Collateral Damage

Chapter Eight

Going through the whole weekend without a word from Ana made me even anxious to set things right. On Monday morning, I went straight to her locker and waited for her to show up. I hoped there would be enough time to talk. Ana was notorious for being tardy; sometimes she only made first bell by the skin of her teeth.

Caitlyn Wright approached, Bernadette trailing behind her as though she was her new bodyguard. I had never seen Caitlyn hang out with Bernadette before, but her mother happened to be good friends with Marge McCloud (and co-leader of her church group). She stepped forward, crossed her arms over her chest, and scowled at me. "Is there a problem?" she demanded.

"No," I replied, throwing back the dirtiest look I could muster.

"You just stay away from Bernadette!" she ordered. Her imperious voice carried to anyone within earshot. No doubt she wanted everyone to hear her stand up for her new best friend.

"All right then," I said coldly.

"I'm serious," she threatened. "If you try anything at all, Principal Harris said he'd expel you."

I almost laughed. If expulsion from the school meant getting away from these assholes, I'd welcome it with open arms.

Caitlyn sniffed, her face scrunched up in disgust. Leaning close, she hissed low enough for no one else to hear: "Matt was smart to dump you. Nobody wants an ugly redhead bitch."

It took everything I had not to slap her. "Don't you have a class to go to?"

"Come on, Bernadette!" she said in a louder voice, turning on her heel to leave. Bernadette followed suit.

"Bitch," I muttered under my breath at Bernadette's retreating back. At least Caitlyn Wright was up front with her attitude. But Bernadette didn't even have the guts to stand up for herself. She just stood there like the meek little ninny she always was and let someone else do her dirty work.

I didn't have long to stew in my renewed hatred. Ana finally showed up seconds later. "Hi," I said to her breathlessly.

"Hey," was her terse acknowledgement as she started spinning the combination into her locker.

I dove right into it. "I am so sorry about the other day. I shouldn't have said those things. I didn't mean them."

"I know." She still wouldn't look at me.

"I didn't bring my lunch today. Do you want to go out?" I offered.

She stuffed her backpack into her locker and gathered her books one at a time. "Um...I already made plans with Danny."

"Oh, okay," I said, trying not to sound hurt. "So...are we cool?"

Her stiff shoulders jerked back in a half-shrug.

I bit my lip, feeling like the world's biggest jerk. An apology clearly wasn't enough, but what else could I say? "Ana..." I pleaded softly.

"It's almost time for class."

"Since when do you care about being on time?"

"You do," she pointed out.

"Not today. Ana, please just talk to me..."

Her shoulders slumped as she shut her locker. She laid her head against the door. "Can we not do this right now?" she whispered.

"Do what?" I touched her shoulder. "Ana, I'm sorry! I swear I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I'll even go to the stupid Homecoming Dance..."