The Brooks Boys

Chapter Eight

I wake up slowly from a great sleep. I don't feel nervous one bit. Well maybe a little. But its masked with a bucket load of excitement. I can't wait to get to Penola and meet new people.

I hop into the shower and think of all the possibilities of how this day could go. Maybe they will all forget about this stupid dare and I won't have to pretend to be Jai's girlfriend. Or maybe no one will believe that Jai and I are actually dating, so we decide to tell them all the truth and call off the dare. I hope it's one of these two scenarios. But for some reason I can't see any of them happening.

I am ready in no time, all I have to do now is slip on my red blazer and i'll be all set. I apply some eyeliner and mascara to my eyes before heading downstairs.

As I expected my dad is standing in the living room awaiting my arrival. He is holding a camera in one hand and holding his other arm out for me. He pulls me into a hug and says good morning.
"Are you excited dear?"
"I am actually." I smile.
"Well then lets take some pictures!"
I knew this would happen. My parents love taking pictures, of absolutely everything. My first tooth falling out, my first hair cut, when I broke my arm. If it happened they'll have a picture to prove it.
At our old house we had a picture cabinet. I was always scared to open it because I knew that if I did, i'd soon be buried in a photo avalanche.
My mother enters the room shortly and squeals with joy at the sight of me in my new uniform. She runs to hug me and grabs the camera from my dad. He steps back and laughs and waves his hands about signalling his surrender as my mother orders me around like a model.


After my photo shoot I head into the kitchen and dive into the special breakfast my mother made me. I'm glad my mother can cook well because if she cooked anything like my dad, i'd be eating burned porridge and cremated toast.
When i'm finished I check my appearance and wait patiently for April to come.

Shortly, there is a knock on the door. I kiss my parents good bye, grab my bag and get ready to leave the house. I open the door expecting to see April. I open my arms for a hug and look up. Beau is standing there. I quickly pull in my arms and look down. He smiles but doesn't say anything to me. I can tell he's still mad. I walk out of the house and close the door quickly. I would hate for my dad to come out now to start a convocation with my new friend. We walk out and down the steps in silence.

"Hi Ellie." Beau finally says. I'm glad that he's talking to me now and that he is still calling me Ellie but there is something behind his voice. He sounds upset.
"Hey Beau, like my uniform?" I say and twirl, hoping that it will put some joy back into his voice.
"Yeah you look, awesome." His eyes don't wander my body like I thought they would. They just stay put, fixed like glue onto mine.
"Thanks." We start to walk out of my drive, and through to the gates of April's house. This is not the same Beau that I met yesterday. Where has the flirty playful side of him gone? The side that I liked. Maybe that Beau doesn't really exist. He just comes alive when i'm 'single'.

We reach aprils front door and he puts his hand up to knock. I stop his hand by grabbing his wrist and turn to him.
"Look, i'm sorry if I upset you by saying yes to the dare, but what did you expect me to do?"
"I'm not upset, I just don't want Jai to think that your flirting with me or anything. You know what he said about jeopardising the relationship, and if he humiliates you it will be all my fault. I don't want that Ellie." The feeling is back behind his voice.
"Don't worry about me Beau, i'll be fine. I just don't want us not to speak because of Jai."
"Neither do I." He says and knocks on the door. "You look beautiful by the way." He says quietly with a smirk. He bites down on his lip to stop himself from smiling deeper.

Luke answers the door and looks us both up and down.
"Hi, Eleanor." He turns to Beau. "I hope you two haven't been up to anything naughty out there, it took you a long time to get back Beau." He jokes and gives me a playful wink.
"Fuck off" he says and pushes past him. I give Luke a smile and follow Beau upstairs.

"Eleanor!" April shouts and hugs me.
"Hey April." I say into the hug.
Beau plonks himself on the other side of her bed and turns with his back away from us. So much for being normal with each other.
Jai stands up slowly.
"Hey Eleanor, you look great." he says stiffly.
"Thanks Jai." he takes a hold of my hand awkwardly.
"Are you excited? Babe." He sounds shy, but it's not genuine.
"Yeah a little."

Luke bursts in and shouts "C'mon you slow coaches! We don't want Eleanor to be late for her first day of school, now do we?"
I smile at him and we all follow him downstairs. April says good bye to her parents and we leave the house. No matter how loud and annoying Luke can be, he is really kind and funny. Sort of like Troye. Minus the part when he made me go out with his evil twin.
I quickly push the thoughts of Troye to the back of my mind and focus on what April and Luke are talking about.

"No way am I getting back with her, she's a bitch." Luke says.
"Who?" I ask quickly. I hadn't been listening to the start of their convocation.
"Lukes pathetic ex, Yolanda." This was the first time Beau had said anything since we got to Aprils house.
"Yeah she dumped me for this 20 year old pedo and after he used her and tossed her away she wants me back!" Luke explained.
"Oh." I don't really know what to say.


We slowly approach a huge building. It looks amazing. And nothing like the catholic schools in England, that look like extended barn conversions. My jaw drops. I can hear Luke and April giggling behind me. I didn't notice that Jais hand was still on mine.




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