Chapter Ten

"I don't know." Dal talked on the phone as he rummaged through the fridge. "Student government isn't my thing."

"It's important Dal." Amber's voice crackled back. "Think about all the good we could do for the school. Not to mention it'll look great on our transcripts."

"I really don't care about that."

"Well you should. Universities look for that sort of thing."

"You're the one looking to get into Harvard." Dal frowned as he sniffed a block of cheese.

"Well Phoenix M.I.T. is just as good." Amber didn't disagree. "And we both know your parents hope to see you in medical school someday."

"Hmph."

There was a short silence and Dal knew she was reworking her argument. While waiting he grabbed the cheese, some mustard, ketchup, a loaf of gourmet bread and dropped them on the kitchen island. He wished he had some sliced tofu but the cheese alone would have to do.

"Well have you at least considered the two extra credits you get for completing the course?" And she'd nailed him.

"Two credits?" Dal tried not to sound interested.

"Yes. Student government is like taking two extra classes and those credits can boost your grade point average even if you only pass with a C."

"Hmm." Dal nodded as he piled his sandwich. Two credits more certainly couldn't hurt his G.P.A. "Could be useful. But isn't the class held after school?"

"Yes. But it's so much more than a regular class. We're given tasks to accomplish and obstacles to overcome. It's about learning to work together and problem solving. And yes, in case you're wondering, it does involve a lot of out of school hours. But it's certainly worth it for everything you learn."

"Hmm."

He knew Amber wouldn't drop this until he gave her a definite answer and 'no' wasn't going to be acceptable. This wasn't what he'd hoped for when he saw her name on the caller id. It hadn't been a good afternoon since he and Jack's small disagreement had blown into a fight. The mad scientist just couldn't handle criticism when it came to his ideas and theories. And Dal wasn't necessarily gentle with his criticisms. Often without meaning to he managed to completely destroy Jack's feelings when he critiqued an idea or design. When he'd come home he found that both his parents were still at their practice and the house was silent as the grave. He didn't want to go over to Amber's for he knew without doubt she'd make him listen while she practiced her rebuttal for the debate club. Dal had hoped for friendly conversation to distract him from being alone. So far all they'd talked about was school. Not exactly the subject he was interested in.

"Dal," Amber spoke after several minutes of awkward silence. "Are you alright?"

Interesting. Dal paused in front of the open refrigerator. These days it usually took his best mate about twenty minutes to notice if anything was amiss with him. Tonight she'd managed it in just under fifteen. She had started worrying about the most random things and didn't seem to take much notice of him anymore. Dal finally realized something was wrong with their friendship when he'd spent an hour with Amber and she didn't realize that he hadn't spoken more than two words. He wasn't sure what it was but, their different interests which used to make them unique were now driving them apart.

"Yeah." He finally answered. "Why wouldn't I be alright?"

"I'm not sure. You don't sound like yourself."

"I don't?"

"No." She paused and Dal imagined she was distracted by something she was probably reading. "If anything were wrong you'd tell me, right? You know you can talk to me."

'No I can't.' Dal thought to himself. 'Not anymore.'

"I'm fine." He lied.

Suddenly Dal felt the urge to get off the phone and pleasantly exited the conversation. He carried his triple decker sandwich up to his room and flopped on the bed. From there he could see into Amber's room across the way. Her shades were drawn and he watched her shadow pacing back and forth with a sheet of paper in hand. Most likely her debate rebuttal. Solemnly he ate as the silence of the house closed in on him.

Dal felt repressed and isolated. There was no one he could talk to. Every word he said to Jack only managed to perturb him and Amber... well Amber was on another plane of existence right now. Had been since school started. How he longed for those nights when they would lay on her lawn staring at dark clouds and making ridiculous plans like owning an Ostrich ranch. They used to have fun. Amber used to be a comfort to him. Now it seemed like the only thing that mattered to her was the future and to Dal it didn't sound like a very fun one at that.

Setting his half eaten sandwich on the nightstand, Dal slipped off the bed and began to rummage through his back pack. He pulled out a Phoenix High yearbook from the year Solaris graduated. He'd borrowed it from the school library during study hall. Slowly but purposefully he flipped through the black and white pages until he came upon the Freshman class of last year. He found her under the Ts. Trudy Taylor. Dal grazed the photograph with his finger. She really was beautiful.

He'd noticed the argument between she and Bray that afternoon as well but unlike Amber hadn't made his interest as obvious. He didn't like that Bray guy, for many reasons. The main one being how he treated Trudy. To think she was the mother of his child and she couldn't even count on him. And it was so obvious how much she loved him.

Dal flipped through more pages and found the athletics's section. There was Bray on the varsity Basketball team and Dal thought his smile masked some sort of sadness. Two pages over Trudy beamed as captain of the junior varsity Cheer leading squad. She looked so happy, unmarred, untainted. As though she held the world in the palm of her perfect hand.

Dal frowned as he realized that Trudy no longer had that same spark. She was tired, melancholy and her pretty eyes were clouded with worry, fear and doubt. Strange as it was he wished he could reach out to her. They'd never spoken but they shared the same language of sadness. As Dal gazed at Trudy's lovely smile he wondered how people suddenly became broken and if there was any way they could be fixed. He vaguely wondered if he could fix Trudy. Perhaps they could fix each other.

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Bray watched as Trudy clicked off the VCR with a shudder. Her parents were out of town for the night and they had just spent the last few hours listening to Brady howl. Finally they laid her between them on the bed and put in a suspense movie. Somewhere between the first murder and the credits Brady whimpered herself to sleep. Bray's eyes were heavy, not only from exhaustion but also worry and irritation. There was something he had to tell Trudy but he wasn't certain how to bring it up.

"I can't believe it was the father all along." Trudy frowned. "That movie gave me the creeps."

"Speaking of your favorite person..."

Trudy turned to him with surprise and annoyance. "Do we have to?"

"He wants to see you."

"You talked to him?"

"Yesterday." Bray shifted uncomfortably under the weight of her glare. "He called."

"No way!" She shook her head fiercely. "I can't Bray."

"That's what I told him you'd say."

"Good."

"So he asked me to ask you again."

"The answer's still the same."

He watched as she folded her arms in defiance. "Will you at least think about it?"

Trudy sighed. "Alright. But that's not saying I'll change my mind."

"Fair enough." Bray nodded and then slipped off the bed.

She watched with confusion as he pulled on his jacket. "Where are you going?"

"It's after one." He didn't look at her. "I have to get home."

"But I thought you were staying?"

Bray cringed at the familiar whine creeping into her voice. "I said I'd come over after practice and I did. I've stayed and helped with Brady and now I have to go."

"But I hate being alone." Trudy sounded close to tears.

"You'll be fine." He comforted. "Besides, Brady's asleep now so you don't have to worry. Just go to bed and Mrs. Bentley will be here in the morning to take over."

"But if she wakes up? What if something happens?"

"Nothing gonna happen Trude." Bray offered her a weak smile. "Go to bed and I'll pick you up for school tomorrow."

She watched with watery eyes as he opened her bedroom door. "You just can't stand to be around me can you?"

"What?" He turned.

"The only reason you even bother with me is because of Brady." Trudy's lip quivered. "You don't care about me. You never did!"

"Trudy." Bray was surprised by these accusations.

"Admit it!" She sputtered as the tears began to flow. "All you care about is getting away from me!" With a pathetic wail she fell onto her bed and sobbed. Next to her Brady stirred but didn't wake.

Bray watched her small shoulders shake as she cried and felt like he might cry himself. No matter what he did, it was never enough. For anyone. Not Trudy, his mother, his boss, his teachers, his coach... himself. Somehow he always fell short and disappointed someone. The truth was, sometimes he really did want to get away from Trudy. He tired of her constant neediness and wished their friendship could go back to the way it once was. If only... His eyes fell on Brady's sleeping form and his heart ached. 'poor kid.' he thought. 'caught up in the middle of all this drama.' Brady hadn't asked for this anymore than he or Trudy had. With a heavy sigh Bray sat beside Trudy and rubbed her back gently.

"I'm sorry Trude. I'm sorry. I've been insensitive. I'll stay alright? I'll stay."

Her face blotchy and her eyes red Trudy sat up and pouted. "Don't do it because you pity me."

He couldn't stop his smirk. "I'm not, okay? I wanna stay. I just have to call my mom."

Nodding, Trudy smiled the sweet smile she was known for. "Thanks."

While Bray left the room to make his call, Trudy gently placed her sleeping daughter in her pink bassinet. Then she took a quick moment to check her haggard reflection in the mirror, frantically trying to smooth her hair. At the last second she jumped into bed and attempted to appear irresistible. Unfortunately the look on Bray's face killed all her optimism. She watched as he threw his jacket to the floor and fell into her rocking chair with a frustrated grunt.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He muttered and closed his eyes. "Just go to sleep Trudy."

Great, now she was incredibly depressed. Trudy felt guilty for begging him to stay. She'd only succeeded in making him feel bad and getting him into trouble. Why couldn't she get it right? The last thing she wanted was for Bray to be unhappy and it seemed these days that's all she caused him. She had to make amends somehow.

"Bray." She whispered cautiously.

"Yeah?" He didn't open his eyes.

"I've thought about it and I'll see him." Bray looked up surprised. "But only here." She continued quickly. "I'm not driving all the way to that school. He has to come here. Tell him those are my terms. Take it or leave it."

Bray nodded. "Okay."