To Be Her First

by Elicia Hyder

  Journey was coming down the sidewalk behind Marcus. “I’ll let you know,” he replied, still looking past his friend.

  Marcus turned and saw her, then looked at David and rolled his eyes. “You’re fucking smitten.”

  “Fuck you, Marcus.”

  Journey smiled politely at both of them when she approached. “Hi, Marcus.”

  “Hello again,” he said. “We were just talking about you.”

  David slapped him, hard, on the chest.

  Marcus winced but laughed.

  Journey pointed to a pencil drawing of a throwing star on the cover of the notebook Marcus was carrying. “Did you draw this?”

  Marcus looked down at the doodle and nodded. “Yeah, it’s the—”

  She cut him off. “It’s the Metallica ninja star.”

  David watched Marcus’s eyes double in size. “Yeah. It is.”

  She inspected his drawing more carefully. “It’s pretty good,” she said.

  David decided that Marcus couldn’t look more surprised if she had spoken to him in Mandarin. The three of them turned in the direction of the parking lot with David in the middle. Marcus looked over at her again. “You like Metallica?”

  Journey nodded. “They are my second favorite band.”

  “What’s your first?” he asked.

  “Alice in Chains,” she answered without hesitation.

  “No shit?” Marcus asked.

  She nodded. “No shit.” She looked over at him. “I think Layne Staley has the best voice in rock and roll.”

  “Better than James Hetfield?”

  “It’s a close race,” she answered.

  David didn’t miss the impressed grin on Marcus’s face. He caught Marcus’s eye and shrugged as if to say ‘I told you so’.

  When they parted ways at the bumper of David’s white truck, Marcus slapped the tailgate. “Let me know if you’re gonna make it to the races tonight, Dave. And Journey, you’re invited too, if you can make it.”

  Her brow crumpled with confusion. “Uh, OK. Thanks.”

  “I’ll call you later, Marcus,” Dave said and opened Journey’s door.

  “What was that about?” she asked as she climbed into the cab.

  He lingered at her door. “Oh, me and the guys sometimes go down to Shady Side on Tuesdays. They have mud races. It’s pretty fun.”

  “Oh,” she said.

  He looked past her. “Do you, uh, wanna go?”

  She turned her palms up. “Grounded, remember?”

  His shoulders deflated. “That’s right. I forgot.” I wonder if she’ll be ungrounded in time for the Homecoming game next week. There’s a dance after. Too bad I’ve already got a date. Abby will probably be named Homecoming Queen, and this late in the game I can’t cancel on her. I wonder if Journey knows I’m only taking Abby as a friend. Maybe if…

  Journey snapped her fingers in front of his face, and he realized he was staring out into space. She laughed. “Are we going to leave or camp out here for the night?”

  He chuckled and closed her door.

  Ten minutes later, they were parked in front of her two-story brick house. She studied the house for a minute before looking over at him. “Do you want to come in for a few minutes? Nobody’s home, but you can’t stay long because if they catch you here, they might kill us both.”

  He laughed and turned off the engine. “Sure.”

  He followed her inside the house and up the wooden staircase. The Durant family had expensive taste in furniture. There was a baby grand piano and grandfather clock in the room that over looked the driveway. The den had a big screen television with maroon leather couches. And the dining room had a fancy-looking dining table and a matching display cabinet filled with gold-rimmed dishes. Journey, in her flared blue jeans and army jacket, didn’t look like she belonged at all.

  He studied a vase that was four feet tall while she picked up the house phone. “What do your parents do?” he asked.

  She looked up. “Uh, they are antique dealers.”

  That explains a lot, he thought, looking around the room.

  She dialed numbers on the keypad and held a finger up to her lips. “Gotta call and check in with the warden. Be quiet.”

  He nodded and walked over and ran his hand across the couch to see if it was real leather. It was.

  “Hey, Dad,” she said into the phone. “I’m home…Yeah, it was a pretty good day. What time do you want me to have dinner ready?” She listened for a minute. “Ok. Yeah. Love you too.”

  She disconnected and walked into the kitchen toward the refrigerator. “You thirsty?” she asked. “I’ve got Coke, Diet Coke, tea—”

  “Coke,” he said.

  She handed him an ice cold can and took out a Diet Coke for herself. She looked at him and bit her lip. “Give me one sec.”

  He nodded and opened his can. “OK.”

  She took off in a jog down the hallway off the living room. On the refrigerator was a photo of a little girl playing in a water sprinkler. She looked like she was five years old. A moment later, Journey was at his side again. “Is this you?” he asked, tapping the photo.

  “Yeah,” she said, hooking her thumb in her pocket.

  “Look at your cute pig tails,” he said.

  She rolled her eyes. “Shut up. I’m going to the porch. You coming?”

  He nodded and followed her through a sliding glass door off the kitchen. The back deck was huge, and there was a picnic table that overlooked rolling hills off behind the house. “This is nice,” David said, walking to the railing and looking over.

  She stepped up on the table bench and sat down on the top. Her can popped open with a soft hiss. “Yeah. It’s not bad,” she said.

  He watched her flip the lid of a pack of cigarettes open and he laughed. “So, the grounding wasn’t enough to teach you a lesson, huh?”

  She lit the cigarette with a pink lighter. “It taught me to keep my big mouth shut.”

  He stepped over beside her. “Can I have one?”

  She looked up, shock evident in her eyes. “You smoke?”

  He nodded. “Don’t tell my coach.”

  She shook her head and handed him her pack. “You’re just full of surprises.”

  He sat down next to her and lit the cigarette. “Really?”

  She laughed. “I had you pegged for a Boy Scout.”

  He leaned toward her and blew out a puff of smoke into a perfect ring. “I am certainly not a Boy Scout.”

  She giggled. God, he loved it when she giggled.

  He nodded back toward the house. “So, what’s your life like here?” he asked. “No offense, but you don’t look quite like you fit in at this place.”

  She tilted her face up toward the sky and laughed. “That’s the understatement of the year!”

  “So, what are your parents like?” he asked.

  She sighed. “They’re really strict. They work a lot, and when they’re not at work, they’re at church.” She took a long drag on her cigarette, signaling the end of the conversation. “What about yours?” she asked.

  “My dad’s pretty tough, a retired Master Sergeant. He bugs me a lot about joining the Army like he did. Mom is cool though. They don’t hover much, which is nice,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll meet them sometime.”

  She blinked up with surprise. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. Why not?” He bumped her with his shoulder. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to create a permanent position for me in your social group.”

  Her eyes sparkled when she laughed. “You’re so fucking weird.”

  David leaned into her. “And now, you’re stuck with me forever.”

  · · ·

  Steven finished tightening a bolt on the engine of his team’s rebuilt Nova and slammed the hood shut. The Tuesday mud circuit was the only bright spot in his week. He didn’t have to work. He didn’t have to deal with his family. And he could drink as much beer as he wanted without having to worry about cops. Law enforcement i
n Georgia had an unwritten rule about giving Shady Side a pass.

  He wiped black grease from his hands onto his jeans and walked back to sit next to Kurt Nicholson on their bench on the sidelines. Kurt handed him a beer. The two had gone to school together since kindergarten. They weren’t exactly friends, but Kurt was the closest thing Steven had to one.

  Steven propped his boots up on a cooler and lifted the cold can up to his lips. The engines roared to life at the starting line causing the ground all around them to rumble. The crowd began to whoop and holler. There was a loud crack from a pistol, and the motors screamed as the cars sped off around the track.

  Kurt slapped him on the arm. “Let’s move. I can’t see turn three.”

  They got up and walked to the fence near the bleachers. The Nova quickly pushed to the front of the pack, and when they came around turn one again, mud slung up across the front of Steven’s jeans. Steven laughed and took another deep swig of beer.

  Off to the right of the track, Steven saw David Britton walking from the bathroom.

  Steven pushed off the fence and turned around. “Hey, Dave!” he called out.

  David looked up and walked over. “Hey, man. What’s up?”

  Steven leaned his elbows on the fence. “Your friend, the girl with the pink hair. What’s her name?”

  David blinked and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Journey Durant.”

  Kurt laughed. “That bitch you knocked out yesterday?”

  Anger flashed on David’s face.

  Steven rolled his eyes toward his friend. “Shut up, Kurt.” He looked back at Dave, who was still fuming. It was obvious he had a thing for the girl. “What’s her story?”

  “She’s a junior,” David said. “She’s cool.”

  “She dating anybody?”

  David shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Steven knew he was lying, but he kept it to himself. “OK. Thanks.”

  David walked back toward the bleachers to join the rest of the West Emerson football team, and Steven turned his eyes back to the race. His attention, however, was still stuck on the girl with the pink hair. She’d had his attention for two days.

  4

  Mr. Most Likely

  Wednesday afternoon, Journey didn’t protest David giving her a ride a home at all. He was making progress. When they pulled into her driveway, he heard her breath and saw a Cadillac sitting in the open garage. A woman he assumed was her mother was unloading groceries from the trunk.

  Journey groaned.

  David looked across the cab at her. “Are you going to be in trouble for me driving you home?”

  She sighed and wrenched her door open. “Probably. You’d better get out. She’s going to want to meet you.”

  The woman turned around when she heard the truck. Journey slammed her door. Her mom was in a black skirt suit with her blonde and gray hair tied back in a neat bun. She looked like she had just come from a funeral. Her eyes widened when David walked around to the front of his truck. He couldn’t exactly read the expression on her face; she looked caught somewhere between confused and angry.

  “Hi, Mom,” Journey said.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” She looked at David again. “Who’s your friend?”

  David stepped forward before Journey could answer and offered his hand to her mother. “Hi. I’m David Britton. I hope it’s all right that I offered Journey a ride home from school.”

  Her mother’s head snapped back with surprise as she shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, David. I’m Journey’s mom, Mrs. Durant. And, uh, no it’s fine. I’m sure she appreciates not having to ride the bus.” Mrs. Durant tilted her head to the side. “Britton? You’re not, by chance, Dennis and Gail’s son, are you?”

  David smiled. “I am.”

  Carol tugged on his sleeve. “I should’ve guessed. You look just like your father. I graduated from high school with your mother.” She motioned toward the house. “David, would you like to come inside for some sweet tea?”

  He nodded. “Sure, but only if you let me help with those groceries.”

  Behind Carol’s back, he flashed Journey a grin. She rolled her eyes.

  David had always had a way with parents. They loved him. When they reached the kitchen, Journey looked impressed as she settled in the chair across from him at the table. Journey’s mom poured three tall glasses of iced tea.

  “So, you’re on the football team?” Carol asked.

  He nodded and sipped his drink. “I’m the quarterback,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty decent team this year. Have you been to any games?”

  She shook her head. “No, but the season isn’t over yet, correct?”

  “No, ma’am. We have a game this Friday, and the homecoming game is next week. You should come, since you’re a West Emerson alumni like my mom. She’ll be there.”

  Carol’s cheeks flushed under her layers of makeup. “Well, I appreciate the personal invitation, David. I’ll talk with my husband about it.”

  David had a plan. He looked at Journey. “Are you coming to the game on Friday?”

  Her eyes widened. “I, uh…I don’t know. Mom, can I go?”

  Carol raised an eyebrow. “I’ll talk to your dad.”

  David grinned and focused his eyes on her mom. “I believe there will be some scouts from the University of Georgia there, so you’ll have to say a little prayer for me. I could use all of the support there that night that I can get.” It was a lie, but it worked.

  Carol’s face brightened. “That’s wonderful, David. I’ll add it the prayer list at church, if you want.”

  I’m going to hell, he thought.

  “That would be great. Thank you, Mrs. Durant,” he said.

  He caught Journey’s eye across the table and winked. She blushed and covered her face with her hand. She peeked at him through a crack in her fingers. She looked like a pixie.

  He stayed for another fifteen minutes before remembering he was already very late for football practice. He cringed when he looked at the clock. “I really have to get going. Coach is going to kill me for being so late.”

  Carol frowned. “I was just about to ask you to stay for dinner.”

  He stood up and smiled. “Can I have a raincheck?”

  She nodded. “Absolutely.”

  Journey pushed herself up from the table. “I’ll walk you out, Dave.”

  David shook Carol’s hand again. “It was wonderful to meet you. Thanks for the tea.”

  Carol was beaming. “I hope we see you again very soon, David.”

  “I hope so too.”

  Journey walked with him downstairs and out to the driveway. She was hugging her arms in the cold. “You are a parent wizard,” she said with a laugh.

  He spun around and walked backwards so he could smile at her. “You’ll be ungrounded by midnight, my dear.”

  She nodded. “Probably.”

  He put his hand on his door. “So, will you come to the game on Friday?”

  She scrunched up her nose. “Football’s not really my thing.”

  He tapped his chest. “But it’s my thing, and you should come be supportive.”

  Her eyes widened, and her smile was mocking. “Yeah, since UG scouts will be there, and my mom is putting you on the prayer list and all.” She laughed. “That was a nice touch, by the way.”

  He winked at her again. “You can thank me later.”

  She stretched her arms up over her head, flashing a bare strip of smooth skin across her stomach. “We’ll see.”

  He jerked his eyes back up to hers. “We’ll see about what?”

  She shoved his shoulder. “We’ll see about the game on Friday. Go to practice. You’re going to be late.”

  “Call me later?” he asked.

  She folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t have your number. And I don’t have a cell phone.”

  “Well, you have a house phone.” He reached into his truck and grabbed a pen out of the cubby in the console. He stepped over to he
r, pushed her sleeve up, and inked his number on the inside of her arm. Her skin was so smooth against his fingertips. “No excuses now.”

  She smiled. She was close enough to be kissed. “I’m also grounded from the phone.”

  He laughed and took a step back. “Well, put my number somewhere safe. Bye, Journ.”

  She turned back toward her front door, then smiled back over her shoulder. “Bye, Dave.”

  David thought his knees might buckle.

  · · ·

  Journey was sitting on the hood of her old BMW the next morning when Kara pulled into the space next to hers.

  Kara smiled as she got out. “You got your wheels back, I see.”

  Journey slid off her car. “Yeah, thanks to David Britton.”

  Kara’s head snapped back as she pulled her backpack out of the back seat. “David Britton?”

  “Yeah.” Journey slung her backpack over her shoulders. “It’s been a weird few days since you’ve been gone. How are you feeling?”

  “Better, thank God. I thought I was going to die. I lost five pounds this week because I was so sick,” she answered as the girls turned toward the school. “Is that a bruise on your head?”

  Journey laughed. “Yeah. Steven Drake opened a door in my face and knocked me down on Monday.”

  Kara stopped walking. “What?”

  “Yep. It almost knocked me out,” she said. “He helped me up off the ground and even stopped to apologize to me the next morning, so it was kinda worth it.”

  Kara laughed and did a double step to catch up with her friend. “Only you,” she said, shaking her head. “What’s the story with David?”

  Journey looked up at her. “He’s been even weirder than usual. He’s given me a ride home from school every day this week. He took me out for ice cream on Monday, and yesterday, he met my mom.”

  Kara stopped walking again. “Seriously?”

  Journey turned to face her. “I know, right? Mom is crazy about him. She didn’t shut up about him at dinner last night. She thinks we’re dating or something.”

  Kara’s eyes widened. “Are you dating?”