Brayden squinted at Niko. I could tell he was thinking what I was thinking (and probably Jake, too): No. Way.
Niko was making up a girlfriend.
But after what he’d just been through, not a one of us, not even Brayden, called him on it.
“All right, I got a question for you boys,” Brayden said. “Where’s the craziest place you ever did it?”
“Oh God.” Jake rolled his eyes. “Not this again.”
“What?” Brayden protested.
“This is like his favorite question,” Jake snorted. “And anyway, man, not all the present company can answer this one.” He nodded toward me.
I don’t think he was
“Oh yeah,” Brayden said. “No speakee the nookie, eh, Dean?”
I felt my stupid face going red.
“Why do you all assume that about me?” I said. Trying to play cool and failing, I’m sure.
Jake reached across the table and poured us all another big shot.
“Dude,” Jake said. “We only assume it about you because it’s true.”
They laughed good-naturedly.
“You guys are a-holes,” I said, playing it off.
“Hey, Brayden,” Jake said. “Speaking of the nooks, how’s Josie treating you?”
I shot a look at Niko. What was Jake thinking?
Maybe he didn’t know that Niko liked Josie. Was that possible?
Brayden took a swig from his drink. He avoided looking at Niko, but grinned.
“It’s all right,” he said. “Very nice girl.”
“Ha!” Jake laughed. “That means she’s not putting out.”
Niko studied the cup in his hands.
“We do a lot of cuddling,” Brayden said.
Niko looked so relieved, I had to laugh. Jake clapped me on the shoulder. I was really feeling the rum.
“Oh man, getting laid is so awesome,” Jake said, scratching his head. “It’s just absolutely the best thing ever. Once you get it, all you can think of is getting it again. Sometimes I’m having sex and I’m worried about the next time I’m gonna have sex!”
I slugged back the rest of my rum.
I really hoped he’d shut up soon.
“You’ll get there, in time, Dean. You’ll discover for yourself the beautiful, beautiful world of the hot little clam.”
It was so base. So vulgar.
He was talking about Astrid.
He didn’t love her. He just wanted her for her body.
It wasn’t fair.
“It must be so easy for you,” I said. My face was hot.
“How so?”
“You come to our school, you’re immediately popular. You’re the best player on the football team. You get the hottest girl in school. The best girl, without lifting a finger.”
I was loose. I felt big, like I could say what I really felt. I was drunk.
“And who are you, really?” I said to Jake, pouring myself another drink. “I mean, what do you have, besides charm and some muscle?”
“All right, settle down, Geraldine,” Brayden said.
I drained my paper cup.
“That’s a lot of rum for a lightweight like you,” Jake said.
“You don’t deserve her.” I stood up. “She’s so smart, so beautiful. She’s wild and funny and kind, and you’re just a dumb jock. You don’t even love her. You just want her so you can get your rocks off.”
Jake got up, sending his chair crashing down behind him. “You’re out of line, Dean.”
My blood was pounding and I laughed.
“Out of line! Yeah, I know. If I ever speak up. If I ever stand up for myself or draw attention to myself, I’m out of line, right? Because I’m not as good as you? Is that it?”
Niko came toward me, hands out, like he was going to calm me down.
I pointed at Jake. “HE DOESN’T DESERVE HER. She’s a goddess and he’s named her body parts after Disney princesses!”
Jake roared at that, of course.
And launched himself at me, of course.
And started beating the crap out of me, of course.
After he got in some good punches, they pulled him off me.
I lay on the ground, panting. Blood was on my face and on the linoleum.
Jake gasped, trying to catch his breath, as they held him back.
“He’s a sneak,” Jake said, pointing to me. “He’s a pervert.”
“What is going on here?” Josie’s voice came.
She rushed to my side.
“What happened?”
Niko and Brayden looked guilty. Jake stormed away.
“Brayden?” Josie said.
“Josie, it just got out of control,” he said.
Josie shot Brayden and Niko an angry look.
“Well?” she said. “Is someone going to help me get him up?”
I curled on my side and puked.
DAY 8
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I MEET PAINKILLERS
Mother Josie got me cleaned up and put me to bed. I asked her to take the breakfast shift for me and she agreed.
“Sleep it off,” she said. “You smell like a wino.”
Then I lay there the rest of the night and had feverish dreams where Jake’s fist met my face in different setups. He hit me in the library. He hit me on line for tickets at the Royal Cinemas. He hit me in my bed at home.
Through it all my head throbbed like it would split open.
In the morning I felt like I’d fallen off a ski lift, then fallen down a black diamond mogul field and been hit by a Snowcat.
Also, I had a headache.
But I knew what I had to do. I had to apologize to Jake. I couldn’t have him as my enemy.
I was going to have to lie to him.
After the little kids woke up and got herded off to the Dump for their morning ablutions, I got to my feet in increments.
