Dear Ava,
Well, it’s a Sunday today. Just got home from church. The Reverend talked about you, you know. He said you were such a wonderful kid, and you used to greet him hello every chance you get, that it was a shame that you’re…gone. I saw some strangers—who are maybe in their mid or late twenties—dabbing handkerchiefs or tissues under their eyes. And that got me thinking and made me ball my fists, who are they to cry? They don’t know you. They don’t know your life. They’re fake.
But then, after the mass, on the ride home with my headphone on and the music was at full blast (but I wasn’t listening), I thought how ridiculous I was thinking about that. They were just offering their sympathy, and I should be grateful-ish. At least they listened to the Reverend, instead of sneaking a text or something.
Anyway, a week or two—I didn’t really pay attention to my calendar—after that little incident, I got wind of you and—I can’t believe it—Howard. The Jessie Howard. Himself. I heard about it in Music Theory class, two girls were gossiping about you two from behind me. When Mr. Adamson left to get more chalk from the teacher’s lounge, I twisted my torso so that I was facing them. They stopped mid-conversation, looking at me with quizzical looks.
“Hi, the name’s Carter,” I introduced myself with a polite smile.
The brunette one glanced sideways at her seatmate (which might be her friend also) and huffed, “Look, if you’re gonna hit on us, I suggest—”
I cut her off. I raised my hands in mid-air, palms facing outward. “No, no. It’s just that I couldn’t help overhearing—”
Her seatmate sneered. “Which part?”
What the hell’s their problem? They’re probably PMS-ing. “The one about Howard and Woods. I swear.”
They exchanged looks. Brunette pointed to herself. “I’m Lillie. My friend here’s Joanne.”
Joanne smiled. “Jo, for short.”
“Right. Is there any guarantee that what you said about them is true?”
She smirked. “Do I ever.” She looked around. Students were chatting with each other and using their phones under their tables. Jo pulled out hers and looked for something. I looked at Lillie. She was deftly braiding her own hair. “Here,” Jo finally said. She held out her phone at me. It was a photo. It showed of you and Howard together, climbing out of his pick-up. Jo swiped across the screen. The next picture showed of you and Howard walking towards the front doors of the school, hand in hand.
I frowned. “Okay, then…”
“Miss Joanne!” a voice behind us barked. It was Mr Adamson. Damn. I forgot about him. I was too engrossed in our conversation that I probably didn’t hear the door open. I faced front. So did Joanne, looking unconcerned as ever.
“Yes, sir?” she said, smiling.
“Is that a phone?” He was walking towards us. I shrank back into my chair.
Joanne was still smiling. “I believe so, sir. See, it’s a handheld device and it—”
“Don’t play smart with me, girl,” he said icily, cutting her off.
“Yes sir.”
“Detention, you hear?”
“Sure,” she said. Then added: “Sir.”
He pivoted and said, “And wipe that grin off your face.”
Despite what Mr. Adamson said, she was still grinning. Turning to me, she winked and put on her best poker face as our teacher rapped his ruler on the desk, calling order.
Class ended in a flash. Mr. Adamson ignored Jo and me, but it didn’t matter. He even glanced the other way when he saw Lillie chewing gum and blowing it. I wondered why, but that thought disappeared. I had other things to worry about, and this wasn’t one of them.
I waited by the door. When Jo and Lillie emerged, I pulled their arms towards me. They looked startled. They pulled away from my grasp.
“Get your jealousy filled arms off me!” Lillie said, scowling at me.
“Sorry,” I said quickly. “About pulling you and about getting your cell confiscated.”
“Say what?” Lillie’s eyes widened.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jo said, waving her hand dismissively. “I’ll get it back by the end of detention.”
“But how?”
“That’s when my mom picks me up,” she said, as if that clears everything up. She must have sensed I was confused, because she added, “My Mom’ll just flirt her way through.”
“Oh,” I said blandly. Then my head perked up as what she said sinked in. “She hot?”
The two girls looked offended. “She is gorgeous, if you must know. She’s a woman, not a temperature, you jerk.” Jo told me darkly. She steered her friend away.
They weren’t far enough from me so I still heard Lillie sigh annoyingly, “Ugh. Men.” And see the other nod agreeably.
I put my hands in my pockets as the bell sounded. I walked to my next class glumly. What the hell did I do to those girls, Ave? Did I hurt some of their feminine pride or something? Gah.
Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Ti—RIIIIIIINNNGG!
We all stood up and sighed in relief as the bell announced our freedom. Well, at least until tomorrow. I gathered my stuff and swung my backpack over my shoulder. It hung a bit, but I didn’t care. My seatmate bid me see you later and left. I followed the traffic and stopped by my locker. I put away some of my books and put in my History book—we had homework on that subject on that day. As I was zipping up my pack, my locker slammed shut with a bang. I looked up and saw an arm. My gaze followed that arm and saw it was connected to you, Ava. You were scowling at me. I sighed.
Well, truthfully I was expecting this to happen, but then I was praying it wouldn’t. I avoided you all throughout the lunch period and in the hallways. You’d asked me why during the five-minute break between fifth and sixth period when we bumped into each other, but the bell saved me and I ran away.
Now you were here, glaring at me. “What—the—bloody—hell—Carter?”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” I said calmly.
“Yeah, right and I’m popular!”
“Well, you are, are you? Ever since you’ve been seeing Howard. I don’t like it one bit, Aves.”
Her gaze softened. “Oh, Carter.” You were leaning by the lockers. You slid down and your butt landed on the floor. I did the same. You brought your knees up to your chest and your arms were hugging them. You started to speak to me, but you still faced straight. “Who I date is none of your business. All right, you don’t like me seeing Jessie, but you can’t stop me. You’re not my father.” You looked at me. “Okay?”
I forced a smile. Nodding, I said, “Okay.”
“Okay,” you echoed softly, standing up. You ruffled my hair and walked away, disappearing in the crowd of adolescents.
Okay…
Without wax,
Carter
a/n: I know I said I wouldn't update today..but I just couldn't resist ^_^
What do you guys think of Lillie and Jo? You guys might meet them again soon. ;)
Oh, and dedicated to my good friend Jill, a.k.a. BradfordBadgirl4ever, because I feel like it lol xD
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