Poison -14- by Melanie Brown

Poison

By

Melanie Brown
Copyright © 2024

Part 14

“That’s so not fair!” I grumbled at the fact that Zach doesn’t have to go the last week of school because he’s a senior. He will have to get up before too long to attend the practice for the graduation ceremony later tonight.

“Are you dressed yet?” growled Mom from her room. “You guys are going to make me late for work again if you don’t hurry.”

Corey shouted, “Tell Zach to get his lazy ass out of bed and have him take us to school.”

“Watch it, buster,” scolded Mom as she exited her room. “We don’t talk like that in this house!”

“Damn straight!” I said because I was feeling ornery.

“Diane!” exclaimed Mom. “You’re starting awfully early. Come on now. I want all of us to have a good day.”

I was suited out in camo shorts and a camo t-shirt and white sneaks. I plopped onto the couch. “I’m ready. I call shotgun!” I didn’t care where I sat. I just wanted to hear Corey scream.

On cue, Corey shouted, “Not fair! You’re not even at the car yet!”

I giggled, “God! You’re easy.” I picked up my purse. “I’ll wait outside.”

As I stepped onto the porch, I took in a deep breath of fresh air. The morning was gorgeous, the sun bright and the air cool, and such a waste to be spending it indoors. For multiple reasons, I’ll be glad when school is finally out.

I was halfway down the steps when the front screen door slammed open with Corey shouting, “I call shotgun!”

I shook my head. “I already called it, dork!”

Laughing, Corey said as he ran past me. “That didn’t count!”

I shook my head, as I opened the back door. “I don’t care, goofus.”

As Mom walked around the front of the car, jingling her keys and her purse, she looked at me and asked, “Why do you egg him on, Diane? I know you’d rather sit in the back.”

“I just want to watch the world burn,” I said as I got into the back seat.

Mom rolled her eyes at me and started the car.

When we finally arrived at school, before he hopped out, Corey turned towards me and said, “Remember what you said you’d do?”

“Yep! I remember. I won’t see her until lunch.” I said as I opened my car door.

“Don’t forget!” Corey shouted as he started his sprint to the front door. Dollars to donuts, he wouldn’t check out a boy for me that I was interested in. Not that I’m interested.

Narrowing her eyes at me, Mom asked, “What are you two up to?”

Grinning at Mom, I said, “It’s a secret. Bye!” I closed my car door and began to slowly walk towards school.

Gene ran up to me, just as I reached the front door. “Hey, Diane! Any good word?”

I sighed. “Give it a rest, Gene. Honestly, she’s not likely to change her mind until after my birthday.”

Looking a little crestfallen, he asked, “So when is that?”

The board at the university had decided to give me a new birthday. That way, I’d get to start high school as a fourteen-year-old.  Whoopee, right? Actually, it is a whoopee. Otherwise, I’d have to endure a full year of middle school. Four years of high school is going to be bad enough.

“Fifteenth of July,” I said.

Gene took a note on his phone. “Got it!”

“I can see those little gears turning in your head,” I said. “Please don’t get me anything. Please. Don’t.”

“I have to get you something!”

I shook my head. “No. Honestly, you don’t.”

As I started to walk away, a boy from my science class bounded up to me. “Diane, right?” I nodded. “I was curious if you’d be interested in going to a movie?”

Gene scowled and said angrily, “Dude. That’s my girl!”

I frowned at Gene. “I’m not anybody’s girl! Please don’t say that.”

The boy whose name I couldn’t think of yet, asked earnestly, “So. Would you like to go?”

Sighing, I said, “Thank you for inviting me, but my mom won’t let me date yet. Sorry.” Thank you, Mom. Yeah, I could lie, but this way, I can be totally honest.

I started to walk away, and the boy touched my arm and said, “Hey. You can always sneak out. That’s what I do.”

Frowning at the boy, I said, “I’m not doing that. Don’t make me get rude.”

Since running is frowned upon by the school, I started walking fast to try to get to my first class. Mr. Gruber always made a point of calling you out if you were late.

Two boys were heading directly for me. One grinned and said, “Hey. There she is. Let’s ask her.” I thought Oh geez. I made a quick turn into a restroom.

Before I could relax, I heard someone laughing behind me. I turned to see a boy with a goofy grin plastered to his face. I angrily asked, “What are you doing in here?”

The boy laughed, “I was just going to ask you the same thing!” That’s when I noticed the urinals hanging on the walls. Oh shit.

The two boys who basically chased me into the restroom slammed open the door. Both grinning. Looking at me, one said, “Is it party time?”

I felt a flush of adrenalin as my fight or flight kicked in. I was genuinely alarmed, though it would be really stupid for any of these boys would attack me in the restroom. That would be not only an automatic expulsion but possible jail time as well.

The boy I first encountered in the restroom, said, “Come on, babe. Let’s  have some fun.” I looked at the door. There was no way I could safely get to it.

The door burst open, and Corey, of all people, entered the restroom, his eyes darting back and forth. His eyes focused on me. “What’s going on?”

“Corey!” I shouted. “I came in here by accident, and these boys won’t let me leave.”

The first boy snarled, “Get lost, Williams. This ain’t your party.”

Corey took a step towards me. He growled, “Back off, Miller. That’s my sister and I doubt you want D-Hall the rest of the year.”

Miller laughed. “I know you, Williams. You ain’t got no sister. And who’s gonna rat me out? You?”

Corey stepped next to me. “I’m her brother by another mother. You assholes back off now, I won’t say anything.” Corey took my hand.

A teacher entered the restroom, obviously just to do his business, but he assessed the situation quickly. “Anyone want to tell me what is going on here?” He looked over at me.

Miller grinned and said, “Oh. Mr. Davis. This young lady entered this restroom by mistake. For her safety we were just going to escort her out.”

I tightened my grip on Corey’s hand.

I was scared. I said, “Yes sir. These gentlemen alerted me of my error.”

Mr. Davis narrowed his eyes at Corey. “Why do I smell one of your rats, Williams?”

Corey held up his free hand and said, “There’s no problem here, Mr. Davis. I saw my sister enter this restroom by accident, so I rushed over.”

Mr. Davis looked skeptical. “I don’t recall you having a sister, Williams.”

I said, “It’s true, Mr. Davis.” I took a deep breath. “I’m his half sister. We didn’t really know each other until our father died.”

Mr. Davis visibly relaxed. “Oh, yeah. I heard about that. I’m very sorry for your loss. You and your brother can leave. You other three, I have some questions.”

Corey squeezed my hand. “Let’s go.” He then pulled me out of the restroom.

As we walked away from the restroom, I said, “Thank you so much, Corey. That was brave of you to face down those bullies.”

Corey grinned. “I had to. You haven’t talked to Karen yet.”

I laughed. “You goofball. Are you going to be okay? Will they come after you?”

Corey shook his head. “I doubt it. That’s what Mr. Davis is telling them, I’m sure. Mr. Davis knew we were all lying. But he wanted to protect you.”

I shook my head. “School wasn’t this exciting back when I was…”

Corey frowned as he interrupted me. “Don’t remind me of who you really are.”

I nodded. “Anyway, thanks again.”

As he started to walk away, he said, “You owe me!” He laughed.

                    *

End of Part 14