In Pieces

by Gia Riley

  Kate thinks I’m spreading myself too thin, and that I’m wearing myself out. At least that’s what she blamed the migraine on. I don’t like lying to either of them, but I don’t have room to complain. Both are holding down jobs, maintaining social lives, and paying bills on time—the same as I am.

  Still, once I get a couple hours of rest, I get up, and drag my butt to school. I even sign into the office with a note I hand wrote myself and signed Kate’s name to. The secretary doesn’t question it, and I fall back into my familiar school routine like I didn’t just bag the entire morning on purpose. I timed it so well, I even managed to get to school right at lunch time.

  “Congratulations, Kinsley,” a girl in my first period class says, enthusiastically, as she passes me in the hallway.

  “Thanks,” I mumble.

  “Kinsley West, where have you been all my life,” Becca says, as she shoves a couple books into her locker. “You missed one heck of a morning.”

  “Congratulations, Kinsley,” two more girls say, as they pass by on their way to the cafeteria.

  Perplexed, I look to Becca for answers. “What’s everyone congratulating me for?”

  Becca smiles, looking like she’s about to jump out of her skin. “Had you not been playing hooky, you’d know you were nominated for Homecoming Queen. You’re on the ballot, Kinsley. Can you believe it?”

  I lean against my locker, stunned. “No, I can’t. How did I make the court?”

  “Who cares how you made it. You made it, that’s all that matters. The dance will be even better now. Plus, you get to walk on the field at halftime.”

  “Do I have to do it?”

  She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that. Of course you have to do it. We’ll get you a nice business suit for the game, and then you have to find an escort since well, you know. There’s so much we have to do. Oh, and your dress for the dance. You picked one out, right?”

  “No, not yet.” I couldn’t go dress shopping the night Becca was going with her mom. On top of the mound of school work I had to finish, I also had to put in a couple hours at the diner.

  “Kinsley, the dance is in a couple days. You need to get something as soon as possible. This is a big deal.”

  “I don’t have an escort, Becca. I don’t have a father to walk me down the fifty yard line like the other girls. My brother is going to be getting ready for a game the following night, so he won’t be allowed to leave campus, and Rhett’s on the team, so he’s out.”

  “There’s gotta be someone who can do it. Maybe my dad can walk you.”

  I wave her suggestion off with my hand, dismissing her idea entirely. “No, that’s ridiculous.” There’s only one other person I can think of. Only it’s not going to fly with Rhett—even if he is my only other option. “Maybe Carson can help.”

  Mandi picks that exact time to pass by me, snickering at my predicament. “Just give it up, Kinsley. It wasn’t meant to be.”

  Becca lunges at her with her history book that weighs at least three pounds raised above her head. “I swear if you don’t shut that trap of yours, Mandi, I’m going to shut it for you,” she threatens.

  “Keep talking, little girl,” she says, as she walks farther down the hallway.

  After I slam my locker door a little too loudly, Becca lowers the book, and takes a deep breath. “I almost beat her. My god, I was so close to whacking her over the head with my book.”

  “It was pretty badass, Becca,” I tease, still laughing at her dazed expression, and how easily she morphed from my sweet, best friend into a lunatic.

  “Thank you, but don’t worry, Kins, you’ll figure it out.”

  “What will you figure out?” Rhett asks, as he sneaks up behind me, wrapping his arms around me, and kisses my neck. “I missed you in class this morning, Sunny.”

  I melt into his body, the only place I want to be right now. Everything’s easier when it’s just the two of us. “Sorry, I hated missing, but I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”

  “They would have been open if I was with you,” he whispers.

  My cheeks heat instantly. The physical side of our relationship has been building over the past couple weeks, ever since our night together in the barn. Each time we’re alone, we go a little farther, still never going the entire way. But I feel like it’s going to happen soon—and I’m really nervous about it.

  Thankfully, Rhett’s public displays of affection never seem to bother Becca, even if she does roll her eyes, as she watches the two us. “It’s sickening, guys. Just plain sickening. It’s a good thing I didn’t eat my lunch yet.”

  Rhett unwraps himself from my body, and takes my hand in his, pulling me along. “Come on. Let’s go eat before Becca loses it. I’ve seen her throw up before. It’s not pretty.”

  She reaches out to punch him, but he dodges her fist before it makes contact with his bicep. “You made me throw up dirt, Rhett Taylor!”

  He walks backwards in front us, smiling at how easy it is to get Becca worked up. “I thought you said she was over it, Sunny?”

  “She’s being violent today.”

  “I almost kicked Mandi’s ass with a book,” she says proudly.

  Rhett shakes his head, mostly because a book being her weapon of choice wouldn’t be that strange. Not when she’s always reading one.

  Thankfully, Becca calms down by the time we get to the cafeteria. Considering I haven’t eaten yet today, and it’s noon, I grab a little more than usual. But once we sit at our usual table in the corner, the pizza in front of me isn’t that appetizing. I’m too worried about dress shopping and my escort for the game on Friday night. I have no idea how I’ll figure it out in time.

  Rhett notices I’m not my usual self, and he leans closer to me. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be excited about being on the court.”

  As exciting as it is to be nominated, it’s not worth the fight I’ll get into with him when I bring up Carson, or the glare I’m getting from Mandi right now. She looks like she’s about to make my life more difficult. And she does, as soon as she opens her mouth. “Who’s your escort, Kinsley?” she asks, loud enough for the entire table to hear. After she’s proud of her work she mumbles to her groupies, “Not that she’ll actually win.”

  I don’t sit and cower. No, this time, I speak up right away. I’m tired of her running her mouth like I’m trash. “Not that I owe you an explanation, but it’s not about winning, Mandi. I’m happy to be nominated.”

  She tosses her napkin on her tray. “Oh please, anyone who knows they’re going to lose would say that. I mean, everyone wants to win. Though I’d understand if you backed out considering your situation and all.”

  Rhett slaps his hand on the table, startling me. “Sorry, Sunny,” he says, before giving her a warning glare icy enough to freeze the bitch right out of her.

  Of course, she doesn’t do anything other than roll her eyes at him. “It’s getting old, Rhett. I can’t believe you’re not bored yet.”

  “Mandi,” he says through gritted teeth. “I’ve listened to you spew your bullshit for weeks. Enough already. I don’t even know why you sit here if we make you that miserable.”

  “Rhett,” she says, with her head tilted to the side, her fake eyelashes batting like the little tramp she is. “You know why I sit here. I’ve always sat with you.”

  “You and I aren’t getting back together, Mandi. Going out with you was a big mistake—the couple times I did it.”

  Her eyes glaze over as she listens to him tell her there’s no chance for the two of them. I know better than most how much the truth hurts. It’s probably why I manage to feel a little bit sorry for her despite the way she treats me.

  She blinks away her tears, locking up her emotions before anyone else can see her disappointment. “Fine,” she says. “But when Kinsley screws you over for her crazy hot, house pet, I won’t take you back, Rhett. You had your chance.”

  As always, she’s no
t satisfied until she has the last word. And Rhett lets her have it—mostly because he’s looking at me like I have some explaining to do. It’s all too much to handle, and now I wish I wouldn’t have come to school at all today. “I’m not feeling very well,” I mumble quickly, as I get up from the table, hurrying to the trash can to dump my uneaten lunch.

  Once my tray is returned, I lock myself in the handicap bathroom stall outside the cafeteria. I crouch down in the corner, just trying to breathe. Then, I see his sneakers before I hear him. “Sunny, open the door.”

  Why does he keep coming in here where he doesn’t belong? “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  He knocks on the door again. “Please, open it.”

  I reach up, flipping the metal lock, and the door opens without even having to touch it. Rhett slides in, locking it behind him before squatting down next to me. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m just stressed out. That’s all.”

  “What was Mandi talking about?”

  I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess she overheard me talking to Becca in the hallway.”

  He reaches for my hand, bringing it to his lips. “Did something happen at home?”

  “No.” I never told Rhett about the conversations I had with Carson, the night he told me he wanted me to be with him, but there’s been no reason to. Carson’s been on his best behavior. I can’t tell if he’s biding his time, waiting for Rhett and me to break up, or if he’s finally accepted a friendship is the only kind of relationship we’ll ever have. Either way, by backing off, it’s made my life a little easier.

  “Then what’s going on? Talk to me.”

  I sigh, wishing it didn’t have to be like this. It’s a risk even bringing it up, but if I plan to get through the night in one piece, with Mandi nearby, he’s the only one I want by my side since Rhett can’t be there. “I want to ask Carson to be my escort.”

  Rhett blinks a couple times, but doesn’t respond right away. When he does, his voice sounds like I knocked the wind out of him. “Why would you ask him?”

  “Because I don’t have anyone else,” I whisper.

  “What if I don’t want you to ask him?” His words are soft, not at all mean or spiteful like I was expecting—only vulnerable.

  “Then I won’t go.”

  He stands up, and pinches the bridge of his nose. Now that I’ve stressed him out, I expect him to reach for the latch and leave, but he doesn’t. He waits me out.

  “It’s just one night. It won’t mean anything, Rhett.”

  “If it doesn’t mean anything, then why does it feel like such a big deal?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not trying to hurt you, but I don’t want to look like a fool, either.”

  “How would you feel if I was escorting Mandi for the whole school and town to see? They’d think we’re a couple. Is that what you want people to think about you and Carson?”

  “Of course not. Everyone in this school knows I’m with you. They see us together every single day.” My chin quivers as I try to spell it out for him. I don’t want to cry, but on top of being confused, I’m angry. It’s not Rhett I’m angry with though—it’s my dad.

  “That’s not how it’s going to look Friday night, Sunny. They’ll see my girlfriend with another guy—a guy that she lives with.”

  “You know what I want?” I try to hold it in the best I can, but my body doesn’t let me. Hot tears spill from my eyes, leaving a trail down both my cheeks. It’s been awhile since I cried like this—let it all go without caring who sees or hears me.

  “Sunny, please don’t cry.” Rhett kneels down beside me, reaching for me, but I stop him before he can touch me. Right now, I don’t want to be comforted. I want to feel the anger inside me because it only hurts more to act like it doesn’t exist. I’m tired of pretending I’m a normal teenager with normal teenager problems. What other girl on the court has to deal with this?

  I choke out a sob, “I need my dad to come back, Rhett. That’s what I want. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a replacement for him. I shouldn’t need a replacement for a man who’s still alive. He’s supposed to be here.”

  “I’ll figure something out. I’ll talk to Coach and see if I can leave the locker room at halftime to be with you. I want to be with you, Kinsley. Okay?”

  I swipe my tears off my cheeks before reaching for some toilet paper to blow my nose. It’s not the least bit attractive, but I don’t really care. “Don’t worry about it,” I tell him. “I didn’t want to go in the first place. Betty has me on the schedule anyway. It’s a really busy night for the diner.”

  I lie about the last part. Betty insisted I take the weekend off to do normal high school activities. Little does she know, now that I’ve made the homecoming court, I’m planning on staying home.

  “Don’t lie to me, Kinsley.”

  I push Rhett out of the way, but he doesn’t budge. “What is your problem?”

  “I’m not going to let you do this. You deserve to be on the court, whether the crown ends up on your head or not. I already know you’re not working. You have no reason not to show up to the game.”

  “And how would you know my schedule?”

  He turns his head away from me, and I know this next part is going to be interesting. “Because I’m the one who made sure it happened. I went in there the other day and asked Betty to give you the time off. With Fall Fest the following weekend, I figured you’d try to work through homecoming to make up the difference.”

  I’m shocked—completely and utterly shocked. It’s a sweet gesture, but he has no right going behind my back like that. He doesn’t understand how much money I’m losing by taking two weekends off in a row. Not to mention I’m spending a lot of the money that needs to be put towards bills on two outfits to wear to some stupid football game and dance.

  I was defeated when I left the cafeteria, then sad when I came in the bathroom stall, but now I’m just pissed off. I’m over it. I’m over the idea of being queen of a school that never accepted me until I started dating their star athlete. “I’m going home.”

  “You just got here.”

  “And it was a mistake coming in.” I push around him, realizing we have an audience as at least ten other girls listen to our conversation while they pretend to fix their hair in front of the mirrors.

  “Sunny, wait. Please.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Stay here, then. Talk to me. You know I can’t leave. I’ll get benched if I skip.”

  Right now, I want to be far away from him. I’m mad at him for not accepting Carson when I need him, and I’m mad that I even have to choose Carson in the first place. But the one I’m the most angry with could be almost anywhere in the world right now—my father.

  Rhett continues to plead with me the entire way to the lobby, but nothing he could say would ever convince me to stay—not when I feel this low. When I glance back at the school, he’s still there watching me leave with his hands against the glass of the door. I don’t have a good view of his face, but even from here, I can tell how disappointed he is.

  By the time I get home, I’m still trying to calm myself down. Carson’s getting out of his car, and I quickly check to see if my red eyes are still puffy. He catches me looking in the mirror, even though I try to hide it. He taps on the window, nodding his head toward the house—my signal that he wants me to go inside with him.

  “Where were you?” he asks, as I get out of my car.

  “School. It was a big mistake.”

  “Still not feeling well?”

  I shake my head. “I’m okay. It’s been a bad day though—they nominated me for homecoming court. Now I have all these responsibilities and outfits to buy. It’s ridiculous.”

  “Don’t most girls go ape shit for that stuff?”

  “I’m not most girls, I guess.”

  We walk up the stairs to the apartment, side by side. He unlocks the door, and pushes it open, allowing me to go inside first. After we du
mp our stuff in our rooms, we both end up on opposite ends of the couch, like usual.

  “Wanna tell me about it?”

  “Not much to tell.”

  He raises his eyebrows, not buying my answer at all. “You don’t cry unless you’re upset.”

  I grab the throw pillow next to me, hugging it close to my body. “Rhett and I argued after Mandi said some stuff at lunch. Long story short, it was one giant disagreement and here I am.”

  “What did you argue about?”

  I chew on my lip, not sure I want to open this can of worms, but it’s Carson, and we’ve had talks like these so many times before—even if he wasn’t normally part of the problem. “You mostly. I told him I was considering asking you to be my escort.”

  “I don’t imagine that went over well.”

  “It didn’t,” I tell him, still able to hear Rhett’s disappointment as he spoke to me in the bathroom stall.

  He taps my leg with his foot, forcing me to look at him. When I do, his warm brown eyes swallow me up when he says, “You know I’ll do it. If you want me there, all you have to do is ask.”

  I look away, suddenly interested in the stitching of the pillow I’m holding. “Thanks, I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet. I told Rhett I wasn’t going to go if you weren’t with me. He didn’t like that either.”

  “Wow, you did have a rough afternoon. Why don’t we go to the mall? Retail therapy always helps.”

  I’m hesitant, but I do need a dress at the very least. “You actually want to go shopping? Isn’t that torture for you? Wyatt used to moan and groan when I’d ask him to take me.”

  He stares at me, rolling his eyes. “Wyatt’s high maintenance, but I’m here to help you. You need clothes don’t you?”