A Life Like Mine (29 page)

              “What is this?” I asked curiously, staring at the screen.

              “The wrong DVD! You don’t want to see this.”

              “Adam, what is this?” I asked again.

              “Hank and I always did a ‘back in the locker room’ skit after each game. You don’t want to see this.” Adam repeated as he went to turn it off.

              “Wait.” I held my hand up as I leapt towards the TV. “Rewind!”

              “Okay.” Adam shrugged.

              “Play!” I dictated. We watched silently as on screen Adam prattled on about something stupid. “There did you see that?” I asked.

              “No.” Adam snorted.

              “Pause it.” I told him. “What do you see?”

              “I see a sexy beast.” Adam joked.

              “No.” I crossed my arms. “Look behind you on the screen. That’s Tom!”

              “You know what? I think you’re right? What’s he got in his hands?” Adam asked.

              “A lit cigarette and a bottle of Jack Daniels!” I pointed out Tom on the screen. “Look at him suckin’ it down. He’s really going to town with the hooch.”

              “Oh my gosh! This was game number three. No wonder he was so loose that game.” Adam’s eyes widened.

              “Where’s that ethical book?” I asked, searching under pillows and tapes.

              “It’s over there.” Adam pointed to a spot on the floor.

              “Great.” I picked it up and sped through the unimportant sections. “Where is it…?” I whispered.

              “What are you looking for?” Adam asked.

              “Here!’ I shouted. “Underage substance and drug abuse!”

              “You’ve got it!” Adam said softly.

              “I’ve got it!” I screamed my head off and jumped into his arms, knocking him and me to the ground. “Sorry.” I scrambled to get off of him.

              “It’s okay.” He held me on top of him. It was one of those magical awkward movie moments. The kind where we both feel the tension between the two of us. I jumped up, mumbled some kind of a goodbye, and headed towards school.

              “Congratulations, Ashley.” Miss Rosemary shook my hand. “You did what you set out to do. You’ve helped this school realize that Thomas should not be part of the basketball team.

              “Thank you. So am I still going to be punished?” I gave her an innocent smile.

              “Yes. Let’s just make it three Saturday detentions. Less than a month of detentions.”             

              “Fair enough.” I shook her hand again, and left the office with a skip in my step. I looked for Adam, but instead of finding him, I found Tom and Lena.

              “Hey, Ash.” Tom sneered. “How’s your felon of a boyfriend?”

              “I wouldn’t worry about him seeing that you have other problems to think about. Like getting kicked off of the basketball team.”

              “You’re bluffing.” Lena’s eyes narrowed.

              “I’m afraid not.” I gave them both a plastic smile. “Bribery is against the Code of Conduct.”

              “You wench.” Tom’s eyes clouded with rage.

              “What? You’re not on the team anymore?” Lena asked, irritated.

              “I guess not,” I answered for Tom.

              “Well, then…” Lena looked at him, and then at her watch. “I guess I have no use for you then.

              “What?” Tom asked with utter anguish.

              “It’s over. Good luck being a loser.” Lena thundered off.

              “Huh.” Tom roared at the top of his lungs. All I could do was laugh at him. “I swear to God that I will make sure you pay for this.” Tom bellowed.

              “Oh, I’m quaking with fear,” I said sarcastically. “Maybe you should worry about becoming a better person, Tom.”

              “Don’t take me seriously, huh?” Tom slapped me so hard that I saw stars. He threw me to the ground saying, “Do you take me seriously now?”

              “You jerk,” I said calmly. There was no way that I was going to let him treat me that way. I hadn’t gone to self-defense classes for nothing! Just when I was about to break his nose, Adam came.

              “Stop!” Adam jogged up to me. “Are you okay?” His hand lightly swept across my flaming cheek.

              “Better than he’ll be.” I threw my entire body into one punch right at his stomach. It took the wind out of him. “Don’t mess with an angered woman with skills!” I emphasized “skills” by saying “ski-ills.” Adam and I left Tom gasping for air towards the parking lot. (Hey, he deserved it. I didn’t hit him as hard as I could.)

              “So, you thought you were going to save me from the big bad wolf, huh?” I nudged him.

              “Nah. I know you. I was trying to save him from certain death.”

              “Well, I was pretty steamed.” I laughed heartily.

              “I can’t believe that you did it. And with one day of school left.” Adam combed his hands through his perfect hair. Whoo!

              “Yeah, I’m pretty proud of myself.” I nodded.

              “Ash.” Adam walked in front of my forcing me to stop walking. “I need to tell you something.

              “I know. I know that tomorrow’s your last day.  I know that you’re leaving after Tina’s party on Saturday. I know.” I said, frustrated.

              “It’s not that,” Adam told me seriously.

              “Not now,” I replied flippantly. I was uncomfortable with the sad sincerity in his eyes. He probably just wanted to say goodbye. No matter how much I didn’t want to admit it; I was going to miss him.

              “All right.” He sighed. “See you at the last day of junior year.”

              “Yeah, see you,” I whispered as he and I parted ways.

Chapter 15

The Last Day of School

The year was almost over, and I felt like it had been the most eventful year of my life. I never knew that so many things could happen in one single year and change a person so much. The last day of school is one of those sacred school days. Everyone is happy, but antsy to get out.  The best part is that there’s absolutely no work done because finals are over. All we’re here for is to sign yearbooks. Of course, I think you guessed that with me there, it’s not just going to be a calm yearbook signing. Chaos will inevitably ensue. You know, I think that’s a rule or something. Anyway, here’s what went down.  (I’m so completely cool. “Here’s what went down.” Could I be any cooler? Ha!)

“Annie! Annie!” I yelled across the cafeteria.

“Hey, Ash!” Annie smiled warmly. “Sign my yearbook!”

“I was planning on it.” I took her book, opening it to the back cover. “I see Big Al has signed the inside binding of the book.” I smirked.

“Yeah.” Annie giggled. “He thinks he is so original with the line ‘thanks for letting me sign your crack.’”

“Ha, people are never original when it comes to yearbook signing. They always say something stupid. I can count the standard lines on my fingers.”

“What would those be? Annie smirked.

“Well, I got ten ‘stay sweet’ responses, eighteen ‘have a great summer’ phrases, twenty-three ‘see ya next year’ entries, and the winner of the boring line in a year book contest goes to the endless ‘see ya’ lines.” I rolled my eyes.

“You weren’t kidding.” Annie laughed. “Is it weird that I have the exact same things in my year book?”

“Very funny.” I grinned.

“What’s funny?” Big Al came up behind us.

“Your entry in Annie’s yearbook.” I said.

“Yeah, isn’t it the best? I thought it up.” Big Al answered proudly.

“I bet you did.” I winked at Annie.

“I just came over here to tell you girls that we’re all going over to the courtyard to hang out. You’re coming, right?” Big Al put his arm around Annie.

“Sure.” Annie and I answered together.

“I love the courtyard,” Annie chimed as we all headed toward out to meet our friends. The courtyard was a little square garden with statues and sturdy benches. It was right outside the school. A path from the cafeteria led to it. It was gorgeous in the summer, and the perfect place to be with someone you cared about. Thinking about it made me sad. Everything that I saw reminded me of Adam. Today was going to be his last day here, and I wouldn’t even get the chance to say good-bye.

“Hey, Ash.”

“Hmm?” I snapped to attention.

“You okay?” Big Al asked.

“Sure,” I answered unconvincingly. “Don’t worry about it,” I continued with a tone in my voice that said ‘stay out of it.’

“Okay.” Annie kept walking.

“Annie, Big Al, Ash!” Tina motioned towards us. “What’s up?”

“Not much.” I squinted at her.

“Where have you been hiding?” Tina asked. “I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

“Yup,” was my reply. Everybody was there. Well, everyone except Tom who wasn’t going to be anywhere for a long time.

“How’s Adam?” Tina giggled as her boyfriend nibbled her neck. Yuck! Disgusting. Can’t these people turn it off? 

“I…” My face dropped and everyone grew silent.

“How are you?” Betty burst in.

“I’m good.” I sighed, giving her a hug.

“How’s Hank?” Tina didn’t seem to get the hint.

“So, Tina why don’t you and your boyfriend go and find out where the new wing in the school is going to be put.” Betty widened her eyes at Tina. She tried to do it so that I didn’t notice, but instead I did, and Tina didn’t.

“Great idea!” Tina walked off with her guy.

“So, the gangs all here.” I said.

“Yeah, sadly some of us haven’t gotten the newsflash about what tact is,” Betty grumbled. “Sorry about that. I should have told her.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal.”

“I shouldn’t have let her just blurt that out like she did.” Betty sighed. “Are you okay?”

“I’m getting there.” I shrugged. “I miss him. And even though he’s a jerk, I miss Hank too. He
was
a good friend until he sold me out.”

“Yeah.” Betty stiffened. “Do you want to go do something?” She said, wide eyed.

“What’s going on?” I looked behind me. By the statues, with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, was Adam. My mouth dropped. I turned to run away, but I stopped myself. I might as well say something to him. I walked towards him. It was as if I was on skates. I couldn’t feel my feet hitting the ground.

“Hi.” I toyed with my hair nervously. “Come to say good-bye?”

“These are for you.” Adam stuffed the white lilies in my face.

“Thanks.” I sputtered with a smile. “The lilies are kind of blocking my nasal passages!”

“Sorry.” He pulled the lilies back a little. He handed them to me.

“Well, you’ve said your good-bye and given me the ‘good-bye flowers’ so I guess you’re all ready to go.”

“I came to tell you something.” Adam smiled.

“What else could you possibly need to say to me?” I asked, irritated. 

“Well, hello everybody!” Someone behind me slurred in a drunken voice. It was Lena.

              “Things just keep getting better and better.” I mumbled to myself. (Seriously, how many more people are going to crash this little get together at the courtyard? First Adam, now Skankwad, I mean Lena. Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. I’m working on it. Okay?)

“Lena.” Betty sucked in her breath. Everyone just sat and watched as Lena stumbled around, giggling flirtatiously. No one moved.

“Ugh,” I groaned. I handed my lilies back to Adam and started walking towards her. I have to do everything around here! Don’t you think that’s unfair? Well, it doesn’t matter. I think it’s unfair.

“Lena, what are you doing here?” I asked tiredly.

“I came here to join the festivities!” Lena lifted a glass before almost falling over. I caught her.

“Have you been drinking?” I asked.

              “No!” Lena made a fish face. “I’ve just been having a lil’ puncharoo!” She wiggled her hand with the glass in front of my face.

              “I see.” I answered.