Me & My Invisible Guy (24 page)

Dad winked at me, and Darby squeezed my hand.

“And I’ve already called Brian to see if we could get together for a talk. I’m going to tell him everything, and whatever happens, happens. My past is my past. I’m not
going to let it control me, but I’m not going to try and hide it anymore either. Okay?”

Her question was directed at Mom, who nodded just a little, as if it was what she was supposed to do rather than what she wanted to do. But Darby seemed to accept it.

“Now, Mallory, did you get to see Tess?”

I shared what I felt comfortable sharing, but the whole conversation was weird. Like we all weren’t sure how to behave now that the old rules had been thrown aside. Especially Mom.

I woke up Wednesday morning knowing that not only would the article be out, but that I was going to have to deal with ditching school and practice.

Tess picked me up, which gave me exactly the boost I needed. I could face down the world with Tess at my side.

The school paper wasn’t exactly an exciting commodity at school. I rarely even looked at it. Mostly, they just sat in piles around the building. But when we walked into school, I swear, every single person I saw had one in his or her hand. Tess snatched the last one off the floor by the door.

On the front page was a picture of me cheering. The headline read, “The Virgin Cheerleader Tells All.”

Another cheerleader threw a balled-up newspaper at my face before I read the first line. Tess grabbed the paper off the floor and threw it back at her like a major-league pitcher.

“I can’t believe you did this on purpose.” Tess shook her head.

We walked down the hallway, where the words on the lockers were faint but still visible. Apparently permanent
markers are hard to get out. The lockers would probably have to be painted over. At my locker, another word had been written over the top of
virgin
, and it wasn’t a nice one.

“You’re lots of things, Mallory, but you’re not that.” Tess pulled a marker from her bag and scribbled over the word the best she could. I opened my locker, glancing around masochistically—noticing only the scowls.

Greg walked by with a bunch of his friends, pointing at me and then at himself. He laughed as if he had done the funniest thing in the world and high-fived his friends.

“Jerks.”

I closed my locker, and there was Liam.

Tess bailed. “I’ll see you later.”

“Hey, you.” Liam had a paper in his hand. “Impressive.”

“I was kind of forced into it.”

Liam leaned his head and shoulder on a locker. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’ll tattoo it on my face if it would help.”

I looked into those chocolate eyes of his and decided that the more allies I had, the better. Besides, we all make mistakes, right? I stepped a little closer and brushed his hair out of his eyes. “No tattoos necessary.” He tilted his head, and I smiled at him.

That was all the encouragement he needed. He slipped his arm around me and pulled me close, kissing me briefly, right on the lips.

I heard catcalls and words tossed around us, but I didn’t care. For that moment it was just us.

I could almost tell whether someone was a virgin or not by how he or she reacted to me that day. Smiles = virgin. Scowls = everyone else.

I probably would have left school if it wasn’t for Tess and Liam staying by my side. Before I got changed, I went to go find Tara. I was moving right along with Steps 10 and 11, and I owed Tara an apology.

She was talking with her best friend, Kasey.

“I’m sorry for missing practice yesterday. I wasn’t feeling well.”

Tara stood up and narrowed her eyes at me as if she didn’t believe me. “Do you have a doctor’s note?”

“No, I… uh…”

“Cut her some slack, Tara. It can’t be easy for her right now,” Kasey said. Kasey smiled at me sympathetically.

“Why should I? We all have the same rules and expectations. I don’t know if she should stay on the squad at all.”

I grew very still, as if any sudden movement might make her kick me off. I really loved cheerleading. I loved being on varsity and wearing my uniform and performing for the crowds. I didn’t want it taken away.

Tara slammed a locker closed. “We have zero tolerance for ditching practice. You know that, Kasey.” Tara stood up and pointed at me. “I don’t care what kind of drama it is. Everyone has to be here every day, unless excused by a doctor. You’re suspended until further notice.” She stormed away, and I just stood there.

Kasey closed her locker. “I’m sorry. I’ll try and talk to her.”

I walked to the last bank of lockers, where Tess was tying her shoes, and dropped down next to her.

“Tara suspended me.”

“What? Why?”

I filled Tess in.

“This sucks,” she said. “You’ll still help me with the fund-raiser, won’t you?”

“Of course.” I had to convince Tess not to do anything rash and just go to practice. I appreciated the solidarity, but I was secretly hoping that Tara would feel one game was punishment enough.

Liam was sitting in the lobby working on homework. He glanced up and jumped to his feet.

“You’re really early. What’s wrong?” he asked.

I told him what happened.

He hugged me and smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”

He took my hand and practically dragged me to his car. Despite me asking over and over, he refused to tell me where we were going.

I was being whisked away. I liked it.

A few minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of SkateWorld.

“Roller-skating?” I asked.

“It’s like ice-skating, only warmer.”

Liam got out, and I followed him to the door. “It’s closed,” I said.

Liam just grinned and pulled open the door.

“Now you’re breaking and entering? It’s closed,” I repeated.

Liam turned to me. “It’s fine. My friend Ben, his family owns the place. Their band practices here. Do you hear them?”

I did. He led me through the next set of doors, and the music was immediately louder.

“Liam!”

The music stopped as the three guys came over to us. Liam introduced me to Ben, who seemed like the leader; Theo, the drummer; and Matt, the keyboardist. They all seemed glad to see Liam.

“Play with us. Come on,” Ben said.

“Nah. Mind if we skate, though?”

“It’s all yours. Do you want some more lights on?”

“This is good.”

“Okay,” Ben said. “But I have the bass with me if you change your mind.”

Liam laughed.

We headed to the skate rental area and picked out skates and started lacing them up. “Why don’t you play with them? I don’t mind watching.”

Liam looked over to where the guys had started practicing again. He shook his head. “Makes me want it too bad.”

He stood up, moving easily in the skates. I had roller-skated before, but it had been a few years. He took my hands and got me to my feet, then moved me out onto the floor, skating backward the whole time.

“When can you cheer again?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Hopefully not too long.”

“It’ll be a nice break, won’t it?”

“No. I don’t want a break. I love cheering. I’ve done it forever. It’s who I am.”

“You’re way more than that,” he said. “Besides, we get to spend more time together.” He stopped skating, and I rolled right into his arms. Suddenly, we could hear the guitar on the other side of the rink launch into a long solo that drew Liam’s full attention.

“They asked me to join the band weeks ago,” he said, watching them.

“You said no?”

“My dad would never understand. He’s already upset about the college stuff, you…”

“Me?”

“Everything is a distraction until I choose army, navy, marines, or air force.” He brushed the hair from my face. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

Liam took me home, and I was still thinking about the news that his dad saw me as a distraction. Liam’s assurances did little to ease my worry.

I was going to bring up the topic again until I saw a woman getting out of a parked car. She started walking toward me, but she didn’t look familiar. This woman was young, perfectly manicured, and wearing an azure business suit that looked completely out of place in our neighborhood.

Liam shut off the engine and was at my side.

“Hi, you’re Mallory Dane, right?”

I nodded.

“I’m Christi Rea with Channel Four. I was interested in the piece that ran in
The Falcon’s Nest
this morning.”

“It’s just a school paper,” Liam said.

“Yes, but I’m working on a feature about sex in high schools and wanted to get your perspective on the situation.”

I glanced around, and as if she could read my mind, she added, “I don’t have my cameraman with me, but I would like to interview you for a segment, if you’ll agree to it.”

I looked up at Liam, who had his arm protectively around me. “You can say no,” he said.

I heard the door open and close behind me, and turned to
see Darby coming outside barefoot, picking her way across the grass to where we were standing.

“What’s going on? Are you okay, Mallory?” Darby walked up and stood beside me. “Who are you?”

The woman repeated what she had told me.

“And why would Channel Four be interested in some high school story?” Darby crossed her arms and gave the woman a look that said
Convince me
.

The woman sighed and flipped open a notebook. “Stieff and Reiden just completed a study that said despite the trend of movies and books that feature teens as sexually active, current data tells them that teen sexual activity is on the decline. North County High invited an abstinence speaker to its homecoming lineup and then this.” She held up one of the school papers. “It’s unusual to see someone like you, by all respects a popular cheerleader, taking such a stand for abstinence.”

“I’m not taking a stand on anything. That locker thing—it wasn’t my idea. And that article—I was just defending myself.”

“So why not share your story on a bigger level? Tell people why you chose to stay a virgin despite the pressures of high school.” The woman stood there waiting.

I looked over at Darby because, without sharing her story, I could only tell part of mine, anyway. And Darby had grown very quiet. She looked back at me, but I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. And I was keenly aware of Liam standing next to me as we spoke about sex.