The month following the start of school was a weird one. Toby insisted I sit at his table which included Mando right with me. She and I talked while he hollered and hooted with his bunch, funny a month later other than Clay no one spoke to me or Mando either much. Even though I noticed a few plastics had inherited her style already. The big bulky plastic toothbrush bracelets she made had caught on like wildfire like everything else she done. Even I had like six to match everything. Tonight’s the first ball game of the year and it’s Toby’s last year to play. He was right in helping me with extra classes, his influence helped but it still may not be enough. I have the credits to graduate this year but not all the required classes. I was doing extra work and staying late twice a week I couldn’t devote more I had a job and it fed me and Thax. I was still going to be two classes short, I have considered my G.E.D but it cost and I don’t have it, Toby offered but it felt wrong. Besides could I really leave Thax to follow Toby to College? We don’t talk about it because Toby gets all worked up and sometimes his temper is ridiculous to say the least. Once he got mad at me for walking home when I got off early and not calling him he didn’t speak to me for two whole days. He is somewhat spoiled being an only child and is way to use to getting his way. The bell ring and the room clears out, lunch is over and the team retreats to the field house for the rest of the day to prepare. The cheerleaders aka the plastics go to hang all the posters around the field and we have study hall the last hour and a half, which I use to do my extra work, at least next year I will have most of the day off of school through the work program. I will be out of here by ten meaning a full eight hour work shift as soon as it opens up. Or even another part time job. Thax has showed interest in playing football now thanks to Toby showing him stuff over the summer at the park. So maybe with a fulltime job I can afford to make sure he has what he needs to play. Toby wraps his arm my waist and pulls me close letting his hand slip a little too far down “love you baby, remember text me when you get to gate and I will come get you, being my girl has special advantages” I let out a yip and blushed “Ok, love you” which landed me a classic Toby move he didn’t kiss me of course not, he was to lovey for that he bent down and licked my face from my cheek bone up to my eye. ”Eww Toby you likely have a tongue fungus now” Ashley comments as she walks by trying to grab his hand and pull him with her since they have to go the same way. “Shut up Ashley I got rid of the fungus when I got rid of you” was all I heard as he jerks his hand away from her and turned to wink and give me his wish I was a real bad boy grin. It fits him, he is just too perfect.
Chapter Six
Game nights are always the same. I show up Toby lets me in and Amandolette of course. We take our seats on front row of the bleachers by the band and watch Toby in all his awesomeness. He has the golden arm no doubt. He controls his team. He is in every way a perfect leader STRONG, CONFIDENT, and in CONTROL. Soon as half time rolls around he runs to where I sit and gives me a quick kiss on the forehead reminding me he loves me and telling me I am his lucky charm. I always see his mom burning me with her super hero laser eyes and Mando ALWAYS comments “Seriously Rory like does he EVER do anything wrong? He is just so perfect to you, seriously like the sweetest dude Eva” then bust out her over dramatic sighs and throws her hand over her for head acting like she is about to faint. I love her so much, she even convinced her mom to schedule me off every home game. (My nervous rambles have pretty much stopped now that I am whole.) Then she discounts anyone on the team milkshakes after the game. So we always end up there before heading home. It’s always a rough drive by drop off because I’m so full after that, but I wouldn’t change anything. Mando has even taken over some pick up duties. She takes me to work when Toby has practice apparently they have a secret service text system because sometimes I never know who I get until I see them coming. But it never fails I always have a ride now, after the one time I didn’t tell Toby he swore someone could have picked me up. Yea right like someone would want me, even if they did it couldn’t be worse than what I have been through. He doesn’t know how many drunks I have had to fight off in my life though thanks to Carol’s adventures. I learned long ago to add Benadryl to their beers so they would pass out verses being up after Carol passed out. Once I had to fight a lug after he came to my room before the pill kicked in, he almost won running his nasty dirty hands under my night shirt but the Benadryl kicked in and he passed out on top of me, all 270 pounds of big stinky brown wife beater wearing pinky penis man. Yes I could feel it pressing in to my inner thigh before he crashed, it was to close. Saved by the Benadryl. Toby would run away with me if he knew that. It’s going to be so hard when he leaves for College, but we will make it. When you’re meant to be together it’s the only choice.
The airs chilled and the bugs aren’t biting as bad tonight. It’s funny the one game I miss is homecoming; Toby insisted I use the time to doll up. He is actually taking me to meet his mother. Amandolette helped me shop at the thrift store for a dress, she begged me to borrow her old one but I wanted to do this my way. Not only could I not use her money or clothes but I wanted Mrs. West to meet me as me not a fake version. We hadn’t spent all day digging and searching until I found THE ONE. I did however borrow gold heels from Mando. We set in my room with her whole makeup kit in tow. She had me sitting on the edge of my bed standing between my legs with her thumb and finger holding my eyelids wide while she smoothed the liquid eye shadow across it. “Oh holy night Mando does that shit have glitter in it?” I screeched as she held up the bluish black eye liner. “Ha yea its fab just trust kay kay, you’re going to be like hotter than hot no doubt babe, Kim K doesn’t look like this when she’s on the red carpet on her best night, TRUTH” she steps back looking at her work, hits me with a shimmer clear gloss “Now smack” when I do her mouth drops and all I her in a whisper is my best friend “Rory your stunning” I walk over to mirror terrified of what I will see. I already know the dress is not me, I mean it’s pretty but it’s not cut off Wal-mart shorts or thrift store couture. WAIT… actually it is. Now I smile before seeing my image. I hear her again but don’t turn around “geez I need to go thrift shopping for mine next time”. I was just staring. I didn’t even recognize the girl I saw looking back at me. The dress was an emerald green baby doll style it had micro spaghetti straps and a heart shaped top covered in huge emerald sequins, the bottom was a lose tulle type that hit right above my knees. The shoes where 5inch gold t straps and my hair, oh my hair she had made it so pretty. She had hit the ends with a curling iron and then pulled in 3 places starting at the crown of my head slightly adjusting the second and third pull towards the left where she secured it hanging over my shoulder; it hung down paste my chest. The deep red color was crisp. I almost start crying but Mando stops that I its tracks “I have the perfect gift for you to Rory” I turn to face her and she has a hand full of gold jewelry. First the hair pin flat gold barrette she pins in the bottom pull at my shoulder, then she has earrings that are big gold hoops but on the hoops are 3 spikes hanging down the one in the middle is longer than the two outer ones, next came the beautiful bracelet is was meant to be tough but delicate at the same time, it had one row of gold spikes on it to me it was perfect. It was me. I walked over grabbing the only piece of jewelry I owned and slide it on my finger. It was the band of my mother’s wedding ring. She had tried to pawn it but they said it held no weight and was worthless, they took the band with the diamond in it giving her less than $100 for it but left this band with her. She threw it at the counter saying is was useless and walked off. I remember the pudgy guy picking it up and handing it to me “Keep it safe little one, it may be all you have left one day” I turned running after Carol, after that day she was merely Carol to me. But this ring was all I had left of my father. He had left us but I can’t blame him, Carol was the one acting out, finding out she was knocked up by his best friend had the last straw. I just wish he hadn’t left me too. It worked out I love Thax no matter who his dad is and he needs me so it was
the right choice, if I saw my dad now I would hug him and tell him thank you for at least trying.
I am sweating bullets standing here, how does Amandolette not freak out? And where is Toby? “Sorry Baby I had trouble getting my tie straight, oh thanks Mando for bringing her I was pushing it coming home after the game to change.” Gosh I love his voice. He dips his head to give me the sweetest lightest kiss ever and I hear her “Well Tobias introduce me, you’re in a hurry remember” she was snide to say the least. She looked me over “Your make up is a little dark honey for your skin tone; I’m guessing Clinique didn’t do it?” I was about to strike right back but leave it to Mando “No Mrs. West, I did” she said smiling ear to ear “Well sweetie you tried you can’t help she doesn’t have your beautiful skin tone” uh she is so rude! I stick my hand out to shake her hand now that she is done insulting me “Hi Mrs. West I am Aurora Wilde” she just stares at me gawd Toby say something. “Charmed dear” she growled and then flicked her wrist at us like we were dogs “Go stand by the door so I can get a picture” we all move to the door with Toby behind me arms wrapped around me “Toby can you stand beside her and Amandolette sweet pea please get in this photo on the other side of Toby” she stood with her hands on her hips that told Toby not to question her. We done as instructed and after just one click she turned and walked away saying “Toby you need to come straight home after the dance, I don’t want you over the tracks that late there is NOTHING there for you” he tried to protest “Mom I can’t let Rory walk home, I will drop her and be…” Mrs. West stopped dead in her tracks “Tobias Jackson West do I need to call your father? You do as you’re told young man” she turns then stops again without looking back “and Tobias, take the trash out as you go and don’t bring her back”. That was it I didn’t even want to go to the dance, I wanted to gut that foul mouthed mother beep! I made Toby take me straight home, my night was ruined. “Toby you didn’t even stand up for me or try to defend me” I almost cried. “Don’t Rory” he couldn’t even look at me “ You know I love you more than anything but I can’t fight with her, she’s my mom” I was already cramming everything in my little bag earrings and all I didn’t want to feel pretty. “Whatever TOBIAS you’re about to be gone states away and you couldn’t even tell her how you felt, not sure I like this.” I snatched off the last piece and it snagged my dress so I just ripped the tulle off throwing it out the window. “Just take me home!” jerking off the shoes, there was no way I could jump in those heels. “Rory you just don’t get it, please don’t fight with me over her. It’s bad enough I have to fight her over you” he stopped at the last stop sign before the park and leaned towards me, he wanted more but all he got was a peek on the cheek and I moved away. “Home now Toby” staring at the dark night not even my star was out tonight, it was like she knew to hide. “Owls are the only birds that can see the color blue.” I state to myself, great my nervous tick shows up.
I saw the note as soon as I opened the door
- Staying at Jamie’s <3 THAX
I sighed, grabbed a cup filling it with facet water and made my way to my room. I lay down across my bed when I heard my disability phone chirp, a text from Toby of course, him and Mando where the only two with my number besides work and they were long closed; you looked beautiful tonight, I love you. I chunked it across the room, in the chaos he forgot to even tell me, it was the first time in our whole relationship I didn’t come first. I need to stop acting this way it isn’t fair to him. I get up pulling on a pair of black tights and my converse snatching the mp3 player off my dresser. It was a gift from Toby this summer; he had loaded every song he knew I loved on it including some of his favorites. It wasn’t a snazzy iPod like his but a sparkly pink cheaper version; I loved it all the same. It beat the walkman, ha. I looked like I had just escaped an asylum walking down the road but I didn’t care. My tights pulled up to high causing a major case of camel toe, and yes I still had on my torn homecoming dress so I decided to rip off the rest of the tulle leaving nothing but the sequin top which looked more like a bra now. May hair was still up and pretty as was my makeup and with the ear buds crammed in my ear I was in my own little world. Once I reached the ladder I knew I would be ok. Careful not to spill my facet water I climbed up and laid back. My star was hiding but I was here waiting on her if she decided to come out. The first song after hitting random was perfect. I had to sign along…. “I don’t ever wanna feel like I did that day….” I have always loved the red hot chili peppers, they got me. That one faded out and it was like my random list was in tune to me tonight because Nirvana started up and I almost lost it. Chicago followed it and then The Cars after a few hours I decided to head home. Almost there some crazy pop song of Toby’s came on, he used it as torture to me knowing I hated the mess but I knew every word because we heard it all summer. I had to do it just had to. So I started my runway walk and swinging my hips “ So here’s my number CALL ME MAYBE” I even busted out a little bit of the washing machine since Amandolette showed me how to do it and I kind of felt like Selena in this outfit. Works going to be rough seeing as I have Saturday morning shift and its Saturday blah, not to mention the sun is rearing its ugly face off in the distance. Guess I stayed up there longer than I thought.
Chapter Seven
Work wasn’t o bad we stayed busy and about 2 I was asked if I wanted to stay on since they were so busy. Of course I agreed, highly doubting I would see Toby today. I am pretty sure Mrs. Holy Roly West had him busy so he couldn’t sneak out to see me. It was a little after six before I got to do my clean up and head out. I was surprised when I stepped out seeing Toby sitting on his tailgate waiting. “What are you doing here Toby?” it came out a little harsher than I meant but he didn’t seem to notice. He has his Oakley sport shades on looking down at his dangling feet. “I thought you got off at two Rory?” I just stood there looking at him with my fat mouth hung open. “I didn’t think you would be here after last night so I didn’t see the point, besides I forgot my phone this morning I was late I ended up running most of the way here. “WHAT! RAN? Where the hell was Mando?” he screamed at me making me jump. “Don’t know Toby I went to leave and realized I was walking so I ran trying to make it on time I wasn’t really worried about a ride or phone, just not getting fired. Someone has to pay our rent and buy food, CAROL WONT” now I am crying. “I’m so sorry Toby I shouldn’t have been so angry I know she hates me and I know it’s not long before you see it to” he held me not saying a word for a while then he cleared his throat and looked down at me “Rory I should have stood up for you, I forgot to get you this morning from lack of sleep, and I love you your too good for me stop thinking you’re not good enough. And yet here you are saying you’re sorry again for something I done to you.” Shhhh “Baby you’re my life, you will always be enough.” and just like that my world was righted again.
School was bad apparently someone had heard about homecoming night and thought it funny to spread even more shit around. I would bet my penny bank on it being Ashley. Her grandmother was in the same church group as Mrs. West and I could just here how that went yesterday while they sipped there tea, chewed their toast, and talked about everyone in town. I know not every church group is that way but well lots are. The bible says love your neighbor, not have nasty diarrhea of the mouth about your neighbor. Maybe I should crash the next meeting and show them that. Sitting at the table waiting on Toby at lunch was rough, him and Mando both were running behind and it left me with the plastics. I was about to get up and leave when Ashley dug her fake lee press on nail into my shoulder. She has this nasty hyena crazy like cut off your face and wear it as a hat grin it actually scared me just a little. “Rory you do realize that Toby is mine right? I mean he is playing with you; you’re a game well actually a project to him. He feels sorry for you and he wants to fix you honey.” I turned slower than I meant to staring back at her batting my lashes really slow so I could comprehend her words, before I even knew what happened I had her choked up by her neck and slamme
d down on the ceramic tile in the cafeteria, I had finally snapped “Ashley don’t you ever even look at me again little lone speak to me, if you do so help me I will rearrange your face so bad not even your lemon soured puckered up ass of a grandmother will recognize you. And to top it off I will bury your ass under my trailer where your corpse will forever be the princess of the trailer park, you got me…” I seethed ”BITCH” I drug out the last word and let her go I moved like I was about to leave and when I looked over I saw her tray sitting there. I should have stopped but I was on a roll and I wanted to drive my point home. I picked up the tray dumping it on her, she screeched thinking that was the worst of it, without warning I slung the tray so fast and hard it connected to her jaw with a crack and I dropped it smiling at her. I turned to leave, of course that left me eye locked with Toby who was walking through the door.
Trailer Park Princess Page 3
