Maryanne spent the next two weeks avoiding Moody at all costs. She took Russell's advice and stayed away from all their hangouts. She avoided dark corners of the school and walked with groups wherever possible. Her dancing was more focused and better than ever. Her teacher, Ms. Francis, used her to lead the rest of the girls. Maryanne involved herself in another school activity, swimming. The swim team met after school on Mondays and Wednesdays and she attended extracurricular dancing classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today they were rehearsing a number for an upcoming recital. The class decided on 'SING, SING, SING' for the show stopping finale.
Maryanne enjoyed all the time away from the hotel. She was often bored and lonely there. Her father rarely made time for her and her grandmother was only passive company for so long. Ruth was a social butterfly and she needed to meet everyone who stayed at the St. George. Maryanne spent many nights following her around and coaxing her to come to bed. However, Ruth's answer was always:
"Live a little! Just one more drink!"
Maryanne was training the girls in one sequence of steps, urging them to remain focused on the audience and not take the smiles off their faces. It was vital no matter how tired or bruised their feet were. She did a few variations on the move and kept flashing smiles at them.
Ricky Linderman sat hunched in the far-left corner of the gym bleachers scribbling furiously into his notebook. He made furtive glances at her. She was excellent and a good instructor to the younger students. She wore a black leotard and violet tights. She moved with boundless energy and freedom, lighting up the entire gymnasium. Ricky imagined dancing with her, though he didn't think he knew how at all. He reasoned he could do the lifts. Maryanne was half a shrimp compared to his towering frame. The majority of the girls in class were taller than she was.
She blew the whistle to take five and he realized she spotted him; he lowered his head and continued to write. He counted the seconds before her shadow loomed over him. He closed the book swiftly and shuffled to get his bag.
"Ricky! Were you watching? I'm a little rusty on the jitterbug, but I'll get it way before the recital. It's nice to see you here. What are you doing?"
Maryanne made a move to sit next to him and he got up.
"I was just leaving… right now." He murmured and walked away.
Maryanne sighed and stamped her foot. "Ricky! Why are you running away from me all the time? Why are you afraid to talk to me?"
Ricky's eyes traveled down her frame, while small, she was noticeably curvy.
"Me, afraid of you? I think you got that backward. And I wasn't running, I was walking, like this…"
Maryanne put her hands on her hips and cocked her head.
"Wait! It's obvious that I'm not scared of you; I don't care what everybody says. Most of it is probably baloney and I don't fall for rumors that easily, got it?"
"Yeah...I got it, good for you."
Maryanne turned red. He was being very difficult.
"Oh yeah? Well...whatever your problem is… I could care less anyway!"
Ricky shook his head and stood over her.
"Hey! I'm not the one following you around all day. You're rich! Go find yourself another hobby! I didn't ask you to care!"
Maryanne wanted to slug him on the spot for turning the tables. She held back her anger.
"Just for the record Linderman, you're being used! Don't you know that Moody charges everyone in school money for protection?"
Ricky stopped sullenly and his tone became subdued.
"From me?"
"Yes Ricky, don't you care about that? Don't you want to get back at him for ruining your reputation?"
Maryanne wished she had kept her big mouth shut. Ricky was frustrated, not with her, but with Moody and all the students who bought into his game. However, he couldn't fault them, not after everything they've heard about him.
"I don't care about my reputation! Everyone knows it! I kill, rape, steal, you name it, I do it!"
Ricky's eyes widened and his jaw clenched. Maryanne looked deeper and saw the hurt flickering, and his mouth trembled, but she was angry with him. She was angry he wouldn't open up to her.
"Fine! Then go do it! I'll leave you alone; we'll leave each other alone!"
"Good! I didn't ask for this anyway!"
Ricky turned on his heels and charged out.
All the girls were watching with surprise. Maryanne composed herself and blew the whistle.
"Okay, we have 20 minutes left, let's make it good!"
Ricky was seething all the way out of the building. Why did he even stay and argue? He wasn't going to let a spoiled rich girl get the best of him. He didn't understand it; she only wanted to talk to him. He hopped on the bus headed toward another side of the City. He had work to finish up.
-Oo-
It was the following day and Maryanne was nervous. She clasped and unclasped her hands waiting in the school office. Secretaries gabbed and clacked away at typewriters. Soft, light rock music filtered through a small radio. A row of delinquent students sat behind her; they popped in and out of Mr. Daniel's office like a conveyor belt, carrying tardy slips, detention and suspension papers. A gruff voice finally called out:
"Maryanne Peache, come in."
Maryanne stepped inside cautiously. Principal Daniels leaned forward on his desk. He was gray-haired and overweight with glasses sliding down his bulbous nose.
"Have a seat and let's get to the heart of this matter, okay?"
Maryanne nodded, a little grieved over his inconsiderate attitude.
"I'll let you know now, Ms. Peache, I'm very much aware of Melvin Abergo's reputation in this school. I've been here for 20 years and there is always at least one of his kind every term."
He pushed the buzzer of his intercom. "Ms. White, please tell Melvin Abergo to come in."
Maryanne was thoroughly disappointed now. She had thought this would be a private meeting with the principal and that he would listen to her complaints and tell her Moody would be expelled.
"Umm, Mr. Daniels, I didn't really tell you everything that happened. I..."
"Ms. Peache, I have it all on your complaint sheet, I know how to fill in the blanks. It says here that he teases you in all your classes, threw a frog with chemicals at you in science lab, threatened you in the hall."
"Yes, I know, but what about the other kids I mentioned? He's doing things to them too."
"I understand, but if they are keeping mum on it, how am I supposed to do anything about it without proof? Do you get me?"
Maryanne nodded again, now she felt truly alone. Moody entered the office looking extremely apologetic. His head was down and his arms were folded.
"Moody, there's a lot of complaints stacked up against you here, do you deny them?"
Moody seemed to know he was hooked and shook his head 'No.'
"Well that's good. Man, do you realize that I could suspend you for this? Making physical threats? Extortion? I don't want to hear about this again, do you understand me? Stop screwing up; this is your last year! I don't want to deal with you anymore and I know you don't want to spend another year here."
Moody shook his head up and down, not making much eye contact.
"Good, now get back to class, one more time, Abergo, and you are gone! I mean it!"
Moody left quickly. Maryanne gathered her books and turned to leave, but Mr. Daniels stopped her.
"Listen Maryanne, I realize you are new here. It's not what you're used to. This isn't a little private school. You can't keep crying wolf whenever one of these punks looks at you crooked. Do you get me?"
"Yes, I get you." Maryanne she fumed.
"Fine, just be careful, don't give him any reason to mess with you, he'll leave you alone soon enough. If things get worse I want you to let me know."
Maryanne headed to the cafeteria. She wasted a whole period to hear that she needed to watch her back. She couldn't believe the school officials were no help. This was why public school was in the rotten condition it was today. She stepped on the lunch line pulling food indiscriminately off the counters. She clutched her tray looking for a seat.
Straight-ahead, six tables down, Ricky Linderman sat alone as usual. She watched him thumb through his magazine, every so often he raised his head and glanced around sadly. He looked very lonesome. She regretted the argument they had. Despite Russell's warnings in first period, she decided to try and talk to him again. She wanted to get at least one person on her side. She moved ahead, and was completely unaware of the leg that shot out in front of her.
Maryanne fell forward, unable to retain balance. With a small scream she nearly landed on her face. Her food tray stopped her. She was covered in mashed potatoes, vegetables, chicken and gravy. She watched her orange roll to a stop beside a big black boot. The moment played like an eternity in slow motion. Moody's table burst out laughing, and then the entire section began to laugh aloud. She felt a few tears roll down her face. A tan hand appeared in front of her. Ricky was poised over her, waiting for her to take it. She noticed the laughter died down and everyone went back to eating lunch.
She shook from humiliation and grasped his hand tightly. Ricky pulled her up with no effort. She wiped her tears away, feeling weak in her knees. She looked at him for support as she brushed the remains of lunch from her shirt.
"I'm sorry about Wednesday. I don't want to argue with you Ricky."
Ricky gave her a gentle look, a small gleam in his eyes. He nodded slightly enough for her to notice. Maryanne burst into sobs and ran from the cafeteria. The janitor cleaned up the mess disgruntled while Moody and his friends continued to snigger. Ricky fixed his gaze on the table, making sure Moody saw him. They all calmed down and Moody gulped, looking in other directions. Ricky stood up brusquely and watched them flinch. He was beginning to enjoy scaring them.
In Science lab, Maryanne had changed to her black leotard for a shirt. She remained silent, keeping her eyes only on her papers. Ricky collected the equipment and completed the experiment for today. He imagined how embarrassed she felt, but he knew she would get over it soon. They always forget stuff like this, but the unthinkable happened to him and he was branded for life, or at least until school was finished. He knew he would carry his burden… forever.