At home, I immediately got started on making green bean casserole. It was simple, and once it was in the oven I grudgingly started on my homework. I had an English paper due tomorrow that was nowhere near done. I was about halfway finished when Olivia walked through the door.
"You know, I can never understand why I have to take the bus and you get to ride in that fancy convertible every day," she greeted me, sitting down across from me and getting out her advanced calculus homework.
"Maybe it's because you put gum in Kali's hair when you were in second grade," I suggested. If Liv rode with us, I'd have to hide taking my pills, which would make Kali curious as to why I would be hiding them.
"She's still not over that? It was one time," she huffed.
I turned to get the casserole out of the oven. "What's wrong with the bus? You used to love taking it."
"That was before Becky started a rumor that I was pregnant," she grumbled. Becky was part of her friend group. She was always a bitch, in my opinion.
"If you know you're not pregnant, that's all that matters. Besides, you know your true friends won't believe that," I said, trying to comfort her.
"I don't know if I have any true friends anymore," she mumbled, almost too low for me to hear.
"Hey! As long as you have me and I have you, we'll be alright, remember?" I told her, quoting the words she said to me at dad's funeral.
"You're right. Are you gonna take your sweet time dishing that up or are you gonna give me a plate?" she said, nodding towards the casserole. I dished up two plates and set one in front of her. Ma was working late again tonight, no need to make her a plate. She'll see the leftovers when she gets home. While we ate in silence, I let my thoughts wander back to Aiden. I wondered if he actually was gonna text me. Of course he's not, I thought, He's probably heard about how you have a dead dad and doesn't want to deal with that. I itched for more pills. I didn't notice that I was making a face until Livvy asked me what was wrong.
"Nothing. Just thinking," I answered.
"Don't think too hard, or your head will explode," she said.
"Shut up," I said, laughing.
After dinner, I was cleaning up when my phone buzzed. It was a text from a number I didn't know.
'Hey, it's Aiden.' It said.
'Hey, my plans cleared up for this weekend,' I wrote, before tacking on, 'if you still wanna hang out.' It was good to give him an out.
'Of course. What's there to do in the small town of Talihina, Oklahoma?' I sighed a relieved sigh. It seemed like he didn't hear about it yet, so I decided that was good. Don't get too attached though, I thought, as soon as he hears about it he'll go running for the hills.
'We could go to the park,' I said, offering an option. A lot of kids here went to the Talimena State Park for hiking, smoking pot, and of course, having car sex in the deserted second parking lot.
'Sounds great. I'll pick you up Friday around 7? Wear jeans and a jacket.' He replied. What else would I wear? I thought.
'Sounds like a plan, Jan,' I replied after giving him my address, and put my phone in my back pocket.
The next morning, I woke up early. Like an hour and a half early. So I decided to make a decent breakfast for Livvy and I. Bacon, eggs, and toast ought to do it. I was putting the plates on the table when Livvy came down.
"Smells good Lenna," she yawned. I assumed Ma was already at work. Olivia dug in across from me, and simultaneously got her book out for her English class. I noted that the book was for a senior class, and I chuckled.
"What?" She said.
"Aren't you taking any classes with people your own age?" I teased. She scowled and went back to her book, which I took as a 'no.' I had just enough time to finish my paper, and was putting my books back into my bag, when I heard an impatient honk outside. I locked the door on my way out, and climbed into the passenger seat.
"Any news on this weekend with Aiden?" Kali asked.
"We're going to the park on Friday. He's picking me up," I said, then thought a bit. "If he's not sitting with anyone else at lunch, do you mind if he sits with us?" I asked.
"Of course not. I'm so excited for you!! Your very first boyfriend!" she screamed.
"Okay it's not going that far," I said, popping my usual morning pills, "besides, once he hears that my dad is dead he probably won't want anything to do with me."
"I heard that both of his parents are dead and he's living with his aunt," Kali explained.
"You also heard he was a surfer from California," I reminded her. Then I changed the subject. "Did you get the English paper done for today?"
"That was due today?" she asked, sucked into her thoughts. This gave me enough time to think things over. If Aiden's parents did die, maybe he would understand what I've been going through. At the same time, I could understand the pain of losing a parent and sympathize with him. Maybe he would want to stick around.
Friday
I was finishing my dinner, a ham and cheese sandwich, when I heard the roar of an engine pull up. I ate the last bite and put my dishes into the sink. I was headed for the door when Olivia stopped me.
"I thought you were going out with Kali tonight," she said accusingly. Livvy didn't like being lied to.
"Sorry I didn't tell you. Change of plans," I shrugged as I moved past her and opened the door. I stopped dead in my tracks. Aiden leaned against an old motorcycle. I'd never been on a motorcycle before. That's why he wanted to make sure I wore jeans and a jacket. Olivia was grinning from the doorway.
"Oooooohhh," she said, "Looks like someone has a boyfriend."
"Shut up loser," I replied, turning around to slam the door in her face. I grabbed the elastic from around my wrist and pulled my hair up into a ponytail. As I walked over to Aiden, he sat on the bike and pulled it up, starting it with his foot. The crackle of the engine scared me, but in an exciting way. I got on the seat behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, and noticed a huge grin on his face.
"You'll have to give me directions," he yelled over the noise as he took off. I did my best, guiding him through the twisting roads to the park. The adrenaline I felt as we rode a little too fast made my heart thump out of my chest. It felt amazing, like it was the first time I felt true freedom. Once we were in the state park, he stopped the bike in the parking lot and when I got off he flipped the kickstand.
"So, what brings us here?" he asked, curious. I dug through my bag, producing a joint, and he gave me a smile. "Nice," he said.
We walked and talked until we got to my favorite part of the park. It was a rock cliff facing hills upon hills of green forest. Nearby, we heard the bubbling of a creek. I sat at the edge of the cliff and Aiden copied.
"My dad used to take me here," I said, lighting the joint.
"Is he too busy now or something?" he asked. Obviously, he hadn't heard. This was gonna be rough.
"Yeah, six feet underground is keeping him occupied," I said as I took the first puff and handed it to him. He looked shocked, and then almost relieved.
"How did it happen?" he asked. I chuckled. "What?"
"No one's ever asked me that before," I explained. "Everyone already knows. So they just say, 'sorry for your loss' and expect me to move on."
"I get that," he said, sorrowful.
"He was an architect that worked with the local construction company. He surprised us all when we learned he'd been embezzling money from the properties they were working on with his boss, Anita. The IRS took practically everything from us, we had a nicer house, my ma and dad both had cars. One night he was coming home late from work, he used the train tracks as a shortcut, and he was jumped by four or five guys. They left him there, bleeding. The cops did everything they could, of course, but they never caught who did it." It felt good to talk about it. It had been so long since I could, and my mother and sister never wanted to bring Dad up. I realized I had been sharing my life story with a practical stranger, so I tacked on, "Sorry, I'm rambling."
"No I get it," he said, "My mother was a drug addict. She overdosed a year ago. My dad was so upset, I never thought he was going to get over it. And he didn't. I found him hanging in his closet. That's why I moved here, with my aunt." We looked at each other with understanding in our eyes, and I was the one to break the silence.
"Life sucks," I finally said, leaning back so I was laying on the rock face.
"Sure does," Aiden said, copying my move.
After a while, talking and laying there, we watched the sun set. The colors played beautifully over the hills and the clouds, brilliant shades of almost every color. Ma would be home soon.
"I should get going," I said, standing up.
"I'll give you a ride," he replied, doing the same.
When we stopped outside of my house, I got off the bike and headed for the door. Aiden grabbed my arm to stop me and turn me around.
"Can I do something real quick?" He asked, his face inches from mine. I could taste his breath on my tongue. His amazing smell filled my nose. I couldn't respond. I froze.
"Oleanna Jade Dickenson!" Ma yelled from the house. Aiden automatically let go of my arm.
"Oh shit," I whispered, causing Aiden to give me a wicked grin.
"See ya Monday!" he whispered back as he kicked the bike to start and drove off. I cursed him under my breath.
I opened the door and said as cheerfully as I could, "Hey Ma. How was your day?"
"Don't how was your day me, missy," uh oh. "Who was that boy? And don't tell me you rode on the back of that death machine. And without a helmet, I might add."
"Madre," I said, calm as ever, ���Kali cancelled on me this weekend so I decided to go out with Aiden. We went to a movie, totally public, by the way, and we had a great time."
"You rode on the back of a motorcycle. With a boy you barely know!" She yelled. "You could've been kidnapped! You could have gotten into a wreck! He could've pressured you into drugs!" then she thought for a minute. "What movie did you see?"
"The one where the rich people hunt regular people. Lots of blood and guts. It was great. And totally not romantic," I replied effortlessly. "Besides, he's just a friend. Nothing happened." Nothing yet.
I could see that Ma was calming down a bit. I took this as my opportunity.
"Okay Ma I'll see you in the morning," I called, heading for the stairs. She started to say something, so I added: "Lots of homework to do, goodnight!" Once I was in my room, I was safe. At least I thought.
"What happened? Did he kiss you? Did you finally lose your V Card? What's that smell? Did he hit a skunk or something?" Olivia peppered me with questions.
"We went to the park and talked. We did not kiss or anything, and that smell is pot, which is totally not a big deal," I reminded her. Liv never told Ma about anything that would implicate me, she knew how to keep a secret. Besides, her and Ma barely talked the way it was.
"What'd you tell Rachel?" she asked.
"I told her we went to the movies, and nothing happened. And nothing really did happen," I reminded her.
"So, what's he like? Besides the motorcycle and the obvious gorgeousness." she asked. "What'd you two talk about?" She was laying back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, with less energy than she had just a moment ago.
"Aiden's really nice. He has a soft side. We talked about life, mostly."
Olivia hesitated. "Did you tell him about dad?" she asked quietly.
"Yes. Both his parents are dead so he understood," I replied in the same tone, and that was the end of the conversation.