Chasing Butterflies (5 page)

Mom hadn’t lied
about the size of my aunt’s house. We could easily fit four of our former house inside theirs. I hadn’t made up my mind yet if things would be better or worse.

It took a week for Mom to get me enrolled in my new school. A week without losing myself inside a girl had nearly driven me to sneak a beer from Dad’s stash. Stuck in my head hadn’t been a good place to be. Mom knew it too. On day two of my new surroundings, she’d given me a battered copy of a classic book, she’d called it. The title was
Of Mice and Men
. Considering the alternatives in my stark confines, I didn’t balk. The book was pretty thin, and lacking any other options for entertainment, I finished it, which left me to think more. The story was full of irony I could relate to.

Grief was hell, and I had no one to talk to. I couldn’t tell Mom how much Sandy’s death broke me because it broke her too. So I hadn’t complained. Not after seeing how much Mom needed help from Dad to walk, which came out of nowhere.

During one stop on the long drive to Dallas, Dad pumped gas. Mom must have caught my distress.

With a hand on my cheek, she said, “The disease is progressing quicker, which isn’t unheard of, only rare. This is why we are moving so I can see a better doctor.”

Her eyes were soft with love, and the idea that she may leave this world filled me with my lungs with cement. I couldn’t imagine life without her with my father in charge of my existence.

We arrived without fanfare and kindness really. My aunt treated our arrival as if we were putting her out. A week with nothing to do had been too much.

Never had I looked forward so much to school. Getting enrolled meant I could get out of my head and use the school library’s computer to search for a job so I could help pay for whatever Mom needed to get better.

By the time the vice principal’s scripted talk about what a great school I was attending and how I would make a lifetime of experiences, I felt eyes on me. I’d grown used to it and semi-enjoyed it if the right girl was watching.

Girls
. They stared and giggled and when they saw my eyes, they’d gawk. At first I didn’t get it. In fact, I still didn’t totally understand it. I just went with it because the ones who did it so obviously were normally open to my brand of conversation, which didn’t include a lot of talking. And damn if I didn’t need that kind of distraction.

So when I glanced up and saw a trio of them, I almost smiled but stopped myself. I had to admit the school wouldn’t be all that bad if the three were a sample of the rest of the girl population.

First up was a blonde with serious curves who wore a
been there done that
smile. I moved on to the brunette next to her. The girl was clearly a virgin, but she stared me down like she wanted me to be her first. I’d done several virgins, so I wasn’t scared off.

Then the last. I sucked in a quiet breath. She was fucking gorgeous, the full package, from her perfect face framed by dark hair, to her body that created an instant reaction in my own to the way her cheeks colored in a blush when our eyes met. That was her virgin calling card. And damn if that didn’t mean she wasn’t ready for the likes of me. As much as I craved her, I settled for option number two.

I couldn’t have been more right. When I challenged the first brunette with my stare, she skipped her way over to me with her hand extended.

“Hi, I’m Debbie. Welcome to our school.”

I lifted my chin and ignored her hand. She dropped it to her hip, trying to play it off.

“So, do you talk?”

I said nothing, still considering whether banging this girl was worth the virgin blues that came after. Because no matter how many times I’d made my intentions clear, there were always some who thought they’d be the one to change my mind.

“Are you going to tell me your name?”

I needed to say something if I planned to get any. Admittedly, I’d been watching the other brunette over her shoulder. She’d turned around when Debbie came bouncing over. Still, I tracked the other girl’s movements as she strode away before I said, “Yeah, sorry. I’m Kelley.”

Coolly, I watched her reaction. If she snickered over my name, we were done. Lucky for her, she grew a smile worthy of the size of Texas. Bingo, I was in.

“Why don’t you let me give you a tour of the school?”

I snickered. “Sure thing.”

During said tour, she linked her arm in mine. She prattled on about stuff I didn’t remember. I kept envisioning the other girl on my arm. So when eventually asked if I wanted to hang out during halftime at the football game that Friday, she had to repeat her question. Hearing her the second time, I gave her a non-committal response, which she’d taken as a yes. Time would tell. I’d have to see how clingy she was before I made up my mind.

After school, I met with the football coach only to find out I was a summer late and dollars short. Playing on the team required money for certain equipment the school didn’t provide. And it cost more than I had, which was nothing. I’d given all the money I’d earned over the summer to Mom. I didn’t want us to be a total charity case to my aunt and uncle.

Coach said, “Sorry, son, I would offer you help, but I’ve already given out all the donated money to returning students who needed it as well. And even if you could come up with the funds needed, I most likely couldn’t start you.”

Spots on the team had been earned over summer practice and according to him it wouldn’t be fair to start me even if my reputation preceded me. So I’d be riding the bench with money paid for equipment I wouldn’t use. And money didn’t grow on trees. I wouldn’t dare ask Mom for the cash I’d given her because she needed it more.

Football was my ticket away from my life and making a better one for my mom. If I couldn’t play this year, I would still have one more year to make my mark and get into a college, anywhere far from my dad. Meantime, I’d used my brain. Most people thought I was dumb, but I’d cruised through many exams, passing easily without studying. It was one of the reasons my former principal would give me a pass when I got into trouble.

I have to say when I saw her, I was pissed about something that had nothing to do with her. It was the fact that my dad was a jobless useless drunk who couldn’t take care of his family, forcing us to move, and me being unable to play ball, I narrowed my eyes and spit venom from my tongue.

So when she’d called me an ass, I hadn’t been expecting it. She seemed sweet like apple pie. Taken off guard, I’d said the first thing that came to my mind while doing nothing to help her pick up the cupcakes that tumbled to the floor. When she’d bent down, it sent my dick rising up like a football during the kickoff. Fuck, but I wanted her way more than that Debbie or the blonde.

And it was fucking cute when she stomped off after I told her I liked her ass. Her mouth had been perfect, and I was ready to give up my no kissing policy, which wasn’t as strict as it sounded. I was selective in who I kissed.

“Dude, don’t bother. She belongs to a guy named Ox, and he didn’t get the name for no reason.”

The guy materialized out of nowhere. He was a few inches shorter than me and had the look of the perfect wingman.

“Yeah, belongs to, huh?”

“Exactly. Lenny is like Ox’s future wife. He put a ring on it, dude. You didn’t see it? You don’t stand a chance.”

I eyed him. His words didn’t sound like he was jealous. “Lenny?” I questioned because I’d yet to find out her name.

“Lenora, but everyone calls her Lenny. And Ox claimed her freshman year to make sure no one else could talk to her. So forget it. Trust me. Not only is the guy built like a Mack truck, he’s richer than anyone here. I’m Joel, by the way.”

He gave me more than enough reasons to leave the girl alone. I slapped him on his back and turned us toward the door. “So, Joel, what can you tell me about Debbie?”

“Her best friend?”

I nodded, even though I hadn’t been sure of that until he said it. He grinned. “Do you need a ride home?”

“I sure do.”

“I’ll tell you all about Debbie on the ride there.”

And he did. The girl had quite the reputation for a virgin. From what he heard, even though she didn’t put out, she had other talents.
Interesting
.

“Holy shit, you live here,” he said when he pulled up into my aunt’s driveway. Joel’s shit car had coughed and sputtered all the way to my place, and was ancient and far older than my dad’s truck.

Figuring by his car and his stunned eyes at my aunt’s house, I assumed he wasn’t well-off, like me.

“I stay here. I don’t live here.” I pointed for him to pull next to the garage. “This is my aunt’s house. We’re staying here for a while because my mom’s sick.”

“Shit, man, sorry.”

I shrugged, not knowing him well enough to say more. “It beats back home. Besides, I get the apartment over the garage.”

My uncle didn’t like kids. And though I was taller and bigger than he was, he didn’t want future guests to have to deal with teenage bullshit, whatever that meant.

Even though I’d made my room over the garage sound sweeter than it was, there had been more words I’d said to him than most people since Sandy died. Joel didn’t judge. He only nodded.

“I’d kill for my own place. My sisters drive me insane.”

“Sisters?” I waggled my eyebrows.

“No fucking way. They’re too young anyway.”

We laughed, which was another thing I hadn’t done in a long time. After he left, I walked toward the house. And not to the front door, since we were forbidden to enter that way. Mom’s room was the first door on the left after entering the designated side entrance. It was private at least.

“Kelley,” Mom said, reaching an arm in my direction from where she sat propped up on pillows. “How was your day?”

I sat next to her on her bed. “It was all right. How about you?”

Since moving here, Mom’s condition changed rapidly. It was as if she’d given up to the disease. She tired easily and couldn’t stay on her feet long. Which was the excuse my aunt used as to why Mom had been given the maid’s quarters. Aunt Joy had claimed it was for the best. She wouldn’t have to walk upstairs and would be close to an exit in case of an emergency like for an ambulance, not because of a fire, or so she said.

“I’m fine,” Mom answered.

Aunt Joy, who’d been sitting in a chair in the corner, said, “You need to tell the boy the truth, Jackie.”

I glanced up and managed to hold back the glare I wanted to level at her. Aunt Joy may have kept a pleasant smile on her face when she discussed our family like we were a charity case, but she’d given enough clues that she really didn’t want us there. Her rich husband was reminded of her humble beginnings with the likes of us in their house, which was the real reason we’d been tucked out of sight.

Family or not, I didn’t like her, and disliked my uncle even more. He barely said two words to us and it was clear he was counting the days for us to be gone. As far as my aunt, I’d only seen her once before and briefly when they’d been in Galveston. They’d managed to slum it long enough to come say hi to our dinky home. She hadn’t even sat down when she’d stepped inside, making excuses about not being able to stay for the dinner Mom had agonized over.

“Joy, stop,” Mom said with more defiance than I’d heard from her in a while. She turned to me. “Now tell me, how was school? Were there any cute girls? I know there were.”

I never intentionally lied to my mother. She asked a question, I’d answer it truthfully or say nothing about it at all.

“There might have been a few. Anyway,” I said, changing the topic. “I can’t play ball. The season has already started. Coach said I’d be riding the bench and not to waste my time.”

Her hand pushed my hair back. “I’m so sorry.”

I shrugged. “It’s cool. Gives me more time to study.”

She laughed. “When was the last time you’ve had to study for anything?”

“Well, we know where he gets his brains from and it sure isn’t his daddy.”

“Joy, please,” Mom begged.

“If he isn’t stupid, he sure knows what I’m saying is true. He was cursed with his father’s looks, though. Just remember, Kelley, no girls allowed in my house.”

I nodded, wanting to argue. But Mom got a word in before I did.