“Why not! Why not! Ya can’t be serious!”
“Uh, yeah I kinda am.”
Tammin’s face was red. She leaned over and shook me like I’d just lost my mind. “Please, Dee. Tell Charlie girl why this is so big.”
Dee shook her head and looked me square in the eyes demanding my full attention. Well, I hoped she’d explain to me why this was making Tammin run around in a circle like a cute dog chasing its tail. It was funny and also kind of hard to look away from Tammin. She was insane.
Dee snapped her fingers, drawing my eyes back to her. “Charlie, it’s big because it’s girl’s choice. And that, my friend, is rare. We have all the power.”
“Oh, I get it, but so. Who cares?” I laughed.
“Who cares? Who? Cares?” Tammin gasped, pulling at her hair in frustration.
“Calm down,” I whispered. “You’re making a spectacle, Tammin. Gosh, what’s your problem? Everyone’s starting to stare at you.”
I was starting to think Tammin was a few French-fries short of a happy meal when it came to school dances. Dang. But I guess in my own way I was just as crazy for something I liked. Or not! This was totally insane. I just wondered if this had to do with little Simon, and if she had asked him yet. Tammin looked around. Noticing I was right, she ducked her head from embarrassment. I thought I should say something, anything to wipe that sad expression off her face.
“Look, it’s OK. I understand, Tamm. I’m going to the dance. You don’t have to worry about that. Just be happy I don’t like seeing you look so hysterical. I might be going by myself, though.”
Tammin didn’t seem to pay me any attention. She was still watching everyone who had seen her lavish display of madness. Now that’s a good word: lavish. To my shock, Tammin left me and Dee standing there as she scudded off with a grim look. Man, I hope I didn’t have to repeat myself.
“Oh Charlie. Charlie. Charlie,” Dee said shaking her head. “What am I going to do with you? What seems to be the problem? And why in God’s name would you go stag? Tru is totally in love with you. Hello, he is more than willing to take you to the dance.”
News flash: Did she not just witness Tammin’s meltdown?
“Huh?” I murmured confused on both counts.
“You heard me just fine, so spill it,” Dee demanded.
“What makes you think there is a problem? And why aren’t you freaked out over Tammin just basically running away? She was so bugging. That was weird.” Dee said nothing, she just stood there waiting. “Dee, you know I might just want to go alone.” I frowned.
“Right,” Dee rolled her eyes laughing. “I might just want to jump off a cliff, but, hey . . . that’s not gonna happen. Besides, every girl wants a guy to take her to a dance,” Dee said.
Fudge. She was trying to get me to say I wanted Tru to take me. I wouldn’t give that easy. “Oh, you could jump you know . . . Off a cliff.” I did a little pushing movement. “I could help with that,” I said mockingly.
“Hah-hah, you’re so funny, Charlie. But don’t give me that miss I-have-no-idea-what you’re-talking-about speech, so-let-me-just-shove-you-off-a cliff attitude,” she grinned. “Look, I see how you look at him. Plus, he told us that, well, he likes you and that’s one reason we didn’t ride with y’all to school. So please, enlighten me, Charlie. Do you not like him?”
I just looked at her not saying a word.
“Oh, my God! I know why! You like Tru, but you also like Jace . . . Don’t you?” I glared at her for being right. I felt sick as something unpleasant churned in my stomach. She threw her head back and laughed, rubbing her hands together. “Wow, I can imagine your life as a book! You, caught between two loves,” she said wistfully. I choked down a groan. “I can read it now the plot and all. Here, let me tell you how sad and tragic it will be.”
“No thank you!” I folded my arms.
“Aw come on, it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t think so!” I said with my arms still folded. I had a bad feeling that whatever she was going to say was not going to be fun in the least!
“Well too bad. I’m gonna tell you anyways! Besides, this is a good experience for me. I want to be a writer, so you can tell me how good I do setting the plot and all. ‘Kay!” She cleared her throat and took on a dreamy voice. “It’s an average day, and you’re just starting a new school.” I rolled my eyes: Typical. “You’re new, scared and you feel all alone.” She mocked. “Then you meet this guy, and you two instantly connect, becoming good friends.” She batted her eyelashes at me. I was starting to get pissed, but I let her continue. Dig that hole a little deeper, why don’t you. “You think nothing out of the ordinary ever happens to you. Your life is boring. But then you meet the other guy! And to your surprise, you feel connected to him as well. Now, you’re at a loss! Who to pick! Who will be the lucky guy?” I was getting so mad, but hell she was dead on! “Because let’s face it, as the readers already know, nothing ever happens to you! However, something has changed. Now . . . Boom, you find yourself caught in a love triangle.” I rolled my eyes. “Oh poor, poor you! Whatever will you do? Two hot guys and one big decision! The readers are on the edge of their seats.”
I felt like she was mocking me, and I did not like it. I’d had all I could take. “OK, I think you are going too far!” I all but yelled it.
“OK, chill. Sorry, but I just don’t get it. You like two guys, and I am sure they like you, but you are not going to ask either one of them to the dance? I wish I had that luck. You’re just throwing it away, and I think that’s kinda shitty. It’s not that hard, pick one!”
Oh, but she was wrong. It was a very hard decision to make. I wished right about now this day would start over, or maybe something could save me . . . Like the bell would ring taking me away from Dee’s interrogation. As if the world had realigned itself just for me—yay—the bell rang, and we had to go to our first class. I looked at Dee smiling, and then I turned the other direction.
Dee gripped my wrist and said, “Wait, you’re not getting off that easy, Charlie. We’ll talk in P.E. See ya later.” Dee blew me a kiss, flashed a smile, and sauntered away.
My day seemed slow and painful, as I went from class to class. All the while I dreaded when I would come back in contact with Dee. I knew I had to tell her something, but what? That she was right - I liked Tru, and Jace. And that was the reason why I don’t want to do the whole dance thing. And why I was going alone, was because I didn’t want to hurt either of them. Maybe also it was because I didn’t want to get hurt as well. I knew deep down if I went with one, I would lose the other. And that was something I wasn’t ready for.
Finally I had a half day full of classes under my belt. Tru seemed to flirt outrageously with me every moment we had together. He would ruffle my hair and playfully tease me, but still Tru didn’t talk about what happened that morning. Now, unfortunately it was time for P.E. This was going to suck. I walked into the gym, scanning the area for Dee hoping she got called home unexpectedly. However, I was wrong. Yeah, so wrong! There she stood so irritating in every way, making me wonder if this so-called friendship-beginning was just some kind of front. Even though we set aside our differences, (well she set aside her differences, and I accepted her apology), I still had my doubts. Plus, the sight of her looming over a poor kid made me flinch. Only days ago, I was that poor kid. Dee was talking nonstop in her usual babble, too loud and very chipper.
She was being way over-the-top friendly to the pale-faced scrawny blond who was soaking up Dees every word. The poor girl looked like she was just ecstatic to have someone like Dee talk to her. It looked like a ploy for Dee to win sympathy marks from me. You know, just in case this nagging she was about to give didn’t work out the way she wanted it to. The bad thing was that she probably didn’t even like the kid she was talking to. Dee turned her head in my direction. I tried to make myself invisible, but she spotted me. She waved at me, grinning. I waved back trying to force a smile. I was trying not to think about the girl standing rig
ht beside Dee. She looked back at the girl, said something, and then patted her on the shoulders, and then she turned and started my way.
“Charlie,” Dee said in a high-pitched tone.
“Yeah,” I said absently.
“Do you want to be on my team?”
Throw me a curve ball. That was not what I thought she was going to say. “Huh?” I said wide-eyed stunned. Dee was not demanding me to tell her what was going on with me about the dance.
“I know we’re never on teams, but it would be cool. So, how’s about it?”
“Sure,” I replied.
“Great,” she nodded.
“Hey, Dee,” hesitantly I spoke. “You do know I’m not good at sports . . . Right? I’m like the clumsiest person you’ll ever meet.”
“Yeah, I know. Why do you think I never want you on my team?”
My jaw opened at what she had just said.
Dee shook her head, giggled, and rolled her eyes. “God, Charlie, I thought we were friends?”
“I thought we were, too,” I replied dryly.
“Then don’t you know how to take a joke?”
“Uh-huh? A what?” I frowned.
“Come on. Don’t tell me you don’t know what a joke is, Charlie?” she mocked gasped.
“Yes, of course I know what a joke is,” I snapped.
“Well OK then, that, my new friend, was a joke.” Dee smiled and patted my shoulder. I shrugged her off. “Besides, the reason I never asked you to be on my team was not that you’re bad at sports. Which, I must point out you are very bad at sports.”
I was ticked. I knew I sucked, but still . . . Did she have to point it out? I started to defend myself. However, Dee stopped me. She put one finger up stopping my protest in mid breath while she continued. “Nevertheless, I’m not too good myself. Anyway, I was jealous of you and Tru. Therefore, you already know this, remember . . . Earlier . . . In the hall?” Dee looked at me. “Surely you didn’t forget our truce . . . Right, Charlie?”
Defeated, I said the only thing I could, “Right, we’re friends.”
“Well good, now that that’s settled, we can only move forward.”
“Uh . . . Yeah, I guess we can,” I replied.
“Good,” she murmured. “Did you see the girl I was talking to?”
You mean the girl you were circling like a vulture, one of your many casualties. That girl? That’s what I wanted to say, but seeing that it would set us back from the new friendship we’d cemented, I just bit my tongue and said, “That girl right over there?” I pointed at her.
“Uh, yeah, that’s her. She’s new. Well, anyway, I asked if she wanted to be on our team.”
“Really?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Yes, really,” Dee scowled. “Her name’s Letty. I’m going to go get her. Be right back.”
Well, now I didn’t feel so good. I’m always, always wrong. Thank God I just didn’t come right out and say I thought the girl was a ploy of some kind. But as luck would have it, I held back my suspicion, and that right there I thought would someday save my life.
Dee and Letty trotted over. Letty said hi. We exchanged names then the P.E. teacher said that we were playing volleyball. Joy! Something I really sucked at.
Chapter Nineteen
Molly the Beast
When the volleyball came whizzing right at me, sure I should’ve hit it! But instead of hitting the freaking thing, (which I know would have been the smart thing to do) I just stood there, a deer caught in the headlights. I took the hit square in the mouth. And dammit, it hurt. However, I did realize—granted a little too late—that this probably wouldn’t have been so bad . . . That is if the girl whacking the ball at me didn’t look like she was a linebacker for some big football team. Oh yeah, and if I just would have hit the fudging-ball. Maybe, light bulb moment if you will . . . Ding. I would still be standing. Yet, I found myself planted face first on the gym floor, smarting from the land. How I ended on my face was a straight-up mystery! One moment I was standing, and the next, I wasn’t. I felt my head whip back, my spine jar painfully, and my feet flip my whole body over. I was totally embarrassed and so mortified. Nonetheless, the worst part was the giggling.
Groaning, I sat up and rubbed the back of my neck, my back, and then slowly I rubbed my mouth, checking for some sign of damage. I came away with blood on the back of my hand from the split on the inside of my mouth. I winced. “Ouch,” I shouted a little too loud. “That hurt.”
“Charlie, are you OK?” Dee asked while rushing to my side.
It was ironic - or whatever you wanted to call it. I didn’t care. All I knew was that it was strange: Dee was concerned at what just happened. As I recalled not too long ago, she would have wanted this. My frenemy somehow really became my friend! Somewhere deep in the pit of my stomach, I felt an uncontrollable urge to laugh hysterically at our newfound friendship. When a smile and chuckle formed, I pushed the hysterical laughter back—not that I didn’t want to laugh at how weirdly ironic this all was—because I did! However, the pain in my head was increasing with every movement, and the little sting in my mouth burned when I smiled. So yeah, no laughing meant less pain! That was enough to stop even a hint of humor. Deciding that this pain I felt was not good, plus the worried look on Dee’s face wasn’t either . . . I did the one thing I just recently found out I was good at: I Lied.
“Yeah, I’m . . . Just peachy.” Grin.
“Charlie, you’re bleeding!” She squeaked.
“Its fine, Dee.” I brushed her off.
“No, it’s not, Charlie. Hang on, I’ll be right back.”
Dee jumped up from beside me and rushed off. I lost sight of her as this huge body framed in my peripheral vision. The linebacker was still standing there scoffing at me. I tried to smile, you know, to let her see that it cool. I was the stupid one. I could have hit the ball with my hand not my face. Because yeah, that would have been less painful, ugh!
The three-ton beast tossed her hair to one side and in a deep voice—I kid you not it was deep—she said, “Uh what’s the matter, did I hurt you? Are you going to cry? Is baby gonna cry?”
I almost said, “You mean like “Dirty Dancing”? “No one puts baby in the corner!” But I thought better of it. The linebacker balled up her fist and put one on either side of her face. God, what was up with her? She twisted her wrists back and forth like she was opening a bottle-cap. Then she puckered up her lips and tried to make a sound like a baby crying. However, it didn’t work. Instead of sounding like a baby, she sounded like a deep loud horn. Everyone giggled. I felt stupid, and it wasn’t because she was making fun of me, (well maybe a little), but that was not only why. It didn’t matter that they might be giggling at me, or even at her for doing a bad job fake crying. What mattered was how imprudently small I felt because I knew I was going to cry and that made me feel foolish. So I got pissed instead.
How could I just sit here and take that? Something inside me snapped. It kinda felt like the string holding all my calm gave way. I could not cry! Not now, and not in front of my gym class or her! I think I was madder at myself that I wanted to cry than I really was with her. I have been bullied by much meaner kids and not wanted to cry like I did. I didn’t understand why. Maybe it was the stress of the day: first with the dream, then fighting with my mom, and Tru’s confession, Dee cornering me, and now this. Maybe, I’d had all I could take.
I jumped up. Staring her right in the eyes I said, “It wasn’t the ball that hurt, you know. It was the face plant I took. Your hit is not something I would go around bragging about.” I pulsed letting my next line get the full effect. “That is, if you don’t want to lose your position on next year’s football team.” I reached up and patted her on the arm with a little more pat than needed. Smiling, I finished with the best insult I could come up with off the top of my head, and all things considering, my insult really sucked. “It might just get handed off to the next guy. Don’t get me wrong, you look like you would fit in well with the ‘guy
s.’ But . . . If you don’t want to just be a water boy, you might want to shut the hell up.”
Triumphant, I turned around and saw Miss Wesley our PE teacher standing right next to me. Freaking fantastic!
“Charlie,” Miss Wesley spoke in an accusing tone. “Now that’s not nice. You need to apologize.”
I was surprised. I had to apologize? Yes, I did feel a little bad about what I’d just said . . . but still, that was so not fair. Did Miss Wesley not see what just happened to my face? Did she not hear what wooly mammoth said to me? No, probably not! She probably only heard me basically telling two tons she looked like a guy.
Naturally, I had to protest. “Apologize but . . . But she—”
“No buts. I heard every word you said. Charlie. So be nice and apologize.”
God. This was so unfair. My head was killing me, and I had to apologize. Sighing in utter embarrassment, I murmured under my voice saying, “Fine, sorry.”
The freaking quarterback-linebacker-wooly mammoth thing or whatever you want to call this girl smiled, giggled, and then gave me a finger wave behind Miss Wesley’s back. I wanted to snap that finger off. Grrr!
“Miss Wesley…If you haven’t noticed, Charlie’s mouth is bleeding,” Dee pointed out crossly.
“Oh my.”
Now you care! Miss Wesley put her hand to her chest. Weak! She said, “No, I didn’t notice.” Really? Miss Wesley came over and lifted my chin to look into my mouth. She let out a quick breath and said, “Charlie, Dee is right. You are bleeding. You need to get that looked at. Let Dee walk you over to the nurse’s room.”
Great! Poor Charlie. Now I’d be the talk of everyone’s conversation. If I wasn’t already, that is. Just one more mark on my not-so-fabulous life.
“OK,” I grumbled.
Miss Wesley looked fixedly at Dee. “You don’t mind, do you, Dee?” She asked.
“No, Miss Wesley, I’ll take her,” Dee replied, grinning.
I groaned.
“Good. Then let me write up some slips showing where you’re going, and that you might be late for the next class.”
A Spark Of Magic: Chosen Saga Book One Page 15
