Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail

Clarissa pursed her lips and scanned the hallways again. "So are you staying here today? It's going to be boring."

I shrugged and opened my locker. Our classes weren't even being taught anymore so I didn't need any books, but I still felt bereft without one. "I guess. I feel weird skipping again. Look at what happened yesterday." I wanted her to go away. She reminded me of bad things.

"Yeah, but yesterday was an aberration. It won't happen again. We're not going tubing today—"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "What do you want, Clarissa? I've learned that you usually have an agenda."

Score one for me.

Clarissa stood taller and then flashed a wolfish grin. "Look at you. You've grown fangs. Little bunny fangs, but fangs nonetheless. I'm sure they'll draw blood on someone. Maybe someone with dementia, but still."

I flushed. "You don't have to make fun of me."

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Clarissa immediately apologized and actually looked it. "I went into automatic defense. I'm used to it when I deal with the other girls here. Sometimes I forget that you're not like everyone else. It's refreshing. It's why I really am sorry because I really do like you. I didn't think I would, not for years. Brady always talked about you even when he and I used to hook up, but I just thought you were some stupid novelty to him. Then you finally came around and I saw it. I saw why he likes you so much. You're…I don't know how to explain it. You're not like anyone else."

That was…I grabbed a book and hugged it to my chest. "Okay…well, I'm going to go."

"Where are you going? I'm in your first period and our teacher closed the class last week. We don't have class."

"I'll go to the library then." Libraries were safe, lots of corners to hide in.

Clarissa nodded with a knowing look in her eyes. "Listen, I'm heading out to the Corner Diner. Everyone should be hanging there most of the day so if you want, you could come any time. It don't matter. I'll probably be there all day wasting time."

She started to walk backwards, towards the parking lot.

"I'm still staying in school today."

"Okay. See you…sometime then…" Then she was gone with a small wave. And why did I feel like I should've gone with her? Clarissa had proved I couldn't trust her. She still had feelings for Brady. For that reason alone, I shouldn't be friends with her. Then why did I feel like I was missing out on something?

"I'll have fun today. I don't need classes to have fun…" And I didn't so I went to the library and found a corner to hunker down. A part of me did feel foolish because seniors didn't have to be in school for the last week, but the truth was that I didn't know where else to go. Brady worked during the day and I went to school. I suppose I could've stayed home, but I shuddered at that situation.

Later when the last bell of the day rang, I lifted my head and yawned. I'd read most of the day, fallen asleep a couple times, and emerged only once to find something to eat. After that I had stayed put and eventually curled back into a ball on the floor.

Now, as I was headed home, I passed the Corner Diner and glanced over. Sure enough, Clarissa was right. The parking lot was overflowing with cars and a few trucks filled with water tanks. Some guys held water balloons behind their backs and I sighed in slight amusement. At least I wasn't there where I would've gotten drenched. Brady was probably there. Brady was probably the one who had the idea.

When I got home, I was surprised to see the front door propped open by a potted plant. The screen door flapped open briefly every now and then, but as I stepped inside, I was met with siesta music and the smell of baked jalapenos. My grandmother sashayed around the kitchen with the pepper apron on and her hair swept up in a high ponytail. She looked showered and refreshed.

"Hey." I was cautious. I never knew what I was going to get now.

"Hi!" Viola turned with a bright smile on and a forced twinkle in her eyes.

My heart fell. It was all a show. "How are you?"

My grandmother chuckled heartily as she produced a pan of muffins from the oven. "I'm good. I'm good. Why wouldn't I be good?"

I let my bag drop from my fingers. "Are you okay?"

"What—huh?"

I'd never seen my grandmother like this. She was the kind to tackle whatever demon or obstacle lay in front of her and hoot and holler as she did. This Viola looked like the type that I knew she detested. She was faking. And she was bad at it.

"You're singing and you're dancing and you're baking?"

Viola deadpanned, "Yeah. Why?" Her pan of muffins didn't waver in her jalapeno potholders.

"I had sex with Brady." I took a deep breath. Let's get this started.

My grandmother took a breath and then another one. The muffins started to waver now.