The Queen B* and the Homecoming King

by Crista McHugh

  “Join the club.” So far, I hadn’t told anyone other than Dad about Mom and Pete. If his response was any indication, my friends would be equally tripping at the news. “You’ve done what you could. Maybe I need to be the one to kidnap her and force the truth from her. After all, I only have four classes this semester, and you have six.”

  “And the debate team,” he reminded me, pride replacing the earlier tension.

  “Which you so rightfully earned.” A smile tugged at my lips. I was proud of him. He’d faced his fears and doubts. He focused on what was really important to him, what he wanted above all else, and he got it.

  A knock sounded at my door, and I looked up to find Taylor peeking in.

  Taylor never knocked.

  Something had to be seriously off in her self-absorbed universe for her to evoke some semblance of politeness. I could only assume it was connected to Mom’s big announcements.

  “I’ve got to go, Richard,” I said, my gaze never straying from my sister. “See you tomorrow.”

  Even after I hung up, Taylor stayed where she was, silently waiting for my invitation like a vampire in those old tales. If I let her in, would she suck me dry?

  We stared at each other for nearly a minute before I decided to end the standoff. “Come in.”

  “Gee, took you long enough.” Taylor flounced onto my bed, splaying across the comforter with one arm flung dramatically across her eyes. “We so need to talk.”

  “About what?” It was far easier to ask directly than guess and potentially offer up information I didn’t want her passing on to Summer.

  “Mom.”

  My guard lowered ever so slightly, and I sat up straighter. “Where do you want to start?”

  Taylor snapped her head up. “Well, for starters, having a baby? At her age? Do you have any idea what my friends will say?”

  “I thought you’d be more worried about losing your place as the baby of the family.”

  “Don’t even get me started on that. I already have it out for this kid, and it’s not even here yet. I mean, I totally expect Mom to try to turn me into her free babysitter, and my social life is already too full as it is. How am I going to make head cheerleader if I’m stuck at home changing poopy diapers?”

  “Well, that helps me narrow down my college choices a bit.”

  Hope softened Taylor’s ire. “You mean you’d be willing to stay at home to help out so it doesn’t all fall on me?”

  “Nope. It just means I’m going as far away as I can.”

  Taylor grabbed my pillow and bopped me on my head. “Not funny. I’m being serious here. And then there’s Mom getting all fat and pregnant. My guy friends think she’s a MILF, and if they see her like that, they won’t want to come over.”

  “Probably a good thing. Plus, they can witness what happens when they have unprotected sex.”

  We were both dancing around the subject neither one of wanted to broach, which was Pete. It had been just us girls for so long that having a guy here would destroy the dynamic we’d built. No more running around in our underwear while we were getting ready in the morning. No more leaving tampon boxes out in the bathroom. No more counters covered with makeup and beauty supplies. No more girls’ movie nights where we gathered on the couch with popcorn to watch movies with super-thin plots but lots of eye candy.

  Our home was being invaded by an XY.

  That is, if we didn’t have to move to his place.

  I decided I’d try to get the conversation rolling. “Has Mom mentioned what’s going to happen after the wedding?”

  Taylor shook her head and inspected her flawless manicure. “He lives in Kirkland.”

  Translation: He lives two towns over, which would mean we’d have to change schools if Mom moved in with him. And Taylor would lose all the momentum she’d built the last year and a half kissing the popular kids’ asses.

  “You can infiltrate the in-crowd there. You already know what games to play.”

  “I’m being serious here, Lexi! Mom is trying to ruin my life, and maybe you don’t care because you’re on your way out of here, but I have almost three more years of high school. I refuse to be the new kid. This guy is threatening to turn my life into a living hell.”

  “You have no idea what a living hell is, Taylor. I’ve been there—remember?”

  She guiltily looked up at me through her lashes. I didn’t need to mention what Summer and her cronies had done to me throughout junior high. I didn’t even need to mention the bullshit Richard was going through thanks to those harassing notes in his locker. Taylor had always been near the top of the social pyramid, had always been one of the popular kids, and she had no idea what lurked beyond her privileged realm.

  “You know, there’s one way to resolve this,” I said, a hint of annoyance creeping into my voice.

  “Forbid Mom from marrying Pete?”

  I remembered how happy Mom seemed to be with him, how she practically glowed from joy and how they just seemed to click with a glance. “No, Taylor, I think Mom really loves him, and he feels the same way about her.”

  “But what about us? We were here before him.”

  “Then maybe tell Mom why it’s so important for you to stay here, at least until you graduate.”

  “What about you? Don’t you care about being forced to switch schools in the middle of your senior year? Mom said they were getting married in December.”

  The idea of moving before graduation hadn’t occurred to me. Shit. My tongue froze in a moment of reflection. Like my sister, I’d spent over three years carving out my place at Eastline. I was feared and revered. I had a blog that had a reputation outside our school and that was turning into an instrument of good by bringing important issues to people’s attention. I had Richard. And now, I even had a boyfriend. If I changed schools, I’d still be able to drive back and see them, but it wouldn’t be the same as seeing them in the hallways every day.

  Taylor gave me a smug smile. “I thought so, especially now that you’re dating the most popular guy in school. And speaking of Brett…”

  My spine stiffened, and my guard went on high alert. After lowering my defenses with all her whining, she was getting down to the real reason for her visit.

  She was phishing for information on Brett.

  “Did Summer send her little minion to gather information?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “I might actually be asking because I care about him, too. He’s a nice guy—far nicer than someone like you deserves. And yes, Summer wants details, but I can control how much she hears.”

  I’d forgotten how underneath my sister’s airhead cheerleader façade lay a mind Machiavelli would be proud of. “He had surgery yesterday.”

  “We know that, and I heard he came home from the hospital today. I figured that since you’re his girlfriend, you’d already gone by his place and seen him.”

  I weighed the consequences of revealing too much information to her and shaped my reply with care. “I did, but he was sleeping. Pain meds and all.”

  “But you will see him soon, right?”

  “Of course. As you said, I’m his girlfriend.”

  “And the only person who’s actually been inside his home,” she reminded me.

  I almost laughed. Apparently, I was the only person Brett felt comfortable sharing his secret geek side with. “Jealous?”

  “Hardly. But now that it’s pretty much a given that Brett won’t be going to Homecoming, Summer already secured Sanchez as her date, which means I’m having to decide between Ren and Cody.”

  “Are you asking my advice? Because I think Ren’s right up there with Sanchez on the major asshole list. Cody, I don’t know.”

  “He’s a sophomore like me. Brett’s backup on the team, which means he’ll be the starting quarterback from this week on. Nice and all. But he doesn’t have a car.”

  “Ah, the life of the licenseless. Always needing to bum rides off of people.”

  “It sucks
! Just three more months until my birthday, though, and then I won’t need to get a ride with anyone. Mom’s already promised me a car.”

  “And you can even play taxi service for the new baby.”

  A look of horror flashed across Taylor’s face.

  “Relax, Taylor. It’s not like Cody can’t go in with a few of his buddies to rent a limo for the night.”

  “True.” She rose from my bed, appearing to be genuinely considering going with Cody before adding, “Besides, since he’ll be starting quarterback, going out with him will only help raise my status.”

  I resisted the urge to bang my head against the wall as she left my room. For Taylor, everything revolved around her making head cheerleader. I didn’t think she had any aspirations beyond that, which worried me. I could see her trying to get through life on her beauty and being lost when it eventually faded. Or becoming addicted to Botox like most of our mom’s patients.

  I pulled out my phone and texted the guy I was dating not because of who he was at school, but because of the person he was when no one was watching.

  How are you doing?

  Wasted, he texted back a moment later. I laughed as I tried to imagine Brett wasted. He refused to drink because he hated being out of control.

  Will you be accepting visitors tomorrow?

  Depends.

  Me?

  Doubt crept into my chest, and I worried that his pain meds had given him enough clarity to make him wonder what the hell he was doing with me. I held my breath until he typed back, Always you.

  I released my anxious breath. He may not have wanted to see his other friends, but I’d still be welcome. Want me to take notes for you in 4th period?

  Thanks.

  See you tomorrow.

  I waited a good ten minutes for Brett to reply, but my phone remained silent for the rest of the night. I hadn’t seen him since Friday, and my lonely ache intensified every hour we were apart. I missed him. But hopefully, all that would end tomorrow.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I arrived at school in the morning with a feeling of apprehension much like last Monday, but for different reasons. I was still Brett’s girlfriend. The whole school knew it. But Brett wasn’t there, and I was under an even bigger microscope.

  The moment I was inside, a half dozen of Brett’s teammates and friends stopped me wanting status updates. I was glad I’d taken a few extra minutes to get ready. My frizz was tamed. The CC cream Taylor had given me concealed the dark circles under my eyes. And instead of my usual T-shirt and jeans, I’d decided to wear a more mature ensemble of leggings and a tunic that had actually earned a thumbs-up from my sister.

  Taylor wasn’t the only one who approved of my outfit. Richard gave me a once-over when I met him at his locker and gave me a curt nod. “Finally, you’re dressing like someone older than seven.”

  “I’m saving my special Hello Kitty shirt for tomorrow,” I replied with a tired grin. Every time I wore the shirt with the character giving the world a middle finger, I ended up getting cited for a dress code violation, but it pretty much summed up my feelings about high school.

  “You rebel.”

  It wasn’t until he closed the locker that I noticed the balled-up paper in his hand. “What’s that?”

  “Nothing.” Richard tried to evade me, but I snatched the wad from him and opened it up.

  Take your gayness elsewhere.

  Another hate letter.

  I wavered between balling it back up and shredding it to pieces. But in the end, I smoothed it out. It was evidence. “Have you spoken to Principal Lee about this?”

  “I’m not a snitch.”

  “But he put you in charge of that anti-bullying committee because he wants to put a stop to bullshit like this.”

  Richard tugged at the paper, but I held firm until he pulled so hard, it tore. “Alexis, I know you mean well, but it’s just words. Words I’ve heard just about all my life. I’m used to them. Besides, we both know Lee won’t do a thing about it. This whole anti-bullying committee is a complete sham. He hasn’t even scheduled the first meeting.”

  His half of the note ended up in the same place as the others—the recycle bin.

  But I clutched my remnant like a soldier’s memento. Someone was targeting Richard, and I needed to get to the bottom of it before it escalated into something worse.

  Of course, my number one suspect was still Sanchez. And now that Brett’s season was over, I had no qualms getting Sanchez kicked off the team. I glared at the wide receiver when I saw him in fourth period. No matter how much Brett defended him, Sanchez had a track record for bullying, and now that Brett wasn’t here to keep him in line, I fully expected his behavior to worsen.

  I just needed to catch him.

  Once the bell rang, I focused on taking notes for Brett, but my mind kept drifting onto how I would catch Sanchez. Now that Brett was out of commission, Sanchez was the star player of the team, and nothing but hard evidence could convict him. I’d need Brett’s technical help to set up a camera, and I doubted he’d give it to me, especially in light of me trying to nail his friend. Short of camping out in front of Richard’s locker all day and night, I had no idea how I would gather enough evidence for the next big exposé on my blog.

  Sanchez bolted for the door the second the bell rang as though he knew he was on my shit list.

  I had no idea what condition Brett would be in when I swung by his house after school, and even if he was the least bit coherent, I doubted I’d bring it up to him. He had too much on his mind already.

  When Mrs. Pederson opened the door, the twins bolted around her to ambush me.

  “Lexi, you’re back,” Evie said, hugging my leg.

  Bitsy tugged on my arm and pulled me inside. “We want you to play with us.”

  “Or at least make our hair pretty with the ribbons.”

  Their pleas paralyzed me. I didn’t hate kids, but usually, Brett could keep the twins from crawling all over me.

  Thankfully, Mrs. Pederson intervened with a stern, “Girls.”

  They both froze and turned to their mom. A wordless conversation seemed to pass between them, but a few seconds later, they released me and took a step back. They had their hands behind their backs, their eyes downcast, and their voices contrite as they said in unison, “Sorry, Lexi.”

  “Go to the playroom while Alexis helps your brother with his assignments, and maybe she will play with you afterward if she has time.” Once the girls took off down the hallway, Mrs. Pederson gave me an apologetic smile. “I never realized how helpful Brett was in taming their energy until now.”

  “He’s the perfect big brother.”

  “Maybe.” A wistful note lined the one-word response. “He asked for only half a pain pill because you were coming, but he’s still a bit groggy.”

  With that warning in hand, I made my way up the stairs, not sure what I’d find behind the closed door. Blood? Gore? Brett drooling in his underwear?

  But when I cracked open the door, I found Brett wearing a T-shirt and gym shorts, leaning against a mountain of pillows. A cast covered his right lower leg, which was propped up on pillows, and an expression of pure boredom hung on his face.

  He gave me a sleepy smile. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” I replied, trying to feel him out before I touched on anything that would upset him. “Are you up for school stuff?”

  “I don’t know.” He rubbed his eyes. “I hate feeling this way. I’d rather have my wisdom teeth out again than this. My head is floating from the meds.”

  “How long do you have to take them?”

  “Until my mum thinks I don’t need them. I swear, she’s hiding them in my food.”

  I grabbed his desk chair and pulled it over. Under normal circumstances, I’d sit on the edge of the bed, but I was so scared that I’d jiggle his broken leg the wrong way and hurt him if I did. “Has anyone else come to visit you?”

  “Summer tried calling a few times, but I was out cold when she
did. So did Ren and Sanchez and few other guys from the team, but I’m just not in the mood to deal with anyone. And of course, Coach checked in on me this morning.” Bitterness laced his words as he continued, “I’m out for the rest of the season, and it sucks.”

  Football meant everything to him…and his father. I knew better than to try and bring up that subject. There was nothing I could say or do that would take the sting away from losing the game he loved.

  Instead, I pulled out my laptop. “Do you want to look at my notes from Hum-Ex?”

  He shook his head, his eyes growing glassy. “No, I’m too messed up to focus on school right now.”

  “Any idea when you’ll be back?” I asked, wishing I could take away his pain, both in his leg and in that place deeper inside that was suffering.

  “Maybe in a few days, once I convince Mum I don’t need the pain meds.”

  “If anyone asks about you, what should I say?”

  He gave a squinty-eyed look of disbelief. “Are you offering to cover up for me? The queen of The Eastline Spy?”

  My cheeks burned again, but for a different reason. “This is different. I’m your girlfriend, and I want to help you any way I can.”

  “I’ll let you know.” He removed a couple of the pillows under his head so that he was lying down. “I’m tired.”

  A dismissal.

  I rose from his chair, still holding my laptop. “I’ll email you the notes when I get home. And I’ll be by tomorrow to check up on you.”

  “Fine.”

  If he’d been anyone else, I would’ve blasted him for his sullen rudeness. But I knew Brett, and this wasn’t him. Maybe it was the pain meds. Maybe he was still coming to terms with everything. Maybe he was frustrated because he’d been confined to a bed since Friday night. I didn’t know, and until he opened up to me, I could only guess.

  I lingered in the doorway, hoping he’d catch me before I left, but he continued to stare at the ceiling, oblivious to my presence.

  His mom was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs. “He wasn’t in the mood for conversation, was he?”