A Veneer

Chapter 4: Summer Daze

The house soon filled with the scent of food, perfume, and voices each and everyone with a slight country twang. The house was set on a hill, under the large deck in the backyard was the basement which doubled as Aiden’s room. Many people passed through the living room to get to the deck while their children scurried down the steps to the giant yard. Anne had me serving drinks to the guests like a waitress. When Jeb and Cameron saw this they grabbed a cooler, filled it with drinks and ice, placed it by the sliding glass door, and dragged me down to the yard where some high school aged kids mingled. Just as fast as they dragged me to the yard, they abandoned me. I scanned the yard and soon spotted Aiden talking to some girl.

“Hey,” I smiled friendly to the girl and stood next to Aiden.

“Caelyn, you’ve met Hadley, haven’t you?” He asked.

I shook my head, “No, I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Caelyn,” I said extending my hand.

She hesitantly shook my hand, “Pleased to meet you,” a sarcastic tone lined her country twang. I looked at Aiden to see if he noticed, he didn’t. So I decided to forget about it.

“So you go to school with Jeb?” I asked, trying to start a conversation with this Hadley character.

“No,” she said as if I should know who she is. “I graduated last year. I transferred from Ozarka College to William Woods University.”

“Oh really? I’m going to William Woods, just moved into my dorm.”

“This early?” She asked, disgusted.

“Yeah. Well I’m from California and I figured I should get a feel for the area before just picking up and leaving.”

She nodded, at least that much didn’t disgust her. “I’m with my brother right now. I’ll move in when everyone else does.”

“Well, you know I’m not the only one there. A few other girls moved in.”

“Girls? What are you, scared of Co-ed rooms?”

This puzzled me, “Um no, it was just a smaller building seemed easier to meet people.”

“Huh.” She said. I turned back to Aiden with a smile.

I laughed through my confusion and went to find Cameron. I finally saw him sitting on a wicker bench on the other side of a group of girls fawning over Jeb. “Why aren’t you over there?” I said, standing in front of him.

He shrugged and patted the space on the bench next to him. “I like people watching,” he stated as I sat. “I see you met Hadley.” He shook his head, a smile on his face.

“Yes, I did. Why is that funny?” I said, getting annoyed that he was entertained by this.

“Cause no one warned you. I figured they would. She’s not the nicest.. or prettiest... or smartest.” He laughed quietly. He was right. She wasn’t the prettiest, her hair was an odd shade of brown, she was heavy-set but dressed as if she were a size zero. She caked on her makeup and could use a pedicure. “I don’t see what my brother sees in her,” He continued.

“What?” I asked confused and shocked.

“Yeah, he likes her, a lot.” He explained. “I liked his last girlfriend better.”

“Cam, I was his last girlfriend.”

“I know. I liked when you two were together better,” he looked at me his face full of innocence. I grabbed his chin in my hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Watching as his cheeks turned pink I said, “It won’t happen again. We were together, we broke up and out of that, a great friendship sprouted.”

He looked straight ahead, “If you say so.” Cameron always gave off this feeling like he knew what was going to happen. You could trust him because he thought about what he said, and when he said it he was one-hundred percent sure, and when he was sure of something it was usually true. I laughed and started to get up.

“Just don’t let him fall  in love with her.” I said after my first step.

“I could say the same to you!” He yelled as I was halfway to the house. When I reached the kitchen I saw her. The little old lady I had grown to love so much. Her gray hair completely white now, she would have to be almost ninety now.

“Caelyn!” I was getting tired of people calling my name. I turned seeing the little old lady coming my way.

“Hey, Patsy,” I said cheerily.

“Oh, dear! How you’ve grown and so beautiful now.”

“Thank you.”

“Where’s your mother?”

“She’s still in California. I’m here for the next four years for college.”

“Oh that’s great honey, just great!” She said honestly and patted my arm. “Have you seen my husband, Bert?”

“No I--” I started.

“Oh! He’s always wandering off! It was nice seeing you Caelyn, but please excuse me to find my husband,” she said laughing and headed for the deck.

I laughed, I loved that couple. Bert was always wandering off to find something more exciting to do and Patsy always looking for him, but they loved each other more than any couple I’ve seen in a long time. i looked out the window, Aiden was still talking to Hadley. I said goodnight to the Taylor family-- Anne, Christine, Bella, Jeb and Cameron-- I avoided Aiden. I Grabbed my bag and headed for the door remembering my mother had sent the moving truck towing my car a few days late, so i was car-less until tomorrow.  I called Cameron and told him to take me home, the car ride was silent and I was grateful for that. I knew Cam knew what i was thinking and how I felt. He knew what would happen, he knew i didn’t want to know. He dropped me off infront of my dorm. As I lay there that night my phone lit up multiple times I decided to ignore them, for i already knew who they were from. Aiden...Aiden. I soon fell asleep...Aiden.