The Amazing Wolf Boy

Part 29 - Shopped

My uncle dropped me off for school the next morning. I felt tired and achy, unsure if I could make it through the day. Uncle Bob assured me that he would be nearby, and to call if I needed an early pick up. I hoped I wouldn’t have to.

I got a few stares as I went to my first class. That wasn’t too unusual. I’d been gawked at for one reason or another since I started school. However, the snatches of conversation I picked up stumped me.

“He’s such a faker.”

“I told you. It’s been Shopped.”

I was too worn-out to give it much thought.

Those stares were nothing compared to what I received when I walked into PE. Eff and his thugs gaped like they’d seen a ghost. I figured all I had to do was say boo and they would scatter.

I scowled as I passed, savoring the confusion on their faces. I’d toyed with the idea of pretending they’d beat up the wrong guy, but decided to go the you can’t hurt me route.

Fortunately, it was Volleyball Monday. No one wanted me on their team, as usual, so I joined the other rejects on the grass. Eff watched me the whole time, even to the point of missing a few volleys. He looked skeptical, angry, and scared at the same time. Maybe he thought he’d be charged with attempted murder. Premeditated since there’d been so many of them.

I didn’t run into him again until midday. Eff and three others stood like an iceberg blocking traffic outside the lunchroom. I faced them with my back straight and my eyes narrow, wondering if I should have stayed home after all. I could handle their glares, but I wasn’t up to a shoving match.

Then someone slipped their hand into mine. It was Brittany. A wave of warmth washed through me. “Hi.” She smiled. “Been waiting long?”

“No,” I said. “I just got here.”

“Good. Let’s go. I’m starving half to death.” Holding my arm, she led me past Eff’s murderous gaze.

Suddenly, everything seemed funny. The floor felt like it was made of some bouncy material, and my head felt like a helium balloon bobbing along. I was grinning for all I was worth, so I kept my eyes on her so Eff wouldn’t think I was taunting him.

Of course, she let go of me as soon as we were through the lunchroom door.

“That jerk,” Brittany said. “I can’t believe I ever thought he was cute.”

My head returned to my shoulders with a snap. “You what?”

“How are you feeling? How’s your arm?”

I grimaced. “It’s like the bone is itching.”

“Howard said it was broken.” She shook her head as if she still couldn’t believe I didn’t see a doctor. “You’d better eat something.”

We went through the food line with Brittany taking charge of the tray. She carried; I paid. We got to our table with a selection of fruits and yogurt, as well as a turkey on pumpernickel that she cut in quarters so I wouldn’t have to open my mouth too wide.

I smiled at that, watching her, pretending we were a couple. I knew I was fooling myself. She probably picked up her nursing skills from her mother.

As we ate, a girl I didn’t recognize came to our table. She ducked low to look at my face. She wore flowered leggings, and her hair flopped from a tail on top of her head.

Brittany gave a little frown. “Hello, Jana.”

“Well,” said Jana, “I don’t know if you know about this or anything but there’s a My Space called Cody the Fairy and it has photos and stuff so I saved them.” She held out a wine-colored BlackBerry.