"So you're going to study your handbook," I said with a nod and a smile. "That's what I should do. My first lesson is in two days."
"Are you nervous?" Kat asked.
How do I answer? Do I agree with her and say I'm also a little freaked out. Or do I play it cool and say it's no big deal. "Whatevs," I said with a shrug. That was an idiot thing to say.
"I don't know how you stay so calm," Kat said, tapping the counter top with her grape purple nails. "I'm a nervous wreck."
"You don't have to be," I said meeting her gaze. "It's not like the first time you've ever been in a car."
"You're right. I drive around with Trey all the time. I guess I should pay more attention to what he's doing behind the wheel."
I gave Kat a half smile but didn't really want her to pay any more attention to Trey than she already did. "Instead of watching Trey," I said like I'd been giving it serious consideration for a while, "why don't you keep your eyes on the road when he's driving?"
Kat thought about it for a second and her eyes brightened. "I can always count on you for a good idea Ed."
I handed Kat the Coke and her receipt. "Good luck, studying." She flashed a smile and gave me a small wave as she walked out of the store to her mom waiting in their car.
I stood there in a daze replaying the words Kat had just said to me. 'I can always count on you, Ed.' I smiled to myself then looked down. Uh oh. There on the counter was Kat's Driver Ed Handbook. I'm sure she'll notice she's forgotten it and will be right back.
An hour later and still no Kat.
"See you on Friday, "Bruno said, pointing at the clock as it ticked closer to nine o'clock. "It's not busy tonight so why don't you take off a few minutes early."
"Thanks Bruno," I said, hurrying to the back of the store carrying Kat's handbook. I slipped the precious cargo into my backpack and saddled up on my bike. I pedaled the heavy beast as fast as I could-going through yellow lights and darting between slower riders-as I raced along.
When I hit Trey's street I leaned into the corner and made a sharp right. I sped down the pavement knowing Kat lived only a few large mansions away from his party house. I rolled up the driveway and leaned my bike against the garage.
A few seconds later after I pressed the bell Kat swung open the heavy oak door. Her eyes popped wide when she saw me. "What are you doing here Ed?"
"You forgot this," I said, pulling her handbook out of my backpack.
"That was sweet. Com'on in for a minute," Kat said, waving me inside the huge marble entrance.
I gave her the handbook. "You said you were going to study tonight."
"I was," Kat said, "but then I got distracted with all the social media postings about the last game and the graffiti on Trey's car."
"It's still blowing up?"
"It's crazy." Kat nodded. "It's so big I think I'm going to write another story about it."
"I can't wait to read it," I said, putting on my helmet. I wanted to stay longer but was running out of things to say. Plus, I felt like a geek standing in her fancy foyer wearing my brightly colored biking jacket.
All of a sudden tires squealed into the driveway and a powerful engine was turned off. I heard a car door slam, followed by rapid footsteps, then a loud knocking behind me. Since I was closest to the door I turned and opened it.
"Just as I thought," Trey said, his eyes narrowing. "I was driving by when I saw that piece of junk outside and I knew it was you Warnicki."
Kat held up her hands. "It's not what you think, Trey."
"Oh yeah. What do I think?" Trey asked, crossing his ripped arms. "That this skinny weasel is seeing you behind my back?"
"Ed just dropped by to give me my Driver's Handbook that I forgot at the store. He was actually being nice. Which is more than I can say for you, Trey. And besides I'm not sure we're together anyway."
"We're not?" Trey asked, nostrils flaring like an angry bull. "You drive around in my car all the time. What do you call that?"
"I call that driving around in your car," Kat said.
"I see." Trey shook his head. "I guess there's no point in me staying then."
"I guess not," Kat said, folding her arms across her chest.
Trey looked at me coldly. "Out of my way helmet head. But from now on I'd watch your back. You never know who might be following when you're riding that piece of crap you call a bike. And sometimes accidents happen."
The door shut leaving just Kat and me alone again. My throat went dry. "I should be going too," I croaked over the sound of squealing rubber.
Kat's warm brown eyes smiled. "Thanks again Ed. I'll see you in Driver's Ed class tomorrow."
I waved goodbye and walked towards my bike which for the first time didn't seem quite so crappy.
Chapter Nine
My first official driving lesson was scheduled for four o'clock just after classes ended. Sure, I had been behind the wheel once before but I didn't count that. I didn't want to even remember that night. Trey and Fish still razzed me by asking how my Mom was before breaking up into fits of laughter. Judging by the pre-historic age of our classroom instructor I fully expected my next driving teacher to be a paunchy, grey-haired dinosaur with a bad case of body odor.
I strolled out the front entrance of school looking for a beat-up car and a wrinkly grandpa peering over the dash. I scanned the parking lot but saw nothing fitting that description. All that caught my eye was a super hot babe sitting in a cool blue Honda Civic. I figured she must have been waiting for Mr. Graham, our new gym teacher whose arms were bigger than my toothpick legs.
I sat on a bench minding my own business and waiting for my instructor to arrive.
Toot?toot!
I looked up to see who was honking. A mom picking up her kid? A student waiting for friends? A bus driver about to pull away? Wrong, wrong and wrong. It was the babe in the Civic and she was waving-at me!
Who me? I pointed at myself looking like a dork.
She motioned for me to come over, her face breaking into a wide grin. I walked towards the car trying not to stare at her jean-blue eyes and shoulder-length hair, golden as a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. I made it, tripping over my size twelve Converse Al Stars only once.
"You must be Ed Warnicki."
"That's me," I croaked, cool as a cucumber.
"Hop in." She slid out of the driver's side and glided around to the passenger door. A hint of exotic perfume wafted by me.
Before I got kidnapped I thought I better ask, "You are the driving instructor, right?"
"I sure am." The woman's teeth gleamed milk white against her tanned skin.
"I didn't see the Driver Ed sign," I said, pointing to the roof of the car.
"No, I have one in the trunk but it makes my car look lame, don't you think?"
The sporty Civic looked sleek without it. I nodded and got into the driver's seat. The woman reached out a hand, her nails painted cherry red. "Hi, I'm Scarlett?Scarlett Sanderson.
I wanted to slap myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Instead, I extended my sweaty palm and met her gaze before my pupils darted nervously away. "Hi."
"You look surprised," she said, no doubt wondering why my eyes were still bugging out of my head.
"It's just that you're not what I expected. What I mean is that I thought you'd be a lot older. I mean like our classroom instructor. I mean-"
"Don't worry, I know what you mean," Scarlett said, chuckling. "I get that a lot. Especially from my male students."
I glanced in the rear view mirror. My face was red as a ripe tomato.
"Let me explain," Scarlett said. "I'm still going to school myself. I'm a PhD student at Midtown University studying psychology. I teach driving to help pay for my tuition."
I nodded which seemed easier than speaking.
"Shall we get started," Scarlett asked, her eyes now focused straight ahead on the road.
I turned on the ignition and was just about to put the car into gear when Kat walked out the front door. Sh
e spotted me, smiled and started walking towards the car. Then she came to a dead stop, her eyes widened and suddenly she looked away as if she had never seen me in the first place.
"That was weird," I said under my breath.
"Do you know that girl?" Scarlett asked.
"Her name is Katrina?Kat. She's also taking Driver Ed."
"It looked like she was coming over to say hi," Scarlett said.
"Yeah, until something changed her mind."
"Hmm," Scarlett said, nodding. "I think that something was me."
"You?"
"I'd say your friend Kat was jealous."
"Jealous? That's crazy- we're just friends."
"Maybe," Scarlett said. "I'm just a student psychologist but I'd say your friend wants to be more than friends."
"No way."
"She doesn't know I'm your instructor," Scarlett said, flinging up her hands to explain Kat's confusion. "She might think I'm your girlfriend here to pick you up."
"Get real," I said, rolling my eyes. "No one in the whole school would think that- especially Kat."
"Why not Kat?" Scarlett's blue eyes studied me like I was a white rat in a psychology experiment.
"I say dumb things when I'm around her. I never know how to act."
"Just be yourself."
"But I don't want to be myself." My voice started to rise. "Look at me. I'm like a beanpole with a big nose; I ride a crappy old bike everywhere and I have a crazy mother who wants me to stay at home all the time. Who would want to be me?"
Scarlett locked eyes with me. "Listen to me Ed. You've got all sorts of good things going for you."
I made a face. "Like what?"
"Girls like tall guys. And don't worry, you'll fill out. You just have to eat a few more cheeseburgers, that's all. Plus, soon you'll have your driver's license and then Kat will be sitting here in your car instead of me."
I tried to imagine Kat sitting next to me in old Mildred and it seemed so far-fetched I burst out laughing.
"What's so funny," Scarlett asked.
"I just can't see that happening, I said, shaking my head. "I think you better stick with being a psychologist and not a fortune teller."
"I don't know about that Ed," Scarlett said, her lips parting into a sly grin. "I see a driving lesson in your near future. And that's not the only thing I'm right about."
I shifted into gear and we lurched out of the parking lot, Scarlett steering me through the turns and intersections that lay ahead.
Chapter Ten
Over the last couple of weeks things have cooled down. I've stayed out of Trey's way and he's stayed out of mine. It's lucky our paths don't cross much. We don't have any classes together and we park our rides in different places-yes, I consider a bike rack a parking spot. One time I had a scare when I thought he was following me as I biked along my street. But it turned out to be one of those brown UPS trucks making a delivery to the house next door.
I see Kat and Fish in my Driver's Ed class three times a week but they've moved and now sit four rows over. Fish continues to razz me every chance he gets. Yesterday our instructor said we should yield to cyclists whenever we cross a bicycle lane. Fish shot up his hand and asked why we have bike lanes in the first place, all the while smirking at me across the classroom. 'Everybody should be in cars,' he said. 'Bikes are for lamos.' Kat told him to shut up but other than that she barely gives me the time of day. She also keeps doing that thing where she flicks her head away if she catches me looking at her. Whatever.
My lessons with Scarlett have been going pretty well and last week she taught me how to parallel park. Or at least she tried to teach me. 'You still need to work on your angles, Ed' she said on more that one occasion. So I've been practicing with old Mildred on the street in front of my house. This causes me a lot of stress-but not because of the parking. It's because I need to have a licensed person in the car with me and that person happens to be my Mom. Enough said.
I had a spare period and cruised into the library searching for a free computer. I felt safe hidden among all the books. I didn't think Trey and Fish would ever set foot in the place and Kat always did her research and writing in the Midtown Weekly's office.
I found an open screen and a couple of clicks later I was on the Midtown High website. I saw that Kat had written another story in The Weekly about the ongoing battle with Riverside. I knew there were still lots of dumb postings on Twitter and Facebook over the last game and the graffiti incident. And things were only going to get worse. The Mustangs played the Rams again this week and the war of words was heating up.
I was looking forward to Thursday but not because of the game. I could care less about football. The real reason was my next driving lesson with Scarlett was scheduled for that afternoon. It would be a good chance to show off my wicked parking skills.
I leaned forward and started to read.
REMATCH IGNITES BAD BLOOD BETWEEN SCHOOLS
By Katrina Kapoor - Midtown Weekly Reporter
It's going to be a showdown. This Thursday our Midtown Mustangs go head to head with the Rams from Riverside and we all know what that means-fireworks.
First the action on the field will be lighting up the scoreboard. Led by star quarterback Trey Redmond, the Mustangs will try and overpower the Rams defense like they did in their first game earlier in the season. "Our receivers are the best in the league," Redmond told this reporter after a recent practice. "No team in the league can stop us."
With first place on the line, anticipation is already building for the rematch. The Mustangs are undefeated this year while the Rams only loss was against the Mustangs. The winning team will have home field advantage in the playoffs, not to mention bragging rights.
There could be as much action off the field as there will be on. After the last game Redmond made some comments that riled up the Riverside fans. He said the Rams couldn't 'steal a game' from the Mustangs if it was handed to them. There was some fighting on the field between the fans of the two opposing teams.
There's no love loss between the two schools. Proof came after the last game when Redmond's new Mustang was vandalized with graffiti sprayed on its side. The big quarterback seemed to take it in stride, however. "This is what happens when you're the best player, playing on the best team." Police are still investigating the crime but no suspects have been found.
League officials are taking safety for the next game seriously. "There will be extra security posted to make sure all the players and spectators are safe. We don't want a repeat of what happened last time."
Kick-off for the big game is four o'clock, Thursday. Let's get out there and cheer on our team. Go-Mustangs-go!
My eyes were on the last line of the story when a large body thumped down on the chair beside me.
"You're unbelievable," Trey said, his strong quarterback finger stabbing at my screen. "I come in here because some teacher is making me write a stupid book report and who do I find? Stick Boy, that's who. Every time I see you Warnicki, you're either talking to Kat or you're reading a story written by Kat." He clenched his jaw. "You're on my turf, dude. And you better back off before you get hurt." Trey stood up, his muscular frame hovering over me. "You hear what I'm saying?"
Chapter Eleven
"Your next driving lesson will be this Thursday, Miss Kapoor."
"But I'm busy that day," Kat said, staring in disbelief at the old instructor standing at the front of the class.
"I'm sorry," the man said, peering over his glasses, "but your regular driving instructor is sick this week. Perhaps I should inform him to stop coughing and sneezing just for you."
"Could you?"
"No, I could not."
Kat pursed her lips. "But I have to report on the big game against Riverside this Thursday."
"Do you want to watch football or do you want to watch traffic lights, Miss Kapoor?"
"Traffic lights, but-"
"Very well, then Thursday it is," the instructor said firmly. Oh
, and one more thing-you will be sharing the lesson with Mr. Warnicki and his instructor, Miss Sanderson."
"What?" I blurted out, suddenly paying attention. "We're sharing?"
"Yes, Mr. Warnicki, a brilliant observation. You will indeed be sharing. That is to say in the same car, at the same time." The instructor shook his head saddened by the lightening speed at which I comprehended the situation.
I made a face and shot a glance across the desks at Kat who was staring right back at me, her eyes narrowed to slits. If there was anything in the world that could make me more nervous while taking a driving lesson, it would be Kat sitting right behind me. I was starting to sweat and it wasn't even Thursday yet.
The class ended and I was packing up my books when I heard Fish's mocking voice. "So Kat, sounds like you and Stretch Warnicki have a date on Thursday."
"It's not my choice, believe me," Kat said. "I'd rather be at the game than in the back seat of a car with Warnicki."
"So I should tell Trey that you and Warnicki are going to be getting cozy in the back seat of a car?" Fish snickered.
"That's not what I meant," Kat called to Fish as he headed to the door.
Fish smirked as he looked over his shoulder and said, "Too late."
* * *
Scarlett drummed her blueberry fingernails impatiently on the dashboard. "Do you think she's coming?"
"Not sure," I said, looking out the driver's side window. I scanned the front door of the school but there was still no sign of Kat. Off in the distance I could hear the Riverside fans chanting before the Mustangs game?Rams Rule!...Rams Rule!...Rams Rule!
"Maybe Kat is worried about driving with you in the car, Ed. She might be afraid of embarrassing herself."
I shook my head. "Not a chance. Kat doesn't get embarrassed. She knows what she wants and she goes for it."
"Is that right?" Scarlett said, winking. "Then I'd say she's going to be going for you any day now. Maybe even today."
I rolled my eyes. "You and your psycho-psychology books don't know what you're talking about. Kat thinks I'm a geeky beanpole. You don't see her here do you?"
Scarlett shook her head. "Not yet."
"That's because she'd rather be reporting on Trey at the football game. She won't admit it but she's really into that guy."