chapter eighteen
Every day the mailbox overflows with cards for Kristina. I didn’t know people even used snail mail that much anymore. Mom opens them and puts them on the mantel in the living room. I don’t think Kristina even looks at them.
Flowers arrive almost every other day too, and I think we have a year’s supply of chocolate, which horrifies Mom. She doesn’t like to have it in her house. I open a couple of boxes and sample some of the good stuff, but mostly they taste like pity and I can’t finish them. Eventually Dad starts taking unopened boxes to work.
Another week goes by at school and eventually my hood stays down on my shoulders and I stop avoiding everyone. Well, I continue to avoid Nick, but I’m pretty much used to the fact that he’s avoiding me too. I try not to think about the delicious horrible pity kiss.
At lunchtime, I eat with Jeremy and Clark. Clark still acts like a bodyguard and we’re spending so much time together I’d have to call him my new best friend. Jeremy and I have an understanding. We don’t talk about Kristina at lunch or the fact that he’s practically a fixture at my house after school. He’s Kristina’s friend first and I don’t want to interfere. I don’t ask him what they talk about.
He did tell me his mom is scheduled for reconstructive surgery in a few more weeks. He doesn’t even flinch talking to me about it.
Since Clark and Jeremy both have early birthdays, they have driver’s licenses, and Clark offers to drive me to school. I turn him down since I actually prefer to bike now. My calves have developed muscle tone. My hamstrings aren’t as scrawny. I can bike the whole way to school without getting winded. I know the weather won’t hold out forever but it’s unusually mild for late November, so I pedal on.
While my physical condition improves, Kristina’s deteriorates. She’s disappearing further and further into herself. The only person she spends time with is Jeremy. She’s weak and not feeling well most of the time, on heavy pain meds and antibiotics. I guess what energy she does have, she saves for Jeremy. Mom takes her to physio appointments twice a day, but tells me Kristina won’t push herself and doesn’t seem interested in learning how to use the specially designed prosthesis she’s been fitted for. She hasn’t started using her prosthetic leg at home.
Friday afternoon, when I walk down the hallway to class, I pass the water fountain where Gee and the volleyball girls hang out. They wave at me and I paste on my fake smile.
“How’s Tee?” Gee calls. The other girls study their nails or gaze into their BlackBerries or iPhones.
I shrug. “You know. Okay.”
Gee steps closer and lowers her voice so our conversation is private. “Man, I wish she would talk to me. She won’t answer my calls or emails or anything. My mom told me to be patient.”
I nod back. “She’s struggling,” I tell her. So am I.
“Yeah.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Devon slide up beside us. I flash my teeth in a smile again, for Kristina’s sake.
“Hey, Tessie. We’re having a party this weekend. At Cee’s. Some sophomores and a few freshmen are invited. You should come,” he says.
“Me? No. No.”
“Seriously. You should,” Gee adds. “It would be great. Almost like having Kristina around. You remind us of her.” She smiles and I wonder what the hell she could possibly see in me that reminds her of my sister.
“I heard there’s a certain guy who has the hots for you and he’s going to be there,” Gee says in a singsong voice.
The other girls around her giggle and nod. The popularity thing is trying to lure me in so I play along, pretending some guy is actually into me.
“You should come. I can drive you. I’ve been wanting to chat with you about something.” I turn around. It’s Nick. He’s grinning down at me like it hasn’t been weeks since we spoke. And he’s daring me to turn him down in front of everyone.
“Nick, don’t you dare lay a finger on this girl,” Gee tells him. “Or I will kick your butt.”
“It’s okay, Tess and I are friends, right?” He grins down at me and I frown slightly, wondering why he’s offering to drive me. “Besides, she seems pretty hooked on that Superman kid.” He winks.
“Superman is awesome,” Gee says. “You stay away from Nick. He’s bad news.” Gee flicks his shoulder with her fingers.
Nick grabs at his heart and takes my hand in his. “Me? I have nothing but deep respect for Tess. She’s safe with me. Tell them you’ll let me drive you, Tess. Redeem my bad reputation for me. Let me demonstrate that I am nothing but a gentleman.”
The girls start oohing and aahing and egging me on, telling me to come to the party, to get a ride with Nick, and let him walk the talk, show off his gentlemanly side. They all assure him if he lays a hand on me, they will beat him. I think of the kiss, and my cheeks turn pinker.
“Okay, fine, fine.” I can’t believe I’ve been peer pressured. Me!
“Good. I’ll pick you up at eight. I’ll get your address off the Internet.” Nick grins and spins around and walks away before I can give him an excuse, leaving me with my mouth hanging open.
Gee taps my arm. “Don’t worry, Tess, he’s not into freshman girls. For obvious reasons. He’s just being nice. But I’ll keep my eye on him. Kristina will kill him if he messes with you.” She pauses. “Well, I’ll kill him for her now.”
The mention of my sister takes away some of my excited buzz and I wave and head off to meet Clark and Jeremy for lunch, tempted to tell them I’ve been invited to the cool kids’ party. And I’m getting a ride with a senior. A boy. The first boy I’ve kissed. I want to ask their advice. If they think it’s a date or just a ride.
Of course, I keep it to myself.
After lunch, when we’re throwing out our trash, Clark asks what I’m doing on the weekend. For some reason, I lie and tell him nothing and hurry off to my next class alone.