Her Teen Dream

by Archer, Devon Vaughn

  HER TEEN DREAM

  By Devon Vaughn Archer

  Copyright 2011 by Devon Vaughn Archer at Smashwords. All rights reserved.

  Cover Image Copyright R. McKown, 2010

  Used under license from http://www.shutterstock.com

  Her Teen Dream is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Other Books by Devon Vaughn Archer

  YOUNG ADULT FICTION

  His Teen Dream

  Christmas Wishes: Laura's Story (under name R. Barri Flowers)

  Ghost Girl in Shadow Bay (under name R. Barri Flowers)

  Danger in Time (under name R. Barri Flowers)

  Vandals: A Young Adult Short Story Thriller (under name R. Barri Flowers)

  ADULT FICTION

  Private Luau

  The Hitman's Woman

  Pleasure in Hawaii

  Christmas Diamonds

  The Secrets of Paradise Bay

  Christmas Heat

  Destined to Meet

  Love Once Again

  For my nieces

  Kendre and Keeare

  * * *

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Hey, Karin, what’s up?”

  Karin Blanch looked around through eyes that were deep brown like cappuccino before focusing on Reese McKenzie’s face. Surely he couldn’t be talking to her. Could he? After all, Karin could probably count on one hand the number of times Reese had spoken to her since she started at Elmwood High School a year ago. And, even then, it had always been pretty generic with things like “excuse me” or “sorry, didn’t see you standing there” or “I need to check out this book.”

  The book part was in reference to her work in the school library, where she sat at the checkout desk once a week as a reward for two other days of collecting books off tables and placing them back on shelves.

  But they weren’t in the library. And she wasn’t on duty. They were in the middle of the hallway with other students passing on either side in a mad rush to answer the call of the bell between classes. It was the first week of January and the school year was well underway.

  For a moment, Karin was speechless, a term that was rarely in her vocabulary. Not only was Reese quite possibly the best looking and probably most fit guy in the entire school, but she also had a major secret crush on him. As did half the other sixteen-year-old sophomore girls. But none of them seemed to have a fighting chance with the eighteen-year-old, six-foot-three starting point guard for the school basketball team. At least not while he was dating Cheryl Green, the gorgeous junior cheerleader who seemed to mesmerize every guy she set her sights on.

  But that was now a thing of the past, Karin thought of the much-publicized breakup of the former high school sweethearts. She wasn’t really sure who broke up with whom. And, frankly, didn’t care. Right now, she was only concerned with why Reese had stopped her from continuing on to class.

  Or maybe curious was a better word.

  “Hi, Reese,” she made her lips move.

  He rubbed his shiny shaved head, as if having second thoughts, before speaking. “Can we talk for a moment?”

  Aren’t we already doing that?

  “Sure. Why not?”

  Never mind the fact that Karin was due in her English class and Mrs. Roddick had a real problem with students who were late. Of course she had a very good excuse, if only in her own mind.

  Though she was five-eight and apparently still growing, Karin still had to tilt her head back to look into Reese’s ebony eyes.

  “Let’s talk over here—” Reese grabbed her hand and they made their way to the wall, where the congestion was slightly more manageable for talking.

  He’s actually holding my hand, Karin thought in disbelief. Am I dreaming or what?

  Deciding she was very much awake, Karin still had to come to grips with the fact that she and Reese McKenzie were about to have an actual conversation. Or so she assumed. About what, she couldn’t imagine. Maybe he wanted to admit to having his own crush on her. Yeah, right. Or that he’d always wanted to hold her hand. She doubted it.

  By the look on Reese’s face, she decided whatever was on his mind was more serious than that.

  Feeling more nervous than she wanted to be, Karin flipped back her shoulder length brown hair. And waited.

  Reese hesitated, licking his lips. “Look, uh, I need some advice.”

  She batted her lashes in shock. “You need advice from me?”

  “Well, it’s not actually me, but a buddy of mine.”

  Karin suddenly felt disappointed. “What kind of advice?”

  Reese met her gaze. “Your Dad’s a lawyer, right?”

  It made no sense to deny it, considering that Karin’s father was a well-known criminal defense attorney, handling his fair share of headline cases in Crescent Heights, California. But it was still amazing to Karin that Reese knew of the father-daughter connection.

  “Yeah, he is,” she answered hesitantly.

  “Thought so.” Reese touched the bridge of his broad nose, as if patting himself on the back. He glanced at a group of students huddled together like they were on the basketball court. All seemed to look their way and Karin wondered if this was some kind of prank, with her being the butt of the joke. If so, she wasn’t amused at all.

  “I’ve gotta get to class,” she said unevenly. “If we’re through here—”

  “Wait,” Reese uttered with a sense of urgency. “Just ignore them. My friend really does need the help of an attorney.”

  “What has he or she done?” Karin wondered who he was talking about. Since she didn’t hang out with Reese, she could only imagine who his friends were. Mostly jocks, probably. For all she knew, he considered his ex-girlfriend Cheryl Green a friend.

  Reese sighed. “There was a party last night at a friend’s place. Well, uh, one of my boys got wasted and kind of trashed the place. Now the homeowners want to press charges. My buddy’s freaked out about it, since he’s afraid it might jeopardize his college scholarship. Not to mention he could possibly end up doing time. He was hoping to make restitution without getting the legal system involved.”

  “I’m not sure that I can—”

  “I thought maybe you could talk to your Dad about it.” Reese cut in.

  “I guess.” Karin shrugged, wishing he had been more interested in her rather than just needing her father’s help. But it had probably been asking too much to think that Reese McKenzie could really be attracted to her.

  He grinned sheepishly. “Thanks. I really appreciate it, Karin.”

  “I’ll need a name if my Dad’s going to be able to help your friend, and I’m not saying he will—”

  It wasn’t every day—how about never?—that she brought a problem to her father as an attorney. The experience should be interesting, if not scary.

  Reese looked at the group of students and back. “Marcus Payne,” he said almost guiltily. “He’s—”

  “I know who he is,” Karin said, recognizing him amongst Reese’s friends. Marcus stood head and shoulders above the rest and was easy to spot with his black dreadlocks with blonde highl
ights. He was a walk-on starting forward on the Elmwood High Spartans basketball team. Any scandals involving him could affect the entire school and the team’s chances to play for the state championship.

  Reese sighed. “Hope your old man doesn’t mind taking on a charity case every now and then. Marcus isn’t from a rich family and doesn’t have a lot of money to burn.”

  Maybe he should have thought of that before he vandalized the house.

  Karin felt unsympathetic for some reason. She knew her father did some pro bono work, but it was usually for clients whose cases he passionately believed in. Whether this one fit the standard remained to be seen.

  “Can’t promise anything,” she told Reese honestly. “But I’ll try.”

  Reese grinned as though it was a done deal and Karin nearly melted as if under his spell.

  “I’ll relay the message to Marcus. I knew you were cool.”

  “You did?” Since when? Karin was learning something new every day.

  “Yeah. I’ve seen you around...and noticed.”

  Embarrassed, she was suddenly short on words again. It was as if she were dreaming that Reese McKenzie was—or could become—her boyfriend and she was afraid to do or say anything that might wake her up to reality.

  Reese managed to do just that when he said, “Well, I’ve gotta run. Coach Cleaver hates it when we’re late to practice.”

  Karin resisted a smile. She knew the coach wasn’t the only one who had a dislike for tardy students.

  “Mrs. Roddick is every bit as hard on her English students,” she said.

  Reese smiled crookedly. “I know. Had her last year. Later.”

  “See ya.” Karin watched him take looping strides to join his friends, before they all headed off. Marcus Payne gazed at her, and there seemed to be a ray of light in his dark features. Karin swallowed, hoping she could deliver, if only for the sake of a possible new friendship with Reese McKenzie. She didn’t dare imagine anything more.

  * * *

  Karin sat next to Lesley Rochester in English class. Lesley was also sixteen and more developed than Karin’s shapeless body. She wore her short black hair in a curly natural style. They had been best friends and next-door neighbors since fifth grade.

  “I can’t believe it! You were two minutes late and Lady Dragon didn’t bite your head off,” Lesley whispered. “She must be sleepwalking today.”

  Karin suppressed a chuckle. “Either that or she’s mellowing in her old age.”

  In fact, Mrs. Roddick was around the same age as Karin’s parents. Mid to late thirties was not really that old in her book, but it was definitely getting up there.

  Still on cloud nine, Karin leaned towards Lesley. “You won’t believe who I just had a little chat with.”

  “Who?”

  “Reese McKenzie!”

  Lesley looked at her skeptically. “Right. In your dreams, girlfriend.”

  Karin didn’t blame her for being doubtful. She would have been, too, were the situation reversed.

  “I’m serious.” Karin tried to keep her voice low.

  “And how much did you pay him to give you the time of day?”

  “Nothing. He just walked up to me and started talking.”

  “About what?” Lesley raised her voice a bit too much.

  It alerted the attention of Mrs. Roddick, who approached them. “Is this a private conversation or something you’d care to share with the entire class?”

  It certainly wasn’t something Karin wanted to share. She gave Lesley the eye so she got the message.

  “We were just comparing class notes,” Lesley said quickly. “Sorry if we were a bit loud.”

  “So what else is new?” Jimmy Nolen said from behind them, evoking laugher from everyone else.

  “Mind your own business,” Karin snorted.

  “That’s enough!” Mrs. Roddick pushed her glasses back up her nose. The room turned deathly silent as she glared at Karin and Lesley. “Perhaps you should do your homework at home and focus more on the class discussion. Is that clear?”

  Suppressing giggles, both girls said in unison, “Yes, Mrs. Roddick.”

  During the rest of class Karin found she could hardly think about anything, but Reese McKenzie and Marcus Payne. She wondered if Reese would ever talk to her again should her father turn down the request to advise Marcus free of charge.

  * * *

  Lesley echoed these sentiments after school. “And if your father balks about getting Marcus out of his jam, what then? Does Reese McKenzie go back to forgetting that you ever existed?”

  Karin gave her a sidelong glance. Lesley was behind the wheel of the Subaru Impreza her mother bought for her last year shortly after Lesley’s father died suddenly from a stroke.

  “Guess I’ll have to cross that bridge when I come to it,” Karin responded testily. “It’s not as if Reese promised to ask me out on dates if my Dad can keep Marcus Payne out of hot water.”

  “Then why even bother?” Lesley asked. “You certainly don’t owe Reese any favors.”

  “I know that. But it took courage for him to ask for my Dad’s help, even if it was for someone else. The least I can do is pass on the request. Whatever happens, happens.”

  And just what do I expect to happen realistically?

  Probably nothing too exciting, aside from Marcus possibly being given a second chance after a major screw up. And maybe a “Hey,” or “What’s up, Karin,” from Reese every now and then. That would be more than she’d gotten from him before.

  Lesley turned onto Cloverdale Avenue. “Just don’t get your hopes up that Reese McKenzie will get off his high horse and sweep you off your feet anytime soon. Not if Cheryl has anything to do with it.”

  “Well, she doesn’t,” Karin tossed back with annoyance. “Even if they hadn’t broken up, it doesn’t mean Cheryl controls his life. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, aren’t you always telling me that we shouldn’t sell ourselves short when it comes to guys?”

  Lesley laughed. “Yeah, but that didn’t mean I thought you could actually end up dating Reese McKenzie.”

  “I’m sure I won’t,” Karin uttered, glancing out the window. But there was still a glimmer of hope.

  “Yeah. I’ve seen you around...and noticed.” Reese’s words played over and over in her head.

  “Do you think your Dad can actually save Marcus’s neck?” Lesley asked.

  “I don’t know,” Karin said honestly.

  “Take a lucky guess,” she persisted.

  Karin shrugged. “Depends on whether or not he thinks it’s worth his time to even try.” And that could hinge on my powers of persuasion.

  Lesley pulled into the driveway behind her mother’s Acura. “Well, I think Marcus is hot. So if you happen to start dating Reese and Marcus doesn’t end up in jail, maybe you could put in a good word for your best friend.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Karin smiled. “But, as you told me, don’t get your hopes up. I think Marcus has his plate full at the moment.”

  She thought it wise to keep in mind that Reese’s plate was probably also full right now. Meaning there was little, if any, room for her.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Karin lived in a two-story, stone house right across the street from Bell Park, which made it nice when she needed some time to herself or a place to jog. It also came in handy whenever she and Lesley wanted to escape from their parents or meet up with other friends.

  She had barely been inside their gourmet kitchen for a snack of crackers and a soda, when Karin’s mother arrived home from work. Josephine Blanch was a Pilates instructor who had the advantage of not having to work for a living, but choosing to do so part-time as a means to stay active and in shape.

  Everyone told Karin that she looked just like her mother. She didn’t agree. Yes, they were both tall and slender, but Karin felt her facial features were more like her father’s.

  “Hi, honey,” her mother said routinely. “How was school?”

  “Fine.�
� Karin thought about her talk with Reese McKenzie, acting as a go-between for Marcus Payne, but elected not to mention it. “Just the usual.”

  Josephine noted the snack she was eating and frowned. “Now you know you should wait till dinner is ready instead of eating that junk food. That’s why you’re never hungry.”

  “I just had a few crackers,” Karin defended herself. “And I’m always hungry. I just choose to control it. There’s a difference.”

  “Well, you’re making the wrong choices, Ms. Smarty Pants,” she contended. “And, as your mother, I won’t watch you become rail thin, then regret it later.”

  Karin wisely decided to change the subject. Never mind that her weight had remained steady over the past year and there was no chance of her becoming anorexic.

  “When’s Daddy coming home?”

  “Probably any minute now. He just called me before I drove up and said he was on his way. By the time I get dinner ready, I expect he’ll be sitting at the table as usual. Why do you ask?”

  Karin twisted her lips. “No real reason,” she lied. I need to talk to him about something that probably wouldn’t interest you.

  “Good. Then why don’t you go do your chores and let me cook you some real food.”

  “I can hardly wait,” quipped Karin.

  She went up to her room and plopped on the bookcase bed. Chores could wait till later. Grabbing her cell phone, she started to text Lesley, but decided she wanted to talk instead.

  “What’re you doing?” Karin asked.

  “Nothing much,” Lesley replied. “Just listening to my Mom gripe about too many bills and way too little money to pay them.”

  “So welcome to the rat race.”

  “She thinks I should look for a part-time after school job to help out.”

  “Sounds like a really bad idea,” Karin said candidly.