Driving to this charity event I stare out the window and think about Diana. I still can't get over her wanting to end her life. Like I get that things aren't perfect at all and that a lot of people hide how they truly feel but Diana is so young and perfect to me inside and out why would she want to do that. I need to remember that she said she won't do it again so hopefully I can make her that happy that she doesn't even think about doing anything silly to herself again.
I wind down my window and let the cool breeze hit me in the face. I close my eyes and just take in everything that I've been thinking about lately, everything that has happened has all been for a reason and it has made me the person I am now. I have the greatest friends in the world and support from my mother and sister if anything happens. Life is good. I open my eyes. We are already at the event. How the hell did we get here so quick? No doubt Miranda's rally car driving which funnily enough Riya got from her. I open my car door and step out. I look over at the entrance of the hall. People are really dressed up. I don't think this is the Oscar's but people have any excuse to get dressed up and act like they are rich as hell. Charlie has a habit of acting as if we are a happy little family with money. Little do they all know Charlie is a lying cheating piece of shit? As we are waking up slowly to the hall I see Riya looks really worked up as if there is something on her mind. I decide to slow down and cut off in front of her so she stops. I wait until Charlie and Miranda are further in front they can't hear us, I want to talk to Riya without Charlie listening I feel that by the way she is looking at him, it's about him.
"Why are you so tense all of a sudden?" I ask Riya.
"Just Charlie is an idiot as you already know" Riya mumbles.
"I know he's an idiot but why don't we just tell mum soon" I say.
"I would love to tell her right now though" Riya says.
"Agreed" I say, "But we should tell her tomorrow it's been hard finding a chance to actually tell her"
"I want to be the one to tell her and then I want to rub it into Charlie's ugly face" Riya says.
Part of me feel's like when we tell mum what has happened; that will only be the beginning of our problems. As much as I think mum should come to the conclusion herself that Charlie is a bad person I think the only way she is going to see that is if we tell her.
"Hurry up kids" Miranda yells back to us.
We pretend to jog to catch up to them. Mum smiles once we are closely behind them and walking in. The four of us walk in and when I get inside it feels like I am on an episode of gossip girl. People everywhere dressed fancy from head to toe. They have slot machines, card tables and even roulette. It's like as if we are in Vegas except all for charity.
"We are going to go this way" Miranda says, "Try to have fun kids"
Both of them walk off. Charlie not even saying anything. We are left in the middle of the wannabe Vegas floor. Riya and I just look at each other.
"Thanks for leaving us" Riya says sarcastically.
"I know right, what are we going to do?" I say.
Riya scouts the place, looking for someone she may know. In a few minutes I am sure I will be left by myself.
"I see my friends, I'm off" Riya says.
I wave as she walks away. There you go, left by myself. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do now. I just stare at the floor because that seems like the most exciting thing to do at this stage. I am standing there for about five minutes looking like an idiot, when I hear someone screaming victory on one of the slot machines. I jolt my head back around. I am sure I can win like that guy. It can't take much skill to do it. Just pure luck. I have bagged a really hot girlfriend so I am feeling pretty lucky tonight.
I walk over to the money exchange booth. It's pretty simple you donate money and get 'fake Vegas money' and the more you win you can trade in for prizes and such. You don't actually get money back. It's for a good cause so I give them fifty. I sit down at the nearest slot machine that doesn't have people on either side. I want to be left alone and be in an element of winning, as if I am going to win anyway but you got to have hope right.
I am sitting at the machine for a while uninterrupted. Until Caroline comes and sits next to me.
"Hi Caroline how can I help you today?" I say sarcastically.
"I can't be bothered I am going to cut to the chase," Caroline says.
"What chase? Don't you have no-where to live but your at a charity event that you probably can't afford to donate" I laugh.
"No seriously listen you better let your girlfriend take me in and you don't say a word of this to anyone else" Caroline says.
"Why?" I ask.
"I don't want anyone to know my current situation" Caroline says.
"It's a bit late to be looking after your reputation now Caroline" I say.
"No joking if my parents or brother find out where I am staying I will blame you" Caroline says, "Because I know Diana won't tell anyone"
What the heck? So now I have to keep this a secret, not that I was actually going to tell anyone. I don't want to talk about Caroline often at all, and if I do it's usually because I am complaining about her. Neither the less I know I should just keep my mouth shut because it keeps me out of trouble.
"I won't say anything Caroline don't worry," I say.
"Good" Caroline says, "I'm off enjoy your night"
And just like that Caroline faded as if she was batman into the night. Weird but what else am I supposed to say. I brush off the fact that Caroline is an idiot and continue my slotting. I am doing terrible since Caroline came and left, it's like she put a witch voodoo spell on me and now I am doing terrible. I am actually not a fan of hers. Bloody hell why does she even talk to me. I loose all my Vegas money and decide to have a look around. I notice Jacinta sitting down at a table further down. I didn't even know she was coming. Relief. I actually can hang out with someone now and not be a loner. I sneak up behind Jacinta just so I can scare her.
"Boo" I yell.
Jacinta jumps out of her seat and holds her hand to her heart. Pretty sure I just gave her a heart attack.
"Tyler you scared the crap out of me" Jacinta says.
"I am so sorry I couldn't resist, I didn't know you were coming tonight?" I say.
"I didn't know you were coming either, my parents asked me to come" Jacinta says.
"Mine too, seems like we both got forced," I say.
It is true though. Keeping up with appearances means your children come with you to any event. That and they have to be on their best behavior. I feel that my mother isn't as bad as what Charlie is. Charlie wants everyone to think his family is perfect. I know I am perfect but he is not. Jacinta and I chat about work and uni work we have due in a few weeks. I see Charlie walking up to me with some old man with him. They are headed my way right now.
"Hi son, this is Devon he is the one who organizes all these charity events" Charlie says with a smile.
Wow Charlie is being nice. I guess I better just keep my cool and be nice and respectful back.
"Hello father, and nice to meet you Devon" I say.
Ugh. I feel disgusting calling Charlie a name he hasn't actually ever earned. I look at the fire in his eyes. It's as if he is ready to hit me at any given moment I give any cheek to him. After I suck up for a little longer Charlie and Devon finally walk off. I turn back to Jacinta and sigh. I can't believe he actually wants to play happy families and like an idiot I played along.
Chatting away with Jacinta the night goes by so fast. I check my phone for the time it's 9pm. It's been really good just mucking around with Jacinta. People are starting to get into party mode. I notice that everyone around me has become drunker, among them is Riya. She is throwing back shots like no tomorrow. I am feeling quite worried so I walk over to her with Jacinta. I grab the current drink in her hand and take it off her. Riya does not look happy at all.
"You think you have had enough Riya?" I ask.
"Don't touch my drink" Riya says as she snatches it back.
"You have got to stop Riya" I say.
"No Tyler" Riya spits, "You have got to stop being a pussy and tell Miranda what Charlie did"
"I will Riya but now is not the time," I say.
I am worried because Riya has a tendency to go out of her way and abuse people when she is drunk or angry. I need to get her some water and sit her down.
"You need to sit down and have some water Riya" I say.
"Don't tell me what to do Tyler" Riya says.
Riya points at my chest and pushes me back. The lights go dark in the hall. I see Devon walk on stage. He starts talking about the charity and what they do and where the money goes. I zone out for a little bit, but pretend to listen inventively. Don't get me wrong I completely agree with giving to charity sometimes I would rather just donate my money and not have to listen. During the speech I notice that Riya is no longer next to me. I nudge Jacinta.
"Where the hell has Riya gone?" I whisper.
"She was just here" Jacinta says.
I am freaking out. Where the hell has she gone? In the toilet vomiting? Off to the bar to drink more?
Jacinta bumps my arm.
"There she is" Jacinta says.
I see Riya walking on the stage towards where Devon is doing his speech. I look around everyone in the crowd is looking at each other puzzled. No one knows who the hell Riya is and what the hell she is doing on stage. My stomach starts to turn. What is she doing? Riya walks up to Devon and snatches the microphone out of his hand. I quickly dodge my way through the crowd of people in the hall watching Riya on stage. Jacinta is right behind me. I make my way to the side of the stage and start stepping up the steps.
"All you people think you rich and snobby" Riya says through the microphone.
Everyone in the crowd starts muttering between themselves. I start to panic even more. I walk faster towards Riya.
"My father Mr Charlie Peeters" Riya says, "I have to tell you all a secret about him"
I panic. I grab Riya's arm and start pulling her offstage. Jacinta quickly grabs the microphone from Riya's hand.
"I am so sorry she is a little intoxicated" Jacinta tells the audience through the microphone.
Thank god I stopped Riya from telling everyone. Mainly my mother because no is not the time. As I am pulling Jacinta off stage I look into the audience. I see his face. Charlie. His eyes are piercing right through me.
He wants to kill me.