*****
“Okay, girl. I’m off.” Angel had just come out of the novelty t-shirt and gift store at the mall. The assistant manager pulled down the chained metal gate after her. “Stupid prick,” she muttered. “He checks my bag every night to make sure I’m not takin’ anything.” She threw her head back at the trend store. “Like I want any of that shit.”
Katelyn had been standing outside of the store for close to an hour. Angel grabbed her arm to pull her away from the store. They walked around the corner to the closest mall exit and Angel stopped to dig into an inner pocket of her bag. She pulled out some stud piercing jewelry and smiled wickedly at Katelyn. “They’re my bonus for working so hard. Pick one. Try something other than that ball.” She referred to Katelyn’s tongue piercing.
Katelyn looked at the four studs she held out and picked out a black rubber pointed spade. “Thanks,” she said unenthusiastically. They walked and Katelyn could see that it had rained since she came into the mall over an hour ago. When Ashley had returned, Jen convinced her to take her back to Ames. Katelyn rode along and walked the rest of the way to the mall from Jodi’s apartment. Katelyn needed a friend, and Angel told her to meet her after work. Katelyn hoped Angel would have some answers.
Angel and Katelyn ran to Angel’s car. She hopped into the passenger seat as soon as Angel leaned over and unlocked the door for her.
After she started the car and lit a cigarette, Angel turned to Katelyn. “So,” she started, already looking uncomfortable. “Yeah, like, I don’t know how to talk about this. Tim’s definitely wronged you and, like, I’m not gonna say you don’t have every right to be pissed and all. But, I like him, too, ya know?”
“Angel, I’m not asking you to take sides. I just got to know what you know. None of this,” she threw her hands up, “makes sense.”
Angel took a drag before she began. “Well, like, I’m guessing the girl is Mona Adams. She went to the Academy, I guess, before I started—didn’t finish, though. She’s way into crank and can’t think right anymore. But, like, she’s still friends with Tori who still goes to the Academy with me. Anyways, a couple weeks ago she said she was at a party with Travis and saw Tim there.” Angel took another drag before she continued. “Hell, I thought it was kinda weird. I assumed you were with him and that’s weird, right, because you don’t like him running with those crankers. But, honest, I didn’t think too much into it.
“Anyways, this week Tori was asking about you and how long you and Tim were together. Stuff like that. But, like, she was talking like you were his ex. So, I asked her and she said Mona was going out with him now.”
Katelyn’s jaw pushed out in anger and she shook her head in disbelief. Suddenly she was very warm.
Angel jumped a little in her seat and put one hand on Katelyn’s top arm, which was crossed firmly over her chest. “Hey, hey, I didn’t know it was a lie. I haven’t talked to you in a couple weeks and all and, when Tori said that, I thought you were just, ya know, depressed or not talking to anyone. I don’t know. I thought maybe you were mad at me.”
Katelyn turned. “Mad at you?”
Angel shrugged and blew smoke out the cracked window space. “Yeah, well, that party Tori was talking about? It’s one of Christian’s old friends.”
Katelyn couldn’t worry about Angel’s misconceptions. She was burning inside. “Do you know where Mona lives?” Katelyn’s voice was cold and hard.
Angel threw her cigarette butt out the window and turned to face Katelyn. Her face held the answer, but also a question. “Yeah, but, Kate, girl, you don’t want to mess with her. She’s straight up mean and usually fucked up. Ya know, you got to stay away from them. Ya never know what people will do when they’re on that shit.” Her voice took on a personal softness of a secret memory. “They’re on top of the world with you one minute and throwing it at you the next.” Angel grew quiet.
“Take me there.” Angel turned to object, but Katelyn cut her off. “Angel, please, do this for me. Take me there. You don’t have to go in with me. I just have to. Please, Angel, please. If you’re my friend, take me there.”
Angel stayed frozen for a moment and then shut her mouth again. She settled herself in to drive and put the Caprice in motion.
Pick-me-up Page 43
