ARIETEM

[harry’s pov]

“So you’re sure you won’t mind, right darling?” Serena sent me a dazzling smile though she quickly returned her attention to the big body sized mirror with the golden frame that showed a 30 something blonde woman with painfully perfect red lips and sparkling crystal blue eyes that were framed by dark sensual eye makeup. The dress she was wearing was a little too revealing even for this somewhat fancy dinner party if you asked me but my father hadn’t argued.

 

I looked up from my journal with disgust in my gaze as I watched Serena turn her side to the mirror to make sure her dress was nothing but perfect on her figure. If it hadn’t been her heavy, sweet, and terribly expensive perfume that filled up the entire room - I would probably have been nauseous simply over her way of speaking to me. As if I was a damn baby.

 

“Of course he won’t,” my father stated firmly leaving no traces of care as he was seated in the chair hidden behind a copy of The New York Times already in his tux. I felt the nagging feeling of fear and panic yet burning anger that I had to suppress in my heart every single moment in his presence.

 

“He’s 17 years old; of course you will stay in your own hotel room,” my dad concluded coldly. It almost seemed like I had been the one to complain - when actually I would gladly have stayed silently in my hotel room for the entire weekend as long as I didn’t need to see my father, Serena, or talk with any of the senators and God knew who else that was important enough for my father to politically drool over them. The real big dinner event was tomorrow anyway - tonight was just a more private thing, as far as I had understood. Not that I really cared.

 

“Can I go now?” I asked with a numb voice as Serena checked her hair just one more time. I wouldn’t mind getting out of this awful blazer and just lie on my bed till I had to attend the damn dinner for hours and hours.

 

Furthermore I hated being in their room like this; it was terribly awkward and the air felt suffocating. But Serena had insisted I should come over so she could interrogate me to make absolutely sure I didn’t mind being on my own in my room. Clearly she didn’t know that was the way I prefered it. But that was always how things started with my father’s new girlfriend. They didn’t catch onto the way we did things, right away. Instead they all had the instinct and way of thinking that they should be my ‘motherly role model’ and give me comfort and care for me - since my father was definitely not able to give me that and they all thought ‘oh how sad to lose your mum in such a young age!’. If I had to be frank all the blondies my father picked out could kindly fuck off.   

 

I had stayed close to the door not wanting to get too far into their hotel suite, which most of all felt like a private bedroom I had absolutely no reason - or want - to be in.

 

“Of course you can, sweetie,” Serena finally turned her attention to me and with heartfelt eyes looked at me as if I was some lost puppy to dress up and play with.

 

The sound of a newspaper being folded made me even more eager to get out of here, but Serena had more on her heart.

 

“So, Harry love, dinner is in half an hour and you have a seat next to that girl - what’s her name Richard, darling?” Serena’s red polished nails were glittering in the soft lights, but I beat my father quickly saying; “Caitlyn Rosenkrantz.”

 

Serena’s eyes found mine and a foxy smile formed on her lips, as she let her eyes run up and down over me. I swallowed hard, as my father - who didn’t care one bit about informing me of tonight’s details - exited the room to go do whatever in the big suite.

 

“Well, well - young love? You’re such a handsome boy, Harry,” Serena had stepped closer and gently followed my jaw with her index finger as she sighed heavily and her eyes were screaming ‘oh the young love!’.

 

“Fine,” I couldn’t stand it any longer so I pulled open the door to escape the room; as I was about to close the door behind me my eyes caught the glimpse of my father entering the room with a jewelry red velvet box in his hands; he didn’t even seem to care that I was leaving.

 

I couldn’t breathe properly it seemed; not even when I was in my own room and opened the window sitting close by with my journal tightly to my chest and staring out over the fascinating view of one of Manhattan’s busy street. Luckily my room wasn’t as high up as my father and Serena’s - since I had specifically asked for one down here on a lower floor; meaning I would be further away from them basically.

 

It felt like my chest was blocked by the buzzing annoyance over being dragged everywhere these days just to smile and answer correctly, insist that my father was hardworking and a good father. Keep up the facade for his campaign sponsors and political supporters - even his opponents. Keep pretending and being played around with like a piece is a game of chess.

 

My eyes followed the New Yorkers who made their way over the streets - in between yellow taxis, and sparkling black cars. There were all sorts of people; voters, parents, runaways, loved ones and careless people. All kinds of them and right now they were all in New York City like me. A girl with red hair caught my attention briefly as she hurried through the street possibly heading for the hotel; she was carrying two Starbucks cups while speaking in her phone; I couldn’t help but think her mission was slightly risky.

 

It didn’t help though; the open window or pretending to forget about everything by imagining what lives people in the streets were leading. The burning annoyance had still been growing - and developing into more than pure annoyance. I was so angry it felt like it was simply eating me up; most often it wouldn’t be so bad that I couldn’t contain it, but recently it had only gotten worse and worse.

 

With a sigh of desperation I slammed the door shut behind me and hurried through the hotel halls looking for something to occupy my mind before I went to my father’s hotel suite and punched him. Or maybe threw his ridiculously expensive Brandy in his face - maybe a combination would have the best effect to underline my opinion of him and his ways?

 

I ended up in the lobby intending to go out into the streets and find something to do the last 20 minutes before I was trapped at the dinner party, but someone caught my attention for the second time. It was the girl with the flaming red hair; I was fairly sure it was the same I had seen from my window. She was smiling to someone as she pushed a door open with her back and escaped in through the staff’s door. For whatever reason I followed her, not entirely sure why to be honest.

 

It was a less fancy hallway since it was only for staff and I clearly had no business here; I didn’t even had any ideas as to what excuse I could give for walking in here. Instead I just agreed with myself that if I got caught at least I would have to concentrate on something else than my father’s agenda and Serena’s fake try of being my fucking mother.

 

A door was open on my right and I peeked in to see what was in there; kind of expecting it to be the kitchen exit or something like that. The door in the end of the hallway was open and leading out to a backyard I noticed. The room was only a storage room I figured just as a voice stated, “eh - can I help you… sir?”

 

Baffled I turned my head to see - the red head who was looking slightly confused back at me, as she probably wondered what the hell I was doing checking out the storage room of the Four Seasons Hotel while wearing a tailored suit and dress pants. I quickly noticed she had painted her lips dark purple which caught me a little off guard.

 

“Honestly; I’m just looking for something to occupy my mind,” I wasn’t entirely sure why I told this redhead exactly what my issue was; I usually never did that with people. But something about the way she looked at me and the sign giving off that she had clearly spilt half of one of the starbucks cups’ content over her shirt, well it made me speak my mind without wrapping anything up.

 

“Okay then… I’ll just … let you to it then!” Her voice was slightly amused and not even a tiny bit freaked out I noticed.

 

“Maybe you can stack the cans - I should have done that last week, but you know …,” she smiled crookedly at me, motioning to the room I had been peeking into; I chuckled over her boldness.

 

“Not the most inspiring job?” I suggested politely and she rolled her eyes, while shrugging, “well if it had been an Andy Warhol can it would have been worth millions so you know; everything is as inspiring as you make it out to be, I guess.”

 

I held my journal tighter, as a smile crept into my lips.

 

“Do you have a pen…?” I sought for her name before she realized with an ‘oh’ and the smile of confusion grew more confident.

 

“Jenny! - and why yes, sir, I actually do have a pen. Must be your lucky day, eh?” She found a blue ballpoint pen in the pocket of her apron and handed it to me with that confident foxy smile in place.

 

I immediately opened my journal and started scribbling; I could feel Jenny lean in a little from the curiosity which I found amusing. There was silent for a few seconds before she couldn’t hold it back and whispered, “what are you writing?”

 

“‘Everything is as inspiring as you make it out to be’,” I looked up at Jenny with a playful grin.

 

“Well, that does sound familiar,” she joked and looked at me like I was some mad person that she still found somewhat interesting. I couldn’t help thinking she - after all - was the one with blood red hair and the dark purple lips.

 

“Do you always write down quotes from conversations you are having - in the middle of having them?”

 

I closed the book and handed her the pen back before a chuckle left my lips, “bad habit I guess. Keeps my mind of the essential meaning behind the entire speech. Well, not that it’s efficient right now but usually -”

 

“You’re here for the political event aren’t you?” Jenny interrupted me with narrowed eyes. I bit my lip slightly; I didn’t want to have the tag she was about to give me but obviously there was no way around it since it was my entire fucking life and destiny apparently.

 

“Why would you think that?”

 

“Well, if you need to keep your fucking mind of the essence of ‘entire speeches’ I guess it would maybe include smartass yet hella annoying politicians and complete wannabe rich men bragging about all the useless shit they bought and the fucking power those greedy bastards have - you know?” She stated it as if it was the most normal observation and conclusion to make. I noticed she had peeled off a layer of her ‘servant’ attitude towards me with all that swearing suddenly surfacing like it had.

 

“Oh and the suit kind of tricked the idea too,” she grinned and started walking down the hall towards the open door. I followed her.

 

“So you’ve lived in New York a long time or…?” I tried sounding casual, but honestly I was just eager to talk more with ‘Jenny’ since she for a few minutes had made me think of something else than my frustrating reality.

 

“Well, I’ve been here long enough to know all the good places,” she smirked knowingly back at me before she took a seat at a pretty dull grey looking staircase in the enclosed yard where minivans could deliver whatever fresh food the hotel needed.

 

“What’s your name anyway?” She looked curiously up at me as I leaned against the metal banister and she picked out a package of cigarettes from the pocket of her denim jacket that she had brought out here with her.

 

She motioned to me, offering me a smoke, but I just shook my head quickly. I was pretty sure if I tried one I would be coughing my lungs out in front of Jenny if not at the dinner party, which I was trying desperately to forget all about.

 

“Harry,” I stated as if it was nothing important. As long as my last name wasn’t revealed.

 

“Well Harry - are you up to anything overly exciting this evening?” The red haired girl asked bluntly. For a second I watched as she lit her smoke and took a long drag to get it lit. She let the smoke go and it travelled up, tangled through the air in fascinating ways.

 

“Not that I can think of no,” the answer left my lips, as my heart pounded harder over the possibility that maybe I could escape the dinner party and spend some time with Jenny instead. She narrowed her eyes at me and smiled with a foxy shade of trouble lurking in the corner of her purple painted lips and her softly amused eyes.

 

“If you’re in; I might think I can bring you on a nightly city-adventure that I guarantee will get your mind of whatever things... you feel like,” she put the smoke between her lips holding it there, while she slipped into the denim jacket with the apron underneath.

 

I noticed she had several piercings in her ears and there were even a few burning holes in the sleeve of her jacket. Truth be told I had never really tried ‘partying’ or lead any form of social life that would suit a 17 year old. Of course I had tried drinking wine and such at dinner parties very like the one I had to attend tonight - but I’d never tried getting drunk; to me Jenny seemed like someone who prefered cheap liquor before French red wines served specifically along with a certain kind of meat.

 

The idea was thrilling though; Jenny’s atmosphere was oozing with trouble and as she had said ‘adventure’. But I knew my father would absolutely murder me if I went with her, so I left her question hang in silence, still undecided, though I clearly felt how it was my brain arguing with my craving heart.

 

Jenny exhaled the smoke into the chilly air and looked up at me again. I noticed her purple lipstick had left a stain on the end of the cigarette, “listen I get off at half past nine. Meet me here at that time if you feel like it, deal?”  

 

I nodded a little baffled over her attitude of ‘I don’t really give a fuck anyway’ and the fact she would go straight from work to a ‘nightly-adventure’.

 

“Yeah, yeah sure. Thanks,” I cleared my throat as the redhead simply gave me a quick acknowledging nod while the foxy smile pulled at the corner of her lips. She stayed seated watching me as I hummed before turning and finally made my way back through the hall and into the hotel; the cheap purple stained cigarette still in her hand as the smoke sluggishly made its way up into the smog air of the city.

 

 

The dinner party started at eight. I was debating with myself whether or not to tell Caity about Jenny’s proposal; but I was fairly sure she would look at me in horror and call me out for being insane. So I decided not to get her opinion - let alone ask if she wanted to join me. There was a small chance I could get out of this dinner party which was held in a private lounge of the hotel while plate after plate with gourmet food was served, but there was no chance we could both get out of here without being exposed anyway.  

 

“Caity?” I whispered lowly under my breath; as Tom Follet was telling some sort of joke about a golfing episode, that most of the ten guests were paying attention to.

 

I caught hold of Caity’s brown eyes and she smiled carefully; clearly amused over the way I dismissed my manners, “yeah?” She played with a strand of her blonde hair.

 

My eyes briefly went over to where my father was seated next to Serena. With a racing heart I returned my full attention back to Caity and with the best begging eyes I could manage, I whispered; “if I needed to go somewhere for the evening - would you cover for me?”

 

I had never asked her to help with anything, but as I stated the plead; I knew I had to go meet Jenny. I just had to. In order to be able to stand this entire weekend I needed some air; a taste of freedom. I had to go try living life.

 

A confused smile formed on Caity’s lips as she slowly understood what I was asking her to do. She eyed Tom Follet who was still talking; making sure no one would notice our almost inaudible conversation “where are you going?” Her smile was playful, eyes glittering with excitement.

 

“Meet a friend? Just please - tell Serena you insist on checking up on me in my room?” I was going to pretend I didn’t feel well. It was worth the risk; if only I could get Caity to help me.

 

She was silent for a moment, while I didn’t break the gaze lock. She had remarkably beautiful eyes. I did my best try to plead and beg her silently with my eyes; if she would just say yes. She had to. I couldn’t stand a minute more of this; even though she was here to keep me company at least. Tomorrow would be different; and entire day of lies and pretending. Of making sure not a single crack would show in my perfect-son facade.

 

She must have seen my growing desperation for her to agree, because she gave me a slow nod and with an exhale answered, “of course, Haz. Anything for you.”

 

 

“Oh come on! Are you for real?” Jenny laughed loudly as the city around us roared carelessly on. The street lights, neon signs, commercials, red and green traffic lights reflected in the windows of the yellow cabs, cars that rushed by, and the seemingly never ending skyscrapers. The wind painted color into my cheeks as my green eyes eagerly sought over the city scenery.

 

“Yeah, it’s not a lie!” I couldn’t help but laugh over Jenny’s  expression of complete surprise as I had told her about being home-schooled. She had her hands deeply hidden in the pockets of her denim jacket and the white apron had been left behind along with her servant manners; instead she had brought a white plastic bag with whatever which was hanging around her wrist . Furthermore she had changed into something more party-friendly and her green hazel eyes looked beautiful with the still heavy eye makeup she had applied.

 

“Holy fucking shit; that sounds boring as fuck!” Jenny glared at me before bursting into laughter again, “it’s like the ultimative childhood torture isn’t it? Somehow? Constantly in ‘school’. I mean - !” I watched her actions as she freed one hand from the jacket pocket and instead searched for something in the plastic bag. What she retrieved was a bottle of Jack Daniels.

 

“I can’t even imagine what that must be like -” Jenny went on as she carelessly unscrew the lid of the bottle. Took a sip, made a face, and continued, “you can’t ditch school or cheat with homework! And what about friends?”

 

She passed me the bottle and I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder; almost expecting my father or one of his men to jump forth and scream at me to get my act together.

 

“I mean my friends in school were the ones who made the entire thing fucking bearable!” She shook her head in disbelief.

 

I hesitated with the bottle; Jenny’s eyes caught mine and she narrowed them at me realizing my dilemma, “Harry - don’t you fucking tell me you’re so posh you can’t even share a shitty JD-bottle!” Maybe it was the fact that her greenish hazel colored eyes which she had put heavy dark makeup on before leaving looked so amused and bluntly at me; maybe it was the smirk on her purple lips or the way she would almost dance around in the street with rapid small turns that made her hair blow in the city wind; whatever the reason I put the cold glass of the bottle to my lips and copied her act.

 

It heated up my body like fire; making its way down my throat and making my fingertips spin. The cold Manhattan air and the dark night whipped my cheeks with color, though the warm sensational feeling in my body kept spreading. Tingling. We passed down avenues and streets, the bottle passing between us, as the city grew more and more beautiful while my body turned warmer and warmer.

 

One, two, three, four - eventually I lost count as we made our way through Manhattan to the spot Jenny knew. I wasn’t exactly sure where we were heading, but I didn’t care. As long as I could forget everything for a little while. Instead our laughs echoed through the streets and eventually found its way into the nightclub Jenny knew, which was located in a dark scruffy basement. You could hear the heavy beat from the music far from outside and we easily made our way in, as Jenny simply greeted the guard by his first name.

 

Five, six, seven colorful drinks were passed over the sticky bar desk where we were seated before Jenny grabbed my hand and told me to come meet some of her friends.