Chapter 7: Tragedy revealed
After the swimming incident, Maryanne quit the team. She didn't tell anyone what had happened. She told Ms. Vitale that she wanted to concentrate on her first love of dancing. This was mostly the truth. In her junior year, Maryanne secured a scholarship to a prestigious performing arts college in Upstate New York. She didn't want anything to interfere with her goal.
Once Moody realized she wasn't a ghost, and that she didn't go to the authorities or school officials, the harassment gradually started again. His warped sense of pride would not let himself be beaten by a snobby little girl. Maryanne stuck by her friends like Shelly, Russell and Paul. Russell half-jokingly called them 'MIV's' or, 'Moody's innocent Victims.' To Maryanne's delight Shelly ended her blind crush on him. Paul admitted that Moody cut his violin strings in tenth grade and he cried the whole week. The 'MIV' list grew along with Maryanne's anger when she heard more stories. She tried to rally more support against him, but Moody reigned king.
During lunch on Friday, Maryanne sat idly in the auditorium watching the cheerleaders. They skipped around in their Daisy Dukes and chanting.
"Their team is so slow, but our team-Let's Go! Wooh! Wooh! Wooh!"
If the other team was slow, then this high school was in trouble. The girls were laughing and all out of sync. Mrs. Hanson was trying to lead them, but her presence was better suited in a classroom. A thought struck Maryanne. If anyone could set the story straight on Linderman, she could. Teachers were usually above the scandalous rumors of students. Maryanne went down the aisle and climbed upon the stage. Mrs. Hanson was resting the back and placing her sandals on.
"Hi, Maryanne, did you enjoy that?"
Maryanne laughed. "It was certainly interesting. I wanted to know if I could speak to you."
Mrs. Hanson invited her to sit down. It was hard for Maryanne to open the conversation but her desire for answers overcame her fear.
"It's about another student in our class. All the students are saying terrible things about him, I mean, they're afraid of him, but I don't want to be."
"Have you spoken to anyone else about him?" She asked knowingly.
"Yes, and I can't believe everything they say is all true, especially not now."
Asking Mrs. Hanson to keep the matter in strictest confidence, Maryanne related what happened in Science class, in the cafeteria, and even the pool. She kept the pool incident low-key. She decided against using names and was glad that Mrs. Hanson didn't press her for them. Mrs. Hanson listened calmly, and was surprised at the outcome.
"Now Maryanne, after your experiences with him, do you really believe that Ricky Linderman would have done all the things he's accused of?"
"No! It's so ridiculous. Breaking cop's legs? You would think he'd be in jail. Do you know why they say all this stuff, Mrs. Hanson? I know something happened, something bad. I can see it in his face."
Mrs. Hanson took note of the deep sincerity in her voice and decided to share the tragic story.
" It was about a year ago. Ricky and his brother Chris were home alone. They found their father's gun and it accidentally went off and killed Chris. Ricky found the body. The story made it to the papers and the evening news."
Maryanne took a sharp breath because she wanted to sob. This was his dark secret. Flabbergasted, she stood up. The lunch period was ending.
"Thank You Mrs. Hanson, I'm glad I talked to somebody who knew the truth."
"You're welcome Maryanne. It's nice to know Ricky has someone he can call a friend."
They walked out together and Mrs. Hanson went up to the second floor. Maryanne crossed her arms and leaned on the wall, lost in thought. Being Ricky Linderman's friend had not really crossed her mind and she felt very guilty. Could she befriend him? Would he allow her to? She was certainly going to try now.
-O-
As she turned the corner near the gym, Maryanne halted. Moody and Stan were leaning against the sports heroes' display. She spun around and headed to the other exit, but their voices were growing closer and she panicked. She looked both ways and quickly barreled into a bathroom. It looked and smelled like the janitor took a permanent vacation. She jumped into the third stall from the left and slightly crouched on the toilet. The door swung open and Moody and Stan strolled in. It hit her with dismay that she was in the boy's bathroom.
The two stood over the sink combing their hair. They kept gabbing about hot chicks. Stan fawned over Debbie Johnson in English class. Moody agreed that she was a girl who knew he wouldn't, "Take no for an answer."
Maryanne shifted to keep her balance; she picked at her overall buttons praying they would leave. Their voices drifted away and the door shut. She sighed and stepped from the stall. Moody and Stan were waiting against the door, arms crossed, with mean smirks. She was in for it now. She backed into the door of an occupied stall and groaned. Moody waltzed up to her while Stan locked the main door.
"See Stan, I knew she was a butch, look at her in the boys bathroom!"
Stan did a 'nyuck, nyuck' laugh. "Nah, Maybe this is the only way she can a date?"
Moody's dark eyes pierced through her.
"No! I think she likes drinking out of our toilets, the water tastes better, since that's the case…"
Moody punched the stall she had been hiding in.
"Let's give her a drink! Come here, Stan!"
Stan sauntered over and snatched her right arm and Moody her left. Maryanne struggled, but they were stronger.
"Get off! Please Help!" She shouted loudly.
They kept laughing and dragged her toward the toilet. She planted her feet solidly on the tile, and in a desperate move pulled her body backwards, crouching for more resistance. She wasn't going down without a fight.
"This chick doesn't give up!" Moody lurched on her arm and she stumbled forward.
The occupied stall was flushed, and like a giant awakened, Ricky Linderman popped up instantly. He tossed his barely smoked cigarette in the bowl and put on his jacket. Moody and Stan dropped Maryanne's arms and she fell on her behind.
"Hey Stan, let's get some lunch, okay?"
Linderman remained silent. He strutted from the stall to the sink and washed his hands very carefully, even digging under his fingernails. He was stalling until they left. They elbowed each other and headed for the door. Moody couldn't resist a last comment.
"Hey Maryanne, we'll make sure to catch up to ya again soon."
Maryanne dusted herself off. The whole scene was amazing. Ricky never said a word and they backed off in a heartbeat. She knew he had to help her. Ricky finished and stalked out.
"Oh no you don't!" She said aloud.
She hurried after Ricky; his gait was quick and she ran to keep up his pace. He headed straight out of school on the side of the football field. Maryanne stopped short. Even though the bell rang five minutes ago she didn't want to cut class.
"Grrr! Ricky skipped out and he's my lab partner!" She thought angrily.
She left the building and caught him cutting across toward the bleachers. She called to him.
"Linderman! Ricky! Ricky! Please wait, I just want to talk to you! Please!"
Ricky heard the desperation in her voice and reluctantly slowed down. He clicked his teeth and came to a halt; she always had an effect on him.
"What do you want, Maryanne? I already told you, I did what I did, and you don't have to keep thanking me. Why do you keep following me?"
He moved closer as a gesture of intimidation. Maryanne didn't flinch; he already proved he wasn't going to hurt her when he saved her life.
"Ricky, I want to ask you something important. You know Moody has been out to get me for a while, you heard his threat before, It's becoming way too much, I'm… scared."
She looked down and swallowed hard, fighting back tears. She traced lines in the dust.
"I'm listening." Ricky said finally. A gut feeling attacked him; he couldn't deny that he was seriously attracted to her.
"I wanted to know if…you'd be my bodyguard. I would pay you of course! Fifty cents a day, and I can do your homework, I'm pretty smart, maybe the others will see you're not what they thought and hire you too. I have it planned out."
Ricky looked at her incredulously. He didn't want all this pressure. The old familiar feeling of worthlessness sprang upon him.
"I…I don't think so."
He went back into school to get some tools from his locker. She followed and did a semi-dance around him. Ricky forced himself not to look at her.
"Ricky…all I want..."
He spun around. "Do you always get what you want?"
The comment caught her off guard, but she didn't give up.
"Okay, forget me, you'd be helping everyone in school! It could really be to your advantage. You would be a hero! You're my hero Ricky. I want to be your friend, I owe you my life."
She spoke the last part about friendship and her life softly. For a moment they looked tenderly into each other's eyes, and then Maryanne proceeded begging.
"Please! I promise I won't bother you anymore, I know you don't want to be bothered; I know what happened to your brother and you…"
Ricky's eyes flashed but his tone remained calm as he cut her off. "Oh you do, huh?"
Maryanne looked away sheepishly, then back up at him. There was a glowing intensity in her face.
"Okay, I only heard about it. I'm sorry. It must have been awful to know he died and you weren't able to do anything about it. You feel like it's your fault don't you? I know you do, and sometimes everyone around you make you feel that way too."
Ricky listened for a moment in curiosity. She depicted his exact mind-set but it was like she took it personally. Maryanne snapped out of her thoughts. Her almond eyes implored him. Ricky couldn't say 'no' to her. He wanted a friend.
"Alright Peache...Maryanne, I'll do it for fifty cents a day until your big plan is over with."
Maryanne smiled brightly. As the last bell rang she jumped up and kissed him on the cheek. She caught him off guard and he grabbed her. He held her off the ground and their faces nearly touched. Maryanne took the opportunity and hugged him tight.
"Thank you so much! You're a life saver!"
She waved goodbye and ran to her locker. Ricky was dumbfounded. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. He softly touched his cheek and smiled.
