Candid (True Images Series)

by Michelle Pennington

“She makes her own choices, and nothing will ever give you the right to treat her or any other girl that way.”

  At this point, I managed to persuade him to leave with me, for which I gave a relieved sigh. I kept my own emotions in check to keep him walking back to our theater.

  “Thanks guys. I’m glad you weren’t far away. That was scary.” I confessed when we were almost there.

  Lee stopped abruptly and turned me around to face him. He seemed to have calmed down somewhat. “Marisol said you took a picture of them making out. What were you thinking?”

  “I don’t know. I just wanted have it to use as leverage against her.”

  “Well, didn’t you think that was asking for trouble? And now you don’t even have the picture.”

  “Yes I do.”

  “What do you mean? You deleted it.”

  “Yeah, but it can still be retrieved off the card. Luckily not many people know that.”

  “Holy crap. Don’t tell me you’re going to use it.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. It depends.”

  “I have a feeling that protecting you is going to become a full time job.”

  “Are you sure you want to take it on?”

  “Well, since you seem determined to get into trouble, I guess I’d better stick around to pull you back out of it. Next time though, could you make enemies with somebody a little closer to my weight class?”

  I laughed a little and then started crying from shock. Luckily, we were in a pretty secluded hallway still, so no one was around to see my emotions crumble but Will and Marisol.

  Lee pulled me into his arms and told them to go ahead without us. Then he rubbed my back and held me until I got myself under control again. He felt so strong and safe, that I should have felt better. For some strange reason though, it just made me cry harder. It was a weird reaction, but Lee didn’t question it.

  When I raised my head at last and tried to dry my cheeks with my hands, Lee helped and then kissed my forehead. “You can pretend I didn’t do that if you want.”

  “No, I needed that. Thank you, Lee, for being there. I’m sorry I keep dragging you into all this stuff. I bet you’re starting to regret you ever saw me.”

  “Never. Though I wouldn’t mind a little less drama now and then.”

  I gave a watery chuckle. “Me too.”

  “What do you say we go watch that movie now?”

  A few minutes later, we were sitting side by side in a dark theater. As Lee took hold of my hand, sheltering it in the strength of his own, I willed away the sensation that my mom was somewhere behind us, watching our every move. I knew it was just my guilty conscience, and right then, I truly needed the comfort Lee was so willing to give.

  Chapter 12

  “I cannot believe you talked me into this,” my mom said as we headed to the Franklin’s house the next evening.

  “Why not? You love fried chicken.”

  “If I wanted fried chicken, I could go buy myself a bucket of it without having to pretend I’m having fun at some strangers’ house.”

  “Lee isn’t a stranger.”

  “No, he certainly isn’t. I’ve lost track of how many times he’s come over to study.”

  “What? We do study, right there in front of you. What in the world is wrong with that?”

  “Nothing, except he can’t keep his eyes on his books for long. Every time he thinks I’m not looking, he makes goo goo eyes at you.”

  “Really mom? Goo goo eyes?”

  “Do you have a better word for it? If you guys are trying to keep it a secret that you like each other, you’re failing miserably.”

  “Then why haven’t I been grounded yet?”

  She sighed, “Because I realize that feelings aren’t something you have a whole lot of control over – especially when you’re seventeen. As long as you two aren’t dating behind my back, which I don’t think you are, I’ll be cool with it. I’d rather he hung out with you at our house than somewhere I can’t keep an eye on you.”

  “So we can date as long as it’s not behind your back?”

  “I did not say that.”

  “It sounded like it.”

  “Okay, well let me rephrase then. You can hang out as friends but no dating and nothing that goes with it.”

  “Yeah mom, I know. I’m just teasing you. We would never date unless you were cool with it.” I didn’t like the expression that came over my mom’s face then.

  “So that’s what this is all about. You’re hoping that if I meet his parents, I’ll let you date him? Well, let me tell you, his parents have nothing to do with it.”

  I sighed. She would be on her guard now. Why hadn’t I been more careful? “They should have something to do with it. They’ve raised him right, Mom. He has all the morals and responsibility even you could want in a guy.”

  “Do I need to remind you that Bruce’s dad was and is the pastor of the biggest church in the town I grew up in? He gave some pretty fiery sermons about fornication, but it didn’t help his son when it came right down to it.”

  “Mom, don’t you think Lee has had opportunities to give in to temptation? I mean, he’s eighteen and has an insane amount of girls chasing after him. It had to be the same way in his old school. But he never has. Surely that counts for something?”

  “And you just take his word for it that he hasn’t. Did you ever think that he might just be saying what you want to hear?”

  “He’s never been anything but honest with me – sometimes too honest.”

  “Well, I hope so. But don’t forget that I’ve worked in a high school for fifteen years. I know what goes on.”

  “Sometimes I wish you had chosen another career. I mean, you’re so prejudiced against teenaged guys that you won’t give any of them a chance.”

  “And at the end of the day, you’ll make it through high school without any of the scars that other, less fortunate girls will have to deal with. So even if I have to be prejudiced and uptight to protect you, you’ll thank me someday. Um…. wow.”

  I looked up to see that we were pulling into a gated community with crazy big houses. “Oh my gosh!” I said quietly as we drove around the quiet streets looking for the right house.

  When we found it, it was at the end of a cul-de-sac. It wasn’t a mansion or anything, but it looked like one compared to our house. It was a sprawling, two story brick house, with perfectly manicured landscaping, and a three car garage. As we parked and crossed the walkway, we could peek into the house through towering windows on either side of the front door. We could see a crystal chandelier suspended from a soaring ceiling and furnishings that hadn’t come cheap.

  I rang the doorbell and almost laughed when my mom and I took a deep, nervous breath at the same time.

  “What does his dad do?”

  “I don’t have a clue,” I answered

  Seconds later, a pretty woman who looked to be in her forty’s opened the door. “Well, there you are. Come on in, you sweet things. My, how pretty you both are. Anyone would think you were sisters.”

  Two things were immediately clear. One, that Mrs. Franklin was very friendly, and two, that she was very southern. There was a musical lilt and a honeyed sweetness to her words that was unmistakable.

  “Thank you for having us over, Mrs. Franklin,” my mom said, sounding more stilted than usual.

  “Oh, don’t start that. Call me Vi. My name is Viola, but it’s such a mouthful. I inherited it from my great-grandmother. Let me take your jackets and then we’ll join the men in the kitchen. I left them minding the gravy so we’d better go save them.”

  Mrs. Franklin swept us off in a perfumed whirlwind to an enormous kitchen that I could tell made my mom green with envy. My eyes didn’t get much further than the food that was laid out on the counter top.

  Not only was there a platter of beautifully golden fried chicken, but mashed potatoes, biscuits, buttered corn, and creamed spinach. Lee was carefully pouring the gravy into a gravy boat, but he looked up wi
th a welcoming smile that lit me up inside.

  He was wearing a dark blue polo shirt that looked really casual next to his dad’s collared shirt and tie, but I personally thought that I’d never seen him look so nice. “Hey,” he murmured quietly to me across the counter, before holding out his hand to my mom.

  “I’m glad you could come, Ms. Whitfield,” he said as he shook her hand.

  My mom’s eyes narrowed a little with suspicion as she shook his hand, but Mrs. Franklin soon swept her across the room to be introduced to her husband, Grant. I watched my mom chatting with him, noticing that he was every bit as tall as Lee though built on a more slender scale. His hair was starting to turn grey at the temples, and he looked a little intimidating.

  “What was that look she gave me for?” Lee asked, moving around the counter to stand in front of me.

  “Oh, well, she’s figured out what’s behind all this, so don’t lay it on too thick.”

  “Lay what on too thick?”

  “You know, the manners stuff.”

  “Oh that. Actually, that‘s for my mom. If I don’t use my company manners, she’ll take after me with a broom handle.” I laughed and he continued, “Yeah. Ha ha ha. I wish I was kidding.”

  Mrs. Franklin came over to us then. “Lee, why don’t you start moving this all into the dining room? Sienna, would you mind helping? I’d like to get us all served before it gets cold.”

  “I don’t mind at all,” I said. I took some of the serving dishes and followed Lee into the dining room.

  When everything was ready, Lee held out a chair for me and then sat beside me. I saw that Mr. Franklin held a chair out for my mom and his wife before he sat down. It was beginning to make sense why Lee was the way he was.

  When we were all seated around the table, Mr. Franklin said grace and we passed the food around. To say it was delicious was like saying the Sahara was hot and dry. It didn’t begin to cover it. Lee’s mom kept encouraging us to eat more until I worried that I wouldn’t be able to get up from the table. Even when I was as full as I could stand, I still looked longingly at the rest of the food on my plate.

  “That was an incredible dinner, Mrs. Frank…I mean, Vi,“ my mom said.

  “That’s so kind of you. I don’t cook this way often. Grant says it isn’t good for us, but I do love my momma’s recipes.”

  “Well, I can see why. I haven’t had food like this since I lived in Georgia.”

  “You’re from Georgia!” Mrs. Franklin asked, practically cooing. “Why, so am I. Why don’t I hear an accent in your lovely voice?”

  “Well, you see, my parents were transplants there from California, so I guess I patterned my speech after them. But listening to you talk sure takes me back to my childhood.”

  Lee’s mom looked a little conscious as she said, “Yes, I’ve never lost my accent. I have to admit that I don’t really want to anyway. It’s part of my heritage you know. How did your parents end up in Georgia, dear?”

  “My father was a mechanical engineer and he designed equipment for factories. He worked for a company that opened a new plant there and he was transferred. We lived there while I was in school, but my parents have moved back to California again.”

  “And how did you get to Oklahoma?”

  “Well, it’s kind of a long story, but I came out here to live with a cousin of mine while I was in college. You see, I had Sienna and my cousin watched her with her own kids while I was in class. I was a single mom, and I needed all the help I could get. When I finished school, I took the first job that was offered and I’ve been here ever since.”

  “So, I guess your parents and Sienna’s father didn’t help you much?”

  “Vi!” Lee’s dad said, gently reprimanding her.

  “I’m sorry to be so nosy. I just get so interested in people, you know?”

  “It’s fine,” my mom said. “It was all a long time ago and a lot of water’s flowed under the bridge since then. The truth is that Sienna’s dad wouldn’t acknowledge her and my parents wanted me to give her up for adoption. Maybe I should have, but once I saw her perfect little face, I couldn’t. She was mine and I was going to keep her - no matter what.”

  “You poor dear. Grant sees so much of that in his practice. You see, he’s an OB/GYN and he’s always telling me about how many girls get pregnant while they’re still in high school. It just about scares you to death as a mother, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, especially when you’ve gone through it yourself.”

  “Grant is so uptight over it that I think he’s scarred poor Lee here for life with all the lectures and anatomy books he’s made him suffer through. I’ll be lucky if I ever get any grandchildren.”

  I watched, fascinated, as Lee’s ears turned bright red while he scowled down at his plate. Well, if this conversation didn’t convince my mom that I could be trusted with Lee, nothing would.

  Later that evening, when we were leaving, all of the Franklins walked us to the door to say goodnight. Lee helped me put on my jacket and I remembered the photos that I’d stashed in my pocket there. I handed them to him in what I hoped was subtle way and said, “I hope you like them.”

  “I’m sure I will. So, how do you think it went?”

  “Great. Your dad seems nice – stern maybe- but nice. And your mom is really sweet.”

  “Yeah, except when she’s humiliating me.”

  “But maybe it will be worth it if my mom decides she can trust you. Though it is kind of weird that you probably know more about female anatomy than I do,” I teased him.

  He looked kind of sick. “Let’s change the subject, huh?”

  “Sure, except, I’m leaving anyway.”

  “Yeah. So, I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

  “Yeah. Did you see my blog?”

  Lee rolled his eyes and said, “Briefly. I couldn’t stand to look at much of it. Cheesy!”

  “It was not! I’ve gotten a ton of positive comments.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you have. What are you doing next?”

  “The girls’ volleyball team.”

  “Now I wouldn’t mind seeing those pictures,” he said.

  I rolled my eyes and left without saying good night. He was chuckling as he shut the door behind me. I hurried to meet my mom where she was waiting near the driveway.

  “Well, that was interesting,” she said.

  “In a good way though, right?”

  “I think so. Sienna, I have to admit that I kind of thought Lee was putting on an act this whole time. After tonight, I get why he’s turned out the way he has. It kind of makes me realize how a parent rubs off on their kid – sometimes in ways they don’t intend.

  *****

  October came around quicker than I had imagined it could. Homecoming was next week and the campaigning for Homecoming Queen had been hot and furious for days now. As any good general, I was doing my best to strategically organize my troops without letting the enemy know our plans. Everything was in place, if I could just keep it quiet for a few more days.

  At Haskins High, every class voted for a girl from their class to represent them in the Homecoming court, except for the senior class. Only a senior could be Homecoming Queen, and the whole school voted for the queen. The senior attendant was whoever came in second in the voting. The candidates could campaign however they wanted from the pep-rally the week before homecoming to the pep-rally the next week when the winners were announced.

  I’d had a hard time convincing Katie to let me nominate her. I could see in her eyes that she wanted it, but had never dared hope it could happen. She still didn’t think it would, but I was going to amaze her. My plan was nearly flawless.

  The photos that I had posted of the girls’ volleyball team had actually been taken at a charity car wash they’d had last weekend. There was a lot to be said for a group of girls who went and washed cars even though it was starting to get cold, and then gave all the money to a local family who had just lost their home in a fire. I’d taken some be
autiful candid shots of them washing cars, and the local paper had picked up the story and some of my photos. Because of the awesome publicity, the whole team had gotten a lot of attention through the week.

  Cecilia Maycomb, their tall, leggy captain had become an overnight sensation. Luckily for my plans, she had a healthy dislike for Jordan over some boy drama from a few years ago. It didn’t take much to get her on board with our plan. Marisol had helped her change her plain, sporty look to a more girly one and she was an instant hit. We nominated her for Homecoming Queen too so that she could be our decoy.

  As the candidates were announced on Friday, I waited breathlessly to see how Jordan would react. Evan Plumber, the student body president, read off the names one at a time, allowing time for cheers and applause. Parker was good friends with Evan, and had gotten him to arrange the names in a certain order.

  After the first three candidates, Evan spoke clearly into the microphone and said, “Jordan Rubio.”

  There was a decent cheer from the student body as Jordan bounced up from the bleachers and walked over to stand with the other candidates at half-court with what I can only describe as a perky strut.

  I watched as her eyes swept her competition, smiling at them in a friendly way, but I could see the contempt that lingered on her face when her smile faded.

  As the cheering died down, Evan announced the next candidate. “Cecilia Maycomb.”

  I nearly laughed out loud when Jordan’s mouth fell slightly open at the roaring cheer that erupted in the gym. As Cecilia walked to half-court with the easy grace of an athlete, Jordan didn’t even bother to smile. She looked like she was eating something really bitter and her eyes sparked with the fire of battle.

  I watched this all playing out with satisfaction. Perfect. When Evan announced, “Katie Edwards,” there was some great applause and cheering for her too, but most importantly, Jordan never paid much attention. She’d decided that Cecilia was her biggest competition and no one else mattered.

  “Now what?” Lee asked.

  We were sitting together in the bleachers, probably closer than we should have been. I didn’t have to speak loud for him to hear me, even in the middle of the noisy crowd. “Now we make sure Cecilia keeps all of Jordan’s attention while we work behind the scenes to get votes for Katie. Have you got the basketball team on board?”