The Deal by Gabriella Counou, Jennifer Allen (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

I then heard my dad call the school and I was dropped from OSS but not detention.

I lay back in bed and thought, how could I be so selfish? No one could ever love me. I was an 18 year old girl who hadn’t thought to grow up, because everyone took care of me. No one wants a stupid immature girl for a wife.

I fell asleep quickly and found myself in a beautiful dream.

I woke up to find my mom looking at me like I had 3 heads.

“What?” I asked.

“You-” She started. Then mom and I heard the piercing ring of the house phone. She went into the living room to figure out who it was. I followed her into the living room and plopped down on the couch.

“Yes hello,” She answered.

There was a brief pause.

“W-Wait what do you mean?” She stuttered.

Mom waited for a response she looked kind of queasy.

“You mean at the airport now?” She asked.

Mom motioned for me to scoot over. I did.

Now that she was closer I could hear a voice say, “Yes, Kiara we are.”

“O-Oh did you have a nice trip?” Mom asked politely.

“No, I didn’t they ran out of spots on the first class and we had to sit in middle class such a bustle of baboons there are. They didn’t care for our money either,” The woman on the other end said. I loved how she had gotten into a hushed tone when she said “middle class”. It was hilarious.

“Well won’t you feel better you’ll be with us for the rest of the month,” Mom said.

Chapter 3

Living With the Elton’s

I looked at my mom shocked as she hung up the phone.

My heart ached. Was I getting nervous? Was it hot in here? Did I forget to breathe? What’s my name, again? I shivered like it was freezing in here.

“Quinn, are you okay?” She asked nervously.

I wanted to say something so bad. She didn’t know how much it was killing me not to say anything.

I nodded instead.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded again.

“You can stay home from school today. If you want to,” She offered.

“No!” I nearly shouted. Realizing my tone I said, “I can’t, I um have a project to work on at school about Sicily.”

“Oh well, I’ll see you later then,” She said caringly. Then she hugged me. I smiled enjoying the brief embrace.

“Well go get dressed put on something nice,”

I just sat there and stared at her.

“Well what are you waiting for?” She asked.

“Mom, I don’t have anything “nice”,” I said placing air quotes on nice.

“I’ll have to help you,” She said grasping my hand and pulling me along.

We went into her room and into the closet.

She ripped her key shaped clip of her belt and unlocked a door that was normally hidden by her huge wedding dress. I gasped. And then I saw it, a closet full of gorgeous. I thought I was about to faint.

I saw a pretty green silk blouse the cuff was covered with white swarovski crystals. A matching silver necklace decorated the front of the blouse. I saw a cute pair of knee high brown boots and a crystal studded bracelet. It looked like the stuff was put together just for me. There were about 20 more outfits to choose from but I chose this one. I dressed quickly applied some sparkly eye shadow and black mascara that made my eyes pop. I skipped out on the book bag today and just carried my new binder with a big Q outlined with small gems.

My mom opened the garage and I freaked. I saw my dream car. I shrieked.

“Mom, where’s my old car?” I asked nearly hyperventilating.

“It’s at your new house with your future husband. This is the temporary car,” She said.

“Are you for real?” I asked.

She tossed me the keys. I smiled so hard my lip was twitching. Mom hugged me again.

“Get to school, get home early, here’s money to buy lunch out,” She said practically shoving me in the car. I took the money.

“Okay bye,” I shouted driving away.

I got to school 15 minutes late because I almost got pulled over twice.

I unlocked the door and rushed inside. I ran to homeroom as fast as I could go in heeled knee high boots. I knocked on the door of her classroom. Surprisingly she opened it smiling.

“Have a seat, Quinn,” She said inviting me in. She hugged me and whispered in my ear, “Oh an congratulations on your engagement.” I blushed pulling away. Did everyone in the family know?

I pulled away and headed toward my seat Sera eyed me curiously then she looked me over. I sat next to her.

Class was going by in a zip until Sera said something. “What happened to you?” She mouthed.

“What do you mean?” I asked whispered.

“Um- Your clothes,” She said grimacing. “I mean… you haven’t bought new clothes since our junior year, why the change now?”

I gasped I couldn’t believe she had the gut to say such a thing.

“I mean don’t act all surprised Ms. Richie-Rich,” She snickered.

I looked at her and realized she didn’t care anymore.

“I don’t know who the heck peed in your cereal, but I sure as heck don’t want to get in touch with them,” I snapped grabbing my binder and going up to Ms. Flores. I turned back around and said, “Oh and one more thing those yoga pants you borrowed I think you can keep them, there outdated and so are you.”

I saw Sera getting laughed at and then hearing the comments shot in her direction ‘You had that coming for you’ and ‘You should’ve been prepared’ and other things like ‘Such a shame.’

I was shocked to find she said something barely audible; she had called me the b-word. I walked back to the desk and got very close to her face.

“What was that?” I asked condescendingly I was taller then her by a good three inches.

“You heard me,” She said weakly placing her hand on her hips.

“Today is not my day and you Ms. Bitch need to get your freaking attitude straight. I didn’t come out on top off the knockoff hobo bags from Wal-Mart. I came off the Prada side sweet pea. And you I really don’t know. I can’t see you over my last season purses,” I said smoothly. People ‘oohed’ at the burn she just got.

My aunt had already started writing a pass for me to the office. Everyone thought it was a write-up and no one knew she was my aunt and that meant I could get away write-up free.

“Quinn Laxly please report to the office immediately,” She said in mock-seriousness. She pulled me over to get a pass and whispered, “Nice burn, you’re a Laxly after all.” She gave me a quick wink and I stormed out the door like I was angry. I ended up faking sick in the nurse’s office all day. I had skipped all other six classes. At the end of the day the bell rang and I rushed out.

A bunch of girls followed me to my new car. Oohing and Aahing asking if they could ‘come over’ or if ‘I was okay’ or if they could ‘borrow my clothes. I answered all questions with a simple maybe. I started up my car. There were about 2 other girls that seemed different and I would make friends with that might replace my old ones. There names were Melanie blonde hair green eyes, Keri hazel eyes and brown with a blonde streak in it. The two were satisfied with my maybe and got into there own cars.

I drove home slowly and got there 20 minutes late I thought for sure mom was going to kill me. I opened the garage to see a black Mercedes and two Lexus’ parked behind my moms and dads old car.

My hands started shaking. Then they sweat. I was officially nervous. I was almost an adult I could handle this. I realized then I was lying to myself. I was acting clammy because I was nervous about meeting a boy. How stupid does that sound?

I parked my car and turned it off. I stuck into the back of the house to avoid being seen. I unlocked the back door. I closed it as gently as I could but it still managed to slam.

“Quinn dear is that you? I told you she would be here any moment,” Mom asked from the living room. I squeaked across the floor in hopes maybe just maybe I could get away.

Mom got up and dragged me into the living room but before that she whisper-asked me, “What was the hold up?”

“Traffic,” I answered. I smiled I had got away with lying but not from meeting Antony and his parents.

“Hi, my name is Hana Elton, Antony’s mama,” She said introducing herself. “You look more beautiful in person then in a picture.”

Hana had blonde hair and blue eyes like the sky.

I guess that could be taken as a compliment.

“And this is my husband Ethan Elton” She said introducing her husband. Ethan rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“Hana I can introduce myself,” He said. I laughed lightly.

“Ethan Elton. Your laugh must sound as beautiful as your heart,” He said taking my hand and kissing it. I blushed. Ethan had gorgeous blackish brown hair with green eyes brighter then my moms. Hana had a French accent and Ethan faint British accent.

I looked expectantly at the little girl with a small brown bun pinned to the back of her head. She looked like a pretty ballerina except for her clothes. She had on a white chiffon shirt with pretty gold intricate designs at the bottom and some cute skinny jeans that were made exactly for her. She had on the best Louis Vuitton pumps on her small feet. I almost squealed. The heels were next season. How in the world did she manage to get those?

“Oh my god,” I shrieked.

Everyone turned to look at me alarmed.

“I absolutely love your shoes, how in the world did you get them?” I asked admiring her shoes once more.

“Oh you haven’t got them here? Oh I forgot this is North Carolina, not- I love your hair and your shoes. I can’t believe your admiring my shoes did you put something in your hair to make it that wavy?” She asked. I felt so awkward I started combing through my hair with my hands.

“Oh it really wasn’t that hard. I just put in a few minutes of my time to straighten and crimp it,” I said. “But your shoes are priceless.”

“I mean you can have them if you want I’m going shopping later on to buy new shoes,” She offered. “You can come with, take the shoes as an early wedding present.”

I smiled at her. We really were going to hit it off. Shopping is a thing in common. I realized I didn’t know her name.

“So what’s your name?”

“Oh sorry my name’s Lana, Antony’s innocent little sister,” She said batting her eyes.

Then I heard a very handsomely familiar voice say, “Switch that innocent to evil and you’ve got her description perfectly.” She stuck her tongue out at him. I turned around to see it was my dream guy literally and figuratively.

“I-Its you,” I breathed.

I blinked my eyes like a hundred times to make sure I really wasn’t seeing things.

My mom looked at me curiously. My dad just stared blankly at me. Hana smiled warmly at her son. Lana hugged me goodbye and went to sit down on the couch.

“How about you two go out to dinner together, to get to know each other. Is that alright with the Laxly’s?” Ethan asked.

Mom nodded. Dad didn’t move an inch.

“Dad,” I called to him.

He looked me in