"Hey, you guys, guess
what I saw registering in the office!" cried Sid as he ran towards Me,
Gerald, and the other guys, Stinky following behind.
"It was a vision of beauty,"
Stinky said in his usual country-boy voice. Over the years he's managed
to drop it a little so his accent isn't so thick anymore, but it's still
kind of there.
"Yeah," Sid agreed. "She
had the prettiest eyes I've ever seen and I wouldn't mind our nude bodies
entwined with each other either."
"That's more than we needed
to know about your opinion, Romeo," Gerald said. "Did you see what grade
she was in? The classes? Her name?"
I couldn't help, but laugh.
"Gerald, if Phoebe finds out you're curious about a new transfer babe won't
she be a little ticked?"
Gerald blushed and said,
"Yeah, well, she doesn't have to know about my little slip. Speaking of
which, there she is. I'll see you guys later." He ran off towards Phoebe
as Sid continued to rant about the new angel he saw.
When the bell finally rang
for class to start I headed to my homeroom class like always. When we were
all seated and I was finishing my math homework, I heard my teacher say,
"Well, kids we have a new student joining us today. Introduce yourself,
sweetie."
"Well," her voice made me
look up. I froze. She looked like Olga only prettier, more refined, and
had an air of independence and her eyes were like crystal pools of blue
that I could stare into for hours, "my name is Hel..." My heart stopped
and my breath caught in my chest. "Helen Kincaid." My heart sank then.
It wasn't her, but what the hell was I expecting? Geez, I need to stop
hanging around Phoebe. Ms. Robbins asked her to tell us about her and I
listened intently to her as she spoke.
"Well, I'm seventeen and
I was transferred here from Burley. I enjoy poetry and I write some of
my own. I have a black belt in Ju Jitsu and I going to take Akido as soon
as we get settled here. I play the guitar and I drive a pink Sebring Convertible.
That's about it."
"Very good, Miss Kincaid,"
Ms. Robbins said. "Why don't you take a seat now. We read or work on homework
during this time so I hope you have a book."
"Yes, ma'am, I do," Helen
said as she made her way to a seat next to Rhonda. She pulled out a copy
of Pride and Prejudice and began to read.
"Ditch the karate crap and
poetry and you may be the potential vice-president for my fashion club
I was looking for," I heard Rhonda whisper to her.
I looked over at Helen to
see her look up at Rhonda with a smile and said, "I'm sorry, but I don't
think I would enjoy a mediocre position such as that in place of my arts.
Thank you though."
Everyone gasped at her reply
as she turned back to her book. "Mediocre!? Just who do you think you are?
Just a stupid tomboy! You're probably a dyke anyway!"
"I'm sorry you feel that
way, but will you please be quiet. You're making me lose my place." She
had replied cooled and collected and had no hint of annoyance or anger.
"Do you know who I am!?
I am Rhonda Wellington Lloyd! I'm to be treated with more respect than
that!"
"Respect?" she repeated,
pondering the word with a thoughtful expression and tone. "No, I don't
think I meant to show you any respect at all in my replies."
Rhonda growled, not able
to think of anything more to say and sat down in a huff. The others looked
at Helen in admiration. I knew that Rhonda's days of ruling had just been
shot down in a matter of minutes. I smiled as I turned around to finish
my homework.
When homeroom was over Ms.
Robbins called Helen and I to her desk. I don't know where she was during
the fight between Helen and Rhonda, but she was back and not about to talk
about it.
"Helen, this is Arnold,"
she said to her. "It seems you two have the same schedule and I was wondering
if you, Arnold, would show Helen around."
"Oh, no, I don't want to
burden him," Helen protested.
"No," I replied with a smile
that I haven't used for a long time, "it's no burden. I'd be honored to
show you around." She smiled her thanks and we excused ourselves to get
to our lockers. Since hers was closer we stopped at it first.
"Can I carry your books?"
I asked.
She laughed and replied,
"You know they are very heavy, but I think I can handle it. Thank you though.
It was sweet of you to offer." She looked over towards Phoebe, who looked
away. I guess she felt Phoebe's stare. She had reacted the same way I had
when she saw Helen. I remember seeing her face when Helen introduced herself.
"Excuse me for a second,
Arnold," Helen said to me as we stopped at my locker. She went towards
Phoebe. Some words and smiles were exchanged, a handshake, a wave and,
the next thing I knew, Helen was back.
"What did you two do?" I
asked, trying to sound like he was trying to make conversation.
"I introduced myself. I
said she looked like an interesting person and that I wanted to be friends
with her. She was very soft-spoken and a little nervous, but I like her.
She's cool, and she knew some stuff about Jane Austen."
I smiled. "Yeah, she's one
of the brightest here. I'm sure you two will be good friends."
She smiled, a smile that
could melt my heart and make me her slave. "I hope so. Anyway, let's go
to class." I nodded and followed.
