by Jack Parker
I tried to think of all the things I didn't like about him, but I was too distracted by his forearm muscles, which were defined and tucked in his jeans pocket. Which looked really, really good on him.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, choosing not to answer.
A couple people at the table responded, giddily asking him how he was doing, how was his weekend, etc.
I opened my eyes only to see that his had never moved from my face. I could see his grin shining through the deep blue of his eyes. He bent down close to my face and whispered in my ear,
"How come you didn't come and sit with me at lunch today?" His breath on my ear gave me shivers that I had to fight to control.
I looked up at him, this sweet, gorgeous, genuine guy. But I saw the cockiness that he could no longer hide. He wanted to show off his status at school, he wanted everyone to know that he knew the new girl first, and wanted to show me how much the entire student body bent to his every will.
I shrugged. "It didn't look that interesting."
There was a noticeable shock that came across his face, "It what?"
The bell rang, and I pulled up my backpack and books. "Gotta go." I walked right around him, and headed towards my next class.
I ended up sitting next to shy and awkward Dylan in my next class; Anatomy, and he kept fidgeting the whole time, shifting from side to side, picking up a folder, putting it back, shuffling through papers and rearranging them, and franticly taking notes. Just watching him was exhausting.
I heard a smirk from the seat in front of me. My gaze shifted to a brown haired girl that uses a hair straightener too much. With a flick of her head, she gracefully moved the sleek hair behind her shoulders.
"Wow Dylan, really? Can't you stop moving already?" Her mocking voice was loud enough that the entire class turned to stare at him.
His face turned beat red, and a couple people laughed.
"Turn around." I let my voice come out as a slow, bored drawl, staring at her, completely stone faced.
"Excuse me?" Her pretty face contorted into an ugly scowl.
"Stop being a bitch, and turn around." I leaned forward a little, saying each word slowly.
The whole class was silent, as our teacher continued to lecture, completely oblivious. I could feel all the eyes on the room geared towards us.
She let out one of her smirks in disbelief. "Get over yourself- Look at this girl," She gestured to me, looking at me up and down in disgust, and turning to the person next to her, "She actually thinks she's better than me because she's from a city. "
"No. I think I'm better than you because I have class." I imitated her voice, saying it loudly, and our teacher turned around and looked over his classroom. "No more talking. Now, as I was saying…"
I gave her a fake smile and a small wave, then tuned out any of her dirty looks. I turned to Dylan, and he had a small frown on his face.
"You shouldn't let people treat you that way." I told him "It's not fair."
He shook his head. "You don't understand. I've known these people my entire life. They know every horrible thing that has happened to me. What am I supposed to do? I can't do that…" He clicked his pen continuously, and the noise was starting to bother me.
"So you've basically been taking this shit from people your whole life?" I asked. "Dylan. That is not okay."
He shrugged. "Thanks, but now your public enemy number one."
I sighed. "I don't get it. I actually tried to be nice to people. You all ignored me."
He smiled "We get better."
"You got better." I clarified. "That hoe," I gestured to the brunette, "not so much."
"That's Clarissa. Don't worry about her. She's just bitter because Camdon left her to go say hi to you."
"Is that Camdon's girlfriend?" I asked.
"Not anymore."
"Oh my god Dylan. Are you actually talking?" Clarissa's snotty voice interrupted our conversation as she walked by us.
I just followed her with my eyes. "God Clarissa, are you still talking?"
It was her turn to blush as people laughed at her.
Dylan smiled appreciatively. "If you give it awhile, and act a little… nicer, people will really like you, I can tell. You'll be popular in no time."
"What does that even mean?" I laughed.
"Well you're pretty-" He blushed, "And your kind of funny, and loud, that kind of works with the people here. I'm just letting you know that you won't have to keep talking to people like me." He didn't look at me; you could tell he just voiced something he often worried about.
"Why would I want to talk to people like them? And I could easily talk to them instead, but I'm choosing to talk to you. So don't be so negative. You're better company than anybody like Clarissa will ever be."
My next few days continued like this, and I became surprisingly good friends with Marcus and especially Dylan. Day after day I would sit at their table, and eventually I became absorbed as one of them. I was an outcast with the socially awkward, or in Marcus's case, socially deviant. The rest of the school however, did not become more welcoming, in fact, after the whole Clarissa fiasco, it became worse. I had given them an excuse to show their outward dislike.
Thank god for Anna, she was my only girl company. We would watch T.V or cute movies together at night, while I did my homework and she would file papers. We alternated cooking meals and making lunches, hers always tasting delicious. She continued to pick out clothes for me, after seeing me attempt to go to school in my pajamas.
It was definitely a reflection of my mood. By the end of the week, I couldn't bare it. I missed my parents. My neurotic mother, I was worried of what she was saying, and my father, if he kept with his plan. And what was happening? Why hadn't Detective O'Connor or Detective Kaiser called yet? Why couldn't they tell me if they had caught Mickey, or Greco and James? I was nervous about when the trial would start, how long I would have to stay here, and how long I could take it. Going to a school everyday where you were repeatedly been treated icily was not fun. Dylan and Marcus were great, but I missed my old life.
People liked me; I always had someplace to go, or something to do. Now, I was trying not to wallow in my misery.
I sighed, as I tuned out Camdon's voice over the intercom. He was president of the school, and although only seniors are allowed to run, they gave him special privilege, and he won. He gives daily announcements before lunch, and I could not try any harder to avoid him.
I'm almost positive he had caught on, but was still clueless. I didn't like him because other people liked him too much. Plain and simple. But it was a lot easier to dislike him when he wasn't around. Whenever he stood next to me, or said hello, I felt like I was his best friend. I know his type, and that's dangerous territory. I was better off disliking him than trying to be friends.
My mind began to wander, to what my old friends where doing, it was actually kind of nice to get away from that girlyness. Their dramatic obsessions were starting to get annoying…
The bell rang, and I jumped, but quickly made it to the cafeteria. It seemed more crowded than usual, and very chaotic. I pushed my way through some people in the lunch line to find my table. I sat down and pulled out a salad, Anna's day to make food, and drifted back and forth between wondering what my parents were doing and what was going on in the investigation.
I couldn't help but be terrified that my mother would talk herself into a dangerous situation. She could be stupid, and the detectives could only keep me in the dark for so long. I needed to know what was going on, and if I was safe, or if someone had located me. I shuddered at the thought of someone finding me here. Marcus and Dylan sat on either side of me, and began a loose conversation I couldn't follow.
My throat closed up, and tears fought to spring from my eyes. I was safe, I was fine, I told myself over and over, but I couldn't shake the feeling. I didn't know anything that was going on, Anna was a small, petite woman, even with a gun, how could she do anything if they found us?
My parents were in constant danger, and continued to lead their oblivious lives, while I was here, sent to try and continue normally, when some of the biggest criminals in America were trying to keep me quiet anyway they could. They have connections I couldn't even dream of. How was I near to safe? I miss people who know who I am, I'm tired of moving, I wanted to stay in Phoenix until I graduated. I want to be able to share and talk about my life without worrying that it might get me killed.
I blinked, trying to stop myself from bursting into tears, and quickly got up, mumbling an excuse as I rushed out of the cafeteria. The familiar scene made me even more terrified, as I remembered how they had come to my school in Phoenix. I made a beeline towards an empty classroom, but didn't make it in time. I felt my composure completely come apart, and began crying.
I slid down the wall and tried everything to think of something besides Mickey, and whether or not she had been caught yet, but I couldn't. Fear gripped at my heart, and I was unaware there was even anyone around until I felt the warmth of a body leaning against mine.
I had closed my eyes, and refused to open them, although I knew who the person was. Camdon wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me into his chest while I quieted my cries the best I could.
My breathing eventually slowed down, becoming normal, and my tears had dried up while Camdon's soothing presence calmed me down.
I looked up at him and he just stared back at me. I untangled myself from him, and, with whatever dignity I had left, walked towards the bathroom to clean myself up.
Chapter 7
"Heidi!" Anna sang, as she walked in the door, and put her purse on the counter. "Oh, hello there." She smiled.
I saw both Marcus and Dylan stare at her as if they've never seen anything so beautiful in their entire lives. Granted, she was gorgeous, but they were beginning to embarrass themselves.
"Marcus and Dylan are friends of mine from school. Guys, this is my aunt, Anna."
Marcus let a mischievous grin appear on his face. Dylan stood up and walked over to her, sticking out his hand politely. "I'm Dylan, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Anna, ever oblivious, took his hand and shook it. "Oh look at how nice you are! What a gentleman."
Marcus, not to be out done, strolled over in her direction and took her hand as well. "Anna, you have such a wonderful home." Marcus, although his eyes stayed on Anna, sat back down next to me. "Heidi, you never told me you came from such a beautiful family."
Anna waved a hand dismissively. "You're just saying that. I'm flattered."
Marcus grinned, and watched her as she walked out of the room. "Heidi! Your aunt is a dime piece." He whistled.
"A what?"
Dylan leaned in and whispered, "A ten, he thinks she's hot."
"Your damn right I do. When you told me you lived with your aunt, I thought she would be some old fat woman."
"Cute, Marcus." I rolled my eyes.
Dylan and Marcus had begun coming home from school with me, eating all my food, and then leaving shortly after. Marcus currently had a cast on his arm, because he jumped from the local grocery store's rooftop and landed on it funny. His rebellious adventurous were always entertaining to hear about. He used his new crippled state as sympathy with Anna, and always got a little more friendly when she would come home.
While Marcus kept up his infatuation with my petite bodyguard, Dylan would entertain me involuntarily.
I had begun a campaign to make him more calm and less antsy.
He would rapidly be bouncing his leg, while tapping his fingers or finding something to constantly mess with. We were in my room and I had him sit on my bed for five minutes without moving, although he didn't make it past thirty seconds.
I got a stopwatch and everything.
"Come on Heidi, this is ridiculous." Dylan whined, pulling at the frays of a jean skirt I had lying around. I ripped my skirt from his grasp and shoved it in my over-filled closet.
"More like pointless." Marcus smirked.
Dylan and I both glared at him. I plopped down next to him on my bed, stretching out and clutching a pillow. I let out a long sigh, "I am so tired." I mumbled from inside the pillow.
Dylan laid down next to me, "It might be because you have to run away from Clarissa whenever you see her in the halls."
Marcus laughed. "Is that skank still out to get you?" Marcus shook his head knowingly, "I wouldn't worry about it, she's looking for someone to blame for loosing Camdon."
"How did that happen anyway?"
Dylan smiled, seeing my interest and I shoved him playfully. "They barely dated. Camdon tends to make girls think they are more important than they actually are." My heart sank a little, "He and her became really close I guess, and he was with another girl at the time. He looses interest fast, and never gets personal. I think that was the main problem for her actually."
"What do you mean he never gets personal?" I frowned.
"Everyone knows a little something about everyone in this town, if you catch my drift. But Camdon's managed to stay under the radar." Dylan noticed my confusion and explained, " Camdon's mom had him when she was still in high school. His dad was the mega star of this town, and took a scholarship to college and left, not supporting them at all. Everyone knew that Camdon's mom was a genius, she had a really promising future, but she had to stay back and take care of Camdon. Never even made it to college." Dylan shrugged. "It's a shame, but you never here of him messing up or getting in trouble, people know about his background, and even though everyone pretends to know him so well, no one really does."
Marcus flipped through some of my homework. "He's actually a really cool guy. I always think how great it would be to have his life, then I remember how much pressure he has to face with his mom and all, and then I feel fine with where I'm at." He got up and stretched his arms. "Imagine trying to be perfect to try and make up for being born. That blows."
We sat in silence, each thinking our own thoughts of what Camdon's life really entailed.
Our thoughts were broken when we heard the door swing open and closed. Marcus grinned, "Anna's home!" and bolted out the door, and thundering down the stairs.
I laughed while Dylan groaned. "He's embarrassing, I'm sorry."
"It's not like you can control him."
Dylan's eyes scanned my room. "Did your other friends ever act like this when they met her?"
I froze up a little bit. "No… They never really met her."
"Miss your parents?" He asked kindly, like any friend would or should, but I wish he would stop.
"Yeah. A little. It was a nice break from them at first, but I don't get to talk to them that much, so that makes it worse."
"Why can't you just call them? Where are they anyway?" Dylan asked.
"Europe somewhere." I answered lamely.
"That sucks."
I shrugged. "It's not so bad. I love Anna; she's awesome. She's so happy I even have friends. You should see how worried she gets."
Dylan smiled. "I'm glad you came to our school, who else would help me find my chi?" I laughed, and he laughed with me. "Have you noticed how much better people have been treating you? Besides Clarissa of course; but still. I'm proud of George Washington High School."
That worried me, I had avoided Camdon even more than usual, and I was afraid he had said something. The day after I had been crying, people started warming up to me. Friendly hello's, smiles, offers for help in class. It was too much of a coincidence. Clarissa was as frosty as ever, but I didn't expect that to ever change.
Dylan and I talked about meaningless things, while we heard Anna laughing downstairs at Marcus' attempts to charm her.
"I feel like I need to go down there and protect her." I said.
"That would probably be a good idea." We both went downstairs, where Marcus was telling an elaborate story about how he ordered over twenty pizzas and had them delivered to his annoying neighbor.
"This just proves how mature and ready for a relationship with her he is.
" Dylan sarcastically said over his shoulder while rummaging through my pantry.
"That's my poptart." I pointed at the last packet of brown sugar cinnamon.
"There's still a cherry left." Dylan said, beginning to open up the silver crinkly wrapper.
"Ew. No, only Anna eats those." I snagged the poptarts from his hands and delightfully stealing one out.
"Hey!" He cried.
"I'm letting you have one!"
"I let you have one!"
"No you didn't! They were mine in the first place!" I squealed and ran away as Dylan chased me into the living room, and for the first time I didn't like the small size of the house, wishing I had a big one with lots of space to run away from. I got myself trapped in the corner between the front door wall, and the wall in between the entrance of the kitchen.
Dylan poked me mercilessly, as our doorbell rang, Marcus stepped over us like it was nothing and opened it up.
I continued to squeal and kick while trying to pull myself away from Dylan's harassment. I laughed, and begged him to stop.
"DYLAN!" I yelled. "You are such a man whore." I was shouting anything I could think of. Groaning, as I was poked yet again, "My side hurts…." I burst out laughing. "Seriously. Marcus! Anna! Save me!" I yelled.
Dylan stopped. "Okay, only because you're rolling around on that top. Don't want you to ruin it or anything." He said, mocking me. I stuck my tongue out at him.
Dylan was on the ground next to me, and we both looked up at a surprised Camdon. I could have sworn a twinge of envy passed his face, and I couldn't help but feel a little guilty, but I wasn't sure why.
I stood up. Dylan gave me a pinch and walked past us. "Hi, Camdon."
"Hi Heidi..." He seemed hesitant, like he changed his mind about coming over, and looked like he suddenly wanted to leave. "I just wanted to see how you were doing."
I gulped. I wasn't sure what to do. I was attracted to him, and as much as I tried to deny it, it was the truth. I felt a pull, how he looked at me, the way his muscles would contract with simple movements, how he acted like he cared, even though he didn't know me. He never could.
