Burden to Bare Page 2

  “Sure, it’s not.” She rolled her eyes. “But he’s also taking you to dinner! That’s a big deal if I say so! He must really like you. He has Rashel hanging off him all the time trying to get his attention, but he’s never even looked at her the way he looks at you!” She started to get loud again.

  “That’s ridiculous. I just started talking to him a month ago!” Something dawned on me. “How do you know we’re going to dinner?” I didn’t tell anyone, obviously.

  “Oh, Sarah overheard you and told Becky, who told Cassidy, who told Amanda, who in turn told me. I’m sure everyone knows by now!”

  She lost me. Once I saw Zach by my locker, no one else existed.

  “Great,” I said as sarcastically as possible.

  So that’s what I get for being forced to move to the small town of Dansville. Everybody hears everything and gossips about it. My old school never gossiped like this… not that I know of, anyway.

  Sigh.

  That’s one way to start the new school year off. Now I definitely can’t wait for this last year of my high school career to be over.

  Bree and I got home at about four as usual. I realize she’s being unusually quiet, but I don’t think too much of it. We have this routine when our parents aren’t home yet. We’d grab a snack and go do our homework for an hour in our rooms, then watch TV or play video games. I love spending quality time with her. She’s a lot of fun when given the chance. Of course, we would fight occasionally, like any other siblings, but we can’t stay mad at each other for long.

  Bree’s eyes are hazel and her hair is long, as it hangs to the middle of her back. Its curly and dark brown. Mine, on the other hand, is long, just past my shoulder blades, curly and dirty blonde with light blonde highlights. Our skin color can pass as the same. We’re both tan from the sun, but mine is gradually fading away, while hers still remains.

  Lucky girl…

  I love her to death and have always been protective of her. I can easily tell when something is wrong. We’re sitting on the couch watching TV when I notice she looks upset.

  “Bree, what’s wrong?” I asked concerned. She doesn’t get upset easily. She’s always one to keep things bottled up until someone dragged it out of her, and I’m usually the one doing the dragging.

  “Nothing,” she spoke with hidden emotion.

  “Now I know that’s not true. So, what’s the matter?”

  She sighed. “Well, it’s… Anna. Everyone keeps picking on her and I try to help. But everyone turned on me. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” She looks really upset.

  “What were they saying, to you and Anna?” This really made me mad. I don’t like people picking on my sister or any of her friends. Anna’s a really sweet girl.

  “Well, you know Anna. She’s quiet and doesn’t really hang out with anyone. So, they were calling her a bunch of names, then when I went to defend her they started calling me names and telling me to mind my own business. So, Anna and I just walked away, and they started to throw paper balls at us and someone was shooting spitballs.”

  How could people be so… so cruel? “First thing tomorrow we’re going to the principal. I’m not letting this go on any farther! Do you know the names of the people doing this to you?” I’m angry.

  “Some. I bet Anna knows the others. She said they do it all the time,” she said sadly.

  “Don’t worry, we will make them stop. They won’t be doing it anymore!”

  “Thanks, Lexi.” She gave me a hug.

  “That’s what I’m here for. It’s my job.” I smiled down at her. “Are you getting hungry?”

  “A little.” She smiled back.

  “Okay, I’ll see what we have to make for dinner.”

  Our parents aren’t home yet and its after 6:00 p.m. so it’s my job to make dinner. I don’t mind, I actually like to cook. Bree’s my food tester, and she likes to learn new tricks. I found some chicken breasts in the refrigerator and a bag of mixed vegetables. I continued to look for some chicken gravy and actually found some. I planned on chicken potpie.

  I made the gravy and threw in the veggies. I chopped the chicken and threw that into the mix after I cooked it. While that heated up I looked for something I could make a crust with, the only thing I found is cornbread mix. It’s gonna have to do. So instead of a crust, I put the gravy and chicken mix in a baking pan and plopped spoonsful of cornbread on top like dumplings. I put it in the oven and I have no idea how it’s going to turn out, but here’s hoping it’s at least edible.

  Stress

  Dinner turned out better than I thought. It’s so good Bree and I had seconds. We are sure to save some for when mom and dad get home though Bree and I could have licked the pan clean. After dinner, I cleaned up and went to my room. I have a lot more homework to do. Some are due tomorrow, so I would start with that first.

  I’m just about done with my homework when I hear the front door open and close. Mom must be home. She’s usually the first home and dad soon follows. I looked up at my clock and its nine already.

  “Hi mom, I’ll be down in a minute. Dinner’s in the fridge,” I yelled down the stairs.

  “Okay, sweetie. Thank you,” she yelled back.

  I finished up my homework and headed downstairs. Mom has a bowl of my makeshift chicken potpie in the microwave while she is in her bedroom getting into her pajamas.

  “How was your day mom?” I asked as she came back into the living room. She has her shoulder length, light blonde hair up in a loose bun, and her bluish-green eyes are wide with excitement.

  “It was great! I won a case today for my client. He was ecstatic after four years of fighting.” She grinned from ear to ear; she’s pleased with herself.

  “That’s great mom! I’m so happy for you!” I congratulated her.

  “Thank you! Now I have another case to start working on.” She started to laugh.

  “Go get ‘em mom!” Bree and I shouted together. We started to laugh at the same time.

  Just then, the phone rang.

  “I got it,” Mom said as she went to the kitchen to get her dinner.

  “Hello?” She said into the phone. “Oh, hi honey. When will you be home?... One of those nights again… I know you are, don’t worry we understand. Make sure you get something to eat and get a nap in when you can…. I love you too…. I will. Bye.” She made a kissing sound before she hung up.

  “Another late night?” I asked.

  “Yeah, he’ll be home early in the morning before you girls go to school. He said to tell you good night, and he loves you both very much!”

  “Alright… guess we’ll see him in the morning then,” Bree said sadly. She hates when dad has to work late.

  “It’s fine. Dad will be home in the morning and you can see him then. His vacation time is coming up in the summer, so we can spend lots of time with him,” I told her. She’s had a bad enough day. She doesn’t need to pout over dad not being home too.

  “That’s right. He does have his vacation this summer. I’m sure he’ll use every minute with you girls. He loves you both very, very much you know that don’t you?” Mom smiled and gave us a reassuring hug.

  “Yes, we know,” Bree and I said together again. That lightened Bree’s mood, and she started to laugh.

  Mom asked us about our day after she raved about my improvised meal. She loved it. I told her about Zach and that I had a date this Saturday with him. I thought her jaw was going to hit the floor in shock. She started asking details of everything. What he looks like, what he’s like, how we met, where we were going. She asked everything imaginable, and I told her every detail. I could tell she was enjoying the information. She was smiling from ear to ear the whole time.

  I noticed that Bree didn’t ask anything, or even really smile while I was telling mom everything. Bree just sat there with an emotionless look on her face. I thought it was odd, but brushed it off as her worrying about her friend.

  I headed to bed around 1:00 a.m. My homework is done
and everything’s ready for school in the morning. The only thing left to think about is Saturday and I’m nervous about it. I never went on a date before, I don’t know what to do or expect. I barely know him, yet, he has a pull that draws me toward him. I can’t explain it. It’s strange, and it scares me that I can’t even explain it to myself. But that’s the wrong thing to think about as it’s getting me wound up and stressed out. So, I took my mind another direction entirely. I took it back to Arizona when I would be in our pool floating on the water, laying in the sun. The way the ripples from the waterfall rocked me into relaxation and the sun beating against my skin, melting into my body relaxing me even more.

  I quickly fell asleep.

  ***

  The next morning, I woke up to the annoying beep… beep… beep, of my alarm clock. I quickly turned it off. That sound annoys the crap out of me, especially in the morning. I gradually dragged myself out of bed and down the long hall to Bree’s room to make sure she didn’t ignore her alarm like she always does.

  “Bree, time to get up,” I called from her door.

  “Hmm…” She mumbled.

  “Come on. It’s Friday.”

  “No, go away,” she mumbled again rolling over, putting a pillow over her head.

  I figured there’s only one way to get her up. “Dad’s home,” I said knowing she would get moving.

  Her covers flew off the bed as she yelled, “Coming.”

  I laughed as I headed back to my room and grabbed my clothes off my dresser, heading for the bathroom to take a shower. It’s nice having my own bathroom. We have a lot of bathrooms and bedrooms. It’s a little crazy for just four people, but hey, I don’t have to share and that’s what matters to me. I smiled to myself.

  After I dried off and got dressed, I did my hair. I just flipped it over and put a handful of mousse and scrunched it up. It helped that my hair is naturally curly, like Bree’s. I grabbed my backpack and headed for the stairs. That’s when I smell something delicious lingering in the air. I know by the smell that Dad is making his signature corn fritters. They’re pancakes with creamed corn in the batter, and he makes them the size of a half dollar. No one can make them like he can, not even me, and I have tried. He makes them for us when he’s home in the mornings, which isn’t too often these days. I’m excited. We haven’t had dad home in the morning in almost a month and I’m really missing the pancakes… Dad too of course. I dropped my bag by the front door and bounded into the kitchen happily.

  Dad slaved over the stove just as I pictured he would be. He has his number one dad apron on with his gray t-shirt and black sweat pants. His dark black hair speckled with grey, is a ruffled mess and his dark blue eyes look very tired, but he still put a smile on his face. I bet after he sends us out the door he will be crashing in bed. Mom’s getting ready for work in their bedroom as I can hear the hairdryer going.

  The smell of the pancakes is so strong, my mouth is watering. Bree’s very happy this morning. She’s already sitting at the dining table devouring her pancakes. She keeps looking toward dad in between bites and smiling. I notice something’s different about the pancakes. Their heart shaped. I bet he’s making up for the missed breakfasts in the last month.

  I ran over and gave him a big hug around the waist.

  “Welcome home dad! We’ve really missed you around here,” I said squeezing him tighter.

  He turned toward me and squeezed me back with one arm while the other holds the spatula. “It’s good to be home. I’ve missed you girls too. You have no idea! Just wait until my vacation; we’re going to have some fun.” He kissed my head then released me to tend the pancakes.

  “Good! I can’t wait! What are we going to do?” I asked as I leaned against the counter next to him.

  “Well, I was thinking that we could go camping for a few days over at Letchworth State Park. We haven’t been over there yet.” He paused and flipped the pancakes into the air. They landed perfectly back in the pan. “But I was thinking… next month we could maybe go car shopping...” He stopped to grin at me.

  “Seriously!? I’m getting a car!? I really can’t wait now!” I just about yelled. I smiled so wide my face hurt. I hugged him again.

  “Yep. I’m very serious! I can’t believe you’re going to turn eighteen in a few months. Where has the time gone? Where did my little girl go?” He said sadly shaking his head.

  “I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere,” I announced.

  “Ha, ha, ha, you say that now. But one day you will want to leave home.”

  “Never! You’re stuck with me for life!” I laughed.

  Dad laughed too, knowing I would. “Okay, okay. Here, you better eat before you miss your bus.” He handed me the plate with the heart-shaped pancakes. I quickly grabbed my glass of orange juice and sat next to Bree who’s almost finished.

  Bree wasn’t happy about leaving this morning. She wanted to stay home with dad, but he kissed us both on the head and kicked us out the door. He’s tired, I could see it in his eyes, but he tried not to let it show around us. He wanted to spend every moment he could with his favorite girls, preferably not sleeping.

  Once at school, I took Bree and Anna to the principal’s office. They told him what happened yesterday, and he promised it wouldn’t happen again. So, I’m hopeful the teasing and trashing will stop.

  The day is going slow. I assume because it’s Friday and they always go slow. Zach decided to sit next to me in Algebra for the first time. Of course, the girl who he normally sits next to, which just happened to be Rashel, gave me the look of death. I just ignored her and the other people that stared. I guess I’ll have to get used to it sooner or later. Obviously, she isn’t going to let go of the fact Zach chose me, a nobody, over her, a preppie.

  I can tell by Zach’s energy during Algebra that he’s still hyped up for Saturday. His whole body seems to glow with pleasure.

  English is dragging. It’s mostly due to our lecture… a whole ninety minutes of just talking. I always hate to sit still this long with nothing to do. I can never really pay attention to lectures, but I always manage to pass my classes with A’s and B’s. So, I just sat with a scrap piece of paper in my notebook, doodling different faces and shapes. It’s something to do. Maybe it’s my way of retaining the information without consciously listening to the lecture. Definitely possible, I hope anyway.

  After class, Zach met me at the door again. I don’t know how he gets across the building so fast. His class is on the other side of the school on the third floor, but he’s at my door just before the bell rings. Maybe he left class a minute or two early?

  I still can’t figure out what draws him to me. Maybe he will run once he gets to know me. I’ll have to wait and see.

  Zach noticed the nasty bruise on my forearm that Rashel caused yesterday. He looked up at me questionably, but I pulled my sleeve down to cover it up. I smiled and told him it’s nothing.

  Zach, Katrina and I walked to lunch talking about our classes. I’m still getting to know her better. But I guess I will be getting to know Zach faster than anyone else. I hope anyway.

  We got our trays of food and sat at our usual table in the back of the cafeteria. I gave Zach my address. We live about seven miles outside of town, in the country. There are other houses around ours, but not as close as the ones in town. It’s quiet and nice to get away from the traffic and crowds of people.

  Katrina and Mya act as if they aren’t paying attention, but I know better. It’s hard for them to pretend they aren’t listening. I keep seeing them glimpse at us out of the corner of their eyes. Katrina’s good at hiding it, but Mya… completely obvious. I’m trying to ignore their behavior for now.

  While sitting and talking amongst ourselves, I feel eyes, specifically one set of eyes, glaring a hole through my back. I’m glad I sit with my back to the cafeteria. Before I turn slightly to look behind me, I know who’s glaring.

  Rashel of course. It seems her and I have a problem. When I glanced back at
her, her face changed, she looks like she’s about to pounce on me. She got a glimpse of the smile I gave her. That set her off, and it made me smile wider. I can’t help it. I know it’s mean to do, but hey, she started it.

  After a few seconds, she quickly looked away, acting like she just got caught doing something she shouldn’t. I’m confused by her reaction until I hear a sigh next to me. I looked over to see Zach looking at Rashel.

  “That’s going to be a problem,” he said softly looking back at me. “Don’t worry she’s too cowardly to really do anything. She’s all bark and no bite.” He laughed silently like he’s enjoying a private joke.

  Suddenly someone slammed something on a table behind me, causing me to jump and spin around. Rashel is standing up, both fists on the table, glaring right at Zach with fire in her eyes. She mumbled something I can’t hear, but I can see a grin playing around Zach’s lips. Rashel stomped her foot, and with one last death glare in my direction, whipped her hair to the side and stormed off with her two cohorts. The entire cafeteria watched after her but everything resumed to normal after she left the room.

  I’m still a bit surprised at her actions as I continued to look at the door she walked through, when I unthinkingly said, “She was barking at me yesterday.” I immediately realized I shouldn’t have said that and tried to say something off topic, but Zach cut me off.

  Zach looks mad. “What did she say?” Before I can answer, his gaze drifted down to my arm where he had seen the hand-sized bruise just fifteen minutes ago in the hall. His eyes suddenly became cold, and he started to slide his seat back to get up.

  Horrified at what he might do, I quickly grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed, while saying in a calm voice, “It’s nothing. I can take care of it. So, don’t worry.”

  His eyes calmed a bit under my touch, but he spoke in a tightly controlled voice, “Are you sure you don’t want me to say something to her?”

  “No!” I said quickly in too loud of a tone that caused other students to look in my direction. I calmed my voice. “I’m not worried about her. So, don’t you worry.”