“I … I honestly don't know. When I moved here, I wanted so badly to fit in. I thought if I came to school dressed like a cool New York girl, people might not treat me like an outsider.”
“It obviously worked.”
“Yeah, too well. Before I knew it, I'd been recruited into Alexis's gang. For almost a year, I've had to sit with them. You think being treated like a loser is bad? Try spending every lunch period listening to their nonsense. If they're not talking about the next three boyfriends they're planning on having, they're plotting the total destruction of someone who never did anything to hurt them. Someone like you.”
“Yeah, that would be a horrible way to spend an hour a day.” I cocked my eyebrow at her. “So what is it that you want?”
“I want out.”
“That's it?”
“Well, I'd love nothing more than to take them all down. I mean, you think they're bad now? Wait till they hit high school. I'd be doing the world a service.” She sighed. “But for right now, I just want to get away from them before I go nuts.”
“So why don't you just leave?”
She lifted her arm and pointed at a mousy-looking girl sitting at a table in the corner. Her head was down with her nose buried in a book, and it was painfully obvious she didn't want to be noticed. Autumn Kirkland. “Because I don't want to end up like that,” Kayla said. “All Autumn did was talk to Colton. She wasn't even flirting. They were friends once, when they were kids. But that didn't stop Rhianna and Alexis from totally destroying her.”
“I see your point, but … you really think you can keep this up for the rest of the year?”
“I doubt it.” She buried her face in her knees again. “Honestly, it's a wonder I haven't beaten them to death with a textbook or something.”
I grinned. “So what happens now?”
“Not sure … I'll hang on for as long as I can, I guess.”
“And … when you can't hang on anymore?”
She sighed heavily. “I don't know. I guess I'll need some new friends.”
“Well, you've got me.” Smiling, I stuck my hand out, and she silently took it.
“Thanks.”
I stood up, hauling Kayla to her feet. “You sure you're going to be okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I can take care of myself.”
“Guess you learned how to do that on the mean streets of New York,” I said with a chuckle.
Her eyes narrowed, and a sheepish look crossed her face. “Actually … I've never been there.”
I stared at her, shocked. “Oh, sorry. I heard that's where you were from.”
“Yeah, that's what I told everyone. I figured that would help me get more cred than if they knew where I was really from.”
“And where's that?”
“Menomonie, Wisconsin.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Oh, you'd love it,” she said sarcastically. “It's on the map right between Borington and Blahsville.”
I laughed. “For what it's worth, you pull off the whole 'New York' thing really well.”
“Well, I binge-watched every season of The Rachel Zoe Project before I moved here.” She grinned.
I nodded in approval. “Nice.”
From the library's intercom, we heard the fifth-period bell ring. She grabbed her backpack off the ground. “See you later, Sophie,” she said. She then made to walk away, but instead turned to face me again. “Oh, by the way … Drew's a snake. Don't believe a word he says.” Then she left via the side exit.
And just like that, I heard Ayden's voice whispering at me from the back of my mind, with Kayla bringing up the chorus. Great. As if my life wasn't complicated enough already.
Chapter 9
~ Day 18 (Thu.) ~
AYDEN
Why didn't Sophie listen?
Sophie went and got herself neck-deep in exactly the situation I hoped my words of warning would help her avoid. The public breakup of Drew and Alexis last week was today's topic of discussion at school, and according to Simon, pictures of the fight had even popped up on Snapchat. Twice since then, I'd listened to Drew boast about his upcoming “conquest” to Zach.
In sharp contrast to my ineffective attempt to save Sophie, Simon and I had become best buds since we reconnected. He was a good guy, even if he was a little nerdy. Okay, a lot nerdy. Maybe I'm a bit of a nerd myself? Eh, I guess there are worse things I could be. Like Drewzilla. Still, it was nice to hang out with a guy who loved comics as much as me. Oh, and Hellfire. That game rocks. His mom had to practically pry the game controls from our hands.
Well, if my mission to save Sophie hadn't exactly gone as planned, my advice to Simon had been dead-on. I got a real warm, fuzzy feeling in my gut when he told me how all the blood drained from Zach's face when he found out Simon knew about the firecracker incident. Zach's voice had actually trembled with fear when he begged Simon not to tell any more people about that prank.
I was planning on talking to Sophie at the bus stop yesterday, but one look at her was enough to stop me in my tracks. She looked … well, hot. She wasn't wearing glasses anymore, and her hair was styled like a Hollywood actress. I barely had the chance to take it all in before the bus arrived. I'd missed my chance. Again.
I wasn't great at math, but I didn't need to be to add two and two. Sophie's sudden transformation could only mean one thing: she was into Drew. And another mere warning on my part wasn't going to be enough. If this new look was really all for Drew's benefit, then I needed rock-solid proof to change her mind.
I'd caught a lucky break last night: Ron had gotten drunk and dropped his cell phone, cracking the screen. This morning, I found it in the wastebasket. A few minutes later, in my room, I discovered it actually still worked. I scrolled through his call log and found a lot of calls to someone named “Bambi.” 'Bambi'? Really? I ordered him a few dozen useless apps and charged it to his phone account for a laugh, and then I discovered, to my delight, that the camera/recorder app still worked. That gave me a fantastic idea, one I'd have to implement quickly, before Ron got a new phone and transferred his service.
Held together with scotch tape, Ron's discarded cellphone nestled comfortably in my hoodie's pocket as I strode into sixth-period Literature class, making sure to hit the Record button before I entered and to make sure my earbuds were clearly visible.
I opened my textbook and pretended to read, bobbing my head to the non-existent tune on my iPod, as I focused on Zach and Drew's conversation.
“This is freaking me out, dude,” Zach said. “No one but you and me knew about the firecracker. So how'd that frog-face Simon find out?”
“Calm down, man,” Drew said. “He's not going to the principal. He knows what'll happen if he does. And if he doesn't …” He smacked his palm with his fist. “You need to let him know the price for narking.”
Uh-oh. Time to go to Plan B.
Note to self: think up Plan B.
“Thanks, bud,” Zach said, relieved. “How's it going with Sophie?”
Drew smiled evilly. “Going great, man. Did you see her today?”
“No.”
“She got, like, a complete face-job. She changed her hair, she's wearing makeup, and …” he paused dramatically, “she's switched to contact lenses. Ask me why.”
“Why?”
“'Cause I told her to.” He straightened up, a self-satisfied grin on his face.
“No way! How's she look?”
“She's … pretty hot, actually. Whatever, man, she's still a loser. But she's like Play-Doh in my hands.”
Zach nodded. “What'cha gonna do now?”
“Ah, you know, string her along for a while, see if she'll put out. I'm sure she'll be easier to convince than freakin' Alexis.”
“Well, good luck, man. Don't let her get to ya,” Zach said, facing forward.
“Hell, no, dude,” Drew smirked, “I'm already going with someone else, anyway.”
Gotcha, douche bag.
“Who?” Zach asked.
; Before he could answer, Mrs. Abernathy strolled into the class, coughing from the combination of second-hand smoke and the heavy air she inhaled on her break.
In one motion, I pulled my earbuds out and stuffed them in my hoodie pocket, shutting off the Record function on Ron's cellphone.
As Mrs. Abernathy began her lecture, I allowed myself a wry smile.
I am Invisiboy, the kid who knows it all.
* * *
I powered my bike down 3rd Avenue, going at top speed. My lungs were heaving, but I didn't slow down once. I had to get to Sophie's bus stop before she got dropped off there.
I knew the direction Sophie always took to go home, somewhere near 2nd Avenue and Saguaro Lane. Barely able to catch my breath, I braked to a halt about a hundred yards down the road from the bus stop. I got off my bike, set the kickstand, and sat down on the curb. And there I waited, rehearsing over and over what I was going to say to her in my brain. This has to work. She has to listen to me.
After a few minutes, the large yellow bus came into view, groaning unceremoniously to a halt. Sophie stepped out, and then she began her journey home.
It wasn't until she was about ten yards away that she noticed me. “Ayden?” she asked, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
I lifted my head and gave a humorless smile. “Waiting for you.”
“Why?” she asked, taking a few more steps forward.
“I …” I stammered, trying to keep my stomach from leaping into my throat, “I need to talk to you.”
“About what? About Drew again?”
“Yeah.” I nodded sheepishly. “Some other stuff, too.”
“Ayden …”
I stood up, looking her directly in the eyes. “Please, Sophie … just a few minutes. That's all I'm asking.” Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment I thought she was just going to walk past me. But she didn't. She hadn't made up her mind yet, so I added another “Please.”
Finally, she raised her hands in annoyance. “Fine. Just make it quick, okay?”
“Okay. You wanna sit down?” I gestured to the sidewalk.
“Sure,” she replied, and we both sat down on the curb.
“You look real nice, by the way,” I said. “You wearing contacts now?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I've worn glasses for years. I figured it was time for a change.”
I furrowed my brow. “It wasn't 'cause Drew told you to?”
She covered her face with her hands. “Why is everyone so hung up on warning me about Drew these days?”
Huh? “What do you mean, 'everyone'?”
“Ayden, can you just say what it is you want to say?”
“Sophie …” I hesitated, trying to muster enough courage to look her in the eye. “I … I know you have no reason to believe me, but I really do care what happens to you.”
“Why?”
“Because you're nice, I guess. And I don't want you to get hurt.”
She stared at me silently for a few moments, and then she smiled. It lit up her face. I don't think I'd realized until now just how pretty Sophie really was. Seeing her, up close and without the glasses, was making my heart race. “Thanks, Ayden,” she said. “You're a little strange sometimes. But you're a good person.”
This made me blush. “You know, I've heard all those nasty things Alexis and her friends say about you. I can't believe anyone would swallow that bull.” I exhaled. “It amazes me sometimes just how evil girls can be.”
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
“At least you have your two best friends.”
“Yeah,” she said, nodding. “They're awesome. Everyone treats Riss and Shell like they're not worth knowing, but they totally are.”
“Most people just ignore me, too. But you and Marissa are really the only girls who have ever been … you know, nice to me.”
“You know Marissa?” she asked, mildly surprised.
I shook my head. “Not really. We sat next to each other in sixth-grade homeroom. She was cool to me.” I sighed. “Then on Valentine's Day, Mrs. Higgins asked everyone to make a valentine during art period, after which we were supposed to give it to 'someone special'.”
“So you gave it to Marissa.”
“Well, I wasn't planning on giving it to anyone. Imagine my surprise when she gave me hers.” I remembered that day like it was yesterday. I'd just sat there, my mouth hanging open, staring at her as she smiled at me. She had the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen.
“Then, during recess period, I scribbled her name on the one I made and left it on her desk before she got back. When she saw it, she thanked me, and, of course, like an idiot, I couldn't even say a word. And now we're both eighth-graders, and I'm still too chicken to talk to her.”
Sophie smiled. “She still has that valentine you gave her, you know.”
My jaw dropped open. “You're kidding.”
“It's on the bulletin board in her room. I mean, it's partially hidden behind some other stuff, but it's still there. It's the only one she's ever gotten.”
I felt a smile curl at the edge of my mouth. “Wow.”
“Ayden, I've known Riss, like, forever. I'm sure she'd love it if you talked to her.”
I stared off into the distance. “Believe me, I wish I could.”
“What does that mean?”
I faced her again, seeing her puzzled look. “I … don't know how to talk to girls.”
“You're talking to me, aren't you?”
“Yeah, but you're different. I feel more comfortable talking to you.”
She smiled. “Thanks … I think.”
“You're the only girl I've ever really talked to. And you're the only one that's ever bothered talking to me.”
“Well, it's not like you go out of your way to be social, Ayden.”
“I guess that's true.”
“Why are you like that, though? You seem like a nice guy. I'm sure lots of people would hang out with you if you gave them the chance.”
She thinks I'm nice? Well, it's a start. “I am. I mean, I try to be.” I put my elbows on my knees, staring at the ground. “It's just … things have been kinda bad for me for a while. At home, I mean. I don't really like talking about it, you know?”
Her face relaxed a little bit. “I know, I heard about your family. I'm so sorry.”
“I guess … when things started getting bad, I didn't want to deal with it. So I just stopped talking. To everyone.” I managed a grim smile. “Pretty messed up, huh?”
“Yeah, it is,” she agreed. “Don't you have any friends at all?”
“Well,” I replied, shrugging, “Simon and I are starting to become friends again, but that's about it. And you, of course.”
She straightened up, and her look of concern morphed into an ironic smile. “Well, that's just sad.”
I looked at her, and started chuckling. “I guess it is.”
She gazed straight ahead, staring at nothing in particular. “You know what's even sadder? Except for Drew, you're pretty much the only boy that's talked to me since fifth grade.”
“Yeah, about that …”
“What?”
My mind raced. I knew I had to say this the right way, or Sophie would never believe me. “I may not talk to people, but that doesn't mean I don't listen. I'm very good at listening. People talk all the time around me, and they don't even know I'm there.”
Her brow furrowed. “You mean, you eavesdrop?” It definitely didn't sound like she approved.
“Uh, kinda …” I replied, my face reddening again.
“That's not good, Ayden.”
“Please, let me finish,” I said. “People love to brag about all kinds of stuff, especially guys like Drew. I sit behind him in sixth-period Literature. I could fill a notebook with the crap he's pulled. You wouldn't believe some of the things he brags about.”
“Like what?”
“Well, last year he poured a cup of his own pee into Simon's locker.”
; She made a disgusted face, follow by an “Eww.”
“Plus, he used to date Alexis. You don't do that if you're a 'nice guy'.”
“But he's been so nice to me …” She suddenly sounded a lot less sure of herself.
I pulled Ron's cellphone from my pocket and showed it to her. “I recorded this in class today. You're not gonna like it, but you need to hear it.” I pressed the Play button, and Drew and Zach's conversation began to play.
I watched Sophie carefully. I saw her face go slack as she heard the incriminating words directly from Drew's mouth, capped off by his admission that he was already with someone else. Finally, the recording ended, and I returned the phone to my pocket.
In a heartbeat, she was on her feet. She cast a quick glance down at me, said, “Thank you, Ayden,” and, before I could even stand up or reply, took off running down the street in the direction of her house.
I stood up, watching her as she faded into the distance, finally disappearing when she turned a corner four blocks down. Sighing, I got back on my bike and pedaled for home.
I wasn't sure if I'd just done a good thing or a bad thing. Only time would tell if I'd just made things better or worse for Sophie. Sometimes being a superhero can be difficult.
Although unlikely, a frightening thought crossed my mind: what if she tells everyone that I gave her this information?
* * *
I grabbed a slice from the box of pizza on the dinner table and deposited it on my plate. Romano's had decent pizza, and it was normal for Mom to bring home pies that had been ordered but never picked up. Normally those pizzas would be devoured by the staff or thrown away, but on occasion, her boss would allow her to bring them home. It was definitely economical, and it tasted all right.
“So how was school today?” Mom asked, taking a bite of her salad.
“It was fine,” I replied. “Simon asked me if I can hang out at his house again this weekend. Is that okay?”
“As long as you get your homework all done, you can.”
“Cool,” I said, taking an unhealthy-sized bite of my slice of Hawaiian pizza.
“Hey, slow down, kiddo, no one's going to take it away from you.” I looked up, and Mom was smiling at me. “But I'm glad you're making friends again.”
Sophie's Different (James Madison Series Book 3) Page 7
