“Not yet. I will as soon as I get paid,” Aja said quietly.
“She’s working on it,” Mrs. Burnett said.
“Another good reason to suspend you,” Carlisle threatened.
Aja and Mrs. Burnett went into the counselor’s office and sat. Mrs. Burnett clicked on her computer and opened Aja’s school record.
“Aja, I know you can do the schoolwork.” She looked directly at her. “You’re smarter than most of the students here. Your scores are way above average as are all your aptitude tests. I don’t want to see someone as talented as you fall through the cracks. What can I do to help you?”
Aja just sat and shrugged.
“Mrs. Dempsey emailed us that you’d fallen asleep in her class and you talk back to her all the time. What’s going on?” Mrs. Burnett sounded sincere. “Are you working or just out late?”
“Working,” Aja mumbled.
“What job keeps you out so late?” Mrs. Burnett put her elbows on the desk and tried to make eye contact with Aja.
“Pole dancer.”
Mrs. Burnett jerked backward. “Oh, Aja, I hope not. Why, you’re not old enough to get into those places. What about your mother…”
Aja remembered Mrs. Burnett going to bat for her with Dempsey and Carlisle, not to mention bailing her out with the forty dollars she’d stolen. “I’m not working as a stripper.” Aja slouched lower in her chair. “Just as a waitress.”
“Just a waitress? That’s a tough job. I’d be sawing logs at my desk, too.”
Aja smiled a little.
“Are you planning on going to college?”
“Yeah, I think. I want to get out of high school first.”
“Good point.” Mrs. Burnett began typing on her computer again. “You need to get through these next two months without missing any more school or assignments, and you’ll have to learn to deal with Mrs. Dempsey. I’ll help you any way I can.”
“You already have, Mrs. Burnett,” Aja said. “I’ll get you the money back as soon as I can.”
“I know you will.” Mrs. Burnett leaned over her desk. “Look, maybe I can work something out with Mr. Carlisle where you can ‘assist’ me in the office. I’d like to help you apply to some colleges.”
“I’m planning on moving to California.”
“To study?”
Aja shook her head. “I don’t know. I just want to leave this place.”
Mrs. Burnett sighed. “California schools are tough to get into, plus they’re expensive. You’re smart, but”—Mrs. Burnett pointed to Aja’s page on the computer—“your student record is spotty with the different schools, even if your grades are good. I could probably pull some strings here, but I don’t know anybody in California.”
“I just want to get out of Texas.”
“Are you running from something?”
Aja felt her defenses rising. “No.”
“Based on your school records, you’ve moved around a lot. That’s great if you’re looking for adventure, but it’s also okay to put some roots down, too. Don’t be afraid to leave your mark.”
“The only mark I’d want to leave in this town would stink.”
“Aja, why so angry?”
Aja smiled. “I guess I have a problem with authority.”
Mrs. Burnett laughed deeply. “That’s an understatement. Here, let me check to see if you can meet with an Army recruiter.”
Aja stared at her and hugged her book bag tight.
“I’m joking,” Mrs. Burnett said, still smiling. “I don’t want to see you waste an opportunity to spread your wings. You can fly or you can fall flat. Your choice.” She rummaged in her desk and handed Aja some college brochures. “Look these over; get some ideas, even if you start by taking a few classes at the community college. I’ll check with Mrs. Dempsey to see if you can make up today’s work. I’ll recommend she add an extra assignment or something to appease her ego.” Mrs. Burnett leaned closer and whispered, “She likes to be the boss. Let her feel like it’s her decision.” She held up two fingers. “Two months, Aja. Then you’re out of here. You can do it.”
“Thanks,” Aja said, she stood to leave.
“Wait.” Mrs. Burnett waved her back to her seat and looked out the door. “Mr. Carlisle is leaving. Give him a few minutes to get out the door and forget that he was supposed to meet with you. Then you can run to your next class.”
Aja smiled and tucked the brochures in her bag.
Chapter 12
In the bathroom at work, Aja buttoned her black pants, still damp from the late night laundry. Trying to dry them in the car didn’t quite work for the areas of her clothes that had been in the shade. Thankfully they were clean even if they were wrinkled. She was about to fall flat on her face from exhaustion, but at least she didn’t smell like blended roast beef and apple juice.
After dressing, she glanced out the door of the bathroom, making sure Mrs. Poston was nowhere in sight. Aja wanted to make a mad dash to the kitchen and to check on Mrs. Jensen. She came home today with hospice care.
Aja pulled her long hair up in a ponytail and stuffed her clothes in her bag, then double-checked the hallway. Good, the coast was clear.
She’d just made it past the office when she heard her name. Damn.
“Aja, do you have a minute?”
Aja turned and saw Edna Jones, the woman she’d interviewed with. “Yeah, sure, but Janie is expecting me.”
“I’ll let her know you’ll be late.”
The way Edna said “late” made Aja wonder if it would be a permanent situation.
Aja dutifully followed Edna into her office, where she closed the door. “Please, have a seat.” Edna scooted in behind her desk and sat. The air escaping from the cushion made Aja wonder if the woman had just passed gas.
“Aja, it’s come to my attention that you’ve been arrested before.” Edna opened a file that had been sitting on her desk.
Aja sunk lower in her chair. “Yes, but I was never charged with anything.” She wondered how much information was in the record that Edna was perusing. As a juvenile, her records were supposed to be sealed. “Is that from the background check you did on me?”
“Yes, that as well as Officer Clay’s research on you.” Edna looked at Aja, raising her heavily penciled eyebrows. “I believe you know Officer Clay Richards. According to Mrs. Poston, you were rather, umm, close to him during the dinner disaster last night. Which is another issue we need to talk about.”
“That weirdo was hitting on me. The guy creeps me out.” Aja chilled, remembering Freddy Kruger’s headlights in her rearview mirror.
Edna sat silent, continued to read the file. “Both the charges here are for disorderly conduct and one for resisting arrest. And then there was a complaint listed from Georgia.”
“Georgia? How did you find out about that? I wasn’t arrested for anything.” Aja sighed. She hadn’t even gotten one paycheck yet, and she was already going to be unemployed again.
“Officer Clay did some research,” Edna said. “Aja, I can’t see us employing someone with a record. I’m sorry.” She closed the file. “I have to think of the residents first.”
“Yeah, whatever. I get it.” Aja stood to leave.
“As far as the dinner service last night, I’ve already spoken to Janie, and she’s on notice for that. But you should have been able to handle it better than you did.”
“Don’t fire her; she was helping the Jensens.”
“Don’t worry about Janie.” Edna got out of her chair. “If this address is good, I’ll send your check there.” She walked to the door to let Aja out.
“Okay.” Aja was so dejected she didn’t even have a snappy rude comeback. She was tired, depressed and still felt a responsibility to poor Janie, who would be busting her ass alone tonight.
“Aja, our angel.” Lauren Jensen caught up to them in the hallway outside Edna’s door. She gave Aja a big hug. “Dad keeps talking about how much help you were last night. Thank you so much for being
with him.” She turned to Edna. “Did Aja tell you she stayed with Dad until one o’clock in the morning? She wouldn’t leave until I got there.”
“No, she didn’t.” Edna glanced at Aja.
“He calls her Princess Bride.” Lauren looked at Aja. “I can see why. You do look a lot like her.”
“How’s your mom?” Aja asked.
Tears filled Lauren’s eyes. “She’s resting, but…” She wiped away the tears that fell on her cheeks. “I still can’t thank you enough for calling all of us. Dad wouldn’t have been able to.” She sniffled and took a Kleenex and blew her nose. “You are an angel.”
Edna turned to Aja. “You didn’t mention this.”
“What was there to say? She was really sick the other night. I don’t know. Mr. Jensen was so worried about her. Is it okay if I go and visit her?” Aja asked Edna. “I mean, since I’m not working here anymore.”
“You quit?” Lauren asked. “I hate to see you go.” She turned to Edna. “Why can’t you keep the good ones here?” She looked at Aja. “Of course, you are welcome to visit anytime.”
Aja took off her apron and handed it to Edna.
Edna waved at the apron. “Aja, why don’t you go see how Janie is doing in the kitchen first? She’s probably looking for you. Please do a good job. We need good employees.”
“Really? Thanks,” Aja said, then turned to Lauren. “I’ll come by after serving dinner if that’s okay.”
Lauren hugged her. “Anytime, Aja.”
Over Lauren’s shoulder, Aja saw Kendall standing near the front desk, staring hard at her. Aja wondered why she was always there if she hated the place so much. Walker had tried calling a few times, but Aja ignored his calls. She didn’t want to play second fiddle to Kendall.
In the kitchen, Aja told Janie and Gabe that she’d almost been fired. She left out the part about her criminal record.
“Was it because of last night?” Janie asked. “I’m so sorry.”
Aja shrugged. “Long story. Let me start the salads tonight.”
Chapter 13
Later that night at home, Aja’s head bobbed sleepily over her homework. Her mom had left a note saying she’d gone to the Hill Country near Austin to sing with a folk band and that there was a vegan casserole in the fridge.
Math was stupid easy. Geography was interesting, but Aja didn’t have time to spend savoring her book because she had to finish reading for English, including the extra assignment Dempsey gave her. Her eyes would not stay open as she tried to track the pages. Instead, she decided to read in bed after showering.
She’d only spent an hour at the Jensens’ after work. Mrs. Jensen slept the whole time Aja was there. Her family sat around her, seeming afraid to miss a second with their mother. Mr. Jensen nervously worked to keep up with the activity and spend time holding his wife’s hand. The commotion seemed to make him more anxious, and Aja only felt like she was in the way. She didn’t leave until she made sure he’d eaten a cup of soup, though.
Aja glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. The lack of sleep the night before was wearing on her every nerve. She was a little apprehensive about staying alone but was so tired she figured the house could implode and she’d probably sleep through it. She got up from her studies to take her dirty dishes to the kitchen. As she rinsed her dishes, she looked out the window over the sink and froze when she saw a figure under the oak tree near the alley. A familiar shadow. The police officer, Clay Richards, the one she called Freddy Kruger.
She jumped so hard she dropped her plate in the sink, cracking it in two. Aja ignored the broken dish and ran from the kitchen, turning out the light behind her. Her heart fluttered like a scared animal ready to take flight. She was trapped. This guy wasn’t like other adults that Aja easily flipped off. His presence was so evil she shook to her core. And, worse, he wouldn’t leave her alone.
She crouched in the darkened hallway, chewing her nails, wondering where she could go and if she could get out. She was trapped like a caged bird. Her cell phone was in her room so she crawled toward her open door. The light in her room was on, leaving no place to hide. As she shuffled by her mom’s room, she glanced out the window to the backyard. He stood under the tree, but had moved closer. This was worse than a horror movie. At least in the theater, she could close her eyes and make the scary parts go away.
She wanted to run to her car and drive away, but he’d no doubt pull her over for some reason and then she’d be at his mercy. She wished that she’d grabbed a big butcher knife before she ran from the kitchen.
She made it to her bedroom and turned off the light. As she reached for her cell phone, she heard the squeak of the screen door. In her purse were the needle-nose pliers, a gift from her mom who swore every girl should have this multi-use tool. Her mom used one when she was hitchhiking years ago. Pressed them against the neck of a driver who decided he wanted payment for the ride he’d given her. Since then, she was never without hers and made sure Aja had a pair too. Aja used it mostly on their garage-sale crockpot whose knob had broken off leaving no grip.
The screen door squeaked again, and this time Aja heard the doorknob jiggle. Luckily, she’d locked all the doors when she got home. She never liked to stay alone, but she usually did okay—until tonight. The veil of fear shocked her so much she could barely breathe, much less think of what to do.
Aja knew the door would be nothing to break through. She took her phone off the desk and tried to dial. Her hand shook so hard and she couldn’t remember what numbers to dial.
911, 911. She finally hit the buttons.
The door opened.
“911 operator,” a voice came on the line.
“I’m at 324 Willow and a man is breaking in. He’s coming in the house!” Aja whispered loudly. “Hurry.”
“What’s your zip code? You’re calling from a cell phone.”
Aja couldn’t remember. Her mind was blank with fear. “Hurry!”
“Give me a cross street,” the operator stayed calm.
“He’s in the house,” Aja cried. She heard boots on the kitchen floor. “Oh, God, hurry.”
“Okay, stay on the line with me; I’m sending someone out.” There was a pause and click, then the operator somehow zeroed on her address. “Is this where you are?”
“Yes,” Aja whispered. Another scuff sound closer to her room. Aja dropped the phone, took her pliers, and crawled to the window. She unlocked it and pulled it open. The screen was already ripped, and Aja tore through the screen with the pliers and rolled outside. She landed hard in some scraggly bushes but barely registered the sharp twigs jabbing into her back. She stood, tool in hand, and looked into her darkened window. Freddy was in her bedroom doorway looking at her. She saw the light of her cell phone on the floor. He crunched the phone under his boot. Aja turned and ran.
She sprinted in a panic through the neighborhood, dogs barking at almost every house. He’d find her just by the noise. Aja dashed between two houses and tried to gulp some air and think. The more air she got in, the more her cuts hurt. Her head ached from being so keenly aware of fight-or-flight fear, layered with exhaustion.
Before long, she saw red-and-blue flashing lights ricochet through the houses. She debated about going home. What if he was still there? He was, after all, a police officer. She looked down the dark alley where she hid. But what if he’s here? She blanched at the tomblike darkness and headed toward her house, pliers at the ready.
By now a few of the neighbors had come out of their houses to check out the police visit.
“Aja?” Fiona, one of her neighbors caught up to her. “What’s going on at your house?”
“Someone tried to break in.” The relief of being safe brought on uncontrolled sobs. She put her tool into the back pocket of her jeans.
“This neighborhood is getting so bad.” Fiona shook her head. “It’s getting that a lady can’t live alone here anymore. “Fiona was a middle-aged divorced woman, who’d raised three kids in her small home unti
l they’d all moved out. “You okay? Where’s your mom?” Fiona put a comforting arm around Aja. “Why, you’re all cut up. What the hell happened?”
Aja continued to cry. “I-I jumped out the window. I guess I landed in the bushes.”
“You’re alone? Come on.” Fiona walked Aja toward her house.
Aja headed to a cluster of police officers, who turned to her and Fiona. She saw Clay Richards among the group, and she froze in her spot.
“Are you the young lady that called about a break-in?” one of the officers turned and asked her.
Aja pointed to Richards. “It was him. He’s been following me and I saw him in my backyard.”
Richards leered at her and laughed. “I was the first to the scene. I’d been patrolling and heard the call.”
“Did you see anybody?” a female officer asked Richards.
“No, and I drove around to make sure.”
Aja shook her head. “No, he is the guy.”
Fiona patted Aja’s sore back. “Honey, he’s a police officer. Are you sure?” She pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her tattered robe’s pocket and lit one.
Richards took a few steps towards Aja. “You’re alone here tonight?”
It was a question, but Aja was certain he knew she was.
Aja backed away and tried to hide behind Fiona’s smokescreen. She began shaking. “I want a restraining order against this guy. I don’t care if he is a police officer, he’s been following me for days.”
Richards laughed heartily, seeming so good-ol-boy. “I’m sure you’re exaggerating because I saw you at the old folks home the other night. You’re just looking to start trouble.”
The female officer stepped up and told one of the other officers, “Doug go check the back door for signs of a break in. Clay, thanks for everything, but I think we’ve got it under control here.”
“Look, why don’t I take over this call, babe,” Richards said to her condescendingly.
“Babe?” She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be off duty?”
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