Rarity Page 6

  “I’m so grateful you girls came to visit. Do come again.“ I hugged Mrs. Taylor and kissed Meg on the head.

  As we headed to the car Mom said, “You’re a pretty awesome kid. Glad you’re mine.”

  “That’s pretty funny Mom, because I was just thinking the same...I am pretty amazing.” We both laughed. “Actually, I thought the same about you. You are amazing at calming people.” She gave me a side hug. “Do you think Meg’s gonna’ be ok?”

  “It’s looking pretty good, she’s definitely headed in the right direction. Let’s head home for some dinner.”

  We ate a light dinner of grilled chicken breast and a tossed salad and laughed and joked about odd things that happened in my younger years. I felt so much lighter than I had prior to the accident. Energies and emotions of others weren’t getting in like they used to. I actually felt “normal”. After helping with the dishes I watched a sitcom with my mom before heading to my room.

  That night I lay awake. When I closed my eyes, I saw Jay at my locker and the intense look in his eyes, his sudden kiss. There was a connection between us. Tomorrow I’d hear more about him and understand him better. Hopefully his parents were not serial killers that were locked up for a killing spree and he was sent away to learn the trade from his aunt and uncle. Soren seemed nice and so did Jay, but I hadn’t a clue what he doing was here at Stanton. Questions and thoughts swirled around in my head and I fell asleep in the sea of questions.

  First period Algebra was kind of exciting. Not the Algebra part, but the Jay part. I kept checking my peripheral vision and seeing him looking my way. Twice I looked up and caught him dead on staring at me. But instead of trying to hide it, he smiled. That made me laugh because most guys would try to be more coy but Jay seemed happy to get caught. What was his deal? Becca was in the next row over glaring at us but I had survived a car crash, a survivor, and was not going to let her get in my head.

  I actually was on time to lunch and looked around for Jay but did not see him. I went through the lunch line and grabbed a hotdog and chips. While heading to my table I peeked out the window and saw Jay sitting out at the picnic table we occupied yesterday. Soren was talking with him at the table. I went out and said hi to them. “Anyway, see ya’ after school Jay.” “Later Brogen.”

  “See ya’ Soren.” I sat down across from Jay. Today was warmer so I didn’t need his body heat to warm me. “So...I’m all ears. What chain of events has led you to the lovely Stanton High?” Jay smiled at me.

  “Sure you wanna’ hear this? You might cry.” He’s teasing. Why would I cry?

  “Yeah, I’m curious...and I’m a big girl.”

  “Well, I grew up in a happy home in a town not too far from here. My parents both worked and made good money. I never wanted for anything. We lived in a nice house with a huge backyard. I always had an easy time making friends so I always had a playmate around when I was young. Mom was a lawyer and Dad was a drug sales rep.” So far everything sounded great. He paused and pushed around his food and took a sip of his Coke. I just stared at him and read his energy. He was really struggling with this next part. I reached out my hand and held his hand in mine to let him know I was there to support him. “My mom died suddenly three years ago from an aneurysm. She was just 39 years old. My dad did his best to be a single parent while grieving his wife. I’m not sure he grieved enough. A year later he would come home and lose himself in a bottle of Jack. I tried helping him, but it usually ended badly and I would just make sure he ended up in his bed to sleep it off.”

  “Oh my God, I am so sorry.” I would have never imagined that Jay’s mom died.

  “So last summer he must have stopped off at a bar on his way home from work. He was so plastered and I was so pissed that he drove drunk. I dumped his booze down the drain and he punched me in the face. Split my cheek open. The next day, when my dad was sober, he saw what he had done to me. He promised me he would be a better dad and was going to go into rehab. So Soren’s parents offered to let me live with them till my dad got clean.” Jay looked at me and must have seen the tear forming in my eye. “I told you, you might cry.” I snickered and nodded.

  “Boy, I just don’t get it. I mean, you have been through more than most kids our age and yet there is this amazing positive energy coming from you. People are drawn to you. You’re so charismatic. You don’t let that awful stuff taint you. It’s amazing.”

  “And there goes my hat size. Thank you for inflating my head.” He laughed. “Thanks for the compliment, but this is just who I am, I don’t know how to be any different.”

  “Well, I am truly sorry you have had to go through all of that. Sounds like your dad’s turning things around and hopefully he will appreciate the son he has and be there for him. Your mom died really young. Does your family have heart problems or was her’s random?”

  “Her death was a shock to the family. No one had died young like her - we all tend to live into our 80’s.”

  “It must have been hard to lose your mom.”

  “It was, it is. I miss her all the time.” Jay sat up a little straighter and I could feel his energy change. “Anyway, that’s my story. It’s not a secret but please don’t broadcast it to everyone.”

  “No worries, thanks for sharing it with me. I feel like I got a huge piece of the Jay puzzle handed to me.”

  “Jay puzzle huh? Not much to figure out here,” he laughed.

  “I beg to differ.” The bell rang. “Time to finish this day. Thanks for confiding in me.” Jay and I headed inside to dump our trays. I made a pitstop in the restroom before heading to my locker. That was a heavy piece of info Jay dropped on me. When I was washing my hands, the bathroom door opened and in walked Becca and two of her Blondesquad friends.

  “Ahh Brogen, I’ve been wanting to have a little chat with you,” Becca said in her sing-song voice.

  “Oh yeah? Are you disappointed that I didn’t move out of state or whatever the heck that rumor was you were spreading?” I snapped.

  “OOoo, snippy snippy. Did that accident jar something loose in that head of yours? I’m wanting to talk about you and Jay. Was I wrong to read your hints that Jay and I had the green light to get together? Because this little lunch date you two have shared, doesn’t fly with me”

  “You don’t own him. Apparently you’re too shallow for him to get interested in. You’ve flung your hair, boosted your boobs, shook your butt and yet he still seems to gravitate toward me. Guess Jay cares a little more about what’s inside than some stupid, superficial Blondezilla.”

  I stormed past her, slamming the restroom door behind me. Somewhere in the middle of my next class I ran through the bathroom interaction in my head. I would have never been able to stand up to someone like Becca at the beginning of the year. I was much more empowered. Maybe that accident had changed something inside of me. I wasn’t going to hide or cower in the corner anymore.

  The day dragged on and I finally was able to visit Meg. To my surprise she was awake! “Did I just miss Prince Charming? True love’s kiss to awaken you?” Meg smiled so genuinely at me that I warmed head to toe. I squeezed her hand and rubbed her head. “Seriously, when did you wake up?”

  “A couple of hours ago. I feel like barf though,” I laughed. Her mom excused herself so we could catch-up. I took in the room, which had the same monitors I had, a few cards, and 20 new stuffed animals for Meg to add to her hoarding collection. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. Whoever married Meg had better allow at least half of her stuffed animals in the house or they’d never make it.

  “Well, you’ll get better. You really had me scared.”

  “I’m so sorry I got us in that accident. Are you ok?” I couldn’t believe Meg was apologizing.

  “Hold up - that accident was in NO way your fault. We were broadsided by a drunk driver. Actually, it was the same drunk who hit the dog that attacked Jay and I. He didn’t survive the crash.”

  “No shit.” I just nodded. “We could have died. Why didn�
��t they lock that guy away?” Meg was getting upset.

  “I know, they went light on him when he hit the dog. Maybe they will reevaluate how they punish drunk drivers after knowing what happened to us,” I added. “Let’s not think about that right now. You need to stay calm and heal enough to get out of this joint.”

  “Brogen, are you all the way ok? I’ll feel sick if there’s permanent damage.”

  I laughed, “Well, the answer to that question depends on who you ask. Meg, I’m good. I am almost done with my 2 week break from PE and I will start running again this weekend. My stitches are out and it healed nicely. And I grew a pair...stood up to Becca today in the restroom at school.”

  “Spill it. I’ve been down for the count for a few weeks and am desperate to play catch up on my favorite lifetime drama.” I giggled and then recounted the events that occurred after the accident between Jay, Becca, and myself. “Ok, I’m so going to kick butt and get out of here. I need to see this drama with my own eyes. So are you and Jay an item now? I mean you kissed…”

  “I’m pretty sure that kiss was not a ‘I wanna’ love you forever and make you my wife’ kiss. It was a ‘Phew! Thought you were dead’ kiss.” Meg laughed.

  “Like I said, I gotta’ see it with my own eyes. You seem different, way better. Maybe you should be thanking me for risking your life and helping you ‘grow a pair’,” Meg suggested.

  “I’m just glad we are both ok. So when are they going to do the graft?”

  “It’s done. When I began improving they decided to do it while I was still unconscious. I think I’m stuck here just for the rest of the week if it continues to heal well.”

  “Well, I promise I will visit and keep you informed of the high school drama unfolding at Stanton.”

  “You better. Love you Brogen.” I squeezed her hand. Meg’s mom returned.

  “Did I come back too early?” Mrs. Taylor asked.

  “No, I need to head home and work on homework. Good luck tomorrow Meg. Love you,” and I bent over and kissed her forehead. “Night Mrs. Taylor.”

  I drove home from the hospital and wanted to spend time with my mom. Thankfully she didn’t have any patients tonight. When I got home, I opened the door to the house and the delicious smells of dinner filled my nose. “Either I am beyond hungry or you made a world class meal tonight. Either way, I can’t wait to eat.” Mom gave me a smile and plated the food. “Need any help?”

  “Grab our drinks and bring them to the table please. I’m sure you’re hungry but I’m hoping it’s worthy of World Class status too.” Mom set down the plates of sauteed garlic asparagus, homemade double mashed potatoes, and grilled steak. “How was your day? You look good so it must have been positive.”

  I shoved a piece of steak in my mouth and chewed and nodded. She was going to have to wait as I enjoyed this delicious bite. Once I had it down I answered, “Meg’s awake..”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful. When can she come home?”

  Now Mom had to wait while I enjoyed a bite of asparagus. This made her laugh, maybe I really was super hungry. “She had her skin graft so she should be out within the week if she keeps healing well.”

  “Ugh, I forgot about the skin graft. Poor kid.”

  “Mom, outstanding job on this food.” Mom chuckled at my remarks and devouring of the food.

  “Thanks, it does taste pretty good.” Mom went in the kitchen for more asparagus. She returned and asked me how the rest of my day went. I hadn’t talked about Jay yet, because there hadn’t been anything brewing there, but now seemed like a good time to mention him.

  “Pretty good. Remember when I was attacked by that dog a few months ago?” Mom nodded. “Well, that guy that came to my rescue and was attacked, do you remember his name is Jay?”

  “Vaguely. What about him?” she probed.

  “Well, I guess he saw the pictures of the crash in the paper and thought I had died. When he saw me at school the first day back, he was waiting by my locker.”

  “Waiting by your locker?” Ok, Mom thought it strange too.

  “And when he saw me he kissed me.” Mom’s eyebrows raised. “It wasn’t a romantic kiss, it was a ‘thank God you’re alive’ kiss.” Mom smiled at me like she didn’t believe me. “What? I’m telling you, that’s the message I got from the kiss.”

  “Ok, ok, so then what?”

  “Well, nothing really, we’ve just talked a little over lunch. But there’s this other girl that has her eyes on him. She’s the daughter of Dad’s new girlfriend.” Mom rolled her eyes. In that moment I read Mom’s energy - she was worried the story of her and Dad was repeating. “Mom, listen, we just talked. Anyway, that girl is named Becca. She confronted me in the girl’s bathroom and I stood up to her. I can’t believe I was brave enough to do that. I was sick of her crap and cowering around her and I just let my feelings spill.”

  “Wow, that must have been what I sensed in you. You seemed so different sitting at the table tonight - stronger. I’m proud of you,” she hesitated. “Listen, I’m worried about you and this Jay guy. He sounds nice, but are you sure you just don’t feel in debt to him for saving you?” I had to think about that.

  “I don’t know. I know that can happen and there definitely seems to be a bond between us. Did the bond naturally form or did the dog party create it...I don’t know.”

  “Dog party?” Mom snickered, “That’s what you call that?” I smiled and nodded.

  “Rabid dog party actually.”

  “Ah. Well, why was this Becca coming after you? Does she and Jay have a relationship together?” She asked.

  “No. Becca and Jay are the new kids and she has her eyes set on him. That’s it.”

  “Sounds like Jay is fair game and he needs to pick for himself who he would rather be with. Just keep being yourself and keep your distance from that Becca girl. Sometimes girls will get nasty if their prize is taken away.”

  “Agreed. Let me help clean up.” I cleared the table as Mom began scrubbing the dishes. The kitchen phone rang and Mom took a break to answer it. I cleaned off the table and took Mom’s spot at the sink. Mom’s voice was raising a bit and she was standing with her back to me.

  “Yes, she’s fine Philip, couldn’t bother coming by to see her in the hospital, could you?” Mom was talking to my Dad, her ex. “No, she has plans this weekend. I know you want to see her but it will have to wait another week,” she paused listening to whatever my dad was telling her. “I don’t care. Until you start paying child support and making an effort for HER benefit, I will NOT jump through hoops to get her back in your life. You can play house with your Barbie doll girlfriends, keep our daughter out of that mess.” She slammed the phone down. And I couldn’t help it, I started clapping. Mom and I both burst out laughing.

  “Good job Mom. Looks like you grew a pair too. Why does he want to mend the relationship now?”

  “My guess is to impress his latest lady. I just wish he’d leave you out of it.” She leaned over and kissed my head. Mom had raised me with some help from my grandma. She worked and attended every school function I ever had. She was all the parent I could ever need. My dad quit coming to my events when he and my mom divorced. He quit calling me a month later and never took the time to acknowledge my birthday each year. He was a selfish man distracted by pretty ladies.

  “I’m not interested in changing our relationship. You’ve been the best Mom and Dad to me Mom.” She smiled and walked over to wrap me in a big hug.

  “I love you baby,” she whispered.

  Chapter 10

  I guess two good days in a row was asking too much. I slept through my alarm and Mom had to drive me to school. When I was walking up the stairs my sweater snagged on a rough spot on the metal railing, tearing a hole into my sleeve. So irritating! And I knew my day would be spent trying to hide the hole and squelching the desire to abandon the sweater even though it was frigid today. Today was a Meg day. I could have used my dear friend to balance me and cheer me up. Soon she would b
e back to roaming the halls with me.

  I walked down the hall and saw Becca and the Blondesquad snickering nearby. When I turned toward my locker, the word ‘SLUT’ was written in nail polish on my locker. No doubt placed there by Becca or one of her minions. When I opened the locker I heard them laughing hysterically. Great. I grabbed my first period folder and headed to the front office without glancing Becca’s way.