I quickly climbed to my feet and was going to put my fist through her face when Drew stops me. His strong arms grab me by the waist and lifts me off my feet. He pins me against a row of lockers, placing himself between he girl with the smirk on her face and I.
“Sid, don’t.”
“Oh wow, you mean you know me now? What happened to you?” I shove him away from me.
“Nothing, I just grew up.”
“Since when did becoming a jerk signify growing up?” I reply, irritated.
“I don’t mean to be, it’s just that Courtney can be a little Glenn Close in fatal attraction if you know what I mean.” He chuckles.
“So that walking dead girls’ name is Courtney?” I ask.
“Yes, Courtney Collier.” He nods.
“Never heard of her.”
“She’s the Captain of the school’s cheer squad.” He informs me.
“Great, just what we need, another lunatic cheermare with pom-pom’s and school spirit.” I mock.
Drew starts laughing and it reminds me of the times we would sit outside on the side walk for hours making mud pies and catching bugs. He had THEE worst jokes back then and we’d both laugh at just how bad they were.
“Come on, I’ll walk you to class since you’re already on her hit list.” He offers.
“I hear you’re this star basketball player now.” I roll my eyes. I’ve dribbled circles around this kid.
“Something like that I guess.” He smirks. “You know my dad and his dreams of me being in the NBA. He wants me to be just like him.”
“Well it seems the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree.” I tease.
“What are you doing after school?”
“I was thinking about playing some basketball like I used to out front.”
“Cool, I’ll be there after practice.”
“Are there any tryouts for the girls basketball team?” I wondered.
“Depends, can you still handle the ball?” He raises a curious brow.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
Drew walks me all the way to class and then heads to his own. As I make my way to my seat I noticed Courtney and two other girls I didn’t recognize sizing me up.
“Never mind them, where have you been?” Asks Patrice, another friend I hadn’t seen since I left. OMG! OMG! OMG!
“Patrice!” I exclaim, excited to see her.
“Oh wow, all I got was a hi Trisha.” Trisha chuckles.
“Oh whatever you’re both my girls.” I reply, pulling them into a bear hug.
“What did you do to the cheerhater’s, they’re glaring at you?” Asks Patrice.
“Nothing, I was talking to Drew and…”
“You were talking to Drew?” Patrice asks cutting me off like I’d committed a crime.
“In front of them?” Trisha adds, “Oh wow.”
“What’s wrong with that?” I eye them both surprised by their reaction.
“Drew went out with Courtney, only she went all Gollum from lord of the rings on him and he dumped her. She hasn’t gotten over it and if he talks to any girls she comes after them.” Patrice explains.
“Let her. I’m dying to put my fist through her face. I haven’t given anyone a beat down in a minute so it’s about time.” I chuckle.
“Seriously Sid, she’s bad news.” Trisha warns.
“She’s just a girl guys, come on.”
Mr. Gillespie began to take roll call so I gave him my full attention. I didn’t want to get marked absent because that would count against the perfect grades I was planning to get this year. I wanted a car like Josh’s and Em was going to get hers soon too. I couldn’t be the only Stansfield without a luxury car to commemorate my achievements.
My first four periods were a breeze and I couldn’t wait for the hour-long lunch I had to rest my brain. Em, Trisha, Patrice and I all walked to the cafeteria together and smiled at a bunch of the jocks as we passed their table.
“Uh oh, here comes trouble.” Trisha begins to panic.
I turn to follow her gaze, and just as I turned I got a face full of cheese fries from Courtney who pretended to trip. One of her friends then poured a can of soda on my head.
WHAT THE HELL!
“Oh it’s on.” I reply, storming up to her face.
“What are you going to do? Hit me and you’ll be suspended. That won’t go over well with dear old daddy now would it?” She smirks. “Yeah that’s right. I heard about your daddy issues. Be smart Sid and sit back down.”
“Or I could rearrange your face and say you ran into my fist. Yes, as a matter of fact that sounds good to me.”
I raise my fist and am about to hit her when Drew grabs me by the waist and pulls me away from her. “You need to check your little pit bull before she gets put down.” I yell at him.
“Okay, one…she’s not my anything, and two, she’s right about your dad. You don’t want to end up in boarding school again, do you?” He chimes in as the voice of reason.
“No.” I sigh, trying to calm myself down. But man beating her down would probably feel better than sex. Not that I know what sex even feels like.
“I didn’t think so, so chill.”
Drew grabs some paper towels and starts trying to help me clean myself off. I feel sticky and dirty, and I really want to go Rocky Balboa on this chick, but I can already hear the lecture now.
“If you want I know the office has some extra clothes from the lost and found.” Drew offers.
“Yeah right, I think I’ll stick with my washed yet sticky clothes. Maybe I’ll get some gym clothes and wear those.”
“I have some gym clothes in my locker if you want them.”
“Fine.” I nod.
Drew heads to his locker and I follow. He hands me his gym clothes and waits outside the bathroom for me to put them on. I put my dirty clothes in a plastic bag and stuff them into my backpack.
I wash my hair with bathroom soap and water in one of the sinks and throw it up in a bun. I have to let it drip dry for now. When I came out he was smiling, which only made me feel a little awkward.
“What?” I ask, irritated.
“Nothing, you look good.” He grins.
We head back into the cafeteria and Drew invites the girls and I to sit with him and the jocks at their table. Even Em jumped at the chance to hang out with the jocks.
“You look good in my number thirty-two jersey.” Says Drew.
“You already said that.”
“I know but I wanted to say it again.” His eyes wash over me with a look I can’t quite put my fingers on.
AWKWARD...
I strike up a conversation with Scott. Whose eyes continue to dart back and forth from Drew and I. There’s an unspoken elephant in the room, only I have no idea what it is. I guess I’m not privy to the conundrum that is the male mind.
“Do you remember when I asked you out in the third grade?” Drew asks.
“Yes, what about it?”
“Why didn’t you say yes?”
“We were nine. I didn’t like boys back then and I actually thought I was one.” I reply, shoving some food down my throat.
“What about now?” His hazel eyes stare intensely into my eyes.
I think my heart just stopped…no wait…no, yep…I literally just died. I have all but stopped breathing when I notice the amused look on Drew’s face.
“Well I’m sixteen now and I’ve had at least one biology class so I’m pretty sure I’m a girl.” I tease, trying to change the subject.
“Seriously Sid, what would you say if I asked you out now?” He asks more pointedly.
“I’d say no. You know my dad Drew. He doesn’t play the whole boy thing. If I even mentioned the word boyfriend he’d drown me in holy water. Not to mention the fact that I’d probably be back in boarding school so fast I’d have flames on my back.”
“Fine then, don’t tell him.” He suggests. Trisha and Patrice are both shaking their heads.
“I’m not someone you’d want to date Drew. You should be dating one of the cheerbot’s over there anyway mister star basketball player.” I deflect making air quotes with my fingers.
“That’s a cliché Sid, and I’m not into cliché’s.”
“Honestly, I can’t.” I sigh.
“Too bad, your loss.” He smiles.
“And the big-headed Drew is back.” I laugh.
“I got your big head.” He jokes, motioning to his pants.
“Ew, gross! Careful what you say, we have virgin ears over here.” I say, covering Em’s ears.
“Oh whatever, I’m older than you, you should be covering your own ears.” Em frowns.
“OMG, I haven’t been pure for about a year now.” Trisha laughs.
“Really?” I reply, surprised.
“Oh come one Sid, everyone doesn’t have a dad like yours. By the time you get to date you’ll be forty.” She teases.
“Tell me about it.” I sigh.
The bell rang giving everyone a fifteen-minute warning so we ate our food and talked about old times. My fifth period class is nowhere near Trisha, Em’s or Patrice’s so I’m on my own. Thankfully I didn’t have a class with Courtney either because I didn’t know if I could maintain my self control if she pulled another stunt on me.
My sixth period class was P.E, which meant it was with all the other jocks and I was dying to show my skills on the basketball court. Our gym teacher Mrs. Penman took roll call and then we began doing laps around the gym.
Shortly after our laps, Coach Treggle came into the gym with the basketball players for practice and Drew smiled when he saw me. I would have loved to be able to go out on a date or have at least one boyfriend, but my dad would never allow that to happen. I wouldn’t even know what to do if I had a boyfriend because I’m so out of the loop.
“Miss Stansfield!” Mrs. Penman calls me. “Get your head out of the clouds please.”
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t notice everyone had stopped running and I had to run back over to my group.
“Welcome back Ms. Stansfield, I hope I have your full attention.” Penman casts me a warning glance.
“Yes Mrs. Penman.” I nod.
“Good, are you familiar with the sport of basketball?” She asks.
That’s like asking Michael Jordan if he’s familiar with a basketball court. Is she serious?
“Just point to the basket and I’ll put it down.” I answer.
Mrs. Penman threw me a chest pass and I went up for a shot nailing it effortlessly.
“Let’s see if you can do that again. Go to the top of the key.” She instructs.
I follow her instructions and she throws me another pass that I execute just as well.
“So you have some skill, let’s see how well you do with pressure. Chelsea, guard Sidney.” Mrs. Penman orders.
Chelsea comes up to guard me, but I’m too quick for her and shook her easily. I headed to the basket where I did a layup.
“The girls basketball team could use a good player like you. Practice is after school, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from three to five thirty if you’re interested.” She offers.
“Sweet, I’ll be there.” I smile.
“First, you’ll have to get your parents to sign this form saying you can play.” She hands me a permission slip.
Suddenly my stomach is in knots. I’m sure I can get my mom to sign it, but my dad is a different story. Sports to him was just a distraction he felt us kids didn’t need. But I LOVE basketball and I’m really good at it.
“Thanks.” I smile.
I noticed Drew checking me out a few times while I was shooting around, but whenever I’d look directly at him he looks away.
After gym I got dressed and waited out front for Josh, Em and Trisha. I was standing there for a few minutes when someone walked up behind me and covered my eyes with their hands.
“Guess who?”
“Okay, the voice sounds a little feminine so…Patrice.” I joke.
“You’re so not funny.” Drew removes his hands from my eyes.
“Awe come on, that was funny.” I laugh.
“To you maybe.” He smiles.
“Hey, I’ll return your gym clothes to you later.”
“Okay, I’ll see you around six.”
I watch Drew walk to his car, which is a convertible Mercedes, and suddenly I’m being shoved from behind. I didn’t have to turn around to know that it was Courtney and her two flunkies.
“Drew is off limits.” Courtney narrows her eyes at me.
“Yes, but only to you.” I smile.
“I don’t care about the two of you growing up together, stay away from him if you know what’s good for you.” She warns.
“You seem to know an awful lot about me.” I realize. “Too bad you missed the part about me being a rebel without a cause. I don’t take orders from anyone.”
“Speaking of James Dean and being a rebel without a cause, didn’t he die at a young age?” She asks. Is she THREATENING me? I don’t take kindly to threats either. “Be careful with that lifestyle, I wouldn’t want you to suffer the same fate.”
“Right.” I laugh.
As Courtney and her flunkies walk away purposely colliding their shoulders into mine, I was sure of one thing and one thing only, eventually I was going to have to give Courtney and her friends an old fashioned beat down before the school year was over. That meant that I could kiss my dream car goodbye and say hello to boarding school.
“I see dad yelling at the top of his lungs in your future.” Says Em.
“That girl just won’t leave me alone.”
“It’s because you look better than her.” Trisha pats me on the back.
“Whatever it is, if she doesn’t get off my back I might have to do the time and allow her face to run into my fist a few times.” A sinister smile forms on my face.
“You’re too classy for fighting Sid, just beat her at her own game.” Patrice suggests.
“What, seeing who can be the baddest chick?”
“Come on, silly, we better get home before dad starts calling to track us down.” Says Em.
We all pile into Josh’s car and drive home. When I walk in the front door dad eyes me suspiciously and signals for me to come to him.
“That’s not what you left the house in is it?” He asks.
“No, some girl threw her lunch on me at school.” I explain.
“Do you go looking for trouble or does it always seem to coincidentally find you?” He asks sarcastically.
“All I did was talk to Drew, which I didn’t think was a crime but apparently it is in Cheerworld.” I told him.
“Do any of you kids speak English nowadays? What did you just say?” He asks, confused.
“I said hi to Drew, some girl named Courtney he used to date got all up in arms about it and she threw her lunch on me to provoke me to hit her.” I rephrase for him in plain English.
“Did you?”
“Did you get a call from the principle?” I ask with an attitude.
“Watch how you talk to me.” He warns. “That still doesn’t explain to me what you’re wearing?”
“Drew gave me some gym clothes out of his locker. He’s coming over later to pick them up.”
“Drew Taylor?” He asks, surprised.
“Yes.” I nod. “Remember? He was my best friend before you and your job ripped us away from here.”
“You’re treading on very thin ice.” Dad replies. “So you and Drew, does he have a thing for you?”
“He asked me out today.” I have a temporary moment of insanity, forgetting who I’m talking to. Cue the paranoia in three…two…one…
“You know the rules about dating.” He eyes me suspiciously.
“Relax dad, she shut him down.” Josh replies, coming to my rescue.
“Good, boy’s like that are only looking for one thing.”
“Don’t worry dad, I’m not planning on giving it away any time soon.” I say sarcastically.
Dad smiles approvingly and I head up to my room to change. I put on some shorts and a t-shirt then washed the clothes Drew gave me so they would smell fresh once I gave them back. While I waited, I went outside to shoot some hoops and work on my crossover.
“Nice.” Drew startles me.
“Just practicing a little before I whoop your butt.” I smile.
“Dream on.” He replies.
I threw Drew a chest pass and he caught it. When we were younger we would play basketball together and I would always pick the ball from his hands. He was shorter then and not the six-foot two-inch skyscraper he is today. I could anticipate his moves better than anyone and wondered if I still had it.
Drew began to dribble the ball and most of his habits seemed to be the same. He faked left as usual and when he went to dribble right I was able to pick him yet again and go up for a three point shot. The ball bounced off the backboard and into the net. Drew starts laughing and looks around to make sure no one saw that.
“Point made, you’ve got a little something-something going on there.”
“A little? Psh, please…I gots skills.” I reply, adding in a very exaggerated neck roll.
“You might actually be able to pull that off if you didn’t roll your neck like a white girl or speak so proper.” He teases.
“My father would have a heart attack if he saw that. He doesn’t want me to get caught up with trying to blend in with one of the worst parts of society as he calls it.”
“He’s just looking out for you like a father should. Believe me, I’ve dated those girls and they’re all on a fast track to nowhere.” He replies.
“Exactly how many girls have you dated?” Curiosity gets the better of me.
“Enough.” His lips curl up into a sexy mischievous grin.
“No, I want numbers.” I dig deeper.
“I stopped counting a long time go Sid, besides, there’s only that one special girl that matters anyway.” He says, allowing his eyes to linger longer than they should. Again with the weird looks!
“How are your parents doing?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Good, and yours?”
“My dad’s still barking orders and mom’s still standing by watching him run everything.”
“Don’t hold back now, tell me how you really feel.” Mom chimes in from behind me holding the gym clothes Drew let me borrow.
I turn around to face her and I’ve never seen her look so hurt in all my life. I look back at Drew and he began backing away. I instantly feel guilty now that I know she heard what I said.
“Is that what you think I am? Do you really see me as your father’s puppet?” She asks, angrily.
“I think I should go.” Drew announces, taking the gym clothes from her.
I don’t blame him. I’d avoid my own family drama if I could, but I’m the star in this particular episode of ‘things not to say to your mother.’
“Tell your mother I said hello.” Mom waves.
Drew heads home leaving me to face my mom who is visibly angry. The thing is, this is exactly how I feel about her. I just never wanted her to find out because I knew she’d be hurt.
“Is that how you see me Sidney? Do you really see me as your fathers doormat?” Mom asks.
“Honestly, yeah mom. Dad says jump and you don’t question him, you just do it. When dad sent me to boarding school you could have stopped him, but instead you did nothing.”
“So because I allowed your father to send you to boarding school that suddenly makes me a doormat? I happened to agree with your father that you needed to go there. You were unruly Sidney and you wouldn’t listen to anyone.” She replies. “Tell me something, while you were so busy blaming your father and I for where you ended up did you stop for one second to consider that because of your actions we had no choice?”
“You and dad threw me away like trash. If you couldn’t handle it then maybe dad should have worn a condom.” I told her.
Even as the words were coming out of my mouth I knew I would regret them, but I couldn’t stop myself. I felt my mother’s heavy hand across my face and moment’s later blood came trickling from my nose.
“They call that child abuse mom, way to go. If I didn’t feel love before I’m really feeling the love now.” I spit sarcastically.
“Apologize to your mother and go to your room, now.” Dad comes to her rescue.
“I’m sorry.” I comply, proceeding into the house.
Josh and Em were sitting in the living room when I walk in and they both look concerned when they see my bloody nose. I hurry up to my room to clean my face and Josh appears in my bathroom moments later.
“What did you say to mom?” He asks.
“The truth, why?”
“She’s balling her eyes out in her bedroom, that’s why.”
“She over heard me telling Drew that she does whatever dad says and she didn’t like it. She confronted me about it and I confronted her about sending me to boarding school like trash. I told her if she couldn’t handle it then maybe dad should have worn a condom so she slapped me and that was that.” I give him the short version.
“Sid I know how much it hurt you that they sent you away but you brought it on yourself. Saying what you said and making mom cry was way out of line. They may show it in weird ways but they love you.”
“No, they love you and Em. You and Em…you guys are good kids and you follow orders. Me, I’m the baby of the family and I’m not like you two. I’m hardheaded, I’m stubborn and I don’t like being told what to do. I’m not the easiest person to get along with but boarding school, that was a bit harsh and it broke my heart okay.” I began to cry.
Josh pulls me into his arms and hugs me. I never really spoke about what happened in boarding school and truthfully I hoped to erase it from my mind. I would always tell my father how boarding school was better than being at home, but I was lying. Boarding school was a nightmare and it lasted six long years. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
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