As Larsen spoke, he noticed that a group of students were watching, and to Jax’s dismay, it was obvious that Larsen had come to his rescue. Jax broke away and muttered under his breath to Larsen, “I don’t need the faggot police. Fuck you.”
Jax hurried away. Quickly, Erik picked his books off the floor, then turned to Larsen. “You threatening me? You fixin’ to rat me out to my pops? ‘Cause … see, I don’t like rats. They run around in sewers and are full of shit.”
Larsen’s heart was pounding so fast he thought everyone could see it, but he kept his cool. “I’m not going to rat you out to your dad. I just know you want to move on with your life, like we all do, and if you bash Reinhardt’s head in, then you’ll only end up sabotaging yourself. Is that what you want?”
Erik’s eyes met Larsen’s. For several seconds, he stared at the classmate who he didn’t know to call friend or foe, but really didn’t care either way. “Just stay out of my business, and don’t say fuck all to my old man about me.”
Larsen nodded. “No intention of it. Just there to do my job.”
Accidentally on purpose, as he hurried off, Erik gave Larsen a slight warning shove.
Gina, standing nearby, who had been part of the group to witness the action, was just about to approach Larsen when Avalon came rushing over to her. “Yo! Did you see what happened? Someone said my brother was havin’ a go at that guy.”
“Uh, yeah. I think he was. I’m sure Jax provoked him, but he looked like he was gonna kill him. Not sure how he even had the strength to push Jax against the locker. I mean, Jax is really strong.”
Avalon shrugged. “Well, sometimes the peeps with the mixed martial arts background have the edge. Besides that, my brother’s got enough anger to power New York City. You know?”
Still not sure how to assess the newcomer, Gina sized up the girl who she feared might have eyes for her new boyfriend. “Not really. So, how about you? Do you use physical force like your brother? Or do you have other ways of doing things?”
Anxiously twirling the rings on her right hand with her left, Avalon took a moment to analyze the situation. “You don’t like me, do you? And it’s not because I dress different from you or ‘cause I might talk a little different. It’s because I made friends with River right away, isn’t it?”
Gina didn’t like the fact that Avalon saw through her so easily. “If River likes you, then I don’t have a problem with you.”
Avalon put a strand of green hair in her mouth and blew it out with a large puff of air. “Seems like that’s the reason you do have a problem with me. But for realsies, I’m not here to steal anyone’s boyfriend. It was just very cool that he was so nice to me, especially on my first day when most of the people in this school were … and for the record still are … looking at me like I’m the main attraction in some freak museum. Well, maybe I am a freak to some people, but I don’t need to see any more eyeballs popping in my direction or bouncin’ off my back when I’m walking down the hall. I’m not angry like my brother, but I’m not chill to being messed with, either. River is a cool guy, and so is Larsen. Not sure where you stand, but from the way your face is all twisted up, I’m not sure you know, either.”
Gina was surprised by Avalon’s honesty. “Well, um, hey, why don’t you say what you really feel?”
Avalon laughed. “I got no problem doing that. Where I come from, it’s called survival. I’m not a coward.”
“Yeah, um, I can see that. Look, I don’t want to be your enemy, Avalon. River and Larsen like you, so you’re okay with me, too. And I’m cool with your looks. I’m a bit more traditional, but the point is that we all get to make our own choices.”
Avalon cocked her head to one side as if to size up what Gina was saying. “So, you don’t have a problem with blue-and-green hair?”
“No. Not really. My sister went through high school with a whole lot of purple hair, so I’m kind of used to that. Except my sister is kind of a bitch, and I guess I keep my hair plain ol’ blond just so nobody confuses us.”
“So you’re saying that you’re not a bitch?”
Gina laughed. “I sure try not to be. Can’t you give me a chance, Avalon?”
“Yeah, I think so. You’re all right with me. For nowsies. I’ll see you later. I’d better go find Erik and make sure he’s not kicking anyone’s ass or busting down a wall.”
Gina exhaled, then smiled warmly. “Okay, see ya.”
Chapter 11
Seeing Larsen close his locker, River hurried to catch up with him. “Hey, dude. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you today. Is it true you broke up a fight between Martelli and Reinhardt?”
“Well, it wasn’t exactly a fight. Erik was just going to bash Jax’s brains in.”
“According to the Mystekal minions, you saved your favorite bully from cranial decimation.”
“Jax would have preferred to have his skull flattened than to be saved by me. It was probably stupid of me to step in, but I thought about all of the times in my life when people looked away as someone was bullying me, and, well … it felt pretty hypocritical to just stand there … even though it was Jax.”
“It’s called irony. Anyway, brave move, my man. Hey, let’s go outside for a minute where we can talk in private before lunch, okay?”
“Sure, Riv.” Larsen walked along the hallway with River until they reached the front doors of the school, then headed outside into the bright sun. The large expanse of desert, with majestic mountains in the distance, was a favorite hangout for the students of Mystekal High, and the large flat boulders, located in eight random spots in front of the school, were considered prime seating for those lucky enough to snare a free one.
Finding the last empty boulder off to the left, River sat down. “Rest your weary bones that almost got smashed into hopeless fragments of—”
Larsen smiled crookedly as he sat down next to River. “You think I made a mistake?”
“Nah. I wouldn’t call it a mistake. But you were lucky, Lars. If those two go at it again, my sage counsel would be to avoid being the meat in a bully sandwich. You catch my drift?”
“Yeah. I hear you. But I had a really good reason for doing what I did. See, the thing is, after your mom showed me the theater on Friday, we went back into the trailer, and I got acquainted with my computer—”
River burst out laughing. “Like what, dude? ‘Hey, Mac, nice to meet you.’ ”
“Yeah, right. Like showing me the websites she uses, setting up an email address for me, going over the programs … that kind of stuff. Anyway, Erik’s dad, Gabe, was at the other end of the trailer on the phone with him. He was keeping his voice really low—”
“Ha ha ha. And you were eavesdropping.”
Larsen playfully punched River in the arm. “No, man. I just couldn’t help but hear stuff, and let’s just say that I know Erik can’t wait to get back east after we graduate. I knew if he bashed Jax’s head in, even if well deserved, he’d mess up his life for good. Really, I was trying to help Erik more than Jax. What’s wrong is wrong, Riv. You know?”
Glancing sideways, River could see that a few kids were gossiping about the two of them. Although it didn’t bother him, he knew it would upset Larsen, so he angled his body to block the view. “Yeah, I know.”
“Sure you do. That’s why you’re twisting yourself around because you think it’ll keep me from noticing that group of dickheads talking shit about us. And you want to protect me because that’s who you are. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, Riv, it’s that showing bullies that they bug you is the worst thing you can do. They live for reactions, and I’m trying really hard not to give them any.”
“Good for you. So, hey, I thought you might stop by on the weekend but I never heard from you. My bad. I could have called, too.”
“I knew you had plans with Gina on Saturday, and I took a drive with Kathryn to Palm Springs on Sunday. She wanted to show me the giant Marilyn Monroe statue before it leaves town. It’s called ‘Forever Ma
rilyn’ She’s, like, three stories high—that’s twenty-six feet high, to be precise—and she goes from city to city. Really cool. Anyway, Kathryn’s a special lady. After we walked around town, she took me out for lunch at this bistro and insisted on buying me one of the best meals I’ve had in ages. Except for your mom’s cooking, of course.”
River laughed. “Dude, you don’t have to be such a gentleman with me and include my mom’s cooking. Even if she is your boss now. Ha ha. I’m really glad you’re living with Kathryn. She’s always been so nice behind the counter, but I never thought any more about her. Wish I had.”
Well, you can get to know her now. She’s a pretty amazing lady. And she’s been a whole lot more lonely than she lets most people know.”
“Yeah, you told me about her son, Peter, getting killed for being gay. Kind of amazing she’s managed to be such a nice person all of her life. Some people are just plain nasty for no reason. Or at least no reason that anyone knows about. Like Ms. Carrow’s old man. He was one mean homicidal bastard. Anyway, I’m glad you spent some time with her. How about your mom? Have you called her since you moved out?”
Larsen looked sorrowfully down at his lap, then slowly lifted his head to answer River’s question. “Man, I was going to call her on the weekend. But then she sent me this really ugly text on Halloween night, bullying me right on the phone, and I just wasn’t up for any more.”
“You don’t have to explain to me, Lars. I hear you. You ready to grab some lunch?”
“I am, but before we head for the cafeteria, there’s one more thing I think I want to tell you.”
River grinned. “You’re not sure?”
“Yeah, I think I’m sure. You’re probably the one person who will believe me.”
Looking around to make sure no one was in earshot, Larsen explained the shadows in the theater that Muggins had been chasing at the back of the stage.
“Did you tell my mom what you saw?”
“Yeah, and she said it was probably this guy Raphael. Only I saw him leave right before your mom called me into the trailer.”
“Did you tell her that?”
Larsen looked uncomfortable. “No, Riv. Friday was my first day of work. I didn’t think it was cool to tell your mother that I think the theater might be haunted. That would have been kind of extreme, you know?”
“Not for my mom. She’s seen a whole lot of ghost action here. But I think she went through even more craziness when she lived in LA with that scumbag producer Jess calls Phony Phil. Mixing with ghosts was nothing compared to shacking up with a Hollywood pig. No offense to my porcine pals, of course. Old Man Carrow slugged Phil with a baseball bat right before he was choked to death. We thought Phil would probably kick the bucket, ’cause he was barely alive when they took him away, but somehow the scumbag survived. He never contacted my mom again, though. I hope he’s forgotten her name. Piece of vermin-infested rotting garbage. Anyway, I didn’t mean to go off, but just making the point that my mom has dealt with a whole lot more than ghosts. You know?”
“I hear you. But please don’t say anything, Riv. Let me just wait and see, okay? Besides, tomorrow her friend Lisa is coming in from LA to shoot footage for a documentary. I don’t want to get your mom all freaked out. At least let me wait until that’s over with. Anyway, it could have just been some fluke. There could be a very reasonable explanation, like, maybe that Raphael guy forgot something and came back.”
“I’m betting on the ghosts.”
“But you won’t say anything to your mom, right?”
“No, I’ll zip it, as my dad likes to say. But I can’t promise you Muggins won’t say anything. He talks in his sleep. Grrrr. Woof!”
“So, listen, if there are ghosts, do you think they’re connected to the stuff that happened in Mystekal a couple of years ago?”
“That I don’t know. There are a whole lot of tortured souls from these parts, Lars.” River glanced over at the students who were now visibly mocking him and Larsen. “Look at those asshats flapping their gums about us as we speak. Messed-up people make for messed-up ghosts. C’mon, let’s eat. I’m starved.”
`*`*`*`
The final bell of the day had rung, and Avalon was already on her way toward the front doors. To avoid seeing the faces of the students staring at her, she looked down at her phone as she walked. All she saw was a leg covered in distressed denim with a blue running shoe at the end of it slicing through the air in front of her like a rogue gate arm. Her phone flew out of her hands and slid down the hallway. Avalon fell to her knees, barely escaping serious injury by breaking the fall with the palms of her hands.
Amid sounds of laughter and cowardly feet running away, she did everything she could to choke back the sobs.
Holding hands, River and Gina had just rounded the corner when they saw her on the ground, wincing in pain. Letting go of Gina’s hand, River rushed over to her, kneeling at her side. “What happened, Avalon?”
Seeing River’s concerned face, Avalon was unable to hold back her emotion. Still on the ground, now sitting, she threw her arms around River for comfort. “Some punk stuck out his leg and tripped me, and he and his fucking rat pack ran away. Sucker-punching amateur thug juvie idiots!”
As River sat there with Avalon, Bianca, who’d been heading for the front doors from the opposite direction, saw Avalon’s phone on the ground, picked it up, and walked over to hand it to her. “I’m guessing this belongs to you. Hey, what happened here?”
River looked up at Bianca. “Some dipshit tripped her.”
“Oh, wow. That sucks. Want me to tell Tonio?”
Avalon waved her off. “No, no! I don’t want to make a big deal of it. And I really don’t want my brother to find out, or he might kill someone.”
Bianca looked around. “Oh, yeah. I can kinda see how he might get a little pissed off. Where is he?”
“Probably outside in his car talking to his girlfriend and waiting for me.”
Noticing Gina standing alone in the hallway and looking miserable, Bianca nodded and hurried to Gina’s side, while River helped Avalon to stand up.
“Hey, Bianca. Where’s Tonio?”
“He’s outside hanging with his boys. Hold on.” Bianca reached into her pocket for her phone, then sent a quick text. “He can wait a few minutes. No drama. What’s up with you, mi amiga?”
Gina’s glance rolled over toward Avalon and River. “Oh, nothing. Just that my boyfriend is playing hero with that zero. Sorry, I guess I shouldn’t be calling her names, but I’m just feeling like every time she has a problem, River is there to save the day. I freakin’ hate it.”
“What happened? Was she lying about someone tripping her? Did she fake all of this just to get River’s attention?”
Gina looked embarrassed. “No, some idiots tripped her. She could have been really hurt, and, seriously, my brain understands that, but my heart is gettin’ a little jelly, you know? And just earlier today I told her we could be friends, but I’m sure not acting like one. Does that mean I suck?”
Bianca laughed. “No, girl. You don’t suck. Hey, if Tonio was playing knight in shining armor to some chick, that would probably chafe my butt, too, even if it were legit. Must be tough being the new kid, especially when you don’t look like anyone else. And it blows that she’s being bullied, but, yeah, I’m hearing you. I’d like to think I’m a good person and all, but like I said, my hackles would be up for sure.”
Gina looked exasperated. “So, what should I do?”
Bianca moved closer to Gina, lowering her voice. “Listen, it’s not about dissing Avalon. If you do that, you might as well stick a bow on her ass and hand her over to Riv. No, see, it’s about you doing more to make River a happy guy. You hearing me?”
“Are you and Tonio—”
“Hell, yeah, we are!”
“Oh, yeah. Well, of course you are. You’ve been together for a year and a half or something.”
“One year, ten months to be exact. Look, Gin, I gotta
run. I’ll text ya later, and if you’re free, we can have a chat. I definitely think there’s a conversation we need to have. Yanno?”
Gina reached over and gave Bianca a quick hug. “Thanks. You showed up at the perfect time. I really needed a friend.”
‘
Chapter 12
Larsen tried to play it cool, but he knew that Lisa and her cameraman, Josh, would be arriving shortly from LA. Being a part of a documentary was about the most exciting thing that had ever happened to him. When he received an email from Lisa the night before, asking him if he’d like to be filmed reciting a few lines on stage, after fist pumping the air with a big “Yes!” and sharing the news with Kathryn, he got to work. For the next several hours, he reacquainted himself with a monologue from Shakespeare’s Othello that he had memorized two years ago.
Arielle watched Larsen as he worked at his computer. Seeing his enthusiasm made her almost happier for him than for herself. “Larsen …”
“Uh … what?” Jumping up in his seat, Larsen’s hands flew off the keyboard, and he looked at Arielle, embarrassed by his startled reaction. “Oh, Mrs. D, I’m sorry. I was so absorbed in thought that when you called my name, it was like being awakened from a dream.”
“Well, this isn’t a dream. Don’t you love it? How cool is it that Lis wants you to recite something on stage? I’m a bit jealous. She didn’t ask me to recite anything.” Arielle mock frowned.
“Uh, well … um … uh …”
Arielle laughed. “Just playing with you, Lars. I don’t want to read any lines. I want to make this theater a success, and I want to help dedicated performers of all ages to learn and perfect their craft. Don’t mind me; I think I got my sense of humor from my son.”
“You mean you think he got his from you.”
“Nope. I think I got mine from River. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s much funnier than I could ever be. But his humor is contagious, and I may have picked up a few tricks along the way.”
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