“Yeah. I heard it contributed to Cheryl and Reese’s breakup, as each stuck up for their friend and had a falling out.”
“Interesting,” hummed Karin, grabbing more popcorn and glancing at the movie that neither really seemed to be watching. “Now it looks like Cheryl’s having second thoughts.”
“That’s because girls are naturally jealous, especially when they sense that the person they gave up has his eye on an even prettier girl,” Lesley said.
“I’m not sure that’s true.”
“What? The prettier part or that he has his eye on another girl?” Lesley gazed at her.
Karin stared at the question. She knew that she was attractive—or at least above average—but unsure if it could measure up to Cheryl’s gorgeous looks. She wondered if guys saw girls differently than they saw themselves.
“Eye on another girl,” she responded. “Honestly, I think Reese’s eye was more on my Dad and helping out a teammate than me.”
But Karin hoped things could change, even if Cheryl Green seemed to think that she wasn’t good enough for Reese. It didn’t mean he felt the same way.
“Let’s just wait and see,” Lesley stated. “Maybe we both need to have a little more faith that guys aren’t as dumb as they sometimes seem.”
Karin laughed. “How about a lot more faith?”
Lesley giggled and they high-fived each other. “That, too.”
Karin looked up at the TV and realized that the movie had ended. Meaning it was time for her to go home. She was already thinking about tomorrow, which could be judgment day for Marcus Payne. And maybe for any possibilities she could have with Reese as well.
CHAPTER FIVE
Karin sat at the formal dining room table for dinner. Her mother sat at one end and her father the other. It was a routine that never changed, as if doing so would somehow disrupt the family’s equilibrium. They were having her mother’s famous casserole along with biscuits and turnip greens.
Karin sensed her mother watching her like a hawk, as if she intended to skip out on the meal. She had no intention of doing that, especially when she knew that her father had news on Marcus’s predicament.
Greer seemed to read his daughter’s mind as he wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin. “Looks like your friend’s friend won’t have to face charges for destruction of property and his otherwise poor behavior.”
Karin was elated though, oddly enough, she and Marcus had never even spoken. But at least she had done Reese a favor and felt pretty good about it.
“That’s great,” she said sincerely.
“Well, he’s not totally out of the woods,” her father cautioned. “Marcus needs to pay the Hathaways for the damage he caused and attend a substance abuse seminar. Once these are completed successfully, the Hathaways have promised not to pursue formal criminal charges.”
“Sounds to me like this boy’s getting off pretty easy,” Josephine tsked while buttering a biscuit.
“Maybe he’ll live and learn,” Greer suggested.
“This is what happens when kids drink,” her mother said. “They get into all types of trouble. I hope you use this as a lesson, Karin.”
“I don’t need to,” she said, as if being made the guilty party. “I know that drinking—especially getting drunk—is stupid.”
“It’s more than just stupid, it can put you in a hole you can’t climb out of. That includes STDs, pregnancy, and worse.” Josephine leveled a gaze at her daughter. “I hope you understand what I’m saying, Karin.”
“How can I not?” Karin batted her lashes defiantly. “You tell me that all the time.”
“That’s because I don’t want you to ever forget, young lady. Your cousin Wanita made such mistakes and now she’s paying the price.”
Wanita was just seventeen and already had two children. Both were by different guys and neither one was in the picture anymore. Karin had no intention of following in her cousin’s footsteps. Even if her mother seemed to think it was only a matter of time before she did.
“Why is this all of a sudden about me?” Karin moaned. “All I did was try to help someone. Is that so wrong?”
“It’s not wrong, baby,” her father intervened. “You did a good thing to help Marcus out of a jam, whatever your reasons. Your mother realizes that, too. We’re both proud of you, honey. Isn’t that right, Josephine?”
Karin watched her mother’s pursed lips soften.
“Of course we are,” she said with feigned sweetness. “I’m not attacking you, Karin. Just trying to protect you.”
“You can’t protect me from everything, Momma.”
“It doesn’t mean I can’t try, does it?”
Karin sneered. In spite of her mother’s good intentions, she felt as though the mood had been spoiled. She tried not to let it get her down. Instead, she focused on what Marcus’s dodging a bullet could mean for her new friendship with Reese.
By the end of dinner, her mother seemed to have gotten past this and moved on to her next agenda. “The Fishers are coming over on Sunday,” she said to Karin. “I’d like you to hang around, as I know they want to see you. They’re bringing Pia.”
John and Althea Fisher were her parents’ longtime friends. They were neighbors when they got married and had remained friends ever since. Pia was their twelve-year-old daughter. Karin always felt she had assumed the role of a babysitter whenever they were together. Maybe they would change their minds about coming.
“Well I hope they come early,” she told her mother. “Lesley and I were planning to run in the afternoon.”
“Actually, they’ll be here after dinner,” Josephine said with a smile. “So it looks like that will work out perfectly.”
Karin frowned, feeling as if she had been sucker punched into a babysitting role without pay.
* * *
Later that evening, she texted Lesley with the good news about Marcus. Lesley texted back, telling her that this was going to be the start of good things for both of them, assuming Karin carried her along for the ride.
Karin assured her that she would, provided that good things actually did happen with Reese. Which was a big question mark at the moment.
As soon as Karin ended the texting, her cell phone rang. Her first thought was that Lesley had forgotten to say something. But looking at the Caller ID, she saw that it was Reese.
Karin’s heart fluttered wildly as she answered. “Hi.”
“Hey, Karin. Hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”
There’s no such thing as a bad time where you’re concerned.
“No, I was just hanging around. How did you get my number anyway?”
Reese chuckled mischievously. “I have my ways. Anyway, I wanted to thank you for what you did to get your father to step in on Marcus’s behalf.”
“You’re welcome.” More than you know.
“I guess sometimes even think-they-know-it-all basketball players can use a little help on the scoreboard. You know what I’m saying?”
She smiled at the basketball metaphor. “Yeah.”
“Anyway, there’s someone here who wants to talk to you.”
“Hey, Karin. This is Marcus Payne.”
“Hi, Marcus.”
“I, uh, just wanted to thank you myself for helping me out of a jam.”
“It was no big deal,” Karin said modestly, and imagined that Reese was egging him on.
“Yeah, well, Reese was right, you’re cool. It’s also nice to know someone with connections outside the team.”
“He’s just my Dad,” she said, as if being the daughter of a brilliant criminal defense attorney simply came with the territory rather than the other way around.
“Yeah, I already thanked him for getting the Hathaways to give me a break.” Marcus paused. “If I can do anything for you, just let me know and I’ll try.”
That was an offer Karin wanted to jump all over in that moment, thinking about his newest, biggest fan in Lesley. But she refrained from using her newfound influ
ence in setting them up just yet. Especially since she and Reese had not made any plans.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said simply.
“Cool,” he said. “Oh, Reese wants to say something else to you.”
He can say anything he wants to me. I’m all ears.
Reese came back on the line. “Yeah, Karin, I’m having a party at my house on Saturday to celebrate our victory on the court and out of court. Just a few rowdy friends getting together.” He chuckled. “Only kidding about the rowdiness. My parents would kill me if we weren’t on our best behavior. I’d like it if you’d come.”
Karin could barely believe that she was being invited to a party at Reese McKenzie’s house by way of a personal invitation.
“What time?” she asked, as if it made a difference. As long as she was home by eleven, if her parents had any say in it.
“Seven o’clock till—”
“I’ll be there,” she promised without prelude.
“Great. I’ll look forward to seeing you.”
“Oh, is it okay if I bring my friend Lesley?” Karin knew that Lesley would never speak to her again if she were left out.
“Sure, she can come. The more girls there, the better the party, right?”
“If you say so.” This made Karin wonder if he had no personal interest in her, other than gratitude. She hoped that wasn’t the case, but knew that few guys could be counted on for serious interest in one girl. Unless perhaps that girl happened to be named Cheryl Green.
When she hung up, Karin called Lesley again to share the news.
Lesley could hardly contain her excitement. “First my Mom finds a new man, or at least it looks like it. And now you and I might be well on our way to dating members of the Elmwood High basketball team.”
“It’s just a party,” Karin tried to downplay it. “There will probably be lots of other girls there.”
“Maybe, but only one you and one me. If Reese and Marcus see us the way I intend for them to, then the other girls might as well be invisible.”
Karin laughed. She admired her friend’s unusual confidence and wished she had it. But the first step was being somewhere outside of school where Reese would be present and wanted her there.
CHAPTER SIX
Karin scurried down the hall. She ignored the bell ringing, indicating tardiness for her stint in the library. Can I help it if Mrs. Scott yapped on and on about how I could improve on my knowledge of African-American history?
Try explaining that to Ms. Mulholland, Karin mused, of the no-nonsense librarian. She shifted the strap of her backpack to the other shoulder, feeling the weight of too many books, paper, and pencils.
“Hey, girl.” Karin recognized the voice of Marilyn Chamberlain. “Wait up.”
Karin slowed down, but just a little, as Marilyn reached her and walked in step. They had known each other since middle school and were usually only friends whenever Marilyn wanted something.
“Let me guess...you’re off to the library to pretend to work while checking out every guy who walks by, right?” Marilyn asked dryly.
Karin glanced at the girl sideways, seeing Marilyn’s burgundy extensions bordering her narrow face.
“Excuse me, but if you think stocking shelves and listening to students gripe is pretending—”
“Chill, Karin, I’m just messing with you,” Marilyn said. “So, I hear Reese is having a party on Saturday.”
“Yeah, I heard that, too,” Karin said coolly, sensing what was coming.
“I also heard that you have some pull with Reese these days.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear, Marilyn.”
“Oh come on, Karin. Everybody knows you’re on Reese’s A list now after saving Marcus Payne from himself.”
Karin planted her eyes on her. “If you’re asking me to help you get invited to the party, I can’t. I don’t know Reese well enough to have any extra pull—A list or not. But I have a feeling that if you just show up, they won’t turn you away.”
Marilyn beamed, as if this was her ticket in. “I knew you could help. Thanks. Gotta go. Bye.”
Karin could only shake her head with amusement as Marilyn darted off and joined some other girls who would no doubt become party crashers, too. She wondered if things between her and Reese could possibly measure up to what others seemed to think existed between them. Or was he simply too popular—and wanted by every girl in school—for her to have much of a chance with him?
Karin entered the library, hoping she wouldn’t run into Ms. Mulholland. But no such luck. She had gotten past the row of fiction books and was headed to the back room to drop off her backpack, when the firm, contralto voice bellowed, “Karin!”
She turned and saw Ms. Mulholland standing there, hands on her ample hips. Her glasses hung low on an aquiline nose.
“You’re late!”
“I’m sorry. Someone held me up in the hall. I tried to—”
“Save it, young lady. There are a couple of carts with books piled high over there.” Ms. Mulholland pointed her finger toward a corner. “I suggest you get started on them right away.”
“Yes, Ms. Mulholland.” Karin gritted her teeth, but smiled and was on her way. In spite of the librarian’s major need of a personality adjustment, she liked working there for extra credit and plenty of reading choices. And, yeah, it was also a good meeting place. Even if she had yet to see Reese McKenzie check out a book.
* * *
Karin stood unsteadily on the stepladder putting away a book on the top shelf. It was about the history of the aborigines and she thought about checking it out herself one of these days. She heard some shuffling below her and looked down. Standing there was Cheryl Green and some other girls she recognized from the cheerleading squad.
“Well, what do we have here?” Cheryl snorted, looking up at her. “The poor Ms. Goody Two Shoes is slaving away.”
“What do you want?” Karin asked guardedly, not sure whether to get down or stay put.
“I don’t want anything other than to see you sweat.”
“I’m not going to fight you, Cheryl.” Was that what she wanted?
“Fight me?” Cheryl looked at her friends in disbelief. “Why would I want to fight you?”
“You tell me.” Maybe it has something to do with your trying to win Reese back by force.
“Believe me, if I wanted to fight you, I fight dirty, and you wouldn’t want any part of me.” Cheryl peered at her and then looked at the cart loaded with books. “Looks like Ms. Mulholland really does want you to keep busy. Maybe it would be better if we made things a little more challenging for you.”
She looked at her friends with a silent signal and they all started pulling the books off the cart and tossing them to the floor.
When they were done, Cheryl put a fake sorrowful look on her face. “Oh, now look what happened. I guess you’ll just have to reload the cart and start over. Ain’t life a bitch!”
Cheryl laughed heartily and her friends followed suit, as if they were sleeper cells she had just awakened.
They started to walk away, and Cheryl stopped and turned around. “Oh, just so you know, I can have Reese back any time I want.” She curled her lip into a wicked smile and led the others down the aisle and out of sight.
Karin bit her lip with fury and felt like crying. But she didn’t cry, because she was sure that was exactly what Cheryl wanted. Cheryl was obviously running scared that she had lost Reese forever and hoped to intimidate whomever she thought was the biggest obstacle to them getting back together. Karin still refused to read much into that as far as Reese’s true feelings for her were concerned. He certainly had given her no indication that he wanted her as his girlfriend. As such, she had nothing to fight for, other than wishful thinking.
She climbed down the ladder and started to pick up the books.
Karin heard footsteps and assumed that Cheryl and company had come back to bully her again. Instead, it was Ms. Mulholland.
“
What on earth happened here, child?” She whipped off her glasses, as though that would make her see better. “It looks like a tornado went through this aisle.”
Try three tornadoes. “I, uh, somehow the cart tipped over,” Karin muttered. “It’s no big deal. I’ll take care of it.”
She would not rat on Cheryl and her friends, even if they deserved to get in trouble. Instead, she would focus her energy on Martin Luther King’s principles and turn the other cheek, though it wouldn’t be easy.
Even with the obstacles she had faced lately—namely Cheryl Green—Karin was looking forward to Reese’s party and the guy who, in a few short days, had seemed to turned her life upside down.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Do you think Cheryl’s going to be there?” Karin asked Lesley.
“Who cares?” she replied. “Let her be there so she can weep about the one who got away. The important thing is, we will be there. Now we’ve got to make sure we leave a real impression on two particular guys.”
They were standing in Karin’s bedroom. Several outfits were strewn across the bed, none of which Karin felt were suitable.
Lesley grabbed a pair of jeans and a black cashmere sweater, holding them up to Karin. “This will definitely catch Reese’s attention.”
“You think so?”
Lesley nodded. “I’m positive. You’ll look so hot, they’ll need to turn on the air conditioning.”
Karin chuckled at her friend’s flair for the dramatic. She glanced at Lesley in a form-fitting turquoise V-neck sweater and navy chino pants.
“I think Marcus will find you irresistible, too,” Karin said. Assuming he didn’t get drunk and was able to focus on a pretty girl who had the hots for him.
“He’d better,” Lesley warned. “Otherwise the opportunity might be lost forever.”
The thought of losing her chance with Reese was depressing to Karin, especially if it meant that Cheryl Green got him back, which seemed to be her mission.
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