Chapter Seven

RHONDA

The rest of ride was silent. No one wanted to talk. The threat of one of us suddenly exploding was very real.

I clucked my tongue as I swerved through the old neighborhood. We even passed by my old house, the one my family almost lost when we became bankrupt and I had to stay in Arnold's boarding house.

There had been not much to say about the state of the boarding house, it was the people and the feel of the place. Even if I only stayed there for awhile, it was one of the homeliest places I had ever been. The kind of place I wished I had instead of living in a mansion that felt lifeless and devoid of any emotion most of the time.

I chanced a glanced at Curly who was pretending to be busy staring out the car window. He seemed irritated that we were sharing the same air. The feeling was mutual. He thought I was being fake with his mother?

I call that manners.

When I saw the light turn from green to yellow to red. On instinct, I suddenly pressed on the brake and the car halted with a sudden jerk.

I knew Curly almost flew through the glass if it wasn't for his seatbelt because he cursed loudly. He gave me a glare that could seriously decapitate. I just shrugged. "It turned red."

"Uh huh," he replied, unconvinced.

"So, what do you exactly plan to do with me?" I asked as, stepping on the gas again when traffic got moving.

Curly cleared his throat, "I first thought we should get started on Algebra, it seems that's what I think-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Basically, all I hear is me studying things that I don't ever have to use in real life. It's like a snake having to learn how to hop! Totally unnecessary," I said as I gave someone who overtook me the finger.

"You need to learn that if you need to graduate," he said.

I muttered a few choice words under my breathe. Curly smiled then shook his head. "I didn't know that road rage affected you too."

"Shut up."

He started to fiddle with my radio.

"Stop that!"

"Do you ever listen to anything else other than this crap?"

"It's the top 100. It's what everyone listens to. And didn't you hear what I said earlier?"

I like to listen to classic alternative rock but no way in hell does he ever need to know that.

"It's trash," he said. "Don't you have some Radiohead or Fountains of Wayne? Even some Modest Mouse. Something that doesn't repeat every word in its mind-numbing lyrics?"

I felt myself heating up. He listens to those bands too? What are the chances?

I was relieved to see we've reached the Lloyd Manor.

"We're here," I announced.

"Whoa," I heard Curly gasp.

"It's impressive, isn't it?" His expression was so alike the ones that people have when I first bring them to my house.

"Extravagant, more like."

"Oh. Is that all you could say about it," I asked.

"This used to be a nature park," I heard him say under his breath.

The metal gates opened for me. From a distance I could see Mr. Reeves, the butler, waiting for me by the door.

I slammed my foot on the brakes, causing Curly to jerk forward again for making me feel guilty with that nature park comment. As if I have control what property my parents buy and develop.

"Stop doing that!" he yelled.

"Not sorry."

I left him inside the car and greeted Mr. Reeves.

"Welcome back to the manor, Miss Lloyd. You have a guest?" he quirked a brow at Curly, who was struggling to get out of the convertible while carrying the heavy books he picked up from his house.

CURLY

I blinked. Where the hell am I? Buckingham Palace?

Rhonda had parked the car in front of this huge mansion. It was a mansion that could be a setting for most of the gothic, horror novels that I read. It was quite a sight. It still used to be the nature park.

And... it would have look better it there were vines crawling up the walls and some shrubs and bushes at the sides that were unkempt. It was too clean, to pristine. I frowned and thought about what a shame this house is not living up to its full potential.

I knew Rhonda was watching my reaction to the house. For some strange reason, it bothered her that I wasn't that impressed with it.

An old man with greying hair came around the car and offered to carry the books in my arms. I shook my head and said I was fine.

"Very well. Welcome to Lloyd Manor, Mr?"

"Gammelthorpe."

"Ah! Mr. Thaddeus Gammelthorpe, I presume?"

"How do you know my name?"

"I'm familiar with your mother," he said but nothing more.

"For the last time, Curly, move it! I can't believe the things I have to put up with," Rhonda grumbled as she got up the steps and the great big oak doors opened for her. A girl with black hair and warm brown eyes greeted us with enthusiasm.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," she turned to me, "Hello! You are?"

I started to reply. Rhonda rolled her eyes and retorted, "He's unimportant. Where are my parents?"

The maid's enthusiasm did not waver and she told me, "It's nice to meet you!"

I didn't know why but somehow, the outfit, the demeanour, it made me blush. In turn, I saw one Rhonda's perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose.

Elsa then faced Rhonda and said, "I'm sorry ma'am, they are not here yet. You're father is still at work and your mother is in the country club. After that, she said she is going to be attending a party and your father said he might be working over time."

On the surface, none of this seemed to affect her. She just nodded. But I knew better, her parents' constant absence from her life saddened Rhonda. They don't make appearances during important school events. Everybody noticed a long time ago and nobody talks about it.

"Let's go. We need to get started. Follow me," Rhonda said.

I looked around the house. There was exquisite golden and cream striped wallpaper that covered the wall and a big, crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the hall. The floor made of white marble. It was too much. It felt like they were showing off, her whole family just flaunting their wealth.

A rich man's world. Like that ABBA song.

I followed Rhonda upstairs after giving Elsa a smile which she returned. The second storey was different than the first. The floor instead of marble was carpeted in red and the walls were pure white. Family portrait hang on the walls but the one that caught my eye and stole my breath was the one in between the two tall, glass paned windows.

Framed with gold, it was a picture of a girl sitting on a plush sofa. Her eyes tilted upwards at the sides in an inviting way, her red lips curved upwards in a way that made it seems she knew something that mere mortals do not and with her lustrous hair piled atop her head in a stylish manner, she made a really beautiful picture. She was wearing a red, silk dress that complemented everything.

Her posture was regal, her chin parallel to the floor, it showed pride and a courage to face anything that anyone will throw her way.

My head swam, could be from the lack of oxygen. I breathed in loads. And it felt good when it finally filled my lungs.

The girl in picture, the one anyone would have thought was a royal, a beautiful princess… It was Rhonda.

I smiled. She still had that power over me. Hmm. Some things never changed, maybe they never will.

When I heard her voice telling him to hurry up, I shook my head to brush off all the thoughts that were starting to creep up again. All the feelings that were starting fill me again with such force.

I gritted my teeth, I'll be damned if I let things become that way again.

So when I reached the room and found Rhonda there, I knew what I had to do. The challenge that was right before me. I wasn't aware how many problems this tutoring program will spring in front of me. Now that I do, all that's left to be done is to prevent myself from falling in love with her again because looking at what happened just now, I am in a severe danger of doing so.

Not if I can help it. Not if I can help it.