Stars in the Night

I was sat at the end of the pier trying to study again when I felt the bench dip slightly either side of me. I looked up and there were two guys sat there smiling. They looked similar, so I guessed that they were brothers.

“Um, can I help you?” I asked, confused.

“Matt and Jason Berry, at your service.” They stood up and bowed deeply. Weirdoes.

“We have been sent to collect you, fair maiden,” the one closest to me said, in an awful English accent.

“Collect me for what? You two are mighty suspicious.”

“Everyone’s drinking and chilling in the pool at Matt’s. Him and Zack said to come and get you cause you’re not answering your phone.”

“Oh, my phone’s at home.”

“Not our problem, princess. Come on, you’re wasting drinking time.” They were practically vibrating with excitement as they pulled me up off the bench.

“Urgh, can I at least drop all my shit at home and get changed? I look like a proper mong right now.”

“Mong?”

“Yeah, gross, shit, vile, whatever floats your boat.” They looked at each other and then nodded.

“Okay, lead the way, princess.”

“Don’t call me princess,” I growled as I picked up my bag and books and made my way back down the pier towards Main Street. We climbed into the car they’d bought with them and I directed them up PCH to my house.

They pulled up outside and I quickly jumped out, telling them I wouldn’t be long, and ran inside. I threw my bag down on the sofa and made my way upstairs to make myself look semi-presentable.

Off came the clothes I threw on this morning and I replaced them with some shorts and an off the shoulder baggy crop top, with my bikini underneath it. I fixed my hair into a messy bun to keep it out of the way before checking my makeup and fixing my eyeliner so I didn’t look like a panda. I grabbed a towel from the bathroom and made my way back downstairs, shoving the towel in my bag as I hurried out to the car.

I followed the Berry’s into the massive house that they had parked outside, feeling a bit nervous, until I saw Matt in the kitchen. I was about to say hi when a blonde whirlwind rushed past him and threw themselves at me.

“You must be Layla, it’s so good to meet you!” She exclaimed as she let go.

“Yeah, um, hi?”

“Oh, sorry! I’m Val, Matt’s wife.”

“Hi Val, Matt’s wife!” I laughed.

“Come on, you’ve gotta come outside and meet the rest of the girls!” She grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards the French doors that led into the garden. I shot a pleading look at Matt and he just laughed at me.

“Chelle! Layla’s here!” Val shoved me in front of a woman who must have been her identical twin.

“Oh hi!” She pulled me into a hug, pinning my arms to my sides. I could hear laughter coming from behind me.

“Chelle, put her down, you’re probably scaring her!” I heard Brian call.

“Sorry sweets,” she let me go and smiled.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s okay.”

“And that’s Lacey and Dan over there!” Val pointed towards a dark-haired woman and a tall man who was, for want of better word, hench as fuck; they were stood talking to the brothers who had bought me to the barbeque.

“Hey!” Zack walked up and gave me a massive hug.

“Hey, yourself! We’re not all surgically attached to our phones you know, you could’ve waited for a reply, instead of sending those two after me.”

“Yeah? And how long would that have taken?” He grinned at me and I laughed.

“Shut your face, Baker. And you say I’m the creepy one.”

“I am hurt and offended,” He mockingly looked hurt and grasped his chest as if he was in pain. “Let’s get you a drink.” He slung his arm over my shoulder and guided me back into the kitchen. He threw away his current bottle and grabbed two more from the fridge, twisting the tops off both before handing me one.

Everyone had moved over to the sun loungers, so we went back outside and joined in their conversations. It had been so long since I’d been invited to hang out with anyone other than my mum or sister, it felt so good. I was happy just sitting there, let alone joining in with what they were talking about. I actually felt happy and content, like I fit in there; that hadn’t happened for a while.

“So, princess, what do you do?” Matt B asked as he passed me another drink, breaking me out of my daydreaming.

“Nothing, other than castrate people who call me princess,” I glared at him.

“I’ve seen your house! How the shit do you not have a job?” Jason demanded.

“Professional sugar baby,” I shot a grin in his direction.

“Really?!” Johnny was suddenly a lot more interested in our conversation.

“No! Jesus fuck, what kind of whore do you take me for?” Everyone laughed as I threw the bottle I was nursing at Johnny to try and shut him up. “Inheritance is a fine thing.” Everyone looked like they wanted more information than that; I looked up and found Zacky, shaking my head. He seemed to understand and changed the topic, asking Brian about some guitar thing.

I sat back and listened to them talk, I wasn’t really feeling up to it after the whole inheritance thing. That’s something to share on my terms, and only my terms, when I feel comfortable enough. It had sent me back into a bit of a funk, to be honest. I grabbed myself a few more drinks while they talked, determined to still enjoy myself.

“Ooh! Let’s play chicken!” Michelle exclaimed, pulling Brian up out of his lounger and pushing him towards the pool.

“I’m out,” Matt and Johnny claimed at the same time.

“Fuck sake guys, me again?” Zacky moaned, going to stand up.

“Yeah, take Layla with you, we’re not moving!” Val replied.

“The fuck Val? Not cool!” I turned and scowled at her.

Zack offered me his hand and helped me up from my lounger. Chelle and Brian were already in the pool with her atop his shoulders.

“Kay, so how d’you wanna do this?”

“I’ll get in the pool, then you can climb on my shoulders from the side. Sound okay?”

“As okay as something you’ve been coerced into doing can sound, yeah!” I chuckled. He slid into the pool and turned his back to me as I sat down on the edge. “Please don’t let me fall!” I practically begged as I shifted onto his shoulders and he grasped my calves, helping me get my balance, before moving into the middle of the pool to stand in front of Chelle and Brian.

“Okay guys, remember, there’s no such thing as fair play,” Dan said from his spot at the side of the pool. “And, go.”

I eyed up Michelle, trying to work out how I could make her fall, when she lunged forward and grabbed my hair. I retaliated by grabbing her arm and twisting it round so she had to let go. She laughed and glared playfully at me all while Brian and Zack held onto us and laughed at our pathetic attempts.

“What the fuck is going on here?” I heard come screeching from the patio area as I reached forward, trying to untie Chelle’s bikini top to distract her.

“Oh shit,” Brian mumbled as Chelle dropped her arms from mine. I felt Zack’s grip on my calves tighten slightly as he turned us both round. A woman with overly fake boobs and bleached blonde hair was stood at the edge of the pool wearing the shortest of skirts and towering stilettos.

“What. Are. You. Doing. Zachary. James. Baker.” The Barbie ground out, her arms crossed under her chest as she seethed with anger.

“I’ll just get off now...” I murmured, throwing my right leg behind Zack’s shoulder and sliding down into the pool before moving over to stand with Michelle, who was now off Brian’s shoulders as well.

“Yeah, you fucking best get off my boyfriend, bitch.” She snapped at me.

“Woah, calm down Gee, it was just a game!” Johnny called from his lounger.

“Just a fucking game, my ass. Come on babe, we’re going home.” She turned on her heel and stalked off into the house.

Zack shot us an apologetic look before climbing out of the pool, grabbing his things from the sun lounger and following her through the house.

“So, that was superbitch?” I asked as I hauled myself out of the pool and returned to my lounger.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that... Who told her what was going on?” Matt groaned.

“I dunno, it wasn’t me. She probably got home and flipped a shit when Zee wasn’t there and decided to storm the neighbourhood.” Johnny shrugged.

“What’s even going on with them? Seems like she treats him like shit.”

“She does. She always has, as well. But he didn’t see it; not in the beginning anyway,” Val started explaining. “They’ve been together years now. I don’t think Zacky knows how to do anything about it. All she does is spend all his money and fuck other guys behind his back; and he knows she does, she’s not exactly secretive about it. We’ve tried to help him, but after with happened with Jimmy I think he’s just scared to be on his own.”

Notes