Crush

Image

Asher

Aaliyah sat next to me on the leather sofa in Dad's office and started twisting her hands in her lap, clearly bored already. Her dark curls were brushed away from her face in a ponytail and her hazel eyes were dull. She wasn't even trying to look interested. What twelve year-old girl would be interested in her Dad's work?

I leaned back against the sofa, trying to sink into the cushions, wanting them to swallow me up. My knee was bouncing.

Up.

Down.

I squeezed my hands into fists in my lap to help slow my breathing. I always felt like this when sitting in this office. I had no good memories of this room. Only ones that consisted of lectures, shouting and disappointment. And being afraid.

Always afraid.

Dad sat opposite us in the leather chair, all suited and booted, with a fake smile on his face, pretending to be the ever-attentive father.

"Now I know you two want to get back to your studying," Dad smiled at us. My stomach started to twist. He didn't know anything. "But I wanted you both to meet Ben." He motioned to the man sitting next to him, also suited and booted, with a fake smile on his face, just like my dad. His black hair was styled perfectly and his grey eyes looked cool and calculating. He looked as fake as his smile. I didn't like this guy already.

"Ben is my campaign manager. He's doing everything he can to make sure that I become mayor. And get as much money as we can." He and Ben looked at one another and shared a laugh.

Aaliyah and I glanced at each other. She rolled her eyes. I shrugged.

"Now Ben has a few things he wants to go over with you." Dad motioned to Ben. "Over to you."

"Thanks, Zain." Ben flashed Dad another smile. He turned to us. "Okay, I suppose the two of you have lots of questions about your father's mayoral campaign."

Not really. All I knew was that there were more people around the house, more people I didn't know and it gave me more reason to hang out with Oliver, away from the house.

Since my dad had turned our house into a circus, I did everything I could to stop Oliver from coming round. He'd asked a couple of times, as well as some of his friends, but I just couldn't let them come to the house to see how .... Not a home it was. Cold. Sterile. Strangers. I didn't want to be here, so I wasn't gonna let any of the guys come here either. Not Oliver.

Especially not Oliver.

Ben leaned across the coffee table and lifted a file that was lying there. He opened it and took out a few pages. He put them on the table and turned them to us.

"Here's some information on your dad's mayoral campaign. Just so you know what's going on and what's going to happen. I've written in there some important dates, too, of different events that you'll need to know about." He pointed to the papers. "There are some events that the two of you will need to attend, so make sure you clear your diaries for them." He smiled.

I frowned. "What sort of events?"

"Family events. There are some family days at the local schools and libraries that we'd like you to attend. Some of the restaurants in town are holding open days where you will go as a family to eat there, have your pictures taken, have a good time."

Of course. It was all about my Dad's image. How good he looked. How good his family looked. It was a bonus that we were an interracial family.

He turned to my sister. "I know you're a dancer, young lady. The local theatre is looking to add you to their cast for their upcoming musical."