, just like Ally. I’m gonna call you Two Faced Cat.”

Rat didn’t approve. She hissed inches from my nose. I could smell her warm breath. “If you don’t want to be my friend then get lost already.” Rat obeyed, jumping up above me and back onto the henhouse.

I lay flat on my back and looked up at the stars. They twinkled. The skies cleared so beautifully after a storm here in Massachusetts. It was a little chilly but not like last night. I could just sleep out here. Alex and Ally wouldn’t mind. I certainly wouldn’t either. I turned to look at the house. Two silhouettes stood in front of the window just in my line of vision. Inside, I could hear Alex and Ally shouting.

When Alex yelled, the lights in the house flickered on and off.

Probably just coincidence.

Seven
Absolute Humiliation

In the morning I found myself in a bed. I didn’t remember ever coming back into the house. I was on a twin with a feather-top mattress. The room was dark and the windows were boarded up so that very little sun leaked in.

I rubbed my eyes and yawned. Pig jumped up onto the bed and wagged his tail as if he wanted to go outside. “Where are we, Pig?” It felt weird not being able to touch him. I wanted to pick him up and squeeze him tight to my chest. He’d probably have a heart attack. Poor, crazy dog…

My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness and finally I could see my surroundings. There was a shelf on the wall just like in Ally’s room and a recliner chair. In it, it looked like a man sat sleeping.
Impossible
. Where was I? Was it Alex?

“Alex?” I whispered. The man’s head jerked up. He lifted his hand and turned on a reading lamp above his head.

It was Alex.

“What?”

“How’d I get in here?”

“Would you rather sleep in Ally’s room with her?”

“No, I—”

“Then just be happy already.” He turned on his side and closed his eyes.

“What about the chickens?”

“Done, go to sleep.”

“I can’t. Did I sleep outside all night?”

“No.”

“Well, who brought me in here? It wasn’t you, obviously seeing as you don’t touch people.” I crossed my arms. This was one question he was going to answer. I was sick of him ignoring me and bossing me around.

“Lisa, do you really want to get in an argument over how you ended up sleeping in a bed instead of outside in the dirt?”

“If I have to, then yes. I would like to know.”

“Who do you think put you in my room? Do you think that Ally or Millie could possible lift you?”

“You don’t have to talk down to me.”

“You’re like a child. Why is the sky blue, why is the grass green; why, why, why. I carried you in here.”

“I kind of figured…” I rolled over onto my side so that my back faced him. “Why’d you break your ‘no touching’ rule?”

“You looked cold.”

“You could’ve just brought me a blanket. That wouldn’t have violated your rule.”

“Do you always talk so much?” Alex looked up. He flipped the switch and light filled the room. “Why can’t you just—”

“Have you ever had a girlfriend before?” I doubted it. He was harsh and didn’t seem to be interested in anything. Was he so smart that all he thought about were his studies? That would be sad. I couldn’t understand people like that. Didn’t they want to have someone to hold hands and cuddle with? I sure did. I would be happy to have the dog hug me! My standards had really suffered since coming to Lynn.

“Why would you ask me that? Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

I jerked back, shocked. “I was just trying to get to know you.”

“Well, if I wanted to tell you something I would.” Alex leaned forward in his chair. “Can’t you just let things happen?”

“I’m waiting very patiently for Pig to let me pet him. So, yes, I can wait.”

“Do you want a boyfriend? Is that why you’re asking me this?”

“It’s just that you can be so obnoxious sometimes and blunt that I was curious if you treated your girlfriends that way, too. If you ever had any, that is.”

Alex grinned. “I guess I should find myself a girlfriend. Will that get you off my back?”

“No, I was just curious. Why’s it so difficult for you to answer a simple question? I get a response for maybe one out of five inquiries. It’s so annoying.”

“When school starts I’ll get a girlfriend and then I will be able to answer you.” He turned out the light again and I knew he was done with our conversation.

“You’d have to touch her.” I threw the blanket over my head. Pig didn’t like that too much; me covering my whole body—disappearing underneath the covers. He grunted and let out a sigh.

Ally pounded on the bedroom door. “Lisa, you have a guest. He says you are supposed to go out with him today.” She stomped down the hall. “All these visitors are really getting to me! My life used to be so simple; now with that girl, it has turned into an avalanche of people and drama.”

I had to admit, I didn’t understand a word she said. I think she was trying to say I was messing up her routine, but with Ally you never could be sure. I crawled out of bed and Pig followed me down the hall. I figured she wouldn’t invite whoever it was inside so I went out to the porch.

Michael sat on the purple porch swing in his beanie cap and a long sleeved shirt. His eyes widened when he saw me. My hair must be sticking up. I ran my fingers through my hair and smiled. “Hi, I just woke up so I am sorry if I look a mess.” He grinned, lowering his head. “What’s so funny?”

“Did you look in the mirror?” I gasped.
Ally
… She made me so sick.

“I have black magic marker all over my face, don’t I?”

Michael nodded.

“Terrific. I hate that girl.”

“Ally did this to you?” Michael’s eyes widened. “I knew she was horrible, but I never thought she’d do something so cruel—”

“You’re the one who called her a Nazi Commandant!” I screamed.

He jumped up from the swing and covered my mouth with his hand. “Are you crazy? She will hear you.”

I shoved him away. “I couldn’t care less if she heard me. Look at my face. LOOOK at it!” I kicked the wooden railing on the porch. All that did was hurt my foot. I fell down and grabbed my toes. “Why’d I just do that?”

Michael leaned over me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s go next door to Millie’s house and get you cleaned up. A little hairspray and it will be off your face in no time.” He lifted me up and guided me across the yard to Millie’s house. Pig followed with excitement. “What in the world did you do to that dog?” Michael shook his head.

When Aunt Millie saw my face she froze in the center of the room. “What did you do to your face?”

I frowned. What did
I
do? Figures she’d assume it was me who did it and not her star pupil.

“Ally did this to my face. She tricked me into thinking we were going to do each other’s make-up.”

“Ally doesn’t wear make-up.”

“Yes, I know. She brought in her mother’s old make up and we used that—well I used that on her face but she used a permanent marker on my face. What good times we had last night.”
Where were you
Aunt Millie, when all this was happening? You should’ve been home so that you could’ve intervened.

“Do you have any hairspray?” She nodded and pointed down the hall. I followed Michael into the bathroom.

I looked into the mirror and forced myself not to cry. I looked hideous. I was surprised Michael hadn’t run for the hills just so he could get away from me. MY FACE HAD BLACK MARKER ALL OVER IT. I was going to kill Ally. She’d played her last practical joke on me. Who did she think she was?

“Close your eyes,” Michael ordered, pointing a bottle of hairspray at me. I jerked back.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to spray your face with it. This helps get ink out. Trust me.” He half smiled. I closed my eyes and Michael squirted. The hairspray stuck to my skin and it felt gross. He took a wet wash cloth and scrubbed.

“This is awful,” I pushed against his chest.

“Stop moving, this stuff is really tough to get out.” Michael squirted my face with more hairspray.

“You could warn me before you sprits my face!” I smacked him in the shoulder.

He laughed. “Even when I’m trying to help you, you still hit me. Hold still,” he directed, rubbing my cheeks with the cloth. “Hmmm, I think you look better now; a little red but much better.”

I opened my eyes and stared at my reflection. Most of the ink was gone. It looked like I had some gray eye shadow on my lids and you could barely tell there was ink on my cheeks. My lips were still completely black.

“I kind of like the black on your lips. It looks cool.”

“Well, it’s coming off,” I decided, grabbing the hairspray. I rubbed my lips until they burned. “I can’t believe Ally would do something like this. What happened to her to make her so mean?”

“I think she is just a bad seed. She’s never done anything this horrible before, though, at least not to my knowledge, but I guess none of the girls at C I N would ever admit to having been painted with magic marker to anyone.”

“I certainly won’t be telling anyone.”

Michael chuckled.

I rolled my eyes at him. “You wouldn’t be laughing if this stuff was on your face.”

“No, probably not; it’s a good thing it was you she did this to. I would have a hard time explaining to my mother why I was putting make-up on.”

I laughed. That would’ve been funny.

“I think maybe you should meet Donna this Saturday at the Bonfire by the ocean. All that ink should be gone from your face by then. Don’t worry; I’ll keep this a secret.”

“You are just too kind. Want to stay for breakfast?”

He shook his head. “It’s noon. You’ve slept the morning away. I have to go meet Donna and let her know you can’t join us. We were going to take you into town, to the mall.”

“Are you trying to make me jealous? The mall? If I didn’t look like a clown I’d so be there.”

“Sorry about your face, Lisa.” Michael smiled and I beamed. It was a good thing I didn’t run him off the first day I met him. He wasn’t so bad after all.

I sat down in one of the recliners and turned on the television. Michael waved before disappearing through the front door. I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. On the news there were reports of three hurricanes forming near Florida. I leaned up and squinted to read the small print. California suffered a slight earthquake and a tropical storm had devastated Puerto Rico’s coastline.