The Revenge Artist - Philip Siegel Page 0,19
right in my lap at the airport of all places. Sister!”
She pulls me in for a hug.
“What crack are you smoking?” I whisper in her ear.
“Don’t be boring, Becca. It’s improv. You have to go with whatever I say. It’ll be fun!” She smirks at me and holds her hands to her face, so ridiculously overjoyed to be reunited. And all I wanted to do was watch movies.
“Sister!” she says. “Tell me all about your life! What have you been up to these past twenty years?”
“Oh no!” Leo pops out of his seat and points with terror behind Laurie. “There’s a fire! Some cocktail napkins caught on fire!”
“Oh no! A fire! I need my fainting couch!” Laurie digs her fingers through her hair.
“You’re not my sister!” I say, and I push her backward into the fake fire.
She stands up. “This is improv. You can’t do that!”
She searches for Mr. S, and he throws her a stern look back. “Those are the rules, Laurie. You are engulfed in flames.”
She sinks back to the floor and screams, throwing her arms up. “Somebody help me! You, kind sir.” She reaches out to Leo, who strolls over to me.
“I’ll do it,” he says. He clutches his backpack to his chest.
“Really?”
He nods.
“Someone! Please! I have a family!”
I can’t help it. I give him a hug. He places his arms cautiously around my waist, but it feels natural.
“Four young children…Patty, Henry, Charles, and H-H-H-Helen. They need their m-m-m-mommy… I can see the white light, children. It’s so warm. Oh, please, somebody help me escape this fire.”
“Thanks, Becca,” Leo says. “You’re a good person.”
“The fire is literally burning the flesh off my face. Somebody please help me!”
I’ve questioned everyone on Jay’s list of people in his FF league, except for one: Mel Brenner. I couldn’t find any guy with that name, until I realized it was short for Melanie.
I find her outside her eighth period class. She’s a reforming tomboy. Ponytail, New Jersey Nets sweatshirt, fitted jeans, and sneakers. We’ve had elective classes here and there through high school. I’m surprised that I didn’t put Melanie and Brenner together sooner. I guess I’m not the only person used to hanging out in the background. When Melanie tells me she’s on her way to my favorite coffee shop, Azucar, for an after-school pick-me-up, I can’t help but tag along.
The shop is by the local college, which means lots of character and lots of piercings. I used to gaze at the college kids here and think they were so cool and mature. In a year, they’ll be me, but I don’t feel anything close to cool and mature.
It’s like each new grade I move up requires another cup of coffee to make it through the day. I fight drowsiness and the pull of chocolate chip cookies while waiting in line.
“I’m sorry about Jay. I’m doing fantasy football with my best friend, Jake, and he’s really the one in charge. I’m more into basketball.” She points at her sweatshirt to underline her point.
“Jake McKinnon?”
“Uh-huh.”
Two and two together again. My knowledge of Ashland social dynamics is slipping big-time. I’ll blame it on senioritis. If they’re not a senior, then I don’t care as much.
Melanie and I order our coffees. Upon closer inspection, I can make out some natural beauty in her statement eyebrows and soft, green eyes. And there’s a nice figure hiding under those loose-fitting clothes. I shouldn’t be one to talk since I once draped my feminine wiles in cardigans and ChapStick.
“I just want to tell you how awesome it is that you helped him get with Paulina.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Even though I’m open about being a relationship engineer, I never publicly discuss clients. This all must remain a secret. No girl would want to date Jake if it came out that he used me to “get with” her.
Melanie tosses her wallet around in her hands like it’s a basketball waiting to be dunked. “I just wanted to thank you for doing what you’re doing.”
I shrug. No need to remind her that Jake is paying me.
“Jake is my best friend. We grew up down the street from each other and have been playing pickup basketball games on his driveway for like eight years. He hasn’t won in four,” she says with a smile. “He’s a great guy. I really want to see him happy.”
It’s a good feeling knowing there are supportive friends out there. I wonder if Val feels the same way Melanie does.