by Cody Wagner
I stood up and looked at Roze. Her face gave nothing away, and she bounced up and down as if warming up. Then, together, we slowly made our way out the door, about twenty feet behind everyone.
“Trales, Merrill. A minute, please.”
Roze and I stopped and turned to Adkins.
“Yes, Coach?” Roze said.
“To my office, please.”
We looked at each other and shrugged.
“Beat you there,” I said.
If anything would have snapped Roze out of a funk, it was competition. Without replying, she took off. We actually flew past Adkins on the way. It was probably rude, but I didn’t care.
Adkins didn’t say a word, though. He simply opened his office and gestured us in.
“Sit,” he said.
We each took a seat opposite his large wooden desk.
Adkins sat, put his elbows on a stack of papers, folded his hands, and put his chin on them.
“Is everything OK?” Roze said.
Adkins nodded. “Yes, you two can relax. I figured you might need an alternate workout today.”
I smiled. So, Adkins wasn’t completely oblivious.
Roze exhaled in relief.
“What are you gonna have us do?” I asked.
“You’re going to do a workout called ‘dust mop the gym.’”
That sounded way less fun than running, but I said, “OK.”
Adkins stood and led us to the gym. He grabbed a couple dust mops and some spray from a small janitor’s closet. After spraying the mop heads, he pointed at the wooden basketball court. “Get to it.”
Roze and I started pushing the mops when Adkins stopped us.
“Yes, Coach?” Roze said.
“Why did you do it, Merrill?”
“Excuse me, Coach?”
“Why did you betray your dorm?”
His eyes were full of disappointment. I wasn’t surprised. He seemed like a guy who valued loyalty. And it certainly looked like Roze had screwed over her peers. Adkins probably thought she did it because her best friends were in the younger dorm.
Roze gave Coach Adkins her most earnest look. “It’s bigger than The Pumpkin Bash. It was worth it. Trust me.”
Adkins cocked his head, clearly surprised. “Care to elaborate?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
I jumped in and added, “But if you knew, you’d understand.”
I proceeded to give him my most earnest look. Then, I tried to send him the truth using telepathy. I’m sure I looked like I was suffering from a stroke. Roze flinched, clearly wondering what the hell I was doing. Adkins raised an eyebrow and simply said, “OK.”
He took a step away then turned back. “If you ever want to talk about anything, you know where to find me.”
Roze and I looked at each other. Suddenly, she took off running with her dust mop, shouting, “I’m winning!”
That began our dust mop competition. For a brief half hour, we forgot about the awful day we’d had, and we flew around in circles, spreading more dust than we picked up. We even had a sword fight with the mop handles. It was as much fun as you can have cleaning a floor. Until the rest of the class filed in and the jocks spit on the wood.
* * * * *
Suckily enough, the taunting didn’t slow down over the next couple weeks. The older dorm just couldn’t let it go and continued heckling her between classes, during meals, and everywhere in between. Despite her protests that she was a “big girl,” I waited for Roze every day and walked her to class.
The following Monday morning, I tried to fall asleep against the wall near her dorm exit. It made me feel better, like I was squeezing in a power nap.
The problem was, Roze never emerged.
For a second, I thought maybe I’d actually nodded off long enough for her to escape. But I think she secretly wanted me with her, even if she was too proud to admit it. So, I waited there, staring at the door until the first bell rang. Jumping in surprise, I started hopping back and forth. I didn’t want to get in trouble for being late, especially if Roze was already in class. But something told me she was still in her room.
Suddenly, the door flew open. A sloppily-dressed guy, with half his shirt tucked into underwear poking from his jeans, bolted out.
“Was that the bell?” he asked.
I nodded.
He cursed and took off, tucking his shirt farther into his underwear.
I managed to grab the door before it closed. Steeling myself for the worst, I stepped inside.
Although it looked just like mine, the older dorm intimated the crap out of me. Even the smell seemed older and more mature. Not like the knock-off cologne smell of my dorm.
Trying not to think about the jocks living here, I turned into the stairwell, ran up, and emerged on the floor leading to Roze’s room.
I inched my way down the hall, and after pausing to make sure I was at the right room, I knocked on the door.
No answer.
I knocked again and said, “Roze?”
“Blaize?”
I put my ear to the door. “Roze! Are you OK?”
“Yes and no.”
“What?”
She didn’t answer.
I knocked again. “Roze, we’re late for class! What is going on?”
After an agonizing minute, she said, “Remember how they tore my clothes up?”
I balled my hands into fists. “Yeah?”
“Well, now they’re gone.”
I squinted at the door. “Huh?”
“My clothes are gone!”
“All of them!?”
“Everything.”
I kicked the door in frustration. This had gone on long enough. I was tired of the stupid pranks.
“Can you wear something of Tracey’s?” I shouted.
“She padlocked her stuff.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.”
I started seething. There was no one at Sanctuary I hated more than Tracey.
Suddenly, an idea came to me. “I’ll be right back.”
Roze knocked on her side of the door. “What? Where are you going?”
“Hang tight!”
I raced downstairs, burst outside, and took off sprinting. By the time I reached the library, a stitch in my side seared. But I kept running. I ran past the library, across the road lasso, and straight into the gymnasium. Miraculously, Coach Adkins sat at his desk.
“Trales?” Adkins stood up in surprise. “What’s wrong?”
I put my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. Finally, I managed to say, “It’s Roze.”
He came around the desk. “Is she OK?”
“The jocks took her clothes. She has nothing left.”
He frowned. “Where is she?”
“In her room.”
“Let’s go.” Adkins led me out of his office, but instead of heading outside, he went into the dressing room.
“What’s going on?”
Ignoring me, he went to a locker, opened it, and pulled out some musty-smelling clothes and shoes.
I immediately caught on. “For Roze?”
Adkins nodded, and together, we walked to Roze’s room.
“Are you still there?” I said, knocking on the door.
“No. I’m in Geometry. Naked. I just answered a question with my boobs.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Um, Coach Adkins is here.”
“What!?” Roze’s voice screeched.
I looked at Adkins, who couldn’t hide a tiny smile. “I didn’t hear you, Merrill,” he said. “I have clothes for you.”
“You didn’t have to come all this way, Coach. Blaize could have brought them.”
“I’d actually like to talk with you.”
After a pause, she said, “OK. Let me dress first. And I’m sorry for the boob comment.”
Adkins smiled again, set the clothes by the door, and turned around. I did the same and heard the door open and then shut. A couple minutes
later, Roze emerged, wearing a stained sweat shirt and track pants. Her shoes looked about three sizes too big.
Roze kept her held high, and avoiding the subject of her boobs, said, “What did you want to talk about, Coach?”
“Your situation,” he said.
I gestured at Roze’s giant shoes. “It’s getting out of hand.”
Adkins nodded. “I’m aware of that, Trales.”
“Sorry.”
“But I understand your frustration.” He put a hand on Roze’s shoulder. “I have some ideas that are already in the works. First, we’re moving you into another room. A single. I think it’s best for now.” He gestured at her clothes. “After this blows over, we’ll see about relocating you.”
She nodded at him. “Thank you.”
I thought that was going to be it, but Adkins smiled and continued, “Second, if you’ll come back to my office, we’ll order new clothes. Everything you need.”
Roze took a step back, surprised. “What?”
“It’s the least we can do. I’m sure Principal Wolcott will agree. Besides, I’m sure you don’t want your parents involved.”
“I don’t. But you really don’t have to do this.”
“It’s done, Merrill. End of story.”
I grinned. Sanctuary wasn’t perfect, but at least the staff really tried. I felt my affection for Adkins and the other teachers growing. Roze smiled, too.
Adkins put his hand on Roze’s shoulder again and led her down the hall. I followed, walking a few feet behind them. Just after exiting the building, he stopped. “There’s a third thing happening tomorrow. It should help you out.”
“What?” Roze said.
His eyes shined. “You’ll see.”
* * * * *
Cassie and I talked all evening about what Coach Adkins had up his sleeve. By the following morning, Cassie was so curious, she went with me to wait outside Roze’s dorm. As we stood in the frigid air, I imagined all kinds of scenarios. Most of them involved private escort vehicles: Segways and Mercedes and jets. At one point, I even envisioned Captain Kirk showing up with a transporter to take Roze from class to class. Nerd sweetness.
Despite my rampaging imagination, nothing in the universe could have prepared me for what I saw when Roze emerged.
Luke Solano accompanied her.
Luke Freaking Solano. The Luke Solano who’d dated Darrin all last year. The Luke Solano who’d made Jimmy’s life hell. The Luke Solano who’d been a huge jock. He’d graduated last spring, and I never thought I’d see him again. Talk about a brain shock.
Then, I noticed his getup and my surprise quintupled.
Luke Solano wore an army uniform: fatigues, boots, and everything in between. His shaggy hair had been shaved into a crew cut barely visible under his hat.
This was freaking weird. Luke had joined the military? When did that happen? And why was he here?
Roze came up to me, her eyes wide. “So, this is a thing.”
“Yeah,” I said. “What kind of thing?”
“Well, he’s escorting me around campus for a few days.”
I wanted to shout, “What the hell?” Instead, I muttered, “Um . . . OK.”
I turned to Cassie, who just studied Luke. Then, from out of nowhere, she said, “Makes sense.”
I wanted to ask how in the world this made sense, but I couldn’t right in front of Luke. Instead, I thought of what to say to him. Last year, he was such a jerk. Maybe the army had changed him. He was here for Roze, after all. I had no idea and finally said, “Hey.”
He nodded at me, his eyes pointed at the horizon. It was very soldier-like, except I could tell he wasn’t thrilled to be here. I didn’t know what to make of that, either.
“You joined the army?” Cassie asked.
He nodded again but remained quiet.
“He’s been this talkative all morning,” Roze said. “This is Adkins’s idea, and it’s going to happen. Let’s just deal and head to class.”
The four of us went to the Classroom Center in silence. I was baffled. Beyond baffled. I was that person on Jeopardy who doesn’t know any answers but pushes the little buzzer anyway and looks like an idiot. What was Adkins trying to accomplish? And how was he able to pull Luke from the army to come here?
We walked into the Classroom Center and up the stairs, my mind whirling the entire time. No matter what Cassie had said, I didn’t understand how Luke could help the situation. What was he going to do? Pull out his gun and threaten everyone until they were nice?
Brain still on autopilot, I barely registered entering the geometry classroom. Vaguely, I noticed Darrin and his friends by the window, laughing at something. Darrin had made a paper airplane and was aiming it at a dorky guy sitting a few rows down from me. Darrin went to throw it, when a girl standing next to him saw us and gasped.
Darrin turned and froze, mid-throw. Shock crossed his face. Not the normal kind of surprised shock, but the kind people exhibit when falling off a cliff.
Suddenly, a giant smile grew on his face. He bolted across the room and pulled Luke into a giant hug. “I didn’t know you were going to be here!” he said, grinning. “You look sexy in your uniform.”
I noticed Luke didn’t return the hug. His face remained stoic as he said, “I’m here for work.”
Darrin let go of him and stepped back. “Oh. OK, cool. What’s the assignment?”
As if reciting from a two-hundred-year-old book he’d memorized, Luke said, “I’ve been assigned to protect Roze Merrill from the attacks she’s been suffering at the hands of the older dorm.”
Darrin stared at him for a second then burst into laughter. “That’s hilarious! So why are you really here?” His eyes grew wide. “You came here to surprise me!”
He went in for another hug. Luke actually took a step back and stared off at the horizon.
Darrin finally registered Luke’s standoffish demeanor. “Wait. You’re serious?”
Luke didn’t respond.
Darrin fake-laughed. “The army gave you a mission to protect a teenager at school?”
Again, no response.
Darrin squinted at Luke, confused.
I had to side with Darrin on this one. It was weird.
“That’s stupid,” Darrin said.
Still no response.
“At least answer me,” Darrin said. He was starting to look hurt.
Luke simply said, “I have my orders.”
Darrin took a step toward him. “How long will you be here?”
“Until Ms. Merrill doesn’t need protection.”
“Will I see you while you’re here? It’s been forever.”
Luke still didn’t make eye contact with him. “Unknown.”
Roze and I looked at each other. Talk about tense. I couldn’t tell if Luke was simply being professional or deliberately avoiding Darrin.
Darrin shook his head. “Wait. You came back to Sanctuary, but you don’t know if you’re going to be able to see me?”
For the first time, Luke looked at Darrin. Darrin took it as a sign, reached out, and grabbed Luke’s hand.
Luke pulled away. “Sanctuary students aren’t supposed to show public affection while Zimmerman’s Zealots are still a threat.”
Darrin squinted at him. “Really?” He shook his head as if clearing out old spiders. “And how do you even know that?”
Once more, Luke stared off at nothing.
Before Darrin could say anything else, Ms. Meeks entered. She wasn’t a bit surprised to see Army Luke. In fact, she nodded at him as if military personnel were here all the time. I realized the entire staff must have known about this weirdness.
Shaking my head, I tried ignoring Luke and pulled out my notebook. It was hard focusing on the lesson, but I did my best, even holding up a piece of paper to block Luke from my peripheral vision so I wouldn’t get distracted.
About halfway through class, while Ms. Meeks was writing problems on the white board, one of Darrin’s friends turned to Roze.
He held up one of her shirts that Tracey had stolen. Grinning, he started pointed out holes he’d cut in it.
Suddenly, Luke cleared his throat. “I suggest you pay attention to the lesson, Mr. Daniels.”
Ms. Meeks stopped writing and turned, but she didn’t say a word.
Darrin’s friend froze.
Darrin looked at Luke, shocked.
Luke ignored him. “Give Ms. Merrill her shirt back.”
When Darrin’s friend didn’t respond, Luke said, “Now.”
Luke always had a commanding presence, and watching him here was downright intimidating. I could tell the jocks had no idea what to do. Here they were, being ordered around by one of their own. Last year, Luke had been more their leader than Darrin. The fact he and Darrin were boyfriends made the situation a million times more awkward.
Darrin’s eyes were hurt as he said, “What are you doing?”
The two of them engaged in a staring contest, when again, Luke said, “Now.”
Ms. Meeks said, “You heard the soldier.”
The entire class watched Darrin as if he were on the electric chair.
“Really?” Darrin said.
Luke ignored him and said, “Mr. Daniels?”
Darrin’s friend stared at Darrin for direction.
Finally, Darrin nodded.
The friend rolled his eyes and threw the shirt. It landed a few feet away from Roze.
She went to get it, when Luke said, “Mr. Daniels, you will hand Ms. Merrill her shirt.”
I pushed back in my chair as if avoiding a ten-car pileup.
By this time, Darrin’s entire group was unnerved. They shifted around, looking at Darrin for advice. For once, Darrin was at a loss for words. And so, his friend got up, yanked the shirt off the floor, and placed it on Roze’s desk.
“Damn,” I whispered.
Roze simply nodded.
And then Ms. Meeks gave Darrin’s friend detention and continued as if nothing had happened.
* * * * *
Thanks to Luke, the older dorm finally eased up on Roze over the following week. Any time one of the jocks did anything mean, Luke got involved. And he always won. It was especially crazy in gym, when Luke ran next to Roze and commanded anyone nearby to give her a wide berth.