A Life Like Mine (22 page)

              “Now do you see why I made the choice that I did?” He let go of me.

              “Yes, but you could try and ask someone else if you could live with them. Believe me, we’ll find a way.” I was being optimistic.

              “I don’t see how.” He smirked.

              “Could we go eat?”

              “Now?”

              “I am hungry.” I looked down at my stomach.

              “Whatever you want.” He let me go to my locker so I could hunt around for my lunch. I always had a backup lunch in case the food being served was barf worthy. Not that what I had as a back up was fine cuisine, but it was something.

              “So, are we just going to move on and talk about something else for now? We’re just going to pretend that nothing has happened, and act as if we have all the time in the world?” Adam gave me that look again.

              “Yes, because we do.”

              “Do what?”

              “Have all the time in the world. You have a short attention span, do you know that?” I teased.

              “Only when I’m around you.”

              “Well…” I blushed, “You have to think positive. If you don’t believe it, then it most likely won’t happen.”

              “Thank you, Doctor Ashley.”

              “You’re welcome, Sir Sarcastic.” I kissed him.

              “I like you,” He said.

              “Good. Can I actually eat now, please?” I snickered.

              “If you must.”

              “I must,” I answered waving my hand over my forehead as if I was about to fall to the floor from lack of food.

              “Then carry on ma’am.” He bowed to me.

              “You are such a ham.”

              “Is my butt that fat?” He looked at his back and made a fake frown of panic.             

              “I’m going to go eat, okay?” I laughed.

              “I guess, but don’t take too long. It takes away from our time together. I need some time to moon over you, and all the things about you.” He made an exaggerated sigh.

              “You’re pathetic, you know that?” I poked at his stomach.

              “You know you love me.”

              “We’ve already touched that subject, and it was semi-awkward.” I scolded.

              “Now who’s pathetic?”

              “Still you.”

              “Am not!” He protested.

              “Whatever you say,” I answered, walking over to have lunch with my friends. Everyone was sitting there. Annie was there too.

              “Hey, Ash!” Jack said to me with his arm around Betty.

              “Hey, Jack. How are you guys?” I said, trying to sound cheerful, but totally blowing it.

              “What’s wrong, Ash?” Big Al asked me with concern in his eyes. He may be a major weirdo with a quirky sense of humor, but he definitely had a good heart.

              “Nothing, I just…I don’t want to talk about it, Big Al,” I answered.

              “Are you sure?”  Tad asked. He had his arms around Jennifer’s waist.

              “Thanks, I’m o…” I looked at all of the guys. Why were they being so sensitive to me? I snuck a look at each of the girls. They were all avoiding my gaze. “You told!” I said to no one in particular.

              “No! I didn’t I swear,” Allie confided.

              “I didn’t!” Keri said at the same time.

              “It wasn’t me,” Jennifer shouted along with Keri.

              “It’s true,” Betty looked down shamefully. We all told, but I brought it up.”

              “How could you guys do that? That was strictly locker room talk. I said that in confidence.” I sighed heavily.

              “Locker room talk? You mean, like when you were changing?” Big Al’s ears perked up.

              “It’s not like that, Al. Get over it. It’s not what you think. Don’t get too excited.” I shot Big Al down.

              “That was a bit harsh, Ashley.” Annie defended Big Al.

              “Thanks, Annie.” He looked at her admiringly. She returned his gaze. I looked from one to the other.

              “Annie, can I talk to you for a second?” I asked.

              “Sure.” She smiled at Big Al.

              “What’s going on? Do you like…Big Al?” I asked in shock.

              “Just a little. Is it obvious?” She looked a little nervous.

              “Just a tad! Come on now! He obviously likes you back! Why don’t you ask him out?” I smiled at her.

              “I don’t know,” She said biting her lip.

              “You totally should. He needs a smart girl to set him right,” I told her excitedly. I was really hoping for her to say yes.

              “I don’t know.”

              “Come on. You know that you want to!” I said.

              “Let me just think about it, okay?” Annie asked.

              “Well, I’m not trying to force you, I just think it would be really cool. Big Al is a great guy,” I told her.

              “I’ve just had trouble getting over Tom. He seemed like a nice guy too.”

              “Yeah, but Big Al is a nice guy. I promise.” I grinned.

              “Okay. Well, you go ahead and go back to the table.” Annie motioned.

              “Fine.” I laughed when I got back to the table. Big Al was running around the lunch room asking people if they thought his ‘butt was ghetto enough.’ Of course, all of the cheerleaders just dismissed him with a sniff. They had something going on with their noses. They were either up in the air or sniffing to show disapproval.  I decided to ignore Big Al’s attempts to impress Annie and walked back to the table. The rest of the day went by pretty slowly. I’d meet Adam during passing periods and talk with him. Okay there wasn’t that much talking, but don’t tell anybody. It’s our secret. Who am I kidding? You’re going to tell everyone. How could you? You’re awful! Why are you so cruel to me? Don’t you love me! Gotcha! Nah, I don’t care.  It’s not like the whole school couldn’t see us in the hallway. I have to tell you that I promise I made no disgusting displays with Adam. I’d seen enough of that first hand to not want to put that on someone else. The end of the day bell rang, and I ran outside to get to my car. When I got to my car Hank was there.

              “What are you doing here?” I asked him with curiosity.

              “I need to talk to you,” He said urgently.

              “Why? What’s going on?” I stopped short.

              “It’s a long story.”

              “Want a ride home? Or did you drive here already?” I asked.

              “I walked here. I needed the exercise. I could use a ride to my house. Adam will be there when I get there,” He said, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

              “What’s wrong?” I touched his arm with anxiety.

              “Let’s get in the car.” He jumped at my touch and got into the passenger seat. We rode for a few minutes in silence. I decided to break it, as always. What else could you expect? I’m the girl who saw a guy lick his lips, and then I suddenly thought he was a cannibal. Could you expect less?

              “Is this about Adam? I talked to him, and I know the truth,” I said calmly.

              “You do? How does Adam know? I didn’t tell him. He doesn’t know,” Hank asked in surprise.

              “He told me all about it. He told me about your job, your money problems, and how you got those money problems,” I admitted.

              “Tell me exactly what you know.”

              “Well…” I then told Hank everything that Adam had previously told me.

              “Oh.” Hank started laughing.

              “What is so funny?” I asked. Did I have something in my teeth? Man, I knew I shouldn’t have had all that junk food. It was bound to come and bite me in the butt!

              “That’s not what is going on. I just told Adam that so he wouldn’t get mad at me.”

              “Well, then what’s the truth? He thinks that you can’t take care of him and be his guardian for that reason.” I huffed.

              “Well, most of it is true, except for the money part. I mean, I’m low on it, but I’ll pay for it in my job.”

              “What made you lose so much money, if it wasn’t in the stock market?” I pulled into his driveway.

              “I emptied my bank account that was supposed to be used for college,” Hank replied, walking up to his door.

              “What did you do with it?”

              “I turned it in, so that Adam’s sentence would be less harsh,” Hank confided shyly.

              “You did what?” I smiled and hugged Hank as hard as I could. “You did that for him? You’re the greatest. That’s one of the nicest things I’ve ever known about!”

              “He’s like a brother to me.” Hank backed away and smiled at me. I looked in his eyes. I could almost see the same laughing gaze that Adam had. “What?” He asked.

              “Nothing. It’s just funny. You almost look like Adam,” I said finally.

              “Well, we’re not related, I checked. Believe me. Don’t tell Adam what I did though, okay?” Hank asked.

              “Sure, if that’s what you want. Were you going to tell me this when we were at the beach?” I inquired.

              “Yeah, how did you know that?”

              “You kept giving me this look that told me you wanted to say something, but you just didn’t know how,” I answered. “Well, thanks for doing that for him.”

              “Doing what for who?” Adam opened the door.

              “Adam,” I said.

              “Is that all you have to say to your boyfriend? Hi to you too!” He said.

“I didn’t know you were here,” I stuttered. I didn’t know if he had heard Hank’s confession or not.

“I heard voices and when I opened the door there you are. What brings you over here? And why are you with Hank?” He looked at me.

              “Uh…” Was all that I could say?

              “I was taking a walk and she rode past me. She asked me if I wanted a ride. My feet were kind of sore, so I accepted.” Hank filled in for me.

              “O…K…” Adam gazed from me to Hank, and then back to me again.

              “Yeah,” I agreed, “He and I were just talking.”

              “What about?” Adam asked, opening the door wider and letting Hank inside.

              “Stuff,” I replied. “Well, I really should go; I’ve got a lot of tests to study for. The year is winding down, you know?”

              “Sure.” Adam kissed me on the nose, “Are you sure everything is okay? Do you…do you like Hank?” He whispered.

              “Yeah, I’m fine. And sure I like Hank. Why?” I asked.

              “That’s not what I mean. I mean do you like Hank as more than a friend?” Adam asked.

              “Are you jealous? Do you think we’re doing something behind your back?” I questioned indignantly.

              “No…I was just wondering. You guys are both acting weird. That’s all. I’m not jealous…well okay…I’m suspicious, but I’m not jealous.”

              “Adam, we can’t have a relationship if it’s not based on trust. I would never do that to you! Why would you even think that? And suspicion is the same as jealousy, in a way. They both mean that you don’t trust me,” I said coldly.

              “Well, maybe I wouldn’t jump to conclusions if you didn’t sneak around with guys all hours of the day!” Adam answered angrily.

              “Don’t talk to me about sneaking around. I was not sneaking around. Hank is a friend of yours, why can’t he be a friend of mine?”

              “He’s a guy, and he might just want to go out with you.” Adam said.

              “Well, I don’t want to go out with him. We’re just friends. Stop freaking out every time I’m with a guy that isn’t you,” I yelled.

              “Then stop acting so weird and treating me like I’m stupid!” Adam yelled back.

              “You know what?” I said in a normal voice.

              “What?”

              “I don’t want to talk to you right now. You’re angry. I’ll see you when you’re less mad.”

              “Fat chance of that!” He roared.

              “Then fine, we don’t have to talk.” I walked calmly back to my car.

              “Fine!” Adam slammed the door to the house shut. It made the whole house shake. I got in my car and drove home. When I got home I sat down and just closed my eyes. What was going on with my life! Darn it! I want some control! No more of this melodramatic junk! PLEASE! Well, I’d have to worry about Adam later. I had two revenges to help plan: Tom’s and Lena’s. Believe me, they were going to pay, and soon.