Chapter Eight: Aerie's Request

Tomorrow came, and I wait anxiously on Aerie, biting my nails as I glare out the window. She had asked me to dress nicely, but had been firm that it was a casual nice event, and not the kind that required a tie. With such short notice, I have settled on simple jeans and smart jumper, but had taken time with my makeup and hair. Hell, I've even put eyeliner on, after stabbing myself in the eyeball three times that is.

I swear loudly, annoyed, but the money in my bank account doesn't lie. In fact, I had stared at it for near enough an hour, stunned.

A knock sounds at the door sharply, and I tear the door open, feeling tightly wound like a coil. Aerie blinks, but then looks over me with appreciation.

"You look nice," she states, her eyes cheerful.

I stare at her.

"Thanks," I retort stiffly, "So do you."

I wasn't lying. She looks good. I bet she looks good in everything. Aerie's figure is wrapped up snug in a cosy brown knit dress, with black tights, boots and an autumn orange scarf. It's different to her usual style, but I much prefer it. I'm less likely to want to touch her like this.

"You coming, or are you going to keep staring?" She chuckles, her eyes sparkling.

I sigh heavily, dismissing my earlier thought. Dressed modestly or not, it appears my body is a whore.

"Let's go," I say tiredly, "But please brief me in the car, I hate surprises."

She agrees, and guides me to a sleek black car that looked far too gorgeous to be parked outside my house. I look at her.

"What the fuck do you do for a living?" I hiss.

Aerie shrugs.

"I make corsets, wedding dresses, veils...it helps that my family are well off, but most of my income comes from weddings. Or cosplay."

I narrow my eyes.

"You're not going to sell me or anything dodgy are you?"

She burst out with surprised laughter, before looking concerned that I was actually serious. She shakes her head.

"No. We're going to a bouncy castle party for my little sister."

I blink. What the absolute fuck?

She bundles me into the car before I can collect my thoughts. I can't believe she's taking me to a bouncy castle party. When she slides into the drivers seat, I turn on her.

"Little sister?" I ask.

Aerie nods, her smile getting tight.

"She's going to be nine. She's the magical baby of the family, because mum thought she was just fat until she went into labour. Mum was also older and on contraception for her skin, but things happen."

I glance out the window, trying to pry all my patience out of the depths of my person. I hate kids. They have gross sticky hands, unblown noses and they cough everywhere. That, or they want to play on my phone.

"I hate my life," I moan outloud, earning a confused look from Aerie, "What's your sisters name?"

Aerie's face lights up again.

"Willow. She's dinosaur obsessed and loves astrology. She'll talk about stars for hours. I brought her a new telescope from both of us. Your name is on it too."

Sighing, I notice the huge wrapped box behind us, and then groan loudly. My name is indeed on the label in big fucking capital letters.

"How many kids will be there?" I groan, trying to prepare myself.

Aerie gives me an odd look, unsure what to make of my disdain.

"Around thirty to forty. What's your problem?"

I roll my eyes.

"Sticky fingers, snot and squealing," I deadpan, "And the fact they have no understanding of personal space."

Aerie nods, seemingly understanding my dislike, and she starts the car.

The drive is tense. I don't notice at first, but Aerie is gripping the steering wheel and glaring into the roads with an expression I can't read. We turn off the main road, and start winding down twisting narrow lanes lined with stone country walls. Gazing over the vast rolling green hills, I ponder how to break the silence. Sheep are scattered across the fields, specks of white tufts in the distance, and I stare at them, fixed, before gathering my mental energy and turning back to Aerie.

"So why am I needed for a bouncy castle party?" I ask, blurting the words out.

Aerie tosses a startled look at me.

"I need a date."

I raise an eyebrow, unconvinced. She sighs.

"My parents are homophobic, but my sister loves me. Willow wants to see me happy, and always asks me about if I have a girlfriend yet."

I blink at her, stunned.

"So you're weak to your little sister? Interesting," I marvel, "And you're taking me to homophobes. Great."

Aerie grimaces, uncomfortable.

"Well, yeah. They're not boldly homophobic, but they are. They don't want others to know because they're trying to save face, but they'd rather not see me unless I bring a man home."

I whistle, contemplating the shit show about to commence.

"So you brought me instead? To make your sister happy but to give your parents the middle finger?" I accuse her, observing her discomfort skyrocket.

She flounders, trying to find words.

"And to give my older brother the middle finger too. He's married, a doctor, and his wife Natalie just had a baby. Honey-Rose."

Aerie notes my expression and sighs.

"Yes, the baby is called Honey-Rose Francis."

"Your surname is Francis?" I ask, bemused.

"No, I changed it when I was eighteen."

Before I can ask anymore questions she takes a sharp bend, and the car begins mounting a steep hill. The car jostles along the narrow road, which is ridiculously overgrown. My nerves flutter at the sharp turns, until finally, it opens up into my own personal hell. It's a huge house, sure, double-fronted, large windows and spiral shaped bushes either side the front door. What terrifies me, however, is the huge clown fiasco of a kids party. There's way over forty kids here, zooming between bouncy castles, screaming and scoffing anything high in sugar. Chocolate is smeared on hands and mouths.

"I'm going to die," I tell Aerie, staring wide-eyed at the scene before us, "If we stay still, do you think they won't see us?"

She snorts, throwing her door open after checking she had parked straight.

"It's a kids party, not Jurassic Park. Get your butt out the car."

I grumpily comply, before freezing under the large eyes of a small girl. She's staring at me with a large toothy grin, her dark hair long and glistening. The resemblance is mind-blowing, except, that is, that Willow doesn't ooze cockiness like her sister does.

"Are you Aerie's girlfriend?" She asks, her eyes sparkling.

Aerie comes to stand beside me, before taking my hand in hers like she's done it hundreds of times before.

"She sure is, but she's a little more than just my girlfriend."

When Willow looks puzzled, Aerie picks up my other hand, letting the ring sparkle and catch the light. Willow screams a high-pitched squeal, throwing her hands up excitedly. There's a hush over the children and other adults at the party, their eyes on us as they witness Willow grasping my hand and gushing over how beautiful the ring is.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" She exclaims, "You finally found your Cinderella!"

I look at Aerie, begging her to help me with the power of my mind, but alas, telepathy is not a skill I possess.

"Cinderella?" I ask, nervous.

Willow's eye's are massive, but her grin is even bigger.

"Aerie used to have a crush on Cinderella!" She tells me, much to Aerie's horror.

"Oh my god," she breathes, flustered, "I told you to take that to the grave! And I was six at the time."

Willow giggles, before dragging me towards the crowd. I throw a pleading look over my shoulder, mouthing to Aerie to save me, but she just laughs. I think for a moment I see softness in her eyes, before suddenly they turn hesitant. I look up, and Willow is introducing me to a man and a woman, but I can tell from their tight smiles and hard eyes that they're Aerie's parent's. They don't offer me their hands, and stay away from me. I feel annoyance and hurt curdle inside me, before sticking out my hand for them to shake.

"I don't bite," I announce loudly, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

There's panic in their eyes at my forwardness, and under the eyes of Willow they relent, each one giving me a limp, half-hearted handshake.

"Of course," her father says stiffly, rubbing his hand on his jeans, "We weren't expecting Aerie to come."

Willow looks confused again.

"I invited her. She's my sister, of course she came."

I love her. So oblivious to her parents issues.

"Yes, Willow, but we never invited her. We don't have enough plates," her mother soothed her.

I didn't miss the dark look she gave me as she adjusted Willow's hair bow.

"I can share a plate with Aerie," I tell them, a little too sharply, "It's not a big deal. We're just happy to be here to share our good news."

Her parents gazes flicker to the ring on my finger, their faces turning pale.

"Yes, but that's..."

I smile, raising my eyebrows.

"Amazing, yes?" I urge.

Willow nods excitedly, grasping my hand again to look at the sparkling ring, her words going a hundred miles an hour.

"I think it's amazing! You should wear blue like Cinderella, and arrive in a carriage!"

My heart clenches, realising how betrayed Willow would be if the engagement ended. But money is money, and I didn't know I'd have to lie to a child to acquire it. Looking back at Aerie, I see she's talking to a man holding a baby, and that she's looking back at me.

I think we've fucked up.