Tomorrow in your life…
Chapter 2
"Queen of spades, King of hearts"
There was a knock on Candy's door.
- Candy? Said Patty, can I come in?
- Yes, Patty, come in
Patty came in.
- What are you doing? She asked, are you all right?
- I'm fine and I'm responding my correspondent… wait…there, I'm done. I'm sending it. I'm sorry for leaving you, but if I had stayed a second more, I would've strangled that girl…
- Euh Candy, you've made yourself an enemy. That girls and her boyfriend rule the school. No one is going to talk to you…
- But you're going to talk to me?
- Yes, you're courageous, standing up to Lizzie, that's unbelievable!
- So, I don't care about the others, if you and my cousins speak to me, that's all that matters
In the living room, Stear and Archie said to Eliza;
- After the scene we just saw, said Archie, I think you're going to stop with Anthony's name…
- And let him rest in peace said Stear
- But it's her fault…
- It was an accident. Accidents happen everyday, and Candy was not driving…
- But he went to buy her a present
- And to pick up your dress or did you forget that little detail?
Eliza remained silent, confused and left the room. If she was blaming Candy for the accident, she had to blame herself too. Her group of friends followed her.
- Candy stood up to Lizzie said Louise, she's got guts…
- But… said Eliza
- Eliza said Brittany, Lizzie and her boyfriend rule the school; she made herself an enemy for life…
- She's got guts repeated Louise
- I bet she didn't even know what she was doing … said Eliza
- She was defending the memory of her boyfriend said Louise, you could've reacted, since you love him so much…Eliza, you should've…
- Oh shut up! Said Eliza leaving
The group stayed behind and laughed at her. After diner, Candy went to bed. She was thinking about Anthony. But surprised herself thinking about Terry, how she fell asleep on his shoulder… Stop Candy! You're getting ridiculous! She fell asleep and dreamed about Anthony, but his face changed into Terry's…
The following days were calm. Eliza and her brother stayed away form Candy who was spending time with Patty. Lizzie and her group whispered and no one was speaking to Candy. She didn't care because she had her new friend Patty, Stear and Archie. The students on vacation started to come back on Sunday night. Among them, an African American named Tanisha came to see her in her room.
- Hi my name is Tanisha she said nicely, welcome to St. Paul…
- Thanks. My name is Candy
- I heard you stood up to Lizzie…
- Good news travels fast…
- I salute you! If there were more people like you, she wouldn't have all the power they give her… her boyfriend… is not that bad, he could put an end to her reign if he wanted to…
- How?
- Simply by dumping her…
- Oh…
- We'll see that later said Tanisha. My group and I are going to continue to talk to you. Good night
- Thanks and goodnight
A few moments later, there was a knock on her door again.
" I hope it's not another girl with compliments…"
- Come in! She cried
The door opened and there was a silence for a while. Finally a little voice was heard…
- Candy?
Candy would have recognised that voice among millions for having heard it a big part of her life.
- Annie?
- Yes, it's me…
- ANNIE! She cried, I'm so happy to see you!
She ran to her and hugged her hard. Annie, her childhood friend, a little ashamed.
- Candy, I wanted to say, I'm sorry
- No, Annie, no need. You were obeying you're new mother… you didn't want to disappoint her…
- But you were with me since the first day, you were my sister… I abandoned you…
- Annie the important thing is that you're here now. Oh I missed you so much, especially after Anthony's death…
- I'm sorry about Anthony…
They cried together of joy. Patty knocked on the door, came in and found them crying.
- Did someone died? Oh… I'm sorry Candy she said confused
- No Patty it's fine. This is my sister and best friend, Annie Brighton. Annie, this is Patricia O'Brien, Patty.
- Hi said Patty
- Pleased to meet you said Annie
- Now we have a group! Apparently that's trend here
- What's this story with a certain Lizzie? You provoked the group of snobs?
- Oh Annie, she was denigrating Anthony's death, I couldn't remain silent
- Candy, I know you, if you screamed at her, she deserved it said Annie
- Thanks! I'm going to like this school, just for the two of you!
They started laughing all three of them
A young boy was in his room in boarding school checking his e-mails. He wanted to answer but there was a knock on his window. He closed the e-mail page and his inbox. He went to open the window. - Lizzie!- Honey!
Elizabeth Barrington, his girlfriend, Lizzie for short. She jumped in his arms and they kissed on the lips.
- I missed you so much she said
- I missed you too he said, I was going to come to your room later…
- I couldn't wait she said, I missed you too much
He laughed softly. Lizzie was treating him like her private property.
- What's new in school?
- I'm happy that you're asking me that, there's this new girl who dared to scream at me!
- What did you do?
- Why do you assume I did something?
- Lizzie, come on…
- Ok, hon. I might have mentioned that I didn't care who was responsible for the death of her stupid boyfriend…
- Nice, Lizzie, really nice… and you're surprised she yelled at you?
- No, well yes, a little…
- You didn't want her to give you flowers, did you?
- But she humiliated me in front of everybody…
- You talked ill of her death boyfriend!
- She humiliated me, honey she insisted
He had a sigh of annoyance. Lizzie was acting like a baby sometimes, the spoiled brat. Since the both of them ruled the school, they knew that if he ignored that girl who had yelled at Lizzie, every body was going to do the same, well almost. Some were not intimidated and he was pleased. It was good to know that some people didn't let themselves intimidated. Playing the "king" in school, was fun, it made boarding school interesting. He could've stayed at his father's and commute, but he liked the boarding school atmosphere; it was interesting to live with a lot people your own age, from different countries, different cultures. Lizzie and her ridiculous problem… he knew what she wanted. She wanted him to ignore the girl in public so the rest of the school will follow and the poor girl will be alone for the rest of the year… she would be lucky if anyone talk to her…
- Ok, Lizzie, I'm not promising you anything… we'll see tomorrow at lunchtime, ok?
- Ok, you'll see. She's only a dirty little American idiot. Now honey, show me again, how much I missed you with proof and gestures, this time…
He kissed her and took her to bed… Lizzie went back to her room very late that night. After she left, he smoked a cigarette. All that time he was with Elizabeth, he couldn't stop thinking about another girl…
Candy woke up early, took a shower and arranged her long blond wavy hair and blow-dried them so they will be straight. Then she attached them in half a ponytail on the top of her head. Put a light make up on her face and put her uniform on, took her books and got out. Patty and Annie were waiting for her in front of the door.
- Hey girls! Said Candy smiling
- Hey Candy they said at the same time
- Ready to face the world? Asked Candy
- Let's go! Said Annie
- Come what may! Said Patty
The trio went to class. Eliza and her group were already there.
- Well the stable girl… Annie Brighton, I thought you were more refined than that. What will your mother say?
- That I'd rather stay with nice people said Annie, I'm sure she'll understand
- Why are you answering her, Annie said Patty, she doesn't care…
- You're right Patty said Eliza, I don't care for the company you keep either she said looking at Candy with mean eyes
- Oh… I love you too, Eliza! Said Candy smiling
She went to sit next to Annie and Patty. The others were whispering. Lizzie and her boyfriend were going to decide of Candy's fate. Lizzie was looking at Candy with disdain. After her boyfriend rejects her at lunch, she will be the laughing stock of the boarding school. Lizzie looked at her so careless and happy. She was impatient for lunchtime to come.
After recess and a noisy morning, lunchtime was finally there and Candy was famished. All the bad things they had told her on British food taste was not important. She needed something in her stomach. She went with her friends to the cafeteria and walked to the buffet, served themselves and they wanted to find somewhere to sit. She saw a group standing in front an empty table and walked toward there with her friends.
Lizzie was there with her boyfriend. He hadn't decided if he was going to punish the girl, who was only defending the memory of her defunct boyfriend. He will see how he's going to feel when he sees her. His back was turned and he heard a voice…
- Excuse-me, can I pass, my friends and I are very hungry, and we want to eat…
Everybody was waiting for his answer. He turned around…
- Candy! He said surprised
- Terry! Said Candy with a smile, how are you?
To everyone's big surprise, they knew each other! Candy's fate was in the hands in of Terry! It was a no brainier, he couldn't stop thinking about her and he was very happy to see her… everybody was waiting for his answer.
- I'm fine, he said, what about you?
- I'm fine thanks she said sinking her emerald green eyes into Terry's deep blue eyes
- You know her? Asked Lizzie outraged, but how?
- We met on the plane and we kept each other's company said Candy without dropping Terry's deep blue eyes, didn't we, Terry?
- Yes said Terry without dropping her eyes too
He moved to let her pass with her friends.
- Have a nice meal!
- Thanks Terry, see you around…
Everybody started to whisper, Terry went to sit a on another empty table. Lizzie was ready to explode.
- How could you do this to me?
- Lizzie, you're ridiculous… enough
- Ridiculous? You saw her on the plane for 10 seconds…
- For the whole trip, actually …
- So what? You became the best friends in the world? How could you do this to me?
- She lost her boyfriend and you denigrated him… it's got nothing to do with you… Lizzie, I said enough! You leave Candy alone!
There! Candy's fate was done. She was free. Terry was protecting her. Lizzie was fuming. Terry was protection Blondie?
Terry on his part still couldn't believe it. Candy was in his school and the boyfriend he thought alive, was not. She was available! She was free! Let her time to get over the death of her boyfriend and … But there was Lizzie…
Eliza and her group had assisted to the scene with her brother Neil. That Candy was always so lucky; first Anthony and now Terrence Grandchester? The "king" of the school? Not possible! What a lucky she-devil! She had to find a way to hurt her and erase that eternal smile on her face!
Candy and her friends were talking while they were eating. Stear and Archie
Came to sit at their table.
- Hey girls, said Archie
- Hey Archie, said Annie
Candy looked at Annie; she always blushed in Archie's presence.
- Hey, said Stear
- So, what was the show about? Asked Archie
- I think it was Candy's fate, said Patty
- Oh… and what happened? Asked Stear
- Well, Candy travelled with Lizzie's boyfriend…Terry said Annie
- Oh… said Archie disappointed
- So Candy is "free" said Patty, Lizzie was ready to blow a gasket!
- You're lucky said Stear
- Are you going to stop saying that? Said Candy, all this is ridiculous! Two people can't dictate the law to everybody….
- Apparently, yes…Said Patty
- But Terry was so nice on the plane…
- That was certainly to hit on you…said Archie
- No, I was crying Anthony and he cheered me up… he didn't try anything, even when we were clinking the New year… he was a real gentleman
- Oh… Said Stear
- Well he's got another attitude here, said Archie, he's a snotty nosed kid!
They finished their meal and all went outside to get some air together. Candy saw Neil from afar with his group of friends he looked at her with mean eyes. Eliza was with her group too and unhappy because of Candy's good fortune. Eliza still couldn't believe Candy knew Terrence Grandchester and that she travelled all that time on the plane with him…
Terry still couldn't believe he was in the same school as Candy! When he arrived the night before, he found an e-mail from Candy that he opened immediately. He couldn't stop thinking about her ever since they separated in the plane. They both said that they didn't know if they were going to see each other again, but they knew by exchanging their e-mail address, they wanted to see each other again. Even if at that moment they didn't want to acknowledge it. He had read her message and was a little puzzled. Didn't she have a boyfriend she was crying over, because she missed him? According to the e-mail, she seemed to say that she was ready to see where the universe will take them. She wasn't the kind of girl that would cheat on her boyfriend. There must be another explanation he said to himself. And now he had it, her boyfriend was no longer from this world… she was free.
After class, Candy went for some air alone, without her group. She had taken her uniform off and put on a pink training with pink sneakers. She went behind the school; there was a small hill and some trees. It wasn't very cold, even though it was January. She was wearing a white anorak with a hat, not to forget the scarf and the gloves. She climbed a tree with big solid branches. That's why she wore the training. She was on the tree for a while watching the horizon, when she smelled smoke. She looked down and saw Terrence Grandchester smoking! He smoked! Why wasn't she surprised? He must have held off on the plane for all those hours. She must've made some noise, because Terry raised his head and saw her.
- Freckles, you climb trees?
She came down the tree and jumped on the grounded snow.
- Romeo? Hi! She said smiling
- You didn't tell me your boyfriend was no more…
- You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend… I feel a little ridiculous after my last e-mail she said looking down…
- So you can imagine my surprise, I thought your boyfriend was alive…
- You thought I wanted to mix my paintbrushes…?
- No, you're not that kind of girl. I said to myself that there must be another explanation… maybe you broke up with your boyfriend…
- I didn't expect to find you here as the "king" of the school scaring every body… I'm sorry if I created a problem between you and Lizzie…
- She had no right to denigrate the death of your boyfriend…
- Anyway, thanks. You decided my fate a little unexpectedly…
- Unexpectedly or not, I wasn't going to ignore you, Freckles, not after all that time we spent together… he said with a soft voice
Candy felt all funny, Terry was so tender and so kind…but, he had a girlfriend!
- I didn't know you smoked… she said to break the tension, and all that terror you create…
- It's for fun, everybody is not afraid of me… but they respect me
- You girlfriend is a bigger terror … you, I heard you weren't that bad… she said smiling. Ok, I have to go. Let's forget about my last e-mail, consider it null and void. See you around…
She left there running without letting him the time to respond. She felt strange. What did she expect? He was handsome, likeable, and charming, all the criterion of the perfect boyfriend and no girl must resist him! But she was strangely happy to know him in the same school as her. She was wondering when her interest changed from friend to boyfriend? What about Anthony? He would've wanted her to move on with her life. Terry would have been perfect… in a perfect world. But still… When she arrived at the dorm, she saw Lizzie that was telling her to stay away from Terry.
- Hey Blondie, you leave my Terry alone! I saw you talking to him on the hill
- He's a friend…
- Yeah yeah, I know the plane story! I hope that didn't give you any hope, because, he's with me, you hear me, with me! He will never be interested in you
- Really? That's not the impression I got on the plane…
- Are you insinuating that he hit on you?
- No, he was a perfect gentleman. I'm just a little surprised by his taste in girls…
- You little no touch saint!
- I suppose you get touched everywhere? Said Candy ironically
- He will never be interested in you!
- So, you have nothing to worry about. Now, excuse-me I have to go
She joined her friends that had arrived and had assisted to the scene. They went to Candy's room to listen to some music.
- Candy, what was that? Asked Annie
- What?
- The scene with Lizzie…said Annie
- You sounded like you were jealous… said Patty
Candy became bright as red.
- Euh… I don't know…honestly, I don't know what's happening to me…
- I know you know Terry said Patty but try to stay away from Terry, otherwise, Lizzie is going to make your life a living hell
- I'm not going to look for him, but if I see him, I'm not going to avoid him…
- Try said Patty. I have to go, I have an article to finish for the paper for tomorrow morning. See you later
She left and Candy was alone with Annie.
- Candy, said Annie, tell me what's wrong…
Candy told her how she met Terry on the plane in details.
- The e-mail suggested that you were interested in exploring other horizons with him? Asked Annie
- I'm so ashamed. I don't know when my interest changed…
- When you wrote each other, you had a unique connection
- I must have felt too comfortable or I didn't think I would see him so soon…
- You're falling in love with him, if you're not already…
- Don't say that Annie, Anthony…
- I'm not saying you don't love Anthony, you'll always love him… but how do you explain your reaction to Lizzie?
- I got upset when she said that Terry would never be interested in me… Oh my God! Annie you're right! I have to be careful to what I say. Otherwise I will get into big trouble and not only romantic…Thanks Annie. How is it between Archie and you?
- Euh, I think he would rather have your attention…
- Me? Ridiculous!
- He's got a thing for you…
- Annie…
- Oh, I don't blame you. It's not your fault, after all…
- Annie listen to me, Anthony's death thought me that you shouldn't take anything for granted. There's only one life to live, and this is it. There's no rough copy…
- What do you mean?
- I mean, you do everything to get his attention, but if he's not interested…
- There are other fishes in the sea? You're going to do the same thing for Terry?
- Terry is already involved with someone, Archie is available… that's different…
- Yes, and he has a thing for you too
- Who?
- Terry
- How…
- The way he was looking at you at the cafeteria at lunch time, or should I say, the way you were looking at each other
- You think? But he's not free…
They started to talk about other thing, from school. Annie went to her bedroom to study leaving Candy alone for a few minutes. Then there was a knock on the door. Tanisha came in.
- Hey Tanisha said Candy
- Hey Candy, the scene at the cafeteria was super! And plus, you know Terry!
- Yes…
- You're the one we were waiting for, our saviour…
- What do you mean by that?
- Terry let you "live" if you want, and believe me, that doesn't happen often, if ever!
- So…
- If I judged the way he was looking at you, he likes you… you can steal him from Lizzie…
- What!
- Yes, so her reign of terror will end and I'm sure you're going to be an angel…
Candy couldn't believe her hears! What?
- Tanisha, I'm very flattered by the confidence you have in me, but there is no way I'm seducing Terry!
- Why, you don't want him? You don't like him?
- It's not that, but…
- You're a virgin?
Candy blushed and looked down.
- Even if I wasn't, there is no way that I'm going to use my body that way!
- Pity. Think about it ok? At least, that Lizzie won't dictate the law anymore… Ok, I'll let you study. Think about my suggestion, ok?
She got out of the room. Candy remained thinking. What was it with this school where everybody was only thinking of plotting? Seduce Terry to cease Lizzie's reign? No, she wasn't that vindictive! This school was absolutely crazy! She turned on her computer to check her e-mails, there was one from Terry.
Hey Freckles,
Talk about a surprise! We're in the same school! To answer your last e-mail, after what happened today, I also agree that the universe didn't put us in contact just so we could cheer each other up on the plane. The proof, we're in the same school! I don't know what the future has in store for us, but I know that I'm happy to be in the same school as you, Freckles.
See you later
Romeo