Throw Away Teen (29 page)

Annie sat down at the table, stirring cream into her cup of coffee. “So, how’s it going, B.J.?”

“
Okay.” I held Guard and yawned into his thick black fur. “I have my own dog and my own room and my school’s cool, too. Oh, and I got nice friends, the kind judges like.”

Annie smiled. “Anything else?” she asked, sipping her coffee. “What about the Driscolls?”

“
Liz is kinda touchy-feely but I figure she’ll get over it.”

“
Really?” Liz put her own cup on the table. “I don’t think so, honey. I’m old and I’m not changing. You’ll just have to adjust.” She put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a quick hug. “Now, I’m sending you upstairs to take a nap before supper. If that doesn’t work for you, then you can sack out in one of the recliners in the living-room. But either way, you and Guard need to catch up on some sleep.”

“
But what about Annie?”

“
I’ll entertain her and make another appointment for her to visit you,” Liz said. “You barely slept last night. And that won’t do. Now, scoot.”

I thought about telling her I was fifteen and I didn’t take naps. But the idea sounded soooo wonderful. “All right. I’ll catch you later, Annie.”

“
Sounds good.”

I left the two of them in the kitchen and went into the living-room. I turned on the TV and found an episode of
Bones
. There were always two or three episodes on in the afternoon and I’d missed watching my favorite show because of karate. But Temperance Brennan could kick butt so I figured she’d understand. I nestled into the recliner and pulled an afghan over me and Guard. We lasted till the second commercial and then it was lights out.

***

Ted called and said that Timber woke up once. He recognized his family and Ringo which Liz said was a good sign. Ringo would be going home with Timber’s aunt and uncle. He’d stay with them for a couple days so he could avoid his dad and also visit Timber regularly. Ted told us he’d hang out at the hospital a while longer, but he’d be home after visiting hours.

That meant it was just Liz and me for dinner. We ate warmed over spaghetti in front of the TV. I headed for bed early. I didn’t expect to sleep after my nap, but once I was in bed, I zonked. When I woke the next morning, I found an extra blanket over us. Apparently I was so tired I didn’t even wake up when Liz came to check on us.

I sat by Willa on the bus. Nobody hassled her. When we got to school, Dallas and Mike came to meet us. He took Willa’s backpack and walked her to class. I followed them with Dallas. “You okay?” I asked, jerking my head toward the couple in front of us. “It totally blew me away. I didn’t have a clue they had a thing for each other.”

“
It’s fine,” Dallas told me. “Like Ringo says, I should have a guy who wants me.” She paused. “So, are we going to cheer practice this afternoon? We have a lot to learn before try-outs.”

“
You got it,” I said. “Ted pays major bucks for what he calls extra-curricular activities and cheerleading counts.”

Before my Algebra class, I stopped in the office and Ginger let me use the phone to call Liz. She didn’t answer so I left a message about staying for cheer practice after school.

‘You can ride the sports bus today, B.J.,” Ginger said, “but I’ll need a note from Liz or Ted for you to do it more than once.“

“Okay, I’ll ask Liz for one,” I said. I made it to Algebra and my seat before the last bell.

Mr. Garrison looked major pissed while he wrote the entry task on the board. “Where’s Ringo Taylor?” Willa was the only one who raised her hand. “Yes, Ms. Jackson?

She said, “He’s at the hospital with Timber. Ringo asked me to help with the grading for this class while he’s gone.”

That was a surprise to me. I hadn’t heard from him yet he had time to call her? I’d kick his butt when he got back to Stewart Falls. I’d learned a long time ago not to share, even if I wasn’t ready to admit what I felt for Ringo.

“Thanks, Ms. Jackson. I’ll sort out the quizzes and the answer keys for you.” Mr. Garrison glanced around the room at the rest of us. “Entry task, people. Get on it. “

While I worked out the order of operations on the first equation, Willa leaned over and whispered. “Mike passed on the message this morning. He talked to Ringo last night.”

I made sure the teacher was busy at his desk before I nodded. She’d just saved Ringo and me from having another fight.

***

Classes zoomed by and after school I headed over to the gym with Dallas. We spotted Sarah, Rita and Kaitlyn lining up with a bunch of other girls. When she saw us, Sarah jogged over. “Hey, how’s Timber doing?”

“He’ll make it,” Dallas said. “Ringo told me that Timber has broken ribs, busted both legs, a concussion, and some internal bleeding, too, which is why the doctors had to operate on him. His dad’s car didn’t have airbags, and Walt was too cool to wear a seatbelt. Thank goodness Timber wasn’t.”

“Too cool or too drunk,” Sarah said. “Vonnie’s dad said that Walt picked up Timber after the game on Saturday and the crash must’ve happened late that night. It was good that you guys took the back road to Pine Ridge, B.J., or they might not have been found for days.”

In an odd way, that was a relief to know. Part of me had wondered if we’d taken that road earlier, could we have gotten to the accident site sooner and saved him, too? Still, it was sad to think that Timber had been in pain and helpless with his dead father for an entire day.

Poor guy. No, poor guys. Even if his dad was a drunk.

Sarah took us over to a tall, blonde woman in dark blue sweats. “These are the other girls who want to try out for Junior Varsity, Ms. Olson.”

“The more the merrier.” She smiled at us and picked up a clipboard. “What are your names?”

“Dallas Taylor.”

“B.J. Larson.”

“
Welcome to our prep class,” Ms. Olson said. “Let’s get started, Sarah. We only have two hours.”

CHAPTER 19

After school on Wednesday, I had my riding lesson. I groomed Windsong by myself, but Sarah still helped me with the saddle. This time, Fiona made me lead the warm-up. Sarah coached me through the three stops, starting, backing up and turning circles. After that, I led the exercises.
Eat your heart out, John Wayne
.

I was the ultimate cowgirl even if my mare didn’t want to walk around the ring in front of the other horses. Fiona took a picture of me teaching the class and let me email it to Gabe from her computer. I told him about leading the warm-up and showing other people the basics, but I didn’t mention the stuff I had trouble doing. I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t want him hassling me.

On Thursday morning when I walked into Algebra, Ringo was there. I put my backpack next to my desk and went up to him. “You back to stay?”

“
Yeah, for a while.” He pulled me into his arms. “You were tough last Sunday, shorty.”

“
You weren’t so bad yourself.” I stepped closer and rested my head against his chest. “How’s Timber?”

“
Doing better. He kicked me out of his room last night and told me the baseball team wouldn’t win unless I got my rear to practice.”

By the time, the bell rang and Mr. Garrison came in, I was over at my seat. No P.D.A. for me. I had things to do and Saturday School wasn’t high on my list. Once again, the day flew by. Willa and I had lunch with Ringo and Mike. In World History, Mr. Miller warned us that we’d have a unit test next week and he expected us to review for it in class and at home. That meant more work with Fiona—aargh, as if I didn’t have enough to do.

At the end of the day, I met Dallas at the gym and we headed for cheer practice. There were only six new girls this time. When we finished two hours later, I could tell that a couple would probably wimp out before the tryouts. We would train again next Tuesday, but Ms. Olson said she expected us to show up at the baseball game and watch the squad. There would be a test on Tuesday and we had to remember to be our own cheerleaders, whatever that was supposed to mean. Why did she think we were here? For our health?

When we walked to the parking lot a short time later, I glanced at Sarah. “What is it with these people and tests? They should so get a life.”

Dallas cracked up. “Progress reports in two weeks, B.J. And if you think the mid-terms are bad, wait till finals in June. Those go on all week.”

“How can they?” I asked.

“You come in on Monday and take the final for your first period class,” Sarah said. “After lunch, you take the one for second period.”

“Four hours for a test?” I shuddered. “That’s horrible.”

“It’s actually only a three hour test,” Dallas told me. “We get an hour for lunch. Then, it’s three more hours for Mr. Barrett’s exam. And Ringo says it will be a killer.”

“Yeah, but Warren said that after being in the Academy, his college classes are super easy.” Sarah frowned as the activity bus pulled out of the parking lot. “B.J., aren’t you supposed to take that bus home?”

“Oh my Gawd, I forgot to get a note from Liz.” I sighed. I’d totally spaced on making the arrangements for a ride home. “Can I borrow one of your cell-phones so I can call Liz?”

“I don’t have one,” Sarah said. “My mom doesn’t believe in giving them to teens.”

“And mine’s with Ringo.” Dallas glanced toward the office. “He’s already left for the hospital.”

I followed her gaze. The office was locked up and Ginger was long gone. “Okay, well I’ll just catch the city bus. It’s too far to walk.”

“We’d take you, but I have to work the dinner shift,” Dallas said. “And I can’t be late.”

Sarah frowned as a new white Jeep pulled up in front of the school. “Oh, crap. It’s my mom. I’ll ask if she’ll give you a ride, but I’ve got to warn you that sometimes she’s in a mood and it’s not real nice.”

“Hey, I can handle it,” I said. “If I can try out for cheerleading, I can do anything.”

Sarah nodded and jogged toward the Jeep.

“Laurie should have a broom, not a Jeep,” Dallas told me. “And you’re not an evil bitch. If it was me, I’d walk.”

“How bad can it be?” I headed for the Jeep when Sarah waved at me. “See you tomorrow at puppy school.” When I got there, Sarah opened the rear door on the passenger side. “Mom, this is B.J. Larson. She’s living with Great-Aunt Liz. B.J., this is my mom, Laurie Masters.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Masters,” I tried to ooze politeness. “I really appreciate this.”

She turned from behind the wheel and gave me a stern look. “I can’t give you a ride all the time. This is a real imposition.”

“I can give you gas money.” I bunched my hand on the shoulder strap of my backpack and thought she and Jocelyn must be real tight. Two bitches of a feather flocking together.

“That isn’t necessary this time.” She sniffed and turned back to gaze at the parking lot. “Hurry up. I don’t want to keep Priscilla waiting. Sit on the right side behind Sarah. Priscilla always sits behind me so we can talk.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

That got me another nasty glare before she faced front again. Sarah’s mother was a lot like her cousin, not in looks but definitely in attitude. Laurie
had bunched her chocolate brown hair into a bun on top of
her head. She wore a white sweater and looked like a model, not old enough for a
fifteen-year-old daughter, let alone a seventeen-year-old son.

We were barely buckled in when she tore off like a race-car driver and headed for the buildings at the far end of campus. She was the second in line. A blonde girl in a junior version of the Academy uniform sauntered over to meet the car. Even though the sun was out, she wore a blue raincoat. What was that about?

The kid slid in beside me. “’Who are you and what are you doing in our car?”

“I’m B.J.,” I said. “And your mom was nice enough to offer me a ride home.”

All three of them looked at me like I was nuts and Sarah hid a smile. Priscilla fussed with her seatbelt, adjusting it around her coat pockets. What was the kid up to?

I thought I heard a mew and Priscilla coughed to cover up the sound.

“So, how old are you, Priscilla?” I asked, trying to act friendly. “What grade are you in?”

Priscilla scooted back in her seat and ignored me. “Can we go for ice-cream, Mommy?”

“Not today, honey.” Laurie beamed a smile in the rear-view mirror. “I have groceries in the back. We need to get home.”

As she wound through the parking lot, she hit a speed bump too fast. This time I knew I heard a mew. The kid must have a kitten in her pocket. Where had she gotten it? Who gave it to her?

Laurie drove like a maniac. She raced up to stop signs, then slammed on the brakes. She didn’t use her turn signals. And whatever was in Priscilla’s pocket didn’t like the way we careened around corners. A loud indignant meow sounded when the Jeep screeched to a halt at the next light.

Laurie looked over her shoulder. “What is that?”

“A kitten.” Priscilla rounded her big blue eyes and pointed at me. “She gave it to me.”

“What?” My mouth dropped open. “No way.”

“Yes, you did.” Priscilla nodded emphatically. “She said I could keep it.”

“No, you can’t. Give it back to her. Now!”

Priscilla fished in her coat pocket and handed over a small tabby kitten. I took it. What else could I do? Drop it on the floor? Then, she reached in her other pocket and pulled out a second one. Now, I had two kittens in my hands. They were tiny, fluffy. The first was gray, black and white. The second was pure gray and a little bigger. Both had snowy white paws.

The light changed, but Laurie didn’t pull forward. “I said I’d give you a ride. Not your cats. Put them out now.”

“Are you crazy?” I stared at her. Then, I unzipped my backpack and tucked the kittens inside, leaving it open just enough for them to breathe, but not enough to escape. “This is a street. They’ll get run over. And they’re not even mine. They belong to your kid.”

“I didn’t say she could have them and you had no business giving them to her.” Laurie pointed to the door, ignoring the other drivers who were honking behind her. “They go now.”