Chapter 3

"Racheal Amy Smith."

I looked at my light blue ceiling adorned with old fluorescent moons and stars in a 'what-now' expression. Sighing to myself, I shouted. "WHAT MOM?"

But there was no reply for 10 seconds and then. "Racheal Smith ARE YOU DEAF!?"

I huffed in frustration as I kept my Mickey Mouse bookmark on page 149 of Sidney Sheldon's If Tomorrow Comes. I could easily bet that she heard my reply but apparently screaming my name until I am right in front of her, is her hobby. "Coming mom."

As I went downstairs I saw Josh laying on the couch with his feet on the pillow on it as he fanned himself with some kind of a golden card.

"Feet off the couch." I slapped his feet as I dusted the pillow and made myself comfortable on it. "Where's mom?"

I saw a huge smirk dawn on Josh's face and it creeped me out. Please tell me she doesn't know anything about the car accident. I crossed my fingers behind my back waiting for my idiot brother's reply.

"She's cooling herself down."

Oh shit! She knows! She knows! I am going to die! I die! Me no more live! Shit and I'm still a virgin!

"Racheal Amy Smith!" I heard my mother shout as she came into the room with a large spoon in her right hand and the other hand on her hip. Her face red, swarming with anger and her blue eyes, a bit darker than mine, narrowed on me, making me squirm nervously.

"Mom I'm really sorry." I started, tapping my thigh at a fast pace. "I was going to tell you I swear."

"Oh yeah when? After three months?"

I opened my mouth to deny but shut it instantly. How did she know about three months? Oh yeah, I am dead meat. It was great while it lasted, Tada. "No uh yeah. I mean. It was an accident mom."

Her eyes squinted. "What do you mean it was an accident?"

"I didn't do it on purpose." I assured my mom, looking at her with a puppy face. Just as my mom's eyes softened and my stupid-ass brother, Josh spoke up.

"She's doing the puppy face mom, don't give in." and my mom's eyes hardened again.

I pinched his legs, making sure the nails dug in his flesh, and ignored his wince and glares. I and mom looked at each other and spoke at the same time.

"I'll pay for it."

"You have a boyfriend!"

I froze at her words. "A what?" I asked, scoffing at the absurd word I just heard.

"Boyfriend." She repeated like I was a loon. "And what will you pay for?"

'What boyfriend?" I questioned, ignoring the latter part as I looked at my crazy family members in complete mystification.

Josh rolled his eyes and handed me the card he was previously fanning himself with. "This boyfriend."

I took the golden card with an inquisitive glance and read it.

You are cordially invited to celebrate the opening of a new Hastings Company by Daxton Hastings and family.

Please bless us with your presence on 25th July at –

"Oh that's not the end, look at the back." Josh said and slowly turned to see the back.

To, Miss. Racheal Smith representing Colton Hastings's girlfriend. Family is also welcome.

My eyes kept zeroing on the word girlfriend.

"Now Racheal why didn't you tell me about your ridiculously rich boyfriend?" My mother demanded, sitting on the chair in front of me.

I opened my mouth to answer but any connection between my brains and tongue had cut off. My mind was as blank as my newly found boyfriend's brains.

"Yeah sis you should have told us." Josh taunted, hitting my shoulder with his ankle.

I frowned at him and gave my mom an apologetic smile. "I need to pee. Now. Brb." I gripped the cursed card and ran to my room, shutting the door and leaning against him.

"Colton Hastings you better start thinking your last words." I blasphemed, throwing the card on my bed and grabbing my iPhone. I almost cleared all the texts until I saw one from an unknown number. I clicked on it.

555-333-555: 'Got the invitation?'

I stared at the text and resisted the urge to hurl my phone at the wall. I quickly typed a reply.

'You fudging a-hole! What girlfriend? Who girlfriend? I don't know any girlfriend. You either got the name wrong or the description.'

Within ten seconds my phone beeped.

555-333-555: 'So looks like you got it. Wear a good dress.'

"Ugh!" I screamed in my throat in vexation.

'I am not coming.'

555-333-555: 'Don't. I haven't even touched you yet.'

'Oh My God! You're such an obnoxious pig.'

555-333-555: 'Aww. Sweet. Don't call your boyfriend that.'

I gritted my teeth. I went on Google and searched for the most vulgar cuss words and copied them on my keypad, I was just about to paste them when my mother's voice came. "Honey, are you trying to pee more than Niagara Falls?"

I opened my mouth to reply but my phone vibrated and saw the unknown number call. I took a deep breath and accepted the call.

"You prick, you asshole, you retard, you psychopathic serial killer, you atrocious beast, you sordid-"

"Go to your garage."

I paused and blinked. "What?"

"Smith just go."

"Okay, Hastings." I replied imitating a Barbie girl voice.

I opened my door slowly and peeked out for any sign of my mother or brother but I heard them talking in low voices in the kitchen.

"Stay on hold." I whispered on the phone and tiptoed downstairs, holding the silver railing lightly. I glanced at the kitchen and saw their backs to me as mom cooked and Josh sat on the glass dining table with his feet on the chair.

I almost screamed at him to get off his feet from my chair but kept quiet knowing he shouldn't know I was down. I crept to the door, elegantly missing the broken tile that made noise, and reached the door. Softly opening it I looked behind and thankfully saw no one staring angrily at me so I stepped outside into the cool air. I shut the door, making sure there was a little gap so I could creep back in.

I touched the phone to my ear again only to freeze as I heard a melodic voice sing.

"... We're enemies. But we get along when I'm inside you, eh. You're like a drug that's killing me, I cut you out entirely. But I get so high when I'm inside you."

"Wow!" I exclaimed, stopping his voice abruptly. "Why am I not surprised that you like a song that involves sex?"

I could feel his grin through the phone. "Because you know me so well."

I smiled a bit, shaking my head. "Whatever."

"So go to the garage."

I started walking again. "How you know I'm not already in there?"

"Because you would be screaming then."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why? Don't tell me you kept a dead body there."

"Nah it's worse."

How could anything be worse than a comatose stinky body is beyond me!

I pressed the button to open the garage door and ducked inside. I stared at the sight in front of me and then I understood what he meant. This was definitely worse than a lifeless bulk.

"How the fuck did you get my mother's Lamborghini back so soon?" I asked in a surprisingly calm voice contradiction to the anger bursting in my nerves. I was just about to skim my hand over the car when his next words stopped me.

"Don't touch it. The paint's wet."

"All over the car?"

"Yep."

"And why so?" I asked slowly.

"Because it wasn't red, it was silver."

I nodded slowly, not understanding what he was talking about. "So why is an ex silver Lambo standing in my garage?"

"It's mine."

"Okay but that still doesn't answer my question."

"You don't want your mother to suspect anything right?"

I paused, his words ringing in my mind. "So you painted you Lambo like mine so-"

"Like your mother's." he pointed out, making me scowl at his interruption.

"Yeah like my mother's." I corrected with a sarcastic tone. "So she wouldn't know it is gone?"

"Why are you an A grade student again?"

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. "Why are you even born?"

"Because my dad fucked my mom seven shades of Sunday."

I winced physically and mentally at his audacious proclamation. "Way to be verbally talented Hastings."

"It's a unique talent, Smith."

I couldn't even deny that. "You changed the license plate too?" I hissed looking at the familiar numbers and letters. My mind was doing a strong debate between thanking him and cussing him beautifully.

"She wouldn't believe it was hers if I didn't change it." He stated like I was some mental institute run away.

"That is fcuking illegal!" I exclaimed wanting to hammer some sense into the lunatic guy on the other side of the phone.

"Don't tell anyone simple."

I pressed my lips together wondering what bad deed I had done to be caught up in this mess. I knew I should I have never lied about that cat eating cookies to mom. "Wait."

I opened my camera and took a picture of the car and the plate. I made a small line at the right down corner and saw the paint stick to my finger and a silver line shine. I instantly took a pic of that too. Grinning callously to myself I admired the photos. Blackmail material! One should always be prepared.

I put the phone back on my ear. "My mom better suspect nothing or you're as dead as James Bond's enemies." And I promptly cut the call.

I had just locked the garage and reached the front door when my phone vibrated again. I opened the text from the familiar number.

555-333-555: 'It's rude to cut a call, didn't your mother teach you?'

'It's rude to do things without one's consent, didn't your mother teach you?' I press sent and pushed the door only to find it closed and locked. I saw Josh peeking from the window curtain with a smirk and evil gleam in his eyes. I stormed to the window and he immediately closed the curtain and disappeared.

Oh dear brother, you better hide because this sister is gonna show you who's the elder one soon! I thought viciously.

I banged on the door with a cruel plan in mind. My mother opened the door and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Racheal Amy Smith! What have I told you about going out without informing me?" my mother scolded, hands on her hips, preventing me from entering the house. I saw Josh laughing silently with a hand cupping his mouth.

I pouted at mom. "Oh, mom Sarah had called." I said loud enough for Josh to hear and did a victory dance when his face instantly sobered up and became a pleading one.

I smirked mentally. Don't mess with the elders. Doesn't matter if they are just a year older.

"Sarah?" my mom asked, her lips twisting in disgust at the name. "Why had that slut called you?"

I shrugged innocently. "She was crying. You see our Josh here had gone into her bedroom today at noon and left without a goodbye. The poor female couldn't even remember when he left."

My mother gasped in horror, a palm covering her mouth. She slowly turned to face an extremely nervous and terrified Josh. It looked like he could piss right there. The fact that mom was a respected and terrifying lawyer didn't help either.

"Joseph Aron Smith." Mother spoke in a low calm voice that assured the occurrence of an upcoming storm.

I raised my middle finger and did the action of slitting the throat as Josh glared at me. Mom shifted a little to give me space to enter and I instantly stepped in, closing the door behind me.

"Joseph mind telling me what you were doing with that Sarah girl?" my mother asked sweetly, walking to the couch.

"Josh mom." He muttered under his breath. He hated the name, Joseph. Too devotional, in his words.

"Joseph." Mom enunciated with a firm tone. "Now answer."

"She's lying mom!" he exclaimed, following mom. I stayed behind looking at my nails innocently.

"Me?" I gasped. "I don't lie, mom. He does it. All the time." Drawling the aw's of all.

"Liar." Josh hissed, glowering at me.

I blew him a flying kiss with a wink.

"Joseph answer me." Mom demanded and I grabbed the chance to taunt him. "Yeah Joseph answer mom."

"Racheal." Mom warned and I did the action of zipping my lips.

"She's dating. Why aren't you shouting at her?" Josh whined, scowling at me.

"Because she likes me better than you." I sang, lifting up my invisible collar.

"Racheal don't."

"Yeah, Racheal don't lie." Josh spoke in a nasal voice. He turned to mom and spoke in a normal tone. "You know Colton's a flirt mom, the bad boy of our school. He has fucked more woman than I've seen clothed."

"Yeah which must be very little because you are busy seeing them naked." I retorted.

"I do not admire such foul language in this house and certainly not in my presence." Mom compelled in her lawyer tone. "Now Racheal you're grounded until I meet this rich boyfriend of yours and Joseph you until you cease all contacts with Sarah." She got up dusting off the inexistent dust from her backside.

"But mom she's in half my classes." Josh complained.

She glanced at him with a fake pity look. "Looks like you're grounded until the year-end then. Now in your rooms. And grounded means no calls above five minutes, no ice creams, no parties, no going out without my permission even if it's just till the bakery."

We stood for a few minutes as mom disappeared in the kitchen and then Josh shouted in a mild whisper. "You said you wouldn't tell mom."

"You locked the door on me." I reminded him, flipping him off and walking to the staircase. Just as I stepped on it I turned back. "I call dibs on Nutella."

"Shit!" he swore to throw a pillow at me. I ducked and ran upstairs imitating Cruella's laugh.

I shut my bedroom door and jumped on the bed, ignoring the shake and creak it made in misery. Hey, I am a growing girl and I love food. I clutched my pillow that had 'Keep calm and love your brother' written on it. Perceptibly it was given to me by Josh on my last birthday along with women's razors and a note that said 'I am your brother but no one likes a jungle on legs!' Not surprisingly his birthday gift was a blanket that had 'I have the best sister' written on it and a huge wallpaper of bikini clad Kim Kardashian with the face of Morgan Freeman. Needless to say, he can no longer look at Kim with lustful eyes.

My phone vibrated and I tapped to open the three texts from the same number, realizing I hadn't saved his number. I saved it as 'Blackmailer'.

Blackmailer- 'Honey I'm your boyfriend, I know what you want ;)'

After 15 minutes. Blackmailer- 'Don't you know it's rude to not reply?'

After another 10 minutes. 'Wow Smith! Looks like you fainted from the happiness of being my girlfriend. Goodnight then.'

I smiled at his texts. Maybe Hastings isn't that bad after all.

Oh, who am I kidding, he's the incarnation of the Devil himself.

I quickly typed a reply. 'Oh yeah so happy that I'm now grounded because of you. Mom wants to meet you. When are you free?'

His reply was instant. 'Right now.'

I scowled at the text. 'Haha funny. Be serious Hastings.'

'Day after tomorrow night. I'll drop by at your place for dinner at 8?'

I pressed my lips together. Why wasn't he nervous? If at all he looked ecstatic to meet my mom. If I was in his place I would be flipping out at the thought of meeting a fake girlfriend's parent. In fact, I was definitely scared about the party on Friday. Maybe I could call in sick?

Blackmailer-'Fainted again?'

I rolled my eyes. 'I'll ask mom and let you know by tomorrow. Had a tiring day. Going to sleep now, goodnight.'

Blackmailer- 'Wear something hot to school, you'll be introduced as my girlfriend. Goodnight cherry tops. xx'

I frowned at the first sentence. 'Let's just keep this fake relationship secret for some more days?' I wasn't ready for this. What would I tell my friends? Oh hey, how are you? Good? Me too as I am dating the guy I have never talked to.

Blackmailer- 'Nope. Need your help. Sleep now buttercup. X'

And I didn't want to analyze what the kisses at the end meant. He probably sent it to everyone but I wasn't sure if I should send them back. 'Don't call me cherry tops or stupid cheesy names. I'm not some dumb attention-seeking whore. Goodnight :)' A smiley is enough.

'Lol yeah, you are different. Goodnight, Xoxo'

I stared at the Xoxo, smiling to myself. Hugs and kisses, that wouldn't mean anything would it? Nah definitely not.

Sighing I kept the phone two feet from the pillow and fell into a deep sleep dreaming about crashing Lamborghini's and a particular blackmailing hot guy who sent hugs and kisses.