come over?”
“No. I wouldn't want to bother you.”
“No, Dottie! You wouldn't be bothering me one bit. Besides, Brian's driving me crazy. I need to get out of the house.”
“No Jana. I think I actually need to be alone. Thanks for the talk though.” I said, not regretting giving her a phone call. “I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye Dottie,” she said, and she didn’t hang up until after I did.
I pushed the end dial on my phone, tossing it on my desk. I did that a lot, so I wasn't afraid it would break. I was a crappy phone. And anyhow, if it did break it would be doing me a favor of being able to get a new one. I lay down on my bed, smothering my face in my pillow.
The whole ordeal left me in a confusing state. I couldn't believe that Kade would be like that. I knew he could be a bit of a stereotypical jock, but that was on a whole different level. The image of Eric's stomach was forever in my mind. I closed my eyes and tried to think of something else.
“Are you paying attention to me?” Emily waved her arms in front of my face.
I shifted my eyes from the wall to my sister. She had this concerned look in her eyes. I wasn't thinking that she would see me like that.
“What's the matter?”
“Emily,” I chuckled. “How are you that smart?”
Her worried glance instantly turned into a delightful smile. “I'm just that smart.”
“Whatcha guys up to?” Dad's gruff voice filled the kitchen. He had a newspaper in his hand as he grabbed a mug for coffee.
“Something's wrong with Dottie.” Emily said. I sighed.
“What's wrong Dorothy?” dad asked, sharing his concern look now.
“Nothing. Nothing is wrong with me. It's just…schoolwork.”
“Lots of homework? Too much stress?”
“Eh. Something like that.” Partly true.
“Why don't you relax some and go out with Janaki. Or maybe that boyfriend of yours, Ken?”
I gave a small smile. “It's Kade, dad.” Kade, the events from the day before flashed in my thoughts again. I grimaced.
“Oh. Right, right.”
I could hear mom’s feet patter down the stairs in a rush. When she came down she had a brief case around her shoulder, her hair loosely tide in a fluffy bun. She had a pen on her ear, and grabbed the loaf of bread from the top of the refrigerator. She took out a piece and put it in the toaster.
“Hello mom.” I greeted her.
“Hey Dorothy.” She nodded slightly at me. “Daniel, make sure you get Emily to her bus stop on time.”
“Yeah. What time was the stop again?” He asked.
“8:10.” Both my mom and sister replied.
The toast popped up and mom applied butter and poured herself coffee into a thermal mug simultaneously. “Love you, love you, love you.” She pointed at each of us and blew a kiss goodbye.
“Bye mom!” I said, but she was already out the door.
Dad rolled his eyes at my mother's big entrance and exit. “Valerie.”
I glanced at the oven to see the time. “Oh shoot. I'm gonna be late!” I finished my orange juice and left it in the sink. Grabbing my bag, I ran to my car. “Bye guys.”
I arrived to school just as the warning bell rang. I grabbed my bag and then something sticking out of my seat caught my gaze. I reached for it, finding my favorite purple pen that I thought I lost at the beginning of this school year. “They you are!” I smiled, turning it over in my hand. “I've missed you.”
“Is this a wrong time?”
I turned my head to Kade, books in his hand. “Oh. Hey.” I said awkwardly.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Something wrong.”
“Nope.” I lied and slammed my car door. “Everything's fine.” I kissed him on the lips for a quick second. “I'm gonna be late. You too.” I pointed out.
He still looked at me, confused. “All right. See you around then.”
I waved him off and walked to my first period.
Ms. Miller was ranting about goat milk verses cow milk and which one is better for you. I ignored her as I set my things down. Eric wasn't here today and I wasn't surprised. And I was glad. It would make this day more awkward than it already is. But then the door creaked open, and everyone stared. Eric walked in swiftly, carrying a pink slip from the tardy table.
He handed it to Ms. Miller. She nodded while smiling as he sat down next to me. He didn't say anything to me. Instead he focused his eyes on the front.
Even when class was done he completely ignored me, walking out before I could even get a chance to speak to him. But what would I even say?
“Pluto to Dottie,” Janaki raised her eyebrows at me. Ever since Pluto was announced not a planet, she paid no mind to the scientists' discovery, and continued believing in Pluto. She even purposely answered a question wrong on her science test because of her beliefs. “Are you okay?”
“Confused,” I said, amazed at how my voice sounded tired. I took a fruit cup and the plastic spork from my lunch tray and ate.
“The fight still bothering you?” She said after a while.
I stopped eating and looked at her. “I don't know what to do. Should I break up with Kade? Should I talk to Eric? Should I just get in a spaceship and leave to Pluto?”
“I'll go with you.” She smiled, but then frowned when I glared. “Dottie, I wouldn't know either. This never happened to me before.” She realized something. “And what do you mean you didn't talk to Eric yet?”
“Exactly what I said. I didn't talk to him.”
“You should have! You should….” She whipped out a piece of paper from her black binder. “Invite him to the party happening this Saturday. Hosted by your favorite person of course!”
At first I thought she was talking about herself, but after reading the paper, she was saying the exact opposite, “Kristen Pegan?!” I said in a loud voice. Janaki shushed me.
“How can I invite Eric to a party that I wasn't even invited to?”
“You are invited,” she said, in between chews of her salad. “She gave yours to Kade. You should have seen it,” She chucked, “She was all like, ‘Oh Kade. Hi! Come to my party! And can you give this to Dottie? Thanks a bunch!’ Such a fake.” She laughed again. “She is still into Kade, can you even believe it?”
“Hard to.” I said. I looked at the paper again.
“So invite him!”
I shook my head. “I don't think he would want to be at a party with all the jocks that beat him up.”
“He's putting up with school, isn't he?” She pointed out. “Plus, it'll be like an I'm-sorry-my-boyfriend-has-a-bad-temper apology.”
I picked the paper up and gave it back to her. “Does he even go to parties?”
“I remembered his mom held a birthday party once for him when he turned nine.” Her face appeared as if she was in a happy daydream. “Ah…good times.”
“If I bump into him today, then I will,” I said.
So that means you won't bump into him today, which was your main objective from the start?” She nodded, thoughtful.
I shrugged. “Who knows, I might. It's all up to fate.”
“Well then I hope that fate is on my side today.”
My car was about the last one in the parking lot. I had to stay after to redo a Chemistry test that I missed when I was absent. There was a light rumble from the sky. I noticed a dark cloud heading towards me.
A tap on my shoulder scared me senseless.
“I'm sorry.” Jeremy appeared in my view.
“No, it's fine.” I smiled softly. “What you doing here this late.”
“Club,” He answered, but Jeremy gazed at me. He saw through my fake smile. “What's up?”
I couldn't take it anymore. “Gah! Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
He backed away. “Um, you're naturally a happy person. When you’re sad, everyone can easily see that.”
“Psh.” I shifted my eyes, openin
g my car door. “Get that from my mom.”
“Seriously though, what's going on with you?” he asked again.
I didn't want to tell him, but at the same time, Jeremy was a guy I could really trust. “Got a ride?” My arms spread to the car.
“Can I drive?”
“Over my dead body.” I said.
He laughed. “C’mon. Really?”
I looked over him. I knew Jeremy was a really careful person. And plus he is a sophomore. He's getting close to the driving age anyhow. And it’s a great time to learn. “Fine.” I sighed. I gently handed him my keys, as I rounded the car front to the passenger’s seat. When I got to my seat, Jeremy started the car. Boy, he seemed quite excited.
“So what seems to be the problem?” he said, pulling out of the parking lot.
“Oh. It's just...I'm speaking hypothetically here,” I began, “Let's say my boyfriend—”
“Oh.” He interrupted while grasping the idea in his mind. “You're talking about the beating Kade gave on Eric.”
My eyes widened. “You were there?”
“No.” he shook his head. “Jana told me.” He took a sharp turn to avoid a pothole in the road.
I furrowed my eyebrows. “How did she get a chance to talk to you?”
He laughed. “There's a thing called the library, Dottie. I know you may not use it as much, but I do and we happened to bump into each other.”
I glared at him. “Jana talks way too much.” I nudged him too. “And I do use the library for your information.”
“Didn’t doubt it for a second. Even you have to research.”
I looked out my window. “What should I do, Jeremy?”
“You say this as if you had to choose good vs. evil. It's not that kind of choice,” he said. “People make mistakes. I just think you need to confront Kade.”
“Look at you! You have more good advice than the people I turned to put together.” I moved my hands around, trying to bring emphasis to my statement.
We stopped at Jeremy's house. A small, cute blue house with the white garage door opened. Inside was his older brother working near the hood of a black SUV.
“I thought he was at college right now.”
“He likes long drives, works better under pressure, and wants to annoy the hell outta me.” I laughed at that last remark he made.
“Hey beautiful.” His voice next to me said as I got out of the car. A.J had a baseball cap on, a white t-shirt with holes, and blue basketball shorts. He had black oil smudges on his face. He was very lean and had a five o’clock shadow. Yup, pretty much an older version of Jeremy.
“A.J, what are you doing here? I thought you were at USF.” I smiled.
“I came all the way here just to hit on you.” He answered, with a crooked grin. He patted my head as if I was a child and I stuck out my tongue at him. A.J was what Jana and I refered as a ‘generic hottie’. We knew our chances with him were very slim. For one thing, he treats us like he would treat a sibling (I do get the same treatment as Jeremy as a matter a fact). Another would be that he only dates super-mega-hot models. (And most of them were tall brunettes, I might add). But he never lasted with any of them.
My phone rang. “Hello?”
“Dorothy?” It was mom. “Can you go get something for me?”
Uh-oh. Not again. “Oh mom!” I slapped my forehead with my palm.
“I'm sorry, sweetie. Terribly sorry. But with so much work I'm doing lately, I never have time to get them.”
Yup. Mom wanted tampons, again with that. “Fine,” I sighed, defeated.
“You are a very wonderful daughter!” She said, delighted.
“Yeah, yeah.” I moved to the driver's side of my car, waving to Jeremy and A.J in the process. “Just try to remember that at Christmas.”
She laughed, but suddenly got anxious again. “Oh, I have to go!” Click.
I rolled my eyes. “Mom.”
When I got to Rob's Quickie (as inappropriate as it sounds) there stood two teenagers and an older women giving away free kittens at the entrance. The box was torn away at the edges. As I walked in, I could see a bright blue blanket with 5 kittens dancing around on it. Those poor cats. So restless.
I passed the candy aisle, heading straight for the aisle of feminine hygiene. I grabbed a brand that mom absolutely loved so much and took some pills for the cramps and mood swings my mom was sure to get.
There was a short line to wait in. I crossed my arms with the in my chest. I tapped my foot slowly as the door chimed indicating another customer.
I looked to see who it was and could not believe my eyes. Eric.
He was oblivious of my presence, heading to the direction of the pain relievers aisle. I stared blankly at him, my mouth probably opened in the shape of a small hole. He was wearing the same clothes from this morning, a black jacket with blue jeans.
“Miss, excuse me.” A guy about my age waved his hand quickly towards me, in a rush.
I went up to him, putting the items on the counter. He checked it off on his cash register. I gave him my debit card and he handed back my stuff in a plastic bag
“You look familiar,” he said, sounding friendlier this time.
I gazed at him for a second. “You too.”
“Must be in one of my classes then,” he mused.
I felt for my phone in my pocket, checking the time. “Oh, crap.” I was going to be late picking up my sister. I spun around, not looking ahead and managed to bump into a tall figure. Well what do you know, Eric Grant.
“Um sorry,” I mumbled. His gray eyes caught mine and I suddenly felt small, very small.
A slight smile spread on his face. “It's okay, Dorothy.” That was the first time he actually said my name in a friendly sort of way. It sounded absolutely so wonderful.
Then that it dawned on me of the deal I made with Janaki. “Oh! Do you know about Kristen Pegan's party this Saturday?”
He twisted his head to the side, confused. “No.”
“Oh, I do!” The guy at cash register said. “It's going to be awesome! That girl is such a hottie. Man I would—”
“Anyway,” I continued, “Won't you come?” I know I sounded way too optimistic. I was setting myself up for disappointment.
“Hmm….” he looked away. “Maybe.”
“Really? You mean it.” Okay, I'm going overboard with it now.
“I said maybe, it all depends.” He wouldn't say more, as he walked right pass me to the cashier.
Maybe.
4. DATE
Kade took a hold of my hand as we walked our way towards his car. The night was cool, and the stars were shinning brightly in the sky. It was nice, but I knew this date's going to get super ruined by what I wanted to bring up at dinner.
Today was Friday, and Kade was finally free. Well available, I guess. We had to catch up, with all that lost time. He wanted to suprise me tonight. So I had no clue where we were going to eat, until he pulled up at a restaurant.
“Olive Garden?” I asked, flabbergasted. It was my personal favorite.
“Best restaurant in the universe, Dottie. Thought you knew that.” He smirked, eyes glistening.
I grinned back. “You're the best Kade.” I kissed him full on the lips, a little awkward since I still had my seat belt on. I ripped off and we proceeded into the restaurant.
A pregnant woman, looked like she was fresh out of college, seated us in a booth at the far corner of the restaurant. Her blond hair was tied back in a ponytail, with her bangs hanging over her eyes.
She smiled pleasantly at us, but I could tell it was a fake facade. “Welcome to Olive Garden. May I start you out with a drink?”
“Raspberry Lemonade for me,” I requested.
Kade lifted his hand, making note of his presence. “Coke, please.”
She waved her pen at us. “Be back in a jiff.”
I took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy. I opened my mouth then closed it. Why ruin the evenin
g now, we haven't even gotten our drinks yet.
“Dottie, you needed something?” His concern was clear.
Well he did ask. “Kade, I think we need to talk about something that's been bothering me.”
The waitress came back with our drinks. “Are you guys ready to order yet?”
“Just a couple of minutes,” he said, smiling at her so it wouldn't sound as mean. She nodded, walking into the backroom. “Go on.”
I took a long sip of my drink, to give reason dragging this on. No, I had to face it and bluntly said, “Kade, did you beat of Eric Grant?”
He's blue eyes widened a bit, but then he narrowed them. “Did he say something to you?” He took a hold of his drink.
“No, no. I—” I shook my head. “I…heard someone saw you beating him up,” I lied, “with your friends.”
Kade knew I knew, and was totally not going to lie now. “Perhaps, I can agree that may have went a bit to far.”
“A bit!” I exclaimed. He looked at me. I quieted down.
“You haven't heard my side of the story.”
“Okay then. Shoot.” I took a long swallow from drink, looking at him expectedly.
He cleared his throat as he began. “That kid's really weird, Dottie. Beyond weird.”
I crossed my arms. “How so?”
Kade put his finger up. “First, what do you want to eat?” He flipped open his menu that he hasn't touched since we were seated. I opened mine as well, choosing the first, cheapest, and appetizing dish that I could find.
“Chicken Parmesan.” I answered.
“Then I guess I'll have that too.” The waitress came as if summoned by our closed menus.
“You guys ready this time?”
“Yes, we would both like Chicken Parmesan, please.” He looked up at her as he handed her back the menus.
“All right. Sounds good!” She nodded, courteously.
When she walked away, I motioned him to resume the conversation. “You were saying?”
“He believes that no one has hope at all.” He shrugged. “Like, if there was a Heaven and Hell, we would all just go to Hell. It's even weirder, and he's suppose to be Catholic.”
“He may just be confused.”
“Dottie, you shouldn't be hanging out with him.”
“He's my partner for English—”
“Understandable, but other than that—”
“I invited him to Kristen's party tomorrow.” I said, glaring at him.
“What!?”
“I don't care if he has a freaking bird growing out of his head, Kade! You shouldn't have beaten him up.”
He was quiet for a moment. Then said, “Dottie, did I ever tell you that I used to be friends with Eric?”
My eyes furrowed. “Nu-uh! You too?”
He looked puzzled. “What do you mean me ‘too’?”
“Janaki was friends with him.” As if he didn't know, they've known each other forever as well.
“Oh yeah.” It hit him. “Well I was Eric's friend late elementary and early middle school. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I thought he was strange.” He unfolded his napkin, placing it on his lap. “You know, I didn't think much of it, I always thought he was joking around, but….”
“But what? Come on!” I hassled it out of him. He then leaned in the table, careful to whisper to me.
“Eric is disturbed, Dottie. He likes to talk death, the supernatural in this twisted messed-up way. Even about God.”
“What about God?”
“Trying to understand if he's real or not.” Kade leaned back in his seat.
“That was in middle school!” I said, in Eric’s defense. “I've been around him a few times. He