Chapter 7: Pot Stirrers
I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
The first day of junior year started out with a bang—quite literally. Thrace’s Mustang seriously needed a new muffler, but he still refused to let me drive. I think we managed to scare the flock out of half the students in the parking lot, which included Jazz, Rafe, and Key. They were razzing Thrace on his car as we all walked in together like one big happy dysfunctional family. We showed Rafe the office as we headed to our homerooms because we were running late. I had just settled in my chair next to Jazz and Key as Rafe walked into our homeroom with a note in his hand. He gave it to the teacher and made a beeline for the three of us. We all smiled at him, and he took the open chair next to Jazz. We all compared schedules. Jazz and Key’s were the same, and amazingly Rafe and I had the exact same schedule. I shot him a slightly accusing look as he shot me his satisfied smile. I had all my required courses with Jazz and Key, but my afternoon electives except for gym were different.
Jazz remarked, “Well, aren’t you two gonna be cozy this semester.”
Key whispered, “Please let me be there when Thrace finds out! I want to see if he breaks any of the probation rules. You are not the only one that is going to hold him to those rules.”
I hissed back, “Hey, pot stirrers, can’t we all just get along!”
All three of the pot stirrers snickered before the announcements came on to reduce the classroom noise to a dull roar.
Minus the hot new guy trailing me around all day, it was a typical first day at DAI. Every teacher gave us homework. We scoped out a new table in the cafeteria and laid claim to our new heightened status. We volleyed for seats and hierarchy within that table. Several of the juniors got pushed to the overflow table next to us. But as juniors dating seniors, we did not get pushed off the island. Thrace sat next to me, and Rafe sat across from me.
Thrace and I only had journalism together, so we said good-bye at the door to study hall. It did not go unnoticed by Thrace that Rafe was in study hall with me. When I caught back up with him in journalism and he saw Rafe and I walking in together, he made a face of concern until I made a beeline for him. Rafe again gave a slip to the teacher and took a seat away from us. Thrace wanted to make plans for after school until I reminded him that he needed to take care of his car issue. When the bell rang, he walked me to my Shakespeare class and saw Rafe sitting in class already.
He muttered under his breath, “What did he do, copy your schedule?”
I lightly hit him in the chest and said, “That would be hard to do seeing as I didn’t know my schedule until today.”
“Fine. Fine. I will behave. It just feels like he is moving in on you, again.”
“Thrace, the only people that can flock us up are us.” And on that note, I gave him a side hug and sent him on his way.
As I took my seat next to Rafe, he whispered to me with a wicked smile, “It’s not paranoia if someone really is out to get you.”
“What, can you read lips?” I asked exasperated.
“Some. What I can read much better is body language and deadly looks,” he said with a laugh before the teacher started his lecture.
In our Shakespeare class, we got paired together to do our first project. Rafe smirked at me as he remarked, “Man, this is my lucky day. At this rate, we’ll be engaged by the end of the semester.”
I couldn’t help but laugh and accuse, “How much did you pay the office staff for your good fortune?”
He just nodded at me in a mafia boss sort of way and replied, “I am connected in ways that you wouldn’t believe possible.”
Thankfully, the school day ended with less drama than it began. Key dropped me off at my house while trying to guilt me into hanging with her, Jazz, and the basketball boys. I told her about my new building project, and she finally let me go. I immediately headed to DUA to meet with Dr. A. I was excited to hear about the building they had chose for my project and to get started on my research. Rafe and I had already stopped by the Superintendent’s office to make the appointment to pitch the renovation idea.
Rafe was hanging out in Dr. A’s office when I arrived at DUA and greeted me, “Hey there, stranger. Did ya miss me?”
“No, but I did miss the drama that follows you around like a cloud over your head.”
“I think you are mistaking me for you, Siren.”
I was about to snark back at him as Dr. A walked in and announced, “I have the perfect place for your school’s restoration project, Calli.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense Dr. A, what is it?”
“It’s called the Grande Ballroom, and it is on the market for a steal. It will be about $28,000 to buy the place and at least another $60,000 or so to get it back in usable shape--more to really make it a knock out. The restoration part of the project can happen in phases. You will have to raise the funds for the building in the fall, and we can do the renovations in winter and spring along with the course.”
“Dr. A, $88,000 is a lot of money to raise! I don’t know if I can do that. That is not car washes and bake sale kinda fundraisers!”
Dr. A smiled at me and said, “I have asked our fundraising expert to walk you through a few strategies to hit your fundraising goal after this meeting. The Grande Ballroom is a landmark in Detroit and restoring it would be excellent press for your school, the DUA, and UM as a joint project. Many musical legends played at the Grande Ballroom like The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison, BB King, and The Grateful Dead to name but a few. So Calli, are you all in?”
I laughed at his poker terminology. Little did he know that my mother was a card shark. “Yeah, Dr. A, I’m all in.”
He shook my hand and smiled at Rafe and I. “Now, let’s go talk to Sadie, my fundraiser extraordinaire.”
Sadie was a ball of energy. There was no other way to describe her. She was already filled in on the project and suggested monthly fundraising events to get us to our goal. We would start small with a raffle in September where we would sell tickets for donated sporting events and spa services. The first big fundraiser would target getting a car dealership to donate a fairly nice used car to raffle in October at our homecoming. I worked with Sadie, Rafe, and Dr. A until about 9pm when my parents called and wondered where I was after Thrace had showed up for dinner and I had not. I told Dr. A and Sadie I would be back on Wednesday if they were available and bolted for home. Rafe walked me out to my car and said with his typical grin, “That was a pretty solid first day Calli. It will be interesting to see if you can keep up that level of enthusiasm.”
I laughed and replied, “You ain’t seen nothing, yet.”
When I got home, I explained the new project to my parents. They told me stories about when they had been to the Grande Ballroom, and the different groups they got to see play there. I told them that I would be volunteering at the DUA on Mondays and Wednesday for the foreseeable future. They seemed a little concerned with my packed schedule. I promised them that I would lighten up if I needed to. When I called Thrace, he was less enthused with the project, but only because it cut into his time with me unless he would come and volunteer. I lessened his concern by instituting Friday Date Night that would be solely our time together. Naturally, our first Date Night would be the concert, and he would unveil another of the 21 steps. I told him he could sneak over and say good night. I grabbed one of my balloons and headed downstairs in pjs and bunny slippers. My bunny slippers had a little bit of an attitude since Jazz painted an evil grin with fangs on them with a black Sharpie.
I met him at the front door. He handed me a small box when he reached me, and I smiled as I opened it. “Step 2: Hugging”
I gasped as he gave me a big hug that lifted me off my feet. When he let me down, I wrapped my arms around him and laid my head on his chest. He told me that he missed me this evening. He finally let him go with a sigh. I laughed as he ran home holding a balloon that said, ??
?I’m a Tool.”