Canary (14 page)

The boys made promises, and I stood there amazed.

“Thanks, Mrs. Sheridan,” Luke said.

We walked out of the room, the boys flashing their dazzling Beacon boy smiles with duffle bags full of practice equipment bumping against their backs.

It was quiet in the hallway. Most people had left for the day. Bright flyers advertising clubs and band concerts fluttered against the walls in the empty corridor.

The guys started talking about tomorrow's game.

“Jack,” I hissed in disbelief. How could he have done this? There was no way I was letting him get away with it. I stopped, and when he turned to me, I motioned for him to stop too. “I need to talk to you.”

“I have to go to practice, Kate. We're already going to be ten minutes late. I'll call you tonight.”

“We need to talk now.” I tried to stand in front of him, but he kept on moving. “I don't understand what just happened. I need you to explain it to me.”

“Don't worry. We're good. This isn't an issue anymore.”

“Maybe not for you.”

He shrugged and continued to follow his friends, farther and farther away.

I threw my bag against a locker.

A girl a few feet down stopped loading books into her bag to stare at me.

“What the hell are you looking at?” I said, angry to have a witness.

“Nothing. I'm sorry,” she said and quickly closed her locker. She grabbed her stuff and walked in the same direction Jack had gone.

I picked up my bag and headed down the hallway, angry and alone.

I left Jack a number of messages while he was at practice, but I figured he'd try to avoid me all night. He proved me wrong, though, and called as soon as practice ended.

I was sitting on the couch watching some game show as I stuffed my face with peanut butter–covered graham crackers, my weakness.

“Yes,” I said, drawing out the word to show how mad I was.

“Hey, sorry I wasn't able to talk before practice,” Jack said casually. “Your dad would've flipped if I was any later than I already was. I didn't want to get him mad, not with a game tomorrow. Thanks for covering for me and the other guys.”

“Covering for you?”

“Well, you know what I mean.”

“I didn't cover for you. I didn't say a word.”

“That's why everything worked out.”

“I never gave you the answers so you could pass them around.”

“You mean to Dave and Luke? What was I supposed to do? It wasn't fair to keep the homework from them. They would've failed. They were asking about it, and I had it. I didn't give them your copy, though. I kept that one safe.”

“Safe from what, Jack? You copied my work and then passed it on to two other people.” How could he act as if this was no big deal? How could he talk to me the way he did to Mrs. Sheridan, as if I were dumb enough to fall for his crap?

“I had to help them out. They were struggling. That was a big assignment, and our grades affect the team.”

“They struggled because they didn't do the work. You gave them the answers. You helped them cheat.”

“Well, if we could have gotten the answers another way, we would have.”

“Another way? What about doing your own work?”

“Doing our own work? God, Kate. We have a different kind of work we need to do. You don't think we work our asses off on the court?”

I couldn't speak. It was impossible to get my thoughts straight. Everything in my head was spinning, and if I opened my mouth, the words wouldn't be nice.

“Don't act like you don't understand how this works. We needed the answers, and I thought you were willing to help us.”

“I wasn't planning to let the team cheat off my homework assignment,” I said loudly.

“Don't worry. I won't be asking you for favors anymore.” His tone had turned cold. “How stupid was I to think my girlfriend would want to help me with some homework?”

“That wasn't help, Jack.”

“Maybe it wasn't to you, but believe me, there's plenty more people around here willing to share. It won't be your problem again.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said sarcastically and hung up without saying good-bye.

I sat on the couch staring at the TV, not focusing on anything. I wasn't really surprised Jack's friends had used my paper. They were always copying someone's work at lunch or memorizing test questions passed on from someone who had already taken the class.

What surprised me was that Jack had done it too and stood up for them.

www.allmytruths.com

Today's Truth:

Rights aren't always earned; they are expected.

Privilege.

What is it?

It seems to be a phrase thrown around a lot to show entitlement. It's a word that makes people assume what they're doing is allowed, even if it isn't.

To my parents, privilege was something we earned. It was a privilege to watch PG-13 movies with my parents, but if Mom heard Brett or me using any of the swear words from it, we wouldn't be allowed to watch them anymore. It was a privilege to get new clothes, but if I didn't hang them up when I came home, my mom would take anything on the floor out of my room and hide it.

Privilege was something granted and taken away. Privilege had control.

However, I don't view privilege that way anymore.

Those who are truly privileged never doubt its existence can be taken away.

Privilege to some isn't something you earn. It's what one expects.

That's how Beacon views privilege on and off the basketball court.

Those at Beacon who are glorified believe privilege gives them liberties to blow off homework, talk back to teachers, arrive late to school, leave early, not come at all, preview questions on a test, park in spots marked 
Faculty
, smoke outside on school grounds, and make a boy who may not be as athletic feel as if he will never fit in. Privilege can make someone either feel invincible or search for a way to feel worth something even when everyone else is telling him he isn't.

Posted By: Your Present Self

[Tuesday, October 29, 9:16 AM]

Jack stayed true to his word and didn't mention his homework again. I don't know how he was getting it done, but it certainly wasn't with help from me. Dad was holding the team captive with endless practices, and if I wanted to see Jack, the basketball court was the best place to catch him.

Today I finished my homework and sat on the bleachers staring at the clock. Jack promised he'd shower and change quickly, but I'd been waiting for at least fifteen minutes. He was worse than a girl getting ready. I had no idea what the heck he was doing for so long in the locker room.

I got up to walk around the gym. I'd been sitting all day, and I was sick of it. I spotted a basketball Dad must have missed behind a wastebasket and picked it up. I intended to set it down by Dad's stuff, but instead I bounced it a few times. It echoed in the empty gym.

The ball felt familiar in my hands, and I thought back to the days when I loved to play the game. I slowly dribbled it on the floor and made my way to the basket to take a shot. The ball swished through the hoop without touching the net, and I pumped my fist in the air.

“She's still got it, folks,” I yelled, and an imaginary crowd cheered for me.

“Got what?” a voice said behind me.

I jumped in surprise.

It was Luke, and he picked up the ball and walked over to me.

“My crazy good basketball talent.” I stole the ball out of his hands. “And apparently my defensive skills.”

“Is that so?” He smirked. “Do you care to try to uphold that title? The results may make you weep.”

“I'm not afraid of you. First one to make five shots,” I said. “And just to be nice, I'll let you start with possession of the ball.”

“Deal.” Luke dribbled the ball.

I was ready for him, though, and stole the ball when he tried to go around me.

I sunk a three pointer. “Bam, that's how it's done,” I shouted. “Who's the first one to score? Who? Who?”

I loved the feeling I got when I scored first. It was the rush I used to get from competing, and I wanted nothing more than to feel it again.

Luke charged me, and we were playing a real game full of elbows, shoves, and trash talking.

The score was three to one when Jack came out.

“Who's winning?” he asked.

I pointed at Luke. “He is for now, but I'm just saving my best moves for the end. I don't want to beat him too quickly.”

“Right,” Luke said, dragging the word out.

“Can I help Kate out?”

Luke shrugged, and I threw the ball to Jack. “I don't really need help, but I guess you can if you want to play next to all my glory.”

The three of us fell into a game that became a pretty good matchup. Jack and I each scored once, and together we tried to keep Luke from getting any more baskets.

Jack blocked Luke and allowed me to sink the final basket.

“Victory,” I shouted and ran over to hug Jack.

The three of us were sweating, and I felt giddy and high on the reminder of what basketball used to feel like.

I heard clapping behind us and turned with the other two to see Dad standing with his briefcase next to him. “It looks as if Kate gave the two of you a run for your money.”

“I went easy on them,” I said.

“Yeah, right.” Luke laughed.

Dad walked over and slapped Luke on the back. “You may want to put in some more practice time. The two of you are some of my best players, but I think Kate may be a contender for your spot on the team.”

“I'll let them keep their varsity positions. I wouldn't want to embarrass anyone.” I followed everyone off the court. “Jack and I are going to grab some dinner, if that's okay, Dad.”

“Of course, but don't keep him out too late. My boys need to rest up.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jack said. “I'll make sure to get home early. I wouldn't want to lose any beauty sleep.”

Jack slung an arm around me, and Luke followed us to the parking lot. I would've thought I'd be jealous of Dad calling Jack and Luke his boys, but I kind of liked the sound of it.

“Tell me you're not having fun,” Ali wailed over the phone.

It was the weekend, and Jenna and I were with most of the school heading to a party after the
basketball game.

“Seriously, my mom is such a bitch,” Ali said.

“We're not having fun, and we promise to keep it that way,” I told her.

Jenna held up her case of beer and danced around in a circle. We followed a crowd of people headed down the sidewalk to Jay's house, where the postgame party was being held. Beacon had won their fifth game. They were undefeated and didn't show signs of breaking the streak anytime soon. Jenna and I had cheered the team on until our voices were hoarse. Meanwhile, Ali was at home on lockdown, forced to read because she was failing English.

“This absolutely sucks.” There was a bang, as if Ali had thrown something. I had a feeling it was our current reading assignment, 
Of Mice and Men
. “You're going to have fun, aren't you?”

“I'm sure this party will be like all the others.” I rolled my eyes.

Jenna faked opening one of her beers and
chugging it.

“You won't miss much,” I added.

“Says the girl who actually gets to be there. You're lucky. You never have to worry about getting grounded.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Sorry. I'm in a shitty mood. I didn't mean to say that.”

“Well, you did.” My voice was hard. I knew what Ali meant, even if she wasn't going to admit it. My friends never mentioned Mom, and I didn't bring her up. They thought it was cool Dad was so busy with basketball that I was able to do pretty much whatever I wanted.

“Listen, I gotta go. If my mom finds me on the phone, she'll murder me with it. Call me when you get home.”

“I'll try.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, yes, whatever.” I hung up and turned to Jenna. “Apparently, Ali's life is ending because she missed the game and the party.”

“Well, she was the only person in the world who wasn't in the gym tonight.”

I couldn't argue with that. The game was a sellout, and it seemed everyone from our school was there. Now we followed most of the crowd to Jay's house. His parents were away at a wedding, and he lived far back from the road, a perfect combination for a party.

Jenna stopped for a minute to put down her beers and tie her shoelace. “So,” she said, standing up. “Did you tell her how when Liz was cheering, she shook her ass in front of Luke the entire game?”

“No way. Are you kidding? I'm not saying anything about Liz. Ali would freak.”

“Well, maybe it'll finally teach her to stop running after him like a lost puppy.”

“I'm staying out of it,” I said.

“She's stupid to believe she's the only one Luke is interested in screwing. I mean, really. He's such a creeper. He's always trying to get girls drunk so they forget how slimy he is.” Jenna grabbed the bottles off the ground and groaned. “God, these things are heavy.”

“Don't you think you should hide those? You know,” I said, glancing over my shoulder, “in case of cops.”

Jenna waved her free hand. “You think a party this size is a secret? If the police actually gave a crap, they'd have busted it up by now. They don't. We're fine.”

“I thought—”

“You thought wrong. Those cops aren't stupid enough to screw around with the team during the season. Besides”—she held up a beer and grinned—“this tastes a lot better than the junk they have inside.”

“I didn't realize you were such a beer snob.” I quickened my pace. “Come on. I want to find Jack.”