Wishing for Someday Soon (9 page)

It was evident here in my two short days at Munford that the groups were a little more simplified: those with a lot of money, those with some money, and then the few with very little money. For the most part, the lines blurred between each group and they all seemed to get along pretty well, with the exception of Bethany and her brother. I wondered, since I lived in the same trailer park, if eventually I would be treated similarly to how they were here, but something tells me it has more to do with them personally than some kind of rich or poor class divide.

“So, are you going to the Halloween dance at Alicia’s at the end of the month,” Courtney asked.

“Um, I’m not sure. She mentioned it yesterday at lunch, but I’m not much of a dancer.”

Courtney laughed in response. “None of us really are either. We all just hang out. You know, listen to music, that kind of thing. It’s pretty cool since Alicia’s parents bought these big, like oversized outdoor heaters. They set it all up in their barn that’s been renovated,” she said smiling. “You should come.”

“Okay, well that sounds more like my kind of thing.” I said, returning her smile. “So, if it’s not a real dance, how does everyone dress?” I asked, mentally going through my limited wardrobe.

“Well, that’s the funny thing,” she chuckled. “Everyone still gets dressed up and everything, just for the fun of it, I guess.”

“Oh, well, I…”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you have something that’ll work,” Courtney said, seeing my apprehension.

“Of course,” I said, plastering a fake smile across my face.

Any further conversation was cut off as Mr. Graves dismissed us for the day. Grabbing my stuff, I headed out the door.

“Hey, Katelyn, wait up,” Max called after me.

I paused for a moment so he could catch up.

“I have to catch the bus,” I said in a rush as he joined me.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Macon, the bus driver, will wait on you.” Max said reassuring me as I walked swiftly down the hall. “Besides, if you ever miss the bus, I can give you a ride,” he added.

“I just don’t want to worry Kevin,” I said, still not slowing down.

“So, anyway, I wanted to ask you if you would go to Alicia’s dance with me.” He finally asked, keeping pace with me.

“Won’t your girlfriend mind?” I asked a little harshly.

He looked taken aback by my tone or maybe it was my question. “Girlfriend?” he asked puzzled.

“Rebecca,” I said, watching the play of emotions cross his face.

“Do you really think I’d ask you out if I was seeing someone else?” he asked earnestly, grabbing onto my hand to halt me.

“I don’t know. It just seems like there’s something there,” I answered truthfully.

“We went out a couple times, but I’ve also gone out with Alicia and Courtney. We’ve all known each other so long that when we do try dating it never fits right. The only two that seemed to make it work are Brandon and Shirley,” he said, naming the other two in their group. “They’ve been going out almost since she moved here.”

“I think the girls may feel differently,” I said.

He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I know I guess, but I can’t force something I don’t feel, especially now that I know how it should feel,” he said, looking at me meaningfully.

“You don’t even know me,” I said quietly.

“Then give me the chance to get to know you,” he replied sweetly.

I looked down at our hands that were still linked and relished in the warmth his hand was giving mine. “What if you don’t like what you find out?” I finally said meeting his eyes, more vulnerable than I’ve ever felt in my life.

“I don’t think that could even be a remote possibility. Will you go with me?” He asked once again.

Finally caving under his charm, I nodded.

A broad smile spread across his face at my nod. He squeezed my hand before he loped off to join his friends down the hall.

I watched his retreating back for a moment before rushing off so I really wouldn’t miss the bus.

I mumbled an apology to the bus driver, who, by the way, was a dead-ringer for a mall Santa Claus with his white hair and long beard.

“No problem dear. Your brother Kevin here, told me you would be coming,” he answered, winking at Kevin who was sitting in the front row.

“Front row?” I asked, arching my eyebrow at Kevin.

“I always sit up front,” he said.

“You do?” I asked, preferring the back myself.

“Yeah, no one bothers you up here since the driver can hear everything,” he answered knowingly.

My heart pinched at his words. I knew that at some of his old schools he had gotten picked on because of his size and such, but I never realized it went to this extent.

“Well, as long as I’m with you, you have nothing to worry about,” I said, swallowing hard.

“I know, but these seats are the coolest anyway,” he said, shooting me the grin I loved the most.

“Whatever you say, punk,” I said, nudging him with my elbow.

I looked up and saw the driver’s eyes on us through the mirror. Our eyes met and he just smiled, acknowledging that he had heard our whole spiel.

I scanned the occupants of the bus and it looked to be mostly fifth or sixth graders and younger, with the exception of Bethany and her brother who were sprawled out in the last two rows of the bus.

I sighed heavily, already dreading my daily commute, even though I had bigger problems to worry about. I had no idea how I was going to ask Lucinda for a dress. I knew our cash was gone, leaving only the seven dollar voucher from the thrift store. I was sure I could find something suitable there, but convincing Lucinda was a whole other story. I would have to phrase it just right and wait for the perfect moment to spring it on her.

The bus driver made two stops before finally stopping in front of Shady Lane. Kevin and I piled out before Bethany, Matt and several younger kids I had seen playing throughout the trailer park over the past couple of days.

A cold gust of air hit us in the face as we made our way down the dirt path toward our trailer.

“So what do think of Mun-crapville?’ Bethany asked, catching up to me.

“I like it,” I answered honestly.

She looked disappointed at my words. “I guess you would,” she muttered condescendingly, slowing her pace to trail behind me.

“What does that mean?” I asked, puzzled by her tone.

“I mean that Max has taken quite a liking to you. It won’t last, though. You need money coming out your ass to fit in with them,” she said, looking at me knowingly.

“What makes you say that, and besides, why would that matter anyway?” I asked, almost sarcastically.

“I just know from past experience. They all think they're better than trailer park trash like us,” she said sadly, all bite leaving her voice as she shuffled off to join her brother.

I pondered her words, climbing the steps to our trailer. Were my new friends really that superficial? Max already knew about the food stamps and the beat-up car, surely, living in a trailer park wouldn’t be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

The next day dawned with a not-so-pleasant surprise of several inches of frozen snow blanketing the ground, making for a miserable walk to the bus stop.

“This sucks,” Kevin grumbled, shivering as he slipped for the twentieth time.

"I know, right,” I said, reaching to steady him once again.

“Why is it so slippery? It wasn't like this in Colorado,” he complained.

“I don't know, but it's freakin cold. Bet you’re glad I forced those long johns on you now?” I said, slinging my arm around his shoulders to help his balance.

“Heck yeah, I’m still cold even with all these clothes on,” he said, indicating the bulk that encased his narrow frame.

“At least we know school will be toasty warm,” I reminded him.

“True dat, sista,” he said, using his gangsta voice.

“Needs work,” I said.

The bus rumbled to a stop and we all boarded, sighing with pleasure as the heat of the interior soaked through our cold limbs. By the time we got to school, we were all nicely thawed out and didn’t relish the short hike to get to the front door.

“You need a hat,” I told Kevin as we raced up the school steps with our heads down, hoping to ward off the chill.

“I know,” he said with bright red cheeks.

“Maybe when Jim finds a job, we can ask Mom, okay?” I reassured him.

He nodded before heading off toward his class after a boy his age called his name.

Class seemed to fly by that day. It was obvious from the moment I walked through the door that Max had told everyone about our upcoming date. I flushed uncomfortably as I met Rebecca’s eyes. She gave me a small smile, which was a relief. At least that was less one obstacle I needed to obsess over.

Max was as engaging as ever, and I couldn’t resist the magnetism between us. I pushed Bethany’s claims to the back of my mind. For once in my life, it seemed possible that everything could work out.

Mr. Hanson snagged me at the end of math class to give me the results of my assessment.

“Well, Katelyn, your basic math is dead on. You scored very high in all those categories. Fractions and algebra seem to be your kryptonite,” he said, smiling at me.

“No surprise there,” I answered, smiling at his Superman reference which would have pleased Kevin immensely. “I just never really remember really learning either one,” I admitted.

“Never?” he asked shocked.

“No, sir.”

“Hm… Well, now that we have a starting point, we can get you the help you need. Can you stay after school one day a week for extra lesson time?” he inquired.

“Um, I don’t think so. I ride the bus.”

“Would your mom be willing to pick you up that day?”

“I don’t think so,” I said trying for indifference, but really just too ashamed to tell him she was too busy applying her makeup and styling her hair to actually leave the trailer to come and get me. “Could I do it during the school day?”

He nodded his head. “How about during lunch twice a week? I have two tutors in mind, so you can take your pick. One is Maxwell Jones, or there's Courtney Weaver.”

I smiled. “Well, Max has been hounding me about how great he is at math, so I guess I'll take him up on his offer."

“That’s a good choice. Max has a way with numbers. He’s taken our school to state each year in the Math Quest competition and placed first in the whole state two years running.”

“Wow, seriously?” I said, feeling a bit intimidated.

“Don’t worry, he will be an excellent tutor,” he said, smiling at me.

“Okay,” I said, before heading out the door, only to bump into the object of my unease.

“Hey, I know I have animal appeal, but please control yourself. We are at school after all,” Max joked, steadying me with his hands.

“Very funny,” I said, regaining my balance, but trying not to think about how right his hands felt on my arms.

“So, you get your wish,” I said, taking a step back to put distance between us.

“Oh yeah, what wish is that?” he asked, smiling suggestively at me in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

“To tutor me, you perv,” I said, feeling flustered at the way I was reacting to him. I was no novice to dating, but I had never been sucked in so completely by someone I hardly knew.

“Sweet, so you’ve finally come to your senses.”

“Well, I guess if Hanson says I need a tutor you’ll have to do,” I teased as we entered the room late once again.

“Don’t mind me you two. It’s not as if I’m trying to teach or anything,” Mr. Graves joked as we took our seats.

“I tried to tell her that, Mr. Graves, but she moves like a snail,” Max said, shooting me a mischievous grin.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hanson needed to speak to me,” I said, glaring unsuccessfully at Max.

“I know, John told me he would be speaking to you after class,” Mr. Graves said, reassuring me. “He didn't say anything about you however, Mr. Jones.”