Bell Bottom High: Book 3: Junior Jewels
Page 10
“Get off this stage right now!” Principal Lazarus demanded through trembling lips.
Chubby nudged R.J. off to the side exit and followed closely behind him. As hard as Principal Lazarus tried to get control of the crowd, it wasn’t happening. Finally, he gave up and pleaded with the faculty. “Teachers, please escort your students back to the classrooms until further notice!”
I bolted from the stage, hurried down the steps, and collapsed into the arms of my waiting mother. We slid into two front row seats as Mama held on to me, trying to soothe my tears away. “Baby, none of this is your fault.”
“Yes, it is,” I said between tears. Now my head was hurting as much as my heart. “I’m so embarrassed. I’ll never be able to live this down. How could Chubby do this?”
“Reecy, I’m sorry.”
I looked up long enough to see Chubby standing over us with sadness in his eyes. He didn’t seem to be too proud of what he’d done. “Get away from me,” I spat.
“Just listen to me for a second, Cuz. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just didn’t know any other way to clear your reputation. I couldn’t take hearing his lies about you any longer.”
Reaching into her clutch purse, Mama pulled out a white handkerchief and wiped my face. “He was only trying to help, baby. Don’t be mad at him for thinking of you. You know your brothers would have done the same thing if they were here.”
I thought for a second and tried to imagine how my brothers might have handled R.J. and felt a small sense of relief. My brothers were a lot more hot-headed than Chubby and would have certainly done more than just twist his arm for messing with their baby sister. I was also reminded of how Joyce’s brother, Alfred, had handled Rodney Payne last year. He had that boy’s face black and blue when he apologized to Joyce.
“Can you ever forgive me?” Chubby asked, lowering himself into a seat beside us.
I was overwhelmed to the point that I lost my voice again. I grabbed my cousin by the neck and squeezed him like I would never let him go. I’m lucky to have Chubby. He’s always had my back.
About the Author
B.J. Williams is a new young adult author, who grew up in the 70s. This is her first of four books to be published in the Bell Bottom High series, which is loosely based on her life as a teenager growing up in Arkansas.
Stay tuned for:
Bell Bottom High, Book 4, Senior Sins
August 4, 2017
Contact on social media at:
Email: Amanipublishing@aol.com
Facebook/Instagram: B.J. Williams