Blizzard Girl ©

Chapter Seventeen:

After school, the sunlight was waning, leaving no time to enjoy it. Mom bought a bunch of snacks while we were gone for what she called the transformation party.

Jason, being the snoopy little brother, took a weird amount of homework breaks as Mr. Bunter and Charlie sat in the living room both quiet and apprehensive. We were awaiting for Rachel's arrival since she was by then, twenty minutes late. No one knew what the holdup was and every now and then Charlie glanced at the rotary phone. He was probably making sure that once it rang he'd be the first to answer it.

Instead of the phone ringing though, there was a sturdy sounding knock on the door. Jason bolted for the door and made it before Charlie. When I walked out of the kitchen, I saw an older version of Rachel look at both of them.

"I'm sorry we're late. I didn't know my daughter had a date till an hour ago." The woman's updo did absolutely nothing to hide the disappointed look on her face. Rachel, standing behind her mom gave us all an apologetic look. Mr. Bunter smiled at Rachel's mom.

"Well, I wasn't informed until today either. My name is Gerald and I'm Charles father." He didn't try to shake her hand and try to make nice. Instead, he opened the front door wider. "Do please come in, Miss?"

"Carlota Davies," she replied as she passed Mr. Bunter, gracing us all with the scent of mint. She turned her head in Mr. Bunter's direction as he was closing the front door. "And you are?"

"Gerald Bunter. The father of Rachel's date." Charlie waved at Rachel's mother with an anxious look on his face.

Mrs. Davies heels clacked on the floor as she drew herself up to her whole height. Even with heels she was still a head shorter than Charlie, it didn't diminish her menacing stare. "Do you have bad intentions, Charles Bunter?" Charlie shook his head and Carlota smiled. "Right answer; let's hope it stays that way--" She then clacked her heels towards Mr. Bunter. "Or, your father will be hearing from me."

I've seen the many moods of Mr. Bunter. However, when I saw his temple throb, I could only dry gulp. "Carlota, I can assure you I've raised a good young man. I expect no less from my son. Your daughter will be in good hands."

Carlota laughed as she said, "I have seen many honorable mention do horrible things. Don't think for a moment your son is the exception." Rachel's face looked crestfallen, but Charlie didn't speak up. This time, Jason did.

"You know what Miss Davies? Charlie is one of the best men I know. Your daughter is lucky to have him you bitter old hag!" With those words, Jason angrily stomped up the stairs.

My mom yelled, "Jason, get back here," but he didn't. I sighed and looked at my mom before looking at Rachel's.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make sure my little brother is okay, Miss Davies." I was slowly going up the stairs as the conversation resumed with heightened voices. When I first knocked on Jason's door, I received no answer.

On the second knock I heard Jason astutely say, "GO AWAY!!!!!"

"It's me, Jase," I reply in my most pristine British accent. I turned the doorknob to try and open the door, but it was still locked. "Jason, please open the door. You can lock it again once I'm inside." There was a pause before Jason opened the door to usher me in. I heard the click of the lock get activated behind me.

Jason sat on his bed and I joined him. For some reason, my little brother couldn't look me in the eye. "Now, are you going to tell me what happened down there?"

He crossed his arms over his chest and said defensively, "No, and I never will!" I let the silence make him feel the weight of his words. "Rachel's mom is such a bitch," he huffed out. "And it pissed me off how unhappy Rachel looked." His cheeks grew pink as he added, "I mean, she's always trying to make people happy at school. I guess, after meeting her mom I can see why she's like that."