It was three days after Andy and I'd kissed, and I still hadn't heard from him. He'd called Grandmama the day after that infamous day and told her that he was sick, then the next day he claimed an ankle ailment; and finally on the morning of the third day, the telephone rang. I watched Grandmama's face, that morning at breakfast, and wished that I was the one speaking to Andy.
"He says he's not comin' today," she told me with a sigh; she replaced the phone in the cradle and drummed her fingers on the counter. "I swear, that boy just don't know how t'handle nothin'!"
"Did he say why?" I asked picking apart a muffin that had just come out of the oven. I, of course, knew the answer already… but I wanted to hear his excuse.
"No... just said he ain't comin' ova'."
"Of course he isn't," I mumbled under my breath. The fact that Andy was avoiding me was hurtful. I couldn't understand why. Wouldn't he want to be a big boy and come face me? Wouldn't he want to say, "Listen… what happened— it was nothin'." But no, he chose instead to avoid me and make silly excuses. I sighed and put the muffin down, suddenly having lost my appetite.
Grandmama sat down opposite me and patted my hand. "Dawlin', I'm sure that it's nothin' ya' did."
"Grandmama, really?" I asked dubiously. "I kissed him, out of nowhere. And it'd only been... what? Maybe... twenty seconds after he'd told me that Naomi was important in his life." While I hadn't had the courage to tell Grandmama about the kiss the day it happened, I'd finally confessed the following morning. But I'd kept it just at kissing, not going into any more detail. To my surprise, Grandmama had laughed.
"'Bout time," she'd cried. "I was'a waitin' for that t'finally happen. Ya'll seemed like ya' was'a headin' that way. And I'm finally glad that ya' got it ova' with." Now, she shook her head in a silent disagreement. "He kissed ya' back, Peyton Maye. Don't ya' forget that."
I nodded, not because I agreed, but because I didn't want to talk about it anymore. In the past three days, I'd come to realize that I should be guilty. And that I should apologize to Andy. But the scary part was that I didn't want to… because, as I'd realized the night before, I'd quite... enjoyed that kiss. And that realization shook me to my very core. I really shouldn't enjoy kissing a boy who wasn't mine— especially when that boy was Andy.
The truth was, if I had kissed some random boy who I'd just met, I wouldn't really feel all that bad. I'd probably think of it as revenge against Brandon, and maybe even be happy because I'd finally gotten the guts to kiss someone else. But because I'd kissed Andy, a boy— the only boy— who I'd loved besides Brandon, I felt like the situation was different. And now, I felt bad— not guilty— but like Andy and I should tell Naomi, and I should tell Brandon.
After breakfast, I walked back to the creek to try to clear my head. I loved walks like these because I felt like some girl from the seventeenth century who took afternoon strolls. In my mind, some romantic chap would come jogging up behind me and wrap his arms around me. My fictional Mr. Darcy or Heathcliff would steal a kiss behind a nearby maple. Of course, this had never happened. However, I still daydreamed every time. There was something about this kind of nature— raw and untamed. Grandmama didn't mow back here on the trails, and where there was not a dirt path, the plants and trees grew wild. Everything looked primeval and when I had been younger, I'd pretend that a dinosaur would come barreling through the forest and I'd have to outrun it. My imagination, from being an only child, was as wild as the wilderness around me.
Pushing through an old cedar's limbs, I stood yards away from the tiny creek I'd come earlier in the summer. It was the same little strip of water that was so calming to listen to. I found a patch of sun-lit grass and lay down, resting my head against a tree trunk. I spent the morning napping in the cool grass. It wasn't that hot today because there was a storm moving in. The clouds over head had grayed and darkened quickly. But it was humid and still sticky, so the grass felt nice. Around noontime, the phone in my pocket— which I now carried with me always, just in case— vibrated. I shielded my eyes and flipped up the cover praying that it wasn't Brandon. To my surprise, I hadn't heard from him at all. He hadn't tried to call me once in the past three days. However, the person calling me now made my heart skip twice and nearly stop. My Caller ID said one name: Andy.
"Hey," I sighed, lazily, trying to sound calm. "Long time no talk." My nonchalance was almost comical.
There was a slight pause, before I heard a female voice breathe, "Hello Peyton." Unless Andy was speaking in a very high pitched tone, that was not him— and I recognized the voice instantly.
"Naomi?" I replied, sitting up. "Why are you calling me? And why are you on Andy's phone?"
"He's in th'shower," she explained. For a moment, I couldn't figure out why she was at his house while Andy was in the shower. Didn't that mean that Andy was... naked? With a sinking feeling, I realized that the two of them were probably more intimate than Andy and I had ever dreamed of being— that was until, three days ago. Oh god, Peyton… Just shut up about that already. It seemed now, that everything somehow related back to that kiss. An unpleasant image popped into my head, then, of the two of them, and I gasped, shaking it away before I could make out details.
"Did you dial the wrong number?" I pressed. "Hang up now if you did." I didn't want to talk to this girl. And I was confused as to why she wanted to talk to me.
"Huh? Oh no… silly girl!" Naomi laughed. I made a face at being called silly girl by Naomi. "I wanted t'know if I could take ya' out t'lunch. My treat? How does..." she paused, thinking. "Today sound?"
My eyes bugged wide. "Are you guys doing crack over there?"
"Honey... of course not," Naomi purred. "But, when I think 'bout it... what we are doin' should be considered illegal."
"Oh…" I whispered, my voice strained.
"So is that a yes?"
"No." My voice shot up an octave in denial. "No... Naomi, I got a lot to do today. And not that it's not… sweet of you to offer," I lied. "But... I just don't think so."
"Well, I do." Naomi shot back. God, I hated her.
"I said I can't," I retorted.
"Now ya' listen t'me, I'll be over in 20 minutes." I went to protest again, but she cut me off. "You wouldn't wanna' hurt Andy's feelins' would ya'?" She's using Andy against me. I said nothing, and she continued. "Be sure t'wear somethin' nice... I don't want people t'think I'm with someone..." Her voice trailed off meaningfully. "Anyway... au revoir!" The line went dead. She's so stupid, I assured myself.
For a moment, I stared at my cell phone in shock. No, I croaked in my head. That girl does not honestly believe that she can boss me around. When I tell And- and the thought ran cold. Andy... I couldn't tell Andy because Andy wasn't speaking to me. But if I went out to lunch with Naomi... then he'd see that I was making an effort and maybe consider acknowledging me again. That stupid voice in my head had its moments, I had to admit. The idea began to form itself in my head; if I pretended to become friends with Naomi, maybe he'd think that I'd forgotten about the kiss. Maybe then, we could go back to being friends, like we were for those few short days before the pig picking.
As I stared around the creek for a moment, I realized that if I was going to suffer through a lunch with Naomi, I was wasting the twenty minutes I had to get ready. And with that, I jumped up and sprinted back to the house.
Grandmama was still in the kitchen, doing a crossword in the local newspaper. I flew through the back door, and breezed into my room. "Hey now!" She called as I ran past her.
"No time to talk, Grandmama," I yelled as I dug, rapidly, through my suitcase to no avail. "There is nothing here!" I shrieked to myself, moments later, rifling through the suitcase again.
Grandmama appeared in the doorway and out of the corner of my eye; I could see her foot tapping. "Child, would ya' like t'tell me why ya' are runnin' 'round here like you're bein' chased by a pack o'lions."
I tugged out a bright blue sundress and threw it out to the side, trying to find a pair of sandals that I could have sworn I'd brought. Grandmama waited for an answer; and when I didn't supply one, she strode past me and snapped my suitcase shut with her foot. "Hey!" I argued, trying to pry the lid back open from beneath her house-slippered foot.
She pulled my head up with her hand, forcing me to look at her. "What is goin' on?" Grandmama demanded in a low voice.
I sighed and sat back on my heels, playing with the strap of the dress I'd selected. "Naomi wants to take me out to lunch... she's on her way now."
"Naomi?" Grandmama asked, disbelieving. Then she cracked a smile. "Really, child... what are ya' doin'?" she laughed.
"Really?" I asked. Grandmama nodded. "Really I have lunch with Naomi. She's at Andy's and she'll be here any moment."
Grandmama huffed, "Why are ya' goin' t'lunch with her?" I didn't know honestly. Why am I going? Friends with Andy... That was it. Friends with Andy… friends with Andy. I want to be his friend again.
"She wanted to, I guess." I replied.
Grandmama frowned, "I don't like th'sound of this."
Neither did I, but I smiled and shook my head. "Grandmama, I think she just wants to get to know me." Even I sounded disbelieving.
She also didn't believe a word of it. "Yeah... just like I wanna' get to know th'Devil himself."
"Are you calling me the Devil, Grandma?" I asked, laughing. And then I saw the watch on her wrist. I had less than 10 minutes, and again, I panicked. "I have to get ready…" I pushed, eyeing her foot, which was still holding down my suitcase, meaningfully.
Grandmama saw and stepped backwards. I could feel disapproval radiating from her. Even if she didn't know my true intentions behind this lunch, she could smell it. This lunch, I knew deep down, was going to be a disaster. Naomi and I together in a room, trying to hold some ounce of conversation, would be a wasted effort. But I was willing to exert whatever amount of force it took for Andy to speak to me.
He isn't the only one, I thought. Brandon's face popped into my mind and I shook my head, trying to clear his face away. But his smiling face wouldn't budge. It stayed, lodged there on my temporal lobe, until I closed my eyes and acknowledged it. I watched as Brandon, moving in slow motion, smiled at me. And I saw his mouth move, forming the words, "I love you" over and over again. It was mind-numbing, and my heart began to ache. But I thought of my lunch date and shook my head again. Twice more, Brandon's mouth formed those three words. And each time, I felt as if I were stabbed. By the fifth rerun, I'd had enough and opened my eyes and looked back up at Grandmama. I felt like a drug addict who'd just taken a hit of cocaine— my mind was fuzzy and things weren't quite coherent.
Luckily, Grandmama was distracted from my brief moment. She'd turned to leave the room but before she did, I heard her mumble quietly, "Be careful..."
I nodded and ripped a thin blue sundress out of my suitcase, grabbing the white sandals I finally found. My hair was just going to have to stay as it was— wildly curled and brushed back behind my ears.
Five minutes later, a very posh Camry whipped up Grandmama's lane. I opened the back door to see Naomi roll down the window and call out, "Are ya' comin' or not?"
I frowned, and turned to see Grandma scowling from the kitchen. I waved goodbye to her and strode off towards the bright red car. In the passenger seat, Naomi greeted me. "I know this is short notice... and a little awkward. But I think ya' and I just need a little gettin' t'know each otha'."
I nodded, silently agreeing with her. "Where are we going?" I asked, a moment later.
"I was thinkin'... that little place that Andy's uncle owns."
"The Funky Chicken?" I asked, bewildered. "Uh… why there?"
She shot me a sidelong glance, "Is there something wrong with that place?"
Yes! I can't go there... not with you! What would Hannah say if she sees me conversing with the enemy? "Not at all," I said, instead, giving a small laugh.
"Good… because I love their jasmine rice!"
My mouth fell open; Naomi and I had something in common. I felt like I'd just seen a unicorn. "Me too," I told her hesitantly.
She smiled widely. "See, Peyton? I told ya' I don't bite."
Yeah… that hard, I replied in my head.
When we pulled up to Tom's diner, it was very nearly impossible for me to get out of the car. What if Hannah sees me? Naomi walked briskly ahead of me and threw the door open in my face. Tom greeted her, and then turned to gawk at me. I know, I told him silently. "Is Hannah here?" Naomi asked.
Tom shook his head as he led us to a back booth. "No, she's not feelin' well today. So I told her t'stay home."
"What a shame," Naomi pouted, but I could have laughed. "I've had a cravin' for her famous rice all week!" I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh at Naomi's ridiculousness. I'd noticed her outfit for the first time since I'd seen her. She was dressed in a very tight pair of jeans with a white button down shirt. The heels on her feet had to make her at least four inches taller, if not more. She'd clomped all the way back to where we sat now. Her exotic looking features were accented with the slightest hint of blush and her untamed locks were in loose curls.
She looked fantastic.
Other people in the Funky Chicken noticed and several heads turned as she'd entered. Tom locked eyes with one college-age guy and frowned. Now, he stood before the two of us and was smiling apologetically.
"Sorry, dawlin'." He told us, before ducking back into the kitchen, only to return a few moments later with two sodas.
"So..." I sighed. Naomi met my eyes. "What's shaking?"
She went to say something, but Tom set a plate of corn fritters between us. I supposed that when you were the current girlfriend and ex-girlfriend of the owner's nephew, you didn't have to order. "I'd like to talk t'you 'bout Andy..."
"Okay," I replied hesitantly. Please don't know anything, I begged in my head. Please don't know about the kiss.
"Peyton... I know that ya' don't exactly... like me." Ha, that's an understatement.
"That's not tr-" I began to say.
"It is, Peyton. Don't lie, it's not flatterin'." She told me, calmly. We sounded as if we were discussing the stock market trends. She sat so formally across from me, with her arms folded on the table. Her wolf eyes bored holes into my skull and I could feel their intense gaze as I looked around. Two guys, one of them was the same college guy that Tom had glared at earlier, were staring intently at Naomi. I could see that they were planning their plan of approach, hoping to get her number. One guy had his back turned to me, and I couldn't make out any of his features, but he looked oddly familiar.
I exhaled loudly, looking back at Naomi. "You don't care for me that much, either."
"I don't, you're right." My jaw dropped at how nonchalantly Naomi sat across from me, acknowledging the resentment we harbored for each other. "Y'know... even if I wasn't datin' Andy, I don't think I would like ya'. Even then..."
"Me neither," I agreed.
She chuckled. "But... whateva' my feelins' for ya' may be... I'm here t'warn ya'."
"Oh, god... Naomi, really? You don't have to have that talk with me. I'm not tryin' to win Andy back, or anything." I just… kissed him. No big deal. Right? I rolled my eyes.
"That's a relief," she told me. "Even if it is a lie."
I began to grow angry. "Naomi, I don't like Andy like that anymore."
"Ya' think ya' don't, Peyton. That's th'thing, ya' see; in your head, you've convinced yourself that you're over my Andy. But deep down, ya' know you're not. Everyone can see it."
"You really must be smoking crack," I disagreed. "I am currently trying to work things out with my boyfriend! I don't even have time to think about my and Andy's past relationship. And just so you know, I don't want to. I'm perfectly happy with Brandon."
"Then why are ya' here?" Naomi demanded.
"Here? You asked me to lunch, remember?"
"Not here, as in this diner… But here as in Kentucky. If you're so happy with your little boyfriend, then why aren't ya' with him at your home?"
"Because I needed t'get away for a while. When someone cheats on you, it hurts. In case you wanted to know." Then my eyes bugged wide; she would know. Andy would tell her eventually... and then she would become me. And Andy… And would become Brandon. It was like the dream I'd had a couple days ago. I could see Andy and Brandon's face shifting back and forth. Was that what my mind was trying to show me? The similarity between Brandon and Andy— in their actions? While I hadn't kissed Andy when I'd had the dream, did my mind see it coming? Because— now that I was thinking about it, Brandon and Andy were very similar. While they looked nothing like, they both had one common denominator: me. And they'd also found someone better looking and more popular… I didn't dwell on the latter fact.
Naomi pulled my attention back to her, "That's just what ya' do, isn't it? Run away... Ya' did with Andy. And now you're runnin' away from this cat. Ya' can't handle it— makin' a mistake. So ya' just sprint headlong the otha' direction. Ya' runnin' scared." She was not about to throw this up in my face.
"You really need to watch what you're saying. I didn't run away from Brandon. I left him. I didn't make any mistake— he did. And you have no idea what you're talking about," I warned her.
She rolled her eyes, so casually. "I'm not here t'argue with ya'. I'm merely stating a fact. And even so, Andy looks at ya' a different way than he does me— a way that I don't like… at all. That's partially why I want ya' t'stay away. Those looks he gives ya'... They're so different from the ones he gives me."
"Uh... duh." I barked. "You're his girlfriend, I'm not... Of course he looks at you differently."
"You cannot honestly think that I'm that thick-skulled, can ya'? I meant— he looks at you like he should look at me."
"And how is that?" I asked, sarcastically.
"Like he wants ya', Peyton." Naomi explained.
"What do you mean?" I pressed. Andy didn't look at me like that at all. She was seeing his looks in a different light— an envious light.
"I can't explain it." Naomi sounded exasperated. "It's like ya' two are runnin' on a whole different frequency. There's everyone else, which includes me... And then there's ya'll. Ya' two have an energy 'bout ya'. It's freaky! I don't like it, not one bit."
"C'mon, Naomi. Stop!"
"Oh, honey... I would give my right arm t'have Andy, just once, give me th'looks he gives ya'. In his eyes, ya' don't see hunger or passion there. There's no desire like there is with me." I frowned, and began to say something, but Naomi held up a hand. "When he looks at you, all his eyes see are contentment. Like he could stare at ya' all day and not get bored or tired. He looks at ya' like… like you're perfect. It's sad for me... really."
"Naomi... This is enough. You clearly are misinterpreting his looks. The only reason Andy looks at me in whatever way you think is because we know each other so well. Andy and I had a thing. He was my first love and I was his... But that's it! There's nothing now. We're just friends, and we'll know eachother than anyone ever will. Except for you; you are who I used to be. Andy wants you, not me. Okay?"
"That's what ya' think, isn't it?" she replied, leaning back. Neither one of us had touched the food. We stared at each other, willing the other to crumble to dust at any moment. "But I'm here t'tell ya' stay away from him. He is mine, now."
"He's my friend, Naomi... I'm not going to not talk to him."
"Ya' will Peyton." She corrected. "Ya' will stay away from him.
I chuckled and my eyes narrowed at her threat. I leaned forward and whispered, "Oh yeah? And what makes you so sure?"
"Because if ya' don't, I'll tell Andy that ya' called him nothin' more than a red-necked hick. And that you're glad ya' left."
"He won't believe you," I replied. "You're crazy if you think he will."
"He worries in his sleep sometimes... Did ya' know that?" Naomi asked me suddenly.
I did, Andy had always talked in his sleep. When we were younger, that's how I found out who he had a crush on; normally, it had been me. And normal, still— his feelings were returned. "So?" I pressed.
"Well, I hear him worryin' that that's what ya' really think 'bout him. He said those exact words last Friday, when he snuck ova'. Get it now?"
Andy was worried about what I thought of him? I gave a small smile, unreasonably happy that he still cared about what I thought. However, when I looked back up at Naomi, I frowned. "Not really... But to quite honest, I don't particularly care either. Andy and I are friends, and nothing you say will change that. You can tell him what you like," I hissed. "Now I'd appreciate if you took me home. I've seemed to have lost my appetite."
"That's good," she told me, rising as well. I thought she would agree with me, but instead she cooed in my ear, "Ya' could stand t'lose a few pounds anyway."
I rolled my eyes, I should've known.
But as we went to exit out the front door, the college guys encircled us. "Hey there suga'," they purred to Naomi.
She rolled her eyes, but smiled. "What do ya' want boys?"
"Wanna' get married?" one of them, a black-haired guy with glasses, asked. I turned to see who was behind me and was surprised to see Ron, Sandra's boyfriend there.
"Ron?" I asked, taking a step closer. "Why are you here?"
"Who are ya'?" He asked me, and I suddenly caught the smell of alcohol. He was drunk— then I realized with a sickening feeling that they all were.
"You're dating Sandra," I replied. "Right?"
"I don't know who that is," he smiled, obviously lying.
The black-haired kid grabbed Naomi's waist. "C'mon, let's go back t'campus… I'll show ya' what it's like t'be loved by a man." He growled the words into her ear and nipped at her neck. She jumped, and whipped around.
"No… thank ya'," Naomi hissed, sliding closer to me. I grabbed her elbow and pushed through the guys. We made it outside the diner and had reached Naomi's car when we heard the boys again.
"Don't leave, cutie! We won't bite!"
"Get in the car Naomi," I commanded, trying not to freak out. There was no one around; the lunch rush had left. Naomi's car was the only one in the side parking lot where she'd parked. It was Naomi and I against three guys— if they tried anything, they'd win. But it was too late, the boy with the ebony colored hair grabbed Naomi and spun her around. He pulled her hair hard as he thrusted against her. She was backed against the car and looked panicked at me. I was frozen, scared stiff at the scene.
Then, my courage returned and I straightened. "Let her go," I demanded.
The red-haired kid looked at me. "Why?" He had an evil gleam in his eye that sent chills through my spine.
Naomi shoved against him, "Let me go, I said!" Her voice was chocked with fear.
The other boys seemed to sober up at Naomi's gasps and it was Ron who spoke first, "Yeah… Benny, let 'er go. I don't want no trouble again."
Bennysmiled and shook his head. "Why would I let this pretty young thing go? I bet she's wild. Just look at them legs, they're killin' me!"
"Damnit, I said let her go!" I screeched, coming quickly around the car. I tugged Naomi out of his arms and shoved her behind me. Benny took a step towards me and I let my fist fly. There was a sickening crack, and I'd thought I'd broken my knuckle. Then, luckily, I heard Benny squeal like a toddler and clutch his nose— blood streamed from between his fingers. Everyone, including myself, watched in panic as Benny fell to his knees.
"You broke my nose!" He cried and I stepped backwards.
"Get him out of here," a voice called from the Funky Chicken. Tom had appeared at the door and was holding a bat. He looked at Ron and the other boy and spoke again. "Don't ya' ever come back here, boys. Or I'll call th'cops on ya'll. Ya' hearin' me?"
"Yes'ir," the boys replied, bowing their heads. They grabbed Ronnie and hurled him into their car which was parked a couple spaces down.
When they pulled away, Tom looked at us. "Are ya' girls alright?"
I looked at Naomi, who had shrunken back against her front fender. "I'm going to drive her home and I'll call you when we get there."
"Thank ya', I'll call Andy," Tom replied.
"No! Tom, don't do that!" I cried, trying to stop him from going back inside.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because Andy will freak; it's just better if he doesn't know," I said. Andy would flip if he learned what happened. And I didn't want to have to explain anything. Andy was a protective person, he'd always been. If heard that some guy had touched his girlfriend in the wrong way, he'd fly into a rage. Then, he would track down the Benny character and… I didn't even want to think about what he'd do.
"Ya' sure, Peyton Maye?" Tom questioned and I knew he didn't like the idea, but I was sure that Andy didn't need to know what happened.
"Yeah Tom, I'll take care of it."
"Okay… if you're sure. Be careful on th'way home. And nice right hook, ya' really got some punch there." I laughed and waved at Tom. Then I turned back to Naomi and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, leading her over to the passenger side.
"Get in," I whispered softly. But Naomi was frozen and I sighed, leaning over to buckle her seat belt. As I slid into the driver's side, I saw Naomi start crying. "Are you okay?" I asked fiercely.
"I will be," she mumbled. "I'm just… freaked out."
"You're safe now," I promised. "Those creeps are gone."
"Thank ya', Peyton— Peyton Maye," Naomi gave me a small smile. I saw for the first time a softer side of her. And even if it was really bad timing, I was glad to see that side of her. I patted her arm and pulled out onto the road.
We drove the way to her house in silence and she only spoke to give me directions. We finally pulled up her luxurious driveway and I cut the engine in front of her house. "How are ya' gonna' get home?" Naomi asked.
"I'm going to call Andy," I replied honestly.
"Are ya' tell him?" Naomi knew as well as I did that Andy did not need to be told. I almost smiled at how she didn't try to keep me from calling the guy she'd just told me to stay away from.
"You know the answer to that Naomi," I whispered, looking out the front window.
"Thank ya' Peyton Maye— I don't know how t'thank ya' enough."
"Do me a favor?" I asked, smiling her way.
"Anything—" Naomi vowed.
"Go back to hating me, it's easier for me to not like you that way."
"Ya' got it, Peyton."
I laughed and climbed out of the car, dialing Andy as I did so. He answered, to my surprise. "What?"
"I need you to come get me," I said.
"What?" he demanded.
"Yeah… long story, don't want to explain," I replied.
"Where are ya'?" Andy asked.
"Naomi's," I laughed.
Andy said nothing, but I knew he was coming. Naomi rolled her eyes at me and I laughed. "I hate you, too."