by Seven Steps
Towards the end of math class, Mr. Minor put down his chalk and turned to me.
“And, now I think Mr. Tuck has something to say.”
The entire class turned to me, and I swallowed.
Cassia’s big blue eyes explored my face for clues to my announcement.
I reluctantly released her hand and stood. Then, I grabbed my book bag and walked to the front of the class.
My fellow students snickered, but I didn’t care. This wasn’t about me, or my growing embarrassment.
This was about a girl.
It had always been about a girl.
“Cassia Johnstone. You are the most beautiful, intelligent, funny, coolest girl I have ever met, and I want you to know that I love you.”
Oohs and Aahhs broke out among the class, and Cassia’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink.
I loved making her blush. It meant that I was doing something right.
“I need to ask you…”
I got down on one knee, reached into my backpack, pulled out the small box, and opened it, revealing a corsage the same color as Cassia’s blushing cheeks. “Will you go to junior prom with me?”
Screams erupted through the classroom, but I barely noticed. Cassia’s hands were clenched around her mouth. Tears streamed down her face and her cheeks were all blotchy red. She stood, looking absolutely perfect in jeans, a pink, off the shoulder shirt, and sneakers. When she reached me, she was nearly sobbing.
“What did she say?” Jeffery Wolowitz shouted from the other side of the classroom.
“Yes?” I asked her.
She nodded furiously. “Yes.”
I was pure light.
We were pure light.
“She said yes!” I stood up, put the corsage around her wrist and wrap my arms around her.
The classroom cheered, and I felt our souls take flight.
This was what life was about.
Not having everything in the world but being everything to someone else.
Cassia was my everything. And I was hers.
29
Thirty days flew by and, before I knew it, the night of junior prom was here.
I adjusted my bow tie in the mirror and examined myself.
My brown hair was slicked back, my red bow tie perfectly level, and my black suite was pressed to perfection.
Of course, this outfit was nowhere as expensive as my previous suite. While the other suit came from B. Renee’s, this one came from Men’s Warehouse in the clearance section. But, I was grateful for it, because Ms. Tuck and Lindsey had pitched in together to get me a suit and a limo.
That meant that I would arrive to Cassia’s in style.
I brushed back my already perfect hair nervously. This was the day I’d been looking forward to for months, and now that it was finally here, I was nervous. I wanted Cassia to have the time of her life tonight. If she did, then I knew that I was going to too.
“Will you hurry up already?” Lindsey cried from the other side of my room door. “Jeez, you take longer to get ready then I do!”
“Leave the boy alone,” Ms. Tuck said. “Alex, you take as long to get dressed as you need.”
“Stop babying him. He’s sixteen.”
“I’m not babying him.”
I let out a breath. I’d better make an appearance before those two are at each other’s throats again. The arguments had recommenced, but they were more good natured ribbing now. Lindsey had fully taken to Ms. Tuck’s new role as our mother. Of course, we never forgot our biological parents. But it was nice to have a physical person around when you needed them. And when they needed you.
I opened the door and stepped out of the room, presenting myself to the two greatest women in my life.
“Well, what do you think?”
As if on cue, their mouths dropped open and they stared at me with shocked expressions.
“You look so handsome,” Ms. Tuck said.
“And you smell so nice,” Lindsey said.
They both raised their hands to their mouths, as tears slipped from their eyes.
“Please don’t cry.”
“We’re not crying,” Lindsey said.
Ms. Tuck raised a hand to my face and cupped my cheek. “We’re just proud. Our little boy is all grown up.”
“Now he just has to zip up his fly.”
What?
I looked down and, yes, my fly was down.
Crap.
I zipped it up swiftly and looked back up.
“Okay?”
Lindsey nodded with a watery smile. “Okay.”
We went outside while I took a few pictures of me in my suit, hugged them tight, and climbed into the limo.
“Have fun!” Lindsey called.
“Be safe.” Ms. Tuck added.
I promised them I would, then closed the door behind me. I snuck one last peek through the rear window.
Ms. Tuck and Lindsey were holding hands on the concrete, silently crying.
A lump formed in my throat too.
About twenty minutes later, I pulled up in front of Cassia’s luxury condo at 75 Central Park West. A few other kids were already standing outside, taking pictures.
I recognized a few of them.
Bella French and Cole Winstead.
Ariel Swimworthy and Eric Shipman.
They were flanked by Sophia Johnson and Purity Dubois, while several adults stood around them taking pictures.
They waved at me when I climbed out the window.
I waved back and walked into the lobby.
My mouth went dry as I rode the elevator up to Cassia’s floor.
Yes, she had an entire floor to herself. I’d been here a few times, having dinner with her dad, watching a movie, and, now, helping her with her math. Her math score had jumped up ten points. I told her that she was a good student. She told me that I was a good tutor. I liked to think it was a combination of both.
I stepped out of the elevator and knocked on the door. A short, Spanish woman opened it and smiled at me. Olga and I got along well whenever I came over. It helped that I knew a few words of Spanish too.
She directed me into the living room, and I sat on the couch.
The place was fancy, but not overly so. Expensive grey couches and rugs. Marble coffee tables. A fireplace. Huge portraits of Cassia and her parents. I liked those pictures most of all. Cassia looked so happy sitting on her mom’s lap. And she had the same smile thing as she did now. Big and happy, with a slight rose in her cheeks.
“Hello, Alex.”
I stood and turned around, and my heart fell out of my chest and landed at my feet.
Cassia looked stunning, with her yellow dress that hugged her every curve and clear heels that made her look a few inches taller. Her hair was down and curled around her shoulders. I wanted to run my fingers through it and feel it’s softness. Her makeup was light, except for her dark lipstick.
She looked like a goddess come down from heaven above to torment mere mortals like me. I had to stop myself from bowing at her feet.
“You look stunning,” I said.
Or at least I think I said it.
I was so wrapped up in how beautiful Cassia was that I wasn’t even sure if I was speaking or not.
She smiled, so I assumed she’d heard me.
“And you look very handsome.”
She quickly made her way to the bottom of the step, where I took her hand. I moved in to kiss her, then thought better of it, and kissed her hand instead. If her dad saw me covered in plum lipstick, he’d be pissed.
“So, you two are heading out?”
John Johnstone ambled out from the kitchen, his eyes heavy on us.
Good thing I hadn’t kissed her. I didn’t even know he was there.
“Yes,” Cassia said.
“And you’ll be home around 11?”
“Yes.”
“And straight to the party and back here?”
“Yes, daddy.”
“Good.” He placed a
gentle kiss on Cassia’s cheek. “You look beautiful, honey. Your mom would be so proud.”
Cassia smiled bigger then I’d ever seen her.
Then, her father turned to me.
“Take good care of my daughter tonight, Alex.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m trusting you to bring her home safely.”
“I’ll protect her with my life, sir.”
He nodded shortly. “That’s what I want to hear.”
He placed a hand on me and Cassia’s shoulder. “You kids have fun tonight. And remember. I’m always watching.”
I swallowed. I hope he wasn’t watching to closely.
We waved goodbye and, hand in hand, we left the apartment building and headed for junior prom.
Our hands stayed clasped while we climbed out of the limo and ascended the stairs.
Outside, the building was covered with what seemed to be graffiti art. I could tell it wasn’t sprayed on by the way it moved around the school. Almost like water.
A few kids were standing outside staring at it and, to my surprise, a few cops too.
“That’s beautiful,” Cassia gasped.
“Not as beautiful as you,” I replied. I brought her hand back to my lips and kissed it again. “When the school year started, I thought I’d have to find a magic genie to get you to go to junior prom with me. Now, we’re standing here, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Maybe your wish came true,” she said.
“Not maybe. It definitely came true. I love you, Cassia.”
“I love you too, Alex.”
Her cheeks turned that pretty shade of pink again. I guess I was doing something right.
“I love yous are usually followed with a kiss,” she said.
I felt my cheeks redden now.
She was the only person who could make me blush, and I loved it.
“I wanted to kiss you, but I didn’t want to ruin your lipstick.”
“Maybe if you wish for it, your wish will come true.”
I smiled, closed my eyes, and wished with all of my heart to kiss Cassia tonight. When I opened my eyes, she had moved closer to me, making my entire body light on fire.
“Will my wish come true?” I asked.
She pulled a tube of lipstick from her purse.
“Extra lipstick for me. And makeup removing wipes for you.”
Yup. I loved this girl. There was no denying that.
I pulled her close and our lips touched.
Then clung.
Music drifted out from the party. I recognized the song.
It was Forever by Chris Brown.
The lyrics sang in my heart as they pumped through the street.
Somewhere along the way, this girl had stolen a thief’s heart.
And I never wanted it back again.
The End
The Golden Boy
By Seven Steps and Audrey Rich
1
“All you have to do is tell him you’re pregnant.”
When Clay Roman passed me a note during chemistry telling me he had good news about my tuition woes, I thought he meant he’d found a scholarship I was eligible for. I’d run to the football field bleachers, hoping for some good news. But this wasn’t good news. This was a curveball straight from the underworld.
I rubbed my ear and dramatically inclined my head at him.
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
His icy, almost lifeless, pale blue eyes rolled in exasperation, as if I were frustrating him. Me—the girl he’d just asked to fake a pregnancy. Where can one buy that amount of nerve? Amazon? Sam’s Club? Did he get frequent shopper points with The International House of Audacity? I mean seriously!
“My sources have informed me that you’re late on your tuition payments. Tell Julius you’re pregnant and he’s the father, and I will ensure your tuition is paid in full.”
Yup. That was what I thought he said.
I planted my hands on my hips to keep from flipping him off.
“You made me walk all the way across the football field to ask me to commit pregnancy fraud? What kind of girl do you think I am? Do I look like I’ve ever been on a daytime talk show?”
His demeanor was cool. Calm. He leisurely leaned on the sun-warmed bleachers, totally at ease with the fact that he was asking me to tell the biggest lie of my life. Meanwhile, my temper was at DEFCON 1.
“Think about it, Meg,” he said. “All your money problems can go away just like that. You won’t have to switch schools or leave your friends. Your parents won’t even have to know.”
I scoffed and ground a pebble into the dirt with the toe of my sneaker.
“I know you don’t understand how the world works, so let me spell it out for you: my parents get a bill from this school every semester, and I think they’ll notice a big fat zero next to the ‘amount due’ box.”
“Tell them it’s a scholarship, or that you’ve received a grant. The means don’t matter to me. Your cooperation is what’s important.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled as if he knew I’d cooperate.
Not so fast, Clay. It was going to take a whole lot more than a slick smile, enviable blond hair, and a hot body to even begin to convince me to go along with this crazy plan.
I lifted his pointer finger from my skin and slid his clammy hand off of me.
“Okay. Let’s assume for one minute that I’m a crap daughter who would lie to my parents—how am I supposed to pull this whole charade off? Number one, I’ve never even spoken to Julius Samson. Number two, I may be three steps from impoverished right now, but I still have a moral compass. And three, why should I trust that you’ll pay up?”
I gave myself a mental pat on the back. These were all valid questions, and if Clay was smart, he’d take this opportunity to apologize for even thinking of such a terrible plan. Then he’d kiss my feet and beg my forgiveness. Some tears would be shed. It’d all be very beautiful, really.
But no.
Clay was too slick for that. He just stood there in the sunlight and stared at me like I was an old horse he was about to put out of its misery. “Meg, Meg, Meg.” His head shook each time he said my name, making me even madder. “Don’t you think I’ve thought of that? I already told Julius that the girl he took off with that night might be knocked up. Everything is in place. Megera, I’m offering you the world.” He placed his thumb and forefinger on my chin, squeezing it. His skin was cold, even though it was a warm October day. Made sense—after all, snakes are cold-blooded.
“I’ll give you twenty-four hours,” he said. “Either tell one little lie or say goodbye to St. Mary’s Academy forever. The choice is yours.”
He gave my chin one last squeeze before picking up his black bookbag, hoisting it onto one shoulder, and sauntering away.
I watched him go, my body feeling on edge. My gut dipped and twisted as if I were riding a rollercoaster, and tension sat heavy on my shoulders. Something about this didn’t seem right. Well, nothing about this was right, but there was one thing that especially bothered me.
“Clay!”
He turned, his icy eyes finding mine. The longer he looked at me, the more I felt my blood freeze.
“Isn’t he your friend?” I asked. The ‘he’ in this equation was, of course, Julius.
He dropped his chin slightly. “My best friend.”
“So, why are you doing this?”
His lips rose at the edges. “Twenty-four hours, Meg. I hope to hear from you.”
Regardless of what type of person Clay assumed I was, I wouldn’t be shaken off so easily. This was someone’s life we were talking about. I took another step forward.
“What’ll happen to him?”
He scoffed. “Shouldn’t you be more concerned about what will happen to you?”
“I’m not heartless.”
“I never said you were, and if your ex is to be believed, it was your celibacy rather than your heartlessness that was the problem.”
The stinging words were like a right hook straight to my heart. “Leave Homer out of this. He’d never say that.”
“Wouldn’t he?”
Clay’s words hung in the air, and my cheeks warmed. I crossed my arms to hide my heaving chest.
“Look, all I’m saying is that men are dogs, Meg. Consider this your opportunity to remove another hound from St. Mary’s Academy.”
“Is Julius a hound?”
Clay smiled. “One of the worst. That’s what makes this so simple.”
I dropped my gaze to the turf.
Could I really do this? Could I really destroy someone’s life to protect my own? Wouldn’t I feel guilty, even if they were a so-called ‘hound’? I didn’t really know Julius Samson. I knew everyone called him Hercules or Herc. He’d always seemed like a standup guy to me, never bullying anyone or anything like that. Was Clay telling the truth about Julius?
I rubbed my hands on my jeans.
“What about me?” I asked. “Everyone will call me a whore until graduation.”
Clay shook his head. “Once Julius is gone, it’ll be old news. Think about it, Meg. Are you willing to face a little humiliation to remain at your family’s alma mater? In a month’s time, you won’t even remember this conversation. Julius will be out, I’ll be the new quarterback, and you’ll get to stay in school. Everyone wins.”
“But—”
“Twenty-four hours,” Clay said. He turned around, his long legs making quick strides across the field. “This offer expires in twenty-four hours. Tick tock, Meg.”
I watched him until he disappeared around the front of the school. My legs felt weak, and I collapsed on the bench with a sigh.
This morning, I was Meg Kotopuli, a senior at St. Mary’s Academy, resident film geek with modest grades and an ex-boyfriend with a penchant for cheerleaders way out of his league. Now, I was expected to lie to someone I’d never met—and not just anyone, the most popular guy in school. Was it worth it? Could I do it?