Ties

  1

  Dandelion and orchid on the side walk, with students chattering excitedly in groups, chrysanthemum and bougainvillea just below a fountain. Tall buildings stood at the opposite sides of the lawn.

  A bright red convertible raced into the compound-making the students pause and watch.

  They all knew who it was.

  Radio blared, horns hooting, tires squealing, wheel cranking hard, climbing a curb, kicking off a bollard and making a stop just after bringing down the stop sign in the parking lot. Chuckling, the students continued toward their classroom.

  William and Justin walked toward the car, their face in an amused gleam.

  “Jason has just gotten badder.” William spoke and let out a hard laugh.

  Jason yanked open the door of his car jangling the keys, he grinned-somewhat pleased.

  “Felt like handling this piece of junk a little differently.”

  “Junk, this is like the latest in town right now.” Justin slowed

  “Where were you last night, Jay? There were a lot of hot girls at the party.” He said with a smug smile

  “Those parties bore me to death.

  “What’s happening bro? You’ve been acting like a pope lately.” William said

  “This is a new term guys, that’s not a good way to start the season.” He raked his fingers into his auburn hair, hating the way he sounded.

  Justin arched a brow. “Strange’’

  William laughed. “Come on; let’s just get out of here.”

  They talked about soccer and all boyish stuff till they got to the classroom.

  “Jason, I heard there’s a new hottie coming to join us.” William said as soon as they took their seats.

  “She might not be as hot after all; Jay got a really good taste, right Jason?”

  Ignoring them, Jason lowered his head

  “Check this out, Justin.” William eyes were glued to the door.

  All eyes turned to the girl standing at the door. Her short dress which barely covered her laps clung tightly to her slender body. Despite her figure, there was noticeable fullness at the sides of her laps. She carried a bag that didn’t suit a girl still in senior high school and had enormous heels on. Long dark braided hair fell down her shoulders. Her pale brown lipstick fitted her shade perfectly.

  Jason glanced at her and then stared till she met his gaze. Pursing her lip, she walked shoulder high to the nearest empty seat, oblivious of the eyes that trailed after her.

  “Jay, how about you try this one?” Justin said to Jason, his expression was daring.

  He gave a curt smile and walked up to her. “Hey.”

  Her bright eyes looked up at him with a stern expression on her face.

  She was picture perfect-

  “I’m Jason, I’m um pretty sure you noticed me earlier.”

  “You were right in my face.”

  He gave a short laugh, studying her “You’re gorgeous, arrogance doesn’t suit you.”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “I told you earlier, so just save yourself the stress and tell me your name.”

  He started playing with her fingers, she retreated her hands. “You’re just another silly jerk, aren’t you?”

  “No, I’m just Jason.”

  “I don’t care.” Anger flickered in her eyes.

  “Your eyes are intoxicating.” He leaned forward wanting to provoke her a little more.

  She leaned back on her seat and folded her arms, clenching a fist.

  He straightened and walked away.

  “Damn, who the hell is she?” William asked looking back at her

  He gave a careless shrug. “I don’t know she’s arrogant.”

  Justin grimaced. “Jason seems to have forgotten not all girls are walk overs.”

  A short haired blond with dark piercing eyes and an overly pointed nose walked up to the new girl.

  “Hello there” She smiled cruelly, arms crossed. “I know you’re new here but darling I really think you should be shown your place.” She spoke as a matter-of-factly.

  She looked at her, brushing her glossy hair aside. “Thanks but I’m in my place, do you need directions to find yours or something?”

  The class burst out in laughter.

  She turned red, eyes twitching. “I beg your pardon?”

  Resting her head, she ignored the girl who later bumbled to her seat in embarrassment.

  Someone tapped her-“I’m Annabel.” The girl beside her spoke and extended a hand.

  She nodded abruptly, not taking it.

  “Most people just call ma Anna.” She smiled

  She cast a sardonic look “Okay.”

  “It seems you’re going to step on a lot of toes, let me give you a hint.”

  She stared blankly at her, silent.

  “There are the three Adonis in school; the boys you see perched over there”

  She didn’t bother looking.

  She continued. “They are belted earls; Jason is probably the richest and finest.” She paused. “All the girls are crazy about him.”

  “And that was Britney, the girl you just sent to hell. She’s standoffish but more of a threat to the girls. ”

  “Psst.”

  “She’s Jason’s ex but probably still has a thing for him, that’s why she can’t stand you.”

  “Huh?”

  She chuckled low. “Jason’s already having eyes on you.”

  She let out a shuddering sigh, her face turned sour.

  A male teacher came to the door. “Who’s the new kid here?”

  “I am.”

  He spotted her. “Come with me, the principal wants to see you.”

  She stood daintily and followed after him. He left after showing her to the office.

  She pushed open the door and entered without knocking.

  She looked around the room crammed with old books, trophies and medals. A football was on one of the cabinet and a racket hung loosely on a nail. There was a basketball hoop at a corner with hockey sticks and a baseball bat. Different soccer vests piled up in a basket by the door. She began to think she was in the coach office-but she sat anyway.

  “Have a se…” He stopped when he saw her sitting.

  He closed the newspaper he earlier held to his face and drew his glasses to the bridge of his nose. “Well…what did you say your name was?”

  “Karen…Karen Adams.”

  The chunky man barked a short loud laugh; she stared at him totally irritated. He had a protruding belly and kept long grey beards, he straightened on the chair which he sat, with his feet were far above the floor.

  “I just wanted to officially welcome you to Bradford senior high.” He grinned delightedly.

  She sneezed when he stomp his feet on the rug.

  “I’m sorry about that, the room is dusty.” He gave a belly laugh.

  She considered him strange, he’d laugh and in the next would keep a straight face-she didn’t like him. He looked more like a panda than human-a fat panda.

  “Um…Karen, as a matter of fact, we do have rules in Bradford…strict rules, maybe you haven’t noticed but our students don’t go on with skin fitted clothes.”

  “I didn’t know you had the what- not-to-wear rule.”

  “Oh. We do…there are a lot of rules here. There’s got to be decency in Bradford, not going on with exposed thigh.” He looked grim.

  She winced in embarrassment. “Oh.”

  “Things do change, don’t they? There were times when men wore doublets and women had hoods on like all the time.” He sat at the edge of his desk; and pressed forward with his hands clasped.

  He continued on and on and she was getting more uncomfortable with the short man who claimed to be Mr. Jones while adding that he wasn’t married and of course laugh
ing so widely, exposing the missing tooth in his mouth.

  “Karen Adams, I heard you’re the daughter of Mr. Adams south, the real Adams.”

  She raised her shoulders and dropped them. “Yea… he just happens to be my father.”

  She was getting more impatient, classes were over and the dumpy man had kept her for hours in his crammed hole.

  “Well…well…well…, it’s a privilege to have the daughter of one of the biggest business tycoons in Bradford high.” He chuckled. “There are a ton of them here though.”

  She gasped with relief when he asked her to leave. Her driver was waiting at the gate; she slipped into the black salon car sinking into the passenger seat.

  Her mother was on a recliner with legs crossed on a foot stool when she walked into the house. Karen gave her a blank look, sitting on the arm of the sofa.

  “How was first day of school, Honey?”

  She rolled her eyes, keeping mute.

  “It’s better than Roland, I guess.” She smiled at her and studied her face. “Your father sends his greetings.”

  Karen let out her breath. “That’s all he can do mum, send his greetings.”

  “Why do we always have to go through this every day, Karen?”

  “We wouldn’t, if you don’t have to bring him up all the time.”

  “I’ve told you Karen, your dad is just caught up in his job and all, but he really cares about you.”

  “I don’t care how much he cares; I mean I haven’t set eyes on my father in four years.”

  “Karen, listen, you’re …”

  “I’ve been listening mom, for four years, all I’ve done is listen, I mean what will keep a man from seeing his family in four years?”

  She glanced at her mother. “That’s if he even takes us as one.”

  “Don’t say that.” She touched her face “You’re all we’ve got, Karen.”

  “How I’m I suppose to believe that when he’s never proved it.”

  She stood to go but her mother held her arm. “Take your bag with you” She said softly, heading for the stairs.

  She blinked, furious. “That’s it?” She sighed and sank onto the sofa.

  ----------------------------

  Karen knew something was wrong, every time her mother talked to her about her father, she made her believe everything was fine, but she always heard them barking at each other over the phone. She hoped for things to get better but knew they were drastically going worse. She had seen her mother pack up all her wedding photographs that morning, and assumed she had found better place to keep them not until she saw her throw them into a trashcan.

  She alighted from her Honda, taking a deep breath and sighing nervously. Her books dropped when she bumped into someone in the hall. She almost stooped to pick them but for her heels and the numerous eyes that stared at her

  “Let me get that for you.” Annabel said from behind her, she reached for them and handed it to her with a smile.

  “Thanks.” She looked around uneasily and walked off abruptly.

  They were sitting when she turned to her “It’s funny but I don’t still know your name”

  “Karen.”

  “Great, Karen, I heard some guys say…”

  She interrupted. “I’m sorry but talking about boys is not my thing.”

  “They were actually talking about you.”

  She shrugged her shoulders “I don’t care what anyone says about me”

  Annabel winced. “What’s up with you? What kind of attitude are you pulling…?”

  “Now, don’t try to act like you know me.” She said looking at her straight-eyed.

  She seemed angry “Fine.”

  It was lunch break- Annabel tapped her gently “I’m going to the cafeteria, wanna join?”

  She hesitated before standing to join her

  “So, how’s Bradford?” Annabel asked when they carried their lunch to a table.

  Jason and the two boys walked in, they glanced at her. “Sickening”

  Annabel had the feeling she wasn’t talking about the school. “Why is that?”

  “Everyone is gut wrenching, really.” She hit her nails apprehensively on the table; almost everyone had their eyes on her.

  “But you also throw shades.”

  “I can’t stand ass holes.”

  Annabel stared at her as she bit hard on her lower lip; she had not met anyone like her. She was a world apart.

  ‘’How about I show you round the school?’’

  Karen stood. “I have to go, now”

  She beckoned on her. “Wait, aren’t you eating this?”

  She walked away, ignoring her.

  “Psst.” She was getting irritated with her attitude, she met the gaze of Jason and his friends, and she turned quickly and made for the class.

  Karen ambled alone in the lobby; she walked past Jason just before he held her arm, she looked at expressionlessly.

  “Well, um…I realized that I didn’t start on the right foot earlier and…”

  “Then, you should begin with your left foot next time.” She freed her hands and continued to the entrance.

  Justin was laughing hysterically behind him where he stood with William. “You’re chasing the rainbow, bro.”

  Jason walked off expressionlessly, Justin laughter trailing after him

  ------------------------------------

  Mr. Adams made a stop at his brothel in Las Vegas, talking to someone over the phone. “What are you telling me Nathan, the company is at low ebb?”

  “It’s nobody’s fault, Adams. We’re just lacking finance”

  “How can you say we’re lacking finance? You had better start getting off the beaten track because we just got signed in…”

  He was in the way of a woman who had to move her car.

  “I’ll get back to you.” He turned to the lady. “Afternoon miss”

  She removed her dark sunglasses, and looked at him with limpid blue eyes; her lips were in a tightened purse. She was beautiful but seemed somewhat fierce.

  He extended a hand. “Mr. Adams.”

  “Oh. You’re the owner of this edifice…” She let out a throaty laugh, taking his hands. “Jasmine um...Blackwell”

  “Nice meeting you Jasmine.”

  “Like wise.” She smiled, head raised. ”You know Raymond have told me a lot about you.”

  “Raymond?”

  “Raymond Blackwell”

  ‘’You must be kidding. You’re married to Raymond Blackwell?”

  She lit a cigarette and stuffed it between her lips. “Hmm”

  “I never knew he had a wife.”

  She laughed and coughed, shoving away the fumes she exhaled. “Actually, we aren’t married anymore.”

  He cast a wry look. “That makes us two.”

  “Really, Divorce is getting a little rampant these days.”

  “Um…it seems you want to move your car.”

  “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot.” She smiled-not an attractive one though; the one someone wears when there is something up their sleeves.

  When she rode off, he wanted to call his office but instead, he dialed “home.”

  “Hello. Adams residence”

  “Karen?” He called, recognizing her voice.

  “Dad”

  “I’ve got good news, baby.”

  “You’re coming home?”

  “Oh, not that, I just got signed in the M.U’s contract”

  She went silent and hung up on him.

  “Hello, Karen, can you hear me…?” Looking at his phone, he sighed and slid into his car.

  2

  Not until breakfast that morning did she notice that her mother was looking pale with dark circles around her tired eyes. Karen stood for the door, feeling nausea.

  “Good morning” Annabel greeted her, smiling

  She buried her head on her desk, not answering. Annabel frowned, as far as she was concern, she couldn’t continue with this monstrous girl.

&n
bsp; She shook her, not smiling this time-“It’s time for sports.”

  “Crap.” She still stood up

  Karen had come out of the locker room when she bumped into Jason.

  “How’re you doing?” He asked her

  “Well.” She answered drily

  “Is this going to be a pattern? Okay, I know I was a little bit of an asshole earlier but I really want us to be friends.”

  “Look, I’ve got no time for this, Okay? Can…can you butt off?” She spluttered and hesitated then walked away

  Jason stock still-Agape

  “I can’t believe she said that to you.” William said, placing a hand on his shoulders. They walked together to the lobby- in silence.

  The girls were cheering while the boys played soccer; Britney was the head of the cheerleaders. Karen sat, obviously uninterested. Annabel was watching earnestly.

  “Girl, you should see Jason’s move”. She giggled hysterically

  Karen rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t so great after all.”

  Half time to the end of the game, Jason scored three goals and everyone cheered loudly, running into the field. He didn’t seem satisfied with his numerous worshippers as he quietly slipped out of the field.

  “This is so old fashioned.” Karen muttered to herself and made for the class.

  Everyone came in not too long-in sweats.

  “Jason is pretty good in soccer.” Annabel said to Karen

  “He plays rough”

  She laughed. ”You know, his father is the owner of one of the biggest company here in New York and San Francisco.”

  Karen stared at her that way again, but she didn’t mind.

  “The Blackwell, you’ve heard of them, right?”

  She said nothing.

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t.”

  “I have, he once worked as a clerk in my dad’s company.”

  Her mouth dropped. ”Are you serious? What’s the name?”

  “Adams south”

  “You must be kidding. That’s your dad’s?” She grimaced. ”How come you don’t say”

  Karen bit her lip, not saying anything else.

  ---------------------------------

  Karen threw open the door leading to the living room and walked in. She glanced at her mother, she looked better than she was in the morning.

  “How was school, today?”

  She was searching through her bag “I skipped school to go to a club.”