Mother of Darkwaters: Book one of the Vessel series (49 page)

   “Ha-ha,” Amy laughs, “I told you like they wouldn't believe you.”

   “Yep - you did,” Mandie agrees with a semi-defeated tone.

   “I believe that puts me
two
up on you,” Amy teases.

   “I'm going to have to up my game,” Mandie answers with a grin.

   “You can never up me, Mandie,” Amy counters, “I'm older than you.”

   “We'll see about that,” Mandie accepts her challenge.

   “Ha-ha,” Amy laughs briefly before addressing the other ears listening in on her conversation.

   “Hi everybody,” Amy greets them. She pulls her phone away from her ear as the speaker rattles with high shrieking.

   “Sorry about that,” Mandie immediately apologizes, “I told them not to do that.”

   “You can't tell a fan not to be a fan, Mandie,” Amy kindly chastises, “I have a career because of my fans.”

   “That's three,” one of the cheerleaders speaks.

   “Ha-ha,” Amy chuckles, “And who said that?”

   “Caroline,” the cheerleader introduces herself.

   “Hi, Caroline,” Amy greets, “I think I like you already.”

   “Hi,” Caroline answers. She looks at Rebecca with an awkward grin.

   “I'm Rebecca,” the captain of the S.V.C. speaks towards the smartphone.

   “Hello, Rebecca. It's nice meeting you.”

   “You, too,” Rebecca answers while feeling like a complete idiot for doubting Mandie.

   “Go ahead,” Mandie whispers while nudging Jennifer's arm, “She won't bite.”

   Amy grins as she overhears Mandie's quiet coaching.

   “You must be one of my
dedicated
fans,” Amy speaks to her phone, “I really enjoy meeting my fans. Hi.”

   “J-Jennifer,” the cheerleader barely speaks above a raspy whisper.

   “Hi, Jennifer,” Amy ignores the girl's stammering, “It's nice to meet you.”

   “Hi,” Jennifer's voice cracks within her nerves.

   “Do we have a place to hang out, Mandie?”, Amy's voice becomes louder within the bathroom.

   Mandie glances over at Rebecca. The captain is nodding her head like it is the last yes she will ever be able to convey to anyone.

   Mandie chuckles, “Yes. I believe we do.”

   “And how's the security?”

   “I've got it. Do you need any bodyguards?”

  “No,” Amy answers, “They're sorta like my third leg when I get too far from home.”

   Mandie grins, “Okay. I'll have everything ready. Nothing to worry about on your end. Just get your butt here.”

   “We'll do. You can text the info whenever I get into town.”

   “Thanks, Amy. Sorry about the live chat.”

   Amy chuckles. “It's quite alright. I won't hold it against ya.”

   “Talk to you later,” Mandie gives her friend an out.

   “Later, Mandie,” Amy ends the call.

   Mandie turns and points her finger at Rebecca, “That's the
last
time you get to do that.”

   “Do what?”, Rebecca's excitement is quickly replaced with a defensive attitude.

   “Call me a liar,” Mandie clarifies while lowering her finger. She snatches up her smartphone and heads for the restroom's door. The three cheerleaders all watch as she disappears into the hallway.

   “What was that?”, Rebecca fakes ignorance.

   “Can you really blame her?”, Caroline defends Mandie's recent actions.

   “Hey. I'll catch up to you guys later,” Jennifer pats at her belly, “Lunch isn't agreeing.”

   Rebecca's nose crinkles, “I'm outta here.”

   “Right behind you,” Caroline agrees with her bff's decision to get out of the restroom.

   When the girls leave, Jennifer heads to the furthest stall against the wall. She sits on the toilet and opens her purse. Her heart races with anticipation as she pulls out a small pouch. Flipping it open, Jennifer retrieves a needle, her coke vile, and a spoon.

   Mandie opens the gymnasium door.

   “Ready, go!”, she hears the unified shouts of the training S.V.C.

   She looks around and sees Jennifer waving at her from the far right set of bleachers. Mandie walks over and sits to the girl's left. Jennifer points at the cheerleaders.

   Mandie watches as the S.V.C. forms four rows. Rebecca is positioned to the far left on the first row. Her row completes a forward flip in unison. When they all land perfectly, they immediately enter into four backward somersaults. As their backward progression begins, the three rear rows divide into parallel lines that dash quickly between the eight girls making their flips.

   “They're really good,” Mandie marvels after their expertise. 

   Jennifer observes Mandie staring at her bff while she does a back flip. She leans down and whispers, “Don't break her heart.”

   Mandie's eyes widen. She turns and looks at Jennifer.

   “Did she tell you?”

   “She didn't have to. She's my bff.”

   “And you're okay with it?”

   “I don't agree with it,” Jennifer answers plainly, “But if my bff wants to play lesbo with you, then it's her right. I'll always support her no matter what. But to answer your question, I'm still dealing with it.”

   Mandie nods with empathetic understanding.

   “Did she tell you her and Jason broke up?”

   Mandie shakes her head and then looks over at Tamara. She listens as Jennifer continues to talk.

   “I knew my suspicions were true when she didn't seem all torn up about it. Tam doesn't know that I know. And I don't plan on confronting her about it either. She'll talk when she's ready.”

   “That won't work!”, Rebecca yells at a tall female in the far right corner of Tamara's row.

   “She's my replacement,” Jennifer informs Mandie, “Junior varsity.”

   “Again!”, Rebecca yells as she watches the group with her hands planted on her hips. Sweat pours down her face from the strenuous repetitious work. One thing Mandie had never considered is just how much work cheerleaders put into accomplishing their goals.

They work every bit as hard as the jocks they cheer for. But they never receive the same notoriety. Not when it really comes down to it.

   Mandie's watchful gaze transfers over to Tamara. Her breath staggers as she looks at the cheerleader's glistening body. Something else she had never considered was falling in love. She didn't plan on any love-scenario. Mandie jerks as Jennifer interrupts her thoughts.

   “She won't look over here because I'm sitting here,” Jennifer gives a play-by-play analysis of the action on the court, “She's afraid her eyes will tell on her. It's cute.”

   “She isn't like that?”

   “What? You mean staring straight ahead like a robot?”, Jennifer smiles, “No. She doesn't normally do that.”

   Mandie unconsciously winces as she attempts a smile with her swollen lips.

   “Mind if I ask you something personal?”, Jennifer questions.

   Mandie pauses before giving her response, “If I can ask you one back.”

   “Sounds fair enough,” Jennifer agrees. She throws out her question.

   “How could you fall for someone who hurt you like that?”

   “It's complicated.”

   “If it wasn't complicated,” Jennifer counters, “I wouldn't have asked.”

   Mandie grins subtly. She nods.

   “I've been searching for something,” Mandie begins, “And I thought I had figured it all out. But I didn't have anything figured out. Not until Tamara played with me.”

   “
Played
with you?”, Jennifer jumps in, “She nearly
killed
you.”

   “That's kind of my fault. The more pain I felt the more I wanted. She lit up every time I asked for more. And when I stopped asking, Tamara was Tamara. That's when I started falling for her.”

   “Do you know how psycho that sounds?”, Jennifer objects to the girl's logic.

   “I am who I am, Jennifer,” Mandie answers, “I understand how I probably sound to you. Believe it or not, I didn't actually think I would enjoy something like that so much. But I did. And it really surprised me whenever I found myself wanting to heal up so she could do it all over again.”

   Mandie shakes her head, “I don't want Tamara to change. And I hope she would never ask me to.” The bruised girl glances over to look at Tamara, “And I don't want to complicate her life.”

   Jennifer considers Mandie's explanation. The girl wasn't selfish in any way with what she was saying. Not in her intentions. Not in her words. And the part about being the other half has her thinking about her brother. She feels the familiar sting of tears.

   “I have to go,” Jennifer quickly gets up with her backpack. By the time Mandie looks at her, Jennifer's back is already to her as she limps away.

   “So what'd you think?” Tamara breathlessly questions while approaching Mandie. She points towards the entryway leading to the girl's locker rooms, “Where's Jenny going?”

   Mandie shrugs her shoulders, “No idea. She said she had to get going. It's all I got. Sorry.”

   “Nah,” Tamara answers while still trying to catch her breath. She waves her right hand toward the floor, “Don't worry about it. So what'd you think?”

   “Impressive,” Mandie answers truthfully, “You guys are really good.”

   “Thanks.”

   “You coming, Tam?”, Rebecca yells across the gymnasium from the entryway leading to the showers and lockers.

   “Gotta go,” Tamara apologetically explains while turning towards Rebecca's voice.  

   “See ya later,” Mandie gives her an out.

   “See ya,” Tamara takes the invitation by jogging towards Rebecca. When she gets there, Rebecca rolls her eyes.

   “It's just Amy Lee. She's still just someone we have just met.”

   “Amy Lee?”, Tamara responds to her captain’s last statement, “What are you talking about? Who's Amy Lee?”

   “Gawd,” Rebecca exhaustively exhales. She turns and heads for the locker room, “Amy Hartzler. She's married to Josh.”

   “Who's Josh?”, Tamara sounds more confused than ever, “Who's Amy Hartzler? I don't know what you're talking about. Are you taking Caroline's meds or something?”

   “Hartzler is Amy's real name,” Rebecca says while pulling open the door to the girl's locker room, “Lee is her stage name. She sings for Evanescence.”

   “Evanescence? Like the band?”

   “Yes, like the band,” Rebecca confirms.

   “So?”

   “So,” Rebecca fills her friend in, “Mandie seems to know her personally and we're having a senior's only party at my house. Amy Lee is going to be there.”

   “What?!”, Tamara grabs Rebecca's left arm, “Why didn't anyone tell me?”

   “I just did,” Rebecca answers while peeling Tamara's fingers from her arm.

   “Anyway,” Rebecca continues talking while heading for her locker in the back row, “It's not a big deal. We need to be careful with Mandie. I don't trust her yet. Something's off about her. But I just can't put my finger on it yet.”

   “She's the new girl, Becca,” Tamara defends, “Think how hard it would be if
you
had to go to another school for your senior year. No friends. Don't know anybody. And to top it all off, you happen to piss off the queen bee on your first day. Think about how hard it's been for her and yet she's still willing to let us be a part of her life. Tit for tat, Becca. Give her a break, will ya?”

   Rebecca rolls her eyes and shakes her head while opening her locker door. She snatches her bathing gear, slams her locker shut, and walks towards the shower area. Tamara grins. She can see why Mandie likes pissing Becca off so much. It’s sorta fun.

  
click.

   Jennifer pulls on her BMW's car door to close it. She puts her face in her hands and begins crying. Her brother is dead and he's never coming back.

  
Tap - tap.

   Jennifer startles from the soft tapping on her window. She wipes her eyes before looking up to the new girl standing by her car. She turns her ignition key and cracks open the window.

   “Now's not a good time, Mandie,” Jennifer complains.

   “Are you okay?”

   “Fine,” Jennifer lies.

   “Look.  I know I'm an outsider,” Mandie speaks, “But even I know you're not okay. Sometimes it's a lot easier to talk to someone you barely know than a close friend. Kinda like I did with you in there.”

   Jennifer shakes her head, “No - I'm fine.” She forces a smile, “Really.”

   “I'm here anytime,” Mandie ignores the girl's lying tongue. She pretends that she's about to walk off, but has decided to stop herself for something more important.

   “You know,” Mandie continues, “Friendships only work in two directions. An acquaintance works in one. So far I'm the only one who has risked anything. I told you stuff I haven't even told Tamara yet. But now that it's your turn to be vulnerable, you're kicking me to the curb.”

   “It's not like that, Mandie. Don't take everything so freakin' personal.”

   “I'm here as a friend whenever you need one,” Mandie leaves the invitation open.

   Jennifer nods, “Thanks. I
do
appreciate what you're trying to do. But I'm fine. I swear.”

   “I believe you,” Mandie lies to even the scoreboard. She smiles while pointing her left index finger towards the sky, “But you still owe me a personal question.”

   “Go ahead,” Jennifer gives her permission.

   “Tomorrow,” Mandie informs, “I'll see you in the morning.”

   “No, it's fine,” Jennifer would rather just get it over with, “Go ahead and ask.”

   “Would you like me to tell you what I think the reason is for your crying?”, Mandie attempts to change Jennifer's mind.

   “Is that your question?”

   “No.”

   “Okay, Mandie. We can do it tomorrow.”

   Jennifer starts her engine, “See ya.”

   “Later,” Mandie waves before heading to her rusty brown truck. She hears Jennifer's car back up and head towards the street as she walks. For some reason, Mandie really likes Jennifer. The cheerleader has many good qualities about her. Unfortunately, as Mandie already understands, Jennifer is beginning to traverse down an unforgiving road that will eat those qualities away from her. It won't be long before someone says,
'Whatever happened to Jennifer? She was such a good girl – had so much promise. She had her whole in front of her. It's a shame what happened.'