Trailer Park Princess

by Steele, Delia

  Chapter Eight

  The best part about a week suspended was the day lady at the diner had strep, so I picked up her hours yay go me… happy dance!

  Toby was upset but after I told him what she said he laughed so hard he had root beer coming out of his noise. “She totally deserved that, now the bandage taped across her face is so worth it” he cried out in laughter. I brought him another Root beer float and made my way back to finish up cleaning duty so I could clock out. Needless to say football season ended and Ashley kept her distance from me, and the ugly gestures had stopped. No more ketchup stained pads or dirty toilet paper in my locker, no red solo drink cups taped to the door; everyone knew my Carol was a drunk. It was nice I guess that got the memo to back off. I didn’t even mind school now.

  Winter came and Christmas too. I would like to say it was special and I loved it but honestly, it was just another day. I used some tip money to buy Thax a new board game and a pack of socks he desperately needed. I got Amandolette a pretty scarf and Toby, I had something else for him. He thinks he is the only one with a talent! I will have to show him. We didn’t have a wonderful sit down family supper, no, just a few boxed up left over’s from the diner after closing and Mrs. Raiz kept me a full cherry cheese cake intact for our happy. It was perfect. They were good to me even giving me a bonus for Christmas, to my knowledge, I was the only part timer to get one. I got a bag full of costume jewelry from Mando and Toby got me this beautiful necklace with a picture of us, it was homecoming and Toby had his arms around me from behind I was looking up at him smiling. Where did he get this? He told me Mando had snapped it with her cell phone before his mom forced her into the picture. It made me cry. I didn’t even get to see Toby Christmas day because of the EVIL, WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST. MRS WEST herself! “Mom and Dad are going out of town for New Years Eve; she wants to go to the casino or something. They plan to leave on Thursday night and not return until Sunday.” He informed me with a big ole porcelain white smile. “So you want to come over while they are gone? I can bring you to work when you need to be, you can check on Thaxton, and just hang out with me for a few days. Want to?” Boy did I want to but I already knew that answer and so did he. “You know I want to but I can’t, I have one day off here and I have to go home late at night because Thax will be home, he doesn’t live at Jamie’s.”

  It was going to work perfect because if I could be at Toby’s house I could finally give him his Christmas gift. I need it to be somewhere private and with the equipment I need. Both have posed a problem but I was working it out, and now this has given me a perfect opportunity. And I was going to use New Years Eve to give it to him. “I gotta go baby, love you” and without waiting for a word he dropped a kiss on my lips and left, my break was over. I hate having to see Toby so much at work, luckily The Raiz new my situation thanks to Mando telling them and they were always slacking on me. Jerking out my crappy cell, I should get a hover round to match it and drive myself to the Grand Canyon, I sent a quick test to Mando –Hey you! Need huge favor New Years Eve. I plan do something awesome for Toby we are finally going to be alone. Do you have anything I can borrow that’s long and flowy? I want something to make him stare. I went back to work wiping counters, refilling salt shakers, pouring soft serve into the machine when I felt the vibration in my apron pocket. –What it do white girl =] so you getting sticky icky on NYE with GOLDEN BOY EKKKK OH TOBY love me long time!!!!!!!! Her text always made me laugh, today she is channeling her ghetto goddess sir mix-a-lot wanna be self. Another buzz –Tell me Rory does he get you hot and bothered? Does he make you want to touch your body? Do you wanna get with him and take his picture cuz he is RUMPLSMOOTHSKIN? I literally, LOL at that one. Typing quickly because I am not on break now -Mando you psycho Méxiho thug I don’t need a sex suit I need a beautiful dress. I want it perfect not slutty=] hitting send I finish up and make my way to the back because I heard the supply truck pull in.

  I know my shift is over when I hear Mrs. Raiz hollering at what can only be one spoiled Amandolette. “DOWN MIJO DOWN” I come through the swinging door and see Mando propped up at the end of the counter making bubbles in her root beer float “STOP MOMMA GAH” I love watching these two. Mrs. Raiz is full on Mexican straight from Ario De Rosales with a thick accent and Mr. Raiz well I am not sure where he is from and even though he is darker toned than his wife he speaks perfect English. Mando never speaks Spanish she claims it cramps her style, however I know she can I heard her and her dad tie up once in front of employees and they tore it up it sounding like a Spanish bomb went off in here…

  “Let’s go White girl” she says with a scowl on her face “These people make me wanna color with gray crayons” I look all bug eyed and mouth sorry to her mom as we leave.

  “ Seriously she acts like I am always trouble one day she will pay (evil laugh) I am pretty day…um sure I still have a few old Lego’s I could leave laying randomly in her path OR” she drags out “ I could cut her with cardboard in true Chulo fashion “ she burst out laughing before we make it to her car. “Here” she says chucking a bag at me. Forgetting I asked her to borrow it. My eyes bug out its perfect! A long simple satin one shoulder deep red almost a wine color that would touch the ground when I walked but it was so thin it would move easily and the slit would make it easy to sit. “You can use all the same jewelry and shoes with it as you did with homecoming dress” she says smiling. She remembered everything fashion. “Will I need to do your hair?” She asked waggling her penciled in eyebrows. This girl is Mexican to the bone and I love everything about her. “Thanks Amandolette you’re the best friend a girl could ever have” I almost choked up but it was true and she knew it. I got uber lucky with this one. “I think I am just going to go with long and straight you know simple” she’s smiling that’s a good sign. “OK ROR but I have my bag in back and I am at least running a flat iron or my instyler over it so it isn’t frazzled kay kay!” with a pop of her gum, raises her eyebrows high, smiling and then hands me a green apple sucker. I tend to have suckers stashed everywhere. “Hey Mando, did you know Jelly fish are 95% water?” she just rolls her eyes and gets in the car.

  Chapter Nine

  I look awesome I have to admit. She dusted me all over with some weird glitter brush so I literally sparkle. And she agreed to drop me off so I can surprise him. “Ok so your hot once again Rory like super legal age hot, he is going to bust a…. haaaaa…. Ewww DO. NOT. GET. ANYTHING. ON. MY. DRESS. FOR. REALZ.” And we make our way to Toby’s on that note. My hands are sweating and my heart is pounding. What if he hates his gift? No matter how I dress up and act if I give him his gift wrong he may hate it. “You have to get out of the car girl; he can’t see all your hotness in here. Stop acting cray cray and go already” Mando reaches across and pops my door open all while pushing me out. “Call me if you need a ride babe love ya long time TOODLES” she coos while backing out. No turning back…

  Its times like this I need to be prettier no scratch that; I need to love myself more. I need that confidence I can only find with Toby. He makes me feel beautiful. Most of my nerves come from being in Toby’s house. Reason one being his parents hate me, well his mom does and his dad well he does by default, he hasn’t ever really met me. Reason two being we will be alone and even though Toby doesn’t push me for anything I am kind of worried. When we first met he made it clear to me he was waiting per his religion to be married. But over the months he has expressed more interest in other areas. Sometimes I feel like he has done way more than he lets on, and I catch myself wondering if he gets mad when I stop his roaming hands. Oh well I have to stop killing time and knock.

  Toby answers the door looking very Sunday Tobyish. Black slacks with a white button up and a tie on that matches my dress. I smile and he is gawking like a teenage boy at the Bunny Brothel. His eyes slide over me from head to toe making a few pit stops on the way and finally after soaking the floor in drool he backs up ushering me inside. “How did you know to dress up, or the color of my dress
?” I asked. “I got a text from Amandolette telling me to dress up and a picture was attached prompting me to make sure I matched it!” he giggled. “Aurora you look absolutely electrifying tonight. Pretty sure my heart just skipped a beat or heck maybe even stopped working all together” all I could return was “Thank You” he took me by my arm and lead me to the dining room where he had candles lit 2 covered plates on the table and soft music playing. “ I know you wanted to give me my present but I felt it only right to make sure your treated properly beforehand” OMG he thinks my gift is SEX seriously? “Toby I think you’re confused, we can eat but your gift will need to take place in the Den” he blinks and it registers; now he gets it duh no sex Toby. “RORY I was just meaning you should be treated like a lady nothing else” ha I could tell he was covering up. He pulled out my chair and pushed me in as I sat. Uncovering the dish I had to giggle. “Chicken-n-Rice, Did you make it? Oh and I love the drinks!” he had tried that’s what truly mattered. Not the fact I was about to eat boiled rice covered in chicken soup and canned chicken chunks and I just love the juice boxes, come to think of it I bet they are for him because they are good source of vitamin c. AND OMG AT THE JELLO CUP, it’s kind of cute though. Toby’s mom really does baby him wow. I had drunk colored water until I was old enough to read. How was I supposed to know I added anything other than the water and the powder from the kool-aid packet? It was so nasty but I drank it for years that way never knowing to add sugar. Now, I add sugar!

  We ate our supper under the flickering candle light, which also tickled me because instead of using the tall beautiful candles on the long table he used some scented candles that normally went in a bathroom or somewhere and instead of sitting at the other end he sat right next to me where our knees touched. I loved when we had that innocent physical connection; it was like a zap of lighting straight to my inner core. I love Toby like I have never loved anything in my life and I know he feels it to.

  We finished our meal and made our way to the den juice boxes in hand. I pulled the wingback chair up close to the grand piano and told him “SIT”. I know he is confused I had never told him about my love for the piano. He knows I adore music and beats but this is something I taught myself years ago at an old school where my favorite teacher just happened to be my music education teacher. She helped me get started but it was something that just came natural. It’s been a long time since I ran my fingers across the beautiful black and white keys. Soon as my hand touched it I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. I ran my hand down the entire keyboard letting the strum ring out into the entire house. It kills me knowing this amazing piece of art sits here unused. When he told he it was just decoration I about died on the spot.

  I banged out a few horrible notes and smiled when Toby cringed. I gave him a lopsided smile and winked then sat up straight and when I started it all flowed out perfect. Never missing a beat I keyed Kiss the Rain by Yiruma he’s a South Korean pianist, he makes the most amazing sounds with his fingers.(on the real I bet musicians are great at lots of things with their fingers) He is my musical inspiration. Toby is entranced and smiling while I finish out the song, I jump at the end when Toby squeezes me not even realizing I had closed my eyes. “Rory that was amazing, how did where did…. I didn’t know you could do that!” and I smile. “Can you play anything?” I shake my head yes not understanding why he was asking “I can play anything I’ve ever heard” I reply. He is not saying anything just watching. So I set back down and start something new he would recognize. I go directly to Bruno Mars of course and I play my version of Liquor Store Blues. It’s a little different but I see it as soon as it registers with him and his smile just gets wider and wider till both dimples are full on beaming at me. I would do anything for that smile. Standing and clapping that’s how Toby tells me what he thinks about my hidden talent. “You will have to do that more often, it’s amazing. And why aren’t you doing this at school? You could get a scholarship and come with me Rory like seriously you could be in the band and we could be together always, even when I leave.” I smile even though it just ruined my perfect night. “Toby one you know I can’t graduate this year, two I don’t have time for extra classes I’m killing myself to get and stay caught up, and three even if I could what would I do about Thaxton? I can’t leave him, I am all he has and you know that.” I drop my head and walk towards the door. “Merry Christmas I hope you liked it, but if it’s ok I think I should get home I have breakfast shift tomorrow” I open the door and never look at back at him. The ride is quiet, he pulls into the drive through and no one ever ask what he wants so he throws a hissy and jerks the truck into a spot. “I am grabbing a milkshake baby what favor you want? “ I can tell he is upset and I don’t blame him. Five months from now our relationship will be tested and it’s scary, but I have faith in us and he should too. He will be here over summer and all major holidays it will be ok. “Oreo please” I give a sad smile back and look at my mp3 player searching for the perfect song I need. Music is my mood always has been. It’s the one thing in my life I can always count on. After about fifteen minutes I start wondering what is taking him so long. I can’t see through the glass of the building so I call his phone. The blaring from the cup holder shows me it’s sitting with me in the truck, so I jump down from the seat and make my way inside to see if he needs help. I stop as soon as my hand reaches the door. I can’t help but stare at the site I see. Toby standing there with 3 cups cradled in his arm laughing and joking with his hand wrapped around none other than queen plastic ex bitch Ashley. She sees my face and smiles; she knows she has hurt me without saying a word to me. Only thing that keeps me calm is the still yellowing bruise across the bridge of her nose from our last fall out. I touch my nose watching it register with her and when she reaches up to touch hers in fear, Toby turns to see me as I walk away. I stomp off still wearing Mando’s dress and Toby comes screaming for me to wait trying to explain. I want nothing to do with whatever he has to say. I always overlook his mistakes, proclaiming him perfect. He grabs my shoulder to get my attention and my temper flares, turning on my heels I scream at him like a baby dinosaur” I HATE HER TOBIAS” holy cow his real name where did that come from “ AND YOU KNOW IT. And yet you stand there knowing I am sitting in the truck waiting with your ARMS around her, there is no excuse you can give me to make it ok. NONE!” I lose the fight in me to the sadness and tears start pouring. I know my makeup is running and right now I hate myself for dressing up for him. I gave him something from me tonight I never give anyone and he has just ruined it TWICE. I am starting the think he doesn’t care as much as I thought he did. I jerk my arm away from him ”Don’t touch me and look at me and don’t feed me your dramatic bull shit, I don’t want to hear it. I GIVE GIVE GIVE and you just take take…take” I turn to walk off and notice he still has all 3 cups. “You forgot to give your queen her milkshake Toby, just go away and leave me alone, I can do bad all by myself.” I think he is going to let me go without a fight when I hear a gasp and a sob escape him at the same time. “Rory please baby, please listen to me. I love you and I didn’t do anything wrong. This other cup is for Thaxton” I stop in my tracks, he thought about my brother? “Rory I swear I was laughing because I tripped her and when she fell she grabbed for me and I lifted my arm to shake her off.” Oh he is lying uhhh “Toby you idiot, I saw you hug her.” blinking he informs me “No, I wasn’t you were mad and saw what you wanted. I had 2 cups in one hand and one in the other I couldn’t hug her mid fall if I wanted to. WHICH I DON’T! Think about this for a minute” when I stand there just fuming letting my pride get the best of me “COME ON RORY! I love you and you know that, Look at me standing here in this parking lot, crying my face in front of all of them.” he throws his hand back at the door of the Dairy Bar and sure enough there stands his whole crew. The crew he is king of, the crew who refuses me.” What do I have to do? Get on my knees to prove to you, that you are it for me.” And with that he drops the milkshakes and hits his knees, still in hi
s dress clothes, tears pouring down his face, hands held towards me. I couldn’t do anything but stare, I looked over at his friends and saw them looking at us with blank expressions and that’s when Clay opens the door he couldn’t witness it anymore. “Rory please give the man his dignity back and stop this, he wasn’t doing anything wrong. I was sitting right there. He tried to be funny and it backfired that’s it” Clay sounds so sad. “But I saw.. he was…” wow I sound pathetic. “What you saw was Toby trip Ashley and all of us laugh at her, he tried to shake her off and Zac said something funny about Ashley just couldn’t let him go, we all laughed and the next thing we know he is running after you. I know it looked bad but seriously I wouldn’t lie to you and you know that.” I didn’t know Clay very well and I almost didn’t believe him but I noticed the new shoes he had on and I smiled. Clay was rocking the same classics I normally do. Honestly he was the only one nice to me in the whole bunch and had no reason to lie; he really was a good guy. So I let my guard down and give a still teary eyed Toby a small smile. I crook my finger at him and can’t help but say “How do you call your lover boy?” Toby jumps up and grabs me around my waist twirling me. He slides me down him so we are face to face. And he whispers “I say babyyy, my sweet babbyyyy” at that I let out a gut laugh, put my hands on each side of his face, and I kiss him hard. Looking over his shoulder I see a raging mad Ashley with her hands cocked on her hips trying to burn on hole through me. So what do I do? I wink at her of course and kiss him again. We don’t break it up until we here Clay “ehhh well I didn’t sign up for all that but now I either need to get a girlfriend or go trip Ashley again to take that image away” he turns to walk off “Toby you mess up again and I may steal her from you” a chuckle and the door shuts cutting his laugh off. We are alone and it’s time to get home.. Milkshake less none the less =[