CHAPTER V – BUSTER JENKINS
Time flew as it usually does in narratives, but for Lily it was tedious because it carried the taste and duty of homework assignments. Lily participated in several projects already, in subjects where she was not particularly interested, just because she wanted to make sure she performed well and hoped the students who excelled at them would pull her through. One of these projects was in Alchemy with Professor Suthern who was still her favourite and had recently began to thrill Lily in a special way. She felt she was passing beyond childhood with that, but was still not sure how to behave. Meanwhile, her only consolation were the team practices every Monday and Wednesday before dinner. Lily did not appear in any other clubs just to have enough energy for her sport. Most students featured in at least two clubs and some of the footballers were either in the theatre, or in Poetry, Art or something. Lily had not even taken the effort to find out what clubs there were, lest she might decide something that would interfere with her training.
Once, at a practice, she mentioned the mineral bathroom where only the swimmers were allowed.
"How come we are the ones who sweat the most and we get just ordinary shower rooms? Why not such luxury as the one for the swimmers?" Lily looked at the others, sincerely expecting explanation. Padrina said, "As far as I have heard, the reason is to soften the blow over the students who don't succeed at the try-out for football and cheerleading. You know, a compensation of some sort. That's what I've heard."
"Mhm, correct, I have heard the same. At least that is what Carl had heard and had told me." confirmed Buster.
"Can't we demand a nicer bathroom for us?" asked Lily.
"From whom?" asked Violet. "Do you think if they had the money, they wouldn't do something?"
"I don't know," dragged his words Phillip Sommerville. "I think we might ask. No harm will come with that. Lily is a new captain, now is her time to put across her demands."
Of course, there were so many conversations of this sort, all before and after practice, that Lily took Buster in her arm and they both went to see the Headmaster about it. Professor Jennings listened to them very carefully, said he would consider it, had them take some sweets and saw them off. Once on the outside, Lily shook the Headmaster's sleepy influence off and was herself again. The Professor had used some spell to make sure there would be no questions and wonderings.
Lily became angry with the Professor. She was outraged. Of course, the first to know about it was Buster. Lily fell into such fury, that a big boy like Buster had difficulties restraining her. He held her tight around the shoulders with both arms and his face got close to hers. Lily felt Buster's breath in her face.
"What are you doing? Get off me! Now!" shouted Lily.
"No! What are YOU doing? Stop it! Now!" hissed Buster. "Do you think our Headmaster was born yesterday? Do you think he doesn't know what's going on?" Lily calmed down and he let her go.
"Then why do they do that?" said Lily, her voice was completely calm now.
"I don't know, I told you. Carl said it was accepted this way. All footballers and cheerleaders are restricted from the mineral bath. Maybe because we go to try-outs, or something. Yeah," added Buster seeing Lily's disbelief, "I don't know. I can't see why. It may have to do with us taking part in contests. Who knows? Maybe the mineral water will harm us in some way."
"That has something to it." reflected Lily. "Did you come to it by yourself?" she asked in all possible sincerity.
Buster got offended. "Lily, why do you despise me so? You used to respect Carl, I know. Maybe even more than that. How come you hate me so much?"
Now Lily was sincerely surprised, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound so rude. What I had in mind was, if you have heard that theory from someone, perhaps. Someone like your brother, or your parents. They also came to this school, right?"
"Only my mother. And no – I haven't heard this 'theory' as you call it from anybody, it just dawned on me right now. Even idiots get ideas, you know." Buster was really hurt.
Lily felt even more awkward. She had never considered him an idiot, exactly, just not a very smart boy. She remembered that last year she was impressed by Buster's physical tenacity, for he was a big and strong boy. Rather automatically, Lily had dismissed his intellect. For a tender and finely-tuned girl like Lily, intellect would be of no use for such a manly boy. Besides, that would be a gross injustice, as he was already bestowed with almost superhuman stamina and power. While on the field, for instance, Buster was unstoppable. If he had the ball, he scored and no one could hinder him, even slow him down. Buster was a machine – fast, enduring and agile. On the other hand, Lily needed to use all kinds of tricks and dodges in order to reach the goal. She and Buster were both in the forward position, along with Carl, and, without Buster knowing it, Lily had been in constant competition with him. In fact, Buster had been her main external stimulus for improvement. Lily smiled unconsciously.
"Why are you smiling, Lily? Is it me?" Buster's question brought her back.
"So," thought Lily, "time to be open." And she said, "No, Buster, it's not you. It is ME, in fact. I was remembering last year and how much power I drew from your power, how much endurance your endurance taught me. I smiled because I thought myself an intelligent girl, my father says I'm a 'finely-tuned' girl, and it took me so long to understand how important and helpful you have been to me all this time."
Buster's face was close to Lily's once again. He said, "So? What shall we do?"
"What shall we do about what?" startled Lily. "Do we have to do anything?"
"Well, yes. You are captain, I voted for you. You remember?"
"Wait! First of all, I never agreed to that deal. Second, only YOU voted for me. What about 'all my friends'?" asked Lily.
"What friends? They are all YOUR friends there – Germina, Violet and Veronica. What 'friends' do I have? I hope you don't count Padrina in?" he said bitterly.
That was unexpected. Buster was so different, Lily wondered if she had known the same boy. She had fallen for his brother, Carl, and just dismissed Buster, and today was an eye-opener.
"I thought Padrina and you were..." she started insecurely.
"No, we aren't." He said curtly.
"But you were." insisted Lily.
"For a short time. Perhaps. I'm not sure." was his insecure answer.
Lily gained confidence. "What do you mean 'you are not sure'? What 'short time'? When? Was it last year, or was it just now, before today's elections? Come, Buster, spit it out." To Lily's surprise, she managed to impress Buster and he was groping for the suitable answers.
"Lily, listen." Buster stood in front of her and put his stretched arm on the wall, so as to hinder her from passing by him. Not that she had any intention of doing so. "When I came to you, I was honest. True, I did not have much to offer. No one would have voted for me, except for Padrina and Phillip maybe. Yet, I wanted you to know. I couldn't think of anything smarter to do. As for Padrina, I believe she was trying to ensnare me in her net before she got the idea that I am not very likely to be the new captain. I don't know what she expected. I don't know, believe me. Nothing happened between us. I felt as if she was using me for some sort of game with I don't know what purpose. I am always with her, because we are at the same House, and we are together in the football team. We used to be close friends last year. But then we were just kids."
"Kids?" Lily interrupted him. "Buster, if you were a kid, believe me, that is not the case with girls. Maybe she was in love with you last year."
"I don't know. Anyway, there was nothing between Padrina and me. And there isn't anything now. So, please, give me a chance."
"Wait," said Lily, "Do you think only the fact that you are free will be enough for me? I don't care if you are free or in a relationship. If I don't like you, how will you make me?" Lily threw Buster a harsh look. In truth, Lily was faking it. She was too confused in her own feelings, but did not want to show it, so she stood by this clever strategy of playing hard-to-ge
t.
In a second Lily knew she had gone too far. Buster's face clouded and his strong body shrank. He stammered, "If... if you don't... then, of course, I can do nothing." He paused to breath and then added, "I simply asked for a chance to spend some time with you and then, perhaps, you will see what I really am. But if you dislike me, as you say, then I am sorry to have disturbed you." He took his arm down and turned his back towards Lily. She hesitated what to do. Should she stop him now, that meant accepting his request. Should she let him go, however, would be in total disregard of her own feelings which, no matter how confused and contradictory they were, still contained a soft spot for Buster.
Lily was very lucky that Buster hesitated, too. Then she saw the reason – Professor Suthern was coming their way and Buster had to stop and greet him. Suthern looked at the two with suspicion and asked, "Lemonpie, Jenkins, is everything all right?"
"Yes, Professor!" said both, Lily smiled and joined Buster in the corridor.
Professor Suthern looked them from top to toe and said, "OK, move on."
"Good night, Professor!" shouted the two overenthusiastically and left nearly running, lest they should have to answer any more of Suthern's questions.
Lily Lemonpie and Buster Jenkins walked side by side for some time, then Lily suddenly caught his arm to stop him and they turned face to face. Buster was very timid and he still looked shrunken. That repelled her. She pushed him in the chest and said, "Buster, be a man!" He opened his eyes wide. In a second he straightened up and blew his chest out. His jaws were tight-set once more and the tiger's look was once again in his eyes.
Surely, a girl is not a child at sixteen, as Lily had noticed some moments earlier. And she was sure now, that a boy is neither a child at seventeen.