Chapter Three

 Chapter Three

 

     A bell rang for the end of fourth period and we all filed out of the door into the chaos that was the lunch hour.  Star’s locker was down the hall from mine and Karyn’s was around the corner.  We had agreed to meet in the courtyard in front of the cafeteria.  

     Becca was very quiet on our way back to the locker.

     “Are you okay?” I asked her.

     “Yes, I’m fine.”

     “You seem kind of irritated.  How did your morning go?”

     “My morning went fine and yes, I’m irritated.”

     “Why?” I asked even though I knew what was coming.

     “I don’t think I can make it to lunch.”

     “Why not?”

     “Well, Karyn and I think Star is a little strange.  We really don’t care to be around her.”

     “You’re kidding me?” I really couldn’t believe she said it so bluntly.

     “I’m sorry Trinity.  Really.  I’ll talk to you later.”

     With that last comment, Becca threw her books in her locker, turned around and rapidly started down the hall.  I just stood there watching her go.  I hadn’t even opened my locker door yet.  Finally, when I came to my senses, I remembered that Star was upstairs waiting for me.  I didn’t want to keep her waiting too long or else I’d be dining alone.  I quickly opened my locker, threw in my books, grabbed my purse and ran upstairs to the cafeteria.  I nearly killed myself when I ran to throw open the large metal door that led to the courtyard.  I stood there rubbing my forehead reading a sign that said “USE OTHER DOOR”.  I took a quick glance to look if anyone saw me then took the sign’s advice and used the other door.  

     Once I got outside I notice Star sitting on the edge of a small cement pond talking to a Hispanic girl.  As I got closer they both looked up and smiled.

     “Hey, about time!” Star greeted.  “This is Amber.  Amber this is Trinity.”

     “Hi, nice to meet you,”  Amber said as she shook my hand.  “You’re in my Geography class.  Do you make a grand entrance every where you go?”

     “What do you mean?” I asked.

     Amber smiled and pointed to her forehead.

     “Oh, I’m so embarrassed.  Did you see that?”

     “It’s okay.  Everyone does it.  They should really keep both doors open.  It’s a fire hazard.”

     “Do you mind if Amber tags along?” Star asked.

     “No, not at all.”

     “Where’s Becca and her friend Karyn?” Star asked looking around.

     “They’re not coming.”

     “Why?”
     “I don’t’ know. I guess they had other plans,” I replied trying to sound nonchalant.

     “Becca who?  Becca Stanley?” Amber questioned.

     “I don’t know her last name,” I said looking confused.

     “Short, pudgy, brown, curly hair, glasses?” Amber’s descriptions were accented by funny gestures and faces.

     “Yeah, that’s her,” I said trying to stifle my laughter.  Amber described Becca perfectly, but I still felt bad about laughing at her.

     “No big loss,” Amber informed us as she closed her eyes and shook her head back and forth.  “That girl has been locked away in boarding schools since the time she learned how to read.  Her parents made her come here to improve her social skills among her peers,” Amber said as she walked a small circle with her pinky up in the air and her nose pushed up with her other hand.

     “Actually,” Amber continued “it’s really very sad.  Karyn is her only friend and that’s just because she went to the same school.”

     As Amber finished up her conversation the pretty, skinny girl from this morning came walking out with the same guy.

     “Hey, Amber!” she squeaked and ran over to Amber and gave her a big hug.  “You look great!  How much weight did you lose?”

     “Mmmmm…about 35 pounds.  I have to give Maria credit though, she kept me going all summer.”

     “Well, isn’t that what little sisters are for?  I would like you to meet Allen,” she said and pulled the guy closer to her.  “Allen this is Amber and I don’t know anyone else, except for you,” she continued as she pointed at me.  “I’m sorry for this morning.  I lost my footing and fell.  I hope I didn’t hurt you.  My name is Summer,” Summer held out her hand.

     “That’s okay really.  I’m Trinity,” I said as I took her hand.  “This is Star,” I said motioning to Star.

     Star shook Summer’s hand and then introduced us to her boyfriend Allen.  He was really nice looking and from what I was told, he was a football player and a junior.

     “We’re going out back for lunch.  You all want to join us?”

     We all looked at each other and agreed then slowly drifted into the cafeteria to get our lunch.  The cafeteria was large and extremely noisy.  There were people everywhere yelling or laughing and some were even singing.  There were two doors that led to the kitchen to buy hot lunches and a counter at the other end of the room that sold milk and snacks.  I was really hungry so Star and I walked over to get a hot lunch.  Amber and Summer, who were watching their weight, headed for the snack bar to pick up some fruit and carrot sticks.

     “So what exactly did Becca say?” Star asked me while we were standing in line.

     “You really don’t want to know,” I told her shaking my head.

     “Look Trinity, it’s not as if I haven’t heard it before.  After a while the strange looks and snickers don’t phase me.  I just figured being that she’s a boarding school drop out that maybe whatever she said was original and creative.”

     “She said you were strange,” I said feeling bad for telling her yet happy she took it so well.

     “Strange? That’s the best she can come up with? Well then, she’s definitely not worth my time,” Star said sarcastically then began to giggle.

     We continued through the line.  The cafeteria was serving pizza, tater tots, salad and jello for lunch.  I was never picky about what I ate and always thought cafeteria food got a bad rap.  I rather enjoyed the lunches and to be honest, I liked hospital food too.  Star and I paid for our food then headed toward the door that led to the back of the school.  On our way, we noticed Becca and Karyn sitting at a table.  They both stopped their conversation and turned our way.  They didn’t smile or wave and I began to feel very self conscious.  I looked over at Star.  She looked over at them then quickly bowed her head and walked out the door.  I stood for a moment staring back at them then ran to catch up with Star.

     “Are you okay?” I asked Star when I caught up to her.

     “Yeah, I’m cool,” she replied as she quickly walked over to Summer, Allen and Amber and sat down on the grass.

     “Did she say anything?” Amber asked Star.

     “Who?”

     “Becca.”

     “No,” Star mumble as she picked up her pizza and took a bite.

     “Are we talking about Becca Stanley? Oh this is too sweet! That little bug is my next door neighbor,” Summer said.

     “Get out of here!” Amber yelled.

     “Yeah, seriously.  You know why she’s here don’t you?”

     “Yeah,” Amber said.  “To get acquainted with normal kids.”

     “No, I think not Amber darling.  She’s been going to those schools since she was five.  Her parents are relentless.  They wanted her to be a female Einstein. By the time she was 10 she was fluent in Spanish, Latin and French.  She was ready for high school even back then. Well, something snapped one day and she completely wigged out and tried to kill herself. So after a few days in the hospital room and a year in the loony bin, her parents have finally left her alone and dropped her right smack dab in the middle of your typical, psychotic teenage society which we refer to as public education. Personally, if it wasn’t for Karyn I don’t think she’d make it here either.”

     We all sat back and let it sink in.  It was so sad. I guess we really took our lives for granted. Pressure is a rough thing to handle at any age, but especially difficult when you’re young. There’s so much going on around you. 

     “Wow,” Amber mumbled. “I didn’t know any of that.”

     “Yeah, well, her mom and my mom are friends. Not great friends mind you, but they talk.”

     We sat and ate our lunches and chatted a little.  Allen left our group before Summer explained Becca’s story to us.  Summer said he often did that because he didn’t like to hear about gossip and he was a junior and it wasn’t cool to hang around a group of freshman girls. He had gone back in the cafeteria to meet up with some of his friends. I finished my lunch and laid back in the grass. I closed my eyes and felt the sun warm up my eye lids. I could hear everyone talking among themselves and soon their voices became very distant. I was slowly drifting off to sleep when a shadow fell across my face. I opened my eyes expecting to see a great big cloud when what I actually saw were two great big legs and a little head way up on top. I slowly sat up, mind you I had just eaten and fast movements are no good on a full stomach. I turned around and realized that those two legs and tiny head belonged to Chris and now that I was sitting up they were all in proportion.

     “Hi,” I said to him as he took a seat on the ground beside me.

     “Hey what’s up? Hey Summer. Hey Amber.  I’m sorry I don’t know you,” he said looking at Star.

     “I’m Star,” Star said and held out her hand to shake his.

     “Very nice to meet you,” Chris said shaking Star’s hand.

     I don’t know why, but I had a very funny feeling in my stomach and I didn’t think it had anything to do with my lunch and my sudden leap into the conscious world.  Things got too quiet and I really started to feel uncomfortable.

     “So…uh…does anyone else have Gym fifth period,” I started. I had to make some kind of conversation.

     “You have Gym 5^th! So do I!” Summer yelled.

     “Oh, so do I. All three of us are in the same gym class. That’s so cool,” Star said.

     The bell rang so we gathered up our stuff and headed back into the cafeteria. We decided to meet by the main doors which was a good mid-way point. Chris walked with us partially. Or should I rephrase that and say he walked in with Star.  I couldn’t believe it.  How could he ask me out this morning then blatantly hang over my friend right in front of me?  I’ll go with him tonight, but you can bet I’m going to bring this up.  I had been thinking so deeply that when I looked up I was all by myself.  I mean, there were other kids around, but I had completely lost Summer, Star and Amber.  I just shrugged it off.  I really wasn’t in a mood to be around people anymore anyway.

     “Excuse me,” I heard behind me.

     I turned around towards the small voice behind me.  Standing behind me was a dark haired girl with brilliant green eyes looking like she was going to burst out in tears at any moment notice.

     “Are you okay?” I asked her gently pulling her out of the river of kids rushing to their lockers.

     “No, I’m not,” she said in a muffled voice. She had a slight accent, but I couldn’t make it out considering she was crying.

     “Calm down for a minute and tell me what’s wrong,” I tried to sound calm, but in the back of my head I kept thinking of horrible things.  Things like she just found out her mother died or her bus ran over a dog on the way to school were the first to come to mind.

     “I’m completely lost. My mom just brought me here at lunch and I’m just a little scared.  We just moved here last week. I don’t know anyone, I don’t know where I’m going, I don’t even know how I’m getting home!  My mom just left me here and said she’d see me when I got home.  It didn’t even hit me until just now that I don’t know how to get home!” she stared to cry all over again.

     I took her by the hand and led her into the bathroom.  Now that I knew what the tears were for I was getting a bit annoyed.  I was nervous too, but I wasn’t this frantic.  Once inside the bathroom where it was quiet and not so much hustle and bustle she began to calm down. I handed her wet paper towel and she wiped her face off.

     “I’m so sorry. Thank you very much.  You’re the first person I’ve talked to since I’ve been here.  My name is Meg,” she said more calm now.

     “I’m Trinity,” I said.  “You’re welcome. Everyone has different ways of dealing with things I guess.  You have a slight accent.  Where are you from if you don’t mind me asking?”

     “I don’t mind.  I moved here from Boston, but originally I’m from Ireland.  I was born there.  My two sisters start here Thursday.  They went back to Boston with my brother and my dad to pick up the rest of our things.  I guess that’s why I’m so upset.  They were supposed to be here today, but they’re not coming back till Wednesday,” the girl said while she finished wiping her face off.

     “How many brothers and sisters do you have?”

     “I have five sisters and three brothers.”

     “Wow, that’s a big family,” I said looking at my watch.  “Oh geez, we gotta get out of here. We’re late.  What’s your next class?”

     “I’m going to Literature, room 2231.”

     “Okay, well, take the stairway on your left up one floor and turn either way.  The floor goes in a circle so you’ll be able to find it somewhere up there. I don’t know the school very well myself.  As for you getting home, where do you live?”

     “6^th street.  It’s right off of Sumner’s Blvd.”

     “That’s where I live!  Well, I live on Sumner’s Blvd.  You ride the same bus as I do.  It’s bus number 719.”

  “Oh thank you.  I’m so relieved.  Now all I have to do is get through two classes and this day is through.”

     “Well, good luck.  I really have to go. I’m already 5 minutes late.”

     “I’ll be okay.  Thanks again.”

     I smiled and headed out the door.  I didn’t have time to go to my locker so I ran straight to the gym.  I was glad I was so close.  I ran up to the doors then walked through.  The teacher had everyone on the bleachers listening to him.  I tried to look causal as I walked in and sat down on an empty bleacher.  The teacher, Mr. Jenkins, looked my way and nodded to acknowledge my presence.  I took a glance behind me and noticed Summer and Star sitting on the top bleachers together.  They waited until I was looking then stared waving like crazy.  I stared to laugh then waved back.  It was nice to get such a response when I walked into a class.  The teacher was going through the role and I figured I wasn’t too late since he hadn’t gotten to my name yet.  I responded with the usual “here” and then just sat quietly.  I really didn’t have a choice.  The list of names seemed to ramble along until Becca’s name was called out.  I heard a small, whispered “here” then turned to look where it had come from.  Sitting completely alone in the far back corner was Becca.  She didn’t look frightened or even lonely.  It was as if she didn’t care one bit where she was.  I tried to smile at her, but she just looked past me.

     “You will be assigned lockers that will be yours for the year.  I’m passing out a list of everything you must bring with you prior to starting class.  The ladies’ showers are on the right and the mens’ showers are on the left.  They are clearly marked.  Don’t get them confused.  Since no one is prepared for class today we’ll use it as a free period.  Make sure you check your lockers to make sure they work,” Mr. Jenkins lectured.

     Mr. Jenkins took a seat on the bleachers and stared shuffling through papers.  He was the football coach too so a few of the guys went over to talk football.  I crawled over to Becca just to be nice.

     “Hey, How’s it going?” I asked.

     “Fine, I guess.  You know Star and Summer are over there,” she said pointing to the top of the bleachers.

     “I know. I just wanted to say hello.”

     “Oh.”

     “Are you alright?”

     “Yes, I’m okay. Gym isn’t my favorite subject.”

     “Is it anyone’s?” I asked.  I even noticed a small smile.  Well, well, the infinitely dismal Becca Stanley can smile.  “What do you think about science class?”

     “Well considering I’ve taken it before not much, but looking at Mr. Keating isn’t a bad way to spend an hour.  Look, thanks for coming over here and talking with me.  I really appreciate it.  I’m going to do some reading if you don’t mind.  I’m sure you’d like to see Star and Summer.  I’ll talk to you later.”

     She got up and moved to the top of the bleachers where no one was.  I felt a little sad watching her go.  She found another spot on the bleachers where she could be alone and took out a novel.  I just watched her go then headed towards Summer and Star.  They were watching me as I climbed the bleachers toward them.

     “What’s up with the bookworm?” Summer asked.

     “I thought I’d be nice.  Is there a problem with that?”

     “No.  No problem.  I just don’t understand why you’d waste your time.”

     “You know, maybe, if people were just a little nicer to her then just maybe she’d be a little more social.”

     “Years and years of corruption is what you’re fighting Trinity.  You understand this don’t you?”

     “Yeah, I understand, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept it.”

     The rest of the class was spent checking out our lockers and idle talk.  I was beginning to get very tired and desperately hoped that tomorrow would be less stressing.

     My last class of the day was Grammar which was on the top floor.  I still hadn’t been to my locker since lunch and I needed at least a notebook and pen.  The minute the bell rang I rushed directly to my locker in the basement, grabbed my things and took off towards the second floor.  My foot had just crossed the threshold when the late bell rang.  I was too tired to care what the teacher thought by this time so I walked to the back of the room and threw myself into a chair.  I took a deep breath and reached into my bag for a notebook and pen.  I had the strangest feeling someone was watching me.  I tilted my head up without moving the rest of my body and noticed the guy beside me smiling.  He seemed really strange so I tried to smile back and continued what I was doing.  He kept staring at me the whole time.  I just pretended that I was listening intently to the teacher. 

     The teacher told us her name was Ms. Keys.  She would be our grammar teacher for one semester. Next semester we would all go to Literature.  She handed out our textbooks and told us that we would have a weekly vocabulary list consisting of 20 words.  Each week we had to copy the words three times, write definitions for each word, and use each word in a sentence.  There would be a practice test on the words and their definitions every Thursday and a test every Friday.  After we got our textbooks and told Ms. Keys our book number, she handed out our vocabulary list and encouraged us to read silently to ourselves until the bell rang.  I had never been so thankful.  At the moment, my mind was consumed with thoughts of how to get out of class without getting stopped by loverboy sitting next to me.  I made sure all of my things were ready to go.  I even slipped the straps of my backpack over one shoulder.  I was ready to roll.

     The minute the bell rang I stood up to run, but was stopped by an obstruction in the middle of the aisle.  The boy in front of me was taking his own sweet time getting his things together.

     “Excuse me,” I said.  “Excuse me!” I said again, but this time a little louder.

     My attempts were futile and as I felt a tap on my shoulder I knew this would be a perfect ending to a perfect day.  I slowly turned around and was staring directly at a grin held together with wires and hardware and bits of food left over from lunch.  The guy in front of me still wasn’t gone and as I pressed my mind as to what his problem could possibly be, I watched the enormous amount of metal begin to move and form words.

     “So you’re new around here.  What’s your name?” the boy said trying desperately to sound cool.

     “Um…it’s Trinity and I really have to go or I’ll be late for my bus.” 

     I turned around and noticed the guy in front of me had left so I took the opportunity and ran out of class.  Just outside the door that same guy was waiting.  I didn’t even look at him.  Because of him I was confronted by that really weird guy.  

     “Hey, wait a minute,” I heard behind me.  I stopped and turned around.  I had only seen the guy who sat in front of me from behind.  From the front he wasn’t bad looking.  His shoulder length brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail and his brown eyes sparkled with mischief.

     “I just wanted to apologize,” he said.  “My name is Steve.”

     “What are you apologizing for?” I asked.

     “I noticed Lester’s eyes bugging out of his head when you walked in.  I kinda took my time getting out of there.”

     “Well, thank you,” I said sarcastically and turned and continued walking down the hall.

     “Trinity wait,” Steve yelled as he ran over to me.

     “What!”

     “Do you hate me?”

     “No, I don’t even know you!  I need to get to my locker and get to my bus!”

     “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

     “Yes! Goodbye!”

     I broke out into a run down to my locker.  I got a few books out then rushed to the front of the school to find my bus.  Outside I found the girl from the bathroom walking around completely dazed.  I walked past her, grabbed her arm and drug her over to our bus.

     “Where did you come from?” she asked shuffling her feet and trying not to trip.

     I just smiled as I walked onto the bus and took an empty seat and the girl plopped down beside me.  She was calm now and looked at me with genuine sympathy.

     “Oh, I’m sorry, but I never introduced myself.  My name is Meg. You look completely exhausted,” she said.

     “My name is Trinity and yes, it’s been a long day.  I can’t believe I have to come back tomorrow.”

     The rest of the bus ride home was quiet.  Meg looked like she was dozing off and I was so tired I could actually feel my body hum.  The bus seat was warm and the air coming in from the open window felt so good against my face.  The rocking and bumping of the school bus put me in that little realm between awake and sleep and I was lucky enough to have noticed the bus stopping at my stop.  I nudged Meg.

     “Oh, my street is right there,” she said pointing at the street beside my house.  

     Meg rubbed her red, glassy eyes.  She really had fallen asleep.  We stumbled off the bus, mumbled our goodbyes and walked to our respective houses.

     When I walked in, Mom yelled her greetings from the dining room.  I followed her voice and found her going over some old photos.

     “Did you work today?” I asked my mom as I sat down.  She was a romance novelist.  She mainly wrote during the day when Bryan and I were at school and it was quiet.

     “This morning I did for a while.  Just wasn’t really in the mood.  So how was your first day?” she asked setting down her photos and giving me her full attention.

     “Well, it’s gonna take some getting use to,” I began.

     I told her about Summer sitting on me in the morning, then being introduced to her in the afternoon.  I told her about Becca and I told her about the creepy guy in my sixth period class.  I told her about walking into the wrong class and about meeting Star and about finding Meg crying in the halls.

     “And that has been my day,” I said rapping everything up.

     “Wow, that’s been some day.”

     “I’m going to my room to do some homework,” I told my mom as I headed toward my room.  On the way there I heard a knock on the door.  I stopped to answer it.

     “Hey, are you busy now?” Chris asked standing on my front porch.

     “Why?”

     “Well, I figured since it was a nice afternoon we’d take our walk early.  Besides, my mom is having some family over and she wants me home tonight.  So, ya wanna go?”

     I thought for a moment.  I wasn’t in the mood for homework and it wasn’t much anyway. I could do it later in the evening.

     “Sure why not.  Come on in.  I just want to change into jeans.”

     He stepped in and followed me over to where my mom sat.

     “Mom, this is Chris.  Chris this is my mom.  If you two will excuse me, I’m going to change.”

     After everything that had happened today, I couldn’t believe I was still going out with him.  This wasn’t a date though.  It’s just a nice gesture from a friendly neighbor I had to keep telling myself.  Besides its painfully obvious he likes Star.  I put on a pair of old jeans, slipped on a pair of white socks, grabbed my sneakers and walked back out to where I left Chris and my mom.

     “So you guys are going down to the beach?” my mom asked.

     “Yeah,” I said tying my shoes.  “I won’t be long.”  I gave my mom a kiss then followed Chris out the door.

     The first half of our walk was long and silent.  I wanted to mention Star and find out exactly what his feeling were.  Then there was this other part of me that didn’t want to know.

     “You’re awfully quiet,” Chris began.  “Cat got your tongue?”

     “I guess I am a little short on words.”

     “It looked like you’ve met a few people today when I saw you at lunch.  Star seemed really nice.  Is she in one of your classes?”

     “Star’s okay I guess.  Don’t you find her a little weird though?” I knew the moment it left my mouth it was wrong, but try as I might I just couldn’t stop it.

     “Weird? Not really.”

     “Oh come on!  You’re not falling for that whole hippie thing are you?  The whole “everything is beautiful” routine?  Her parents are probably social security hogging, baby booming yuppies like everyone else.”

     “Why would she make all that up?” he asked with a hurt look on his face.

     We had arrived at the beach and I sat down on a picnic table and stared out over the water.

     “I don’t know,” I whispered not even looking at him.  “I have to go.”

     I stared to walk back to the street.  I was halfway across the parking lot before I noticed he wasn’t following me.  I glanced over my shoulder and saw him moving closer to the water.  He sat down on the sand, drew his knees up to his chin, and turned his attention to the soft rippling of the bay water.  He didn’t make any motion to stop me from walking away.  In a way, I was glad.  I was too ashamed of myself to stay.