Page 37 of Chase

“I know. I’ll make sure Millie is out of the house when it happens.” Dad has a short fuse. He’s never violent but he’ll yell and say things that he’ll later regret. I’ve tried to protect Millie from it as much as I can.

“Good idea.”

“Hey Smalls?”

“Yeah Shorty?”

“Will you come here for graduation? I don’t know if Dad will be there and I really want you here.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. Send me the details and I’ll talk to Mum.”

“Thank you.” I blink back the tears. I chose to wear a little bit of mascara tonight. I don’t need to turn up looking like a panda.

There’s a knock at the door. “Ally’s here. I’ve gotta go. Love you.”

“Love you too. Have fun tonight, I’m proud of you for making friends and being a teenager. Let me know if Arden ended up with a tiger.” He laughs.

“Oh god, don’t remind me. I have no idea what I’m going to be walking into tonight.” I grab my overnight bag and head downstairs.

“Bye Smalls.”

“See ya. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Doesn’t leave much.” I respond before hanging up and sliding the phone into my pocket. I open the door.

“Holy shit woman, you look smoking.” Ally says to me. “That dress is amazing, it really makes your eyes pop.”

“Thanks, it has pockets.” I show her by putting my hands in the pockets and doing a little twirl.

“All dresses should have pockets. Come on, we have to go. Arden is already blowing up the group chat demanding our presence.” I missed all the messages while I was on the phone with Smalls.

On Wednesday, Arden added me to their group chat so that I wouldn’t miss out on his awesomeness.

He also hoped that I’d take his side during the party planning.

That was a no.

His ideas were absurd.

Ally is driving Arden’s SUV so that we don’t have too many cars at his house. I hop into the passenger seat and look out the window as Ally drives into the affluent area of Canary Bay. The houses are getting bigger and bigger the farther we drive.

We turn on to a street that only has 3 driveways. Ally pulls into the one at the end of the street.

Arden’s house comes into view as we drive through the open gate and come around the curve in the driveway.

“Holy shit!” His house is massive. It must be at least three stories high and five normal houses wide.

“I know. I remember seeing it for the first time. Imagine being young and seeing all of this?”

“How many people live here?” I ask as Ally pulls into the garage and presses a button that closes the door behind us.

“The six full time staff stay in the west wing. It’s pretty much a house inside a house. They have their own rooms, kitchen and living spaces. Arden’s dad and step mum have a room on the third floor in the middle of the house. Arden and Julia have the east wing. There are five bedrooms on the third floor. One for each of us. The second floor has a gym, theatre room and games room. First floor is open plan kitchen, dining and living room that is shared with his parents, although they are never here.”

“Wow.”

“Wait until you see outside. It’s next level over the top. Arden redesigned it two years ago. We don’t stay here often, but he likes to throw big parties. He needed the right space to do that.”

“Do you have any idea what we are about to walk into? He didn’t get a tiger, right?”

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