We are sitting in the living room of the Hillards and speaking about the party in the evening at the Carpenters. Their daughter's birthday has been turned into a rather big party, where almost everyone from the city has been invited. Me too, and Taylor, and Ivo, Yvonne, and their classmates. We have been sent there to help to organize the event. I don't know why, because the house has been full of the staff, but we have been there. I really liked to be there. The house is beautiful and Mrs. Carpenter has been proved to be a genius organizer, and a very heartwarming woman, so she sent us to taste the buffet, and help with the decoration. Many of our benefits has been not taken, but it has been felt good to be there in the house of such a kind, loving family. Especially that there are a lot of other people in this love.
Only one thing hasn't changed. I still can't stand that girl. Vanessa Carpenter. But Sylvia's stepson is deep in love with her. Poor guy. That girl is everything, but a suitable wife for a man from a good family. I had high hopes in Taylor, but my sister fell in love with the doctor's son, not Andrew Harris. So I had to support Taylor and her friends' effort to make a grand birthday party for that girl. Yvonne has told me, that Andrew had already bought a ring for Vanessa, so another wedding is on its way. Poor Andrew, but love is blind. Although, the old saying goes, a whore will be the best wife.
The party is planned to be a very big one. The food, the decoration is above everything I could imagine. Lucky girl. Her family is really love her. My birthday party was nowhere to this one, not to mention Taylor's. However, that girl has disappointed her family and friends. She has been nowhere. I could imagine, that she is joyfully drinking somewhere, or spending the time in someone's bed. I don't voice my opinion because Ivo and Yvonne are strangely behave, as if they are worried about Vanessa Carpenter.
Moreover their father is definitely worried about that girl. He has even torn Vanessa Carpenter's bag. After he insulted everyone of us. He has picked a small box of medicine out of the schoolbag, and spill the tablets to the table. I carefully look at the label, where is an antidepressant's name is seen, beside Vanessa Carpenter's. Pascal Hillard counts the tablets, checks the date on the box, stares at the box for a while, and in the end he buries his face in the palms.
"Since when is she not taking the medicine?" I ask him suddenly. I am not curious, just want to break the silence.
"Three days." He says despondently.
"Is Vanessa sick?" asks Yvonne quietly.
"Have you checked the papers?" He asks back.
Obviously not, so the doc checks them himself. He sighs in the end.
"Did the Carpenters announce the disappearance of their daughter?" he asks us.
"We don't know." I answer him.
The others are just sitting. They are a bit frightened, and doesn't understand anything. I am blaming the doctor not noticing the kids' state. He just goes to his room with the telephone, and calls someone. A minute later he comes back, put the telephone back to the shelf, and get the bottle of whiskey. He opens the bottle, and gulp a big dose from the alcohol.
"Alcohol does not solve anything." I tell him.
"But at least it makes you bearable. It's just a shame it hasn't worked yet." he replies.
I don't want to answer. I'm used to insults already, I could insult him too, but I have to be mindful of the kids 'state of mind. So we are staring each other in silence. I am the more impatient.
"Is that girl really sick?" I ask, and feeling some guilt. I didn't know the girl is fighting with depression. Maybe I would have treated her differently if I knew that. But I think her living conditions preclude this diagnosis. Others live in much worse conditions and yet are not depressed.
"Yes, she is sick. If she's still alive." He says, and drinks another dose from the bottle. "Her parents not even searching for her. The party will be held anyway. So go and enjoy! I don't want to see you."
He goes to his room, and slams the door behind him. Well, I don't really like Ivo's father either. I can't understand why he prefers Vanessa Carpenter over his kids. Even in the living room showcase, the girl's trophies predominate and he barely has any of his own children's prizes. It could have been difficult for Ivo and Yvonne growing up in an environment like this. Their father is right. We better get out of here.
"Okay, let's go to the party!" I ask the kids cheerfully.
"But Vanessa..." Yvonne begins, and tears are flowing on her cheek.
"She simply went to the hospital to get her cast off, and she left herself in the town. Don't worry. She will show up at her party on time. Hopefully she won't be totally drunk."
As soon as the twins are done dressing up, Ivo takes his father's car keys and takes us home to Sylvia. Ivo doesn't ask for the key and I can only approve of his procedure. His father is a big jerk, and probably would send them to the party on feet. Sylvia doesn't come with us, the pregnancy, and the events of the previous day make her tired. She has to take a rest, but she has time to help us preparing. We got dresses from her. Off-white party dresses with silver glitter threads. They are beautiful! Unfortunately, we both have short hair, so we can't conjure a hairstyle out of it. Aside from this little thing, I feel like a princess.
Peter comes for me with his father's Bentley, so the dream continues. I enjoy being with him, and I really love his pampering. I have needed this so much! The party goes beyond luxury, there is a band. It seems they are a classical music band, but the are playing modern pieces in classical style, so Peter and I are dancing. He is a fabulous dancer, and a real pervert. He is whispering things into my ear, while we are dancing. Well I really like, when he is saying, that he is in love with me, and I am the most beautiful woman here, but when he starts, that he would be making love with me here and now, well it is beyond my limit.
I like making love with him, really, but here? No. Definitely not. I don't want anyone to see us. However, Pete is not shy. He offers the back seat of the car, where we wouldn't be seen by anyone. He whispers, that I am very desirable and he can't wait to be naked. It excites me, too, but we can't leave the party yet. However, the opportunity excited me too, so I persuaded Pete to look for an empty room in the house. We're leaving the dancefloor, but a lot of acquaintances here are at a disadvantage now.
They are very kind, and friendly, but they keep stopping us, asking about our wedding. However, there's not much we can say yet, just that we wait until Sylvia Harris gives life to her twins, because we wish she could be there too. No, we will not run away to marry in secret. We haven't even looked for our shared home yet, so houses are being offered to us. Eventually, Mrs. Carpenter rescue us. She says, that this house is suitable for a wedding, and if we want to hold our ceremony here, she is in. She adds, that we are a very cute couple, and allows us to explore the house.
Well, their house is beautiful, and elegant, but full. Full with couples who are making… and not just couples. We find a big team in the dining room. No, they don't do THAT together, but they shield a pair, who does. Moreover they are making video with their cellphones about the … erm… event. Which will be soon over, judging by the sounds, the boys make. A minute later the act ends, the crowd begins to scatter. I notice Andrew Harris in the crowd in amazement. His suit is a little messy and he grins confidently to another boy with the same outfit. Only the girl who has been in the middle of the crowd not smiling. Her eyes are dim and somewhat sad. I can't dispel the idea that she was just raped.
"Will I take you home?" asks a male voice behind me.
But he doesn't address his words to me, but the girl. The girl shakes her head, forces a smile on her face and leaves the room.
"Go to Dr. Hillard tomorrow morning!" The man cries after the girl. "And you? Are you all right?"
I can't answer. I am still under the influence of what happened and I don't understand anything. "Come with me!" he asks, but I can't move either.
He grabs my arm, and begins to pull me into the house. He stops at the corner, and opens a door with keycard. It is small working room, full with books. He makes me sit down into a comfortable armchair, and put a glass of whiskey into my hand.
"I'm sorry. Not a female drink, but that's all I'm holding here."
The whiskey is bad, I don't like it at all, but warms me up from head to toe. Now I also know who this man is. Ashton Carpenter. Vanessa Carpenter's father.
"You're familiar from somewhere." He says, after he drinks his own portion.
"I am the new PE teacher in the school." I say, but he shakes his head.
"Stay as long as you like, and leave the card at the stuff for me." He gives me the keycard, and leaves the room.
I stay. The events have shaken me a bit. I think, I had a wild past, but I look like a nun to these kids, and the age gap is only 6 years. I follow the fireworks from the safety of the room, and leaving after the most of the guests have already left the house. I give the key to one of the servants, and begin to search for Peter. I quickly find his car, but that car is moving. More ringing, than moving. My terrible conjectures are beginning to take over. As I get closer, the conjectures become certain. It is Peter, with a girl. The girl is on his lap, and they are making sex. Although the girl is crying a different name, and Peter says my name again and again. His gaze somehow wanders to me, and I see that he is totally drunken.
"Savannah, why are you there when you're here?" he asks me in incoherent voice.