by Elicia Hyder
“Hell no,” she answered.
“It sounds like it to me,” Kara said.
Journey rolled her eyes. “He’s not interested in me like that. We’re just friends.”
They continued up the sidewalk. “David’s hot. I don’t see why you don’t like him.”
Journey shrugged. “He’s not my type. And I’m certainly not his.” She smiled up at her. “Steven’s my type.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “Of course, only you would give up Mr. Most Likely to Succeed for Mr. Most Likely to Go to Jail.”
“I’m not giving up anybody. I’m not dating David.”
Suddenly, Journey winced as Kara dug her nails into Journey’s arm. “Oh my god. Can you get him to introduce me to Justin?”
Journey pried her hands away. “Geez, Kara. You don’t have to draw blood.”
“Will you ask him?”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m going to go the football game on Friday, so maybe you can meet him after,” she suggested.
Kara skidded to a stop for a third time.
Journey spun toward her. “We’re going to miss first period if you don’t keep walking.”
“But you’re going to the football game! I’ve tried to get you to go for two years and suddenly, you’re going. You do like David Britton!”
Journey rolled her eyes. “No, I don’t. I’m just going because I kinda owe him for getting me ungrounded. He asked, so I’m going.”
“He asked because he loves you.”
Journey started walking away. “Shut up, Kara.”
· · ·
It was already half-time when Steven pulled the Chevelle into the parking lot for the football game at school. He rarely ever went, but his friends were going and he assumed that Journey might be there. The moment he opened his car door, he immediately remembered why he hated football games. The screams of rowdy fans wafted through the air accompanied by the off-key racket of the marching band. Steven groaned and zipped up his coat.
The smell of burgers and popcorn was strong enough to make anyone’s stomach rumble, and Steven had worked through dinner to get off early. The marching band was in the middle of the field murdering ‘Crazy Train’ by Ozzy Osborne as he made his way toward the concessions building behind the home team end zone. His eyes scanned the crowd, but he didn’t see pink hair anywhere.
After ten minutes of waiting in line, he ordered a hamburger and a Coke. The band marched off the field, and the crowd cheered as the team ran out of the field house behind where he was standing. Steven carried his dinner back to the home grandstand and heard a familiar whistle above the roar of the crowd. He caught sight of Kurt waving his arm from the top of the bleachers.
“What are you doing here?” Kurt asked as he approached.
“Got done early,” Steven replied, sitting down. “Is it a good game?”
“See for yourself.” Kurt nodded toward the scoreboard as he took a swig from a metal flask. East Emerson was killing West Emerson by three touchdowns.
Steven cringed. “Well, that was a waste of a ticket.” He took a bite out of his burger.
The game didn’t get any better. WEHS lost to their biggest rival by seventeen points. Kurt was half-lit by the end of the fourth quarter, and he slapped Steven on the back. “We’re going to Matt’s kegger out on the hill tonight. You down?”
Steven had an early shift at the shop the next morning, but he also didn’t want to go home. He nodded. “I’ll stop by for a while.”
At the bottom of the bleachers, he saw Journey wearing a bright blue toboggan with long braided ear covers. How had he never noticed her before? He stood up. “I’ll catch up with you guys later,” he said to the group of guys behind him.
Kurt pushed himself up and wobbled a bit. “I’ll come with you. I’ve gotta take a leak.”
Steven didn’t wait for him. He navigated the stairs and the crowd as quickly as he could. He followed the blue hat all the way to the field house. Kurt slipped into the bathroom, and the girls disappeared around the side of the building. He followed them and heard giggling when he turned the corner at the back wall.
Both girls looked up with wide eyes, like they were caught in the middle of some terrible act. Journey had a cigarette dangling from her lips, and she was patting her pockets, obviously looking for a lighter. She froze when her eyes met his. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a Zippo, and struck up a flame. He took a step closer and offered it to her. She hesitated before leaning into the flame and lighting her cigarette.
“Thanks,” she said when she withdrew it from her lips.
He smiled. A bad girl.
“Can I bum one?” he asked. She offered him the pack of cigarettes, and his fingers brushed against hers as he accepted it. He didn’t miss the way she nervously bit her lower lip as she looked up at him. “Who are you hiding from back here?” he asked as he lit one for himself.
Journey shrugged. “Everyone.”
He nodded. “That’s probably smart. You can still get in trouble even though school’s out.”
“Know that first hand?” she asked with a grin.
He pointed the cigarette at her. “Yes.” He stuffed his free hand into his pocket. “You’re Journey, right?”
She blinked with surprise. “Yeah. This is my friend, Kara.”
The tall girl gave him a small wave as she puffed on her cigarette.
Steven looked back at Journey. “How’s your head?”
She rubbed the spot under her hat. “It’s better.”
He laughed. “I thought I had killed you.”
“I thought so too,” she agreed.
He looked down at his feet. His heart was racing in his chest. Girls didn’t usually have that effect on him. “Well, I’m glad you’re all right.”
Kara nudged her friend. “We’d better get back out there before we miss the team.”
Journey sucked in a deep drag and dropped the butt onto the grass. She ground it out with her boot. Her purple combat boot. He smiled.
She looked up at him. “Thanks for the light.”
He wanted to stop her from leaving, but he didn’t. The girls walked back around the side of the building. While he mentally blasted himself for not at least asking for her number, there was some commotion and the rise of a familiar, angry voice.
He dropped his cigarette and bolted around the corner. Kurt had Journey backed into the wall. “What the hell are you doing?” Steven yelled.
His drunk friend shoved her in the shoulder. “Can you believe this brat ran into me again?” He was shouting and drawing attention from the people who were waiting for the football team to leave.
Steven grabbed Kurt’s arm. “Leave her alone, man.”
Kurt jerked his arm free. “I’ll leave her alone when I’m ready to.” He stepped closer to Journey and pinned her against the wall with his arms.
Steven grabbed a handful of Kurt’s red hair and threw him backward onto the ground. Kurt was too stunned to move for a second. Steven looked back over his shoulder. “You girls get out of here.”
Journey and Kara got a few feet back toward the crowd before Kurt sprang in his direction with his fist flying. Steven dodged to the right, then swung hard toward Kurt’s face. He knocked him back a few steps, and blood poured from his nose. People started yelling, which he knew would attract the cops, but there was no time to bolt. Kurt lunged at him again, and Steven landed a left hook into his jaw. Kurt ducked and grabbed him around the waist, tackling him to the ground. Steven began punching him in the ribs till someone pulled Kurt off. It was a police officer.
A hand reached down to help him up. It was David Britton.
5
Bloody Knuckles
David said goodbye to his parents while Journey explained to the cops that Steven was saving her from his friend. She was shivering next to Kara by the girls’ bathroom when his parents left. As David walked toward them, he slipped off his letter jacket.
“Here,” he said, wrapping it around her
shoulders. “I’m not sure why you wore a skiing hat but not a coat.”
She shrugged as she slid her arms into his jacket. “It was a fashion choice.”
David tugged on the ends of the braids that dangled off her blue hat. “I like it.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Sorry you lost your game.”
He shook his head. “We always lose to East. Nobody was surprised.” He nodded over to where Kurt was in handcuffs. “I’m sorry I wasn’t around to keep that creep away from you.”
A smile crept across her pretty face. “I would say Steven handled it pretty well.”
He could tell her blushing grin was more than just grateful.
Principal Edith Cook stepped over toward them. “All right guys, there’s nothing more to see here. It’s time for you to head on home.”
Journey stepped forward to object. “But I wanted to tell Steven—”
The principal cut her off. “You can tell him on Monday, Miss Durant.”
David nodded toward the parking lot. “Come on. Maybe we can still catch Justin in the parking lot.” Kara’s eyes lit up, and David had an idea. “There’s a keg party tonight up on the hill. I’m pretty sure Justin’s going.” He looked at Kara. “Do you and Journey want to come?”
Kara clapped her hands together with glee. “Yes!”
Journey looked down at her watch. “No.”
David frowned and draped his arm around her neck as they walked out of the stadium. “Why not?”
She laughed. “I just got my car back. I don’t wanna lose it again.”
“Steven Drake might be there.” David regretted the words the second they left his lips. Using another guy was definitely the wrong way to bait a girl into attending a party.
She looked at her watch again, obviously turning the idea over in her mind.
Kara tugged on her arm. “Please, oh please!”
When they reached the senior’s lot, Journey finally shook her head. “No. I’m going home. I don’t want to, but I’ve got to play it safe for a while.”
David’s shoulders slumped, and she noticed. She looked up at him with questioning eyes. He leaned into her. “Are you sure?”
They stopped at the driver’s door of her car. “I’m sure.” She looked at Kara. “You should go. I’m sure it will be epic.”
Kara looked at David with a hopeful smile.
He nodded. “Yeah, you should come.”
Steven’s car was parked on the grass on the other side of the lot, and when Journey saw it, David watched her eyes sparkle again. She reached into her car and ripped open her backpack.
“What are you doing?” David asked.
She pulled out a notebook and a pen. “I’m going to leave him a note.”
And probably your phone number, David thought. As Journey scribbled a note, David looked at Kara. “Do you want to ride with me or follow me?” David didn’t even want to go to the party.
“I’ll follow you,” she answered as Journey jogged across the parking lot to Steven’s muscle car.
When she returned, Kara hugged Journey goodbye before getting into her car. Journey walked back over and started to slip off David’s jacket. He held up his hand to stop her. “Just wear it. I’ll get it back later.”
“Are you sure? You don’t need it if you’re going out?”
He shook his head. “I’ll be fine.”
“Thanks,” she said, letting the weight of the jacket rest on her shoulders again.
She stood there for a long time, and David’s heart began to thump louder in his chest. Do I hug her? Do I beg her to come with us? Do I pull her in by those ridiculous strings on her hat and kiss her?
Instead, he stuck out his hand like he was closing a business deal.
She cocked her head to the side and chuckled before shaking his hand. “I’ll see you Monday, Dave.”
“Monday,” he repeated.
When she pulled out of the lot, he dropped his face back toward the sky and sighed. I’m an idiot.
Kara was laughing at him through her car window when he opened his eyes again. She pointed a long fingernail at him. “Smooth moves, Casanova.”
He groaned and threw his football bag into the truck.
· · ·
The only reason Steven didn’t go to jail was because Journey Durant stuck up for him. She told the officer that he was protecting her from Kurt. By the time he was finished with the cops, Journey and her friends had gone. He walked to the Chevelle and found a note under the wiper on his windshield. He pulled it out and read it in the light from the street lamp.
Sorry I couldn’t stay longer. Thanks for saving me tonight. - Journey
He smiled and got in his car. He folded the note and stuck it in the glove box before pulling out of the lot.
It was almost eleven o’clock, and even though he didn’t want to go home, he turned his car in that direction. When he got there, he immediately regretted the decision. His father’s car was in the driveway and every light in the house was on. Even with the doors of his car still closed, he could hear raised voices inside. If it hadn’t been for the sound of his mother crying, he would’ve never gone in the house.
The trailer looked like it had been burglarized when he walked in. The coffee table was turned on its side, the television screen was busted, and a beer bottle had been shattered against the wall. His mother was sitting on the kitchen floor, holding a bloody paper towel to her lip.
“Where is he?” Steven demanded.
“Steven, don’t,” she pleaded.
He let out a huff. “I’ve had enough of this shit.” He picked up the house phone and dialed the police.
She clambered to her feet. “No, you can’t!” she cried, trying to pull the phone out of his hands.
Heavy footsteps fell in the hallway from the bedroom. A moment later, his dad was standing before him, his eyes red with anger and whiskey. “You calling the cops, boy?” he yelled in Steven’s face.
Steven dropped the phone and let it dangle by the cord. “Did you put your filthy hands on my mother again, you son of a bitch?” Steven shouted back.
The backside of Ricky’s hand landed square on Steven’s jaw, and that was it. Nineteen years of resentment was unleashed, fueled by the rage from the brawl with Kurt. Steven’s right hook split open the skin beneath Ricky’s eye, and blood streamed down his cheek. Stunned, Ricky wiped the blood on the back of is hand and looked at it. Then, like a bull let out of a pen, he charged his son and slammed him into the living room wall. A framed picture of Jesus crashed to the floor and shattered.
Steven pushed his dad off him with all of his strength, but Ricky outweighed him by more than fifty pounds. When he ducked to ram Steven into the wall again, his forehead slammed against Steven’s eye socket. Steven brought a knee up and jammed it between his dad’s legs. Ricky buckled and fell to his knees. Steven landed a right cross against Ricky’s jaw that knocked him backward.
Dee was screaming as Steven jumped on top of his dad and pounded him in the face again. A moment later, two cops stormed in and pulled him off.
Then, for the second time in one night, Steven was put into handcuffs.
His drunk father pushed himself up onto his knees. His face was so bloody it made Steven smile. Ricky spat blood onto the floor and pointed at Steven. “He came at me!”
Steven turned his bruised cheek in Ricky’s direction. “Only after you hit me!”
The cop pressed his hand against Steven’s chest. “Have a seat, or I’ll put you in my patrol car.”
Obediently, Steven slumped onto the carpet.
The cop squatted next to him. “What happened here?” he asked.
Steven spoke up. “Look at my mom’s face! The drunk bastard was wailing on her again!”
“You hit her!” Ricky shouted.
Stunned, Steven’s head snapped up. “I wasn’t even here! I called the fucking police!”
“You started this, you little shit!” his father screamed.
The cop looked at Dee. “Ma’am, can you tell me who hit you?”
Dee looked from her son to her ex-husband, and then back at Steven again. Her eyes were glassy and bloodshot. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Before it even happened, Steven knew what was coming. No one had Dee’s loyalty like Ricky did.
With a shaky hand, she pointed a bony finger at her son.
· · ·
On Monday morning in the cafeteria, Journey got another earful from Kara about the party she had skipped. She had spent all night with Justin and his friends on the hill. He even asked her to dance in the bed of his truck while Marcus Garrett blasted music from his new sound system. Apparently, David hadn’t stayed long, and Steven never showed up at all. It didn’t sound like Journey had missed out on much, despite Kara’s inability to shut up about it.
While Kara blabbed on and on, Journey watched the door for Steven Drake.
David came in, walking with Abby Carter. Abby had waist-length blonde hair, crystal blue eyes, and a figure that made boys trip over their own feet when she walked by. She was inarguably the most beautiful girl at West Emerson, and unlike Rebecca Ashburn, she was smart and infinitely kind. In that moment, however, Journey hated her. David didn’t so much as glance in her direction as they passed by.
Kara noticed. “That was weird.”
Journey thought so too. She had his letter jacket spread out over her legs, so she stood up and draped it over her arm. She crossed the cafeteria and stopped at the football table where David was laughing at something Abby had said. Still, he didn’t notice her. Finally, she cleared her throat to get his attention.
He looked over at her and smiled. For the first time in a while, she felt completely out of place standing in front of him. She held up his jacket. “Here. I thought you’d like this back.”
“Oh yeah.” He reached out to take it from her. “Thanks.”
She shifted awkwardly on her feet before turning back around toward where Kara was watching. David didn’t stop her. With wide eyes, she gave Kara a small shrug as she walked back over.