Payback (21 page)

“You mean with the kids he sold papers to?”

“Yeah. Brandon was smart in some ways, like academics, but he wasn’t too smart when it came to social stuff.”

“How’s that?”

“He didn’t get it. Guys like us are never accepted with the cool kids. We’re always on the outside—that’s just how it is.” He scowls at me now. “Like no way would you be talking to someone like me if you weren’t trying to get something from me.”

“That’s not true. I have friends from all walks of life, and I—”

“Yeah, whatever.” He rolls his eyes.

“Fine,” I say. “You don’t have to believe me. Just tell me about Brandon, okay?”

“So anyway, he was pretty surprised when some of the jock dudes still picked on him—even after he sold them papers. Nothing really physical or anything, since I think they actually appreciated his academic help. But they’d still tease him. Like if we were in the locker room, you know, guys would say stuff and put us down. You know the kind of crud I mean?”

“Yeah, girls sort of do the same thing sometimes.”

“So Brandon decided to get back at them.”

“You mean with the shooting?”

“No, it was way before that. He got back at them a couple of months ago.”

“What did he do?”

“He gave Tyler Morris an essay that was totally bogus. As a result, Tyler got an F, and because of the failing grade, he was suspended from a pretty critical basketball game during the state play-offs.”

“Really?”

“Before that, Fairmont thought they’d win state for sure.”

“But they came in third instead?”

“Yep.”

“And so Tyler was mad?”

“Not just Tyler. All the jocks were mad. The whole school was mad.”

“So the jocks started beating him up?”

“No way. They might get into big trouble for doing something like that. Baseball season was just around the corner, and Tyler is even better at baseball than basketball.”

“So what then?”

“They hired hit men.”

“Hit men?”

“Basically they were just some thugs that go to our school—the kinds of kids who don’t care if they get in trouble, especially if there’s a payoff. Naturally, there was.”

I remember the guys at the video arcade now. “I’m starting to get it…”

“So for the past several weeks, Brandon was always running and hiding and getting beat up—I mean, seriously beat up.”

“But his mom denied this.”

“Of course. Brandon was scared. The hit men told him that they’d really make him suffer if he told on them.”

“So he kept his mouth shut.”

“Yeah. And according to Brandon, they tried not to hit his face too much when they beat him up. But he still had bruises and stuff.”

That’s so sad.”

“But Brandon was asking for it.”

I frown, trying to think of a response. “Still…”

We talk awhile longer, and I try to encourage Aaron to speak to the authorities if anyone picks on him. He acts like it’s futile, but I tell him that the only way things will change is if people speak out.

“Part of the bullying policy will be to have some anonymous ways to report on bullying. You can turn kids in without revealing your identity.”

He considers this.

“Just don’t let what happened to Brandon happen to you,” I say as we finish up. He assures me that it’s not even a possibility. Then I thank him, and we go our separate ways.

By the end of the week, life seems to have quieted down some. Ebony is back home, and I am feeling more like a “normal girl” (whatever that is) again. I’m also taking Olivia’s advice to heart and accepting that I’m not Supergirl—not that I ever thought I was. And I’m making progress about not blaming myself for Brandon’s death.

Besides that, we also hear some really good news about Conrad’s little sister. It sounds like Katie is doing really well.

Conrad explains that the treatments are complete now, and if her white-cell count continues to improve, she may be completely out of the woods soon.

“In fact, it might not be lupus at all,” he explains to us during lunch on Friday. “And they’ve ruled out almost everything else that’s life threatening. The doctors admit they’re surprised that this new treatment worked so fast, and my mom keeps trying to tell them that God intervened with a miracle.” He laughs. “But medical professionals don’t always get miracles. They think it’s the new medicine.”

“Maybe it’s both,” suggests Alex.

“Or maybe it’s a miracle,” claims Olivia.

“Think about it,” I add. “Literally hundreds of people have been praying for little Katie—it could be a miracle.”

“Anyway, I’m feeling pretty relieved,” he says with a happy sigh.

I’m feeling relieved too. Life seems to be settling down now. And I, for one, am ready for it.

L
ater Friday afternoon Conrad walks me to the parking lot where Olivia is waiting to give me a ride home.

Just as we’re about to say good-bye, he invites me to go to Saturday night youth group with him.

“Yeah,” I tell him happily as Olivia comes over to join us. It’s a huge relief not to have to make up any excuses this weekend.

“Cool,” he says. “I was actually starting to get a little worried.”

“Worried?”

“Well, the last time I asked you to go with me to youth group, you gave me some lame-sounding excuse, which I tried to overlook. But when I heard that both you and Olivia didn’t go to youth group the weekend Alex and I went to Seattle, I had to wonder what was up.”

“Hey, I had an excuse,” says Olivia, winking at me. “The Stewed Oysters had a gig that night.”

“Yeah, but what was Sam doing?”

I give him a mysterious grin but don’t attempt to explain.

“See,” he says as if I just proved his point. “And then you wouldn’t go to youth group with me again last week.”

“I was busy…”

“So you say but I started to think maybe something was going on with you spiritually…like maybe you were falling away from the Lord.”

I have to chuckle at that. “No, silly, I am most certainly
not
falling away from the Lord. I couldn’t survive one single day without the Lord.”

“And seven days without the Lord makes one weak,” he teases.

I punch him in the arm now. “And that joke is as old as the hills and twice as dusty.”

“Thanks.” He rubs his arm, frowning like he’s hurt.

“And thanks for assuming I was falling away from God,” I shoot back at him.

“Well, I didn’t actually believe that…but you have to admit it was a little puzzling…I mean the way you kept making excuses and stuff.”

“Sam just happens to be a woman of mystery,” says Olivia with a twinkle in her eye. “But I can attest that she hasn’t been up to anything bad.”

He nods, then looks slightly uncomfortable as he clears his throat. “No offense, Olivia, but do you mind if Sam and I have a private conversation for a few minutes?”

Olivia pretends to be offended, then just laughs as she walks away “Fine, I’ll be in my car, Sam. If you still want a ride, that is.”

“Yeah, she’ll need a ride,” he calls out. “I promised to run Alex over to the track meet at McKinley, and I’m already late.

“Okay,” he says as soon as Olivia is gone. He looks directly at me now, like maybe this is serious, and suddenly I
wonder if he’s about to tell me that he wants to date someone else.

“Okay?”
I brace myself and wait for him to begin.

“Okay…since I’m somewhat assured that your not going to youth group isn’t related to your relationship with God…” He pauses with an uncertain frown. “What about me?”

“Huh?”

“I figure it could be one of two things. Like maybe you don’t like going to youth group with me. Or maybe you just plain don’t like me.”

I throw back my head and laugh now. “No way” I tell him. “Wrong on both counts.”

He grins in relief. “Okay then.”

“Okay then.”

“So, if you still like me and God both…I have another question, Sam.”

“What?”

“Well, I know it’s late notice, especially since it’s only a week away…”

Uh-oh, I think I know where this is heading, and I’m not so sure I want to go there. Just the same, I keep my mouth shut.

He takes my hand in his now, almost as if he’s making a marriage proposal, which is totally ridiculous. “Samantha McGregor, will you do me the honor of going to the prom with me?”

I’m sure a shadow washes across my face when I hear that dreaded four-letter
p
word again. Another prom? Just shoot me. Okay, maybe not.

“You don’t want to?” He looks stunned now. As well as a little hurt.

“No no,” I say quickly, regretting my initial reaction. “I’m just totally surprised by this, Conrad. Are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious. You want to go?” I smile at him. “I would love to go to the prom with you!”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

Then he leans down and gives me a quick peck. “Cool.” I nod. “Yeah, cool.”

“Well, I gotta go. See ya!” Then he gives this funny little leap for joy before he takes off running to the other side of the parking lot. Who would’ve thought? A guy who actually
wants
to go to the prom.

I slowly walk over to Olivia’s car and try to work up some enthusiasm about another night at a prom.

“What’s wrong?” asks Olivia with concern.

“Wrong?”

“You look totally bummed. Did you and Conrad break up or something?”

“No,” I tell her.

“What then?” she demands. “He asked me to the prom.”

Of course, this just makes her shriek with joy. “Woo-hoo!” she shouts. “We’re going prom dress shopping, girlfriend!”

I nod in resignation. “I can’t wait.”

She just laughs. “Get over it, Sam.”

I do get over it. When the night for the Brighton prom arrives, which is thankfully not at the Marriott, I am totally jazzed. This time I’m not wearing a rental dress or even cheap shoes, not
that I would have minded so much, but Olivia held me to my promise. And she helped me find the perfect gown in a pale shade of pink. She also loaned me her pearls again. And my mom got me this pretty little beaded bag that’s absolutely perfect. The shoes were a compromise. Because it’s a long dress, Olivia said it would be okay to wear a lower heel. But she insisted on picking out a cool style, and I have to admit they’re really pretty. Plus, they’re also fairly comfortable. No more “killer” shoes for this girl.

“Smile,” Mom says as she snaps a photo of Conrad handing me a nosegay of pink rosebuds in the entryway. Then she makes all four of us pose by the fireplace for several more shots. And then another one with me pinning Conrad’s boutonniere onto his lapel. The four of us laugh and joke as we partake in the hors d’oeuvres and sparkling apple cider that Mom provided for us. It was so sweet of her to go to that extra effort. And really, she seems happier than she’s been in a long time. Even happier than she was with Steven, which, looking back, she admits was a shallow kind of happiness. In fact, she seems happier than she’s been since before Dad died. She and Ebony are actually becoming friends now. And they’re going to another singles thing at Ebony’s church tonight.

“Powder room,” says Olivia just before we’re ready to leave—not via a fancy limo this time but simply in Alex’s parents’ roomy sedan.

And as my best friend and I are standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I realize that tonight is totally different from the other three prom nights. Those weren’t anything like this.
This is fun.

“Are you okay?” she asks suddenly.

I give her a serious, wide-eyed expression. “I just had a flash,” I say dramatically

Her eyes look frightened. “Oh no, Sam. Please tell me it’s not another shooting.”

I laugh loudly. “No, I just had a flash that tonight is going to be fun!”

“Thank God!” she says in relief.

“Yeah,” I tell her, “you can say that again!”

And I do thank God as Alex drives us to a restaurant (not the fanciest, most expensive one in town). I thank God, not just for tonight, which I know is going to be totally awesome, but I also thank Him for each and every part of my somewhat complicated life and for the way it never seems to go in a perfectly straight line. Somehow I know, and I firmly believe, that God really is working all these things together for good. Even when it seems really bad, or horribly sad, or totally hopeless, or just plain frightening, I know that if I trust Him—if I hold on tight—He always, always sees me through. And I am thankful!

1. Early in the story, Sam is trying to accept her mom’s boyfriend. Why do you think this is so hard for her? How did you feel about him?
   

2. How did you react to Sam’s visions in regard to the bullying incidents? Did it make you uncomfortable?
   

3. How would you feel if you witnessed bullying behavior? Would you get involved? If so, what would you do?
   

4. Have you ever been the victim of bullying? Or maybe you’ve been a bully? If so, explain how that made you feel,
   

5. Sam and her mother seem to be speaking two different languages sometimes. Why do you think communication between them is so difficult? Can you relate to that in your own life? How?
   

6. Beth’s opinions on her daughter’s gifts change drastically after Sam’s vision leads to her rescue. Do you ever wish something miraculous like that would happen in your own family’s relationships? Describe an “everyday” miracle you’d like to see in your own life.
   

7. Did you suspect that Brandon would be involved in the prom shooting? Why or why not?
   

8. What did you think of the people whose lives were in danger at the prom? What did you think about their relationship with the shooter?
   

9. How did you feel when Brandon was the only person shot?
   

10. Can you imagine what it would feel like to have a gift like Sam’s? Do you think it would be a blessing or a curse? Why?
    

11. What kind of gifts do you have? Explain how you feel about them.
    

As Christians, we all have the Holy Spirit within us, and God speaks through His Spirit to guide us in our walk with Him. Most often, He speaks through our circumstances, changing our desires, giving us insight into Scripture, bringing the right words to say when speaking, or having another Christian speak words we need to hear. Yet God, in His sovereignty, may still choose to speak to us in a supernatural way, such as visions and dreams.