What He Did

Chapter One

The sun is shining bright on my face as I relax during lunch. Lunch is the one thing I look forward to during school, besides the end of the day. It's my chance to have the occasional cigarette or beer if the day isn't going so swell. Having a buzz makes school a little better for me because it leaves me level headed and calm.

"Tara, are you listening?" Snap back to reality, stupid.

"Yeah, Steph." Daydreaming. Now THAT will get me into trouble.

"You know, that party last weekend was so crazy." She doesn't know what crazy is. I nod in agreement just so she'll keep talking and I won't have to say anything.

"Tara! Ben and Dylan wanna meet up afterschool to hang out."

"Sounds good, Steph. Damn, it's 12:40. We better head back before we're late again."

School is a blur for me. Steph and I have last period together, but I have two classes before that, Guitar and History. We get back to the highschool parking lot and pull in. As we walk up to the front door, the bell rings signaling that lunch is over.

"See you after school, hooker!"

"Later, Steph!"

Steph has to hurry and make it to her History class before Mr. Henderson gives her detention and I'm stuck at home with my mother. We're always late coming back from lunch when we hang out with Ben and Dylan. They always hold us behind to show us this new gun or how to do that trick. It's always the same. My music teachers are pretty cool, so I don't get in trouble for being late that often. I have a lot of friends in that class that cover for me, and there's the grace period for getting our guitars out, which helps me tons.

Last period...

"What's our excuse today?'

"Library, We're devoted students."

Steph and I always skip Spanish. It's the final period before everyone gets out for the day, and our teacher is a real pushover. This is where Steph and I "met". I've known her since second grade, but we reconnected in this class because we happened to sit by each other. We started talking, Steph asked me to hang out, and we've been inseperable ever since. Lame excuses day after day free us from Spanish class when we aren't doing anything, and then Steph and I go hang out with Ben.

"Ms. B, can we go study in the library? I need help with Bio and Steph is a pro."

"Sure thing girls. See you tomorrow!"

Too easy.

Outside the school...

I wonder what we're going to do this weekend. I'm pretty sure rhat's why we're meeting up with Ben and Dylan. I'll get my answer soon enough.

"Hey Steph! Tara." Nice. I don't even get a hey. I get acknowledged.

"Ben. Dylan." Good enough.

"So how about another party this weekend? I think we're starting to get the hang of this!"

"Ben, you're good at it. We tag along, and Dylan probably has nothing better to do since y'all are attached at the hip."

Ben is forever trying to impress Steph. I guess he thinks that if he throws parties and hangs out with her all the time, she'll start liking him. HA! Maybe I should say something so it looks like I'm listening.

"Ben?"

"Mmm?"

"I think you should bring your friend Tanner."

Don't get me wrong, Tanner's cute, but there's something more appealing about him. One thing, he brings weed with him. Let's just say I dabble into a little now that my parents are splitting up.