can you?”
“Can you?” I ask in return, my voice rising.
“Hey,” Hunter says, stepping between us. “Chill.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Nicole says.
“What are you doing here anyway?” he asks.
“I followed you following her.”
This is fucked up.
“Why? You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with me.”
“That was until I saw you following the thieving skank. She can’t get away with what she did to Becky.”
“She told you she didn’t do anything.”
She huffs and then pushes him, surprising us both.
He flails for balance. “Shit!”
I throw my arms out, keeping him from falling and moving him to the side in one motion. “What the fuck, Nicole?” I step closer to her. “Does pushing people around make you feel superior? Do you know what it’s like to be on the receiving end?” I shove her back and she stumbles a few steps. “How’s that feel?” I shove her again. “How about that?”
She screams, charging at me like an untrained linebacker. I plant my feet late and she crashes into me. The air expels from my lungs as I hit the grass and is replaced with a dull ache.
I kick my leg around her in an attempt to roll over and get on top, but she throws her weight against my leg.
Hunter yanks her off of me and drags her to her car. “Later, Sara!”
I lie still in the grass, breathing through the soreness. How does everything always go to shit just when it starts going right?
“Sara,” Erica calls from the door. “Time for therapy.”
Great. I get to spend the next hour in a stare down with Irving. Lucky me.
Hunter tracks me down on campus between morning classes the next day.
“Well?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.” Erica was elated when I asked to go to the party. You would’ve thought I told her I was asked to prom.
“Cool. Hey, want to go to a movie or something this weekend?”
I stiffen and clutch the books in my arms, as if they’ll save me from certain death. I can’t go out with him. I just can’t.
“Friends, Sara,” he says. “I know you’re with Jason.” He doesn’t know.
Tears well up, waiting to be released. “I don’t know what it is anymore, Hunter.” Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
He sets a hand on my arm. “I respect whatever it is. I know you miss him.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I know what it’s like being the new kid in school.”
“I’m not the new kid anymore.”
Hunter’s eyes widen and then someone or something rams into me from behind. I fall forward, dropping my books as I throw my arms out to catch myself. He catches me instead.
“Bitch. Watch where you’re standing,” Nicole mutters as she passes.
Hunter makes sure I’m all right, then gathers my books for me. He whips a pen out of his back pocket, writes something inside my notebook, and hands it back with the books. “Call me later, after you talk to your foster mom.” He grins, then rushes off to class.
Why? Why does he have to be so nice? And why can’t I let myself enjoy making a new friend?
When I ask Erica about going out with Hunter tomorrow, she’s more excited than when I asked about the party. I call and let Hunter know I can go. He goes through the movies playing and we choose one together.
I am going out with a new friend.
I am going out with a new friend.
I am going out with a new friend.
If I chant it long enough, it will be real and good.
Manny answers the door when Hunter arrives and makes a failed attempt at being an imposing fatherly figure. Hunter is taller and not at all scared of Manny’s posturing. Manny skulks off after a few minutes and we leave.
Hunter pays for the tickets, popcorn, and drinks. Refusing to take the money I try to give him; part of the allowance Erica gives me that she says comes from the state to care for me. The Lloyds never gave us an allowance, probably keeping the money for themselves.
“It’s what I should’ve done when we first met,” he says as we take seats in the back.
I’m not sure what this feeling is. Something between frustration and gratitude. “Thanks, Hunter.”
“I know it’s not easy being new, especially since Nicole targeted you early on. I’m just sorry I didn’t talk to you sooner.”
“We were both blackballed.”
“Yeah, but can you imagine how much fun we would’ve had being blackballed together?” He grins and tosses a piece of popcorn in his