“Don’t you guys find it creepy,” I said, gesturing at the crowd.
“Find what creepy?” Cal asked.
“You know, al of the
smiling
,” I said. “It’s scary. Make them stop.”
Cal chuckled and put his arm around my waist.
“Don’t worry, I’l keep the scary smiling people away,” Cal said.
“While you two are hiding, I’m going to take advantage of our newfound popularity,” Emma said. Uh oh. I knew that gleam in her eye. I’d seen it before—right before she threw herself at the front lines of an animal rights protest.
“I’m off to educate the masses.”
“You mean convert the masses,” I said.
“Exactly,” Emma said over her shoulder. “Oh, and I wouldn’t recommend eating the meat at lunchtime, Cal.”
“What did she mean by that exactly?” Cal asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“Knowing Emma, you do not want to know,” I groaned.
“Just, like, don’t eat the meat. I’m sure she has a plan to make it super gag-worthy.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Cal said.
I left a slightly pale and shaky Cal and headed to class.
*****
The Twilight Zone day continued in every classroom.
Al of the students were nice to me.
Like really, really
nice.
The teachers even cal ed me Yuki when taking attendance, which made me know for sure that I had landed in Bizarro Land. I had been trying for years to get them to cal me Yuki, but they almost always cal ed out Vanessa like they were offended by my little name rebel ion. The smiling faces were creepy, and could go the way of the dodo, but I hoped that the new name respect lasted.
If classes were odd, then lunch time was even more bizarre. I entered the cafeteria to find Emma doing a demonstration about vegan cooking, and the reasons for eating vegan, at the front of the room. Emma was tofu-hamming it up and most of the students were watching her with rapt attention. Somewhere between first period and lunch, she’d found pictures of caged chickens and slaughterhouses which she’d taped up beside idyl ic photos of healthy vegans eating guilt-free meals. She even had pictures of bee hives, which she’d labeled “bee prison,” to il ustrate her favorite rant topic—bee oppression.
Son of a
dung beetle.
Pushing through the crowd, I found Cal, Gordy, and Katie sitting at our table. They were al eating carrot sticks for lunch. I snickered at the veggie meals and would have raised an eyebrow at Cal, if I could.
“I warned Gordy and Katie about the potential gross-out factor,” Cal said. “We’re al eating vegan today.”
“It seemed like the safe thing to do,” Gordy said, raising a carrot stick.
“And they’re super yummy too!” Katie said, smiling.
“No, don’t encourage her,” I groaned. “She’l do this every day.”
We al looked around the table and laughed. I pul ed out my own bag of veggies, carrots and celery, and sat beside Cal.
“So why are they listening to her, anyway?” I asked.
“They never paid any attention to Emma’s rants before.”
“You’re al celebrities now,” Gordy said. “You were on TV last night. They ran the story about how you helped the police bust a nearby meth lab and provided information that may help them understand what happened to Dylan.”
“You are al hometown heroes!” Katie gushed.
“Seriously?” I said. “We’re, like, the Wakefield Weirdo Squad. They never pay us any attention. Why change now?”
“Because you al saved the day,” Gordy said.
“You make us sound like super heroes,” I said, rol ing my eyes.
“That’s because you
are
heroes,” Katie said.
“And the whole school thinks so,” Gordy said.
“I even had a teacher personal y thank me for helping to find out who was stealing from the school infirmary,” Cal said. “I guess it was becoming a real y serious problem for the school.”
“Wow,” I said.
Okay, I know, not the most eloquent thing I’ve ever said, but in my defense this situation was beyond weird. I was used to existing on the fringe, not being thrust into the spotlight of instant popularity. Thinking about it too much made me feel dizzy.
I kind of like my place in the shadows
—it’s comfy there.
Emma had finished her “how to be a vegan” speech and headed directly for our table. She looked crazy happy.
Emma was making the best of our fifteen minutes of fame.
Our very own activist rock star.
As the crowd dispersed and moved in our direction, I found myself face to face with hundreds of smiling faces.
Uncomfortable, I pul ed my long sleeves down over my hands and fidgeted with the black, ribbed fabric. It reminded me of playing sock puppets with Cal when we were kids.
I was jolted out of my momentary anxiety by enthusiastic shouts.
“Fight bee oppression!” one of the girls in the crowd shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
Emma was truly made of awesome.
“You’re glowing,” I said as Emma joined us at our table.
She sat beside Katie who gave Emma a huge grin.
“That was incredible!” Katie said.
“Impressive,” Gordy said, nodding.
“Thanks,” Emma said, smiling from ear to ear.
“You are going to make an amazing veterinarian one day,” Cal said, flashing Emma his toothy grin.
“Cal’s right,” I said. “You rock.”
I reached across the table to bump knuckles with Emma and something fel out of my pocket.
“What’s that?” Gordy asked.
“Here you go,” Katie chirped, handing me a crumpled up piece of paper.
It looked like a note, but al of my friends were here.
Who else would leave a note in my pocket?
I sat back down and stared at the note expecting it to burst into flames or start talking, which was sil y. This wasn’t Mission Impossible…or Hogwarts.
The smel of motor oil suddenly fil ed my nose and mouth and I tried not to gag. Apparently this had something to do with Dylan. Great, that didn’t bode wel .
I wiped my hands on my skirt and reached a shaking hand out to gingerly lift the note and pul it open. The white construction paper reminded me of funeral wrappings.
Oh
yeah, I’m not freaked out or anything.
I read the childish scrawl and gasped.
Meet us on the athletic field after school, signed, the
football team.
“What is it?” Emma asked.
“Whatever it is, we’re here for you,” Cal said, touching my face.
“Thanks,” I said. “It’s…it’s from the footbal team.”
“What do those jerks want?” Emma asked.
I saw Gordy’s hands clench into fists and Cal slid his arm around me.
“It says to meet them after school,” I said.
My hands were shaking so bad, I dropped the note.
“Wel they can have fun waiting,” Emma said. “You’re not going to meet up with them.”
“No,” I said, taking a deep yoga breath. “This is something I have to do.”
“Why?” Gordy asked. He was looking at me like I’d sprouted a second head or something.
“I can’t live in fear anymore,” I said. “No one at this school should have to live like that. It’s time someone stood up to these creeps.”
“I’l go with you,” Cal said.
“Me too,” Emma said.
Gordy hesitated, but nodded.
“Okay,” Gordy said. “I’m going too.”
“Do I have to go?” Katie asked nervously.
I felt bad for the kid. She was trying to be a part of our group, but she obviously had her own issues. Katie didn’t need my problems too.
“Can you hang out by the principal’s office while we talk to the footbal team?” I asked. “That way if we don’t check in with you in twenty minutes, you can ask for help.”
“I can do that!” Katie chirped.
Gordy mouthed “thank you” and I knew I had done the right thing. Katie was way too fragile right now. Helping out from a safe distance was definitely the way to go.
“Okay, then it’s settled,” I said. “We’l meet up right after school. It’s time the footbal team learned that they can’t bul y people just because they’re different.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Emma said.
We bumped knuckles and headed to our separate classrooms.
I hope I know what I’m doing.
Chapter 17
I bit my lip and tried not to shake too much as I waited for my friends to show up. Cal was first to arrive at my locker, werewolf speed giving him the advantage, and wrapped me up in his warm, doggy smel ing arms. He felt familiar and safe.
When I final y pul ed away, Cal brushed my lips with his thumb and bent down to kiss me gently. My legs felt weak, but at least it was no longer from complete terror. I smiled and felt more confident. I could do this, I would do this, but it was nice to not have to face my fears alone.
And let’s be
honest, the football team scared me silly.
I stood up straight and turned to see Emma and Gordy walking toward us. They looked so happy and easy with each other. I was psyched that they could final y hang out again as friends. Of course, as they came closer Gordy began chewing on the tips of his asymmetrical bangs and Emma got a steely glint in her eye.
“Hey,” Gordy said, nodding.
“Hey,” I said.
“Ready?” Cal asked.
Nope, not really. I’d rather run away screaming.
I didn’t say that, but, you know, I was thinking it.
“Sure,” I said. I gave a thumbs up and hoped I didn’t look total y lame. It is hard to look al tough-girl when your knees are shaking.
“Let’s do this thing,” Emma said.
We marched together out to the athletic field. Cal held my hand and walked in a loose, liquid lope, but I could see his eyes darting in al directions. Gordy and Emma looked intense and alert. I tried not to gag at the smel of motor oil or trip over my own two feet.
That’s me, ninja-girl, total
super hero of Wakefield High.
The first thing I saw was Jay and Jared standing together and looking confused.
“What are you freaks doing here?” Jay sneered.
“Yeah, don’t you have after school dork practice or something?” Jared asked.
Sigh. These guys need a new line.
“Didn’t you ask to meet us here?” I asked, letting go of Cal’s hand and crossing my arms over my chest.
Cal’s hand and crossing my arms over my chest.
I sounded calm, which was amazing.
“Like we’d want to meet any of you,” Jay said, rol ing his eyes.
“Maybe we should teach you a lesson,” Jared said.
“Losers have no place on our field.”
The J-team started moving forward threateningly when a large, meaty hand grabbed Jay’s shoulder…and stopped him in his tracks.
“Not so fast,” Meaty Hands Eddy said.
“We are the ones who asked you al here,” another huge footbal guy said.
Judging from their uniforms and the number of large guys walking toward us, the entire footbal team had turned out. I tried not to start shaking again.
“Look, I’m sick of this,” I said. “I didn’t have anything to do with Dylan’s death and…”
“We know,” one guy said.
“And we’re sorry,” another added.
“Aren’t we,” Meaty Hands Eddy growled, pushing Jay and Jared forward. “Say you’re sorry.”
Jay and Jared turned beet red.
“No freakin’ way,” Jay muttered.
“You wil apologize to Yuki
and
to us or you’re off the team,” Eddy said.
“Sorry,” Jared said.
Jay looked angrily at Jared, but added his apology after another squeeze from Eddy.
Holy moly that guy was
huge.
“Sorry,” Jay said.
“The rest of us are sorry too,” Eddy said.
“Sorry,” most of the guys said.
“Jay and Jared lied to us…,” a team member added.
“Yeah, they said they saw you casting spel s,” another guy said.
“And hexing people,” footbal kid said.
“…cursed our team,” another said.
“Said you kil ed Dylan…” a short guy said.
“We’re al real y sorry that we listened to them,” Eddy said.
I felt a tear trickle down my cheek, but my voice remained steady.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Sorry, man,” Eddy said to Cal. “About trying to hurt your girlfriend.”
“You were upset about losing your friend,” Cal said calmly. “I’m not saying what you did was right, or even real y forgivable, but I do understand.”
“Thanks, man,” Eddy said. “A little understanding is al we ask. And we, like, get it if you want to punch us in the face. We won’t fight back. We owe you.” Jay and Jared looked like they were going to total y wig out, but the rest of team just stood there ready to accept whatever Cal and I decided.
“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent,” Cal said.
He was total y quoting Gandhi.
“Dude, hate the sin, love the sinner,” Gordy said.
I knew Cal was al into the deep, philosophical stuff, but was a little surprised to hear Gordy chime in with his own Gandhi quote. It was kind of awesome.
“You guys are cool,” Eddy said. “Thanks.” With a weird kind of bowing nod, the footbal team left the field.
The smel of motor oil fil ed my head and Dylan Jacob’s ghost floated in a bal of beautiful glowing light.
“Your friends are going to be okay,” I said in my mind. I knew that Dylan could hear me. I didn’t need to say it out loud. “You can go in peace now.”
Dylan bounced in a nod-like up and down movement and a bril iant light opened near the goal post. I could feel tears wel up as I watched Dylan head into the shimmering light and disappear. “Bye, Dylan,” I whispered.
My friends hadn’t seen a thing.
“I wonder what they’re going to do to Jay and Jared,” Emma said.
“Maybe they’l listen to our words of non-violence,” Cal said.
We al looked at each other and laughed.
“Yeah, dude, probably not,” Gordy said.
“A leopard doesn’t change its spots,” Emma said, mock sagely.
“A veggie burrito is just a veggie burrito,” I said, nodding.
“You must be hungry,” Cal said, grinning.