like the taste of it.
The only way she could get Peter’s CD was to be creative.
Taking this money qualified.
She peered around the crowded commons area. No one seemed to notice her, or the tempting cash box. She chewed on her lip and tapped her toe against the table leg. After a minute or so, she reached forward and opened the lid. Her pulse raced. She grabbed a couple five dolar bils and a handful of ones.
She puled her hand out, folded the bils over a couple times and slid them into her back pocket. She kept her head down. If she didn’t look at anyone, they wouldn’t look at her. She sat rocking her foot back and forth counting the final minutes until the bel. At last it rang and her ticket-seling session ended.
Libby grabbed her books and the cash box and walked to the front office. She was unaware of the eyes that folowed her.
The old secretary resembled a fossil. She took the box from Libby. “Thank you, dear.”
Libby nodded and left, her head held low in shame. The stolen money burned in her back pocket like a hot coal.
Without hesitating, she went straight to her locker, stuffed her books inside and grabbed her coat. She swalowed down her guilt.
She would not let her rule abiding conscious get in the way. As the remaining students straggled to their next class, Libby strode out the school doors.
Chapter 6
Libby’s worn out shoes padded through the discount store.
She wanted to go unnoticed, but the bright store lights shone down revealing her presence. Guilt hung on her shoulders like a heavy chain.
She found the entertainment section filed with electronics, video games and DVDs. She searched one aisle and then another.
Nothing. Panic crept over her. She had little time to return to school and catch her bus.
“Can I help you?” A middle-aged man with a big bely held a scanning device in his hand and waited for her response.
“Uh, yes.” She whispered, then cleared her throat and spoke louder. “I was wondering where you keep the CDs?” Desperation began to sink in. She needed the CD. It had to be here. She had to have it.
“Down this aisle on the end.” He walked that direction, assuming she’d folow. She trailed after him. Did he wonder why a high school kid was in the store during the middle of the afternoon?
He turned the corner. “Country and show tunes are on this side, rock and jazz on the other, new releases are on the aisle end.
Is there anything particular you’re looking for?” He waited. She didn’t want to confess her purpose for being there. It might expose her true feelings, someone might overhear.
She glanced around, but found no audience. The man folowed her gaze. He raised his brows in question.
“Jamieson?” she answered, quieter than she meant to.
“Their display is on the end, you can’t miss it.” To Libby’s relief, he turned and went the opposite direction.
Libby tried not to rush as she moved to the aisle end. There stood a six-foot-tal cutout photo of a smiling Peter, Garrett and Adam, advertising their latest CD. Libby stood back in awe. Her hand reached out and touched the glossy cardboard imitation of Peter. It was almost as good as the real thing. The huge display dominated space next to a wal of Jamieson CDs. Copy after copy featured Peter Jamieson smiling back at her.
Never in her wildest thoughts did she imagine he was so famous. He gave none of it away when they’d been together. She wanted to scream with joy. She picked up a plastic encased CD, his handsome face exactly as she remembered. She grinned back at him then cradled the coveted CD. The risk of cutting classes and coming al this way was worth whatever punishment Aunt Marge might dish out.
When Libby checked out, her hands shook as she passed the stolen bils to the checker. She walked out of the store and looked both directions to be sure no one watched. She darted around the side of the store, and puled her prize from the bag. She ripped the packaging off as quickly as she could with her stil shaking hands.
Then the clear tape wouldn’t let her by. She picked at it, then used a nail file to lift the edge. Finaly, she won the battle. Inside the case lay a perfect, untouched CD, and a glossy booklet containing lyrics and more pictures of Peter and his brothers.
Her heart sang. She kissed the CD