Tripping Me Up (2 page)

THREE

HADLEY

“G
ive it back,” Ainsley squeals.

“No, it’s mine!” Adam hollers back.

Groaning, I grab my head in my hands. I’m sitting at the desk in my room, attempting to do homework. But I’m having trouble focusing past all the screaming. Storming to my bedroom door, I fling it open. Two-year-old Ainsley and four-year-old Adam stare up at me wide-eyed from where they are crouched on the floor, fighting over a toy car. Ainsley’s chubby cheeks are flushed, her curly blond hair shaking with the effort to hold on to the toy. Adam’s little fist is locked tight onto the car. His dark eyes are narrowed, his brown hair swaying with each movement. 

“What’s going on?” Mom comes rushing down the hallway, her
curly shoulder length blond hair disheveled, the mascara around her blue eyes smudged and pasta sauce painted down her apron.

“The little terrrors
are fighting again.” I place a hand on my hip.

“Hadley, would it kill you to be nice?” Mom asks in an exasperated tone.

Before I can answer, Adam pries the toy car from Ainsley’s fingers. This succeeds in angering Ainsley to the point where she lets out a blood curdling scream.

Holding my hands over my ears, I narrow my eyes at Mom. “Seriously? When are they going back to their mom’s?”

Ignoring me, Mom kneels down in front of them. “Ainsley, honey, it’s okay. Hush now.”

Shaking my head, I
tear down the hallway and right out the front door. After slamming it behind me, I relish the quiet. Breathing deeply, I walk toward the driveway and lean against Mom’s car. I'm surrounded by two story tract homes, well manicured lawns, and driveways filled with SUVs in all colors — so typical in our town of Folsom, California. I know I should be happy that Mom and I traded our small apartment across town for this nice suburban neighborhood. Then again, it also came with Rob and his two children. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that Mom met someone. After watching her drown her sorrows in wine and too much ice cream for years after she and Dad split up, it’s nice to see her enjoying life again. And actually when she first started dating Rob I was fine with it. Of course at the time I had no idea they would get married so soon. That might have changed my initial opinion a bit.

The only upside is that at
least the little kids are only here part time. The rest of the time they are a few miles away with their mom and her new husband. Of course, I’d be happy if Ainsley and Adam were never here. Who knew two little kids could wreak so much havoc? Being an only child, I was completely unaware.

“Hey, I didn’t know you lived here,” a voice cuts into my thoughts.

My head snaps up. When I catch sight of my unexpected visitor, my mouth drops open. “Tripp?” I have literally never spoken to him before, and now we’ve had multiple conversations in one day. How does that happen? I am acutely aware of the fact that I’ve just spent the past couple of hours studying, so I’m standing out here in my sweats with my hair pulled back in a ponytail. Not to mention the fact that I probably have chip crumbs on my face from the Doritos I snacked on in my room. I discreetly swipe a hand across my face, and then smooth down my hair with my fingertips. “Um…yeah, I just moved here a few weeks ago. You live around here?”

“Just a few houses down actually. I was just out walking my dog.” He indicates the golden retriever he has on a leash. The dog wags its tail and rubs its nose against my thigh. I reach down and pet him. “
This is Bruiser.”

“Hi
, Bruiser.” I stroke his fur one last time and then straighten up.

“I didn’t realize the family that lived here had moved,” Tripp says glancing over at the house.

“They didn’t. My mom sort of married the guy who lives here.” I scratch the back of my neck while chewing on the bottom of my lip nervously.

“Cool.” Tripp nods.

Tripp is sweaty, his hair practically plastered to his head. “How long have you been out walking the dog? You look like you just ran for miles.”

He
runs a hand over his head. “I just got back from football practice.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re on the football team. How could I have forgotten?” I try not to sound bitter, but I can’t help it. The football players are like freaking heroes at our school.
I think it’s just silly.

“
Look, Hadley,” Tripp says, “about earlier. I really am sorry.”

My stomach knots. “You’ve said sorry like a million times. Can you please drop it? It was nothing, really.”

“Fair enough.” He extends a hand to me. “Friends then?”

I step back, my gaze shifting around. “Is this some kind of joke, Tripp? Are you
r friends hiding in the bushes or something?” The street is deadly quiet. Still, I shade my eyes with my hand and squint, trying to spot anyone who might be around.

“What?” Tripp
screws up his face in a look of utter confusion. I wonder if he’s ever thought of taking up acting.

“
I know how your group works. I’ve already been on the receiving end of it once, so you can give up the little charade. I’m not biting. Find someone else to harass.” I push past him and run as fast as I can back into the house.

Once inside, I keep moving swiftly down the hallway
. I can hear cartoons coming from the family room and surmise that Mom got the little rugrats to shut up by bribing them with TV. Clattering in the kitchen tells me that Mom is back to cooking dinner. I slip inside my room, my heart hammering in my chest. As I plop down on my bed, my gaze slides out the front window. Tripp is still standing on the sidewalk staring at my house with a puzzled look on his face. His eyes lock on me as if I have a freaking target on my back. My insides coiling into tiny knots, I reach up and pull down the blinds. Not until the last one locks into place do I finally allow myself to take a deep, steadying breath.

“Are you really wearing that today?” I laugh, as I slide into the passenger seat of Paige’s car early in the morning.

“Is that really what
you’re
wearing?” Paige blinks at me from behind her fake, thick black rimmed glasses. She looks like she came straight out of an eighties movie with her hair in pigtails, wearing lens-less glasses, striped tights and a short skirt. I glance down at my jeans and sweatshirt and shrug. At least she’s not afraid to have a style that’s her own. If I could wear wallpaper to blend in I would.

“I’m just messing with you, Paige.” I pull the seatbelt over my waist. “I’d give anything to have your guts.”

She pulls away from the curb, a smile passing over her lips. “So you’re saying that a person would have to be brave to dress like me?”

“Yes,” I answer truthfully.

“But I still look hot, right?”

I giggle. “Of course.”

“So, have you had anymore run-ins with Tripp?”

My pulse spikes. “How’d you know?”

Her head whips in my direction and the car veers a little. I reach out a steadying hand. “Careful. Keep your eyes on the road.”

“Yeah, yeah, ten and two, I got it,” she says quickly. “Now get back to Tripp. I didn’t know you’d talked to him again. I was just teasing you.”

“Oh.” I really wish I hadn’t opened my big mouth now. “Apparently he lives a few houses down from my stepdad. I was outside trying to avoid the children when Tripp came walking up with his dog.”

“How cute.” Paige lifts her brows.

“He was a cute dog. His name’s Bruiser.”

Paige turns to me with an incredulous look on her face. “Seriously? I was not talking about the dog. I was talking about how cute it is that Tripp came over to talk to you.”

“He didn’t. He was just walking his dog. He had no idea where I lived.”

“But he does now,” Paige points out.

“A lot of good it will do.” I press my face against the cool glass of the window and watch the world blur past in an array of hypnotizing muted greens and browns.

“What do you mean?”

“I told him to leave me alone.”

“Why’d you do that?” She turns to me again, almost driving into oncoming traffic.

“Paige,” I say gruffly. “Please watch where you’re driving.”

“Man, you are the worst back seat driver ever.” Paige blows out a breath, righting the vehicle. “Just relax. Now tell me why you would push away the guy you’ve been crushing on for years when he finally starts to notice you.”

“He’s not starting to notice me, Paige.” I rest my head against the vinyl seat. “He’s just messing with me.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod. “As much as I wish it weren’t true, I know that it must be. I was a part of that group once. They don’t let anyone in unless you are one of them. Trust me, this is just some kind of sick game. I’m absolutely sure of it.”

“I’m sorry, Hads.” Paige’s voice softens.

“Don’t be. I don’t need them anyway,” I say, trying to sound braver than I feel. I sit forward as Paige turns into the parking lot, relieved to have made it to school unscathed. After Paige parks, I grab my backpack from near my feet and hoist it up. My muscles buckle under the weight of the heavy books. I pop open the car door and step outside, flinging the incredibly heavy backpack over my shoulder. Paige bounds out of the car, her pigtails swaying around her face.

We pass
through the crowd of rowdy students, and when we reach the hallway Paige pats my arm. “I’ll see you at lunch.”

“Yeah, see you then.” It sucks that Paige and I have no classes together. I turn away from her and head toward my locker. As I near it, I spot something stuck to the front. Squinting, I
reach my hand forward. An envelope is sticking out of the grates. Curious, I tear it open. When I do, a wadded up piece of binder paper falls out. I cringe.
This must be it.
This is the big joke Tripp was prepping for yesterday. With trembling fingers I open the remaining piece of paper nestled inside, and my gaze connects with the words.

Hadley – No matter what you think, I am sorry about yesterday. I understand if you don’t want to talk about it, but I thought I’d offer you a chance to even the score. Feel free to take your best shot. Tripp

I smile in spite of myself. Making sure that no one is looking, I bend down and retrieve the balled up piece of paper. Not that I’ll ever use it, but for some reason I don’t want to let it go just yet.

FOUR

TRIPP

M
y muscles ache as I turn the steering wheel on my car and head down the street toward my house. Sweat slides down my shoulder blades and beads along my forehead. Reaching up with my free arm, I swipe my forehead with the back of my hand. Then I brush my slimy palm over the soft fabric of my gym shorts in an effort to dry it. Practice went late today, and coach road my ass the entire time. Frustrated, I let out a groan. I wish I didn’t even have to be on the stupid team. It’s not like I even like football. However, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have a choice. I never do.

As my vehicle approaches
Hadley’s house, I glance out the window. She's in the driveway with her head down, so she doesn’t see me. I know I should just keep driving past and ignore her. But I’m curious if she got my note. More importantly, I’m wondering if she’s still angry with me or if my peace offering softened her at all.

Lowering my foot on the brake,
I slow the car and roll down my window. Sticking my head out, I say, “Hey, Hadley.”

Her head pops
up. Pressing her lips together, she offers a tight wave.

Yep, clearly she still has a chip on her shoulder.
“Did you get my note?”

She
nods wordlessly.

Man, this girl can sure hold a grudge. Even so, I press on.
“So should I be scared?”

“Of what?” She
asks, still standing in the same spot.

“Of you getting even,” I
answer with a smile. Maybe if I keep joking with her I can wear her down.

“No.”
She shakes her head, her expression hard. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m not anything like you or your friends. I don’t humiliate people for entertainment.”

Her words hit me like a sucker punch
. “Hadley, is that what you think? That I threw that paper in your face on purpose?”

“The only thing I think is that your car’s in my way.” 
She reaches for the door handle of the car in her driveway.

“It was an accident. I told you that.”

“I know what you said. I’ve also had experience with guys like you so forgive me if I don’t totally believe you.” She yanks the car door open, and gives me a stern glance. “Now can you please move your car? I have to run an errand for my mom.”

I nod, confused by her icy demeanor. Does she really have such a low opinion of me? It shouldn’t bother me. It’s not like Hadley’s one of my friends. In fact, I never even really noticed her until this week. But for some reason it does. I don’t want her to think I’m capable of being such a jerk. However, it’s obvious that there’s nothing I can say right now to convince her. So, I face forward and
return my foot to the gas pedal. Without looking back, I drive toward my house.

When I pull up to the curb I notice Dad’s car in the
driveway and fear grips me. I know he’s going to ask me why practice ran late. I can lie and tell him everything went fine, but Dad is friends with Coach Russell so eventually he’ll find out the truth. And the punishment will be even greater then. Steeling myself for what’s to come, I turn off the car and step outside. The autumn air is cool and feels good against my damp skin. I grab my backpack off the seat, and then head up toward the house.

The two story tract home looms above me reminding me of one of those haunted houses in the movies. I’m sure to everyone else my house looks the same as all the others,
with its large picture windows and plants out front. But that’s because they don’t live here. Before I can unlock the door, it flings open.

“Where have you been?” Dad bellows. His imposing frame fills the doorway, his eyes are bloodshot
, and the vein in his forehead throbs beneath his dark hair. He wears jeans and a t-shirt, and his muscles bulge under the fabric. His thick fingers clench in his palm.

Terror snakes around my heart squeezing hard
, but I stay perfectly still. It will just upset him more if I act skittish. I clear my throat, praying that my voice comes out strong and sure. “At practice.”

“Why did it go so late? You weren’t screwing around again, were you?”

I keep my head steady, my eyes trained on his. “No, sir.” A flash of red hair and pale white skin coupled with the scent of vanilla reveals that Mom must be near. Not as if that gives me comfort. She’s more afraid of Dad than I am. The days of hoping that she'll rescue me have long passed.

“Good.” He slaps me on the shoulder, but I don’t flinch even though it stings. It isn’t meant to. That was just a good-natured hit, not meant to inflict harm. Believe me, I know the difference. Dad guides me inside and I follow him, grateful that I seem to have appeased him for now. “
Coach Russell assures me it’s going to be a great season. Don’t do anything to screw that up, son. You know when I played high school football our team won the championship every year.”

“I know, Dad.” I’ve heard the story so many times it literally makes me sick to hear it again.

“And Coach Russell also told me that Sonya Ortega has had her eye on you.” Dad winks in a way that turns my stomach.

“Yes, I actually plan to ask her to the fall dance.”

“Well, what you are waiting for, son? She’s the perfect girl for you to date.”

I nod, knowing that I’ll do what he says. Besides, I suppose Sonya’s not that bad. She may be really high maintenance and kind of bitch sometimes, but she is hot
, and she can be sweet.

Mom glides into the room, wringing her hands. She lives in a state of nervousness, I swear. Even so, I can tell that she’s relieved for now. “Tripp, why don’t you get washed up for dinner?” Her voice is small and shaky. Her red hair is pulled back in a severe ponytail
, and dark circles ring her eyes. I’ve seen pictures of her from when she was younger, and she looks completely different. Sometimes I wonder what Mom would’ve turned out like if she had married someone else.

“Okay,” I say obediently. With my head down, I bound the stairs. Once I reach the top, I heave a sigh of relief. But I know I can’t afford to let down my guard. The night isn’t over. I’m not out of the woods yet.

After depositing my backpack into my room and grabbing some clean clothes, I head across the hall to the bathroom. I turn on the shower and step inside, allowing the steam to rise around me like a plume of smoke. Hot water beats down on my back, sliding over my skin and washing away the dirt and sweat. While I lather up, my mind wanders to Hadley. I picture her pale skin, her long brown hair, and her light caramel colored eyes that reveal so much. It’s those eyes that haunt me. I think they’re the reason I can’t get her off my mind. 

I shower quickly, knowing that Dad doesn’t like dawdling.
After sliding the curtain open, the rings squeaking on the metal rod, I step out causing water to pool at my feet on the spongy blue mat. While drying off, I glance up at my reflection in the mirror and then I know why Hadley’s eyes are so familiar; because they hold in them the same sadness I see in mine.