Game On (22 page)

37

XAVIER

 

D
oug summoned Xavier to his office right before lunch. There was a surprise waiting for him. Dakota was there with tears in her eyes. She hugged Xavier as soon as he walked through the door.

“What's wrong, munchkin?” Xavier asked Dakota.

Doug was sitting at his desk. There was a vase with two black roses sitting in front of him. “Looks like somebody's trying to frighten her into calling off the event,” Doug said, handing Xavier an envelope with some type of Hallmark card inside.

Xavier read the card.

Dakota said, through tears, “Nobody's going to stop me from doing what I have to do. I just wanted somebody to know what's going on.” She shivered. “You know . . . if something was to happen.”

Xavier handed the card back to Doug. “Don't worry about that, munchkin. You gonna be just fine.”

Doug took the card and chucked it on his desk. He had this “I'm too old for this crap” look on his face. He took his ball cap off and ran a hand over his head. “Listen, Mr. Hunter, I know you don't have any faith—and I know this from the mess you got into trying to protect students a couple years ago—in my security team. I don't have to but I brought you here to let you know of this threat. Don't need you running around the school playing detective. I got this. The principal has been alerted, a few of my cop buddies will keep an eye on her house, and I've launched a full investigation into the matter.”

Xavier grinned. “Trust me, Doug. I have far too much going on. This time I'm leaving it to the professionals.”

Doug looked at Dakota. “Young lady, don't worry. We will get to the bottom of this. My hat is off to you. You have schools across the city trying to copy your anti-bullying campaign. You should be proud of yourself. Don't let anybody scare you away from helping others.”

Xavier said to Dakota, “From now on I will be picking you up and taking you home from school.” Xavier looked at Doug and then back to Dakota. “We're all in this thing with you.”

Tears—Dakota couldn't stop them. “Thank you, Mr. Banks. I really appreciate the support. I'm putting all I have into my efforts at ridding schools of bullying.”

“That's right, Ms. Taylor,” said Doug, “nobody likes a bully”—he picked up the card from his desk—“especially these kinds.” Doug glanced at Xavier. “Ms. Taylor, can me and Mr. Hunter have a moment alone?” He thought for a second. “Oh yeah, Ms. Taylor, Principal Skinner would like to have a word with you.”

Doug handed Dakota some Kleenex.

She wiped her eyes and blew her nose and hugged Xavier. “Thank you, big brother.” She looked at Doug. “Don't worry. I won't.”

Xavier kissed her on the forehead. “Anytime, munchkin. Remember, I'll be picking you up and taking you home, so get at me in the south lobby after your classes.”

After Dakota left, Doug said to Xavier, “We haven't talked in a long time, Mr. Hunter. That means you've been keeping yourself out of trouble, I'm assuming?”

Xavier knew what Doug was doing. Homeboy wasn't born yesterday. He was being nosy.

“I haven't been bringing any trouble to your school,” Xavier said, folding his arms across his chest.

“Glad to hear it. How is your arm?”

Xavier's smile was of suspicion. “It's my shoulder. Look, we've known each other too long to beat around the bush. What you up to?”

“I'm worried about you. You have five months to go before your graduation. I would have to say that when you told me that you weren't going to another school after all the trouble a year ago, I have to be honest, I didn't think you would make it this far.”

“Gee, Mr. Banks, thank you for the vote of confidence.”

“I'm not trying to be funny, Mr. Hunter, but men like Slick Eddie—they are dangerous people who have resources to hire very dangerous men. But you have an angel on your shoulder.”

Xavier was losing patience. “Is there a point to all this?”

“Okay. Maybe it's nothing, but a few of my officers observed a suspicious-looking rusty, ancient Ford Econoline van sitting on the outer edges of student parking last Friday. They didn't get a good look at the driver because when they went to approach, he drove off.”

A cold feeling crept through Xavier's gut. Sounded like the hitman who'd chased him through the school his junior year. The dude was charcoal black, big ears, and had an affinity for wearing a dark-colored Rocawear hoodie. Oftentimes Xavier had referred to the hitman as Tall and Husky. And he had indeed been sent by Slick Eddie, even had the nerve to call Xavier on his cell phone at the end of his tenth-grade year to tell him that he was a dead man walking. For all Xavier knew, Tall and Husky could've been responsible for blasting him in the shoulder. Junk just got real.

Doug reared back in the chair and clasped his hands behind his head. “Like I said, maybe nothing. Then again it could be something. I don't know. Just watch your back.” Doug scratched his right ear. “By the way, your boy Linus Flip, what happened to him?”

Xavier rolled his shoulders. “Don't know. Told me that he was in trouble and needed some money. Said school was secondary. He'd come back when he handled his business.”

“Doesn't sound right, but okay.”

Xavier walked out of Doug's office before he could ask any more questions.

Billy Hawkins had been weighing heavy on his mind. He'd tried his friend and mentor on the cell joint, but the old dude never picked up. Traveled to his house a couple times, rang the doorbell—nothing! It was like the geezer had just disappeared. It wasn't like him either. This only added to Xavier's worries. Too much was already riding on his shoulders. He just wanted to throw up his hands and run off screaming until he ran straight to Alaska somewhere. One thing was for certain, though: If he survived the foolishness to get through to graduation, Xavier was going to attend college far, far away—maybe Russia.

38

DAKOTA

 

D
akota was feeling some kind of way about sitting in front of the principal's desk. Skinner's secretary had let her in and told the girl that the principal would be with her after he'd finished meeting with some parents. Not knowing what this was about made nervous perspiration form on her nose and left her hands feeling cold and clammy.

Dakota looked around the office. Nice big green plants sat on the floor by the window, while smaller ones sat on a shelf. This is where it all had started. When she'd first pitched Skinner her idea. Matter of fact, he'd loved the idea so much that he was the one who'd come up with the slogan: “Give Bullying a Black Eye.” He'd been the one to suggest the date. Skinner had also given her every available resource to make this thing happen.

The door opened and Skinner walked in wearing a plain navy blue suit and leather shoes.

He took a seat behind his desk, opening the bottom button of his suit jacket to get comfortable. “I have some pretty exciting news for you, young lady.”

Dakota perked up.

Principal Skinner looked excited. “Our little campaign to stop bullying has not only caught on around the city with other schools, it seems that the media has gotten wind of it.” He tried to compose himself before he blew a gasket with excitement. “They will be here to cover the event. We're going to hold an assembly. Some very prominent leaders, ranging from businesses to religious institutions will be speaking about the evils of bullying. This thing is going to be big, so please get some sleep the night before. You are the little cog in the machine that started this wonderful endeavor and I am so proud of you.”

The tears flowed for the ninth grader. Skinner handed Dakota some Kleenex.

She was overwhelmed by sheer joy. When she started on this journey, there was no way she could ever imagine that the lights would burn this bright. With more tears in too few words, Dakota shook her head as if to say “thank you” and walked out of the office.

39

SAMANTHA

 

X
avier and Samantha went out to enjoy a relaxing Valentine's Day evening. Despite the real danger that plagued them both, a movie and dinner was a welcome change of pace. So to not run into Sean Desmond and his two minions, the couple traveled out to a TGI Friday's in Brighton, Michigan, to decompress and unwind. The AMC theater was just up the street. The movie started at eight thirty, which gave them plenty of time to grab a bite.

The restaurant was noisy and animated with movement. As the hostess sat couple after couple, waitresses hustled in and out of the kitchen placing orders. Thank God Samantha and Xavier had gotten to Friday's when they did. The line was out the door now with a two-hour wait.

“How's the shoulder?” Samantha asked.

Xavier looked around. Before the shooting the boy was perfectly at home in large crowds, but now they made him super nervous. “It hurts sometimes, especially when it's cold. The doctors say that I might have to live with the pain the rest of my life.”

“I'm sorry, Xavier. You have your faults, but you deserved better.”

Samantha was dressed in black—expensive jeans, suede thigh-high boots, and a form-fitting top with
bebe
spelled out in glittery silver rhinestones across the breast. Her gorgeous mink swing jacket sat neatly in one of the extra chairs at the table.

She quietly glanced around the dining area. “OMG, I can't believe how crowded this place is,” she said.

Xavier wasn't listening because he was too busy staring hypnotically at Samantha's lips as she delightfully pronounced every syllable.

“Xavier, did you hear me?”

He playfully snapped out of it. “Huh—did you say something?” he asked with a slick, mischievous grin on his face. Xavier had on black Levi's, a sweet gray jacket with black trim and
Detroit
across the chest in red lettering, a nice Detroit Red Wings patch just above the lettering, and a ball cap hosting that very same team logo. On his feet—red and gray Nike Air Max 95s.

Xavier and Samantha sat at a table for four in the back of the restaurant by an emergency exit. He'd talked her out of sitting at a booth by explaining the disadvantages. Sitting there presented many blind spots. Couldn't tell who was sitting behind you because the backs were too high to see over. The blind spots created too many bad angles—angles that presented the advantage to the hitter. It was better to sit at freestanding tables out in the open. Having a 360-degree view took the element of surprise from the attacker. And dining next to an emergency door was simply a no-brainer.

“Okay, Mr. CIA Agent, who are you and what have you done with my friend Xavier Hunter?” Samantha put a hand over her mouth and giggled.

“No. Serious. I'm here to keep you safe.”

“Where did you learn all of this stuff from?”

Xavier looked around before giving his answer. “Books. A couple of courses on security and surveillance. Did a stint over in Iraq—”

“Xavier,” Samantha said making that “tell the truth” face.

Xavier put his head down and laughed. “Okay. You got me. Movies—tons of spy movies, especially
The Bourne Identity
with Matt Damon.”

“And I'm supposed to feel safe because my friend loves Matt Damon.”

“Stop twisting my words—didn't say I loved anybody. Just liked the movie.”

“So you learned some moves from a clever actor playing a spy. I feel much better.”

“That's funny, I didn't hear you criticizing the moves that kept you safe at Twelve Oaks about a month ago.”

Samantha playfully slapped one of Xavier's hands. “No, darling, that was my little roughneck who kept me safe.”

Xavier laughed. “I can't believe you're sleeping on my skills.”

“Okay, Jason Bourne, on our way here, did you happen to pay attention to the yellow cab that looked like it was following us on the freeway?”

Xavier looked like he was spooked. “So I'm not crazy. You saw it too?”

“Yes. I thought it was following us until it kept on riding by on the freeway as we came up on our exit.”

“Sam, I know I'm not crazy, but I've been seeing yellow cabs lately.”

Samantha cracked that gorgeous smile. “Have you been seeing little green men from Mars too?”

“Sam, I'm serious,” Xavier said, like he was desperate for someone to believe him.

A cute slender white waitress with Belinda on her name tag stepped up to the table and took the drink orders—two sodas. Once Belinda returned with the drinks, she took their orders and left.

Xavier continued to carefully scan the crowd for potential threats.

Samantha slurped her Coca-Cola through a straw. “Hey, I figured since you and that girl Dakota Taylor is cool, what's going on with her? She looks a little stressed out.”

Xavier swallowed down some Sprite. “This stays between me and you.”

Samantha looked like she was insulted. “When have I told anybody your business?”

“Anyway, she's been receiving death threats, warning her not to go through with the anti-bullying event. She's also been receiving weird phone calls—and just last month somebody left black roses on her doorstep.”

Samantha was a square, but even she knew the significance of that. “Wow. Is she still willing to go through with it?”

Xavier nodded. “Yup. I told her never let anybody scare you out of doing you.”

“Typical hero.”

“Whatever, punk.”

“I have your punk.”

Xavier smiled. “She rides to school with me and I take her home.”

Xavier's generous spirit for helping others in distress was one of the biggest reasons in a huge list of them that made her fall in love with him. “Aren't you concerned about spreading yourself a little thin? How are the research paper and the essay coming along?”

“I'm good. I'm through with the third draft on my essay and almost done with the research paper.”

Samantha sucked down some drink. “I'm excited for you. I can't believe your English teacher was nice enough to give you an opportunity like that. You definitely have the writing skills, Xavier. Why don't you give me a little sneak preview on what the essay is about?”

“Nope. If I did that I would have to”—he used the index finger of his right hand to drag it across his throat—“kill you.”

They both cracked up. The rest of dinner was filled with laughter and delightful conversation. Samantha had no idea how deeply she'd missed Xavier. Just being out on a special day like Valentine's Day brought some semblance of normalcy back to her life. She knew that Sean was bound to try something ugly. Her life had been going swell over the past month. Ozzie and Cash had been quiet, a little too quiet for her taste. There was no way they were going to let Xavier slide with smashing one of them. Samantha had been around those two long enough to know that their taste for revenge was otherworldly. She felt guilty dragging Xavier into her mess. What if he got hurt? Could she look at herself in the mirror?

What about her old man? He still hadn't a clue about the real Sean Desmond. As far as her father knew, the boy was a saint. And if he knew that she was hanging out with Xavier instead of her girl Jennifer on Valentine's Day, he'd have a fit. Samantha hated lying to her parents. But it was better than telling the truth and having to listen to him preaching a sermon about how Sean would make a fine husband. Besides, being with Xavier was worth the risk. It reignited all those feelings about him that she thought were dead. Samantha simply loved these feelings and didn't want the night to end. But she knew the night had to end eventually.

As the two walked out of auditorium twelve and blended in with the crowd, people moved across the plush red carpets, passed enormous movie posters along the corridor, and spilled out into the lobby. The fragrance of fresh, hot buttered popcorn was alluring. And even though they were leaving, Samantha wanted to get a bag to go. If she hadn't decided to grab some kernels before leaving, they would've missed a real live, hot, steamy erotica performance that was taking place smack dab amongst the crowd in the middle of the lobby. And it was starring Roxanne Hudson . . . Xavier's father's girlfriend.