Here is chapter three. I heard that some of you really liked hearing this from young Esme's POV, and I'm continuing it for you guys. I really appreciate you guys reading this and reviewing. Keep reviewing, 'cause I love those reviews! (And 'cause I have nothing else to read that's that awesome )
My Life Isn't Always Perfect, But Sometimes, It Can Seem Like It
Chapter three
"Esme! Esme! Come here!" Beth yelled at me from across the playground during afternoon recess.
I ignored her. I was trying to catch Emmy Triboni alone for one second so I could talk to her about my great idea for an invention. I was hoping she'd think it was so great she wouldn't be able to say no to being my partner. She was shooting hoops with a bunch of boys and I didn't want to interrupt her. Emmy took sports very seriously, especially when there were boys involved.
"ESME! I don't have all day!"
"Wha-at?" I yelled as I ran over, keeping one eye glued on Emmy.
Beth and Phil were stationed in their usual recess spot near the girls' restroom. The only sport they liked to play was Lipstick. "Do you have the key to the Scouts treasury box with you?" Beth asked.
"Of course." I said, "It's Friday, and we always have our meeting on Fridays, and it's my responsibility-"
"Fine!" she said, cutting me off. She dug her hand down the front of my blouse.
"Hey! What ya doing?" I cried, trying to shake her off. "Stop it Beth!"
"Well, give it over, will you?" she said, still digging around inside my shirt. "I need to borrow it for a sec. where's that chain you wear?"
I pulled back hard and yanked myself away. "I don't have it on a chain anymore!"
Beth sneered at me over her pointy nose. "I bet you lost it, didn't you? I knew you would sooner or later. I don't know why they ever voted you as the treasurer. You lose everything."
"I did not lose the key to the treasury." I said, "And I don't lost everything. I only lost our church money that ONE time." I said, "And it was an accident." I looked at Phil trying to explain. "I couldn't find my church purse on Sunday. So, I stuck the money in the pocket of my dress, but I found out it wasn't like a real pocket for putting stuff in, it was one of those fake dress pockets for just looking fancy. They're no good for holding anything. So it must have slipped out somewhere."
Phil flipped her hair and looked over her shoulder to see if anyone interesting was looking at her.
Beth got in my face. "If you didn't lose the key, then give it. I need it for OFFICIAL school business." She said.
I licked my lips, nervous, then took a quick look over at the hoops. Oh, no! Jessica Quintana was standing just outside the court watching Emmy. She was probably going to try to get Emmy to be her Discovery Project partner. Beth turned to see what I was looking at.
"Beth, I have to go! I'm not giving you the key. I'm not allowed!" I started to walk away, but she pulled me back with cold, snaky fingers.
She put her face right up to mine-so close I could smell the horseradish from her meatloaf sandwich. "You lost the key, didn't you May?"
"I didn't lose it! It's right-" I looked around real quick to make sure no one was looking and lifted my shirt up a tiny bit in the front. "Right here." I whispered, pointing to a big gray square on my belly. "Under the duct tape."
"You taped it to your stomach?" Phil asked, peering over Beth's shoulder. "Gawd, you are such a freak, Esme." She elbowed Beth, "She's almost as bad as Carlisle."
"I am not as bad as HG is!" I protested. "I just didn't want to lose the key and the chain broke and I couldn't find another one!"
"Okay, fine-whatever." Beth said. "Hand it over. I need to borrow it for just a sec so I can make some change. You go play with your little friend Carlisle over there, and I'll be back in five minutes."
"Go get change in the office Beth. I'm not letting you open the treasury. And Carlisle is not my friend!" I looked over toward the tree where Carlisle was sitting, reading. His ears turned red like he had heard me. Some boys started going over there and picking on him too, I observed.
"They only have change for a twenty and I have a fifty. I already asked them. Right Phil?"
She nodded and popped her gum next to my ear.
"Where did you get a FIFTY Beth?" I asked, shocked. I'd never even seen a real fifty-dollar bill in my whole life.
"Principal Obermeyer gave it to me. She wants to buy something at the pep club booth after school, but she is very busy and doesn't have time to go herself."
"Lemme see it," I said. "I don't believe you."
Beth rolled her eyes at Philomena, and then looked back at me with her fake patient look. "I don't have it yet. She told me to go get some change first. Of course, I can always go back and tell her that my little sister, Esme Platt, treasurer for the Scouts, is refusing to give the principal change!"
I lowered my eyes to hide my fear. Ms. Obermeyer was our new principal and I'd only seen her assembly. She had excellent posture and walked very fast. Beth said that's because she used to be in the Army. If you got in trouble, she'd make you do sit-ups and push-ups until you could just barely walk. Beth said Billy Martindale threw up from it, and then Principal Obermeyer made him clean it up with a toothbrush. I definitely did not want to talk to her. She might make us do a hundred push-ups just for interrupting.
"GO, GO, EMMY! WOO! WOO!"
My head whipped back around to the court and the tree was just in the corner of my vision. Although that tree wasn't my first concern. Jessica was bouncing under the basket doing cheers for Emmy. Emmy stopped and looked at her, and then I think she saw Carlisle. She walked over and I saw her say something to the boys who were picking on him, and then I saw them run away as if their lives depended on it. Then Emmy walked away without hearing a 'thanks' from Carlisle. I was torn right in two, straight up the middle. I really should go and get change for Principal and Beth myself, just to be safe. Our Scout Leader, Sister Lucille, made me promise that I would never let anyone except her and me open the treasury box. But if I didn't get over to Emmy before recess was over, I might lose her to Jessica. I reached up under my shirt, ripped the tape off my stomach, and peeled two keys off the back.
"Here." I snapped. "The big key is for the supply closet and the little one is for the lockbox. When you're done, make sure you lock both-"
"Don't sweat it Esme! You worry too much. I'll give them back to you at Scouts. Promise!"
The school bell blasted, ending recess. I raced toward the court to grab Emmy just for a minute. As she sank a neat hoop shot, Jessica and I plowed right into one another. "Oh, Sor-r-ry!" I said, trying to get my breath back.
"Watch it, E-s-meeee!" she said, her face cross. Jessica always made my name sound like some terrible dental disease.
"Emmy! Can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked.
Jessica coiled herself around Emmy's arm like a snake, putting herself right in the middle of us. "What ya want?" she asked, "Need a pen to write your dad in the-"
"Shut up, Jessica!" Emmy said, giving her an elbow jab. She wiped the sweat off her face with her forearm and looked at me, curious. "What?" She asked.
"I was just wondering if had someone to, well, um…" I paused, then moved closer so Jessica couldn't hear.
Jessica stuck her face right between ours. She had the meanest-looking mouth I'd ever seen-all skinny and sharp. "Can we help you with something, Esme?"
"Uh, well, oh, nothing, I guess." I said, shrugging and backing off. "I'll catch you later, Emmy." No way I was going to ask her in front of Jessica.
Jessica gave me a dirty look and dragged Emmy away quick like she was some kind of celebrity.
I'd just lost my big chance. I was burning daylight-and the bats were circling, Grandpa would say. I hurried back to homeroom and rubbed the raw place on my stomach were I pulled the tape off. It was cold and sticky and matched the nervous feeling that slithered right across the back of my neck.
HG appeared at my side in the spooky way he had. Geez, you never saw that boy coming. "Esme," he said in his mini-ghost voice. "I was wondering if you'd picked someone for your Discovery Project, yet-'cos if you haven't, maybe you'd want to-"
I cut him off quick before he could finish. I did not want to turn him down, but no way did I want him for my partner. He probably learned how to part the Red Sea like Moses and was planning to do a live demonstration for the class.
"Oh, yeah! I got a great partner-but we're keeping it a secret, for fun, you know? Uh-oh! There's Mr. Giles! C'mon-we better hurry!" I dove into my desk and slid down in my seat. HG turned back around as he put his hat under his seat. He didn't' look at me, but I could feel his hurt hanging in the air around me. I made a mental promise to do something really nice for him soon. Maybe leave some cookies in his desk or sit by him on the bus on purpose instead of ignoring him.
And, almost if he heard my thoughts, right before my eyes, HG's ears grew bright red.
Sorry if you thought what Esme was thinking Carlisle was gonna do for the DP was kinda weird, I went blank for a second there. But I will tell you, that's not what the project is gonna be. But I don't know if the project actually works…
