“Wait, what?” Lexi says, mid-bite into her sub sandwich. She sets it back on her lunch tray. “The one you don’t like?”
Neither Lexi nor Maddie know the whole story about K. J.; I’ve only told them we’ve never gotten along, which is already proving to be true.
“That’s the one,” I say. “I’m ecstatic, if you can’t tell.”
Lexi laughs. “Oh, wow. That should be interesting.”
Understatement of the year. “Please just pray that neither of us pushes the other into the canyon.”
Both of my friends seem to get a kick out of this.
They have no idea I’m being completely serious.
CHAPTER 6K. J.
CARTER AND I GET OFF THE SCHOOL BUS AT THE mobile home park entrance, him muttering obscenities about some sophomore who still owes him ten bucks, and me hugging my books awkwardly to my chest. For the first time in recent memory, I’m putting the home in homework. Wish I had a backpack.
“Just drop it, why don’t you,” I say to Carter. “He probably doesn’t have the money.”
“Should’ve thought about that before he made a bet that I couldn’t get five solo wins in Fortnite. Dumbass. I need gas money.” Carter scoops up a rock from the gravel road and throws it hard. It bounces off a broken-down lawn mower near the end of the row with a loud clank.
“Feel better now?” I ask with a smirk.
“Yep. I do, actually.” As we continue toward home, he eyes my books. “So what’s with the sudden interest in school?”
The question was inevitable, I guess. “Dunno.” I stare at the ground. “Just figured I’d see if I could bring my grades up before graduation. You know, show my teachers I can actually do it.”
“Since when do you care what they think?” Carter says with a laugh. “You never care what anyone thinks.”
If only that were true.
“You really think two and a half weeks is enough time to bring your grades up?” he continues.
“Guess we’ll find out. I’ll be doing every extra credit assignment I can get.”
The kids from across the street run out of their trailer and hop on their bikes again. They must be home-schooled or something. I’ve never seen them waiting at the bus stop. I wave as they ride past, but they don’t seem to notice us.
“You gonna have a smoke first?” Carter asks.
“No, I’m out.” I’d go get some, but Mom’s working the late shift at Dollar General today, and I don’t feel like walking all the way to the gas station right now.
“No worries, I’ve got some.” Carter hurries inside his trailer and reappears a few moments later. We sit on my front porch stairs as we light them.
“So have you started looking for a job yet?” I ask between drags. He’s leaning back on the step below me, trying to blow a smoke ring. Unsuccessfully, I might add. It’s a talent neither one of us has been able to master.
“Not yet.”
“When do you plan to start?”
“This weekend, I guess,” he says. “I have no idea where, though.”
“What about an auto parts store or maybe a hardware store? You like cars and fixing stuff.”
“Yeah—” his shoulders rise and fall in an overly dramatic shrug “—that might work.”
“Then maybe you and Dax could rent a trailer or an apartment or something.”
Carter sits up and slowly twists from side to side, his spine releasing a series of cringe-worthy crackles. “We’ve been talking about doing that, actually.” He turns around to look at me. “Hey, you could move in with us, too, if you want. We could split the rent three ways.”
A flash of excitement zips through me at the thought, but it lasts all of two seconds. “I don’t know about that.” I’m pretty sure Carter’s always thought of me as one of the guys, but honestly, I think it would be weird living with them.
“Yeah, you’re right.” He takes one last drag before stubbing out his cigarette on the step. “You should stay with your mom for a while. She’d probably be lonely if you left.”
While this is true, it’s not really the reason why I’m planning on staying put for now. For one, I’ll be too busy doing Grandpa’s stuff this summer to get a job, and two, I’m hoping that if I do—by some miracle—get into college, I can save money by living at home. I’d hate to spend all my inheritance in the next four years.
It’s strange, suddenly having a little direction in my life. Up until now, I’ve felt like I’ve been wandering around in one of those gigantic corn mazes, never sure which way to go. The bad part is, until now, I didn’t really care which way I went.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Carter asks.
“Nothing.” I stub out my own cigarette and toss it onto the lawn before grabbing my books from beside me. “Better go get started on this shit. Might take me all night to do the essay.”
Carter laughs and stands. “Yeah… good luck with that.”
By Friday morning, my stomach is one big boiling pot of nerves. I can’t pay attention in my classes even though I’ve been giving it my best effort this week. It’s not the Grand Canyon I’m afraid of or even my sure-to-be-sucky weekend with my cousin. It’s the fact that in a few hours, I’m going to be flying on a plane for the first time. Mom’s supposed to pick me up at lunchtime and take me to the airport.
By the time the school secretary calls my name over the loudspeaker in English class, I feel like I’m on the verge of puking. Probably not a good sign. Mom waits in the office for me, her fingers tapping on the blue Formica counter, eyes taking in the plaques and other boring decor on the walls. She looks completely out of place here. I think it’s the first time she’s ever been inside my high school, as a matter of fact.
She frowns as soon as she
