Chapter Two
Soundtrack: Creep, Glee Cast Version
Roman
I
dragged my feet on the way to my locker, killing time, letting the hallways
empty before I left for home. My Chem book was already in my bag; I’d been
holding onto it like a life-preserver since class yesterday. Every time I
looked at it, I remembered Katie landing in my lap, the way her eyes had
widened and her lips had parted in surprise, the scent of her shampoo—a light,
melony scent. It was the closest I’d ever been to her, not that I hadn’t
thought about it. I’d spent more time than I would ever admit out loud thinking
about Katie, about being near her.
When
I was satisfied that the hallways were deserted, I headed toward the gym. The
boys’ locker room was silent and empty when I got there. There were no games
tonight, so there was no reason for anyone to stay late—everyone was probably
eager to start their weekend. For the first time since I could remember, I was
too. My weekends were usually spent studying or mowing lawns. Tonight, I
actually had plans—with the most beautiful girl in school. My stomach twisted
with an unfamiliar nervous feeling. I couldn’t tell if it was anticipation or
dread. Maybe both.
Tamping
down whatever emotion it was that was making me feel a little nauseated, I
crossed the locker room toward the gym entrance. I scanned the basketball court
first, then the bleachers. Finally, over in the corner, emptying one of the
garbage cans into his cart, I saw my father.
“Hey,
Pop.”
Dad
looked up at me with tired eyes, but his smile was wide as he set the trash can
back on the ground. As I got closer, I noticed the deeper wrinkles around his
brown eyes, the gray streaking through his dark hair and eyebrows. When was the
last time I really looked at my father? It was like he was aging right before
my eyes. Guilt settled in the pit of my stomach like a stone. I knew he didn’t
like being a janitor. Who would? I wished again, for the millionth time at
least, that he would let me get an afterschool job. But he wouldn’t. Every time
I’d tried to talk to him about it, he’d shut me down, saying, “This is your
time, son. Your mother would’ve wanted you to go to college, and we’re not
going to let her down.” How could I argue with that?
“Well,
this is a nice surprise. I would have thought you’d be halfway home by now.”
I
shook my head. “Actually, I wanted to let you know, I’m not going straight
home. I’ve got plans.”
His
eyes widened in surprise, and he grinned. “Plans with a girl?”
“It’s
not like that, Dad. She’s my Chemistry partner, and my grade depends on her. I
need to pass this class.”
He
nodded, but his expression clearly said he didn’t believe me.
A
door crashed open at the other end of the gym, and heavy footsteps echoed in
the large room. “Hey hey, what do we have here? The trash taking out the
trash?”
Brad.
I knew that voice well.
“This
is how he treats his family?” my dad muttered under his breath but pasted on a
fake smile as we turned to face my cousin.
“Brad,”
I greeted, not bothering with the fake smile as he crossed the gym toward us. I
didn’t like him just as much as he didn’t like me. No sense pretending.
“Don’t
mind me. I just came back to grab my jersey. I was so busy scoring a date with
Candy Dupree after fourth period, I forgot it.” It was a lame attempt at
reminding me how popular he was. And how unpopular I was. “Later, loser.” He
passed me, shoving a shoulder into mine on his way. I caught my balance before
the blow could knock me over and glared at Brad’s back as he sauntered outside.
“I can’t believe she
used to date that jerk,” I mumbled to myself after the door shut behind Brad.
“Who?” my dad asked,
snapping me back from my thoughts of Katie and Brad together.
“No one. I’ll see you
later, Pop.” I exited through the same door Brad had, preparing myself for the
fact that he would probably have more insults, but he was already gone by the
time I got outside.
****
Katie’s
house was huge, a veritable fortress of stone and wrought iron. The stone wall
surrounding her property was almost as tall as my house, and the gate stood
even higher than the wall. I pulled out my phone and double-checked the address
she’d texted to me. 3684 Amberly. I was definitely at the right house—or
rather, mansion. I walked up to the call box next to the driveway, feeling a
little conspicuous not being in a vehicle. I could still back out. I could
catch the next bus home in—I checked the time—twenty-three minutes. Maybe I
could just text her and tell her I hadn’t been feeling well or something.
Anything was better than studying with her in a house bigger than my block,
pretending I wasn’t a poor kid from the poor side of town. Her dad was probably
a lawyer, or a doctor, or something expensive like that. Mine was a janitor. At
our school.
Before
I could turn tail and run back to the bus stop two blocks away, the iron gates
opened and the call box buzzed. “Hey Roman!” Katie’s voice came through the
speaker, cheerful and excited, like she was happy I was there. “Come on in.
I’ll meet you at the front door.”
The
box buzzed and clicked off. It was too late to run now.
I
squared my shoulders, adjusted my backpack on my back, and started through the
gate. At least the walk up her ridiculously long, brick-paved driveway would
give me a chance to think of something clever to say when I got to her door.
I
looked up at the house, at least three stories high, with a stone façade that
matched the wall around the property. Almost a full flight of wide steps led to
the dark wood French doors. As I started up the steps, one of the French doors
opened and Katie stepped out. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun, and her
feet were bare under a calf-length, floral sundress. I couldn’t take my eyes
off her. The toe of my sneaker caught the top of the last step, and I stumbled.
Heat crept into my cheeks as I caught my balance. Maybe she hadn’t noticed.
“I
hear that tripping-over-your-own-feet thing is going around lately.” She
smirked playfully, and my embarrassment lessened just a bit. “Come on in.” She
stepped back into the house and pushed the door open wider for me to follow her
through.
I
barely registered the door clicking shut behind me as I took in the opulence
inside Katie’s house. A staircase as wide as my living room rose up from the
center of the dark wood floor and curled out in two branches before meeting the
banistered landing above. And the monster of a crystal chandelier hanging from
the sky-high ceiling probably had its own zip code. My entire house could
probably have fit inside this entryway. I was suddenly very aware of all the scuffs
on my slightly too small, three-year-old sneakers and the frays at the hems of
my pant legs. What would Katie say if she knew I lived in an
eight-hundred-square-foot house with twenty-year-old furniture—some of which
was so worn we kept sheets over it so the stuffing wouldn’t fall out? She’d
probably be disgusted. Or worse, pity me.
Either
she didn’t notice my awe or she chose not to acknowledge it. “We can study in
the rec room.” She flitted past me, grabbing my hand along the way. Her hand
was warm in mine, and the touch sent a little thrill through me. I fought the
urge to look down at our joined hands, instead letting her lead me through the
house.
The
rec room turned out to be a small arcade, only with better furniture. The room
was massive and filled with everything I’d ever dreamed of owning: a pool
table, arcade games, gaming systems, a wet bar. Band and movie posters lined
the walls at regular intervals, accentuated by light fixtures and underlined
with small bar tables and stools. The room was a party waiting to happen. Did
Katie actually hold parties here? I would have, if this was my rec room.
“This
is where you study?”
She
shook her head. “I don’t usually.”
“Study
here?” Where did she study then?
“At
all.” And suddenly I wasn’t interested in the games or fantasizing about
throwing parties in this theme park of a rec room. Clearly, I was going to have
to work very hard for my A in Chemistry if Katie wasn’t the studying type.
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