The Nerdy Girl (White Oak Creek High Book 1)

by Lee Wardlow

  “Why are the two of you even here together?” He asked.

  I was taken aback for a moment. Was he accusing me of something?

  “I saw Abby swinging by herself,” Aiden said. He got out of his swing. “I took the opportunity to tell her I was sorry for everything. I don’t want to be like him, man.” His eyes were locked on Cal. “That statement you made in your kitchen has been eating me up inside.” His voice broke again like it had earlier when Aiden was apologizing to me. “I hurt her like he hurt me. I couldn’t stand it, Cal.”

  Aiden was full blown sobbing now. Cal released me and tugged Aiden into his arms.

  “I’m so sorry,” he cried. “I don’t know why I was so angry. Coach has been talking to me after school just us. He’s helped me a lot to see how badly I hurt Abby.”

  “Physically, Aiden. You left bruises on her.”

  Aiden stepped back and wiped his face on his sleeve. “I know,” he said. “That is killing me, man.”

  I got out of the swing and wrapped my hands around Cal’s bicep. “Please Cal. Forgive him. Then, he can forgive himself.”

  He looked down on me. “You’re too good for either of us, you know, that right?”

  I shook my head no. The snow began to fall harder sticking to Cal’s hair. “Come on,” he said. “Before you get cold.”

  He took my hand and we started to walk away. Aiden didn’t follow. Cal stopped walking and looked back at his friend. “Come on Aiden. You’re hiding out here because of your dad, aren’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “You can come to my house too.” I slipped my arm inside his jacket and squeezed Cal. “This is all that it takes to make you happy?” He asked.

  “I hated it that you weren’t speaking to your friends because of me,” I whispered.

  He kissed my temple never missing a step then he corrected me, “It was never because of you. It was because of them.”

  I sat between them in the Impala. The ride was quieter than if we were in school taking a test. It wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable. It just took some getting used to.

  In the driveway, Cal asked me to go inside. He wanted to talk to Aiden alone for a minute. I was hesitant about leaving them unaccompanied. Then he told me to go on. So, I went into his parent’s house.

  “Calvert, where did you go?” Dana asked stepping into the doorway of the kitchen. Then she smiled. “You came in time for dinner too.”

  I told her about our fiasco at the house. Mom pretty much kicked me out the door. I ran before Dad had a chance to change that situation. She held her arms open to me and I hugged her. She was genuine and happy to see me. She kissed my cheek.

  “Cal is having a hard time,” she whispered. We both leaned back. “Danny is leaving in a week.”

  Her eyes took on a sadness that I had never seen before. “It was one thing to leave me with a pack of kids. It was something else to leave them. It was something he never understood. Calvert took it the hardest of all of our kids.” She squeezed my shoulders. “Where is Cal?”

  “We ran into Aiden. They are talking in the driveway.”

  Dana looked over my shoulder. “Oh boy. Do I need to send Danny out there?”

  I looked over my shoulder as Cal and Aiden walked through the door. “I guess not.”

  “Good. Want to help me with the rest of dinner?”

  I had never done that at home. I did though when Gram and I cooked. I wondered why Mom didn’t want my help when Gram always asked me to assist her in the kitchen. She reached out to me. Always looking for ways for us to connect.

  That is where Mom and I failed. We neither reached out to the other one searching for anything that would draw us together. She was athletic like Tyson. They had ways to always talk to each other where she and I didn’t. We always struggled to find common ground, but I didn’t with Dana Cooper.

  Cal and Aiden went to the garage where Dan was with Cal’s grandfather. In the kitchen, Dana gave me the job of whipping the potatoes. She dumped the ingredients into the big pot while I used her hand mixer to blend them together. Tons of butter, half and half and sour cream. My mother would die at all the unhealthy stuff Dana was putting into these potatoes.

  Rhonda joined us shortly. “She’s put you to work already. That means it’s official. You’re part of the family.”

  She kissed her mother’s cheek. Then she hugged me causing me to send mashed potatoes flying all over the counter when the mixer pulled out of the bowl.

  “Rhonda,” Dana scolded her.

  “Sorry Mom.” Rhonda grabbed the paper towels and cleaned up the mess while I finished mixing the potatoes. Together, Rhonda and I scooped them into a big serving bowl that she carried to the table.

  I had never experienced dinner with so many people before. Cal took my hand when his grandfather led us in prayer. Rhonda to sat to my left so she held my other hand. His grandfather was a thoughtful man. He prayed for his son’s safety when he returned overseas. He prayed for his granddaughter, Rhonda who wanted another baby soon. “May her heart and her body heal quickly,” he said.

  I squeezed her hand and she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye and winked. I liked being part of this large family.

  After dinner, we went to the garage together, me and Cal. I squeezed in between him and the corner of the sofa. Aiden was on the other side. We watched sports of course. That’s all that Cal’s family did, like mine on Thanksgiving Day.

  A pounding on the garage door startled me. Aiden’s dad was calling his name. “I have to go,” he said.

  Dan rose and Cal went with him. I followed just to the front door where Dana met me to watch what would happen. Aiden’s dad was drunk. I could tell by the way he staggered in the drive.

  At first, I thought everything was fine. They walked to the end of the drive. Cal and Dan stood outside until they stepped into the middle of the street then turned towards the house when all hell broke loose.

  “What did you say to me?” Aiden’s father shouted at him.

  “Nothing,” Aiden said quietly. “I didn’t say anything.”

  We could hear them as Dana, and I stepped out onto the porch. “Dan, stop him,” Dana told her husband.

  Everything sort of happened in slow motion. Aiden’s father wrapped his hands around Aiden’s neck. He was squeezing the life out of him. From here, I could see Aiden struggling to breathe. Struggling to break the hold his father had on his throat.

  Dana ran into the house. I didn’t know why until she returned with her cell phone. She was calling 911. I watched Dan finally reach Aiden’s dad. He broke his hold on Aiden. Dan pushed Cal back. Then Aiden fell into the grass at Cal’s feet. He lifted him from the ground examining him to see if he was hurt.

  Aiden’s father threatened Dan, but he was no match for Dan Cooper. The sirens blaring in the distance seemed to sober Aiden’s dad. He staggered backwards into the street away from the scene that he had created. Then he turned and went home.

  “Will they let him go?” I asked Dana.

  She shook her head at me as she watched Dan check out Aiden’s throat. Then he guided both Cal and Aiden towards the house. Her eyes traveled to me. “I don’t know.”

  The police officers were at the Cooper residence for an hour before going across the street to talk to Aiden’s dad. It wasn’t long before Carla Todd made her way across the street on a walker. She pounded on the door. When I saw her face, I knew she wasn’t angry just afraid. Devastated at what had been happening to Aiden.

  She cried when she saw him. His neck was still red and starting to bruise. “You aren’t accident prone, are you?” She asked.

  “No,” he agreed. “When you became ill Dad started drinking…”

  She was shocked and devastated by Aiden’s confession. “So, he started abusing you,” she said.

  “He was hurting,” Aiden defended him.

  “So were you,” she said choking on the words. “You were both afraid I was going to die.”

  “I
remember,” Aiden said.

  “Cal, why don’t you take Abby to your room so Aiden and Carla can have privacy.”

  “Sure Mom,” he replied grabbing my hand, he led me down the hall.

  His mood was somber. We kicked off our shoes and turned on the twenty-four-inch television in his room. He flipped through the stations while I laid cuddled next to him. Cal was never quiet, so I knew this scene with Aiden and his dad was bothering him.

  “Want to talk?”

  “No,” he responded. “I need you now, Abby. Just like this, letting me hold you.”

  “Okay.”

  That is what we did until eleven-thirty when I had to head home. Dana told us what happened before we left. Eric Todd was arrested. Carla and Aiden stayed at the Cooper house until he was taken away.

  Then they went home. Aiden told Dana to let Cal know he’d come over tomorrow but tonight he just wanted to be with his mom.

  That is the night that things changed between me and Cal. I didn’t know why. I didn’t understand either. Saturday he was still distant but, I chalked it up to him still being upset over Aiden and his dad. I was wrong.

  Chapter 16

  Tyson had his license now that we were sixteen. He had a car too courtesy of Dad which mom didn’t appreciate. My brother got a Camaro. Mom didn’t feel a sixteen-year-old should have a sports car. She was overruled.

  Monday morning, I received the text that rocked me a little asking if Tyson could take me to school this morning. Cal was giving Aiden and Luke a ride.

  Sure. I texted back.

  I saw him in first period. He kissed me like always, but something was off. I felt something was different about Cal. Me being me, I kept quiet. I kept my insecurities to myself.

  Lunch was the defining moment. We had different periods right before lunch. Since we had started seeing each other, I walked out of that class and Cal would be waiting on me. Today, no Cal. I knew then that things were going to be different. I wasn’t his focus anymore.

  So, I looked for Tyson to see if he wanted to eat lunch with me. When I couldn’t find my brother, I hid out in the library and read feeling a dark cloud of anxiety settling over me.

  When lunch was over, I headed to next period. Tyson found me heading to class. I don’t know why he couldn’t be found where I needed him earlier. “Where were you at lunch?”

  “I had some studying to do,” I replied.

  “You okay?”

  I nodded. “I’m fine,” I replied.

  “I saw Cal with Luke and Aiden. I didn’t ask where you were. He didn’t take you to school today. Everything okay with you two?” He asked.

  “Everything is fine,” I lied, not that my brother would care.

  I didn’t know if everything was okay because Cal hadn’t said a word to me other than could I ride to school with my brother. Other than the two classes I had with him, I hadn’t seen him and wouldn’t until gym class. I was hoping to get out of that class.

  During the last class before gym, I faked a stomachache. I was good at that. The teacher sent me to the nurse. I moaned and groaned. She felt my head. The bell was about to ring for last class. The nurse was sixty years old. Tired of dealing with us teenagers. “If your mother will come and get you, you can go home,” she informed me. Otherwise back to class with you.”

  She turned her back to call Mom. I knew from the number of rings that Mom wasn’t going to answer the call. Panic struck. I couldn’t take gym class too with Aiden, Luke and Cal all paling it up and ignoring me.

  In a moment of pure idiocy, I stuck my finger down my throat and heaved into the trash can. It wasn’t easy. There wasn’t much in my stomach. Nurse Hatchett glanced over her shoulder at me and frowned.

  “I’ll call your dad,” she offered.

  I hated it that I was faking, and Dad would have to leave work. Where was mom? It was November after all. She couldn’t be at the tennis courts having a lesson. A charity event today? I couldn’t keep up with her schedule.

  “No, Mr. Gardener Abby can’t stay at school when she’s throwing up. Yes, Mr. Gardener your assistant can drive her home.”

  I shook my head I wasn’t important enough to get picked up my either parent. The one thing I hadn’t counted on or had forgotten was Dad’s assistant was a guy. A young guy too.

  Crew Cut Chris, I had met before. That nickname stuck immediately. I saw him through the glass. His short hair was cut in a military style. His dark features made him appear intimidating. I don’t think he was Dad’s assistant like he took dictation. I think he was Dad’s assistant in that he helped him run the plant.

  Chris signed me out then he raised an eyebrow at me when I walked out of the nurse’s office. When we were outside, he glanced back at me. “You don’t look sick.”

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  He held the car door for me, and I slipped into the passenger seat of a fancy Ford Mustang decked out with all the bells and whistles. He jogged around the front of the car and climbed behind the wheel.

  “So, you’re faking,” he said.

  “No,” I said too defensively.

  He started up the car. “Come on. You are trying to fool the biggest faker of illnesses in my high school class. What gives?”

  “I’m sick,” I declared.

  Chris pulled away from the curb and headed down the driveway towards the entrance that led to the main road. One of the monitors that directed traffic for the buses waved frantically at us.

  “What’s his problem?” Chris asked.

  “You’re going out the in,” I said.

  “So, it’s too early for the buses.”

  “Pesky Pete likes to follow the rules,” I said.

  “But not you,” he teased me.

  He turned left and headed towards home. I realized that of course Crew Cut Chris would know exactly where I lived. He hadn’t been to the house or anything, but he knew the directions without me telling him.

  “Where’s your Mom?” He asked. I shrugged.

  “Your Dad had me try to call her before I left to come get you,” he said.

  “Why didn’t he call her himself?” I asked.

  “He was on an important call with Japan.”

  I took him away from that just for a moment. “Did I take you from that call too?” I asked.

  Chris glanced at me for a moment then he turned his eyes back to the road. “Not really. His executive assistant was recording the session. I can watch it later. She takes notes too.”

  I nodded.

  “Just turned sixteen I heard,” Chris said trying to make conversation. I just wanted to sit quietly until he dropped me in the driveway. No such luck.

  I nodded in Chris’s direction.

  “Why didn’t you get your license?” He asked. “I helped Tyson pick out Ty’s Camaro. He said you didn’t want to take driving school or your test yet.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Every teenager wants their license,” Chris informed me.

  I rolled my eyes at him which made him chuckle. The first impression I had of him was not what he was. He was kind. Friendly. Cute too.

  “My turn. What do you do at the plant?” I asked.

  “I’m the assistant plant manager,” he replied.

  “Surely you had better things to do today than pick up the boss’s daughter,” I grumbled sliding further into my seat.

  “I did but your dad was stressed about this Japan call. He was worried about you throwing up at school.” He pointedly looked at me like he didn’t believe that I had. I glanced out the window. “He didn’t understand why you couldn’t wait at school until your brother finished last period.”

  “School policy,” I answered.

  “That is what the nurse told him, so I volunteered to get you from school and run you home if the school agreed.”

  “Thank you.” He shrugged like it was no big deal when I knew that it probably was. If I told him about Cal it would sound silly to someone his age. He was younger than my d
ad but how much I wasn’t sure. Late twenties, early thirties.

  I stared out the window until Chris turned into the driveway. He put the Mustang in park I glanced in his direction. “Thanks for the ride home.”

  “Listen, get that license. You’d be amazed at the freedom it will bring you.”

  I got out and leaned into the car. “Trouble too,” I replied.

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Most likely.”

  Before I shut the door, I thanked Crew Cut Chris then headed inside. Mom wasn’t home so I went upstairs to my room. Changed clothes and hopped into bed with my laptop. Writing was always cathartic for me.

  I was shocked when Cal opened my door. I glanced up at his face then looked back down at my computer screen.

  “I know you’re mad at me.”

  I snorted. “I’m not.”

  “Then why did you go home early.”

  “I didn’t feel well.”

  He kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed beside me. Our shoulders touched. He snatched the computer out of my hands and read what I was writing. He was the one person who I didn’t mind doing that.

  “You’re really good, Abby.”

  “Thank you,” I replied feeling like we were two strangers sitting here not two people who just days ago declared their love for each other. “Tyson home?”

  “In the basement with Luke and Aiden.”

  I nodded. He had brought them with him.

  Cal sat the computer on the nightstand. He lifted me into his lap and held me tight in his arms. “Be patient with me, Abby.”

  “What’s going on?” I just wanted to understand what Cal was thinking. What was in his head right now.

  “I’m messed up,” he replied.

  I wrapped my arms around Cal’s neck and held him. “Talk to me, Cal.”

  He tried. He told me how he felt watching Aiden’s dad choke the life out of him literally. Guilt. If he hadn’t cut him off completely maybe things wouldn’t have gotten so bad at home.

  “That isn’t your fault,” I told him.

  “That’s what Mom said.”

  “So, are we taking a break?” I asked.

  “God, no. I just need some time. I love you, Abby.” I could hear that but in there even though he didn’t say it.