Chapter 1
"Hi, I'm Stephanie Plum, and you are?" I cheekily asked the cute blond hair, brown eyed teen sitting across from me.
"Carl Costanza. This is my friend Eddie Gazarra," he offered. I already know Eddie. In fact, we've been friends for many years. Carl just transferred to our high school at the beginning of the semester. We were travelling to Six Flags in Jacksonville Township with our Physics classes. Eddie and Carl were in the same class. I was in Denzel's class and his lab partner. All 3 boys were on the football team. Denzel's nickname was Big Dog. He was one of the larger, but muscular boys at our school. The only boy comparable in size is Joseph Morelli.
"Hi Eddie, it's such a pleasure to meet you," I sarcastically said before dissolving into a fit of giggles.
"What's so funny?" Carl asked.
"They've been close friends since kindergarten. Steph lives around the corner from his house. Her nickname is Wonder Woman," Big Dog explained.
"You're Wonder Woman?" he asked in awe. I watched as he slowly looked from my face, down to my breasts, then to the juncture of my legs before finally settling back on my face. For the first time I wasn't embarrassed having a boy check me out. Carl is a very attractive boy. We instantly agreed to be the recommended group of 4.
When we arrived at the amusement park, Mr Wenn asked, "Has everybody sorted their groups?" He pulled out his clipboard to record the groups. "Miss Plum, who do you have in your group?" he asked me first.
I was the only female in both Physics classes who readily participated in the field trip. The other 16 year old females didn't enjoy the rides. Our trip was to help us fully understand types of energy. It was completely optional and we weren't required to submit a report regarding the trip.
"I have my lab partner Denzel Mathers, Eddie Gazarra and his lab partner Carl Costanza in my group." I heard the other boys complain about how lucky Carl and Eddie were.
Mr Wenn had to assist the remaining students to form their groups. Apparently most of the boys wanted to be in my group when Big Dog and I talked about the water park area. We were told to meet to the left of the entrance by no later than 5 pm. Our parents would pick us up from the school when we return.
My small blue bikini was covered by tight shorts and an oversized graphic T-shirt of my favourite DC characters; Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman. I had a small back pack, containing a change of clothes, that fit comfortably on my back. We planned to rent a small locker to store our items. The key's stretchy band would fit comfortably on my wrist, loose enough to not pinch, but tight enough to stay in place.
I grabbed my towel from my bag before locking our things away. Big Dog and Eddie were accustomed to seeing me in my bikini. I removed my shorts and T-shirt blushing beet red when Carl exclaimed, "Wonder Woman is hot."
Shaking my head I stage whispered to Eddie, "Your buddy needs to get his eyes examined if he thinks I'm hot. I've got to be the most plain looking girl in our high school." I couldn't understand why anybody would think I was attractive.
When I look in the mirror, I see a shapeless, small chested, frizzy haired average girl with oversized blue eyes staring back at me. Sure there are things I'd like to change about myself, but why bother changing what God gave you?
I quickly removed the elastic to braid my hair, hoping to prevent the massive puffy ponytail I know would happen if I didn't. My hair is more manageable when it's braided. I used my fingers to part my hair down the middle to begin one of the two braids at the side of my head. Eddie and Big Dog quickly moved behind me to complete the French braid I started.
"Man, I never knew you guys could braid hair like that," Carl laughed.
"Well, Steph here patiently taught us how to braid her hair when she was 7," Eddie explained.
"Why would you learn to braid her hair?" he queried.
"She broke her arm jumping from the garage roof. As a punishment, her mother refused to help her with her hair. We started pulling her hair into a ponytail, but she quickly got bored with the same hair style. She used Mary Lou as a guinea pig for us to learn to French braid and other types of braids. I taught Big Dog a few years ago," Eddie answered.
"Thanks guys. You always do a tighter braid than I can manage on my own."
"No problem Steph. We'll do anything for you," Big Dog stated.
I alternately held Eddie's or Big Dog's hands as we moved between the water features. After our final ride, we went to a surfing type of pool where you balance on a surf board as you attempt to ride the waves. I reached over to grab the hand of the boy I felt walking next to me. It didn't feel like Eddie or Big Dog's hands. I looked and saw I was holding Carl's hand. He briefly shifted our hold to entwine our fingers.
"You don't mind do you?" he shyly asked.
"Not one bit. Our hands fit together nicely," I added.
We changed our clothes before leaving the water park. I sat next to Carl on every roller coaster we could ride before we decided to grab lunch. He laughed when he heard a loud grumble. "Was that you Steph?"
"Yes. I guess I waited to long to feed the beast," I said with a shrug.
After eating a few slices of pizza we returned to the roller coasters. I pulled Carl into the line for the Dragonfly coaster. He gulped as he saw the loops and twists on the coaster. "Should we be riding this so soon after lunch?" he asked.
"Sure. Or do you get motion sickness after eating?" I quickly answered.
"I should be fine. I just never rode a coaster so soon after eating." I gently patted his cheek.
"I promise not to get angry if you throw up on me. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened." He wasn't sure if I was being serious or joking. I guess time will tell. After all, I just met Carl today so he doesn't know my nuances yet.
No one was surprised when Carl threw up on my feet after we exited the ride. I shrugged my shoulder and walked to the closest garbage can to toss my cheap canvas shoes. Eddie handed me his water bottle to rinse my feet before I slipped them into my flip flops. They're not as comfortable to walk through the park, but they were better than the smelly vomit shoes.
"I'm so sorry Steph," Carl apologized for the hundredth time.
"Stop apologizing or I'll get very angry with you. I told you I wouldn't get mad if you threw up on me. At least you kept it to my feet," I admonished.
"Carl, let it go. Steph isn't like the normal girl. She means exactly what she says. You need to take her at face value," Eddie insisted.
I grabbed Carl's hand, entwining my fingers with his. "Would you like to join Eddie, Big Dog and me for movie night tomorrow?" I asked Carl.
"If it's alright with them, I'd love to," he replied. Both Eddie and Big Dog encouraged him to attend. I was excited to spend more time with this gorgeous creature.
We continued holding hands during the remainder of the day. Who would have thought that I, Stephanie Plum, would be dating the team quarterback? I groaned when I realized this gives Joyce Barnhardt yet another reason to hate Stephanie Plum. Honestly, what exactly is that girl's problem. I have done absolutely nothing to warrant her nasty behaviour towards me. Whatever... she will always be a hater. Her attitude towards me will never change how I treat others.
My mom, however, would be completely on Joyce's side with her treatment of me. I have a tenuous relationship with my mom. She wants me to be like the typical Burg girl, but I just can't seem to force myself into that antiquated mold.
Cooking, cleaning, raising children, being a stay at home housewife seems like a total waste of a life. I want to be able to fly.
Speaking of flying, I've been experiencing weird things since I was 9 years old. I tried to talk to my mom, but it started the whole 'convert Stephanie' phase of my existence. Every attempt she makes to teach me to cook causes the food to spontaneously catch on fire and burn. Many nights I've been sent to bed without dinner. The following day, she'll double her efforts to confine me to the Burg way of living. I don't want to be Burg. I want to be me.
I heard the Principal for a special school visited with Mom when I was younger. They wanted me to attend their school, but Mom refused to let me go. Dad was away on a special mission, so he was unavailable to plead my case.
Both Dad and I knew I was different from Valerie and Mom. We didn't know what made me different, only that I was. I had a strong sense of when things were wrong. Dad jokingly referred to it as my spidey sense. After reading everything I could on Spider-Man, I agreed with his assessment. Those strange feelings I experience are very much like a spidey sense. Listening to them has always kept me safe.
Eddie's dad gave me a ride home after our trip. I was going to have Dad pick me up, but Mr Gazarra literally had to drive past my house to get to their house. We cuddled in the back seat, discussing our adventure. "You like Carl," Eddie stated.
"Yes. I like him a lot."
"He likes you too."
We held hands until Mr Gazarra arrived at my house. "Thank you for the ride Mr Gazarra."
"No problem Steph. Eddie has the car tomorrow night. He'll pick you up for movie night."
I waved as the car backed out of the driveway. Tomorrow night couldn't get here soon enough.
Mom had a covered plate waiting for me in the refrigerator. I quickly re-heated my dinner in the microwave. After eating, I rinsed the plate and finished loading the dishwasher. I also washed the pots and pans. It was the arrangement I made with Mom in order to go on the field trip. If I was going to inconvenience everyone else because I'd be late home for dinner, then I could help by handling the clean up. It was a small price to pay for such an amazing day.