Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy) Read online

  Along with being smart, Christian is also right. As long as we got each other, we will be okay. My family is all that I need, but I still fear that returning here is going to bring nothing but problems. Especially since that jackass State’s Attorney lives here.

  Claudia

  I’m so getting tired of this bullshit.

  Every guy that tries to date me always ends up either an idiot or someone I simply have no connection with. The current contestant right now is Eric Anderson, the son of the United States Attorney of the Southern District of New York. My father always brags to me about him. I could care less. Eric is nice, but at the same time an ass. He thinks he’s God’s gift to mankind or something. All he talks about is his father’s accomplishments and how he met President Bush once. Who cares? Call me when you meet Obama.

  Eric Anderson is not the ideal guy I want to date. I want excitement. I want a guy that makes me feel overwhelmed, scared, and amazing at the same time. That’s what my mom said love is like. She said my dad made her feel that way. She always told me about how they first met and how he swept her off her feet. She didn’t care too much for him at first, but he won her over. Maybe Eric will do that?

  Nah.

  He is out of the game, I can already tell. I mean he is cute, very cute, but there just isn’t any chemistry. There isn’t that spark my mom always told me about. That butterfly fluttering in your stomach feeling you get when you meet someone or when you realize you have feelings for that good friend. I watch too much teen drama, I know.

  This really makes me miss my mom. I could really use her boy wisdom for tonight. Its Naomi Winthrop's birthday party and Eric is going to be there. I’m going to have to try to avoid him for the most part. I hope Jade isn’t too drunk to help me with that.

  “Claudia?” I turn around to see Julia, my step mom, at my door.

  Julia got married to my dad a year ago. She’s cool and I love her like a friend. She’s never pushed to become my mom or anything, just my friend. Julia loves my dad, but I think he only married her for his reputation seeing he is an Assistant State’s Attorney. My dad has always cared about appearances. He cares what people think of him and his family.

  “I ironed your dress for you.” Julia hung up my white short sundress over my closet door.

  “Thanks, Jules.”

  “So are you excited for tonight? It’s the last one before school starts.” Julia came to my bed and sat next to me, as I sat Indian style holding on to my teddy, Mr. Griff. Where I got that name from, I have no idea. My mom gave me this bear when I was little and she said I always called it Griff for some reason.

  “Yeah, it should be very entertaining.” I say without excitement.

  “You don’t sound too excited.”

  “No, it’s not that. It’s just that Eric Anderson is going to be there.”

  “I thought you two were hitting it off?”

  “I thought so too, but there isn’t any spark, you know?”

  She smiles at me. “Yeah, I do. If there isn’t any connection than maybe you should just be friends.”

  “Or you should wait for him to sweep you off your feet like I did your mother.” I glance around Julia to see my dad standing there in his blue suit and gray tie with his hands in his pockets.

  “Dad, I don’t think this is the same as you and mom.” I say as he walks in.

  “You never know unless you try. Take a chance, seize the day, anything could happen.”

  My father is clearly rooting for Eric, but he is right. I need to take a chance, that’s what my mom always told me.

  We’re interrupted by my father’s cell phone. He reaches in his jacket pocket and pulls it out. He gives his worried face to the sight of whoever it is on the caller ID.

  “Listen, I have to take this, but have a good night sweetie. Hello?” My dad answers the phone and leaves.

  That’s my dad. He keeps the city safe my mom always said.

  “Your father is right, Claudia. You should take a chance. Now it doesn’t have to be Eric, but you never know you might meet someone tonight.” As Julia leaves, I watch her long, silky, blonde, ponytail wave with her walk.

  Maybe they’re right. Maybe Eric will sweep me off my feet? Or it’s possible I will meet somebody new. Who knows what this night may bring. I’ve always loved that about life, me and my mom. We loved the unexpected.

  Donovan

  I walk into my new house with my brother and sister. I’m hoping that if I walk fast enough my father won’t stop me.

  “Donovan!” I jerk at the sound of my father’s voice coming out of his office. I turn around in the foyer towards his office and notice the family pictures my mom hung to make it feel like home. I enter my father’s office to see him sitting at his desk dangling his pen between his fingers. He has his stress ball in the other. I don’t know why my mom got him that. This man lives off stress.

  “Hey” I say calmly.

  “Where were you?” He asks me in a very dark, calm tone, which is more intimidating than his yelling.

  “At the beach.”

  “Really? Well next time you decide to take a trip around town you better damn well take your phone. You got that?” I don’t even know how to excuse my behavior because he is right. Boy I hate when he’s right.

  “Yeah, I got it.” That was that. My father and I spoke a lot with very few words.

  I left his office heading into my room. I still haven’t fully unpacked yet. Home sweet home, yeah right. I really miss our town house in Manhattan. I miss the busy streets, millions of people on their phones not looking where they’re going; the subway rides to Brooklyn to shoot hoops. Yes, I’m rich, but you’re not a real New Yorker until you’ve rode on a Subway. I really liked it because of the diversity of people on the Subway. I’m kind of a people watcher. I get bored easily, what can I say. Hell, I’ll even miss my Catholic school we went to, well except the uniforms. I just hope tonight this party brings some excitement.

  Claudia

  I slip into my dress staring at myself in the tall golden framed mirror. I’m so glad I talked my dad into getting me this dress. It took a while to get him to buy a short dress for his sixteen year old daughter. Ever since my mom died he became extra strict. However, the past couple of months his focus has been on his work, meaning he’s too busy to say no to me. So, yeah, I’m not complaining. I have long brown hair and it’s starting to look like my mother’s. I’m starting to resemble her. I have my dad’s height and maybe feet unfortunately, but the rest is from my mother. I’m happy about that. My mother was beautiful.

  “Well you look like an innocent slut.” I turn around smiling at my best friend, Jade. She is looking pretty and slutty in her red voluptuous dress. Jade has been my best friend since we were six years old. She is the best person you could ask for in a friend. She’s the only real friend I have.

  “So do you” I say back as she enters my room. “Well, not the innocent part”

  “Thank you. I try my best. Are you ready?”

  “Yeah, I just need to let my phone charge for a minute.” I turn back around and study myself in the mirror again.

  “So, are you going to hook up with Eric?” I whip around fast, shocked at Jade.

  “No! Why would you ask me that?!”

  “Just making sure, you know you like to have spontaneous moments.”

  “Well I may do many things, but I wouldn’t sleep with him, you know that.” I’ve had the occasional random make out sessions before, but never sex.

  “I know my little virgin.” She’s baby talking me right now, the nerve.

  “Okay, just because you lost yours this summer doesn’t make you an expert.” I fire back.

  Jade lost her virginity this summer to a guy from another school. From what she said it was okay, but it hurt like hell. I figure if it does hurt I might as well wait to lose my virginity. I’m not saving it until marriage, but at least until I meet someone special.

  “Well, I’m planning on doing
it for the second time.”

  “What?! With who?!” I give up staring at myself in the mirror now. I sit next to her on the bed, giving her the wide eyes.

  “Dean.” My brow creases at the name.

  “Are you serious? EW! He’s an idiot.” Dean was Eric’s best friend and a complete asshole. I also believe he repeated the seventh grade. There is no way I’m approving of this.

  “I just want to get all the pain and crap out the way so it can get better.”

  “Jade, you don’t need to do that. You’ll meet someone.”

  “Come on, Claud. Everyone doesn’t get the romance. Besides, when and if I get it, I’ll be ready for him.” She displays a mischievous grin.

  “Just promise me you’ll think about it, okay?”

  She sighs “Yes. I will reconsider it.”

  That’s all I can do. I would love to tie her up somewhere, but I can’t. All I can do is give advice. Once Jade makes her mind up about something, there is no changing it.

  Donovan

  “Ella, come on!” Christian calls for our very slow sister.

  We’ve been waiting on her for like an hour. Most likely she is trying to find something cute to cover up her actual outfit.

  “Alright! God, I’m ready.” She says, coming down the stairs in a blue jean jacket, purple top, and gray pants. It’s obvious that her shirt is probably a dress tucked in her jeans. Her purse is bigger than usual so her shoes are in there. I turn to see my mom whose facial expression tells me she also knows Ella is not wearing that to tonight.

  “You guys have money?” Dad asks.

  “Yeah, we’re good, dad.” I don’t know what Christian is talking about, but I’m flat out broke.

  “Remember, Benny is going to be on call tonight so you call him if anything happens.” Benny is my father’s right hand man. He’s like an uncle to us; therefore we call him Uncle Benny. Benny doesn’t say much. He stays to himself all the time. If there is anyone my father trusts with protecting his family, it’s Benny.

  “You kids be good tonight, okay?” My mother says “Donovan, have fun.”

  “I’m going to have fun, mom.” I don’t sound too convincing.

  “Okay, were out of here.” Christian hurry’s us along.

  “Christian,” My dad stops my brother before he heads out the door. “Take care of your brother and sister.”

  My brother pats my father on the back. “I got this old man.”

  “Yeah, this old man can still kick your ass.” My dad laughs.

  He gives me a slight smile and I give him one back. This is our way of communication. It’s either a grin or a nod. My mother teases us about it because out of all of us I resemble my father the most physically. I have blonde hair and blue eyes like he does. Well, like he use to. His blonde hair is grayer now. According to the rest of our family we’re also alike in our characteristics and mannerisms. I agree with that. I have an attitude problem like him. I’m stubborn as hell like him. To quote my great uncle Billy “I’m a smart ass and I don’t listen” like my father when he was my age. So, I guess it’s like looking into a mirror for him when he sees me.

  Claudia

  I try not to spit out the shot of Patron I just took. God, it’s gross. It’s my first time taking shots. My relationship with liquor consists of the occasional beer, wine, or fruity drinks. Not this vile libation people love to drink.

  I glance around the kitchen to see my friends looking like pros compared to me. Jade definitely is. She has been drinking hard liquor since we were twelve. I see the birthday girl Naomi gathering her B day shots, all ten of them. Yeah, I can already tell this is going to be a long night.

  “So Claud, you excited about seeing Eric tonight?” Naomi asks.

  “I guess, I don’t know.”

  “Are you serious? He’s gorgeous. You better get a hold of that before someone else does.” Naomi isn’t really a friend; she’s more like a frenemy.

  Since we were eight, she’s always tried to compete with me from ballet to style to Homecoming queen. Now she’s competing with me for boys, especially Eric. Naomi wants me to get with Eric just because Naomi likes him. Jade has hated Naomi since that time she told everybody that Jade’s dad was having an affair with our teacher in grade school. From then on there was nothing but dirty looks exchanged between the two. I guess it is fake of us to come to her party, but that’s how it is here in Eastbrook. Everyone is pretty much fake in this town.

  “I’ll keep that in mine, Naomi.” Now of course I’m hoping Naomi can distract Eric for me. I want to enjoy the party, not be busy worrying about the connection between me and Eric.

  “Slow down, Naomi!” Dawn says to Naomi, seeing she is already pouring her twelfth shot.

  She chucks it back without any hesitation or struggle. Naomi has been drinking since probably birth. Her mother is an alcoholic so we presume she is following in her footsteps. It’s sad to me. Naomi’s dad had left their family for a new one when she was ten. The only time he came to see her was to write her a new check for whatever she wanted. Naomi’s step dad is my father’s friend and a judge, who is planning to run for senator in the next couple of years.

  “I’m fine guys; I’m just ready for everyone to get here.” Naomi whines, as she tries to fix her lopsided birthday tiara.

  “Well, Rob text me and said they were on their way. So let the festivities begin!” Dawn clapped her hands together. Dawn is the daughter of Frank and Mary Baxter. Her father is an owner of a big construction company. Her mother is sleeping with their pool boy. So is Dawn.

  We each grab another shot to toast to our night.

  “What should we toast to?” Dawn asks.

  “Let’s toast to a night that is unforgettable, bitches.” Naomi smiles broadly. I really don’t like being referred to as a bitch, but I’ll let it slide seeing she said it in plural and it is her birthday.

  We bump our shot glasses together and down them. I again have to hold back my vomit.

  A night that is unforgettable. Well, I guess we’ll see.

  Donovan

  “Welcome to Eastbrook High School. This is where the richest and most spoiled elite attend.” The very drunk cousin of mine says.

  “Are you talking about yourself, Jason?” Dina, Ella’s best friend, laughs as she calls out Jason for being a hypocrite.

  We met up with our friends at the high school parking lot to pregame before the party. Jason is my cousin. Dina has been Ella’s friend for a while. She would sometimes stay with us when we still lived in New York. Her dad is a smuggler for my father. All you have to do is name it, he smuggles it, except drugs. My dad doesn’t believe in doing business with drug dealers and putting smack on the street. I mean I know it doesn’t excuse the rest of his past, but hey at least he’s a mobster with some morals. Emile is the shortest guy I’ve ever known and my best friend. He is hilarious and he loves the ladies, especially tall girls. His dad is a defense lawyer. He defends almost every criminal in the state of New York and has won most of his cases. He’s like the Johnny Cochran for the mob. The cops hate him as much as my father.