Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Copper

Stepping out the school doors felt like tasting freedom for the first time.

“Are you really transferring me to that fancy school?” I asked. Sylvester smiled. “I don’t see any reason why I would lie.”

Then it’s decided. I’ll be leaving here for the last time. I couldn’t help but smile. It was so crazy, yet, I knew I wanted to let go of this place. So many lovely memories. Both good and bad. But not enough to make me want to stay.

We walked down the steps. No one was outside except for the gardening trimming the hedges near the gates. Maybe after today I could finally take school seriously enough to graduate, go to college, make my parents happy. It was pretty late to start applying, but never say never. I might just make it.

“Are the folks there as insane as this school?”

He stopped. His hand went up to my ponytail and lifted it in the air. The blonde strands fell from his grip hair by hair. “Certainly. However, we have to do something about this hair.”

I raised my eyebrows. I liked my hair; I didn’t want to change it.

“Did you forget? You have someone special to meet Saturday.”

_______

Kenny

I hated this.

My mother and father were glaring daggers at each other. His wife was helping my cousin fix her dress. Aunt Carry and Uncle Thomas danced to the music played by a small band of three. So I was left at the table with these two.

“Nice shirt,” Mom said. “I didn’t know you loved Valentino so much you wore clothes that were out of season.”

Dad gave a hard, dry laugh. “Of course you would know what’s in season. You used my card to buy half of an entire store.”

They glared daggers at each other, completely forgetting that I’m at the table too. After five years of being divorced, you’d think they’d have buried old grudges. Unfortunately, it only seemed to fan the flames of hate.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. At times like this, I would have preferred my best friend beside me, but he had the audacity to say he might not come. No “I have something to do”, no “sure I’d be happy to come and support my bro”.

Only, “IDK man. We’ll c :-D”.

I wanted to strangle him.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to leave them to their own devices and step on the dancefloor with my aunt and uncle. He gave me the nod, and I took Aunt Carrie's hand and led her across the floor. Uncle Thomas clapped his hands to the music, although the rhythm wasn’t that upbeat. The band caught the mood and changed the tune to something more exciting and fast-paced.

Aunt and I danced side by side, competing to see who could tap their feet the quickest. I rested my hand on the midst of her back and spun with her across the room. I glanced at the table. My parents stopped arguing for a short time to smile at us.

We parted, then danced together again. I dipped her, and we laughed. After one last spin, we separated for real this time and took a bow. We heard the applause of family members as well of the men in the band. I kissed my aunt’s hand and hugged her, then allowed her to dance with her husband once more.

When I sat back at the table, my step-mother had rejoined us as well as my little cousin. I opened my arms, and she climbed into my lap.

“Honey,” Caroline poured a glass of white wine. “Have some of this. You look stressed.”

She passed the glass to my dad and he drank it all off within a second. Not a sign of gratitude was shown. Mom started tapping away at her phone. Caroline didn’t mind. She stared at Dad like he was the greatest man she has ever met. I wondered if she really thought that was true.

One of my mother’s butlers, Randoll, came over to me and whispered in my ear. I didn’t know why, but my mind froze over and my pulse quickened. I looked at Mom. “They’re here.”

Without looking at me, Georgina smiled and placed her phone on the table. “Come, Hunter. You heard him.”

“Yeah, I have ears, Georgina.”

Georgina smirked. “Really? How fascinating!”

“Come on, Mom.”

She shrugged. “Hey, just saying.”

By some miracle we managed to get to the foyer without another argument. Mom stood by my left with a bright smile on her face. Aunt Carry stood at my right with her husband. Next to her was Dad holding his wife by the waist.

Randoll opened the door. I was getting ready to greet my master first and foremost, but as soon as I saw her, my words escaped me.

Mr. Harmony led his granddaughter in by the hand. She had honey brown hair styled into an updo above her right ear. Her black eyes appeared to shine despite their color, highlighted by black eyeliner and shimmering white eyeshadow. She didn’t seem like she would reach my neck without the help of silver heels.

And her dress. What a sight.

It was a sleeveless piece that left the shoulders exposed while holding itself up by her throat. From there to her torso, it was a dazzling white. However, at her stomach, it faded into a light grey, sparkles becoming more and more frequent as the dress flowed all the way down to her ankles.

I had an idea of what to expect after seeing her a few days ago, but this felt like staring at another person. She carried herself with grace. Chin up but lowered slightly as she approached us with a polite smile. I noticed she had dimples and a single blonde line on her head, but I had to doubt those were the reasons my heart beated in my eardrums. This girl had just acquired a luxury life after returning to her rightful place in the Harmony household, yet I was the one feeling intimidated. Yeah, why was that?

I told myself she was pretty, why wouldn’t I feel attracted to her as a straight man?

But she had this aura about her. I didn’t want to look away even when they stopped right in front of us. With Sylvester Harmony so close, I forced my face into a state of indifference. Couldn’t have him thinking she had me enamored. That would give him confidence in his plans, whatever they were.

This so-called “Copper Harmony” would prove herself to be a fake, sooner or later. I could count on that much.