The telephone rings a little after three-thirty on Friday afternoon. I'm sitting at my desk hunched over my calculus homework. I'm not just trying to catch up, I'm trying to get ahead. It's going to be a busy, tumultuous weekend with Anna coming into town tomorrow. Plus, I have to juggle my time with Wes. And there's still so many other things in my life to consider, like looking after Tiffany and Maria, and avoiding Elizabeth Brewer like the plague.
I set down my calculator and pick up the phone. I know it's not Wes. He doesn't get home until four and that's when his phone calls start. He calls a lot now. We talk four or five times a day and that doesn't count the calls I miss while I'm out. He likes to know what I'm doing, then just chat. He misses me a lot when I'm not around.
"Hello?" I say into the receiver.
"Come over," orders Kristy.
"Excuse me?" I reply. "Who is this rude person?"
"Why, it's Kristin Amanda Thomas," Kristy replies, sweetly. "Your old friend and neighbor. The one you never see anymore because you're always at the library. Come over! Mary Anne's here. So is Lindsey. Come over. You aren't backing out, Shannon Kilbourne. It's Friday. You can't possibly have to go to the library today."
I sigh. There's no arguing with Kristy. I'll simply rearrange my study schedule later. I'll have plenty of time this evening. Tonight is the first night this week that I won't spend with Wes. He's going to some wedding reception with his parents in Levittown. As much as I love spending time with him, tonight will be a welcome break. Sex still isn't very enjoyable and honestly, I'm tired of pretending that it is.
"I guess I can come over," I tell Kristy, more reluctantly than I feel. I miss Kristy. "What is Mary Anne doing there? I thought she and Stacey McGill were attached at the hip." Kristy and Mary Anne have been friends all their lives, but since Kristy transferred to Stoneybrook Day, they hardly see each other. They're still friends. I don't think that will ever change, but they aren't close.
Kristy groans. "Oh, do not mention Stacey McGill to Mary Anne! They're in some kind of tiff. I don't know what's going on. Mary Anne's a real grouch though. Beware."
"This isn't making me want to come over," I say.
"Oh, just get over here! We're working on our economics project. You can help."
"That certainly sweetens the deal," I tell her, then pause, thinking. "Kristy...who else is there?" I ask, suspiciously.
"Uh...no one. See you soon!" Kristy hangs up.
I glare at the receiver. Of course. Sally White is at Kristy's working on their project and driving Kristy insane. No wonder Kristy wants me there. Kristy is so transparent.
I change out of my uniform into dark jeans and my ivory turtleneck sweater. Then I grab my messenger bag and make sure all the doors are locked before leaving. Maria's already at the Thomas-Brewers, hanging out with David Michael, her "boyfriend". I don't know where Tiffany went after school. She's supposed to call. She'll be in big trouble later.
Everyone's waiting for me outside Kristy's house. Kristy and Mary Anne are sitting on the steps, side by side. Kristy's changed out of her uniform, too, and into faded jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and her ratty old collie cap. Mary Anne's also in jeans, much nicer ones, and a dark orange sweater. Her brown hair's in loose pigtails, hanging over the front of her shoulders and secured with dark orange scrunchies. It amazes me how little she's changed since I first met her in eighth grade.
"Hi, everyone!" I greet them, waving, as I cross the lawn. "Hello, Mary Anne. It's been awhile."
"Hi, Shannon," she replies without any enthusiasm.
Lindsey and Sally are leaning back against a front window, still dressed in their uniforms. Sally's wearing that beret with the ostrich feather. Seriously. In public.
"And she comes out of hiding," Kristy says, looking up at me, shielding her eyes.
Lindsey grins at me, knowingly. Sally's blank expression doesn't change.
"Where's Abby?" I ask.
Kristy shrugs. "Where else? The library. You're always there, she's always there. How are you never there together?"
"It's a big library," I answer, quickly.
Lindsey jumps in and saves me. "Shall we go then?" she asks Kristy.
I raise an eyebrow. "Go? We're going somewhere?"
Kristy stands up and helps pull Mary Anne to her feet. "Yeah. We're apartment hunting. Lindsey, Sally, and I are married, you know." Kristy rolls her eyes. "Anyway, Mary Anne's grandma lives in Waterford Gardens and she said we can come over and photograph the inside. We have to take photos to prove we actually did the research."
"Isn't...isn't Waterford Gardens a senior complex?" I ask.
"So?" replies Sally. "We're pretending to be married. We might as well pretend to be old, too." She elbows Lindsey in the side. "You'll be good at that," she tells her.
Kristy rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head. "Let me just tell Nannie we're leaving," Kristy says, walking toward the front door.
Mary Anne folds her arms across her chest and scowls at the ground. I don't recall her ever being quite so...crabby.
"Are you all right?" I ask her.
"Fine," she snaps. "I'm just having a very bad week!"
"Oh, yeah, I heard about the party. Kristy said Cokie's all right now. I guess you got in a lot of trouble, right?"
Mary Anne continues to scowl. "Yes! I'm grounded for two weeks! I'm not supposed to be here. But my dad's away on business and Sharon can't tell me what to do!"
Sally raises her fist. "Fight the power, pumpkin sweater girl."
I glare at Sally, then turn back to Mary Anne. "I'm sorry, Mary Anne," I tell her. Although I'm not exactly certain what I'm sorry for. Nor am I exactly certain what she's so angry about.
Kristy returns with her car keys. She slips an arm around Mary Anne's waist and they walk off together. I shouldn't feel jealous. After all, I have Wes, but it seems like Kristy and I haven't been so close lately.
Sally hops down the steps and flings an arm around my shoulders. "The library?" she asks, cocking an eyebrow. "And how does the librarian like your new lingerie? Very well, I gather."
I push away her arm and rush after Kristy and Mary Anne. I make sure to not sit beside Sally in the car. Mary Anne sits in the front seat with me behind her. Lindsey sits between Sally and I. Lindsey should like that.
"Don't you have to call your grandparents and ask permission to breathe while in a moving vehicle or something?" Sally asks Lindsey, as soon as we're out of the driveway. She can't not pick at someone for a single minute.
Lindsey makes her lemon face. "No! They know exactly where I am! Besides, I can't call them. George is in class and Sadie has a, um, meeting."
Kristy looks at us in the rearview mirror. "I thought she went to AA on Wednesdays?" Kristy blurts out.
Lindsey's face flushes bright red.
"Kristy!" I shriek and kick the back of her seat, an admirable feat considering I'm on the other side of the station wagon. Sometimes she doesn't think at all.
"I'm sorry!" Kristy cries, whipping her head around. She nearly drives us into a tree.
"Kristy!" Mary Anne screams, lunging for the steering wheel.
Kristy veers quickly back onto the street. "I'm sorry!" she repeats. "Sorry, Lindsey."
Lindsey's face is still flushed. Flushed and puckered into her signature expression. She twirls her braid around her wrist. "It's okay," she says, quietly. "She goes twice a week now. I test her patience and her nerves." Lindsey's braid goes into her mouth.
I thought she'd stopped that again. She's seemed so much better this past week.
"So, Granny's a drinker," Sally says, casually.
"You know, I don't think certain people should be judging other people's parents," I announce, loudly.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sally asks.
"It means orchids are my favorite flower."
Sally doesn't say anything the rest of the drive.
Waterford Gardens is right outside Stoneybrook. It's a retirement complex for active seniors. Mary Anne directs Kristy to the visitors parking lot, then we file out of the station wagon. It's a long trek to Mary Anne's grandma's apartment, which is on the opposite side of the complex. I walk with my arm linked through Lindsey's. She's still chewing on her hair.
Mary Anne's grandma is out of town, but Mary Anne lets us into the apartment with her key. Her grandma used to live in Iowa, but moved to Stoneybrook a couple years ago to be closer to Mary Anne, who is her only living relative.
"It looks like...an old person lives here," Sally says, picking up a pillow from the couch. She tosses it into the air. "Grandma likes knitting I see. And kittens."
"Please don't touch my grandma's things," Mary Anne snaps. She turns to Kristy and hisses, "Who is this person?"
Kristy rolls her eyes and waves her hand, dismissively, like it's not even worth getting into. She digs through her bag and pulls out a camera. "Can I photograph the bedroom?" she asks Mary Anne.
"Yeah. Grandma Baker said you can take photos anywhere. Come on, I'll show you."
As soon as Kristy and Mary Anne disappear into the bedroom, Sally begins touching Mrs. Baker's things again. So does Lindsey. She lifts every picture frame off the coffee table, studying them closely. "Is this your mother?" she asks Mary Anne when Mary Anne and Kristy return. Lindsey holds up a silver picture frame.
"Yes," Mary Anne replies, taking the picture frame and setting it down, gently, in place. "She died when I was a baby."
"My mom's dead, too. She died in a train wreck."
"You know, Lindsey," Sally says, laying back across an oversized ottoman. "I noticed when I was at your house, there aren't any photos of your mother anywhere. The place is like a shrine to the alleged greatness of Lindsey Dupree."
"Photos of my mother remind them of the accident," Lindsey answers, effortlessly, then turns to Mary Anne. "It was a really, really horrible train wreck. My parents suffered greatly."
Kristy looks at me, appalled. I'm appalled too. It's one thing to lie to us, but to lie to someone whose mother is actually dead?
After leaving the apartment, we walk down to the office to interview the building manager. Kristy does all the talking. She likes to be in charge. I'm surprised that Sally doesn't obnoxiously jump into the conversation just to irk Kristy. But instead, she sits quietly, scribbling notes and looking very, very disinterested in the whole thing. Lindsey isn't much help either. She doesn't even come into the office. Instead, she and Mary Anne sit in the lobby, talking. I'm not exactly sure what they're discussing, but the words I catch sound like "Sharon" and "persecution".
"We still have check out one more apartment complex for our report," Kristy says when we leave the office. She slips some papers the manager gave her into a folder.
Panic sweeps over me. "Not the Birch Street apartments, I hope," I say, quickly. What if Wes saw us? "I heard they're really gross."
"And I was all ready to sign a lease," Sally replies.
Kristy looks back at me and wrinkles her brow. "Gee, Shannon, it's just pretend."
"We're not going there anyway," Lindsey says. "George's teaching assistant lives in Pine Meadows across from Stoneybrook U. She said we can photograph her apartment. We're going tomorrow."
I breathe a sigh of relief. Discreetly.
Kristy still gives me another strange look. "The building manager at Birch Street was really rude when I called, anyway. He refused to give us a tour or an interview. Are you okay? You're acting really weird."
"I'm fine."
After leaving Waterford Gardens, we drop off Lindsey, then thankfully, Sally. Kristy, Mary Anne, and I don't say a lot on the drive back to McLelland. When Kristy pulls up outside my house, she turns around. "Want to come over for dinner? Nannie and Watson are making lasagna tonight. Maria's eating over. David Michael already invited her. Tiffany can come, too."
I busy myself unlatching my seatbelt and gathering my messenger bag. I don't answer right away. Dinner with Elizabeth? I know what she thinks of me now. And Watson and Nannie, surely they think the same. I don't need all those eyes watching and judging me. None of them understand.
"Not tonight. I have so much homework," I reply, opening the door. "Anna's coming tomorrow. I need to be free for her."
Kristy looks disappointed. "Oh...okay. Maybe you can come over when you finish? Everyone would like to see you. You never come over anymore. Mom's been asking about you all week. I think she misses you, too," Kristy tells me. "Come over later, okay? Mary Anne's staying overnight."
Mary Anne turns around. She still looks rather crabby. "Yeah, come over. It'll be fun," she says, although she doesn't sound like she'll be much fun tonight.
"Maybe," I tell them and climb out of the car.
Mom smacks into me when I enter the house.
"God, Shannon!" she shouts. "Watch where you're going!"
"You ran into me!"
Mom narrows her eyes and smoothes the front of her dress. Magenta. Skin-tight. I wonder if she's going out to exercise her open marriage option. All those late nights having dinners and drinks with co-workers and clients - did any of those people really exist?
"Why aren't you at the Brewers?" she demands. "Maria's there. She called ten minutes ago looking for you."
"I have homework."
Mom checks her hair in the mirror. "You need to go over there. That Elizabeth Brewer keeps calling me at work. Like I have time to talk to her! Probably wants me for one of those stupid charities she's always working on. You tell her, whatever it is, I'm not interested." Mom smiles slightly at her reflection, very pleased with herself. "Dad's at the club. I'll be home late," she tells me, then leaves without a backward glance.
I start up the stairs. Of course I'm not important enough to worry about. I knew that already. I told Elizabeth. I told her they wouldn't care. I drop my messenger bag on the bed, then check the answering machine. Three new messages. The first two are from Wes. One, telling me he's home from work and where am I? The other telling me he's leaving for Levittown and where am I, and he hopes I'm not out falling in love with someone else. The third message is from Anna, reminding me that she's coming home tomorrow and expects me to be with her when she confronts Mrs. Stevenson. I erase all three messages, then dial the number of Anna's dorm, but the line is busy. Then I call Wes and leave a message on his machine, letting him know I'm home and definitely not in the process of falling in love with someone else.
I make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dinner. I eat it in my bedroom while working on my homework. With each bite, I think sadly of the lasagna the Thomas-Brewers are currently consuming, everyone pressed close together on the benches in the kitchen, laughing and having a good time. I cram the rest of the sandwich into my mouth and shut the calculus book.
Downstairs, the front door slams and feet thunder up the stairs. Startled, I jump to my feet and rush to the doorway. Tiffany appears on the landing, cheeks streaked with purple eyeliner and black mascara. Her face is flushed crimson red.
"Tiffany! What's wrong?" I shriek.
Tiffany bursts into fresh tears and runs into her bedroom. I follow at her heels, nearly tripping over a pile of clothes tossed carelessly inside her doorway. Tiffany throws herself onto the bed and sobs into her pillow.
"Tiffany, what's wrong?" I demand, heart beginning to pound, truly alarmed now. "What's happened?"
Tiffany lifts her head, face smeared purple and black. "Tyler and I are through!" she wails.
"You...you broke up?" I cry, taken aback.
"I dumped him! He's a jerk!"
"What happened?"
Tiffany wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "He thinks I'm stupid," she sobs.
Anger rises in my chest. "He called you stupid?" I demand.
"Yes. No. Yes! I got a D on my algebra test. Don't be mad, Shanny! I studied. I really did. I was so upset and you know what Tyler said? He said I shouldn't worry because he's not dating me for my mind!"
"He said that to you?" I demand, furiously.
Tiffany nods. "Yes! After all I did for him! I thought he really loved me! I loved him! I loved him so much, Shanny, and I proved it to him. Over and over. And that's all he wanted from me!" Tiffany begins crying again.
I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill Tyler Austen. I sit down on the bed and wrap my arms around Tiffany. I hold her very tight. "He's a jerk. You're best rid of him. You deserve better, you're worth so much more. You aren't stupid. You're bright and clever and Tyler's a fool if he can't see that."
"I'm going to make him pay. He's going to be sorry."
"He isn't even worth the time."
"I'm going to punish him. He'll be so sorry."
I hold Tiffany a little tighter and she slides her arms around my waist, tightening her hold until she nearly crushes me. In my bedroom, the telephone rings, but I don't move to answer it.