In My Defense

Grownups Aren't Half Bad

Chapter Five

I sat in the vice principal's office with my back slouched against a plastic chair. It wasn't the first time.

"Raelynn. We already talked about your skipping classes."

I sighed. "Class, Jeanne. I only ever skip P.E. I have great grades. In all honesty, physical education isn't an actual education. I know plenty about my body. I aced my anatomy test. And I'm in shape! I run all the time." I sort of mumbled the last part. She didn't know why I was running. But it wasn't a lie.

She let out a defeated breath. "Aright. You can have out of your physical education class, but I expect you to take a college class in anatomy and life science. Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'll bring you my grades at the end of the semester and we'll do lunch. I've gotta go. Bye Jeanne!"

I'm sure most of you are wondering why I got away so easy. Well, it goes something like this: I'm a teacher's pet. Mostly just the cool ones though, like Clyde and Jeanne. When the vice principal is your friend, you get off easy. It's not like I did this stuff on purpose. Adults are just easier to communicate with. Most of my peers didn't have an I.Q. of over one hundred. I just got sick of the petty conversation.

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The rest of the day dragged on. It turns out that kid Ryan has EVERY DAMN CLASS WITH ME. I didn't mind though. He was actually good company. He didn't talk a lot, but at least when he did it was a striking conversation.

I was walking through the parking lot when I heard my name echo behind me. I whirled around. Ryan was jogging lightly towards me.

"Uh, hey, Ry." I forced a small smile. I was terribly bad at this "talking to people my own age" thing. If this took too long I'd be late. Which is not good.

"Where you headed?" His deep voice was scratchy and thin. Like his throat was sore.

"That way," I said pointing down the road.

He did this crooked smile thing. "Sweet. Let me walk you home."

"Oh, no. That's okay. I'll be fine. You don't have to." I politely refused.

"Raelynn. I want to."

What was his motive? Was he a cop? Some sort of spy? Wow, I'm getting paranoid. It was just a guy trying to be nice. Probably.

"Oh, okay. Then, let's go."

We walked the first block in silence. I had to bite my lip to keep from saying something stupid. My heart was pounding in my chest. I was certain he could hear. If my father saw us. . . I didn't want to think about what would happen. This whole friend thing was stressful enough, but add a fuming Frank and the outcome was stomach-turning at the least.

"Raelynn. Are you alright?"

I snapped my head to stare at him. "Yes, I'm lovely. Why?"

"Well, you're breathing really loud and you keep bumping into me."

"Oh. I-I guess I'm a little dizzy. But I'm okay."

He didn't seem to believe me but he nodded. "What's your family like?"

My heart stopped in my chest. "Oh, uh, I-I live with my dad. My mom died when I was nine. I have no siblings. So, its just me and my pops."

"I'm sorry, Rae. Well, your dad must be really protective of you then, huh?" His voice was wearing thinner with each word he uttered.

For a moment, I contemplated telling him the truth. I mean, did I know him enough to make him a confidant? I decided that yeah, maybe I did. Then, I decided I didn't know at all and that I should lie.

"Totally," I said, filling my voice with false cheer.

"Is that why you didn't want me to walk you home?" His voice was now an unintentional whisper.

"Why wouldn't I want you to? I can handle him. I can handle my dad." Maybe I was trying to convince myself.

We arrived in front of this grand house. I knew this house. Clyde lives here. I didn't want Ryan to now where I really lived.

"This is my house," I stated awkwardly.

Ryan nodded and looked into my green-blue eyes.

"Um, thanks. For walking me home, I mean." I fiddled with my keys until I found the one that Clyde copied for me. When I would need an escape, he would let me in. It became so often that he ended up just giving me a key to the front and back door.

"Anytime, Raelynn."

He smiled and walked away from me.

"Wait, Ryan."He turned and tilted his head at me."What's wrong with your voice? I mean, why is it. . .scratchy?"

He chuckled bitterly and replied, "Screaming contest with some friends. Just dumb boy stuff."

"Oh. Bye." I opened the door and called out for Clyde. "Clyde! Can you give me a lift back to my house?"

Clyde's voice echoed down to me from the second story. "Yeah, Rae! Go ahead and wait in the car."

I got into Clyde's Mercedes and put in his Green Day CD. Let me just say it: Clyde was rich. His parent's have lots of money. Before he was in college, his father taught him the ropes of stock trade. Every cent he had was acquired through himself. His parent's offered to do things for him, but he enjoyed doing things for others. He hated depending on others and loved having others depend on him. Which is why he worked at a high school.

I mean, he was in a college of his choice. He wanted to be a doctor of both kinds. He was studying neurology, the way the nerves and mind worked. This is probably why he gave such good advice (he was also planning on becoming a therapist). He just had so much going for him and I was proud.

He hopped in the car. "So what's this all about?"

"The music? American Idiot is a great album."

He gave me a look. "Rae. You know what I'm talking about."

"No I don't." I continued to play dumb, in hopes that he would just drop it.

"I saw you with that kid."

"Damn it," I mumbled, staring out the window.

"Watch your mouth," he scolded. "Who is he?"

"His name is Ryan. He's nobody."

"Liar."

I laughed. "Is that what you think? Because I just met the kid today."

"No. But I think you like him."

I ran my hands over my face, holding down my cheeks to keep Clyde from seeing me blush. "Please. I'm dying alone. With cats. Lots of cats."

Clyde rolled his eyes. "You're over dramatic. Plus, he likes you back."

I covered my ears in faux agony. "Clyde! My virgin ears! And I don't like him."

He just laughed as we pulled up a block away from my house. "Whatever. See ya, Sun Rae."

I rolled my eyes at the lame nickname he had given me when we first met. "Bye. And thanks." He waved and zoomed down the street. I walked slowly back to my beat-down home in dread.

I was definitely not ready for what always awaited me.