Despite Thaddeus being the first Crystal had ever kissed, even if it was just a simple kiss on the cheek, he was not her first boyfriend. That honor belonged to a 10th grade jock, who thought he ruled the town because he played on the football team.
This boyfriend of hers was always waiting for her outside after school and then they walked to the diner where they would grab a bite to eat and work on homework together. She usually held his hand on this walk too, causing Thaddeus to burn with jealousy.
He didn't do much about it though. Crystal was beginning to fill out nicely and had caught the admiring attention of a number of older boys. How was he supposed to compete with high schoolers?
Of course, he still tried periodically to catch her attention. He seemed to be able to make her laugh at will, but it was her romantic interest he wanted. Maybe the trouble was that she took his adoration of her for granted. He figured it was possible that he could make her jealous too, so he asked out Gracey Higgins.
Gracey was a pretty girl, but that was about all she had going for her. She wasn't too bright and she was very self-absorbed. She said yes to him though.
About halfway there, Gracey pulled him over to a shadowed wall and the kiss she gave him was one of experience. He found that even though he didn't particularly care for her on a personal level, he kind of liked it when she kissed him. As a matter of fact, he liked it a lot.
Still, it didn't make him forget his true goal. "I thought you were going to get a bite to eat with me," he said to her when she pulled away to gauge his reaction.
Gracey was disappointed it hadn't elicited a bigger response from him, but she went with him to the diner. The little eatery was a popular teen hangout and lots of couples came there after school.
He made sure he had his arm around Gracey's shoulders when he came through the door and he asked in a loud voice, "Where would you like to sit?"
Crystal looked up and saw them together, but her expression was one of indifference and her eyes went back to her textbook, which seemed crueler to him than anything else she could have done.
He was here though, so they took a seat at the bar near Crystal's table. He was interested on eavesdropping on their conversation. He wanted to hear and see what this guy had that he didn't have.
Gracey chattered about some inane topic and he nodded every once and a while as if he were listening to her every word while they sipped on cokes.
He didn't overhear much though as they really were working on homework or at least Crystal was.
"Stop, Seth," she said. "I got work to get done. You do too."
Thaddeus twisted in his seat to see what he was doing to her.
"But I'd rather study you," Seth said in a tone that was not at all romantic.
Seth must have been doing something under the table because she said a little more insistently, "I mean it. Stop it. You're making me uncomfortable."
Seth only grinned and Thaddeus couldn't restrain himself any longer. He went up to their table. "Hey, the lady said to keep your hands off her."
"Go away, Thaddeus. This don't concern you," Seth said. He didn't even look at him, thinking an 8th grade boy who hadn't even begun to hit his growth spurt wasn't even worth his attention.
"The name's TR and you're dumber than dirt if you think I'm going to let you keep bothering her. No means no."
The insult had caught his attention. "Why you little nobody. Who said you could go sticking your nose in other people's business anyway?"
He ground his teeth in anger and then pulled him up from the booth, away from Crystal. "I said so."
Three other boys ran up from various spots in the diner stood up and joined Seth; Seth had buddies. That was okay. Thaddeus had a buddy too. Eddie was right by his side as dependable as clockwork. It quickly became a free-for-all as fists began to fly.
Vioreen, who'd just graduated high school and was the daughter of the diner's owner, tried to put a stop to the fight. "Come on, guys. I'm trying to prove to my dad that I can run the place. How's it going to look if you tear the diner apart on my watch?"
All the diner's patrons got away from them and waited it out towards the back, except for Crystal, who was fairly safe at her place next to the glass. No one fighting paid Vioreen's protests any attention and chairs and tables became upturned as it was rather tight quarters. Salt and pepper shakers spilled out on the floor along with orders. The floor became a slippery mess.
When the fight was over, all the boys looked a little worse for the wear, but it was Seth and his buddies who had taken the brunt of the beating and ended up being the ones who'd given in. If there was one thing Thaddeus knew, it was how to pack a punch and keep them coming.
"Come on, Crystal, let's go somewhere a little quieter," Seth said. "Away from these goons."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," she said in a quiet but firm voice.
Seth gave her a look of disbelief first. Then it changed to one of anger. "Fine, you're just a little girl anyway." He went to leave but stopped when he saw Gracey. "What about you and me going off together? You look like a girl who knows how to have fun."
Of course, Gracey up and left him to go with Seth, but Thaddeus didn't give a hoot.
Eddie laughed at his side. "Your fists were flying like a couple of sledgehammers. I don't guess they'll take you on again anytime soon. I'm glad I'm with you and not against you. Folks should start calling you Sledge."
"Well, Sledge, you can bring you bring your hammer fists over here and help get this place back together," Vioreen said. She wasn't as mad as she could have been. She didn't like Seth either. "You too, Eddie."
Eddie started pulling chairs and tables back up, but Thaddeus' attention was on Crystal. She had gotten up and went over to him. "Thanks for sticking up for me. You're a sweet person. And I'm sorry Seth took your girlfriend."
It took Thaddeus a moment to realize she spoke of Gracey and not herself. "Aww, that's alright. I didn't much like her anyway." He shoved his hands in his pocket and asked nervously but hopefully. "Can I walk you somewhere?"
"Naw, my father's just over yonder getting some work done to the tractor. I'm going to take my homework over there. By the way, your name ain't so bad. Not real common, but it's a strong name, the name of a disciple. That's nothing to be ashamed about if you ask me. I've always liked it."
"Well, if you want to call me Thaddeus, that's okay by me," he said. He sounded like a lovesick puppy even to his own ears, but she could call him whatever she pleased as far as he was concerned.
"Course, Sledge, might not be too far off the mark either," she added with a smile.
She liked to tease him that was plain. Did that mean she liked him too or she thought him an object of scorn? The warm smile that went with the teasing made him think it was the latter and it gave him encouragement.