The Cost Of Deceit

Chapter 11

Elmer walked down the hall with complete confidence. Everyone in school knew who Elmer Worthington was. Not only did he climb the social ladder, he too was part of one of the wealthiest families in town. His innate sense of style and charm also helped him in becoming popular. Despite being liked by so many, it would be gracious to say he was a kind heart. Although many people tried to get close to him, he was kind of a bastard.

"You." A short little blonde stepped right in front of Elmer.

Elmer squinted at the girl for a bit, pointing a finger in her face. Then with uncertainty, he guessed at her name. "Charlotte."

"Sherrie." She corrected, placing a hand on her hip.

"Isn't Sherrie short for Charlotte?" Elmer asked, but to be honest, he truly didn't care.

"Not in my case." Sherrie answered. "Why didn't you phone me?"

"Was I supposed to phone you?" Elmer asked. As the conversation progressed, Francine listened in while she tried to go unseen.

"I don't know, Elmer, were you? Because we spent an entire night in the back of your Chevy then you never called again." Sherrie reminded him. "So you tell me, were you supposed to call?"

"Over summer, I had so much time. Now my hands are tied." Elmer made up an excuse. "With school starting and all."

"Your hands are tied? You don't do sports and classes just started. Do you even have homework yet?" Sherrie asked. Elmer had enough of Sherrie. While he rolled his eyes, in the distance he spotted Francine who was trying very hard to go unnoticed.

But how many other black girls with perfectly styled hair and a tight ass were walking around that school?

"Are you even listening to me?" Sherrie asked Elmer.

"Huh? Yeah. I'll catch you later, Charlotte." Elmer walked around the girl, leaving her in the dust. Sherrie blew a raspberry and walked off to the next hallway. Joan stood waiting for her by some nearby lockers.

Sherrie immediately held out her hand.

"How'd it go?" Joan asked as she planted money in Sherrie's hand.

"It was a bust!" Sherrie said as she counted her money. "You know, when he didn't call me I said to hell with him. It happened all the way in July and I couldn't be bothered."

"And I can't be bothered by this story. How did he react to you, I mean. Did he show any interest in you at all?" Joan asked.

"Not really. He seemed in a rush to get to the secretary's desk." Sherrie began to chew the bubble gum she had in her mouth. Joan walked forward a bit to look down the hall Elmer was in. He spotted him right next to Francine.

"Of course." Joan said under her breath. "Thanks, Sherrie!"

"Yeah, whatever. He's an asshole." Sherrie waved as she walked off. Joan knew that it was abnormal for Elmer to turn down a pretty girl. And so she watched as Elmer stood next to Francine. Could that be the girl that's preventing him from carrying out her plan?

As for Elmer, he could hardly calm himself down. Francine tried desperately to avoid eye contact, but as far as Elmer was concerned she just didn't see him. He wondered if she truly didn't see him, or if she'd already forgotten what he looked like. Do I really mean that little to her? He thought. Well I guess I only saw her on one day.

He tried to sneak a better glimpse at her face. Is this even the right girl?

Francine turned away more, hoping he wouldn't see her face. She was embarrassed that she began to feel attracted to him, but he didn't seem to reciprocate those same feelings.

"Ms. Francine Riperton." The secretary return with a heavy pile of books. Francine squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of her name. Elmer was now staring hard at her, it was clear that he had the right girl. "Here is every single book you'll need for your classes. I hope you have a wonderful time here at Eastview high. Keep your head up, alright?"

"Thank you so much." Francine answered as she took her books. Then the secretary took her glasses and herself elsewhere to another task. Now that she was facing forward, she couldn't help but acknowledge Elmer standing next to her. With a shy expression, she looked up at him for a split moment then diverted her eyes.

"Francine, right?" Elmer asked. Well of course it's Francine you doofus. "Hey! I haven't seen you around. Well, I haven't seen you since yesterday. Since the ice cream parlor."

Francine nodded along with Elmer's words as he chatted away. Then finally she got a word in. "Yes! It's good to see you, Elmer. What are you up to?"

The fact she remembered his name made him ecstatic.

"Well, I was just came to get the rest of my books." Elmer nodded with a smile, trying to muster everything within him to seem cool.

The secretary walked back to the desk with a new pair of specs. "Here are some newer glasses in which I can actually see."

When she placed the glasses on, she looked to Francine. "Well you are a beautiful girl, are you?"

Then she turned and noticed Elmer standing there. She never saw Elmer look so nervous, and so she assumed it must've been Francine. Seeing a boy with Elmer's reputation falling for a girl wasn't something you saw everyday. "Hello, Mr. Worthington. Is there an issue with your books?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Not at all." Elmer nodded. His cheeks became red as he clenched his jaw.

"Is that so?" The secretary asked with a mischievous smile. "Are you sure you have them all?"

Elmer wouldn't dare looking over at Francine. He stood there frozen for a moment, then hit his hand on the desk. "Yes, I have all of my books. Thank you, Secretary Willow."

"Not a problem, dear." She smiled as she walked off again. That left Elmer and Francine alone with the awkward realization that he was in fact lying. Francine wasn't upset by his fib, she thought it was charming. So as she held her books there, she gave him a small smile.

"How was your ice cream yesterday? I kind of left in a hurry." Elmer leaned one hand on the desk.

"Well, sadly we didn't have any ice cream at all." Francine frowned. "The owner didn't want negroes in there."

"That's horrible!" Elmer shouted out. A few people passing by began to look, and so he lowered his voice. "That's horrible. I don't agree with that at all."

"Why are you talking like that?" Francine laughed.

"I don't know." Elmer shook his head with a chuckle. "Not exactly sure. Hey, want me to hold those for you?"

"Oh, you don't have to." Francine tried to be polite.

"I must." Elmer insisted. "Here, let me take those."

Francine handed him the books. The two of them began to walk down the hall. Elmer still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that they were asked to leave the ice cream parlor.

Until he could.