Distinction: The Distraction Trilogy #3 (33 page)

“Just drive, Dad.”

I was too wrapped up in the demise of my girlish dreams of a perfect first date to think about the consequences of what I’d done.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“You know I’m here for you, no matter what, right?”

“Yeah, Dad, I know.”

“Love you, Vic.”

“Love you, too.”

I kept quiet the rest of the car ride home. When we walked through the front door, mom pulled me into a tight hug. She must have squeezed a little too tight, because I felt tears starting to pool in my eyes and slip down to my cheeks. I wiped at the offending tears with frustration, pulled away from my mom’s arms and ran up to my room. Only once I got to my room did I let them fall freely. I peeled off the perfect first date outfit and hung it back up in my closet. I started to walk away but then stopped. I went back, grabbed the hanger and put it in the very back of the closet. I didn’t want to see the perfect first date outfit for a very long time, if ever again.

***

When Monday rolled around, I really didn’t want to go to school. I had probably screwed up my chance at a quiet existence in that high school. I’d walked out on a date with one of the populars. I tried to convince my mom that I was sick but she didn’t buy it. I dragged my feet the entire duration of the much too short walk to school, and hid around the side of the building until the last possible minute to avoid as many people in the halls as possible.

While this was a great tactic as far as evasion, it meant I had to hurry when attempting my locker combination. Combination locks and I were
not
best friends. I finally got the door open and was stuffing my book bag with the first three period’s worth of textbooks when I heard it. Footsteps. Footsteps that came to a halt directly behind me. I went perfectly still with shock. I thought I’d managed to avoid this.

I slowly zipped my backpack closed, shut the locker door and turned to face a very pissed off looking Matt.

Gulp.

I tried to locate the quickest way around him, and realized that we were not alone. I was surrounded by the Mason Hills High elite. You know that nightmare everyone has at one point or another when they show up for school or work without a stitch of clothing on? I had found a new nightmare that was, like, a hundred times worse. I took a deep breath and stood a little taller. Despite the fact that internally I was shaking like a leaf, I was
not
going to let them have that power over me.

I cocked my hip to one side, resting my fist on it, and gave him the most unaffected, bored-as-hell look I could muster up.

“Yes?”

“What the hell was your problem the other night? I was nice enough to take you out for a nice dinner, and you turn all crazy bitch and go psycho and split? Then you get your daddy to talk about it this morning? He was smart not to use my name, I would have sued him. You ruined any chance you had to get with me. You think you’re going to do better than me? Seriously? Fat freakin chance.”

He stood back, arms crossed, looking smug as hell. I started boiling on the inside. It was all a show for him. This was to save face in front of his little friends.

“What was my problem? What was
my
problem? Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps the fact that I was asked on a date to go out to dinner and you took me to a damned fast food restaurant, and acted as if you expected me to be so impressed by your big spending because you spent a whopping $4.95 on my hamburger value meal. Perhaps it was the fact that you didn’t bother to open my door for me getting into the car, or even bother cleaning your nasty, sweating jock strap from the car. But what was the real problem was the fact that you went all ‘fan girl’ over my freaking dad, all but popping a chub over the fact that you got to meet him. I could possibly arrange a date for you two, but I think you should be warned in advance, he doesn’t swing that way.”

Imagine a collective gasp of about twenty people. Because that’s what it sounded like. Shock amongst the royalty that ruled the hallowed hallways. One of the invisibles had dared to put one of their peers in his place. At this point, a little gathering had formed. Never mind that class was supposed to be in session. Apparently that didn’t matter much to the rest of the students. Or the rest of the teachers, for that matter.

“You were
lucky
I even asked you out. I’m surprised you even fit in my car with how freaking huge you are. Seriously, you should apply for a job as a side show act with the circus. You didn’t actually think I would want to date you, did you? You can’t possibly think that
anyone
would ever date you for who you are?
Icky Vicki
.” His lips curled in a cruel smile, the sing-song way he said that horrible nickname the students called me turned my stomach. I had to get out of there, and fast, before they saw pain and tears in my eyes.

I rolled my eyes, and glared at him in the most unaffected manner I could conjure up. I pushed past Matt, purposefully bumping his shoulder in the process, almost knocking him over.

“Oh, excuse me, my bad.” I walked away, giving him a view of me that had become very common in his life - my retreating backside.

I walked with my head held high until I turned the corner and was out of view. At that point I ran to the bathroom with tears streaming down my face.

Did I forget to mention that I’m a touch on the plus side of the scale? No? Well, now you know. I went in my usual stall and got my cry on. Nothing like being the walking bulls eye for ridicule. Icky Vicki. God, I hated that damned name. After about fifteen minutes I realized I had to leave the bathroom and return to the real world. I checked the mirror, my eyes were a little puffy, but nothing too crazy. It wasn’t like anyone would look close enough at me to figure out that I’d cried. Deep breath, and I walked into the hallway and on my way to class, ready to catch the teacher’s wrath for being late.

***

After that day, a few things happened. One, I had a modicum of respect from the students who were lacking in popularity, such as myself. Two, no guy in his right mind came close to asking me on a date. And, finally, three - despite my new found fame - I was even more of a social outcast than I was going in.

I figured that the good thing was, I probably would be moving and changing schools sooner rather than later. Dad’s career finally had potential in my eyes.

Being the social outcast meant that my options for companionship after school were even more limited. So as I prepared to leave the house, I had to once again come up with something amazing that I would be doing so that Mom had some small amount of hope that her child was not a freak of nature. I imagined myself walking around the neighborhood again for hours, which was why I found myself contemplating a friendship with Nonna. Sigh.

I tried to slip out of the house without Mom seeing me. I managed to get the door open and was halfway out when I heard her voice.

“Vicki, what do you have planned today?”

I ducked my head and cringed a little. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I knew she wasn’t thrilled about me spending time with Nonna.

“Vicki?”

“Yeah, Mom, I heard you. Uh, I was thinking I’d go see if that old lady could use any help around her house or something. Seems like she’s all alone and could use the help.” Well, that wasn’t a complete lie. I realized that I totally made her seem elderly and decrepit, when I thought the truth was that the woman could probably run laps around me. I shook off the little bit of guilt I felt. What mom
wouldn’t
be thrilled that her daughter was trying to help a senior citizen?

Mom raised an eyebrow at me, shook her head and walked back to the kitchen.

My shoulders slumped forward as I turned to walk down the front steps. Once again I’d managed to let my mom down.