Throw Away Teen (20 page)

But now I needed to get my book. If Ringo gave me crap about it, I could turn on the waterworks with my English teacher. Mr. Barrett would force Ringo to give my book back.

Out in the parking lot, I headed for my bus. A bunch of kids were hanging out on the sidewalk beside it. Apparently, the driver wouldn’t let them on until school actually ended. When Ringo came up to me, I held out my hand. “Give me my book.”

“After I drive you home,” Ringo said. “That was the deal, B.J.”

“Your deal, not mine.” I lifted my chin and carefully spaced out my words. “Either I get my book now, or I raise a stink. Your choice.”

He didn’t crowd me. Instead, he looked curious. “What kind of stink?”

I looked around the parking lot until I spotted Headmaster Donnelly and the guy in the suit. “Oh, I think a couple screams should do it. This place is so hung up about P.D.A., the odds are in my favor if I claim sexual harassment. You won’t be a star athlete for long. Want to try me?”

“Not when you’ll win.” Ringo took a step closer. “You’re right. But you’re not afraid, are you, B.J.? You know I won’t hurt you. This is a game. You’re a manipulator.”

“I’ve been called worse.” I tipped back my head, so our gazes met, clashed. “I prefer to think of it as survival. I do what I have to do to get by. My book, Ringo. I want it now.”

“It’s in my car. I’ll get it.” He walked off.

I almost said I wouldn’t really have destroyed his pitching career. I controlled the urge. Let him think of me as a spiteful, nasty bitch. It would keep him away from me. That was what I wanted, wasn’t it?

Ringo returned and handed over the paperback. I stuffed the book in my back-pack and headed for the bus. I sat down and didn’t speak when Willa joined me.

Halfway home, she elbowed me. “B.J., what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

That got me another jab in the ribs. “I’m sure,” Willa said. “Talk.”

“Are you trying to get tough on me?” I demanded. When she nodded, I surrendered. “I had a fight with Ringo.”

“So, what’s new? You always fight with him,” Willa said. “What’s different about now? He’ll chase after you and you’ll kick him in the teeth. It’s just like in my books. Sooner or later, he’ll lose and you’ll get him.”

“Doesn’t the guy get the girl in your sappy love stories?”

“It’s what the guy thinks. Really, the girl gets him and everything she’s ever wanted.”

“What a fantasy.” The bus jerked to a stop at my corner. “See ya, Willa.”

“Yeah. Call and tell me when he comes chasing after you again.”

“He won’t.” I slid past her into the aisle. “We’re done.”

“He will,” she hollered after me.

I’d forgotten my next karate lesson was that afternoon. I barely had time to hug Guard and ruffle the white fur around his neck before Liz hustled me to the car and we headed for the
dojo
.

I’d learned how to do punches, blocks and front kicks. Now, I was into my second
kata
. This one began with a down-block then flowed into a series of punches and kicks. I pretended I was beating up Ringo and his gang of friends.

After he watched me do that
kata
twice, Sensei Nichols decided I was ready for the next one. It started with a new kick, a round-house which, if I did it right, would get my adversary in the gut. By the time we finished, I was wiped. Liz took me out for an ice-cream cone on the way home.

When we arrived, I finally had the chance to play with Guard. We tussled and I hugged him a lot. He thought that was great. He rewarded me with his usual puppy kisses and nips at my nose. I brushed him and tried to teach him to walk on the leash. He still sat down and cried when he got bored. Then, I had to pick him up and haul him back to the house. He’d gained weight and grown, so he was definitely becoming a load.

Back at the house, I started on my homework. If I did it tonight, then I’d be ready for whatever Fiona had in mind when she came to tutor me tomorrow morning. Despite what I’d told Rob, I whizzed through Algebra though I only did the assignment for Monday. I still had six weeks’ worth of other work to do for that stupid class but I’d get the money for it, no matter what.

I was loading the dishwasher after dinner, when suddenly, all the dogs raced toward the back door, barking. I noticed Guard in the middle of the pack and smiled. Apparently he thought he was as big as Bull.

Ringo came up on the back porch and tapped on the door before walking into the kitchen. He shut the door quick, before any of the dogs escaped. Petting all of them, he said, “Did you ask?”

I felt as if I’d have to scrape my jaw off the floor .What was he talking about? Why was he even here? Wasn’t he still mad at me for threatening him at school? “Ask what?”

“About going to the mall.” He sounded patient, like he was talking to someone dumber than dirt. “Are you going to tell me you forgot?”

Heat flooded into my face and I mumbled something as Liz came into the room, followed by Ted.

“Hi, Ringo,” Ted said as they looked at us. “The club doesn’t meet until next Monday. What’s up?”

“A bunch of us are going to the mall. B.J. said she needed to check with you before she joined us. My mom said she could stay over with Dallas and then I’d bring B.J. back tomorrow.”

“No way,” I said too quickly. I remembered how fond Liz and Ted were of her and Ringo, so I added, “Dallas doesn’t know me that well yet and I don’t want to impose on her.”

“I don’t think Dallas would consider it imposing,” Liz said.

Yeah, she would.

“Have you finished your homework, B.J.?” Ted asked.

“Only some of the stuff for Monday’s classes,” I said. “I still have a ton of catch-up assignments to do.”

“But you also need a break.” Liz gave her usual cheerful smile. “I appreciate your mom inviting B.J. over, Ringo, but I think she better come home. Girls always talk all night. They don’t sleep and B.J. has plans for Saturday.”

Plans, as in plural? All I knew about was Fiona coming over in the morning for a tutoring session. “I do?”

“Yes, B.J. You do. There’s tutoring and karate tomorrow morning. Evelyn scheduled you for a riding lesson before lunch. And we always go to Ringo’s ballgames.”

“And Liz does her heavy housework on Saturdays,” Ted added. “She’ll need your help.” He pulled out his wallet and handed me two twenties. “Mall bucks don’t come out of your allowance.”

“Really? Thanks.” I stuffed the money in my jeans, determined not to spend it. I’d add it to my getaway stash. When Liz and Ted got tired of me, I could live on the streets for months. Just me and Guard. I didn’t really want to go to the mall but since I was getting paid, I said, “Be right back.”

I went to comb my hair, add some mascara and lip gloss, and change to a new green sweater that matched my eyes. I got back to the kitchen in time to hear Ted laying down the law. He was such a control freak, but not in a mean way. And it made me feel more at ease. I knew Ringo wouldn’t do anything that would upset Liz and Ted.

“I want B.J. home by ten-thirty, Ringo. The mall closes at nine, so it gives you kids plenty of time to stop for ice cream on the way and not rush. If traffic’s bad, call me.”

Liz handed me her cell phone. “And if you need a ride for any reason, call us, B.J.”

“We were going into downtown Everett for the late movie,” Ringo said.

“Pull the other one,” Liz said. “The only theater in town shows Art and Classic flicks. The movie theater you kids go to is out by the mall.”

“Don’t cruise the main drag with my daughter.” Ted glanced at me. “The cops really harass the teens who hang out downtown.”

I appreciated the heads up. I didn’t need the hassle of added charges. The judge was already plenty ticked enough. He wanted to lock me in Juvie till the end of time, and my guardian-ad-litem said I should go to teen boot camp.

Ted kept his attention on Ringo. “Do we understand each other?”

“Sure thing.” Ringo glanced at me. “You ready?”

“Yeah.” I still wasn’t too clear on how I ended up going out with him.

At the car, Ringo just stood and looked at me. “Why are you so down on me lately?”

I stared back at him. “Because I don’t get you. Why don’t you stick to your own kind? If you want a girlfriend, date a cheerleader or somebody who can like you back. Just leave me out of it.”

“That’s not do-able.” He put one finger under my chin and lowered his head. Then, he kissed me. It wasn’t my first kiss, but it felt like it. He was gentle, sweet, whisper soft. He kissed me like I’d break if he got too rough. When he stopped, he put his arms around me and held me close. “What am I going to do with you, B.J.?“

“I can’t be here.” My voice was shaking. Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back. Why was I letting him get to me? I was too smart to think a guy like him really wanted me. “Just let me go. I’m not good enough for you. ”

“No way. I’m keeping you, girl.” He stroked my hair. Then, he kissed me again, as slow and tender as before. “Remember that when we get to the mall.”

I pulled away. “I’m not who you think I am. I’m nothing special. I’m street trash. You’ll see soon enough.”

“
I don’t believe it and soon, neither will you.”

CHAPTER 12

At the mall, we went through the main entrance into the food court. None of the other kids from Stewart Falls appeared to be hanging there. We finally found them in the video arcade. Mike was playing on a machine that was obnoxiously loud and flashy. While he shot down alien spacecrafts, Dallas giggled like he was a rock-star.

Ringo introduced me to the rest of his friends. Their names all ran together and I knew I wouldn’t remember them for long. The girls barely acknowledged me, acting snooty like Dallas had been all week.

Great, this evening was rapidly turning into a total bust. I really didn’t want to be around there. I tried to pretend I was interested in the games, but after I lost three dollars trying to pull a stupid stuffed toy up with some tongs, I quit. What was I going to do now? If I wasn’t playing the games, I’d be forced to talk to them.

Ringo and Mike were caught up in a hunting game. They were trying to stake vampires before they got bitten. The girls watched and cheered them on with high pitched squeals, which only added to the noise level.

I debated calling Ted and Liz for a ride home but I gave up on that idea. After all, they thought Ringo made the sun rise and set. How could I tell them that his friends made me uncomfortable? Instead, I decided to wander through the mall, people watching. I checked out the stores, most of them familiar after my trip to the Lynnwood Mall with Liz. I was grateful there wasn’t an Artemis and Iphigenia outlet here though. I didn’t need to run into Jocelyn on top of everything else. When I found a bookstore, I meandered inside. It should’ve come as no surprise to find Willa, once again with her nose in a hysterical romance.

“
Well, if it’s not the book-a-holic!”

Willa about jumped out of her skin. “What are you doing here, B.J.? Playing
Nemesis
?”

I shrugged. “I came with Ringo, but he’s as hooked on video games as you are on that junk.”

“
Why didn’t you drag him away?” Willa replaced the book on the shelf. “Scared?”

She had no idea, but I just shrugged again. “He has a bunch of the baseball buddies and those bubble-brained friends of Dallas to occupy his mind. I don’t like them.”

“
How do you know?” Willa demanded. “They’re probably just like us.”

“
I’m sure. Don’t you get tired of the crap Dallas dumps on you?”

“
So, she’s stupid. It doesn’t mean the rest of them are, B.J. Why are you with Ringo if you don’t like him?”

“
I never said that.” I felt my face turning as red as my hair. I would’ve walked off, but I didn’t want her to know she’d got me. “He’s...” I couldn’t find the words to finish.

She stared at me. “What happened?” She tried not to smile. “Come on, B.J. Spill it.”

“
Bug off.” I started to stomp away and she followed me.

“
If you don’t tell me, I’ll have to guess.” She caught up with me. “Did he make his move? What was it like? Is he a good kisser?”

“
Shut up!” I sounded like one of Dallas’ dipstick friends and Willa laughed. At this rate, I’d lose my reputation as a tough street kid. “I mean it.”

“
Let’s go grab a cinnamon roll and you can tell me all about it,” Willa said.

“
Only if you stop giggling like an idiot,” I said. “It was just a kiss, not the end of the world.”

“
Yeah, but it could be the start of something big.” She fluttered her lashes behind her glasses and added, “It’s a life and death romance. The Romeo and Juliet of the Academy...”

There was only one thing to do with her. I grabbed the book she’d been reading and took it to the cashier. “Here. This will keep you busy and out of my business.”

Willa’s mouth dropped open. “You’re getting me that?”

“
Yeah. What are friends for? Now, stop hassling me.”

She thought about it while the woman at the counter rang up the sale. Then, Willa said. “Maybe we better put the book back. I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself.” She undoubtedly wouldn’t, but at least she paid for the cinnamon rolls and coffee over in the food court. We’d barely sat down when a balding guy in jeans and a plaid shirt came along with a bag from the computer store.

“
You girls doing okay?”

Before I could tell the pervert where to go, Willa introduced me to her father, Dr. Jackson. “This is B.J. Larson. Remember, Dad? I told you she started school this week.”

“
Hi, B.J.” He removed his glasses to polish them. “How do you like Stewart Falls Academy?”

“
Most of the classes are okay,” I shrugged. “Some stink, especially math. The teacher’s a moron.”

That brought a grin to his face and he pulled up a chair. “Are you going to teach Wilhelmina to be so blunt?”