Holly Harper
Have you ever been mortal enemies with a dog? A real animal, a black Labradoodle to be exact. That thing's heart was as black as its fur coat.
Its owners? The Blackthorns. Oh, the irony...
Its name was Netherlands. I'll give you three guesses on who named it.
I guess I should be honored that Matteo named something (even if it was his dog) after his stupid nickname for me, Holland. But honestly, Netherlands?
Plus, that mutt hated me from the very beginning. I can't even begin to count the number of times it's tried to bite me. Matteo always cracks up and gives it extra doggy treats, saying it has good taste.
I never did anything to that dog, I swear. I guess it thought I looked at it funny or something and started a personal vendetta against me. Maybe like Rowan, he's spending too much time with Matteo.
So there I was, on a sunny Saturday morning, minding my own business with my friends at the park. We were supposed to go to the mall today, but it wasn't open yet.
Beth was singing that sunshine song by Katrina and the Waves, loudly and very off-key. Flora was trying to shush her because people were staring, while Pippi and I carried on our conversation serenely, too used to Beth.
"No, honestly Pippi, coffee makes the world go round."
"You're addicted to that stuff, you know that Holly?"
"I'm not! I can go a day without coffee, I just prefer not to."
"I prefer you don't either; that one time you didn't have any, you were a feral beast throughout the whole day until Flora snuck into the teachers' lounge to make you some."
"I was not a feral beast."
"You went all ape shit on Jennifer Graham."
Okay, in my defence, I was having a bad day. I didn't have time for coffee that morning because my devil of a neighbour rigged a bucket of slime to splash all over me when I opened my front door. I had to go shower and change, which took fifteen minutes. By the time I was done, I was running late so no coffee, which caused some withdrawal symptoms let me tell you. And then when I had the time to track down Matteo Blackthorn, Jennifer's tongue was down his throat, so naturally I had to yell at them both, Matteo for that stupid prank and Jennifer for being stupid enough to fall for him.
"I had good reason!" I argued back.
Pippi shook her head amusedly and continued walking. She opened her mouth to say something else, but was cut off by a dog's incessant barking.
"What the-" I turned and saw a too-familiar black Labradoodle racing towards me. Oh no...
"Netherlands!"
"Where's that stupid dog going?"
Instinctively, I turned and ran. Netherlands chased me, growling.
Now, I'm not exactly an athletic person. PE is torturous hell. The gym is like Hogwarts to me; no rowaner how much I convince myself I'll go one day, I never do. I was crushed when I turned eleven and didn't get an owl at my door, let me tell you.
Anyway, I was soon out of breath and slowing down. Netherlands barked, probably sensing victory. So I grabbed a stick from the ground and screamed "THIS IS SPARTA" before throwing it as far as I could.
Apparently that thing isn't actually a dog because it didn't go fetch. It was simply distracted for a few seconds, before turning its attention back to me.
Damn it, there goes my cool movie line.
I did the most logical thing, cliche as it is: I climbed a tree. Once I was safely perched on the tree branch with burning palms, I gave Netherlands the finger.
This is what exercise does to me.
"Good boy," Matteo came up next to it, grinning like the Cheshire cat. Idiot. "I see you found Holly."
Netherlands bared its teeth at my name.
"Get your effing dog away from me, Blackthorn," I snapped. I really hate that dog.
"I think he likes you, Holland," Matteo teased.
"Just do it!"
"Or what?"
"Or I'll-I'll..." I couldn't think of a good enough threat for him. "I'll pound you into the ground!"
"Ooh, what a threat, I'm so scared," Jerkface Von Jerkonson mocked.
Netherlands jumped up. Even though there's no way it could reach me, I let out a tiny shriek.
Matteo just smirked at me. "What's the magic word?"
Is he serious?
"Please?!"
"Wrong, try again."
I swear to God, that dog is foaming at the mouth.
"I don't know what the magic word is!" I yelled.
"I'll give you a hint," Matteo tapped his chin. "It starts with 'Matteo is' and ends with 'sexy'."
How about I push you in the duck pond, motherducker?
"Matteo is not sexy," I offered.
He rolled his eyes. "You're both a liar and wrong again."
"Matteo is so not sexy?" I tried again.
He shook his head, moving to make himself comfortable on a neabry park bench. "We could be here all day."
As if to agree with him, Netherlands barked.
I sighed and muttered, "Matteo is sexy."
"Sorry, what? Could you repeat that?" he grinned, looking up at me.
"Matteo is sexy," I squirmed, uncomfortable with lying.
Okay, so maybe I was lying about lying. The guy is hot.
"Can't hear you," Matteo teased, making it perfectly clear that he'd heard me.
"MATTEO IS SEXY DAMN IT!"
Everyone nearby turned their heads towards me, amused or bemused.
Matteo smirked. "I know."
He scooped Netherlands up and started walking off down the path, only stopping once to wave at me. "Try not to fall off the tree, Holiday."
Idiot.
-------------------
"We are moving to Africa and shamelessly abandoning you here, where you will be left at the mercy of your mortal enemy." My mom told me with a straight face.
At least that's what I thought I heard.
In actual fact, Mom was pretty apologetic about it. "We're really sorry Holly, this just cropped up. It's only a short trip, about two months, we'll be home before you know it!"
"And... you're making me stay... with the Blackthorns?!" And with Matteo?
"It was at such short notice, and Emma's already being so good about it, offering to take you in," Mom insisted.
"But... Matteo lives there. You know, Matteo? The person I hate most in the universe? The one who pushed me into the sandbox when we were five? Who told everyone I still wore diapers in seventh grade? Who put glue in my shampoo?"
I could go on and on about the things Matteo had done to me, none of them good.
"You'll just have to suck it up."
Gee, thanks Mom.
Three days later, my family and I were standing on the driveway. The house was all locked up; the windows were shut tight and the door flap was locked. Why did we even have a door flap? We didn't have any pets.
Plus, Netherlands had come running into the house and chased me around more than once through that flap.
My dad was loading bags into the trunk of a cab, waiting to take them to the airport. Meanwhile, my mom was drilling me on how I should be on my best behavior while with the Blackthorns and not cause any trouble, and the key to the house was in the second plant pot to the left of the porch, and if I ever needed her I should call her immediately, and if she was unavailable I should call Dad, and if he was unavailable I should ask Aunt Em for help and if she couldn't help I should flag a cab and go straight to my grandma's place...
"Mom I know, I'll be fine, plus Gran lives like two hours away!"
"Yes but if it's a real emergency and Emma and the boys aren't home, you go to Gran's, got it?"
"Got it."
Mom threw her arms around me and held me tight. "Be a good girl and don't get arrested, alright?"
"Mom."
"That's all from me I swear," she pulled away and started walking toward the cab.
My dad, not much for affection and dramatic farewells, simply ruffled my hair and said, "See you soon, kiddo."
"Have fun in Africa, Dad." I watched him get into the cab. Mom was abotu to follow him, but she suddenly ran towards me and scooped me up in another hug. "Last hug."
Then she got into the backseat of the cab. I didn't look away until the vehicle was no more than a speck in the distance.
Then I turned, grabbed my stuff and headed up the Blackthorn driveway. It was going to be a long two months.