Page 9 of Fighting the Tide
“Does Kasen know what happened on Friday?”I question her as I take another step closer, the scent of spring rain and flowers assaulting my senses.
“God, no.”She reaches into the waistband of her skirt and withdraws a pack of cigarettes, pulling one out and holding it between her fingers.“He’s just helping to pass the time.”
“Are you gonna smoke here?”I ask just as she brings the lighter up to the tip of the cigarette and lights it, exhaling her smoke into a cloud over her head.
I scan the courtyard, looking for students or teachers, just as she laughs again and kicks my shin.“You’re a good boy aren’t you, Nolan?”
“Why?Because I don’t smoke on school property?Because I nearly killed myself saving you from killingyourself?Then yeah, I guess I am.”I turn around as the final bell rings, letting me know I’m late for class.I head toward the science building when her voice rings throughout the courtyard.
“Hurry along to class, Sears.”She cackles.“Good boys are never late.”
“Kasen was with Monica this morning!”I call out over my shoulder as I pull open the science building door.“Great upgrade from the last guy you were seeing,” I say sarcastically, then step into the building as the door shuts behind me.
Immediately, I’m struck with a shot of guilt, wishing I could take back the words but knowing it’s impossible.It’s not like me to retaliate, to spit my words as if they were poison and aim for the jugular.
“Is there any way to get his junk out of the side of the frame there?”I point out the jockstrap sitting on the sidelines as I interview Kasen in the locker room video.
“C’mon, it makes for good TV.”Avery laughs as she pauses the shot.“Jockstraps are full, but heads are empty.”
“That’s not nice.”
We both swing around at the sound of Kasen’s voice as he leans against the doorframe of the yearbook room, a suppressed grin on his face.
“It may not be nice, but it’s not a lie,” Avery mutters as I nudge her with my elbow.
“What’s up?”I nod to him, trying my best not to give into the bile rolling around in my stomach.I haven’t told Avery what I saw in the courtyard and I can’t figure out if I’m protecting her or Brooke.
“Can I talk to you?”He motions to the hallway as his eyes flick to Avery.My back straightens as my skin begins to tingle from Avery’s scrutiny.Fucking great, I will be interrogated by this unrelenting female and I will fold like a jack-in-the-box.
“Sounds pressing,” she murmurs, only solidifying the waterboarding I will be subjected to when I get back.
I push off the desk and head for the hallway, my jaw clenching as I step out of the room.“What do you want, Kasen?”
The school’s quarterback closes the door, his blond-highlighted hair looking brighter under the fluorescent lights as his eyes meet mine, guilt swarming the brown irises.“What you saw in the courtyard this morning was nothing.”He rubs the back of his neck as he lets out a humorless chuckle.“Nothing is going on between Brooke and I.We just go way back.”
“We all go way back, Kasen.”I roll my eyes and fall back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.“You don’t see you and me snuggling at lunch like it’snothing.”
“That’s fucked up, Sears, and you know what I mean.”He gives me a disgusted look, his mouth turning down into a deep frown.
“I don’t know what you mean.”I shrug, my uniform shirt dragging along the wall.“Does Monica know what you mean?”
He straightens as his eyes darken with anger, his hands slowly fisting at his sides.“Watch it, Sears.You don’t know what Monica and I are going through.”
“Why cheat?”I ask as I shake my head.“Why would you go out of your way to sneak around on Monica?It’s fucking high school, man.Break up with her and date Brooke, it’s the right thing to do.”
His dry laugh fills the hallways as he swipes his fingers through his hair.“Monica is the head cheerleader, all-American, good girl.She’s endgame and our families are already planning a wedding.Brooke is not a girl you date, Sears.She’s there for fun and that’s it.You can see she’s a walking red flag.”
I don’t know what propels my feet across the hallway to Kasen, but whatever he sees in my eyes has him backing up to the wall with his hands in the air.He’s never looked at me like this before, like I could beat the shit out of him if I wanted to.My hands grip his shirt as he begins to struggle, but my anger is overpowering his strength, and he can’t escape me as I bend a little to bring my 6’3 height down to his 5’11 face.“Do not touch Brooke again.Stay the fuck away from her, or else I will have a long chat with Monica about what you’re really doing while you’re supposed to be in class.”
He finally shoves me back as he straightens out his shirt, looking up and down the hallway to make sure no one is around.It’s dead after hours, but sometimes, like today, the football team is here for practice.“Monica isn’t Miss Perfect either,” he spits through his teeth, his face turning a dark red.“Ask your fucking lesbian friend.”
Before I can smash my balled-up fists into his face, he storms off down the hallway toward the exit, muttering expletives as he goes.I fall against the wall and drop my head into my hands.What the fuck does all this mean?And what exactly happened between Monica and Avery at that bonfire?
I know exactly who can answer my questions, and when I look at the door to the yearbook room, it suddenly dawns on me that I won’t be the interrogated, but the interrogator instead.Filled with purpose, I open the door and see Avery as she settles back into her seat, my mouth twitching at catching her eavesdropping.This will make it easier when she tries to deny things.
“That was interesting?”I declare as I shut the door behind me.
“Oh?”She turns and brushes a few strands of hair off her forehead, her eyes wide and her chest heaving.She won’t be able to deny a single thing.
