Page 17 of Overdue

“I’ve got it now,” I say once my lungs stop spasming.

This time I light up with a little less gusto. By the third cigarette, I’m a pro. Though my head is starting to feel a little swimmy.

We lay in the grass under the bleachers to finish the rest of the pack. We discuss all of the serious subjects that involve us in ninth grade, since we’re much more mature than most.

After the fifth cigarette, though, my stomach is starting to roll. I’m sure if I ignore it, it’ll settle. I didn’t think about the fact that, when we agreed to smoke the entire pack, it meant ten each. I’m beginning to question the intelligence of that decision.

I’m on number six when I hear a voice behind me. I’d know that voice anywhere.

“What the hell is going on here?”

We scramble to our feet trying to hide the cigarettes behind our backs. Reed Campbell stands in front of us with his arms crossed over his chest. It’s an amazingly muscled chest with thick, lickable arms in front of it. However, the scowl on his face is aimed solely at me, and it’s a doozy.

“It’s none of your business.” I try the obstinate approach. I need him to leave. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold my lunch down. I don’t want Reed gloating over me throwing up.

“The fuck it isn’t. Can you get home okay?” he asks, turning to Jill.

With a sickly nod, my best friend takes off. I’m left with the rest of the pack and the glaring senior.

“Do you need to finish the rest, or do you think you’ve had enough? I have all day if you need another one.”

“I think—” I stop. Bile is starting to rise in my throat. “I think—” I try again right before lunch makes a reappearance.

I’ll hand it to Reed, he is quick on his feet. He manages to jump aside before I cover him in barf. He grabs me around the waist as I fall to my knees. A hand pulls my hair out of the way as the next wave makes its way up.

* * *

“Earth to Austen.” Eliot’s voice brings me out of my reminiscence. “What were you thinking about?”

“I was remembering the time Reed caught me smoking under the bleachers at school. I think I polished off number six before throwing up at him.”

“I always wondered how you never got caught. Reed told me about catching you and your friend. Jill? Anyway, he made me swear I wouldn’t rat you out. So, what happened after he caught you?”

“I begged him not to tell Mom and Dad. I didn’t want to be grounded for most of my sophomore year also.

He took me to his house. I showered and borrowed a pair of his shorts and a T-shirt. I snuck in the back door while he was pounding on the front to create a diversion. He brought my clothes to me later, with the smell of cigarette smoke washed out.

Reed swore the next time he caught me, he would make me smoke the entire pack by myself until I barfed out a lung.”

“Yeah, that sounds like him. I guess it worked, though.”

“Absolutely. I haven’t touched the things since.” I laugh. So, maybe Reed isn’t always a jerk. He has moments of goodness woven in here and there.

It’s time to turn the conversation toward Eliot and her battle to survive tax season. I’ve let Reed take up enough of my world for now.

Over dessert, we promised to meet once a week, just to catch up. It would be nice to have someone I can trust to be on my side again, even if Eliot has always been Team Reed.

seven

REED

I’m back in the library at two-thirty sharp, freshly showered, and ready to try again. I stop to speak to Kim for a moment, nod at Austen, who is pulling books from the shelves, and find my table.

Today, my sketch pad is the first thing I pull out. I have to move on to putting something on paper. If I can just start by sketching my thoughts, that will give me a place to work from.

Austen keeps watching me from her spot by the stacks. I don’t dare look up. Even from the table, with my head bent over my sketch pad, I can feel her debating what to do about me. Today, I’m giving her every reason to believe I’m at least trying to behave.

It’s not nearly as fun as throwing sexual innuendos. But, if this is what she wants, this is what I’ll be. I just have to keep reminding myself not to actually say what I’m thinking about the soft green wrap dress that hugs all her curves just right. Nope. I’ll keep my head down and not yell out that her ass has never looked better.

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