by E K Ballard
Coach Abbott and Coach Detmer decided that it would be best to move Jamie from her forward position back to midfield. Jamie didn’t like playing midfield, but she knew the team needed her there, and she did her best. They tied her first game playing midfield, and she felt they should have won. They needed more punch offensively.
* * *
Kristin was gaining a reputation among students and teachers for being smart. She frequently got 100’s on hard tests, and all of her assignments came back with an A on the top. Teachers discussed her being one of the best students they ever had in the faculty lounge, and students started seeking her out to study and to be in their groups for projects.
She was approached by six students in her AP Chemistry class who wanted her to join a study group with them for an upcoming unit test.
“Sure,” she said, happy to be getting to know some of the kids in her classes. “I go to the library every day during 5th period lunch and 8th period, and I’m there until four.”
Only three of the students could make it 8th period, but the others said they would go there after their 8th period class let out. She sat at a main table up front when she got there and was soon joined by Dylan, Lindsey, and Austin. They were all in her AP Calculus class as well and they were conscientious students. They took out their notes and started going over the study guide the teacher gave them.
“So, you know there’s this dance next Friday at school,” Dylan said.
Kristin looked up from her notes. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. You want to go?” he asked.
Kristin thought Dylan was smart and nice looking, but there was something about him she didn’t like and she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. His asking her out took her by surprise, and she tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t hurt him.
“Maybe,” she said. “Let me get back to you on that. My parents are really strict.”
“Okay,” he said, his face unable to contain his disappointment.
Jamie came in to the library later than usual and saw Kristin sitting with her study group and did an about face when she saw who Kristin was sitting with. She turned to walk out of the library before Kristin saw her.
Kristin saw Jamie and waved. Jamie didn’t see her, so she called out, “Hey, Jamie.”
Jamie came back in and walked up to the table.
“Hey, Kristin. Hey,” she said to everyone else at the table.
“Hey, Jamie, you lost? The gym’s that way,” Dylan said, laughing and pointing to the door.
Kristin frowned at Dylan. “So Jamie, how’d you do on your Spanish test?” she asked.
“Yeah, how are things going in remedial Spanish? Do you go over to the middle school for class?” said Dylan. Lindsey and Austin laughed.
Jamie stalked out of the library.
Kristin stared at Dylan. “That was really mean.”
“Jamie Chase is dumber than a stick,” said Dylan. “I am surprised she even knew where to find the library.”
“Just so you know, Jamie is not dumb,” Kristin said, standing up.
“Just so you know, she’s a dumb dyke,” said Dylan.
“What?” Kristin asked in disbelief. “What did you just say?”
“That’s right,” Dylan said, leaning back in his chair with a smile on his face. “Didn’t you know? Jamie’s a lesbian.”
“Yeah, right,” said Kristin, packing up her books.
“Oh, but she is. Ask anyone.”
“It’s true,” said Lindsey. “Jamie’s into girls.”
“Maybe,” Dylan said, his smile widening, “she’s into you.”
“You’re an ass. And no, I don’t want to go to the dance with you.”
She picked up her bag and strode out of the library.
* * *
A lesbian?
Kristin thought it was plausible that Jamie was into girls, but so what? She knew the kids in the Gay/Straight Alliance club at her old school, and she never gave them much thought one way or another. She was friendly towards them, but not necessarily friends.
Even if Jamie was a lesbian, what would it matter?
The possibility nagged at her as she tried to figure out where to find Jamie.
Kristin walked around the school searching for Jamie but couldn’t find her anywhere. She didn’t have any way to contact her, so Kristin thought she would go and catch Lucas before he went looking for her in the library and she wasn’t there. He had PE last period, so she went over to the middle school gym. Sitting in the bleachers by herself was Jamie, watching the middle school PE class.
Kristin walked up the bleachers and sat next to Jamie.
“Hey,” she said.
Jamie didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry Dylan said those things. I didn’t know he was like that.”
Jamie sat still and stared out at the PE class in session.
“Come on,” Kristin playfully punched her arm. “Who cares what they think?”
“You do,” Jamie said. “They’re all smart like you. You know, like, gifted.”
“They’re dopes. I’m not going to study with them anymore. I also told Dylan I didn’t want to go out with him.”
Kristin watched Jamie’s reaction.
“Dylan asked you out?”
“He asked me to go to some dance next weekend.”
Did Jamie seem upset to hear this? Kristin thought she might be.
“Go study with them. I don’t need to be someone’s pity case.”
“Don’t be so melodramatic.”
“You know, Dylan was one of the kids laughing at your cousin Patty at the river,” Jamie said. “He’s been laughing at me since 1st grade.”
“How did you know—?” That is when it dawned on Kristin. “Jamie, were you one of the people who helped carry Patty to the car?”
Jamie looked at her and raised her eyebrows.
“You were the tall one who carried her! Am I right? You and your friends!” Kristin couldn’t believe it had taken her that long to figure it out.
“That’s me, the tall, stupid girl.”
“Jamie, stop it. You know yourself what a jerk he is.”
“Were you really thinking of going to the dance with him?”
“Not for a second. I want to see how you did on your Spanish test.”
“I did fine,” Jamie said sullenly.
“I’ll be the judge of that. Show me!”
Jamie took out her Spanish notebook, pulled out her test, and handed it to Kristin.
“You got a 94?” Kristin said. “That’s better than fine! Congratulations!”
Jamie finally smiled. “Thanks.”
“Let’s see what you got wrong,” said Kristin. “That was just a spelling mistake, and you know how to do that one, you did it right on the other part of the test. You just need to go over and double-check your answers before you turn it in.”
The PE class was dismissed, and Lucas saw his sister sitting in the bleachers with Jamie. “Hi, Jamie,” he called out.
“How do you know my brother?” Kristin asked Jamie.
“We play basketball sometimes,” Jamie answered.
“You do?”
“Yup.”
Lucas bounded up the bleachers. “Hey Jamie, did you see that shot I made?”
“I sure did, Lucas. You are getting good,” said Jamie. “I have to get to practice, I’ll see you guys.”
“See you,” said Lucas.
“See you,” said Kristin.
Kristin wondered if Dylan was right about Jamie being a lesbian.
She decided that it didn’t bother her at all. In fact, the possibility intrigued her.
Chapter Sixteen
Jamie watched for Kristin to go through the lunch line.
“Why don’t you just ask her to sit with us?” Lissy said for what seemed like the 100th time.
“Maybe,” said Jamie.
“I don’t get it. You study with her every day, you’re the only person she kno
ws here, and you won’t ask her to sit with you at lunch? That’s just wrong.”
“She eats and goes right up to the library every day.”
“So?”
“All right, I’ll ask her.”
“Good. I’ll come with you.”
They saw Kristin approaching the register. They stood where they could intercept her when she went to find a seat.
“Nice outfit, fat ass,” Jamie heard someone say.
“Yeah, you get that from a Goodwill bin?”
“Look, she’s getting a free lunch!”
“Must suck to be ugly, poor, and fat.”
Paige and her friends were behind Kristin, who looked like she was going to cry. She left her tray on the counter and ran past the cashier. Paige and her friends followed her out, laughing.
“You are a fucking bitch!” Lissy proclaimed to Paige, who gave Lissy the middle finger.
“Kristin! Wait,” Jamie called as she hurried down the hall after Kristin’s retreating figure.
Kristin ducked into a bathroom and went into the handicapped stall.
“Kristin.” Jamie knocked lightly on the bathroom door. “Come on out.”
“Go away!” Jamie heard Kristin crying.
“I’m not going away.” Jamie waited. “You can either let me in or I’m going to slide under the door and come in, and the floor is gross.”
Jamie was just about to go under when she heard the latch slide on the door and Kristin let her in.
Jamie leaned up against the wall and looked at Kristin’s red eyes. Kristin wouldn’t look up. She just sat on the toilet and wiped her eyes with toilet paper.
“Come on, you know Paige hates you because of Hank.”
“He doesn’t like me; he just uses me to piss her off. Besides, what she said is true. I am fat, ugly, and poor.” She cried harder.
“Hey, you aren’t fat, okay? Or ugly. You’re—” Jamie stopped herself.
She almost said beautiful.
“I’m what?” Kristin demanded. “Gifted? Whatever. I am fat, I hate myself. I wish we had never moved here. I’d rather be dead than live in this shithole town.”
“You just don’t know,” said Jamie. “What you are can’t be bought at a store. It can’t be seen from the outside. You’re special.”
Kristin sniffed again. “Special, my ass.”
Jamie thought if Kristin only knew how special her ass was and started to smile.
“Come on. How come I’m supposed to ignore Dylan, but you’ll let Paige get to you?”
A slight smile started to form on Kristin’s face. “Because you could kick his scrawny ass if you wanted to.”
“Sometimes I think Paige could stand a good ass kicking. Come on, get up. Splash some water on your face and let’s go get lunch.”
“No. I am not going back in there. I’m not hungry anyway.” Kristin’s eyes started to well up again.
“Okay, we don’t have to. Why don’t we just take a walk around the track or something?”
“I don’t know. I usually just go up to the library and study.”
“Take a break from studying. Go outside and get some fresh air. It won’t kill you if you miss thirty minutes of studying.”
Kristin thought about it. “I guess.”
While they walked around the track, Kristin told Jamie about Sarasota, her old school, and her friends. She described the sugar white sand and aqua blue water at Siesta Key Beach. Jamie said she’d like to see it sometime.
After their fifth lap, Kristin said it was time for her next class and they started walking back.
“Thanks,” said Kristin when they were going to part ways.
“You’re welcome. And remember, Paige isn’t good enough to wipe dog shit off your shoes, okay?”
Kristin smiled. “If you say so.”
“I say so.” Jamie turned to go.
Kristin remembered something. “Wait, Jamie! We need to get together soon to work on The Crucible. That play is a little bit longer and more involved, so we need to get started soon.”
“What about this Sunday?” asked Jamie. “You can come over again.”
“Sundays aren’t really good days for me,” said Kristin. “Evenings during the week and Saturdays are much better.”
“Why don’t we try for this Saturday?” Jamie asked. “We don’t have a game. I can come pick you up around noon. Didn’t you say you lived in that farmhouse out on route 22?”
“Yes, that’s where I live, but,” Kristin didn’t want to tell her about her parent’s strict car ride rule. “Let’s talk Saturday and we can go from there.”
* * *
The next day Jamie sought Kristin out in the cafeteria.
“Why don’t you sit with us?” Jamie asked.
“Sure,” said Kristin, pleased. She went through the lunch line, got her usual meal and sat next to Jamie and across from Sam and Lissy.
“Don’t eat that plastic crap. Try some of this,” said Jamie, as she slid a dish of homemade hummus with fresh vegetables for dipping.
Kristin hesitated, then took a carrot and dipped it in the hummus.
“That is good.”
“Have some more. I have some Greek wraps, too. Have some.”
“I can’t eat your lunch. I have my own.”
“I have plenty. Look how much there is. I’ll never finish it. I’m just going to throw it out if you don’t have some.”
Kristin took a bite of the wraps and said, “That is really good. What’s in it?”
“Some turkey, tabbouleh salad, olives, tomato, feta cheese, lettuce, and a Greek dressing on a whole wheat wrap.”
When they finished eating, Lissy and Sam said they were going to hang out in his car for some alone time.
“Want to take a walk?” Jamie asked Kristin nonchalantly.
“Sure.”
Kristin didn’t know or care if Jamie was a lesbian; she was the only nice person at this school.
Chapter Seventeen
Kristin gathered her books for her study session with Jamie and told her mom she would wait for her in the car. She found she really looked forward to spending time with Jamie and not just to help her succeed.
She cocked her head as she walked out to the car. Something was off. As she walked around the passenger side of the car she saw what was amiss.
“Mom, we have a flat tire,” Kristin called to the house.
“Oh, great!” Rebecca said. “I’ll be late to the bazaar and they’re counting on me!”
“I’m supposed to get my homework done!”
“Call your father. See if he can get here to change it.”
Kristin dialed the grocery store and was connected to Rob.
“What’s up?”
“We have a flat tire and Mom can’t change it. She wants to know if you can come home and do it.”
“How am I supposed to get there?” Rob asked irritably.
“I don’t know, how am I supposed to get to Jamie’s house to get our project done?”
“I don’t know. Your uncle isn’t here, so I don’t have a ride. You’ll just have to wait until he gets back.”
“Dad! Could I at least ask Jamie to come get me?”
“No, absolutely not. You know our rules.”
“Great. Thanks for all your support, Dad.” Kristin hung up.
She called Jamie.
“Hi Jamie, it’s Kristin. I’m not going to be able to make it today.”
“Why not?”
“Our car has a flat and my dad can’t get here to fix it.”
“I can come get you,” Jamie offered.
“No, my parents won’t let me get rides from anyone but them.”
“Oh. You want me to come change your tire?”
“Do you know how?”
“Sure. My dad is a mechanic, you know.”
“Well, maybe. Let me call you right back.”
Kristin hung up and called her dad again.
“Yes?” Rob sounded exasperated.
“Do you mind if Jamie comes and changes the tire?”
“No, I don’t want her to do that.” Rob thought a moment. “Could you ask her to come get me and give me a ride home?”
* * *
Jamie moved her stuff from the front seat of the Jeep and drove to the Stowe Grocery store. She walked in and saw Rob Olson in the first aisle.
“Hi, Mr. Olson,” she said.
“Hi, Jamie,” he said. “Would you mind giving me a lift back to the house?”
“Sure,” she said. He took off his apron, said something to the girl behind the counter, and went and got into Jamie’s Jeep with her.
“Standard shift,” he commented as he watched her shift smoothly through the gears as she started back to the house. “How long have you been driving?”
“I learned when I was twelve and I got my license as soon as I turned sixteen.”
“Don’t these Jeeps flip easily?” he asked.
“Not if you drive right.” She looked over at him. “Please put on your seatbelt.”
“Oh, right.” He reached behind his right shoulder and fastened his seatbelt. “You ever been in an accident?”
“No, sir.” Jamie carefully drove through traffic and let someone out who had pulled halfway out into the intersection.
“How good are you at texting while you drive?”
“I don’t have a cell phone,” she said.
“Your family from here?”
“Yeah, my grandfather opened Stowe Auto Repair. Now my dad owns it.”
“What’s your last name?”
“Chase.”
“I know who your dad is. He was five or six years ahead of me. Tall guy?”
“He’s pretty tall.”
“He used to date this girl Irene who babysat us. She was my favorite sitter. I wonder what happened to her.”
“She married my dad.”
