To Be Her First

by Elicia Hyder

“Totally weird,” Kara said again. “Did you two get into a fight or something?”

  Journey shook her head. “I haven’t even talked to him since we left the game on Friday.”

  A smile crept across Kara’s face. “He’s trying to make you jealous.”

  Journey rolled her eyes. “No, he’s not.”

  Kara nodded. “He asked me at the party if you had a thing for Steven.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him the truth, and he wasn’t happy about it,” she said.

  “Whatever, Kara.”

  Kara laughed. “I’m not sure who’s more thick-skulled. You or David.” She leaned toward her. “Marcus asked about you too. You’re making quite a name for yourself.”

  Journey had no idea how or why. “What did he ask?”

  “He just wanted to know if you were there or if you were coming,” she answered.

  Journey sighed. “So strange.” She was desperate to talk about anything other than herself. “Are you going to see Justin again?”

  Kara looked across the lunchroom to where he was seated with the team. She sighed heavily. “I hope so.”

  David was waiting at the locker that Journey shared with Kara after first period. “Hey,” he said with a smile that was devoid of his chill from that morning.

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Hey.”

  “How was your weekend?” he asked.

  Journey spun the combination lock and didn’t look at him. “It was fine.”

  He leaned into her. “You mad at me?”

  She turned toward him. “You totally blew me off this morning.”

  He shook his head. “I didn’t blow you off. I was in the middle of a conversation.”

  She sighed and turned back toward her locker. Out of the corner of her eye, she could swear she saw him suppressing a smile.

  He bumped her shoulder. “Guess what I heard?”

  “What?”

  “Your boy’s in jail.”

  “Steven?”

  He nodded. “Beat up his old man over the weekend.”

  Her mouth fell open.

  David leaned against the row of lockers with an odd mix of satisfaction in his eyes. “Yeah. They say he’s done here. He won’t be back to school.”

  Her heart plummeted. Steven Drake had been her reason for getting up every morning for two years. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.” He knocked his knuckles against her locker door. “Hey, are you going to the Homecoming game on Friday?”

  She shrugged. She couldn’t think about anything other than Steven.

  “What about the dance after?” he asked.

  She grimaced. “Dances aren’t really my thing.”

  He nudged her in the ribs. “You’ve gotta come. It’s the biggest night of football season. I’ll even be wearing a suit after the game.”

  She pulled back and looked at him. “A suit?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. I’m on the Homecoming Court. I’m taking Abby.”

  Journey’s hand paused as she reached for her English book. “Nice.”

  “So, will you come?” he pressed.

  She slammed her locker door a little harder than she intended to. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  He smiled that stupid, handsome smile of his. “Cool. I’ll see you later.”

  She watched him till he disappeared down the hall. She felt nauseated, but she didn’t know why.

  6

  Dirty Dancing

  It took Steven’s mom five days to come up with the money to bond Steven out of jail. Part of him wished that she didn’t bother since she was the one who sent him there. Even though his mother didn’t press charges, the state of Georgia did because of his mother’s lie. He would have to go to court and pray she didn’t testify against him.

  On Friday, he went to his house to pack up his stuff. His father wasn’t home, and Steven didn’t ask where he was. He exchanged only necessary words with his mom. His grandmother in Dalton, Georgia offered for him to stay with her till he could figure out other living arrangements. She knew his mom was a drunk, and she knew that she had probably lied about what happened that night.

  It was dark by the time the Chevelle was loaded down with his clothes and tools. Before he left town, he was determined to see the pink-haired girl one more time. It was the night of Homecoming at West Emerson, and while he didn’t dare set foot into the stadium, he waited in his car near the gym till the game ended. When students began flooding toward the gym where the dance would be held, he got out and leaned against his car door. As the crowd began to thin, he wondered if maybe she didn’t come. When he was just about to leave, he saw her. In a sea of suits and dresses, she was the only girl wearing blue jeans.

  Her face brightened when her eyes landed on him, and for a moment, his mind went blank. He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest as she approached with the tall girl. “Hey, you,” he said.

  She couldn’t contain her giddy smile. “Hey. I heard you’ve had a shitty week.”

  He nodded and kicked the curb with his boot. “You could say that.”

  Journey pointed toward his face. “Nice shiner.”

  It had taken days for the swelling to go down, and a deep purple pool of blood lingered below his eye. “Yeah. The other guy looks worse.”

  She smiled.

  Her friend nudged her arm. “I’ll see you inside,” the girl said.

  Journey just nodded before looking back at him. She jerked her thumb toward the gym. “Are you going to the dance?”

  He laughed. “No. I don’t do dances, and I’m not a student anymore.”

  She scrunched up her nose. “That sucks.”

  He shrugged. “It’s not exactly a shock.”

  She chuckled. “So, if you’re not going to the dance, what are you doing here?”

  “I’m moving to Dalton for a while to stay with my grandmother. I just thought I’d drop by and tell you goodbye.”

  She pulled her head back in surprise. “Me? Really?”

  He laughed. “Yeah. I almost killed you, and then I beat up my best friend for you, so I think that qualifies us as friends.”

  The pink in her cheeks deepened. He liked it.

  He pushed himself off his door and tapped the hood of his car. “You wanna hop in and go for a smoke break before I head out?”

  She giggled and covered her mouth. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Get in.”

  She looked like she might squeal, but she didn’t. She bounded around the front of the Chevelle and slid into the passenger’s seat.

  He grinned over at her and started the engine. “You might wanna buckle up.” He waited for her to click the seat belt into place before he peeled his tires on the asphalt and sped away from the curb.

  · · ·

  Abby tugged on David’s arm in the direction of the gym, but his feet were cemented to the sidewalk. He watched Journey bounce around the front of Steven’s muscle car and get in the passenger’s seat. The tires smoked and screamed as Steven sped out of the parking lot.

  “Are you OK? What’s the matter?” Abby asked, waving her hand in front of his face to get his attention.

  David blinked his eyes and looked at her. Abby was the prettiest girl in Emerson, and her Homecoming Queen crown was sparkling in the moonlight. He had just thrown a perfect game against C.T. Burns High, and his team had won the biggest—and last—game of the season. A scout from Georgia Tech had introduced himself after the post-game interview with the Emerson Times News. Yet, he couldn’t get his feet to move across the sidewalk toward his victory celebration. What’s the matter with me?

  He shook his head to try and clear it. “I’m sorry.” He nodded toward the gym and offered her his arm again. “Shall we?”

  Everyone cheered when he entered the gym with Abby. The room was dark except for the light from the disco ball hanging from the ceiling and the rented lights attached to the DJ’s booth. Pop music reverberated around the room, but it faded away as a
spotlight landed on them.

  The DJ’s voice came over the speakers. “Everybody give it up for this year’s Homecoming Queen and West Emerson’s Football MVP, Abby Carter and David Britton!”

  The screams of teenage girls nearly pierced his eardrums as the traditional song, ‘I’ve Had The Time of My Life’ began to play. He let Abby lead him out to the dance floor as the whole school watched. The whole school except Journey Durant, anyway.

  He’d been sure he had succeeded in making her jealous that week. She had been positively glum when he told her he was escorting Abby to the dance. It took all week to convince her to come, and she even promised him a dance.

  Then, with one slam of a car door, the night David had been dreaming about for weeks was ruined.

  He slumped and rested his head on Abby’s shoulder. She must have found the gesture endearing because she rested her head against his as they rocked from foot-to-foot under the swirling lights of the disco ball.

  When the song ended, the rest of the students flooded the dance floor. David leaned toward Abby’s ear and pointed toward the back of the room. “Let’s go get a drink.”

  She nodded and gripped his hand as they walked toward the refreshment table. Kara was by the punchbowl talking to Justin. She locked gazes with him. “Have you seen Journey?” she shouted over the music.

  He pointed toward the door. “She was leaving with Steven Drake when we got here.”

  Kara’s eyes widened. “For real? Like, leaving in his car?”

  David gritted his teeth and nodded.

  Kara looked like she wanted to say something else, but she just sipped her drink and turned back toward Justin. Abby said something to him, but he only caught the last couple of words. He leaned close to her. “What?” he asked.

  She giggled and squeezed his hand. “You look really handsome in your suit!”

  He smiled. “Thank you.” Behind her, he saw Journey walk through the door. His heart quickened, and his stomach clenched. He tried hopelessly to focus on Abby. “You look amazing.”

  And then Abby kissed him.

  · · ·

  Journey stumbled as she walked toward her friends at the refreshment table. David was lip-locked with Abby Carter. With a blink she went from a Steven-Drake-induced schoolgirl daze to absolute shock, followed by a flash of unjustified anger. Just friends, my ass, she thought.

  Kara waved her arms to get her attention. “There you are!”

  David disconnected from Abby’s face, and the four of them turned in her direction. She was forced to continue her walk over rather than run from the room. “Yeah, sorry. I’m back.”

  “Where did you go?” Kara asked.

  “Steven drove us around the block so I could smoke a cigarette.” She poured herself a glass of punch. “He’s leaving for Dalton tonight to live with his grandmother.”

  David perked up. “Really?”

  “Is the inside of his car as nice as the outside?” Justin wanted to know.

  Journey nodded. “It’s really nice. Leather and chrome everything.”

  “He’s moving?” David asked again.

  Journey ignored him and looked at Abby. “Congratulations,” she said. “You look really pretty.”

  Abby smile was irritatingly sincere. “Thank you so much!”

  Journey wanted to hate her, but she couldn’t. Abby did look spectacular, and so did Dave. The pair of them looked like they belonged arm-in-arm on top of a cake. Journey grabbed Kara by the arm. “Come dance with me.”

  Kara scowled. “You don’t dance.”

  Journey tugged her away from the group. “I do tonight.”

  When they were on the dance floor, out of earshot from David, Journey looked up at her friend with wide eyes. “Did you just see David kissing Abby?”

  Kara moved with the music. “Yeah. But what do you care? You were off with Steven.”

  Journey didn’t exactly have an answer. She wasn’t sure why she cared so much. “He told me they were just friends. Why would he kiss her?”

  “I think she kissed him, technically,” Kara answered.

  “He sure wasn’t putting up a fight about it!”

  Kara laughed and grabbed Journey’s hands, swinging them with the beat. “What happened with Steven?”

  For a second, she forgot about David and remembered the thrill of being confined in such close quarters with the guy who had dominated her fantasy life for so many years. “It was short, but fun.”

  “Did he kiss you?”

  Journey laughed. “No.”

  “Ask you out?”

  “No.”

  Kara’s eyes widened, and she stopped dancing and put her hand on her hip. “Did he at least get your phone number?”

  Journey deflated. “No.” Maybe her drive with Steven Drake wasn’t as noteworthy as she thought. Her bottom lip poked out. “We just sort of drove around. He did say he would see me again sometime.”

  Kara scrunched her eyebrows. “But he’s moving, like two hours away.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “For how long?”

  Journey shook her head. “He didn’t say.”

  Kara tossed her hair back off her shoulders. “So, absolutely nothing happened with Steven.”

  Journey dropped her head. “I guess not.”

  Kara laughed and hugged her friend. “Oh, you poor thing.”

  The music faded to a slow song. Someone tapped her shoulder, and she knew it was David before she even turned around.

  Kara squeezed her hands. “I’m going to go find Justin.”

  When she was gone, Journey turned toward David trying hard to not appear as annoyed—and disappointed—as she felt.

  He held out his hand. “You promised me a dance.”

  Her face twisted into a frown, but she draped her arms around his neck, and he linked his fingers together behind her waist.

  They made a ridiculous pair on the crowded dance floor. He was in a suit; she was in jeans and a black Anthrax hoodie. David wasn’t offering any conversation, and she felt awkward as hell doing the high school shuffle to a song she didn’t know. “Good game tonight,” she finally said to break the silence.

  He nodded and took a step closer to her. “Did you have fun on your little joyride?” There was a distinct bite of bitterness in his voice.

  She smirked at him. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  Journey laughed and stopped dancing. “You may not realize it yet, but yes, you do.”

  His brow crumpled. “She kissed me.”

  Journey rolled her eyes. “It takes two sets of lips, Dave.”

  He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Will you please shut up and dance with me?”

  The way his face was twisted up in frustration, almost made her smile. Almost.

  7

  Rhinestones & Glitter

  Journey had been right about Abby being David’s girlfriend. They dated until the spring, even though David never was exactly sure how it had transpired. He hadn’t meant to kiss Abby at Homecoming, but it nevertheless sealed his fate with Journey. From that night on, she never gave him a second glance. They still talked almost every day, but she was as cool as ice around him.

  Prom was the only event at West Emerson that surpassed Homecoming and football season in hype. Two weeks before the big night, he decided to break things off with Abby. She had since found a date; David hadn’t. Marcus was ribbing him about it while they played a Mortal Kombat video game in David’s basement.

  “The most popular guy at school can’t find a date to the prom,” Marcus said laughing.

  David’s character kicked Marcus’s character in the face on the TV screen. “It’s not that I can’t find a date. I haven’t asked anybody yet.”

  Marcus sighed. “You know you really want to ask Journey. I don’t know what your problem is.”

  David shook his head. “She doesn’t want to go.”

 
“All girls want to go, man. They just don’t all say so,” Marcus argued.

  David wasn’t so sure. He’d brought up the subject with Journey a few times, and he never picked up any signs of hidden enthusiasm. “She’s different.”

  “So you’ve been telling me for a year now. Why aren’t you with her again?” Marcus asked.

  David looked over at him. “I thought you said she wasn’t my type?”

  Marcus sighed. “You just dumped your type, so I guess I was wrong. I would sell my right arm for a date with Abby. I don’t know what’s wrong with you.”

  “By all means, man, ask her out.”

  Marcus grimaced. “I don’t want your sloppy seconds.”

  David laughed. “Who are you taking to prom?”

  “Lauren Ashburn.”

  David paused the video game. “Rebecca’s sister? She’s in college!”

  Marcus smiled. “A senior at UG.”

  David shook his head in disbelief. “Sometimes I wonder if you struck some kind of deal with the devil.”

  “Maybe I did.” Marcus grinned, eyeing David sideways. “And maybe I’ll add Journey to my list since you’re apparently too chicken shit to ask her out.”

  David’s mood darkened. “I’ll kill you in your sleep.”

  Marcus laughed and threw his cell phone at David. “Call her. Right now.”

  “I’m not going to—“

  Marcus cut him off. “Pussy.”

  That was the biggest challenge word among high school boys. David couldn’t back down from it and maintain any of Marcus’s respect. “Fine,” he said, turning the phone on. He dialed Journey’s number and hit send.

  Marcus laid his controller down on the sofa with a grin and watched David nervously pick at a thread in his jeans as the phone rang in his ear.

  “Hello?” a man answered.

  David’s heart was pounding in his chest. “Uh, hi, Mr. Durant. Is Journey home?”

  “Is this David?” her father asked.

  “Yes, sir,” he answered.

  “Sure. Just a second.”

  David yanked the string on his jeans, ripping a hole in the seams. Marcus covered his mouth to keep from laughing.