Homecoming Queen

by Melody Carlson

  “You saved my life.” He looked at her with serious eyes.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that — ”

  “You did too,” he said, a bit louder. “My mama says you’re an angel.”

  DJ couldn’t help but grin at Coach Jones now. “She did, did she?”

  “That’s what I heard, DJ,” said Coach in a matter-of-fact tone. “Casey told me that you ran like the dickens and then did a dive that looked like you were flying.”

  DJ tried to shrug, but remembered how much it hurt to do that. “I only did what you taught me to do in volleyball.”

  Coach Jones turned to Bonnie now. “DJ is the star player of my varsity women’s volleyball team. She will be sorely missed this season.”

  “I’ll bet you’re thankful just the same,” said Bonnie.

  Coach nodded with tears actually glistening in her eyes as she looked at DJ. “Oh, yes. I’m so very thankful. I just feel so badly that DJ has suffered as a result.”

  “Guess that proves I’m not a real angel,” said DJ, smiling a little.

  “Oh, yes you are,” said Jackson stubbornly.

  Bonnie asked just a few more questions, and finally the cameras were shut down. Bonnie shook DJ’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet a real hero, DJ. I hope you make a speedy recovery.” Then the media exited, and DJ was left with Coach Jones and Jackson.

  “I had no idea he was your son,” said DJ. “Not that it made any difference. But I’m sure glad I saw him when I did. It all happened so quickly. I didn’t have time to think or anything.”

  “Thank you again, DJ,” said Coach. “I’m so glad you were there. My boyfriend had picked Jackson up from daycare for me. He was still in the parking lot, getting something out of his trunk, when Jackson took off across the street. I guess he figured I was over there in the gym.”

  DJ shook her finger at Jackson. “You really should know better than to run across the street like that.”

  “I’m sorry, DJ.”

  She softened now. “And you won’t do it again, now will you?”

  He solemnly shook his head. “No.”

  “I’ve told him before that he’s never to cross the street without a grown-up,” Coach said. “And he never had before.”

  “Well, I’m just glad you’re okay,” said DJ, running her fingers through his soft curly hair.

  “Most people at school didn’t even know I had a son,” the coach said quietly. “But now they will.”

  “And they should,” said DJ. “Jackson is a delightful guy. You should bring him to our games. Well, I guess your games, not mine anymore.”

  Coach Jones frowned. “That’s such a shame, DJ. We really did need you this season. I hope you’ll still come out and support the team anyway.”

  “Sure,” said DJ. But she wasn’t so sure. It would be hard being stuck on the sidelines.

  “Well, I know your friends are eager to see you. There’s quite a mob gathered out there.”

  “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Jackson,” said DJ.

  Then, to her surprise, he leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek.

  “Why, thank you,” she told him.

  “Thank you!” Coach said as she hefted up her son, smiling down on DJ. “We can never thank you enough, can we, Jackson?”

  “Thank you, DJ,” he called out sweetly as he waved his stubby fingers over his mom’s shoulder.

  “And don’t let your adoring fans wear you out,” warned Coach as she opened the door to allow the group inside.

  6

  “WE NEED TO LIMIT THE VISITORS to three at a time,” the nurse informed them as a group of about ten crowded around DJ’s bed. DJ feigned disappointment, but she was actually relieved. All this attention was pretty overwhelming.

  “I’ll leave,” offered Casey. “Since I got to spend the night with her.”

  “I’ll go with Casey,” said Garrison. Naturally this got some attention since it was still news that these two were becoming a couple. Finally the visitors dwindled down to just Conner and Eliza and Harry.

  “We can pretend that this is a double date,” joked Eliza as she pulled up a chair.

  “Maybe I should order out some lunch for us,” said Harry.

  “I do feel hungry,” admitted DJ. “What time is it anyway?”

  “It’s past eleven,” said Eliza. “And I think I saw a food cart out there. Want me to go check?”

  “Hospital food?” Conner made a face.

  DJ wasn’t so sure she cared.

  “Hey, I could make a Hammerhead run,” said Conner.

  “Oh, man,” said DJ. “Fish and chips?”

  He nodded. “I could sneak it in here.”

  “You really want to eat all that fatty fried food?” asked Eliza.

  DJ frowned. Both guys gave Eliza a warning look and, thankfully, she didn’t push it.

  “I’ll call it in first,” said Conner, reaching for his cell phone. Eliza and Harry joked with DJ as Conner made the call. Then they all talked for a while before Conner took off to get the order and others came back in to visit again.

  “You need to clear out of here so she can eat her lunch in peace,” the nurse warned Rhiannon, Casey, and Kriti after just a few minutes. DJ peeked at the food under the metal tray and pretended to be interested, but mostly she was thinking about fish and chips.

  “Guess we’ll see you back at the house,” said Rhiannon. She put her hand on DJ’s. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  DJ thanked them and almost asked why Taylor hadn’t come in to say hello, but didn’t. She figured Taylor probably had “more important” things to do. But shortly after they left, Taylor slipped in by herself.

  “I know you’re supposed to be eating lunch — ” she said quietly closing the door behind her.

  “Nah, I’m not really eating that,” DJ said. “Conner is getting me something at The Hammerhead Café.”

  “Good. I wanted to come say hi, but I figured it would be better if I came in alone since I’m pretty much being treated like a piranha by our so-called friends.”

  Taylor sat in the chair across her, crossing one leg over the other and carefully studying DJ. “You don’t look too bad,” she said.

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re sure getting a lot of attention.”

  “I guess.” DJ almost reminded Taylor that she had been the one getting most of the attention last week, what with the MySpace thing and going missing. But suddenly that seemed like a long time ago. Funny how things can change so quickly.

  “I actually felt pretty bad when I heard about it,” said Taylor.

  “Not as bad as I felt.” DJ made a face.

  “No, probably not. I can’t imagine being hit by car.” Taylor shook her head. “I don’t really like pain.”

  “Who does?”

  Taylor shrugged. “I guess there are a lot of kinds of pain.”

  DJ studied her for a long moment. “So, now that I’m laid up in a hospital bed — broken leg, cracked ribs — maybe I should play the sympathy card and ask you one more time: Where were you when you were gone last week?”

  Taylor sighed. “It’s not like it’s a big deal, DJ. But if you must know . . . I can trust you not to go blabbing it around, right?”

  “You can trust me.”

  “Yeah, I think I can.” Still, Taylor didn’t go on.

  “So, where were you? I kept imagining you at some swanky five-star beach resort, with people waiting on you and stuff. Was it like that?”

  Taylor laughed. “I was cooped up in a nasty motel room with cockroaches and smelly linens and a lot of alcohol.”

  “Seriously?”

  Taylor nodded. “Yep. I pretty much drank and smoked and felt like giving up.”

  DJ frowned. “Giving up? What do you mean?”

  Taylor waved her hand dismissively. “I mean temporary insanity. No big deal. Here I am, just fine and dandy, right?”

  “I guess.” But DJ was still curious. What did Taylor mean b
y giving up? “So, you must’ve been depressed.” DJ peered at her.

  “I can relate. I mean, last night when I realized what had really happened, the broken leg and everything — well, it was pretty depressing.”

  “Meaning you’re not depressed about it now?” Taylor looked skeptical.

  “Okay, I’m not exactly happy. But then, look at the bright side, I could’ve been killed. Or as Casey suggested, I could’ve been a vegetable.”

  “I’d rather be dead than a vegetable.”

  “Me too.” DJ realized this was the most serious conversation she’d had with any of her friends today. The rest of them had been joking and lighthearted. “You know,” she began slowly. “I felt kind of robbed that I didn’t have one of those near-death experiences. You know what I mean?”

  Taylor nodded. “I’ve read about that — people who are clinically dead for a few minutes and think they’ve seen heaven.”

  “Yeah, that would’ve been cool.”

  “You mean if it were real.”

  “People who experience it seem to think it’s real.”

  “I know. I had a grandmother who believed in stuff like that.”

  “Had? As in she’s not around anymore?”

  “She died several years ago.”

  “Oh. Sorry.” DJ tried to imagine Taylor with a grandmother. “Was she anything like my grandmother?”

  “No one is quite like your grandmother.”

  DJ nodded. “That’s true.”

  “Remember when I quoted the Bible to you?”

  DJ nodded. Actually, that had been a real shocker. Who would’ve guessed that a girl like Taylor would even know what a Bible was? “Was that something you picked up from your grandmother?”

  “She was a real church-going lady. And she tried to get me to follow in her footsteps.”

  “But you had other plans?”

  “Not at first. But later on, after she was gone, I had to question a lot of that Christian nonsense. And finally I decided that’s all it was — just nonsense.”

  “Lunch has arrived,” announced Conner as he entered the room. Then he saw Taylor and frowned.

  “And I’m just leaving,” said Taylor. She stood and looped the strap of her bag over her shoulder, giving her long curls a toss. “Not that you two will miss me. See you later, DJ.” Then she went out and closed the door with a suggestive little wink — like Conner and DJ actually planned to do something right there in the hospital room. Yeah, right!

  “Good riddance,” said Conner as he removed DJ’s lunch tray and set the paper bags in its place.

  “She’s not so bad,” said DJ.

  “Compared to what?”

  DJ shrugged. “Getting hit by a car?”

  He laughed. “By the way, Eliza and Harry got sidetracked. I didn’t think you’d mind if they didn’t make it back.”

  DJ smiled in relief. “Not at all.”

  Then Conner laid out the fish and chips, which were still hot. Soon they were both happily eating. Still, DJ couldn’t help but replay in her mind some of the things Taylor had said, or almost said.

  It made her wonder.

  By the time DJ got home, after cooperating with two more news interviews for other TV stations, followed by a very uncomfortable ride in the back of her grandmother’s Mercedes, she felt more tired and sore than she had since the accident. Casey had acted as nurse during the drive home, and then as her bodyguard as they slowly made their way into the house. DJ had to sit down on the front steps, easing herself up backward one slow step at a time, before Casey finally helped her stand and make her way through the door.

  Grandmother led the girls into the main floor bedroom that previously had been inhabited by Inez, the housekeeper. “You will have to stay here for now, Desiree.” Grandmother watched as Casey helped DJ settle into the twin-sized bed. “Inez will bunk with Clara — which should make everyone fairly miserable.”

  DJ was glad to see that the bedding was fresh; at least Inez wasn’t bearing a grudge yet. Grandmother made an attempt to fluff a pillow. “And when you’re able to manage the stairs, you can return to your own room.”

  “With Witch Girl,” whispered Casey as she adjusted the pillow under DJ’s leg and carefully pulled the blanket up over her.

  DJ frowned then closed her eyes. She wanted to put in a nice word about Taylor, but she hurt too much. “I think I could use some pain meds about now.”

  “Good idea.” Grandmother set the bag of prescriptions on the bedside table. “Casey, would you get DJ some water, please?”

  Casey didn’t seem to mind acting as the servant girl as she hurried off.

  “I want you to know that, despite this inconvenience, I am proud of you for helping that little boy, Desiree.”

  With eyes still closed, DJ muttered “Thanks,” and wondered who was more inconvenienced here — Grandmother or her? Not that it mattered.

  “And while it’s most unfortunate that you will not be able to practice for the fashion show with the other girls, I do expect you to come and observe at our lesson time. It won’t be the same as participating, of course, but you can learn a few things by simply watching. And perhaps you’ll be up and moving around in time for the fashion show.”

  DJ’s eyes popped open. “You expect me to walk a runway with a broken leg and crutches?”

  “The doctor said the surgery will make your leg almost as good as new before long, Desiree.”

  “But it’s all bruised and nasty looking — and it hurts. Besides, I have cracked ribs too, remember.”

  “He said moving around will help the bones to heal. And, as you know, you are to report for physical therapy on Monday morning.”

  DJ let out a low groan as Casey set the water next to her.

  “I know you don’t feel too well just yet, Desiree; but in a day or two, I’m sure you’ll be getting back to normal.”

  DJ didn’t respond. How did a person respond to something like that?

  “Get some rest, Desiree. Ring if you should need anything.” Grandmother pointed to a small brass bell. “I told Inez to be on alert for you.”

  “Thanks,” DJ muttered, relieved to see her grandmother leaving.

  “Here,” said Casey as she shook two pills into DJ’s palm then handed her the glass of water.

  “Thanks, but I’m not sure if two will be enough.”

  Casey chuckled. “Your grandmother doesn’t let up much, does she?”

  “Did you hear that she still expects me to be in the fashion show?”

  Casey laughed louder. “Yeah. I think you should wear a miniskirt so that everyone can admire your lovely leg.”

  “She told me that I have to go to the training sessions and observe.”

  “Which start tomorrow afternoon,” said Casey. “Gee, I can’t wait.”

  DJ leaned her head back into the pillow and sighed. If a broken leg couldn’t get her off the hook, nothing could.

  7

  “HOW ARE YOU FEELING?” Inez asked DJ as she set a dinner tray on the small bedside table.

  DJ pushed herself up on her elbows with a groan. “I’ve had better days.”

  “Sorry to wake you, but I thought you might be hungry. It’s after seven.”

  “That’s okay.” DJ attempted to maneuver her broken leg over the side of the bed, but every movement seemed to spell pain — either in her ribs or her leg. In fact, she decided that she hurt all over. Kind of like she’d been run over by a truck.

  “Need any help?”

  “Just hand me the crutches, okay?”

  Inez got the crutches then helped DJ stand. “I thought you would have a cast on your leg.”

  “Apparently that’s not necessary when they put a metal rod in to hold the bone together.” DJ took a tentative step toward the tiny bathroom that was part of this small bedroom setup.

  “Metal!” Inez said. “Oh, now you will have trouble in airport security. My sister has a metal hip joint, and all the alarms go off when she tries to go throug
h the metal detector.”

  “Something else to look forward to.” DJ groaned again as she shuffled across the hardwood floor. Each step produced its own new form of pain.

  “How do you like my room?” asked Inez as she held open the bathroom door.

  “It’s fine.” DJ slowly moved past her. “Sorry you had to give it up for me.”

  “Not as sorry as I’ll be tonight. Clara snores like a freight train.”

  DJ closed the door and sighed. Even everyday tasks like using the bathroom had become an enormous obstacle. What she really wanted was a nice long shower, but the idea of getting in there without help was overwhelming, and she wasn’t about to ask Inez to assist her. After what seemed about an hour, DJ finally made her way out of the bathroom to see that Inez was still there.

  “You didn’t have to stay,” said DJ as she slowly made her way across the room again, huffing and puffing with each painful movement.

  “I wanted to be sure you didn’t fall,” she told DJ.

  “Thanks.” DJ sat down gratefully on the bed

  Inez helped her get comfortable and then set the dinner tray on DJ’s lap. “You all right now?” asked Inez as she paused by the door.

  DJ nodded. “I’ll be fine. The house seems quiet tonight.”

  “Most of the girls are gone.”

  “Gone?”

  “It’s Saturday night, Desiree. I guess they all have dates or something.”

  “Oh.” DJ couldn’t imagine that they all had dates, but perhaps they all had someplace to go. Rhiannon was probably at youth group, and Eliza was probably out with Harry. But DJ wasn’t sure where the others would be. For whatever reason, she felt left out. Not that she expected them to hover around her, but she had figured that someone would come down to visit.

  DJ finished her dinner and managed to put the tray on the bedside table without too much pain. Then she leaned back into the pillows and sighed. She knew it was probably time for more pain pills, but she also knew they made her sleepy. It seemed like that was all she’d done all day. She wondered where Conner was and why he hadn’t called or come to visit. But then she didn’t see her cell phone anywhere, and he seldom called her on the landline.

  She didn’t want to feel sorry for herself, but it felt like everyone was out having a good time while she was stuck here in the housekeeper’s room with no one to talk to and nothing to do. At least someone could’ve brought her a book. Or even a fashion magazine — there were plenty of those around.