Parker's Island (2 page)

Molly knew she was losing the battle before it even began.  It wasn’t the only time we’d had this conversation.  I stared out the window and didn’t say a word.  She sighed and said, “Okay, have it your way.  But I’m going to that party
and I’m going to have the time of my life
,
with or without you.”

“Molly, you know I can’t go, and I really wish you wouldn’t either.  You know there’s going to be drugs
and alcohol
and heaven only knows what else
there
,
” I turned
and pleaded with her with my eyes
as she pulled into my driveway. 

“I guess we’ll both just have to agree to disagree.
  You know I’m not going to do anything stupid
,” s
he said, unlocking the doors so I could get out.

“Thanks for the ride
,
” I said and smiled at her, knowing we were both at an impasse
,
and neither side was going to give in.

“See you in the morning?”
s
he
asked
, trying to make amends.

“
Yes. 
Still
b
est
b
uddies
f
orever
?
” I
asked
,
hoping it
would make her smile.  We’ve been saying that to each
other since first grade, using it any time
either
of us
was angry with the other.

“You know we are.  I’ll pick you up in the morning
,
if you want?”
s
he said.

“I think I’ll walk
.  T
he cool air is nice in the morning, but thanks anyway.”

“Okay, call if you change your mind
,
”
s
he said and smiled sadly as she drove away, knowing that there was no way I was going to that party with her. 

Weeks rolled by
. 
Christmas vacation was fine, but
very long.
  Actually, I was really looking forward to going back to school.  I hadn’t seen Logan in two weeks and it reminded me that soon
,
school would be out forever and then I’d never see him
.  I didn’t know where he lived, or
anything
about him
and I doubted he’d tell me.  I wanted to ask him where he was going to college, but didn’t know how to broach the subject.

“You’re such a coward!” I said to myself on the morning of the first day back.  “Just ask him
.  H
e’s not going to bite your head off!” I was trying to give myself a pep talk on the way to school, but I didn’t feel very confident once I walked into first period and saw those beautiful eyes. 

“Hi
,
” was all I could manage as I sat down next to him. 

“Hi
.  H
ow was your holiday?”
h
e asked.

Was I imagining this, or did he actually ask me a question?  “Oh, um it was fine
,
” I said, stuttering my way through one small sentence.  “How w…was yours?”

“It was…
quiet
,
”
h
e said, looking like he wanted to say more, but then stopped and looked down at the desk. 

Here’s your chance, I thought…
“Um, I was won….”

Just then
C
had walked over and sat down next to me. 

“Hey Laney, how was your Christmas?
  Get anything good?
” I hated it when he called me
Laney
, he seemed to think that it was endearing
, but I found it very annoying
.
 
My name was Delaney and
i
f I had the guts, I’d correct him, but once again the coward
in me
reared its ugly head. 

“It was fine, thanks
,
” I said, frustrated. 
I was finally in an actual conversation with Logan and Chad had to ruin it.  Go figure!

“So, I was wondering…
” Chad began
,
“
a
re you planning on going to our graduation party?  I know you don’t actually date, but maybe we could take the ferry
over together and then see what happens?”  The charming smile that followed just about made me nauseous.  I didn’t understand the fascination most girls had with him,
and
I certainly didn’t find him the least bit appealing.
Actually, I found him to be rather unsettling.  There was something about him that I
just
couldn’t put my finger
on
,
but
I was almost frightened of him. 

“Oh, um
,
thanks, but I’m probably not going to go.”  I knew I wasn’t going, but I really didn’t feel like arguing about why
.
 

“Your loss,” he said, covering up the sting of rejection, something he most certainly wasn’t used to.  Every other girl would give their right arm to go out with him, but not me.
  There was no kindness in Chad’s eyes,
only a harshness that made me
almost fearful
, n
ot like Logan’s eyes. 
His eyes
were always soft, even when the rest of his face was
intense
.  H
is eyes were clear and thoughtful.

Chad strutted off and I g
ladly
turned back to finish
talking to Logan
,
but
realized it was too late.  He was already engrossed in his text book, a sure sign our conversation was over. 
I sighed and pulled my book out of my backpack, content to at least be sitting next to him again after two very long weeks.

I knew it was crazy to feel so much for a guy I knew absolutely nothing about.  He was a huge mystery, and maybe that was part of the fascination. 
I was certainly not the only one fascinated with
him
.  H
e had almost every head turned in his direction for the first few months of school
; t
hat was until he had turned each one of them down
, very politely
,
one after the other.  So now, instead of fawning all over him, they talked about him like he was this horrible person.  I just didn’t see it.  I have never heard an unkind word from those beautiful lips, even when he heard some of the nasty comments about himself
.
H
e simply shrugged it off as if it didn’t matter to him in the least.  

Some of the more popular girls were talking about him
in the bathroom
when they didn’t know I was there.  Two of the three were unusually cruel and it only took me a few minutes to figure out why they hated him. 
Like Chad, they were also not use
d
to being rejected
.  So, instead of accepting
his “no thank you” after they asked him out, they turned on him
, making snide comments that he
wouldn’t know what to do with them anyway. 

Haley Williams was the worst
.  N
o one had ever turned her down before
,
and she had made it a point to spread the nastiest of rumors about him.  On this particular day, Haley was talking to Chelsea Winters and Candace
Simmons
and
then they
started tal
king about me. 

“So, I guess
‘
Miss Goody Two Shoes
’
isn’t going to the party
.  N
o
b
i
g surprise there
,
” Haley said
sarcastically
while brushing out her long mane of blonde hair.

“Of course Delaney’s not going
.  H
er parents would
n
ever
approve
,”
Chelsea sneered.

“
Hayley,
I wonder
if it’s Delaney you don’t like, or could it have
something to do with the way that Logan looks at her?”
Candace asked.

H
ow does he look at me
?
I thought to myself, sitting as quiet as a mouse in the last stall
, holding my feet up off the floor
and feeling completely ridiculous
. 

“I don’t really give a dam
n
how Logan looks at anyone.
  He means nothing to me
,
” Haley glared at Chelsea.

“Glad to hear it
,
” Candace grinned, obviously irritated with her friend for some reason.

“Why would I care about Logan
? 
I
’m going to the party with Chad.
  He just asked me
today
at lunch
,
” Hayley grinned, thrilled that they may be getting back together again.

“So
,
Delaney turn
s
him down
this morning and then he
go
es
running back to you?” C
andace said.

“What do you mean Delaney turned him down?”
s
he snarled.

“Oh
,
yeah
,
Chad asked her to go with him to the party this morning in first period.  Guess you’re second choice
,
” Candace said
,
starting to
sound a little
guilty
now
.

“
God Candace, what’s with you?”
Chelsea chime
d in, surprised that their long-
time friend could be so mean
. 
“
T
his isn’t like you.”

“Sorry,
” Candace said, looking contrite.

“Did Chad really ask Delaney to our graduation party this morning?” 
Hayley
asked
, looking crushed.

“Um…
no
, not really.  I’m
sorry
,
”
s
he lied. 
“I
was just pissed at you for telling
Jeff
that I didn’t like him
,
” Candace said while looking down, trying to hide the truth in her eyes.

“Well
,
you don’t like him.”

“He’s a nice guy, and you didn’t need to be so mean.
  Come on, let’s get back to class
,
” Candace said, wishing she’d never said anything at all about Chad, Delaney or Logan.

I
stepped o
ut of the bathroom stall
feeling
confuse
d
.  I
washed my hands and wondered what Candace meant about the way Logan looks at me.  Did he even look at me
?  I was certain they were wrong.  I dried my hands and headed to
my next
class.

I walked into fifth period and glanced at Logan
.  H
e was staring out the window.
  Suddenly I was even more self-
conscious
around him
.
  I wondered what Candace meant about the way he looks at me.  I sat down next to him and said
,
“Hi.”

“Hi.  Are you ready for the chemistry test next period?”
h
e asked.

“Um, yes…
I think so.  I studied for it, but I’m sure I’m not as prepared as you are.” 

“I’m sure you’ll do very well
,
”
h
e grinned.

“Easy for you to say
; y
ou never have to study for anything.”  It was tru
e.
I didn’t think he ever studied.  He always
got perfect scores on all of his tests and assignments.
It was somewhat aggravating to always sit by the smartest guy in the school, but all I had to do was to look into those beautiful eyes and I
completely forgot about my irritation
.

“I study!”
h
e said, looking a bit annoy
ed
with
me.