“So your entire weekend is taken up.” His face relayed his disappointment.
“Yes. Sorry.”
“Can I call you?”
She brightened. “That’d be great.” He pulled out his phone and she gave him her number.
“I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay.” Out of the corner of her eye Coco could see her three friends impatiently waiting for her. They stood by the door, huddled together, whispering. She didn’t need to speculate who they were discussing.
Coco was about two feet away when Laurie grabbed her by the arm and jerked her closer. “Oh my!”
“I can’t believe it!” Natalie groaned.
“He danced with you the entire night!”
Her friends gathered around her like a flock of geese, each one asking questions Coco didn’t want to answer. She feared saying too much would jinx it.
“Ryan Temple likes you,” Josie insisted with a dreamy look.
“What did you do to get his attention?” Laurie asked.
“I…don’t know.”
“Of course you know,” Josie argued. “You have to know.”
Coco wasn’t sure she’d said or done anything worthy of Ryan, but she wasn’t about to question it.
“He just broke up with Dakota Schmidt.” Natalie was the one who kept track of such matters.
The only thing Coco knew about Dakota was that she was a class officer and was destined to be salutatorian for their graduating class.
“What happened with Dakota and Ryan?” Coco asked.
None of her friends knew, not even Natalie.
“Who broke if off?”
Again, silence.
“Who knows and who cares,” Laurie insisted. “Not when Ryan has his sights on our Coco.”
“You know what this means?” Josie cried, as they headed out the school doors and into the parking lot. “We can all hang out with the football team now.”
“Hold on,” Coco protested, and raised both hands. “Ryan and I are not together.”
“Not yet, but you will be soon enough.”
“Right,” Natalie agreed. “He wants you.”
Coco remained unconvinced. “It seems to me you’re taking a lot for granted.”
“Did he ask you out?” Natalie pried, looping her arm around Coco’s.
Coco wasn’t sure she wanted to volunteer that information. “It wouldn’t have done any good if he had. It’s my grandmother’s birthday weekend.”
“He did ask, then,” Josie squealed.
“You’re all getting ahead of yourselves,” Coco insisted, wishing now that she’d accepted Ryan’s offer for a ride. If she’d gone with him she would have been able to avoid this inquisition from her friends.
They reached the car. Natalie unlocked it and Coco took the backseat the same way she had on the drive to the football game.
“Coco, get in the front.”
“The front? Why?”
“You’re dating Ryan Temple now and that grants you certain privileges!”
“Stop,” Coco cried, embarrassed now. She would have said more, but her phone chirped with a text.
“It’s Ryan,” Laurie whispered.
The entire car went silent.
“You don’t know that,” Coco said.
“Aren’t you going to check it?” Josie asked.
“I will later.”
“Do it now,” Natalie cried. “You can’t keep us in suspense like this.”
“All right, all right.” Coco reached for her phone. Sure enough, the text was from Ryan.
“What did he say?” Natalie had all but climbed over the seat to get a look at Coco’s phone.
“Nothing much. He said we’d talk.”
Josie placed both hands over her heart. “Why oh why couldn’t I be so lucky?”
Coco sighed. Little did she know then what she did now. If she had, she would have done everything possible to make sure Ryan Temple looked elsewhere for a new girlfriend.
In her room, which was across the hall from Coco’s, Katie unpacked her suitcase, hanging her clothes in the closet. Coco had mentioned stopping by the high school, but Katie wasn’t sure she wanted to go with her. It was likely, however, that Coco would need her for moral support. The fact was Katie needed her friend for much the same.
It was hard to believe that in a matter of a few hours she’d see James. The worst-case scenario was that he’d continue to make it clear he wanted nothing more to do with her. That wasn’t what she wanted, but there was every likelihood she would have to accept his decision. Perhaps there was a chance for them, but either way, she needed closure to this unsettled, unresolved issue.
They’d met when Katie transferred in October of her senior year. Changing schools had been the worst. Her social worker had tried hard to keep Katie in the same school district, but there were no spaces available for a girl who was nearly eighteen years old. Mrs. Gillian did the best she could for Katie, placing her with the Flemmingses, who were personal friends of hers. They had taken in foster kids in the past, but hadn’t for several years. Mrs. Gillian assured them that Katie would be no trouble and that she’d be with them for only a few months. The Flemmingses agreed, and Katie had found a temporary home with a wonderful family. She made sure to always be polite and did what she could to be a help. She never asked for anything beyond what was absolutely necessary, wanting with all her heart to finish the school year in one place and graduate from high school.
In order to graduate with the class, she needed a math credit. Katie was placed in second-year algebra, but it didn’t take her longer than one class period to realize where she’d been in her last school was way behind this class. She’d never get a passing grade without help. After class she’d timidly approached her teacher, Mr. Kloster, and explained her situation.
The teacher mentioned his TA and called to James just as he was about to leave the classroom.
“James,” he said, stopping the tall, athletic-looking boy. “You met Katie earlier, right?”
James glanced at Katie and nodded. She knew what he must be thinking. Her hair was red and wild after hurrying from swim class, the shoulder-length curls flowing in every direction. She had freckles all across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, and her clothes were secondhand. She wasn’t exactly the coolest kid in class.
“Katie needs help catching up. Would you be willing to tutor her over the next few weeks?”
James looked as if he’d been asked to babysit a kindergartner. “I guess,” he said, with a complete lack of enthusiasm.
“Fine. I’ll leave it up to the two of you to work out a schedule.” Mr. Kloster reached for his books and headed out the door. This was the last class of the day, so he must be eager to leave, and from the disgruntled look James tossed at her, he was just as eager to escape. Instead, he was stuck with her.
James walked out of the classroom with her. “Would twice a week work?” he asked.
She kept her head lowered and nodded.
“Can you meet before school?”
Katie shook her head. “Sorry, no, I ride the bus.”
“When’s your study period?”
She told him and he groaned. “I should have guessed. Mine is second period.”
“What about after school?” she asked, willing to walk home instead of taking the bus.
He hesitated. “Is that the only time you can meet?”
He glanced toward the gym, which was off the cafeteria, and she realized that by tutoring her he would be missing out on time with his friends. She nodded. “Sorry.”
“Great, just great,” he muttered. They set a place to meet and then he asked, “How far behind are you?”
“I…I’m not sure.” All Katie knew was that she was completely lost.
“Do you have time today?”
Clutching her books to her chest, she nodded.
“Perfect.” He said it as if it was anything but.
And so they started meeting after class tw
o times a week. In the beginning it was terribly awkward. They sat at a table in the corner of the cafeteria, across from each other. She rarely spoke unless prompted, and James didn’t seem inclined to chat, either. This time together was strictly for solving for x and looking for y.
Katie lost count of how many times he said, gritting his teeth, “This isn’t that hard.”
Maybe not for him. “I’m not good with numbers.”
Not long after they started meeting he grew impatient when she reached for a scratch pad. “There’s a calculator on your phone,” he muttered impatiently.
Katie had trouble meeting his gaze. “I don’t have a phone.”
He looked stunned. “Who doesn’t have a phone?”
“I don’t,” she whispered.
“Okay, whatever, use mine.” He slid his cell across the table.
Those first two weeks were dreadful for Katie. Apparently, James had had to give up time playing basketball with his friends because of her and she guessed that was the reason he resented having to spend time with her. It didn’t help when one of the guys taunted him, calling Katie his girlfriend.
Katie didn’t dare look at James; it wasn’t necessary, she could well guess his reaction. She tried, she honestly tried, but anything math-related was like learning a foreign language to her. By the time they started work on the quadratic formula her stomach was in knots and she felt hopelessly stupid.
“Just follow the steps,” James said. “Come on, you’re not stupid. You can do this.”
“I can’t if you’re yelling at me.”
“I’m not yelling,” he said, lowering his voice as he glanced longingly toward the gym.
“You’re upset because you’d rather be with your friends and you’re stuck helping me.”
“I’m upset because working with you is so frustrating.”
“I’m upset, too,” she cried, and shoved the book aside. “I can’t understand any of this.” She was close to tears and her voice wobbled. “I’ll take whatever grade I get. You tried to help…and I appreciate that. Go play ball with your friends.” Standing, she reached for the textbook and grabbed her sweater and started to walk away.
Almost immediately James caught up with her. “Okay, okay, I get it—math isn’t your thing.” He exhaled as if struggling to get a grip on his patience and keep his cool. He matched her step for step until they were in the hallway outside the cafeteria. When he spoke again it wasn’t about algebra. “I heard you’re on swim team now?”
She didn’t look at him, fearing all she’d see was his annoyance.
“If you flunk the class, Coach will pull you from the team.”
Katie swallowed hard. Swimming was the one area in which she excelled, the one thing in life that gave her pleasure. To have that taken away from her would be devastating.
She didn’t say anything, but the lump in her throat thickened. This had been by far the worst year of her life. Yet another foster home. The social worker had told her that her mother had recently been sent to prison. She’d been arrested for stealing, most likely for money for drugs. Katie had no friends, and even James hated her.
His voice gentled. “The team needs you.”
She needed the team, too, and swimming, although she wouldn’t tell him that.
“I’ll try to be more patient,” he promised, exhaling.
Katie slowed her pace and then stopped walking as she weighed her options. “Okay, I’ll try, too.”
With his hands in his pockets, James leaned against one of the lockers. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
Katie looked up then, brushing the wild red hair away from her eyes. “I’m sorry, too.”
“You aren’t stupid,” he said again, straightening and leading her back to the cafeteria.
“You could have fooled me.”
“You’ve got to stop thinking like that,” he chastised. “That’s part of your problem. You keep telling yourself you don’t get this math stuff. If you gave yourself half a chance you’d do a lot better. Try a positive attitude.”
“You think that will actually help?” Katie couldn’t help being skeptical, although she had to admit he was right. Her attitude was rotten, but then so was his.
“It can’t hurt.”
“Then I’ll try if you do.”
“Me?” he sounded surprised.
“Oh come on, James, admit it. You got trapped into being my tutor and you don’t like it. Not that I blame you, but your attitude isn’t exactly helping matters.”
He arched his brows as if shocked she was capable of stringing more than two or three words together at a time.
It took a minute, but then he smiled. He actually smiled, and Katie smiled back.
“All right. Let’s try this again with a fresh attitude from both of us.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
The tutoring sessions went better after that.
Making friends with Coco had been a big help, too. They were on the swim team together. The girl was open, friendly, and a little flamboyant, whereas Katie was withdrawn and shy. The one area where Katie excelled was in the water. Even now she remembered the first words Coco ever said to her.
“Wow, you’re fast.”
“Thanks.”
“We’re really glad you’re on the team. A few of us are going out after the meet. Do you want to join us?”
More than anything Katie wanted to go, but she couldn’t. Mrs. Flemmings needed her back at the house to help with dinner. It would have been fine if she’d made arrangements with her foster parents before the meet.
“I can’t,” she said, reluctance weighing down her words. “Sorry.”
“Next time,” Coco said, and then hesitated. “Do you mind me saying something about your clothes?”
Katie was sure her face must have turned a flaming shade of red. “I know they…”
Stretching out her arm, Coco wrapped her hand around Katie’s forearm. “I want to go to fashion school, so I do this all the time. I hope you don’t mind. I was thinking if you left that top untucked, your outfit would be really cool. That’s the look they’re showing in the magazines this fall.”
Katie hardly knew what to say. “That’s so nice of you.”
“I love this kind of stuff. My friends are used to me dressing them up. It’s all about accessorizing. If you want, I can show you a few tricks.”
“Okay.” And that was the beginning of a friendship that had lasted from that day forward. Spending time with Coco was fun. Her newfound friend was full of ideas and energy and dreams for the future. Just being with Coco gave Katie hope that one day she’d fit in with everyone else at Cedar Cove High.
After swimming the next day, Coco swept Katie’s untamed red curls back and tied them at the base of her neck. The day after that she loaned Katie a pair of dangly silver earrings with a matching necklace. She had a dozen thin bangles to go with it, but Katie found it too hard to wear them and write, so she returned the bracelets. But the earrings and necklace felt glamorous.
That afternoon was another tutoring session with James. With her heart pounding so loud she was sure he must hear it, she approached their table. She wondered if he’d notice the jewelry.
She sat down and dug her textbook out of her backpack.
James didn’t say anything for a moment, and then said, “You look nice today.”
Katie lowered her head in order to hide the pleasure his compliment gave her. “Thank you.”
“Did you come with a positive attitude?” he asked.
“Did you?” she returned.
He laughed. “I did. Now let’s get down to work.”
To his credit, James didn’t get annoyed with her once during that session. Katie continued to struggle, although she wasn’t as willing to give up. Once she conquered the quadratic formula she’d be caught up with the class. As best she could figure, it would take another week, possibly two.
She wasn’t sure what changed, but following their blowup, she found t
hey were working together instead of against each other.
For the next session, Katie arrived at the cafeteria first. James was only a minute or two behind her, but instead of sitting in the chair across the table from her, he sat next to her.
Katie looked up in surprise, afraid to mention the change in position and even to guess what it might mean. Her heart started pounding like a runaway horse, and when she reached for her pencil her hand trembled.
James acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, but it was, and Katie didn’t know what it might mean.
He was reviewing her homework assignment that she’d started in class when one of the guys from his group of friends strolled past.
“James,” he called out. “How long are you going to be? We’re one man short.”
“It’ll be a while.”
The other boy trained his look on Katie. She’d seen him around but didn’t know his name. His scrutiny made her uncomfortable.
“How long is it going to take before you’re back, man? The girl is taking all your playing time.”
“The girl has a name: Katie Gilroy,” he snapped.
“You taking her to Homecoming?”
In that instant it felt as if the entire world had stopped. Katie’s heart shot into her throat. She hated that James had been put on the spot. He would never ask someone like her to Homecoming, and so she answered for him.
“No,” she blurted out, feeling the telltale blush fill her cheeks with color. Her face burned with it and she lowered her head so low her forehead practically touched the textbook.
“I’ll stop by the gym later, Brandon,” said James.
“Sure.”
Brandon left and Katie felt the tension ease from James and realized it had from her, too.
“Sorry about that,” he said after a moment.
“That’s okay, you don’t need to apologize.”
He rolled the pencil between his open palms. “Has anyone asked you to Homecoming?”
“No. It isn’t for another couple of weeks, right?”
“Right.”
She thought for a minute that he wanted to talk about the dance, but he dropped the subject and she was just as glad. Even if by some miracle a boy asked her, Katie wouldn’t have been able to attend. She didn’t have money for a dress or shoes or anything else and she wouldn’t ask the Flemmingses.