“You did and you were shameless,” I said.
“The ‘shameless’ flirting did get my phone back. Maybe he felt sorry for us.”
“Maybe he felt sorry for you. He didn’t even speak to me except to ask about his mom.”
“But Chase…” she said. “Well, I guess he didn’t. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, you called him and you can keep him.”
“You really don’t like him?”
I shoved in the last bite of pizza. “Chase is cute.” Did she really think I’d go after Chase when she was that determined?
“I bet every girl in English class would love to date Chase and you’ve got to be different. Pade will be so happy,” she said, with a hearty laugh.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m glad we finally decided Chase isn’t some creep or pervert.”
“Chase is great and definitely not a creep. Do you think he might be here tonight? We could ask him about the phone.”
“I don’t know. His mom seems strict.”
Bailey grabbed her phone. “If anyone is creepy, it’s that woman.”
“Do you think she’ll get creepier when she realizes your phone disappeared from her desk?”
“Let’s not think about it now,” she said. “Let’s get you some skates.”
I sat on an empty bench and tightened the laces of my rented skates, music hammering against the smooth wood beneath my legs. Bailey sat next to me as she put on the pair of inline skates she brought, an expensive gift from the father who never called. The skates were an orange and white trail of flames with blue laces, marked by a name known mainly to those with parents who could afford designer skates. Only Pade’s would gain more respect, black like a star-filled sky with laces that glowed on the floor.
Because of the amount of people, finding a comfortable groove became a struggle to weave in and out of the crowd. Since Bailey could out-skate me any day, I found myself alone after only a couple of rounds.
Rachelle fell in beside me, her words sketching a guy she’d just met. “…and he’s sixteen with a Mustang. What do you think?”
“Sounds cool.” It was a safe answer at least.
Her lips parted and curved at the edges, revealing a smile Bailey seemed to envy. A hundred tight braids fell around Rachelle’s face, fake I knew, but beautiful against her dark skin. “He’s pretty cool, even said he’d take me to the movies. My mom and dad might let me go next month after I turn sixteen. I told Angel, but she wasn’t impressed.”
Laughing, I nearly tripped and reached for the wall. “You know how Angel is.”
Rachelle laughed. “I’m no stranger to her wannabe fame, but she is my best friend. She could’ve listened and been happy for me.”
“Sometimes people don’t think, even when they’re our best friends,” I said, as if I’d ever stayed somewhere long enough to have a real best friend.
“Hey,” Angel said, appearing at Rachelle’s other side. “Limbo is next.” Before Rachelle could open her mouth, Angel launched into a story about a guy with a Corvette.
I slowed as the next opening came into sight. “I think I’ll find Bailey.”
Angel rolled her eyes. “She’s over by the lockers, talking to Skip.”
Bailey’s arms stretched across the back of a bench between two rows of lockers, her fingers only inches from Skip’s ball cap. He laughed and I almost turned away, but she looked up and waved. “Jes, you’ve got to hear what Skip said about Tosh.”
“What about me?” Tosh asked, as she and Lisa rounded the lockers. “If you can tell the Lamester, you can tell me.” Her voice was filled with spite as she stopped, facing me. “I can’t believe your parents let you out tonight. Now we’ll all die of boredom.” She drew out ‘die’ and her laugh tinkled like a porch lined by wind chimes might, each in a different key. With a smile, Tosh reached for my arm.
I stepped back and looked around, each set of eyes burning like the tears stinging the corners of mine. No, I’d be stronger this time.
Bailey yawned and stretched her arms further. “Did I say Tosh? I meant Mia.”
The lines on Tosh’s face tightened as she moved closer to the bench, but Bailey didn’t move. “What about that Philippine bitch?”
Skip frowned. “How did Mia get on your shit list?”
Tosh opened her mouth as Lisa leaned forward, whispering in her ear. The stern look faded, replaced by a smile and the tinkle of laughter. Tosh swirled as Pade and Terrance came around the lockers.
Pade looked from Tosh to Bailey, and his sister shrugged. Then his eyes stopped on me. “Why is everybody so quiet?”
“Pade,” Tosh said, moving to his side. “The limbo contest is about to start. Want to check it out?”
Bailey leaned forward, one fist balled at her side, feet firm on the ground below the bench.
“Sure,” Pade said, giving Bailey a quick shake of his head when Tosh turned.
“It’s too bad De Lamester can’t skate better,” Tosh said, starting for the floor. “Looks like she’ll miss out again.” Pade followed with Lisa and Terrance shadowing his exit, neither meeting my eyes as they passed.
Skip opened the bottle of coke in his hand, guzzling half of the contents in one swig. “I’d like to hear Tosh say that about Mia in front of Terrance.”
Bailey’s eyes narrowed. “Of course she’d never talk bad about Mia in front of Terrance. They’ve only been dating for two years now, and that’s a lifetime at Credence High.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe Pade left with Tosh. My brother shouldn’t even speak to her after what she said to Jes.”
Skip shrugged. “Tosh is cool and she’s an eleventh grader. What guy wouldn’t want to hang out with her?”
Bailey stood, glaring down at Skip. “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.”
“I’m just saying most people don’t know the real Tosh. And I didn’t say I liked what she said about Mia or Jes.”
“Tosh is the enemy and you need to remember that. I wouldn’t talk to you if you associated with that wanna-be-stuck-up bitch, even if you are the principal’s son, and even when you show up at the house with Pade.”
“Tosh doesn’t hang with tenth graders.”
Bailey grabbed my arm, urging me to a nearby locker. “He missed the point.” She gave Skip an evil look and he shrugged again, leisurely as if his bench might be the most comfortable spot in the whole building.
After stowing our skates, we headed for the stairs to floor two. I silently counted each step on our climb to the gaming level, desperate to think about anything other than Pade, though the odds of winning that limbo contest seemed better. When Bailey left to get tokens, I crossed to the far wall and banged my head against the glass panel. The sound echoed in my ears, but no way could anyone below hear. Two of the skating refs held a bar as people took turns dancing underneath. Pade stood next to Tosh in line, her excitement growing with each downward inch of the bar.
Deciding how to feel about Pade escalated to war inside my head. On one hand, I felt the distinct urge to make a loop around the floor at his side, several in fact. On the other, I felt the urge to smash every die-cast car lining the shelves in his room. If only he could see the real Tosh, the way she was with me at least, and then don the armor and shining sword. I was furious at him for walking away with her and not even looking at me. I was furious at myself for wanting to believe in him.
“Guys are real idiots,” Bailey said, from behind.
“It’s okay,” I said.
“It’s not okay. Even if you forget the fact he’s my brother and you’re my friend, he still should’ve told Tosh off.”
Sighing, I took a last look at Pade and turned. “Let’s just play skeeball.”
With each round, I swung harder as my anger rose to new levels. Bailey topped my score in each game and managed to get an entire round ahead. I aimed at the hundred-slot and fired up the ramp. My eyes widened as the ball flew in, along with the next nine.
“Wow, that’s ten in a ro
w. I’ve never seen anyone hit that many hundreds before.”
With my anger dowsed by the thrill of winning, we played the virtual snowboarding game. My mood improved and even soared across the snow. Even though I never liked cold weather, my fingers ached to remember grabbing a ball of the white, wet slush. I closed my eyes, willing myself to remember making a snow angel or laughter from a snowball fight, but I only saw the headlights of an old Ford and heard the screeching of brakes. Snow wedged between my toes, biting at the tips of each nail.
Bailey gave my arm a squeeze. “You beat me at this game too. Are you ready to go back to the floor?”
I forced a smile and nodded, pushing away the memory. At least one of our nights could improve.
We entered through a door near the skate rental counter. Since Pade and Tosh were nowhere in sight, I relaxed. “Maybe they left.”
“Maybe, but I bet Pade isn’t far.”
As I found a rhythm on the floor, pulsing music brought new courage to venture from the wall. Even better, Pade returned to the floor alone. He passed close enough to rustle my hair in his wake, but I couldn’t meet his eyes. He sped around for the third time, just as a boy about the twins’ age fell in front of me. With a forward plunge, I reached for the concrete surface, nearly crushing my nose against the stone, but strong arms pulled me back.
“Are you okay?”
Unable to believe Pade gripped my hand in his, the tips of my fingers instinctively returned the pressure. I gripped tighter, cringing with the thought he’d realize my secret prayer. We passed the closest opening. I exhaled and looked for the next, fearing Pade would guide me to safety. Instead, he pulled me to the center, into a groove wide enough for two. Another round and my feet fell into sync with the left then right flow of his.
Only the last notes of the song and seeing Tosh along the outside wall spoiled my mood. Pade’s thoughts were evident in the way he led me to a bench on the other side of the room. After asking if I was okay again, he backed away and weaved through the crowd in Tosh’s direction.
I lowered to the bench, head in my hands. Bailey giggled and I looked up, her face glowing with victory.
“Tell me how it felt.”
“Great until he saw Tosh.”
Her smile faded. “I’d kind of hoped she left for the night, but my brother did skate with you.”
“He kept me from falling over that kid.”
“He was holding your hand. He gave you the look.”
I met the seriousness in her eyes with reserve. As much as I longed to believe what Bailey thought she saw, I realized that no one, no one, would believe Pade Sanders had an interest in me. The center of every joke at school on Monday morning would be Jes Delaney. “Look who he’s with now.”
“We’ve got to do something about her,” she said.
“You’re not making me feel better.”
“Sorry.”
“You should go back to skating,” I said, when the next song began.
“I’m not leaving you on this bench alone.”
Okay, plan B. “I’m going to the bathroom, see you in a few.” I pulled off my skates and when I reached the bathroom door, I glanced back with a smile. Bailey was circling the floor.
After locking the stall, I pulled out my new phone and scrolled through a text from Mom. When had she learned to text? My fingers froze when voices from the doorway echoed through the empty room. I pulled myself up to stand on the toilet.
Tosh laughed, probably admiring herself in the mirror. “Can you believe that girl? She must actually think Pade likes her.”
“That’s crazy,” Lisa said. “Obviously, Pade likes you. He’s been hanging with you all night.”
“Of course he has.”
“Jessica is so pathetic.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad Pade had to go and feel sorry for her. We could’ve skated that song together. Did you see how he had to slow down?”
Lisa laughed and I wondered if she enjoyed herself as much as Tosh.
“Pade is so cute when he’s being nice…” Tosh said.
“…to people who don’t deserve it,” Lisa finished.
I gripped my phone, hoping it wouldn’t go off. The ringer needed to be on silent, but I didn’t trust my shaking fingers.
“I’ll make sure he’s not thinking about her,” Tosh said.
“What are you going to do?” Lisa asked.
“You’ll see,” Tosh said. Voices faded as the door squeaked shut.
Bailey was halfway around the rink when I reached the floor, leaning over the wall and talking with Angel. I skated into a haze of people, amidst strobes of lights and my favorite dance song. If only Pade…no, I must focus.
“There she is,” Skip shouted from my left.
Despite an instant effort to look away, my eyes met Pade’s for one heart stopping second. Get to Bailey. Almost there. I tore my eyes to the right as something caught my foot, sending me stumbling ahead. Leaning forward, I extended my arms, desperate to regain my balance, but it was too late. Both feet slipped out from under me, my hands hitting the concrete first, followed by my back. For a moment everything stopped.
The stone heaved a chilling breath through the fabric against my skin. My throat knotted around a sobbing mess no fifteen-year-old deserved, though tears were useless at this point.
Arms outstretched, I could feel my left hand but not the other. Pink and green stars danced across the ceiling, jarring with bass chords of music like a thunderstorm. My favorite song, but all I could picture were the people who left me in New York. I closed my eyes and their faces glared in black-and-white, not as my parents but as crinkled newspaper clippings.
Somewhere a switch flipped and row after row of fluorescents hummed to life, glowing beyond my eyelids. At the same time, the music died in a massive screech. The darkness in my heart dissolved with the voices around me. I opened my eyes to see Pade shoving through the crowd.
He dove to his knees beside me, taking my good hand in his. “Are you okay?”
Instead of his eyes, I focused on the skeleton face that glowed from the front of his T-shirt. The sunken eyes tugged at the corners of my mouth, reminding me of, well, something like hope.
His fingers tightened around mine. “Tell me where it hurts.”
Pade’s cologne teased my nose, threatening to unearth a longing no one could know about. A fog surrounded us as I raised my eyes to his. Voices pressed closer, threatening to steal his dark eyes, but I banished all thoughts of who he really was to me. I tried to push up with my free hand, but crashed down hard on my elbow.
“Hey,” he said, in a flurry, and reached for my damaged hand.
I jerked back. “It’s fine.”
A ref dropped to my other side. “Let me see. Try to move your fingers. Good.” She turned to Pade. “The wrist isn’t broken, but she needs to have it checked out. Are you…”
“Yes,” Pade said, with authority. “I’ll call her mom.”
“Get back everyone,” the ref said and helped me to my feet.
“Don’t call, please.” I reached for Pade, but he was already cutting our path to a set of benches.
Lights switched off above and the music returned, which brought clapping from every angle. Since the ref had my good arm, I stared down and not at the faces.
“Just relax,” she said, nudging me ahead. “Let your boyfriend handle this.”
As she smiled, my heart sank. The girl was older, not really a woman, but definitely older than the sixteen years Pade could claim. Her eyes sparkled and I realized two things: she liked Pade and she was happy for me. I wanted to tell her Pade wasn’t my boyfriend. The words were in my mouth, at the tip of my tongue, but I failed to spit them out. Explaining would be weird after the way he held my hand.
Bailey sat down next to me when the ref skated off. “Does it hurt? This war between you and Tosh has gone way past funny.”
“They’ll be here in ten minutes,” Pade said, lowering the phone.
Bai
ley stiffened. “They? I thought Aunt Rainey was picking us up.”
“Aunt Rainey and Uncle Justin took the twins shopping at the new mall. They’ll be out front in ten minutes.”
My stomach twisted. “I told you they couldn’t leave me alone, not even for one night. I bet they’re watching from the gaming level. They’re stalking me, I swear.”
Bailey put an arm around my shoulders. “They’re not stalking you Jes, they’re just…uptight.”
“Slightly neurotic makes more sense.”
Pade yanked the laces on my skates, nearly pulling me from the bench. “Sorry,” he mumbled and reached for my hand. “People care about you. Why is that so hard to understand?”
“Yeah right,” I said, moving my hand away.
He sighed and slid off my skates. Without looking back, he zipped around a row of lockers to get my shoes.
Bailey stood and turned for the lockers, her voice rising while the distance between us grew. “Sometimes I think you’d rather push everyone away. And you don’t tell me the important stuff about Jes Delaney, like why you’re so worried about what they might do.”
As soon as Bailey moved out of sight, skids sounded in front of me and Tosh leaned down, a tyrannical smile across her face. “Well, Delaney, I give that fall an eight point five. You even had people on the floor above staring, but a broken neck might have gotten you a ten. You should be more careful. Next time—”
“There won’t be a next time,” Pade blasted from behind.
Tosh spun, her face pale. “I didn’t mean—”
“To trip Jes? You hooked her foot right before she made the second turn.”
Behind Tosh’s eyes was anger, flaming as a house would, burning in the night. “You don’t know what you saw.”
“You’ve gone too far this time.”
Tosh clenched her fists, though Pade’s glare never wavered. Her smile returned. “See you on Monday,” she said and drifted back onto the floor.
Pade slid the grungy running shoes onto my feet, a pair once white and blue with striped laces. Although Bailey had already given up on convincing me to trash the best fitting shoes ever, I cringed as I stared at the perfect shoes on Pade’s feet.
Leftover Girl Page 6