Sublime Karma

by Peyton Garver

  “With McCullough? I’m goin’ that way. I have a double period of Computer Apps right across the hall. Come on, I’ll walk you there.”

  Jake slammed his locker shut, and spun around to face his buddies. But, his lighthearted expression changed as she and Ryan got nearer. After locking eyes with her, he glanced at Ryan. “Donnelly,” Jake said with an upward nod to Ryan and then looked back in question at Brie.

  She skimmed the group. Closest to Jake, were the three guys who had all been engaged in some kind of conversation with him, while one of them, the black guy, was also navigating his phone. But, when Jake turned his focus to her and Ryan, their gazes followed his. Brie felt her face warm again.

  Even the guy talking to the girl with red hair looked back over his shoulder when the others quieted. He turned, moving away from the locker he had been leaning on. He glanced at Jake and then at Brie. And, the girl with him? She couldn’t have looked more smug. She moved closer to him, sliding her hand up his arm to rest it on his shoulder. Her bangles slipped down her wrist, but she only swished her silky hair back.

  Really? What is her problem? Thankfully, Ryan broke the brief silence.

  “What’s up Gordon,” he said, giving Jake a single nod. “Vic,” he acknowledged the guy closest to Jake with another nod.

  Brie gave a quick glance back at the group after they had passed.

  “You all right?” Ryan asked before looking back himself. “That was . . . weird.” He chuckled. “I don’t know what’s up with them.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, whipping around. She forced a smile. How opposite Ryan was from Jake, in the way he looked and the way he acted. Well, they were actually both hot, really hot, but in different ways. Ryan had a sophisticated, preppy look, with his short blond hair neatly cropped in a classic cut. While Jake was more casual, kind of a rugged cute, wearing his medium-length brown locks tousled in a trendy, disheveled style.

  And, while Ryan seemed sweet, he was almost too suave. Jake, on the other hand? The way he looked at her, it was unnerving. They both had her on edge.

  Brie was content in her own drifting thoughts, barely aware of the incessant chatter of the other girls who worked at her art table. Lorianne, of course, was gushing about her crush, Marcus, with Mia and Ari spurring her on with questions. Brie opened her sketchpad to a random page and outlined the figure of a lone girl sitting on the floor, her back to a wall, hugging her knees. Absorbed in her work, she added detail and shading. It was like no one else was around when she was drawing. She was able to shut everything out.

  “Wow, that is going to be really good. You totally captured her mood.”

  Startled, Brie turned to Ari, and with a dubious smile, she looked back at her work. “Thanks,” she murmured.

  “Three minutes until the bell. Clean up,” Mr. McCullough called out.

  Nothing like leaving Art to go to the crowded cafeteria, alone. Brie had seen the girls from Art in the cafeteria yesterday. Mia sat at a crowded table, filled with mostly girls and a couple guys—no space there. Lorianne sat at the far end of Jake’s table, across from the black guy that hung around with Jake. That must be Marcus. That was most certainly not an option. And, Ari? The misfit crew she sat with didn’t look like a welcoming committee.

  Brie grabbed her lunch out of her locker. She hoped it was the same as yesterday: a cold tamale and a container of diced mangos. She loved Maria’s homemade tamales, cold or hot. She peeked in the bag. Yes!

  Sitting by herself at the same table as yesterday, she wondered if Ian might be in this lunch period. She scanned the cafeteria, wishing she had gotten his number, then she could at least have texted him. She avoided the looks from Natalie’s table. I should have joined them yesterday. Then, there wouldn’t have been all that drama at cross-country, but how was I supposed to know who they were?

  Brie flipped open her sketchpad and looked toward Ari. She was sitting among a group of kids looking as though they’d walked right out of Jake’s Sociology paper.

  Brie studied them, unable to group them into a single category, certainly not athletic, studious, or preppy. They looked to be a mix of glam punk, skaters, and extremists with their tinted hair, piercings, and fashion selected to intentionally break trends, or set their own. Nonconformists. She grinned and started a new sketch. The nonconformist-conformists. Oh, I get it now. She glanced at the group and then back to her page. Her pencil swept across the page drawing the horizontal lines of the table before she focused on some quick strokes that outlined just a few of the people in the group, their shapes and their positions relative to each other and the table. The people were faceless, accept for two, the ones she constructed the scene around.

  In class, Brie hadn’t thought Ari intimidating at all. Confident maybe, but not bossy or tough. She seemed different than the others. Though disguised with heavy eye makeup and bright fuschia accents streaked into her jet-black hair, she seemed genuine. Pretty, with a perfect doll-like face. Her hair contrasted with her ivory skin. While some of the other girls wore colorful nail polish and lipstick, Ari didn’t. Her lips were a delicate dusty rose, and her piercing blue eyes with heavy black liner and mascara were stunning. Brie’s pencil couldn’t do her justice. From her sketch, Brie looked back at the group.

  Ari was straddling a guy’s lap with one hand on his shoulder. In her other hand she held a slice of pizza. Brie was sure he was the guy in their Art class who sat by himself. Clean-cut with slightly ruddy cheeks and wavy chestnut hair, a flannel shirt, and faded jeans, Brie didn’t think he looked like he belonged with the rest of Ari’s group. That’s weird. They don’t even talk to each other in class. Yet both of his hands were on Ari’s hips. Brie used quick curling strokes to show the wave in his hair. She smiled at the results, then looked back at the couple.

  Laughing, Ari held her slice of pizza up to him. He leaned in and bit off a piece, and then she took a bite. The boy with slits shaved into his eyebrows, sitting next to them, leaned toward Ari, saying something while nodding in Brie’s direction. Ari gave him a playful shove, then several from their table looked toward Brie.

  With a start, she realized she’d been staring at the couple. Flustered, she shut her sketchpad and looked away, right at Jake, who was watching her from where he sat with his friends. Brie locked eyes with him. A couple of the guys looked over their shoulders at her. Laughing, they turned back and continued eating.

  She thought of the article, and her face flushed hot. When she saw Jake suddenly stand and snatch up his unopened lunch, her embarrassment turned to panic. Looking away from them, she focused on her own lunch bag. I’ve got to get out of here.

  Grabbing her things, she made a beeline out of the cafeteria. At the doorway, she glanced over her shoulder. Jake stared after her while his friends continued laughing. Jerks, she thought, thankful for the escape.

  Brie shifted her feet to shield them behind the partition of the handicap stall at the far end of the bathroom and peeked through the narrow space of the doorjamb to see who had entered her sanctuary.

  The girl with red hair wiped off a smudge of mascara and was reapplying when the bathroom door swung open. She looked from the mirror to the blonde who walked in. “Ohmigosh, Sarah. I wish you had this lunch period. What took you so long?”

  “First of all, I was in class when I got your text. Then, I went to our usual third period bathroom. But then, I remembered you’d probably be down here by the cafeteria, you know, since you have lunch now. Duh.” She giggled. When the redhead didn’t join in her amusement, Sarah stopped. “What is wrong with you, Pam?” Sarah vigorously brushed her hair. When she finished, she flipped her head upside down, swooped it back, and traded her brush for lip-gloss.

  “Sarah, if you’re gonna get him back, you better hurry up and do something.”

  “Why? What happened? Did that bitch hit on him?” Sara
h blotted her lips.

  “The guys are kind of shipping Jake with her. I’m not sure, but I think he might make a move. He was like watching her all through lunch. Troy and the guys—they were like, trying to get him to go talk to her. He almost did, but she left.”

  Sarah froze, still looking in the mirror. “I thought she was playing Ryan. Kelly’s beside herself. She finally does it with him, and he drops her the next day for you-know-who. He’s so effing cold. But, I don’t get Jake—it’s gotta be that she’s new. She’s not really all that.” Sarah laughed, finger quoting all that. “Her and her rolled up baggy jeans and oversized tops hanging off her bony shoulder.”

  “Yes, she is. Probably even more, because she doesn’t know it. She could be a model. But, if you—”

  “You think she looked like a model? Really, Pam. Whose side are you on? And, don’t worry about Jake. I’ve got this great idea to get back together with him for homecoming. But, I’ll need your help.” She checked the time on her phone. “Come on, the bell’s going to ring.” Sarah swung the door open.

  Brie stepped out of the oversized handicap stall at the far end and splashed cold water on her face. So, the redhead is Pam, and that other girl was Sarah.

  The guys at his lunch table were trying to get him to talk to me? That’s why they were all laughing? When the bell sounded, she patted her face dry with a paper towel. Sixth period—Shakespeare. Jake’s in that class. So is Marcus. She took a deep breath. “Get a grip,” she said to her reflection in the mirror before exiting the bathroom.

  Chapter 6

  Brie grabbed her binder and darted out of the classroom after the bell. She looked back over her shoulder into the classroom with a self-satisfied smirk. Take that, Jake Gordon! She had surprised herself when she pulled off that innocent look when Mr. Rosenberg corrected her.

  “I can’t believe you did that. That was so freakin’ funny. You a’right, Lindstrom.”

  Brie froze. The tall black guy she sat beside in her sixth-period class was Lorianne’s crush, Marcus. She remembered seeing the girl from art sitting across from him at the other end of Jake’s table. And, he was one of Jake’s buddies. In class, he had heckled Jake. But out here, in the hall, he was clearly addressing her.

  “Oh my gosh!” he hooted. “When you read that script and called Jake, ‘Been-a-dick,’ instead of Benedick . . . Whooo-hooo!” His high-pitched laugh carried through the hall.

  Brie gave him a nervous smile, but when she saw Jake grab his binder off the desk chair in the classroom and look out into the hall at them, she spun around and darted away through the now-crowded hallway to her last class. Was Jake actually smiling? Maybe he thought it was funny, too. What is his deal?

  From her seat in Ms. Cowley’s room, Brie watched the doorway, waiting for Ian, wondering what he’d found out, and hoping she could talk to him before Ms. Cowley started class. Instead, Jake walked in. There was nowhere to run this time. He held her eyes with his, walking toward her, looking every bit of smug.

  She looked up at him, biting her lower lip. A thousand butterflies flitted through her, then vanished when the late bell sounded, and he, along with the other stragglers, rushed to his seat. Expelling her breath, she relaxed. She so wanted to turn around and take a peek, but didn’t dare. She looked at the empty seat beside her, then back at the door. Ian!

  After class, Brie scooted out of the room. Wishing again she had traded numbers with Ian, she hurried to her locker and jotted a message:

  Hey Ian, Missed you 7th period. I don’t have your number. Is everything ok? Text me! Brie.

  She added her own number to the note, folded the paper, slipped it through his locker door, and then hurried off to cross-country, needing the distraction that running would bring.

  Pulling open the locker room door, Brie felt her message alert vibrate in her back pocket. She dropped her backpack to the bench and checked her text. Her lips twitched up. She didn’t feel so alone knowing she had an ally.

  Hey Brie got your note in my locker. Sorry I missed 7th pd some of us had to fix the final draft of the Falcon Report we were right it was Becca she didn’t narc on anyone else everythings cool see you tomorrow

  Ian. She texted back with a speed born of relief. Ian you had me worried when you didn’t show 7th pd glad you’re ok ttyl :)

  One of the younger girls on the team bounded up to Brie at the track. “Hey.”

  “Hey, what’s up?” Brie asked.

  “Nothin’,” she chirped back. “Coach is gonna be late, so Ryan’s supposed to get us started. He said I could lead the stretching today.” The girl looked around conspiratorially, then whispered, “But, don’t worry. I won’t do ground touches.”

  Brie’s eyes widened. “What? You know . . . about the article?”

  “Well, yeah. It’s kinda out there. Everyone’s talking about it.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Well, just now in the locker room Natalie was talking about it. She saw it this morning, but when she tried to pull it up, just now, on her phone to show Kelly, it was down. So, yeah, people are talking about it. But, I don’t think too many people actually saw it. Just pretend it didn’t happen.”

  “Pretend? Are you kidding me?”

  “Let’s get started with the stretching. Line up. Let’s go.” Ryan yelled, looking down at the group from the stands. “Brie!” he called.

  Brie looked back over her shoulder from her place in the line. She shook her head. “No,” she mouthed the word.

  “Yes,” he mouthed back. “Come here.” He motioned with his hand.

  She rolled her eyes, but climbed up and took a seat next to him on the second bleacher row. “What?” she snapped.

  “You okay?” he asked, ignoring her tone.

  “What do you think? You heard about it, right? The article? The picture?”

  “Yeah, I heard about it. It really pissed me off. I actually didn’t know until about an hour ago, or I would’ve said something when I saw you earlier.”

  “Did you see it, read it?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Just heard about it.”

  She looked away from him. “None of it was true. It was written like it was an interview, but nobody interviewed me.”

  “You wanna know something? First, nobody would believe an article like that.”

  “Second?” she asked, looking back at him.

  “Second, it was just a couple of jealous skanks. Probably nobody even thought it was funny, except them.”

  “Them, who?”

  “The skanks.” He grinned, shaking his head. “I dunno who. Does it matter? They’re losers, Brie. If you want to talk, about anything—”

  “Ryan, I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you. But, I just don’t think it’ll make it easier on me if I confide in you.” She glanced toward Kelly, who had been watching her with Ryan.

  Ryan’s eyes followed Brie’s. He sighed. “C’mon, here comes Coach.” He nudged her knee with his.

  Brie gave him a slight smile. “Ryan, thanks. I mean it.”

  Coach didn’t look at Brie when he approached the team. For that, she was grateful. “The men’s team will run the five-mile park trail again today. Ladies, you will run the three-mile with Suicide Hill.”

  Brie knew that clarification was for her. But, at least she would get to run the hill.

  Unfamiliar with the trail, she paced herself with Kelly. There it is. The hill, as it came into view, grew more ominous as they approached. Exactly what I need, steep and long. No wonder it’s called Suicide Hill. Ascending the trail, she propelled herself forward, feeling the burn in her calves and thighs, but this is what she wanted, the burn. She quickened her strides, lifting her knees higher and pumping her arms harder.

  Halfway up, Brie realized she was alone. Legs tight and burning,
her breathing deeper, she made it to the top, but had no idea where to head. A couple of trails split off the one leading up. One led across the top of the hill, where she imagined there was a great view of the exurbs of Frederick. Another path led around and down the back of the hill. She loosened her arms, letting them hang limply and jogged in place, waiting for Kelly.

  Ignoring Brie, Kelly rounded a gnarly old silver maple, then headed back the same way they’d come with the rest of the girls not far behind. Brie rejoined them. Boring, Brie wondered where the other trails led. Going downhill, Brie leaned into it from her ankles and let gravity pull her down. It was effortless. She was already passing the group. Didn’t they know, the more you lean forward, the faster you go? Just let gravity do the work.

  Finishing in sync with Kelly, Brie knew no one would know her true time.

  “Twenty-four minutes thirty-eight seconds. Nice improvement, Kelly. Good run, Brie.” Coach called out. “Go cool down.” He gestured the length of the track. “Walk the one hundred meters and back before you go in,” he added as the rest of the girls filtered in.

  Improvement? Brie met Kelly’s eyes, but both girls looked away. Brie hurried away to do her cool down walk solo, but she heard some of the other girls behind her joining Kelly. Brie picked up the pace leaving them even further behind, and instead of turning back at the one-hundred-meters, she continued walking the entire track, alone.

  “Brie,” Coach called as she came back around and headed toward the locker room. “A word?”

  Jeez, really? With a sigh, she turned back. First Ryan, now Coach.

  “You all right?” he asked. “Look, I know it’s tough being new. I sure as hell don’t want to lose you, you’re a great runner.”

  “I’m fine. This is about that article, isn’t it? I’m not a quitter.”