by KB Anne
He tugged on one of her tight curls. “Starr, this is Penny.”
Of course, her name was Penny. She was all shiny and new. I smiled at her. The corners of her eyes tightened, no doubt remembering the way Frank left her to walk me to first period. The biggest drawback to having a guy as your best friend was the constant reassurances you needed to provide his girlfriends. They always thought there was something going on, and believe me, there wasn’t. “Frank’s told me all about you.”
Her posture softened as she touched his arm. “Oh Frankie, have you been talking about me?” she asked in a gooey voice that made me want to vomit.
If there was any hope of surviving lunch with another awe-struck girlfriend, I needed something to eat. I pulled out my To Do list on my way to the lunch line.
Friday To Do:
**Leadership Exam Saturday at 10:00**
1:05 to 2:35 p.m. American History
2:35-3:05 p.m. SGA Meeting (Straighten out Sami/Laura Issue)
3:15-5:15 p.m. Swim Practice: 5,000 yards and maybe some sprints
--If time, quick run
6:00 p.m. Meet Jovie and Sami at Sami’s House
6:30 p.m. Dinner with girls
7-9:30 p.m. Mall: pick up #2 pencils
10:00 p.m. Sleepover at Jovie’s house
Saturday
10:00 a.m. Leadership Entrance Exam
I glanced up just before plowing into a tall, muscular frame. As our bodies collided, time stopped for one brief moment. Strong arms pulled me into his black Ramones t-shirt. He shifted his body under mine, drawing me in closer to his chest. His heart raced against my cheek; it matched the sprint of my own.
In a tight embrace, we fell as if someone hit slow motion, and we dropped frame by frame without ever hitting the bottom. Nothing existed in the entire universe except for our plunging bodies pressed against each other. When we finally hit the hard tile floor, he took most of the impact because I was cocooned in his arms. Something tightened just below my belly button—a nervous kind of flip-floppy feeling, and I finally understood what Sami and Jovie always talked about.
“You,” he murmured. I gazed into Christian’s black lined eyes with newfound shyness. I never noticed just how blue his eyes were. A blue so deep and pure and clear I was tempted to swim in them for hours, but the catcalls “Get a room” and rowdy laughter reminded me we were in the middle of the cafeteria with our food deprived classmates, and we were fresh bait. A burn crept into my cheeks.
Somehow, I managed to stutter, “S…s…sorry,” as I attempted to extract myself from his embrace with as much grace as I could muster, but there was nothing poetic about my clumsiness.
He pushed himself up beside me. Whatever emotion was in his eyes a moment ago vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Two sharp, unforgiving vertical lines formed between his eyebrows. Without even a grunt of acknowledgement, he stalked away. I stared after his black t-shirt, wondering what had just happened and had he felt it too.
“Starr, are you okay?” someone asked, but I was lost in my own world. “Starr, are you okay?” A hand gripped my shoulder.
If there was any electricity coursing through my veins, it was gone now.
I shook my head to clear it before turning to Frank. “Yeah…, yeah, I’m fine.”
I think.
“Freak!” he shouted at Christian’s retreating back. His hands clenched into tight fists, and he took off.
“Frank,” I yelled chasing after him. “Don’t!”
He stopped and turned so fast I almost crashed into him. Anger swirled around his green eyes in a frenzied rhythm all the more striking with his dark skin. I reached for his shoulders and squeezed. “Frank, don’t worry about it.”
He stared at me. “Please…,” I begged in my best girlfriendy voice, batting my eyelashes at him. He grunted and his balled-up tension disappeared.
“Now, that’s the Frankie I know and love.”
He pulled me into his side, creating a cozy nook where I felt warm and safe. If I had a brother, I imagined the embrace would feel just like it. I glanced up at him and smiled. “So, Penny, huh?”
He shrugged.
“Gave her an entire day to catch her bearings and now you’re in for the kill?”
His lips rose into a devilish grin. He twisted me around so we were standing so close our lips practically touched. “You know you could go out with me.”
I pushed him away and grabbed a lunch tray. “Nice try, but I know where those lips have been.”
“That’s true,” he said.
I pushed my faded blue plastic tray along the stainless steel tray guide, and grabbed a pre-made tuna fish sandwich on rye, a bag of salt and vinegar chips, a banana, a giant sugar cookie, two chocolate milks, a bottle of water, and a granola bar that I would eat during ninth period. I stopped and stared at my pile. Swimming on an empty stomach made me sluggish. Coach Becker hated when I was sluggish. I hated when I was sluggish. I grabbed a second granola bar and an apple.
Frank eyed my overflowing tray. “Next time, bring a wheelbarrow.”
With my hands occupied with my lunch, I stomped on his foot. He sidestepped out of the way before I could crush his toes. “You know how hungry double workouts make me,” I growled. “And I saw your tray. Talk about pigging out.”
He laughed again. He knew he couldn’t deny it. He also knew he’d eat one of my granola bars before practice. “What time’s your test tomorrow?”
“Ten, but we need arrive half an hour early.”
“So, you’ll be there by eight?”
I snorted. It was a gross sound that I tried to hide from most people, but Frank didn’t count as most people. “Yeah right, not with Sami and Jovie. I’ll be happy if we get there by 9:15.”
“You going out tonight?”
We wove in and out of tables over to our seats. “After practice, I’m picking them up at Sami’s. We’ll grab dinner at Pizza Joes and then the mall for shoe shopping and boy cruising.”
He stopped mid-step. “Oh.”
I knocked my hip into his. “I’d come over to your house and watch Mission Impossible again, but you’ll be busy watching Penny’s home movies starting with her ride home from the hospital.”
He pulled out my chair for me. “Very funny.”
Before I sat down, I glanced over at the cafeteria doors, wondering if Christian would return for the rest of his lunch. The ghost of a shiver ran up my spine. I knew I shouldn’t think about him or the way I felt when I was in his arms…but. But….
Chapter Five
Panic…. Fear…. Desperation…. threatened to consume me, but there was no time. I needed to get away. I willed my legs to go faster, but my body moved in slow motion. Escape was within reach, but they were closing in. In a matter of seconds, I’d be caught. Finally, my toes hit the damp sand, and I flung my body into the water. Freedom at last. Then someone grabbed my foot…
Air. I needed air. I sucked in mouthfuls of the precious commodity. Panic seized my throat as I tried to scream, but nothing came out. My heart pounded in the frantic rhythm of the chase. Cold sweat poured down the sides of my cheeks. I punched. I kicked. It was only when I opened my eyes that I stopped fighting. My vision, blurred with sleep and sweat, made out the outline of two girls sleeping in the bed next to me. I was in Jovie’s bedroom. I had no enemies. Real or imagined.
The steady hum of a hairdryer woke me a few hours later. I lounged in bed feeling rested and lazy, a rare combination for me, and one I had to admit I rather enjoyed but doubted I could get used to. I was far too high strung for relaxation techniques beyond my deep breathing calm-the-heck-down mantra—and that actually served a purpose. After the hairdryer shut off, Jovie walked out wearing some purple silk shirt thingy, black leggings, and her new gray ankle boots. Her brown hair hung straight down with every blond-streaked highlight in place. A thick layer of makeup covered her cute little freckles that surfaced as soon as she went out into the sun.
“I didn’t know I
had to dress fancy for the test,” I grumbled. The t-shirt and running capris I picked out seemed way too casual compared to Jovie.
She brushed the hem of the shirt with her hands, as she checked herself in the closet’s full-length mirror. “I’m not dressed fancy silly. I’m dressed nice. There is a difference, and by the way, a little fashion advice for you, I am very comfortable right now. I know how important that is to you.”
I rolled my eyes at her as I climbed out of bed and stretched.
Sami was curled up in the fetal position on Jovie’s other bed and would remain so until someone woke her up, and believe me, no one wanted that job. Poking a hibernating grizzly paled in comparison to waking Sami. As I hopped into the shower and let the hot water wash away any remnants of sleepiness, I imagined Jovie shoving her brush into Sami’s side and then hiding under the bed.
Steam soon rose up around me, drawing me into the tight, plastic curtained space. I inhaled it into my lungs and took deep, cleansing breaths. I needed to stay calm and focused for the test. All my Georgetown plans hinged on getting this summer fellowship.
As I toweled off, I heard Sami groan about how early it was and Jovie replying, “You’re the one who wanted to stay out late last night.”
“I know,” Sami growled as she brushed past me into the shower.
“Good morning to you, too!” I teased. A hand popped out from behind the shower curtain with a middle finger sticking up.
Smiling, I looked in the mirror and put on black, waterproof mascara. I might not wear tubes of makeup like Jovie, but I didn’t go anywhere without my mascara, not even swim practice. Once satisfied with the application, I stepped back from the mirror and looked at myself. Droplets of water cascaded down my bare shoulders. I squeezed the excess water from my hair. Then on a whim, I decided to dry it. Jovie would appreciate the extra effort.
Within minutes, steam covered the mirror, blurring my reflection, and I decided to call it a day. My hair was mostly dry anyway. Hitching my towel up under my armpits, I walked out of the bathroom.
“You’re done already?” Jovie asked. She had added a colorful scarf and dangling earrings to her ensemble.
“Yeah,” I said, patting the back of my head. “I even dried my hair for you!”
She stared at me long and hard. I couldn’t decide if she was pissed at me or if she wanted to cry or a combination of the two. She took a deep breath. “Do you know how long it takes me to get ready in the morning?”
I grabbed my running capris out of my bag and stepped into them. “No idea.”
“A good hour, if not more. I put on my ‘face’ first—moisturizer…”
I’ve heard this all before…something with primer for her chin and concealer for her eyes and there was talk of pencils for lips and mustaches or something. She cleared her throat, and I realized it was my turn to comment. “Wow, an hour? I don’t have the time or the interest.”
“Easy for you to say my blue-eyed, blond-haired friend. You wake up and you’re beautiful,” she snapped.
I pulled on my navy blue Georgetown sweatshirt. “First of all, you are beautiful. Second of all, you don’t need to do all that stuff. You like to do it,” I replied, as I flipped my hair out of the sweatshirt collar.
She took a few breaths in and out, but her face blazed with fury. “First of all, I don’t like taking an hour or more to get ready. Second of all, I need to do this ‘stuff’ in order to look even mediocre.”
I bit my lip to hold back my retort. Jovie has never thought very highly of herself, but we didn’t have time for a pick-me-up session before the Leadership Exam.
“Get over yourself,” Sami said as she prowled out of the bathroom. She didn’t wash her hair, but it was all wavy and full, and with her gorgeous black eyelashes, she didn’t need mascara.
“You too! All that beautiful hair that you don’t have to do a thing to!” Jovie shrieked. Tears pool at the corner of her eyes. Another tear and the dam would burst and destroy her canvas. “I must be crazy to be friends with the two of you. I’m the ugly duckling!” She flopped down on the foot of the bed.
Sami and I glanced at each other. Sami rolled her eyes, and I knew we’re thinking the same thing—here we go again.
I walked over to the bed and put my arm across Jovie’s shoulder. “Jovie, you know we love you.”
Sami handed her a box of tissues. “We do, and besides, if it weren’t for you, who would teach Starr how to dress? She’d never wear anything but running shorts and t-shirts.”
I looked up at Sami and grinned. “And who would keep all the boys from asking Sami out?”
Jovie dabbed her nose as she giggled. “Sorry girls, I must be more nervous about this test than I thought.”
“Aren’t we all?” I asked.
“Not me,” Sami said, gripping her petite little stomach. “I’m starving. Let’s hit IHOP and raise our blood sugar to extraordinary levels!”
Chapter Six
“Anytime now,” Sami shouted from the front entrance of the building. Her hands rested on her hips while she tapped her pointed toe against the curb. Jovie hovered next to her, biting a fingernail.
“Sorry,” I yelled, hurrying to catch up to them. “I can’t believe we’re on an island! I mean the main campus demonstrates beautiful classic collegiate architecture, but once you cross the bridge, it’s like you’ve stepped back into the old South. Would you look at those Roman columns?” I stopped on the portico and stared up at the building again.
Jovie cast a scornful look at my sweatshirt. “I can’t believe that you appreciate obscure architectural details, yet you don’t put any thought into building your own wardrobe.”
I bumped into her with my hip. “You know you love me.”
She stopped in front of a large sign. “That’s why I put up with your attire.”
As we walked into the building, I tried my best not to look up at the painted tin ceilings, but a quick peek couldn’t possibly hurt anyone. It looked original. “I wonder what room the test is in?”
Sami knocked her hip into me and pointed. “Maybe if you weren’t so busy staring at the ceiling, you’d notice the sign.”
Leadership Academy
Fellowship Exam
Rm. 405, 4th Floor
10:00 am
“Let’s take the elevator. I don’t want to walk up four flights of stairs before a test,” Jovie said.
I tugged on her arm. “Oh, come on. It’ll get the blood flowing.”
She crossed her arms. “My blood is flowing very well, thank you very much. Let’s take the elevator.”
Sami pointed to the yellow caution tape blocking both elevator doors. “Guess we’re taking the stairs after all.”
Jovie rolled her eyes and stomped off. Sami and I laughed as we caught up to her.
“I wonder if any hot, rich guys are taking the test. Trevnor attracts major money,” Sami said on our way up.
I shook my head as we reached the fourth floor landing. “Seriously? We’re about to take a huge test that can set us on the road to success and you’re thinking about guys?”
Jovie reached the landing after us. Red blotches covered her face from the climb, but there was no way Sami or I were going to mention it to her. We didn’t have time for a makeup reapplication or another emotional breakdown. “When doesn’t she think about guys?”
Sami patted Jovie’s back. “Thank you, Jovie. At least one of my friends knows the real me.”
Jovie smacked me in the ass. “I also know that Starr has a checklist for her checklists in her back pocket.”
Our laughter echoed down the empty hallway, sounding voluminous and out of place.
“Where is everybody?” I whispered.
“Beats the hell out of me,” Sami said, her high heels clicking off the hard tile floor. “Maybe everybody heard we were coming and decided not to take the test. We are the obvious choices for the fellowship.”
Laughing, I peeked into room 405’s classroom window. “Looks like
we’re just late. Most of the seats are taken.”
“We can’t sit together?” Jovie whined.
I pushed the door open. “It doesn’t look that way. Good luck girls.”
An empty desk in the last row suited me just fine. I peeked out the window before sliding into my seat. The bright morning sun shimmered off Lake Ontario. It was a perfect day for a boat ride. Maybe after the test, we would go over to Jovie’s grandparents and take a spin on the lake. I would still have plenty of time to get a long run in before dark, and then I would have my date with Jay.
I slipped my test checklist from my back pocket. The crumpled, pink list made me smile. My friends knew me so well.
As I pulled each item out of my backpack, I checked it off.
Test Supplies
Photo IDX
PencilsX
Spare eraser X
CalculatorX
Extra paperX
Photo id in the upper right corner. Pencils in pencil holder. Spare eraser in upper left corner. Hmm, where should I put the calculator and extra paper? I moved the eraser over and placed the calculator next to it, but it seemed too crowded. I moved the eraser to the other corner, but I couldn’t decide what to do with the extra paper. If I put it under my desk, I’d have to reach for it and I didn’t want the test proctor to think I was cheating. If I left the paper in the middle of the desk, I could just put the test booklet over it and I’d have it close by if I needed it. I studied my desk layout to make sure everything I might need for the test was within reach. When satisfied, I glanced at the clock and realized my preparations took all of thirty seconds. With still another forty-five minutes before the exam, there was nothing left to do but wait.