Invisible (2 page)

Chapter 2

Ten years ago

Lainie

I sat in study hall finishing my calculus homework for the day. The warm weather had finally arrived, and I reminded myself not to stare out the window or Mr. Grant would give me hell for daydreaming. I couldn’t afford to get in trouble and didn’t want any detentions on my record. Since graduating a year early and getting a full ride somewhere was the only way I would be able to go to college, I tried to be a model student. My applications had all been sent, and I hoped to hear back any day. Indiana University was my first choice; their pre-med program was highly rated.

Mrs. Mergenthal had loaned me a copy of
Wuthering Heights,
and I made sure it was safely in my backpack. Someday, I would be able to buy my own books, but that wouldn’t happen anytime soon. Most of the money I made waiting tables after school and on weekends was confiscated by my stepdad to support his drug habit. I had managed to stash away about $1,000 but was saving that for next year at college.

The intercom crackled, and every student in the room looked at the box above the blackboard as the principal’s secretary spoke. “Mr. Grant, please send Elaine to the office.”

My hands were like ice, and they began to shake as my mind went back to the only other time I’d been called to the office. That was during my freshman year when my dad was killed. The trembling was so bad that when I shoved my calculus book and notebook into my backpack, I could barely pull the zipper closed. Mr. Grant gave me a hall pass, and I made my way to the other side of the building. The anxiety caused me to walk faster and faster, and by the time I got to the office, I was running.

In front of the secretary’s desk, I actually skidded to a stop. My heart raced, and it was difficult to catch my breath. Ms. Price looked up from her paperwork and smiled at me when she noticed the fear in my eyes.

“Did you run all the way down here? I’m sorry. I should have mentioned that it wasn’t an emergency.” My leg muscles turned to jelly, and I became dizzy.
That’s all I would need—to faint and end up in the nurse’s office
. I melted into the closest chair. “I’ll let Mr. B. know you’re here.”

When Ms. Price returned, she sent me to the restroom to get straightened up. Pulling the comb through my long, thick brown hair, I grimaced at the curls left hanging down.
Eh, all the better to hide behind.
Maybe if I splashed enough water on my face, it would help calm me down before I put my glasses back on. Someday, when I leave this town, I’ll be able to wear something other than baggy jeans and sweatshirts. Anything else right now would draw too much attention to me. Staying under the radar was a matter of daily survival.

When I got back, Ms. Price sent me into the office, shutting the door behind me.

“Come in and sit down Elaine,” the principal said.

As I turned to take a seat, I saw someone was already there.

“I’m sure you know Jackson McKenna.”

My heart skipped a beat. Jackson McKenna was the best-looking guy in school and captain of the basketball team. I’d never been able to go to a game, but I had noticed his muscular arms glistening with sweat during practice as I walked past the gym on my way home. Today he was slouched in a chair, his black hair hanging in his eyes, looking like he was pissed at the whole world.

Mr. B. sat down across from us.

“Elaine, Jackson is having problems in geometry and needs a tutor. I’m hoping you can help him out.”

My eyes were riveted on my shoes, letting my hair hang over my face, trying to hide my blush. I had a bit of a crush on Jackson, just like every other girl in the school.

“I can do it as long as it’s during school hours. I can’t stay after school; I’m needed at home.”

I fiddled with my locket—a nervous habit.

“Sure, that’s not a problem. How about during your study hall this period?”

I nodded yes, and Jackson just glared at the principal.

“Okay, it’s settled then. Report to the library tomorrow for this period.”

He stood up and walked back over to his desk.

“It’s all settled then, you may go back to your classes now. Jackson, show up tomorrow or you will be benched.”

The bell rang, so I headed to my locker to get the rest of my books. Jackson slammed his locker closed and headed to the gym for practice. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, strutting down the hall with his teammates as if he owned the school.
What have I gotten myself into?

Jackson

Mr. B. yanked me out of my weightlifting class to talk about my geometry grade.
He has some nerve. I’m sure I can pull it back up to a C.
That’s what I get for blowing off a test. I slouched in my chair as we waited for the brainiac that he said could help me pull my grade back up.

I looked up when I heard the door open. All I saw was a mass of curly, brown hair and a baggy sweatshirt and jeans. Geez, you’d think she could, at least, wear clothes that fit.
She doesn’t look any happier than I am about being here. Wish I could see her face, but it’s covered with all that hair and those geeky glasses. Too bad her looks don’t match her voice. Its resonance sends a chill down my back, all smoky and mysterious, and makes me want to find out more about her.

At least, Mr. B. said he wasn’t going to tell my dad about my geometry grade. He would skin me for sure. According to him, basketball was my ticket to a college education.
Who cares about college? I just want to play ball. I don’t need to know geometry to play basketball and don’t understand why everyone is making such a big deal about it.

Finally, we were done. Coach would have my ass if I were late for practice.
I can’t believe I agreed to this tutoring thing, makes me look like a total loser. And it’s during my weightlifting class. I’m going to have to find some other time to use the weight room.

We were sent back to our classes as the last bell rang. I walked out of the office and went to my locker, slamming it shut as I saw my friends headed for the gym. We strutted down the hall knowing we owned this place.
We win games, and that’s all anybody should care about.

Chapter 3

Lainie

The next day I was almost to study hall when I remembered that I was supposed to tutor Jackson in the library this period.
Crap
! I turned around and started running for the library on the other side of the building, next to the principal’s office. The bell rang just as I entered the room. I looked around but didn’t see him. If he didn’t bother to show up, I could use this time to study for my calculus test next week instead of trying to help him understand geometry.
He’s a jock anyway and probably thinks he doesn’t need to know any of this.

The door opened and he sauntered in, oblivious to the fact that he was more than five minutes late. He scanned the library and saw me in the back corner trying to hide from the world. The librarian glared at him when he tossed his book on the table, and all he did was smile like he didn’t care what anyone thought. Oh, to be that confident about anything must feel fabulous.
He’d better not try to use that smile on me, though; it won’t work.
I have more important things to worry about, such as making enough money for college next year and staying invisible so my stepdad doesn’t notice me. That would be the worst that could happen.

I grabbed Jackson’s book. “So, what chapter are you on? We need to get started.” At least, it was the same text we used last year in sophomore geometry.

He sat slumped in the chair next to me trying to ignore the fact that I was there.
I guess he isn’t into geek girls.

“Chapter 15,” he finally answered.

Sounds like I’m going to have to drag everything out of him. Oh well, my ass isn’t the one on the line here.
I opened the book to the review problems for Chapter 15 and slid the book so it was between us. “Tell me how you would start solving this problem,” I said as I pointed to the first equation on the page.

He glared at me and sat up straighter so he could read it.

“I’m not stupid, you know. I blew off one test, and Mr. B. is all over my case to bring up my grade. I do enough to squeak by. Don’t know why I have to know this stuff anyway.” The frown on his face proved my earlier thought about his state of mind.

I glared back at him, astonished at his attitude. “Don’t you want to play basketball in college? You won’t get any scholarships if you have bad grades.”

“The recruiter from Duke has already promised me a scholarship. I guess they don’t care about my grades.”

He smiled at me, a confident grin spread across that gorgeous face, as if he had the world in his back pocket.

“I’m passing all my other classes. Good thing I don’t want to major in math.”

Geez, what a jock.

“Fine. I’ll just study for my calc test since you don’t care if you’re benched for the tournament.”

I opened my backpack and started rummaging around for my calculus book.

The look of horror on his face actually cracked me up, and it was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. Dumb jock forgot why he was forced to come and hang out with me in the library.

“Okay, okay. I get it.”

He kneeled down on the floor and looked up at me. “Please help me get my geometry grade up. I’ll do whatever you say.”

I laughed. What a goofball!

“Get up before the librarian comes back here and throws us out. You are a nut.”

I couldn’t stop laughing and tried to stifle it as tears ran down my face. Jackson sat back in his chair looking around to see if we were gonna get busted. I pulled my glasses off and wiped my eyes. He stared straight at me before I could put them back on.

“You’ve got beautiful eyes. Why do you cover them up with those huge geeky glasses?”

My face got immediately hot. I’m sure I looked like a tomato; my fair skin has always shown blushes like you wouldn’t believe. The butterflies in my stomach were having a field day, and I ignored his question.
Jackson McKenna thinks I have beautiful eyes.

Somehow, I pulled my focus back to geometry, and we started to work. He actually knew more than he thought he did. With a little hard work, he could pull his grade back up with his next test.
He’s not just a dumb jock; he could be an A student with a little bit of effort.

Before I knew it, our time was almost up.

“That’s enough for today. Tomorrow we’ll pick up where we left off.”

I reached towards him with his textbook, and he yanked it out of my hand.

“You never answered my question, Lainie. Why do you wear those big geeky glasses that cover up your eyes?”

Lainie? I’d never been given a nickname before.
It was nice that no one else but Jackson called me that. It was my secret, personal nickname. I hid behind my hair and mumbled something about not being able to afford a new pair. Picking up my backpack, I hurried out of the library, heading towards my locker.
No one can know the answer to that question, especially not Jackson McKenna. Only three more months until I can escape from this town and this life; college is my only hope.

Jackson

I was unbuttoning my shirt in the locker room when I remembered that I was supposed to be in the library that period.
Shit
. I pulled on my shoes and buttoned my shirt as I shoved my shorts and t-shirt back into the locker. The whole time I was running out of the locker room, I hoped I could get into the library without anyone seeing me. Just outside the door, I waited until I had my breathing under control then walked in—didn’t want to give the geeky girl the idea that I was a flake. Opening the library door was one of the most difficult things I’d done in a long time. I didn’t want anyone to know that I almost screwed up our chances of winning the state tourney this year.

There she was waiting for me in the back corner of the library. Good, at least, no one could see us from the door. I walked over and threw my book on the table, giving the librarian my “I’m Jackson McKenna, and I’m the most popular guy in school” smile when she glared at me.

Elaine snatched the book and started paging through it while asking me what chapter we were on. I slumped in my chair not caring if she got up and walked out. “Chapter 15,” I answered as I scanned the room, looking anywhere but at her.

She found the page she was looking for and pushed the book towards me, keeping it where we both could see it without moving our chairs. She asked me how I would start solving the first problem but was just waiting for me to say that I didn’t know.

“Man, this bites. I really don’t need to know all this geometry stuff for basketball. They’re just picking on me. And I’m not stupid, it’s just a waste of my time.”

“Don’t you want to play basketball in college? You won’t get scholarships if you have bad grades.” She looked at me as if I didn’t have a brain in my head.

I told her about the recruiter for Duke, who already promised me a scholarship, and that they don’t care about my geometry grade. Since she kept giving me the “look who’s wasting whose time” stare, I decided to lighten the mood. “Good thing I wanted to major in pre-law and not math.” She just glared at me. I thought it was funny.

“Fine. I’ll just study for my calc test if you don’t care that you’ll be benched for the tournament.”

Shit.
I forgot about that part. Given she wanted to be serious about this assignment, I figured that I’d try adding more humor to the situation. I dropped down on my knees as if I was praying and pleaded with her to help me improve my geometry grade. Then I offered her my most pitiful face.

That did it; she cracked up. She laughed so hard she was crying and tried to hide it with her hands so we wouldn’t get busted for making too much noise. When she took off her glasses to wipe her tears, I couldn’t believe what beautiful blue eyes she had.

“You’ve got beautiful eyes. Why do you cover them up with those big geeky glasses?” I blurted out without thinking. She turned bright red and ignored my question, bringing my attention back to the geometry book.

We worked for a while, and I was amazed at how much I actually remembered about this chapter without studying. After we had finished up for the day, she started packing up her backpack, and when she picked up my book, I grabbed it out of her hand. “You never answered my question, Lainie. Why do you wear those geeky glasses that hide your pretty eyes?” I really wanted to know the answer. I wanted to know why she hid from the world.

She lowered her head, letting her hair obscure my view of her face and mumbled something about not being able to afford a new pair. I had seen her waiting tables at the diner so I knew she made some money. Her tip money certainly didn’t go towards her wardrobe.
She’s hiding, but from what or whom?