Page 5 of Tainted Love
Attie hasn’t shut up the entire way here about all the ‘epic’ things about our new house; though I love her, I’m about ten seconds away from duct taping her mouth closed.
As we walk inside, I spot an attractive brunette in designer clothes hovering near some expensive looking suitcases, and I swear my heart stops.
It can’t beher, not unless I’m staring at a ghost.
I blink rapidly, as I try to focus.
The girl standing in front of me has wavy hair, not dead straight, but it’s the same length and shade of chocolate brown. As she looks up, I see her eyes are amber, not blue, but their doe-eyed shape is eerily similar, and those full, kissable lips are set in a heart-shaped face that is so familiar to me, it makes my chest tighten.
She’s not Jas, I tell myself.She’s not fucking Jas.
This is just some rich girl with sinful curves screaming formy teeth to sink into them. A rich girl dressed in expensive designer labels, not ripped, skinny jeans and a threadbare band T-shirt.
She. Is. Not. Jas.
But fuck, one look at this girl has me recalling the one from my past who still haunts my present.
Oli clutches my hand tightly as we follow the Ferguson’s through their massive house. It’s a far cry from our cramped three-bedroom apartment back in Footscray.
Greg leaves us, disappearing upstairs with our suitcases while we follow Kathy through to the kitchen. My eyes widen and my mouth goes completely bone dry when I spot the skinny, dark-haired girl standing in front of the fridge. She’s dressed in black jeans and an All-American Rejects T-shirt. The dark eyeliner she wears accentuates her arctic blue eyes which seem to have put me under some sort of spell.
Kathy says something, but all I can hear is my racing heartbeat as it thunders in my ears. I can’t tear my eyes away from the dark angel in front of me.
“S-sorry,” the girl stammers. “I was j-just getting myself a snack.”
“That’s fine, Jasmine,” Kathy says warmly. “You can help yourself to food whenever you like. There are some fresh brownies in the pantry. Why don’t you get them out, sweetheart? I’m sure Olivia and Elias would like one?”
Oli shakes her head, but I’m still too transfixed by Jasmine to answer. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.
“That’s okay,” Jasmine whispers, ducking her head, causing her straight hair to fall over her face, and hide her away. My fingers itch to brush it back so I can memorise every element of her beauty. She snatches a carrot and slams the fridge closed. “This is fine.” Without raising her eyes again to look at me or Oli, she murmurs, “Nice to meet you.”
When she turns to leave, she crashes into a blonde girl whojust stepped into the kitchen with another teenage boy hot on her heels.
“Watch it,” the blonde snaps. Jasmine’s face flushes, but she pushes through the two teenagers and disappears further into the house.
Kathy sighs. “Madeline.”
“What?” Blondie counters. “She should look where she’s going.”
Oli shrinks into herself beside me, and I narrow my eyes at the newcomers.
“This is our daughter, Madeline, and Nick. We have three other boys living with us, as well,” Kathy explains. Nick nods at us in greeting while grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl, but Madeline only scowls. “We weren’t able to have more children of our own after Madeline, but she’s a lucky girl to have all these foster siblings.”
Madeline rolls her eyes. “Mmm… the luckiest,” she deadpans. “Did you pick up my Sephora order while you were in the city?”
“It’s still in the car.”
Without another word, Madeline pushes past us, shoving Oli into me and I put my hand out to steady my twin.
Kathy closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before turning back to us. “I’m sorry about Madeline, there’s usually a bit of an adjustment period when someone new moves in, but she’ll come around. Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms.”
My chest tightens and I shake my head to clear it. Jas is gone.
“Eli?” Attie murmurs, squeezing my hand. “Are you okay?”
“Just tired from the long drive,” I tell her, rubbing a hand over my face.
A preppy looking douchebag clears his throat, stepping infront of us, effectively cutting off my view of the new girl. “Can we help you?” The pompous arse tips his chin at me and Attie.
