Right, whom was I kidding? I wanted answers and I wanted them yesterday! I grabbed a chair from a study table in an alcove off the hallway and set the camera up on top of the lockers, hiding it by a couple of fake plants.
The bell rang to end first period and I jumped off the chair before the students flooded the halls. Showtime!
Chapter 14
Nikki met me at my locker. “I’m so glad you made it back in time for the pep assembly,” she said putting her books away. “I was hoping I didn’t have to sit alone.”
“I wouldn’t make you sit through that torture by yourself.” I slammed the locker and displayed how sparkly clean it was, and she smiled. I glanced up at the camera and blew it a kiss.
The entire school shuffled their way down hallways and stairwells in a feverish attempt to reach the gymnasium. It wasn’t a mad dash, however. I was certain most of everyone shared the same opinion as Nikki and me; boring and useless. But at least it got me out of Chemistry.
Nikki and I climbed a few rows up and squeezed in to sit at the end of the bleachers. Everyone has a strange quirk and mine was that I refused to sit at the top of bleachers, in movie theatres and auditoriums. I’ve seen one too many videos of collapses. I didn’t want to be at the top, or crushed below.
Therefore, I preferred seating in the third row. Not the first or second row, either. Especially at sporting events or even pep assemblies, it was dangerous. Basketball players fall on you and cheerleaders kick you. Aren’t I quite the quirky one?
“This is the most excited I’ve been about a pep assembly, ever!” Nikki gushed.
“What?” I snorted. “Don’t tell me you secretly always wanted to be a cheerleader.”
Nikki laughed and shoved my shoulder. “You took your funny pill today, didn’t you?”
“It’s the reason why I went home.”
“I’m better than any of those head-up-their-butt cheerleaders,” Nikki conceded. “And do you know why?”
Nikki was being quite entertaining. She had me smiling and amused by her statement. “Do prêt tell my dear friend,” I said.
“Because I have him!” Nikki said, pointing to underneath the basketball hoop where the football team was assembled. “My boyfriend is Boyd Canton. Does Amber or Casey have a boyfriend?” Her long blond locks smacked her in the face and eyes when she shook her head no.
“No,” I said playing along.
“No is right. And not even the second hottest guy in this school can stand the sight of them.”
I lifted my eyebrows and shrugged my shoulders waiting to see if she would confess to whom she was referring to, but she just stared at me as though I had the next line.
“Okay, and that would be?” I asked still playing along.
“Trent,” she said as if I should know. “You don’t agree?”
My stomach tingled and I suddenly wasn’t enjoying our conversation. “Do I have to answer that?”
Nikki gave me a sideways glare. She turned to wave at Boyd then turned her attention on me, her eyebrows furrowed. “Parker, after everything Trent has done for you lately, you’re still going to hold a grudge?”
She acted like that was a bad thing. Okay, I’d have to admit Trent was starting to grow on me. After Emily pointed out that people do change, I actually started to look at Trent in a different light. And I was almost positive he was my secret admirer.
“You’re right Nikki. Shame on me.”
Nikki went back to making googly eyes with Boyd, who was sitting next to Trent. I stole a peek at Trent. He and Devin were carrying on a conversation, both smiling. A few times they’d look behind them at their teammates and slap their hands. And for the first time I saw what my nurse did; three hot guys.
The most fascinating thing about assembling hundreds of people in one area is the conversation. Most of everyone was talking, forming words and sentences. But if you really stopped to listen, all you hear is gibberish. And a majority of the gibberish ceased when the cheerleaders busted through the gym door, chanting and clapping.
“So, what did you go back home for?” Nikki asked.
The cheerleaders assembled themselves on the mat waiting for the music to start. I actually enjoyed watching the dance and tumbling part, and continued watching while still engaging in conversation with Nikki.
“My camera.”
The music blared and I watched the tumbling as did Nikki. The cheerleaders were flawless, even with the basket tosses and balancing stunts. When they went into their chanting I turned to Nikki.
“I set up the camera to take photos every five seconds. I’m hoping to catch our graffiti artist in the act.”
“Wouldn’t it be sweet if it were both Casey and Amber?” Nikki asked.
“Why’s that?”
“Then they’d both be suspended and kicked off the squad.”
“Indeed it would.”
Throughout my conversation with Nikki I was still in tuned to what the cheerleaders were saying. I heard a few words here and there, and it sounded like they were saying, Trent can double his pleasure, double the fun. Homecoming awaits you, Amber, Casey, either one. Parker, loser, not for you. Because we are like you, we’re number one!
I glanced around the gym at all the students. No one seemed fazed by what they said. I turned to Nikki and asked, “Did they just call me a loser?”
Nikki shrugged. “I have no clue what those girls say. They chant like they have a mouthful of marbles.”
As far as I could tell no one else seemed to have paid any attention to the cheer, either. I glanced over at Trent. He and Devin were still carrying a conversation; Boyd’s attention was fixated on Nikki. And when I gazed around the gymnasium, I could see people here and there talking to their neighbor, playing with their cell phones, sleeping, and even making out. The cheer fazed no one. Had my selective hearing gone haywire?
The cheerleaders bounced off the mat and stood with their hands behind their backs on the other side of the gymnasium, under the opposite basketball net. And the football coach, Mr. Garrison waddled to the center of the mat to introduce the football team.
Trent was the first one introduced and the entire gymnasium exploded in applause and whistles. I clapped, but I certainly wasn’t going to whistle. Casey and Amber had that one covered. They turned around, stuck their butts in the air and flipped up their skirts.
Some of the crowd laughed and pointed. Casey’s butt said, We Love, while Amber’s butt had, Trent. I actually laughed with the crowd, mainly because it looked hideous and I wondered if everyone else felt the same.
“They certainly know how to make asses of themselves,” Nikki said.
“Butt,” I replied.
“But what?” Nikki giggled.
When Boyd was introduced, Nikki and I clapped and made wooing sounds. Boyd winked at Nikki and stood next to Devin. It took nearly twenty minutes for Mr. Garrison to go through the entire roster, and by that time my hands were hurting from clapping twenty-eight times.
After the entire team was out on the mat, Mr. Garrison talked about the last two games, and how proud he was of his team. And after the crowd settled down he went on to warn us how the boys had a tough schedule ahead of them, but he had every reassurance we were going to prevail. Blah, blah, blah…
The dance squad ended the assembly with a routine and we were finally dismissed.
There certainly was no rush to get out of the gymnasium and to our lockers for third period. Nikki and I went at a snail’s pace, hoping Boyd would catch up to us. But we didn’t see any of the football players or cheerleaders emerge from the gym.
When Nikki and I turned the corner of the hallway to our locker, we stood dumbfounded, shocked, flabbergasted, and confused. My locker was vandalized, again. And undoubtedly it happened during the pep assembly.
“I don’t get it,” Nikki said. “We saw Casey and Amber the entire time, so how did they manage to sneak up here?”
Think Parker, think. How did they? When did they? I snapped
my fingers in remembrance. “At the very beginning, when all the students were taking their seats, the cheerleaders weren’t even in the gymnasium yet. They had ample time to do this.”
“I’ll go summon the janitor again,” Nikki said leaving. “I can’t wait to see the tape later.”
“That makes the two of us. And thanks.” I opened my locker to retrieve my Literature book and a piece of paper tumbled out. “Oh goodie, another love note.”
I unraveled the paper to read it. It certainly wasn’t a hate letter; it was from my secret admirer. He was going to ask me something tomorrow morning and wanted for me to meet him at the flagpole at seven thirty-five.
The camera was staring me straight in the face. I couldn’t wait until after school to find out who left me the note. For one thing, what if it was Boyd? Although I’m sure it wasn’t. If Nikki viewed the photos with me and saw Boyd, it would devastate her and crush me to the core to see her go through misery. It was draining enough to see Emily go through it with Trent, and once was enough.
I didn’t have any other options than to wait until the halls were deserted and be late for third period. After the tardy bell rang, I loitered at my locker for a few minutes longer until I was sure the coast was clear.
With no one lurking about I snatched a chair and grabbed my camera, hitting a button to start the pictures at the beginning. Everything happened before the assembly started so it made no sense to work my way backwards. I had to press the advance button hundreds of time before a person finally came into view, and I nearly fell off the chair when I saw him.
This certainly did complicate my life. I never would have believed it if I didn’t see it with my own two eyes. But that wasn’t even the worse of it. I loudly gasped at the girl I saw next at my locker, wearing a devious grin and defacing my locker with spray paint. What the hell?
I quickly deleted the photos of my secret admirer and put the camera back in position. Nikki was going to be floored when she sees these photos. And yet, I had to put on my best Oscar nominating gasp for when we both view the juvenile delinquent for the very first time.
I was forever doomed.
Chapter 15
Nikki and I gossiped about nothing waiting for the students to slowly file out at the end of the day. What I didn’t get was, school was over, finished, let freedom ring. So why did people linger in hell longer than they needed to be?
The football players reported to the gym. The thespians reported to the auditorium for play practice. I didn’t know what the fall play was, although I probably should considering in three weeks I’d have to take photos for the school paper. And I was sure Mariah told me, but I tuned her out. I was sure there were other extracurricular activities taking place, like debate, chess, and swimming. But I wasn’t part of the yearbook staff; so frankly, I didn’t care what took place.
Twenty minutes later I finally felt abandonment, and Nikki peered up and down the halls to confirm it was just the two of us. She nodded back at me and I grabbed a chair to retrieve my camera. I shoved it safely in my backpack while Nikki returned the chair.
“Let’s go,” I said.
The only thing I worried about was our hike across the parking lot. I silently prayed we didn’t run into Boyd, Trent or even Devin when they make their way to the football field for practice. The last thing I needed was for Nikki to yell out to Boyd we caught the hooligan on film. Her announcement would have all three boys ducking for cover so they could take a peek. And that wouldn’t be good.
Luckily, the football team was already on the field doing calisthenics when we hit the parking lot. Nikki fought off the glare from the descending sun searching for Boyd.
“Hey, we should go watch their practice,” Nikki said. “We can scroll through the photos, and you can take some of Boyd for me.”
I smiled at Nikki’s gushing and semi-stalking statement. What harm could that do? I wouldn’t have to worry about the boy’s straying over, for they’d certainly pay the price if the coach caught them. The weather was tapping at the eighty-degree mark. Nikki could drool over Boyd and I could use the fresh air to sort out my life.
We sat in the third row on the cool aluminum bleachers. There were maybe fifteen other students watching practice while doing their homework. I made sure we sat a safe distance away from everyone, as I didn’t want anyone but Nikki to see the photos.
Nikki stared at Boyd while I yanked my camera out and set it up for viewing. I nudged her in the arm when I was ready to go. “Here goes nothing,” I said to her. I kept my thumb pressed on the button until the girl came into view.
“Slow it down,” Nikki said, inching her face closer to the screen. “Omigod! Is that who I think it is?”
“Let me get a better shot.” I advanced the photo two more times and the shot was crystal clear. There was no mistaken of who she was. “I don’t stinking believe it, do you?” I asked, pretending to be shocked.
“My heart is pounding so hard,” Nikki said rubbing chest. She glanced up at me, her face concerned and sad. “What are you going to do?”
I glanced out to the field. Trent was throwing passes to Boyd and I snapped a close-up of Boyd grabbing the ball in mid-air. “I don’t know, yet.” I snapped another photo of Boyd glancing our way. It was a nice shot. “I need to give myself a few hours to clear my head and think of something fitting.”
“Good idea.” Nikki waved at Boyd. “I’m not even sure I’d know how to deal.”
“Oh, and by the way, can we be here by seven-thirty tomorrow morning?”
“Why so early?”
I handed Nikki the note to read. I no longer had to fret about worrying if my secret admirer was Boyd. And I couldn’t keep this away from Nikki, my best friend ever, as she’d never forgive me if she found out about these notes from someone else.
Nikki’s face lit up and her teeth glistened from her huge grin. “How exciting and romantic! Do you have any ideas on who it could be?”
Indeed I did. But I had other things on my mind and I didn’t want to complicate them even more. I wasn’t ready to tell Nikki at the moment. My head was so messed up as it was. What I needed was a long, hot shower to unscramble the lunacy.
Forty-five minutes into football practice I was ready to leave. “Can you take me home now? I have a ton of homework still.”
“Sure. Besides, I don’t want Boyd coming up to me after practice all sweaty gross.”
After I made myself tomato soup and grilled cheese for dinner, I locked myself in my room to finish homework and think about how I’d handle tomorrow. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant day. I had a lot on my plate and I wasn’t sure how it would all play out. What would I say to him? What would he say to me? Is it the right thing to do or was I glutton for punishment?
Nikki honked her horn at seven twenty-five. I was out the door with sausage links in hand, and before anyone else in my family. Mom was still in bed sleeping. Her first day on the job had tuckered her out. She hadn’t worked in over eighteen years, and her body was probably in shock.
I usually hear Emily leave at her normal time of seven-fifteen, but not today. And our paths never crossed this morning. Mariah was running a few minutes behind her normal schedule.
When I buckled in Nikki asked, “Have you thought of anything yet?”
“Nope. No neon signs flashed even a hint,” I huffed. “Hopefully it will just fall in my lap when the right moment presents itself.”
“Did you bring your camera?”
“It’s in my backpack, ready for that special moment.”
Nikki parked in the front row and cut her engine. “I’ll stay here and wait for Boyd. Good luck.”
“Thank you. I’ll need a lot of it.” I grabbed my backpack and exited the car.
The sun was blinding. I reached in the pocket of my backpack and put my sunglasses on. Schoolmates flooded the grounds. There were a few skateboarders on the sidewalk, and a handful of boys were doing tricks on their BMX bikes.
I stood near the
flagpole and peeked at my watch. It was exactly seven-thirty, and my heart did a little fluttering. I was growing nauseous and regretted ingesting two sausage links so quickly. They were fighting their way up my esophagus. Son of a bitch! This was not a good time for my acid reflux to kick in.
“Hi Parker,” a voice said from behind me.
Although I knew who it was, I was still taken a bit off my guard. “Hi Trent.”
“I was wondering something.” I didn’t interject and thought it was best for him to continue. “Do you still hate me?”
“How long have you been waiting to ask me that?” I laughed. My stomach actually settled down when he grinned.
“Awhile,” he said with a chuckle.
“No. Honestly, I think you’re pretty awesome now.”
“Parker, would you do me the honor of being my Homecoming Queen?”
I nearly choked on my saliva. Amber and Casey feared this moment for weeks, but I can honestly say I never saw it coming. When did Trent become interested in me? I thought his question was so ill timed, but only for a few seconds. It all rushed at me harder than a tidal wave.
“Trent, I need to show you something.” I reached in my backpack and grabbed my camera. “Boyd probably filled you in on the vandalism on my locker.”
“He has.” I showed him the picture of Teagan spray-painting on my locker and he hung his head. “I don’t believe it. Parker, I’m sorry. I won’t hold it against you if you turn her in.”
“I’m not Trent.” I put my camera away. “Have you ever been blackmailed?”
Trent’s mouth dropped and his complexion turned white. “I thought you said you didn’t hate me.”
“I want you to take Emily to Homecoming.”
“Emily? She hates me probably more than you do, or did.”
“She’s never gotten over you, Trent. And she still has a beautiful dress yet to be worn.”
Fantasy Football Page 13
