Trailer Park Princess (4 page)

We have arrived at Toby’s house, and I am sweating bullets standing here. How does Amandolette not freak out? And where is Toby?

“Sorry, Baby, I had trouble getting my tie straight. Oh, thanks, Mando, for bringing her; I was pushing it coming home after the game to change.” Gosh, I love his voice. He dips his head to give me the sweetest, lightest kiss ever, and I hear her, “Well, Tobias, introduce me. You are in a hurry, remember.” She is snide to say the least. She looks me over critically.

“Your makeup is a little dark for your skin tone, honey; I am guessing Clinique did not do it.” I am about to strike right back, but Mando runs interference.

“No, Mrs. West, I did,” Mando says, smiling from ear to ear.

“Well, sweetie, you tried. You cannot help she does not have your beautiful skin tone.” Ugh! She is so rude! I stick my hand out to shake hers now that she’s done insulting me.

“Hi, Mrs. West, I am Aurora Wilde.” She just stares at me. Gosh, Toby, say something!

“Charmed, dear,” she growls and then flicks her wrist at us as if we are dogs. “Go stand by the door so I can get a picture.” We all move to the door with Toby behind me, arms wrapped around my waist. “Toby, can you stand beside her, and Amandolette, sweet pea, please get in this photo on the other side of Toby.” She is standing with her hands on her hips, telling Toby not to question her. We do as instructed, and after just one click, she turns and walks away saying, “Toby, you need to come straight home after the dance. I do not want you over the tracks that late. There is NOTHING there for you.”

He tries to protest, “Mom, I cannot let Rory walk home. I will drop her off and be…” Mrs. West stops dead in her tracks.

“Tobias Jackson West, do I need to call your father? You do as you are told, young man.” She turns then stops again without looking back, “And Tobias, take the trash out as you go and do not bring her back.”

That’s it. I do not even want to go to the dance; I want to gut that foul-mouthed mother beep!  I make Toby take me straight home because my night is ruined.

“Toby, you did not even stand up for me or try to defend me,” I almost cry.

“Don’t, Rory.” He can’t even look at me. “You know I love you more than anything, but I cannot fight with her; she’s my mom.”

I am already cramming everything in my little bag, earrings and all. I don’t want to feel pretty. “Whatever, TOBIAS! You are about to be gone states away, and you could not even tell her how you feel. I’m not sure I like this.” I snatch off the last piece of jewelry, and it snags my dress, so I just rip the tulle off and throw it out the window. “Just take me home!” I yell, jerking off the shoes. There is no way I can jump in those heels.

“Rory, you just don’t get it. Please do not fight with me over her. It’s bad enough I have to fight with her over you.” He stops at the last stop sign before the park and leans toward me. He wants more, but all he gets is a peck on the cheek before I move away.

“Home now, Toby,” I tell him. Staring at the dark night, not even my star is out. It’s like she knows to hide. “Owls are the only birds that can see the color blue,” I state to myself as he drives away. Great! My nervous tick is showing back up. My nervous rambles had pretty much stopped since I finally became whole, but I guess it wasn’t lasting.

I see the note as soon as I open the door.

-
Staying at Jamie’s <3 THAX

I sigh, grab a cup, filling it with faucet water, and make my way to my room. I lie down across my bed when I hear my disability phone chirp. A text from Toby, of course. He and Mando are the only two people with my number besides work, and they are long closed.

-You looked beautiful tonight, I love you.

I chuck the phone across the room. In the chaos, he forgot to tell me. It was the first time in our entire relationship that I did not come first. I need to stop acting this way; it is not fair to him. I get up and pull on a pair of black tights and my Converse sneakers, snatching the mp3 player off my dresser. It was a gift from Toby this summer. He loaded every song he knew I loved on it, including some of his favorites.
  It is not a snazzy iPod like his, but a sparkly pink, cheaper version. I love it all the same. It beats the Walkman I was rocking before, that’s for sure.

I look like I just escaped an asylum walking down the road, but I don’t care. My tights are pulled up too high, causing a major case of camel toe, and yes, I still have on my torn homecoming dress. I decide to rip off the rest of the tulle, leaving nothing but the sequin top, which looks more like a bra now. My hair is still up and pretty, as is my makeup, and with the ear buds crammed in my ears, I am in my own little world. Once I reach
the ladder, I know I will be OK. Careful not to spill my faucet water, I climb up and lie back. My star is hiding, but I am here waiting on her if she decides to come out.

The first song that comes on after hitting random is perfect. I have to sing along. I have always loved the Red Hot Chili Peppers; they get me. That song fades out, and it’s like my random list is in tune with me tonight because Nirvana starts up, and I almost lose it. Chicago follows it and then The Cars. After a few hours, I decide to head home.
  When I am almost there, some crazy pop song of Toby’s comes on. He uses it as torture to me, knowing I hate the mess, but I know every word because we heard it all summer. I have to do it; just have to. I start my runway walk, swinging my hips, belting out the lyrics to
Call Me Maybe
. I even bust out a little bit of the washing machine, since Amandolette showed me how to do it, and I kind of feel like Selena in this outfit. Work is going to be rough, seeing as I have the Saturday morning shift, and it’s already Saturday. Blah…not to mention the sun is rearing its ugly face off in the distance. Guess I stayed up there longer than I thought
.

Work isn’t as bad as I thought; though, we’ve stayed busy. Around two p.m., I’m asked if I want to stay on since we are so busy. Of course, I agree, highly doubting I will see Toby today anyway. I’m pretty sure Mrs. Holy Roly West has him busy so he can’t sneak out to see me.

It is a little after six before I get to do my clean up and head out. I’m surprised when I step out and see Toby sitting on his tailgate waiting. “What are you doing here, Toby?” It comes out a little harsher than I mean for it to, but he does not seem to notice. He has his Oakley sport shades on, looking down at his dangling feet.

“I thought you got off at two, Rory?”

I just stand there looking at him with my fat mouth hanging open. “I did not think you would be here after last night, so I did not see the point of letting you know. Besides, I forgot my phone this morning. I was late, and I ended up running most of the way here.”

“WHAT?! RAN? Where the hell was Mando?” he screamed at me, making me jump.

“I don’t know, Toby. I went to leave and realized I was walking, so I ran trying to make it on time. I wasn’t really worried about the ride or the phone, just not getting fired. Someone has to pay our rent and buy food because CAROL WON’T!” Now I’m crying. “I’m so sorry, Toby; I should not have been so angry. I know your mother hates me, and I know it’s not long before you see it, too” Toby wraps his arms around me and holds me, not saying a word for a while; then he clears his throat and looks down at me.

“Rory, I should have stood up for you. I forgot to get you this morning from lack of sleep, and I’m sorry about that. I love you. You are too good for me, so stop thinking you are not good enough. Here you are saying you are sorry again for something I done to you! Shhhh, baby, you are my life. You will always be enough.” And just like that, my world is righted again.

 
School is bad. Apparently, someone heard about homecoming night and thought it would be funny to spread even more shit around. I would bet my penny bank on it being Ashley. Her grandmother is in the same church group as Mrs. West, and I can just hear how that went yesterday while they sipped their tea, chewed their toast, and talked about everyone in town. I know not every church group is that way, but well, lots are. The Bible says love your neighbor, not have nasty diarrhea of the mouth about your neighbor. Maybe I should crash the next meeting and show them that.

Sitting at the table waiting on Toby at lunch is rough. He and Mando are both running behind, and it leaves me alone with the plastics. I’m about to get up and leave when Ashley digs her fake press-on nails into my shoulder. She has this nasty, hyena, crazy like cut-off-your-face-and-wear-it-as-a-hat grin. It actually scares me just a little.

“Rory, you do realize that Toby is mine, right? I mean, he is just playing with you. You are a game, well, actually a project to him. He feels sorry for you, and he wants to fix you, honey. That’s all.”

I turn slower than I mean to, staring back at her and batting my lashes really slow as I comprehend her words. Before I even know what is happening, I have her choked up by her neck and slammed down on the ceramic tile in the cafeteria. I have finally snapped.

”Ashley, do not ever even look at me again, let alone speak to me. If you do, so help me, I will rearrange your face so bad not even your lemony-soured, puckered-up-ass of a grandmother will recognize you. And to top it off, I will bury your ass under my trailer where your corpse will forever be the princess of the trailer park. You got me?…BITCH,” I seethe. I dig out the last word and let her go. I walk like I’m about to leave, but then I look over and see her tray sitting there. I should stop, but I’m on a roll, and I want to drive my point home. I pick up the tray and dump it on her. She screeches, thinking that is the worst of it. Without warning, I sling the tray so fast and hard it connects with her jaw with a crack, and I drop it, smiling at her. I turn to leave, and of course, my eyes instantly lock with Toby’s as he walks through the cafeteria door
.

The best part about a week suspended is the day lady at the diner has strep, so I picked up her hours. Yay! Go me!
Cue happy dance!

Toby was upset about the cafeteria incident, but after I told him what Ashley said, he laughed so hard his root beer came out of his nose. “She totally deserved that! Now the bandage taped across her face is so worth it!” he cried out in laughter. I brought him another root beer float and made my way back to finish up cleaning duty so I could clock out, happy that he was no longer upset with me.

Football season has ended. Ashley has kept her distance from me, and the ugly gestures have stopped. No more ketchup stained pads or dirty toilet paper in my locker, no red Solo drink cups taped to the door (everyone knows my Carol is a drunk). It is nice, I guess, that they got the memo to back off. I do not even mind school now. 

Winter comes and Christmas, too. I wish I could say it is special, and I love it, but honestly, it is just another day. I used some tip money to buy Thax a new board game and a pack of socks he desperately needed. I got Amandolette a pretty scarf and Toby…well; I have something else for him. He thinks he is the only one with a talent! I will have to show him.

We do not have a wonderful, sit down, family supper, of course. Just a few boxed-up leftovers from the diner, plus the whole cherry cheesecake Mrs. Riaz kept intact for our holiday happy. They are so good to me, even giving me a bonus for Christmas. To my knowledge, I’m the only part-timer to get one.  I got a bag full of costume jewelry from Mando, and Toby got me this beautiful necklace with a picture of us. The picture is homecoming, and Toby has his arms around me from behind, me looking up at him smiling.
Where did he get this?
When I ask him, he tells me Mando snapped it with her cell phone before his mom forced her into the picture.  It makes me cry. I do not even get to see Toby Christmas day because of the
EVIL, WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST, MRS. WEST
herself, so I haven’t even gotten to give him his Christmas present yet.

Toby surprises me at work the next day. “Mom and Dad are going out of town for New Year’s Eve. She wants to go to the casino or something. They plan to leave on Thursday night and not return until Sunday,” he informs me with a big ole porcelain white smile. “So, do you want to come over while they are gone? I can bring you to work for your shifts; you can check on Thaxton when you need to; and we can just hang out for a few days. Want to?” Boy, do I want to, but I already know the answer, and so does he.

“You know I want to, but I can’t. I have one day off here, and I have to go home late at night because Thax will be home. He does not live at Jamie’s.”

I can see how disappointed he is, so I decide I will figure out a way to make it happen. It would actually work perfectly because if I can be at Toby’s house, I can finally give him his Christmas gift. I need it to be somewhere private and with the equipment I need. Both have posed a problem, but now his invitation is giving me the perfect opportunity to make it all work out. I’m going to use New Year’s Eve to give him his gift.

“I gotta go, baby. Love you,” he says, and without waiting for a reply, he drops a kiss on my lips and leaves. My break is over. I hate having to see Toby so much at work. Luckily, the Riaz family knows my situation, thanks to Mando, so they try to accommodate our meetings.  Jerking out my crappy cell—I should get a Hoveround to match it and drive myself to the Grand Canyon—I send a quick test to Mando.

-Hey you! Need huge favor New Year’s Eve. I plan to do something awesome for Toby! We are finally going to be alone. Do you have anything I can borrow that is long and flowy? I want something to make him stare
.

I go back to work, wiping down counters, refilling saltshakers, and pouring soft serve into the machine. I feel my phone vibrate in my apron pocket.

-What it do, white girl =],
so you getting sticky icky on NYE with GOLDEN BOY EKKKK OH, TOBY, love me long time!!!!!!!!
  

Her texts always make me laugh. Today she is channeling her ghetto goddess Sir Mix-a-Lot wannabe self. Another buzz.

-Tell me, Rory, does he get you hot and bothered? Does he make you want to feel your body? Do you wanna get with him and take his picture cuz he is RUMPLESMOOTHSKIN?
 

I literally LOL at that one. Typing quickly because I’m not on break now, I reply back.

-
Mando, you psycho, Méxiho thug, I do not need a sex suit; I need a beautiful dress. I want it perfect not slutty =]

Hitting send, I finish up and make my way to the back because I heard the supply truck pull in.

I know my shift is over when I hear Mrs. Riaz hollering at what can only be one spoiled Amandolette. “
DOWN, MIJA, DOWN!
” I come through the swinging door and see Mando propped up at the end of the counter making bubbles in her root beer float. “STOP, MAMA, GAH!” she yells back. I love watching these two. Mrs. Riaz is full-on Mexican, straight from Ario De Rosales, with a thick accent. I’m not sure where Mr. Riaz is from, but even though he is darker toned than his wife, he speaks perfect English. Mando never speaks Spanish; she claims it cramps her style. However, I know she can. I heard her and her dad tie up once in front of employees, and they tore it up. It sounded like a Spanish bomb went off in here.

 
“Let’s go, White girl,” she says with a scowl on her face “These people make me wanna color with gray crayons!” I look all bug eyed and mouth
Sorry
to her mom as we leave.

“Seriously, she acts like I’m always trouble. One day she will pay,” Mando says with her evil laugh. “I’m pretty dayum sure I still have a few old Lego’s I could leave lying randomly in her path… OR,” she drags out, “I could cut her with cardboard
 in true Chulo fashion.” She bursts out laughing at her schemes before we make it to her car. “Here,” she says, chucking a bag at me. I forgot I asked her to let me borrow a dress. My eyes bug out. It’s perfect! A long, simple, satin, one-shoulder dress in a deep red, almost wine color that will touch the ground when I walk. It is so thin and moveable, and the slit will make it easy to sit. “You can use all the same jewelry and shoes with it as you did with the homecoming dress,” she says smiling. She remembers everything fashion. “Will I need to do your hair?” she asks, waggling her penciled-in eyebrows at me.  This girl is Mexican to the bone, and I love everything about her.

“Thanks, Amandolette,
you are the best friend a girl could ever have!” I almost choke up, but it’s true, and she knows it. I got uber lucky with this one. “I think I’m just going to go with long and straight, you know, simple.” She’s smiling, so that must be a good sign.

“OK
, Rory, but I have my bag in back, and I’m at least running a flat iron or my Instyler over it, so it is not frazzled, kay kay!” With a pop of her gum, she raises her eyebrows high, smiling at me, and then hands me a green apple sucker. I tend to have suckers stashed everywhere. They are my weakness, and she knows it.

“Hey, Mando, did you know jellyfish are 95% water?” She just rolls her eyes and gets in the car
.