Don't You
Chapter Seven: Walk On By
Brian sat in the front of the school bus, anxiously aware that a group of jocks were sitting unusually close to him. Occasionally they would whisper to each other while glancing over at him.
'This is crazy. I can't just sit here.'
"Excuse me guys." He said, turning to face them with an awkward smile of confidence. "Whatever it is you're planning to do, can you just give it up or get over it?"
The two friends looked at each other and laughed. "You think we were talking about you lamewad? Get real. We were checking out the hottie over there." He jutted his chin out in the direction of a blonde who'd been sitting in front of Brian.
"Oh..." He was feeling incredibly embarassed now. "She is pretty hot, huh?" He gestured to them knowingly, trying to project some degree of coolness to cover his embarassment. It didn't work. No sooner were they glaring at him in disbelief, than he was retreating in his seat.
'Smooth move Brian.' He told himself. 'Real smooth.'
He spent the rest of the ride worrying what those two were now thinking and saying about him, even though he knew logically he'd never interact with them again, he hated the thought of people making fun of him behind his back.
Andrew walked up to where Claire was chatting with her friends. She was looking good as usual. He couldn't say he had "real" feelings for her, but it made sense for the two of them to get together. Plus he was tired of his mother pestering him to find a "nice girl." He'd failed on getting her to go with him on Saturday, so he figured he'd give it another go. Besides, it would get Allison off his mind.
"Uh, hi ladies."
The four girls turned to smile at him.
"Hi Andy!" Jen squealed. He seemed to be running into her a lot lately.
"Hey." He greeted back politely. "How's it going Claire?"
"Okay I guess. You?"
"Same."
They stood awkwardly silent while Claire's friends looked on.
"Uh... What there something you wanted or...?" Claire questioned. The way he'd joined them was far from casual and she was sure something was up.
"Yeah." He nodded, relaxing. This was Claire afterall. They'd known each other for a while and after detention he knew their friendship had become closer and less superficial. "You wanna catch a movie this weekend?"
"Sure."she replied. "Who with?"
"...Me." He gave her what he thought would be the obvious answer.
"Oh...oh..." Suddenly she ushered him to the side a bit. "Look Andy... No. Just no. I can't believe you'd even ask. There's nothing like that between us. And even though you hide it I know you have feelings for Allison, so if you're going to ask out anyone, make it her."
He stared at her quietly. He'd expected her to say yes, if only for the sake of complacency. He didn't mind not being able to go out with her, but the rejection hurt just the same.
"And what about you? I don't see you and John Bender walking arm-in-arm." He shot back. There was more of an edge to his voice than he'd intended and he realized he was speaking a bit too loudly. She scowled and shot him a look, telling him to watch himself. "You see." he told her. "You're just the same as me. You'd die if your friends had overheard me but lucky for you they're off in their own world. You keep saying 'just talk to her' and 'it'll be fine' but what do you do? Nothing. And don't think I hadn't heard about you shooting down Brian the other day. Word travels fast around here if you're listening."
"Well at least I've tried!" She could have cried after his verbal assault but now she was too angry. "For your information, Allison is coming with me shopping on Saturday. -Well, that plan seemed cancelled but he didn't need to know that- And I didn't want to be mean to Brian, but I had no choice."
"Sure, keep telling yourself that."
He turned away and quickly disappeared into the mass of students. Claire realized her friends had since left her so she headed to class on her own, still fuming.
During lunch Brian sat with his friends and chatted with them while he waited for Allison. She'd sat with them every day that week and they all enjoyed the female company. There'd been some talk about whether she had a boyfriend but Brian brushed it off. From the way she and Andrew had looked together, he was the one for her.
Brian looked up as the guys around him began greeting their new companion.
"Hi Allison."
"Hey, Allison's here."
"How's it going Ally?"
Her cheeks blushed as she smiled embarassedly. Allison had been a loner most of her life and she wasn't used to getting this kind of attention, especially not for something as simple as showing up. She was slowly getting accustomed to being in such a large group but she still mainly stuck to talking with Brian.
"Hi..." She greeted in her normal, quiet manner. Brian smiled back quickly.
"So, did you hear about Michelle Manning?"
She shook her head no.
"Well she's been vying for prom court since the beginning of the year, but yesterday...."
Allison listened while he went on with his story. This was how their "conversations" always went; Brian talking, she listening. She didn't mind. He always had something to talk about: an event in class, something strange his sister had done, things going on around town or school. They were all things she wouldn't hear about otherwise and it made her feel like more a part of the world.
"Hey, what does your family do for Easter?" Brian asked suddenly. Allison looked at him blankly for a moment, then shrugged, so Brian answered his own question.
"My mom always makes us go to church. We have to buy new church clothes every year with is horrible, because I just get a suit and I'm done quick but my mom and sister take forever with these big frilly dresses and I have to sit and wait with all these weird ladies picking out clothes around me..." He told her. "But after that there's this big lunch and the little kids look for Easter eggs. Don't tell anyone I told you-" he added whispering. "But I always move the eggs around while they're looking. Mary gets so upset."
He watched Allison smile weakly and suddenly felt bad. She probably didn't have any of those family memories like he did, and it must have been like he was rubbing it in her face. Suddenly a thought occured to him.
"Do you want to come?"
"Where?" she asked, suprised by the sudden change in his tone.
"To the picnic. I uh- I heard when you were talking to Andrew in the library... About your parents." This was awkward, admitting that he'd been eaves dropping. "Anyway, maybe you could come, and it would be fun. There are a lot of different families there, not just mine, so no one will mind."
She stared at him pensively for a bit, as if she wanted to say no, but didn't have the heart.
"You don't have to come." He said, trying to keep her from feeling awkward. "But if you want you can. There's still a couple of weeks so... It's up to you."
Allison nodded again and took a bite of her sandwich while she waited for him to bring up a new topic.
In one of the smaller classrooms, Mr. Petto was conducting another mini test. It was his belief that the best way to pass finals was to practice them all year long. As a result, on each Friday he would conduct a verbal or written quiz, based on the schools manditory language tests.
"Next... John Bender. Señor Bender. Aqui, aqui." The teacher called. Bender got up with some annoyance, throwing his cards on the desk, and sat down in the metal chair.
"Okay," the teacher began to explain. "I'll ask you a question in spanish, and you respond likewise. You can get partial credit as long as I see you're comprehending the majority of what's said. So are you ready?"
The student shrugged half-heartedly.
"Okay then. ¿Qué es su deporte favorito? "
Bender looked at the teacher blankly. Half of the words were translated automatically in his mind while the rest were left foreign and unrecognizable. The teacher repeated the question and waited. Finally Mr. Pettocut in.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Nope."
"Alright, that's okay. You can still pass the test. Now what do you understand?"
"Something about my favorite something." John sighed.
"What about deporte. That's the key word in the sentance. What does that mean."
"I already told you I don't know." This was degrading. Everyone in the class was enjoying the free period but there had to be some people listening.
"John." The teacher responded, giving him that 'I understand and want to help' look he reasoned all teachers were taught before getting their licence. "You'll never pass the class if you can't pass the oral section of the final. You're barely passing the written tests as it is. It's a Board of Ed requirement to finish three years of language study in order to graduate. This is the second time you're going through the first year. If you don't catch up, you won't graduate in time."
Bender nodded, knowing the man was right.
"Okay, now I want you to study up for next week and we'll see how you do. If you don't start passing these tests each week, you'll have to enter a tutoring program."
The two sat silently for a moment.
"Are we done here?" Bender asked finally.
"Yeah." the teacher smiled. "We're done here."
John stood up with a quick nod and headed back to where his friends were waiting.
"Hey, what took so long?" One of them, a spanish guy named Marco, asked.
"Hey, shut up. Not everyone here was born speaking Spanish." He laughed.
His friends threw out a few more comments, then went back to their game.
After 7th period Allison quickly ran from her class and down the hall. Claire watched her go by with mild concern and forced disinterest. She'd given up on getting anyone together and the less attention she paid to the others, the better it would be.
"So, we're still on for our Super Saturday?" Jen asked as she and Claire made their way down the hall.
'Is it really Saturday already?' Claire thought. "Yeah, of course. I get my car back today so I'll pick you guys up in the morning."
"Okay, cool. So, is she coming?"
Claire shook her head. "Allison? No, I don't think so."
"Okay, good. I mean the plan was hot and all, but that girl is a major weirdo. I don't know what you were thinking trying to hang out with her."
"Yeah." She replied absentmindedly. "Me neither."
"John Bender!"
"Oh shit!"
Bender quickly took off down the hall, the sound of Mr. Vernon's voice echoing behind him. One of the school's biology classes was discecting frogs that week and it was a perfect opportunity in his mind. Apparently the Vice Principal had just discovered the dozen or so amphibians scattered about his office.
'Man, I do not need this.'
"You get back here young man! Don't forget I've got you all day tomorrow so running now won't do you any good."
"Listen Dick. I see you've taken a real interest in our relationship." He joked, passing through a hole in the stairwell for a quick change of direction. "But I think you're moving too fast. Spending one day a week together's plenty!"
"Oh, we'll be spending a lot more time than that together, mark my words. I'll have you in the morning before class; after school; weekends. You won't take a piss without my knowing it."
Something had to be wrong for Vernon to make threats so openly. Granted it was after eighth period and most of the students had already left the building, but the staff could still easily hear him. Realizing this was not a good time to play around Bender picked up his pace and looked for the best escape. Up ahead a class was being let out late... A chance to blend in and lose his pursuer.
He dove between the stream of students, dodging shoulders and weaving around for an opening.
'Her? Perfect.'
He reached out and caught Allison's elbow, yanking her into the hall. She glared at him harshly, her nostrils flaring so much he had to laugh.
"Chill. I just need you for a sec. Walk with me." He threw an arm over her shoulder and began to walk towards the stairs, hunching slightly to hide his face.
She widened her eyes at him, a sign of annoyance at his lack of explanation.
He nodded quickly. "Just walk." He glanced over his shoulder to check out Mr. Vernon who was sorting through the other students.
Allison grunted and stepped away exapseratedly. If he wasn't even going to explain, she sure as hell wasn't going to stick around.
Unfortunately the sudden movement caught the vice principals eye and he quickly recognized his target.
"That's it Mister. You march over here right now or you're in big trouble!"
"Damnit!"
Pissed off, John grabbed Allison again and took off down the hall. "Thanks a lot! I would have made it if it weren't for you flipping out like that. The man's gonna kill me here."
Allison hesitated for a moment, but kept running. She felt obligated to help him now. As they reached the first floor an idea struck her and she changed direction, pulling the back of his shirt to get him to follow.
She ran until she reached the exit she had found earlier that week. Mr. Vernon would expect them to go out the main exit, or one of the stairwell doors. He might not even know of this one.
She led him to the small passage she'd taken and realized she was doing the same thing John had, yanking him along without explanation.
"It runs along behind the library." She told him, expecting him to figure out on his own why she took him there.
"No it doesn't. The library's further that way." He pointed to the wall to their right. "I think this is the auditorium."
"Oh." For once she felt like she'd found something speacial and hidden, only to find she'd gotten it wrong. Another disappointment.
The two continued until they reached the brown metal door and shoved it open, the chill March air hissed in and ruffled their hair.
Bender stuck his head out and looked around to get his bearings, then nodded. "Okay. This way." He headed down the drive and Allison could see they were in back of the school. They walked along some overgrown areas and behind a few homes, heading for a nearby road that would inevitably lead them both home. They stopped once they'd reached the asphalt and John pointed down the road.
"Shermer Rd. Is down that way and..." He turned to face the opposite direction. "... Greenvioew Rd. is that way."
Allison nodded. It didn't matter which direction she went, since she could pick up the bus on either side. She wasn't looking for a conversation so she decided to take the path opposite of his. She looked at him and waited while he stared back, doing the same. Finally he turned away.
"A 'bad girl' like you doesn't belong hanging out with those preppies."
She smiled lightly and decided talking to him would be alright. "You don't have to worry about that."
Picking up on her hesitation to speak, Bender only nodded, then started walking away. A few moments later she did the same.
"Hey Mom! We're home!" Mary, Brians sister called. Shortly after their mother came to greet them.
"How are my kids doing? I made you some snacks in the kitchen. Come on, you can eat them while you do your homework."
"Do I have to do it now?" Mary whined.
"Yes, now come on. Go." She ushered them down that hall and waited until they had their books out before putting two plates on the table. Brian looked at the slices of apple and wondered what other students got as "snacks".
"So how was school today?" His mother asked. His sisters mouth was currently full so he had to answer first.
"Fine I guess. I finished the project I was working for my physics class."
"Was it extra credit?"
He nodded, taking a bite of apple.
"Good. And what about that whole detention mess? Have you straightened that out? I hope you apologized for whatever you did that you refuse to tell me."
"Yes Mom. I told you it won't happen again."
"Well good. And what about you Mary? Did you have fun today?"
Brian rolled his eyes and looked away. Did she have fun? How are her friends? Those were the kinds of questions his sister got. They never asked her how far ahead she was with homework; whether she had asked for extra credit; nothing like that. He knew he was older, so they pushed him more and that was fine, but there was an obvious difference in treatment. As long as he could remember, he was pushed for better grades, feeling like his life was judged by his report card. Meanwhile Mary got above a 70 on her tests and their parents were thrilled.
"-now if only your brother here would make some friends." He heard his mom saying. His sister giggled.
"I have friends." He told them with a sigh." I just can't bring them home because I'm afraid they'd end up having to study."
Mrs. Johnson looked at her son in shock. He'd always been so well behaved but ever since he'd gone to detention he'd been slipping, making sarcastic comments and throwing rude looks at both she and her husband.
"Well, next time you want to bring someone over, go ahead. I promise not to bother you. But if you start bringing girls over you better believe that bedroom store is staying open."
Brian smiled and nodded cheerily. "Don't worry Mom. I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now. I know I have to focus on school early if I'm gonna get a scholarship."
"That's my boy... But really sweetie, if you want to have some friends over, you can." They both smiled at each other briefly, but were interupted by a sudden scream. Seconds later Mary walked in, dragging something behind her.
"Mommy! Susie is broken! And wet! She's broken amd wet!"
Susie was her gloworm that she'd insisted on having since everyone else in her class already did.
"Sweetie, where'd you find her?"
"In the basket." She sniffed. "The one in the living room." Her mother bit her lip worriedly.
"Oh honey, I must have thrown her in with the laundry. Did you leave her with your clothes again?" Mary shrugged as her eyes cast downward. "You see. This is why I told you not to leave so many messes."
The notion that she had in some way been responsible for the cruel fate inflicted on Susie was met with tears, followed by heavy screaming. After a few minutes her mother relented.
"Okay, we'll get-"She had to raise her voice to be heard. "We'll get you a new one, alright?"
Immediately the tears subsided and Brian scoffed. Yep, definitely preferencial treatment.