by Tara West
I tried to focus on Mrs. Stein’s lesson, but it was difficult with so much on my mind. But, knowing I was going to be even further behind, I forced my mind to go blank.
Why didn’t you take me, too? The sound of Mrs. Stein’s agonizing plea threw my brain off kilter. I looked into her haunted expression. What was she thinking? Take her where? Who was she speaking to?
Our eyes made contact. I looked away, ashamed for invading her thoughts. She didn’t know I knew what she was thinking. Did she?
“Sophie, stay a minute. I want to talk to you.”
The entire class oohed and aahed at the seriousness in her voice.
I sank in my seat. She couldn’t have known I was invading her thoughts. “Sure, Mrs. Stein.”
The bell rang and I watched my classmates file out. Some of them whispered and looked in my direction. Kids were so nosey and annoying. I figured that’s how the rest of my peers had to act when they didn’t have the power to read minds.
Clutching her book and timidly smiling, Mrs. Stein settled in the desk in front of me. “You never answered my question.”
“What question?” Did she ask me to give an answer when I was mentally absent today? When I was reading her mind?
She leaned forward. “How’d the tutoring go?”
“Oh, fine.” I sighed in relief. All this worrying about Frankie was turning me into a nervous wreck.
“Oh, really?” Her voice rose several octaves. “You were red as a beet when I walked in. Does he make you feel uncomfortable? I can find a new tutor.”
“No!” Somehow, I’d said that way too quickly. Exhaling deeply, I tried to relax my tense shoulders. “What I mean is, that’s okay, Mrs. Stein. He was just telling a joke.”
“Good.” She patted my hand. “You’re a smart girl and I want to see you catch up.”
Overcome by disbelief, I stared at her. “You think I’m smart?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” Mrs. Stein shrugged her shoulders. “You know your sister struggled in math.”
“My sister? Which one?” Impossible. They were both Valedictorians.
“Rose Marie.”
My jaw dropped. Up until the marriage and pregnancy, Rose Marie led a flawless life, too smart to be stupid in math. “I think you have her mixed up with someone else. Rose Marie was Valedictorian.”
Mrs. Stein sighed and shook her head. “I didn’t say she failed math. She struggled, but she went to tutoring every day and caught up.”
Could my math brain finally grow, too? “You think that could happen to me?”
“You have to believe in yourself, Sophie.”
She was beginning to sound like AJ and Krysta. But she was right.
I shrugged. “That’s something I’m working on.”
“Keep working on it, dear. You’ve got a lot going for you. Remember, don’t let anything or anyone make you think any different.” Mrs. Stein looked at me from under her eyelids.
For a minute, I thought she was reading my mind. Could she have heard about the way Jacob expected me to cheat for him or how Summer bullied me? “Thanks, Mrs. Stein.”
“Anytime.” She stood up and propped open the door. “If you ever need to talk, my room is open.”
“Okay, I’ll remember.” I didn’t need to talk; what I needed was to act, starting with the bully who plagued my passing periods.
****
I had my eyes on my target. I was ready, charged to take command. Summer spoke to her best friend, Marisela, while leaning against my locker door. I knew she wasn’t going to move unless I made her.
This was it. I was either going to get my butt royally kicked or I would finally get some respect. No turning back.
“I think Frankie Salas is going to ask me to the Freshmen Formal dance.” Summer sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.
I froze. What was wrong with me? Even the mention of his name made my heart skip. I hunched over, pretending to be fumbling something out of my backpack while I listened to their conversation.
“How do you know?” Marisela looked in Summer’s mirror while layering on tons of bright red lipstick.
“The boy can’t keep his eyes off me. He’s so pathetic.” Summer laughed and looked straight at me.
Her eyes danced in mock delight which made me want to punch her.
Of all the girls Frankie could have picked at this school, why Summer? Why couldn’t he see she was a self-centered and fake, not to mention stupid? Summer flirted with every guy in school just to get attention.
“Are you going to go with him?” Marisela closed Summer’s locker door and slipped her purse over her shoulder.
“I don’t know. Lady Gaga’s new video comes out on YouTube that weekend and I don’t want to be distracted by a stupid dance.” She shrugged, examining her fake fingernails. “I’ll have to think about it.”
They both sauntered off with heads held high, two cosmetic cretins, laughing and saying hello to every guy within twenty yards.
I was stunned, mortified. I shouldn’t have cared one bit. I didn’t like Frankie. I liked Jacob. I had to remind myself several times throughout the morning, I liked Jacob. His puppy dog eyes, his small ears and masculine thighs. So, why couldn’t I get Frankie Salas out of my mind?
****
I silently walked into the yearbook room and sunk into my chair.
Lara sat beside me and put a hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
I sighed and listlessly tapped my computer mouse. “Frankie Salas is going to ask Summer Powers to the Freshmen Formal dance.”
“Yuk,” Lara frowned. “He could pick any girl in this school.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Last Friday at a football game, Lara had finally told me that last year Summer had started the slut rumors. I knew why. Summer was jealous. Lara had this crazy idea Summer was jealous of me, too.
“Why do you care?” She paused, and then frowned. “You like Jacob, right?”
“Yeah,” I hesitated, “I like Jacob.” I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. Although she never confessed Jacob was the guy on the bus who called her a slut, I noticed she always seemed reluctant to bring up his name.
She flashed me a mischievous smile and leaned closer. “Can you keep a secret?”
I hesitated. If this was about Jacob, she wouldn’t be smiling. “Sure, you can tell me anything, Lara.”
Lara opened PhotoShop on her computer and went into a folder marked “Lara’s Secrets”. I had never seen that folder on the network. She must have had it hidden on her computer.
Lara clicked on a file marked ‘Dallin’s Twin’. The picture that popped up nearly knocked me out of my seat. Summer looking into the girls’ bathroom mirror with her finger shoved up her nose had to be some sort of trick, some awesome, hilarious trick.
My mouth fell open. “How did you get that?”
“I was behind a bathroom stall with my iPhone,” Lara whispered. “She didn’t even see me.”
I couldn’t believe I was actually looking at a picture of Summer Powers picking her nose. This was no ordinary pick. This was a good, solid half-an-inch pick. A pick that could rival Dallin’s digging any day.
“Have you shared this with anyone?” I asked, knowing that Lara could get in serious trouble for sharing a picture like this. We weren’t allowed to use our cell phones in the bathrooms. And something like this would most likely get Lara suspended.
“Mrs. Carr would kill me if I used this in the yearbook. I thought about putting it on Facebook, but I’ll be busted for sure. I’m saving it for just the right time.” She grinned and rubbed her hands together.
“Any idea when that special moment might be?”
I couldn’t wait to see Summer exposed.
When Lara unveiled her masterpiece, I wanted a front row seat.
“No, but when the timing’s right.” She laughed. “I’m using it.”
****
“Earth to Sophie.” AJ stared from over the top of the puke-gre
en, fake leather bench in front of me. “What are you smiling about?”
I couldn’t help daydreaming on the bus ride home. I imagined Summer crying and gobs of mascara running down her face as the entire student body laughed and pointed at a life-sized poster of her big dig hanging in the school auditorium.
I let a small chuckle escape. “I was just thinking of something funny that happened today.”
Krysta slouched next to me with her knees resting on the back of AJ’s seat. She peered from over her Cosmo. “Are you going to clue us in?”
“Sorry.” I shook my head. “I promised to keep it secret.”
“Aaahhh, you suck!” AJ punched the top of her cushioned seat.
AJ and Krysta both sighed and eyed me intently.
I raised my palms and shrugged. “Sorry, guys.”
They pleaded with their best Patches’ puppy dog impressions, but I wasn’t about to give in.
Luckily, the bus driver distracted them. He took a sharp right and we almost slid onto the floor.
Krysta’s Cosmo flew out of her grasp and landed across the aisle in Cody Miller’s lap. He smiled and handed her the magazine. Krysta shuddered as she retrieved her Cosmo with the tips of her fingers and then she shook it a few times as we watched imaginary germs fall to the floor.
She put Cosmo in her backpack and scooted closer to me. “How’s living with your sister and her boyfriend working out?”
Thank God Krysta changed the subject. My promise to keep Lara’s secret was important. I needed Lara to know she could trust me with anything. “It’s not. Chad quit his job working for his uncle. Imagine that.” I rolled my eyes. “He says he can’t be a daddy and be gone all the time.”
“He can’t be a daddy if he doesn’t pay the bills, either.” Krysta always made perfect sense.
“I don’t think he gets it yet,” I complained. “Anyway, he says he wants a job here, but I don’t see him looking for one. All he does is eat everything in sight and leave messes all over the house.”
“Do you pick up after him?” AJ asked.
I glared at AJ. “What do you think? He left his rotten underwear on my bathroom floor this morning. I stepped on them with my bare feet.”
“Eeeewww.” AJ and Krysta said in unison as they shrunk back in disgust.
I crinkled my nose. “I banged on their door and Rose Marie picked them up. You should see how she babies him.” I used to be jealous of Rose Marie, but now it made me sick to see that my perfect sister had sunk so low. She could have been studying medicine at Harvard, but instead she was playing janitor to her dung pile boyfriend.
“Puke.” AJ stuck her finger in her mouth and made the universal sign of vomit.
“Yeah,” I laughed. “My dad said she won’t have time to baby him when the real baby comes.”
Krysta’s brow drew a frown. “I’m surprised your dad hasn’t kicked them out yet.”
I had been dreaming of seeing their backsides ever since they showed up at our door. “My mom won’t let him,” I sighed. “Se’s starting to really get on my nerves, too.”
Krysta’s eyes widened. “Why?”
“Ever since Rose Marie came home, it’s been Rose Marie this or baby that. You should see the money my mom has spent. She already bought a crib and they’re painting dinosaurs all over my bedroom. They didn’t even ask me.”
“I don’t think it’s your bedroom anymore, Sophie,” Krysta reminded me.
AJ leaned forward and narrowed her gaze. “You sound jealous, Sophie.”
“Jealous?” I snapped, ready to tear off AJ’s head. “How could you say that, AJ? Why would you think I’m jealous? They’ve just thrown their lives down the toilet and you think I’m jealous?”
AJ leaned back and shrugged. “You don’t have to get so defensive. It was just an observation.”
“I’m not jealous.” The pitch in my voice rose. “It just pisses me off that Rose Marie screws up and she gets the royal treatment. Mom wouldn’t do that for me.”
“Yep.” AJ waved her finger at me. “That’s jealousy.”
“You know, AJ,” I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m really getting sick of your negative attitude.” I had enough to deal with at home, being pushed aside by my family, forced to give up my room, because Rose Marie screwed up her life. I didn’t need crap from my best friend, too.
“What?” Her mouth gaped. AJ actually had the nerve to act surprised.
“A friend comes to you with her problems and all you do is bring her down.”
AJ had been on a negative trip lately and I was tired of her PMS.
“Look.” AJ waved her head, pretending she was tough. “Don’t get all pissy because your family life sucks. Welcome to my world. I deal with this kind of crap all the time.”
“Okay, enough.” Krysta put out both hands and glared at me before throwing visual daggers at AJ. “This is getting us nowhere.” She looked out the window as the bus slowed. “This is your stop. Now you two kiss and make up.”
We both rolled our eyes and stubbornly crossed our arms over our chests.
“Remember, we’re all best friends.” Krysta smiled and punched me playfully on the shoulder. “Sophie, try not to kill your sister’s sweetie pie.”
I felt like slapping her for that comment, but I stuck out my tongue instead. She had a way of always finding humor in even the worst situations.
Chapter Nine
How was I going to finish my homework with that noise in the next room? I banged on the wall, my third attempt to get Chad to turn down the volume on his video game. I couldn’t believe this moron was about to be a dad.
As expected, Chad didn’t respond.
I stormed downstairs just as my mom and Rose Marie came through the door. Rose Marie had her arm around Mom’s shoulder when they walked into the living room with tons of baby store bags, compliments of my parents’ bank account no doubt.
I couldn’t deny it. I was annoyed and I had a right to be. Rose Marie was kissing up to Mom, so she and that bum upstairs could keep getting free rent.
Rose Marie whispered something into Mom’s ear and they both started laughing.
This nonsense had to stop.
“Would someone tell that jerk upstairs to turn down his video game?”
Rose Marie’s smile diminished, replaced by a cold glare. “What’s your problem?”
“Some of us have homework to do, Rose Marie. Some of us want to make something of ourselves.” An unnecessary jab, but I was beyond irritated.
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” Rose Marie threw back her shoulders and stormed up to me.
“Girls, no fighting, please.” Mom got in between us and turned to me. “Sophie, you shouldn’t speak to Rose Marie in her condition.”
“I didn’t know stupid was a condition.”
“That’s enough, young lady.” Mom’s voice hardened. “Show some respect.”
“I’ll show respect when he does.” I pointed toward the stairs. “I’ve been trying to get him to turn down his game for over an hour. How did he afford a video game, anyway? I thought he lost his job.”
Rose Marie crossed her arms over her chest. “How we spend our money is none of your business.”
“What money?” I snapped. “You don’t have any.”
“Chad just got his last paycheck.” Rose Marie tried to look me in the eyes, but she quickly averted her gaze.
I could tell defending Chad was difficult, even for someone as blind as my sister.
I laughed. “So he buys a Play Station?”
“For your information, the Play Station is for the baby, too.” Her shaky voice lowered, sounding less convincing. “It plays DVDs, you know.”
“Of course.” I threw my hands in the air. “A Play Station will be first on my list when I have a baby. Maybe he should save up for the baby, or here’s a concept, maybe he should be out looking for another job.”
“He has his applications in.” Rose Marie looked at the floor. “H
e’s just waiting for call backs.”
“Yeah, right.” How did Rose Marie expect me to buy this crap when she didn’t even look convinced? Chad didn’t want a job—he liked being a bum. He was using this baby as an excuse to stay home and play video games.
“Sophie,” my mom pleaded. “They’ve already heard this from your father. This isn’t your concern.”
“Not my concern?” I couldn’t contain the bitterness in my voice. “I gave up my room. She wakes me up all night with her bladder. I can’t even do my homework in peace! And this is none of my concern!”
Mom faced my sister and gently stroked her cheek. “Rose Marie, sweetie, go upstairs and tell Chad to turn it down.” Mom turned to me, her frown full of disappointment.
I hated letting my mom down more than anything, which only aggravated me more. This was all Rose Marie’s fault. “Yeah, why don’t you do that?” I yelled to my retreating sister. “That will just solve everything. While you’re at it, why don’t you tell him to go find another job?”
“You sound just like Dad.” My sister yelled at me as she climbed the stairs. “I don’t need to be nagged by two of you.”
I ran to the foot of the stairwell and shouted. “I can’t believe two immature idiots are bringing a baby into this world.”
Rose Marie quickly backtracked down the steps and raised her open palm. “If Mom wasn’t here, I’d slap you.”
“Go ahead,” I warned. “I’d slap back if I knew it was a cure for stupid. When are you going to wake up? He’s a bum, a loser. You and the baby will always have to borrow from Mom and Dad.”
Rose Marie’s angry expression froze, her widening eyes showed amusement as she revealed a broad smile. “Sounds to me like you’re jealous.”
“Yeah, right.” I looked away. I was annoyed, not jealous. I did not want her to misinterpret one for the other.
“You won’t be the baby anymore,” she mocked. “You’re not going to get all the attention.”
“Girls, you’re giving me a headache. Enough!” Mom placed both hands on her forehead.
I was just getting warmed up. I had a lot more to say to Rose Marie. If it hadn’t been for the tears I could see forming in my mom’s eyes, I wouldn’t have backed down.
My sister turned on her heel and ran into my bedroom. I stormed up to my new room and slammed the door while contemplating revenge against the idiots who were ruining my life and driving a wedge between me and my mom. I needed to get my frustration off my chest. I tapped my cell and dialed Krysta.