Page 21 of Never Say Never

Chapter Seven

Scarlett

The ride out to the country is uneventful. Restless about how I left things and drained from my fight with Piers, I lay my head back, closing my eyes. After I sleep off a little bit of my hangover, I try to enjoy the scenery passing me by, but seeing all the trees reminds me of being at Everlend. Living there, playing in the fort we built behind the garden and the little dingy on the pond. I thinks back to one day in particular—the day she arrived and changed it all. I barged into the boys’ room, and Teddy was being all modest, as usual.

Hearing the crunch of gravel, I hop down from my perch on the garden wall where I’m playing tea party. I don’t really like the taste of tea all that much, but Wendy says proper ladies drink tea, so when the boys aren’t around, I play tea time and practice being a real lady. Ms. Anna from the kitchen helps me keep it a secret. I love being one of the boys, and I like girl stuff too…but I don’t dare tell them, afraid they’ll kick me out of their special club.

Seeing a dark car pull up out front, I rush to find the boys. I stop at the top of the steps to catch my breath, resting my hands atop scraped knees. A quick glance out the second story window reveals our visitors, and one in particular holds my attention: a girl about my age.

I feel relief that it’s not my mum. Jazz promised she could never hurt me again, but I can’t help the dread that fills my stomach every time a strange car pulls up.

I keep watching as the girl stands there, looking up. She’s got beautiful copper hair, like Wendy’s. She’s wearing a lovely dress, like something a princess would wear. Maybe we could be friends and I could be a princess too. I bet she likes tea parties.

I look down at my own plain, floral sundress and smooth away the wrinkles before running a hand over my hair. I try not to get my hopes up. Plus, I don’t really like tea that much.

Tearing myself from staring, I run down the hall to the boys’ room.

“Then she will be my friend,” Piers proclaims as I barge in.

“What are you idiots doing, practically hanging out the window? You trying to fall to your deaths?” I tease, bouncing into the room, trying not to let them see the excitement I feel.

“Scarlett, when will you learn to knock?” Teddy stands and asks nervously, pushing his tortoise frames up his pudgy nose. “I know you think you’re a boy, but next time, knock.”

“Oh, bugger off, Teddy Bear. No one is trying to see your little winkle dinkle. Plus, you keep forgetting, I am one of the boys.” I shoulder past him to go sit next to Piers at the window.

“Who’s the princess?” I as when I see him staring at her with a weird look on his face.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” he blurts. His cheeks turn a funny shade of pink, and all the excitement drains from me. He doesn’t just want her as a friend, he likes her the way boys like girls before they kiss and get married. He hasn’t even met her, and he already looks at her like she’s hung the bloody moon. Anger replaces any enthusiasm I feel for our new friend.

“Yeah, if you’re into hair the color of carrots and frilly dresses,” I mock, tugging on my spikey blonde locks.

“Well, maybe I am,” he fires back, angry at me for making fun of his perfect new friend, with her perfect hair and her perfect frilly, baby dress.

“Suit yourself. I’ll be in the fort if you need me.” I rush from the room before he can see the tears starting to fall.

I keep running until I’m down the back steps, out in the garden, and in my safe little spot. I drop to the ground and curl my arms around my legs.

“Are you okay?” a quiet voice asks, and I look up to see the little princess has found my secret spot. As if she can read mind, she replies, “I saw you run from the house, so I followed you.”

“Why?” I sniffle, untangling my arms from around my knees and staring at her.

“To see if you’re all right,” she whispers. She’s so pretty, I wish we could be friends.

“Well, I’m fine. So you can go.” I wipe my tears away and stand.

“Oh, okay. I’m Willow, by the way. Wendy’s niece.” She looks at her feet, and I feel ashamed for being so rude. Wendy won’t like it, and I’m sure she will tell on me and Wendy will take her side. After all, she Wendy’s real blood, not an orphan like the rest of us. Everyone will like her better, including Piers.

“Lovely to meet you, Willow. I’m nobody.” I turn to walk away.

“Is this your tea set?” she calls after me, not getting the hint.

“You can have it,” I reply, and keep walking. “I hate tea.”

I blink and see the blur of green out the window. I knew back then when I saw the look on his face nothing would be the same. I was the only girl; it was supposed to just be me and them. The three of us taking on the world. They were my friends, my boys, all of us sharing a common thread. We were lost or broken in some way—until Wendy found us and helped put us back together. But like the nursey rhythm says, “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men…” Some things aren’t meant to be put back together. After all these years, even with Wendy’s love, Piers and Teddy’s friendship, I still have many broken pieces. My past and present is a tangled web of lies and confusion.

We had the perfect thing going until she showed up. She was always so nice to me, trying to be my friend, but it never worked. Not when we she took my place, even without trying to. She was only there for her summers, but when she was back home, Piers spent all his free time writing her letters or doing guy stuff with Teddy. We were growing up, drifting apart. When her parents were killed in an accident and she came to live there, they became inseparable.

The closer they got, the more she pulled and the more I pushed, until we grew old enough to understand the difference between love and affection and I pushed him right into her arms.