“Doesn’t matter.”
She turned on rock, then thought better of it and turned on easy listening. “A little intense for heavy metal.”
Ben was silent. He turned down the heat so he could be heard. “Uh, let me get a couple of thoughts out, okay?”
“Sure.” Her voice was timid.
“Dorothy, I know it’s been hard for you being here. But it’s been a real boon for me. I want to thank you for making the effort to be nice to me.” He glanced at her. “I’m glad you came to River Remez. And by the looks of your popularity, so is everyone here . . . glad you came. It certainly was good for Haley. She and Griffen . . . they’re really cute together.”
Her smile was heartfelt. “Those two really are a pair.” A grin. “Ah, young love.”
“Yeah, it’s sweet.” His voice grew soft. “Ro, you’ve given me a lot of insight and you’ve also given me the push to say something to Shanks.”
Ro got excited. “You set up an appointment with him?”
“I’m going to do it this week, as promised.”
“Can I come?”
“No.”
“Why not? I want to meet him.” She punched his shoulder lightly. “We’re a team.”
“We’re not a team, but you’ve helped me tremendously. Thank you.”
“Vicks, there is no one on this planet that I admire as much as you.”
“Thanks, but let me finish, okay?” A protracted silence. “Next semester I’m changing my schedule. I’m not going to be around much. I mean, I’ll be around if like you need help in math—”
“Stop it already.” Ro felt her heart beat a little faster. “What’s going on?”
“I’m taking some upper-division classes at UNM. They’re scheduled Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesdays and Fridays, I’m going to be interning at Circuitchip.”
“The computer chip maker?”
“Yeah, they are the largest business in Albuquerque—Rio Rancho actually. It’s a big opportunity for me. Like working for Google or Amazon, but closer to home. That means I’ll be down south Tuesday through Friday. That’s what I was doing yesterday. Working it out with the school.”
Ro felt her eyes go moist. “You’re done with high school?”
“No, I’ve got government and an English class. I’ve talked to Mr. Gomez and a couple of the teachers. They’ve agreed to give me independent study. I’ll be there all day Monday, but I’m not doing any more TA-ing or stuff like that.”
Panic hit her and she had no idea why. She barely saw Ben at school. But in the back of her mind, she always knew he was there. “How long have you known about this?”
“Like I said, most of this happened yesterday, but I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
“You never said anything.”
“I wasn’t sure. You know, doing the adult thing . . .” He gave her a forced smile. “If I lived in River Remez, I’d need a car. I didn’t want my dad to fork out the money. It’s a car, it’s gas, it’s insurance. I won’t be living at home. In Albuquerque, they’ve got buses to Circuitchip and my grandparents don’t live too far from the university. I’ll be staying with them.”
Ro stared out the windshield. “Will you be here over the weekend?”
“Yeah, my grandparents have a spare car that’s not great for a daily driver but it’s fine for the weekends. I’ll have to come home on Sunday to go to school on Monday. So I’ll be here a couple of days.” He touched her arm and she jumped. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
He said, “Take care of my sister for me, okay? I’m serious about this. She’ll be fifteen this summer. She looks even older. I’m worried.” Panicked, actually. “I’ll see what Shanks says, but regardless, I won’t rest until this monster is caught. Take care of her, take care of Lilly too. They’re much more likely to listen to you than to me anyway.”
“Of course I’ll watch over them. They’re my buds.” Ro looked down. “Are you going to attend graduation?”
“I’m planning on it. Anyway, you know how twelfth grade is. Everyone’s just about checked out. I’m just doing it a little early.”
“That’s good, Vicks. Sounds like you’ve got it figured out.”
“I’m trying my best.” A pause. “And I’m sincere about helping you raise your SAT math score. Any of the Ivies would be lucky to have you.”
She didn’t answer.
He said, “Ro, I know this guy. Grant Statler. He’s really wealthy. His family used to be in the hotel business.” No response. “Uh, his dad works for a hedge fund in L.A. He just finished his first semester at Ha-vard, of course.”
Still no response.
“His grandparents have a summer home in Santa Fe. We used to go to camp together. He’s probably the closest friend I have, and that’s not because of me. He’s a great guy. If you go back east, I’ll give him a call. I’m sure he’d love to take you around.” When she didn’t say anything, Ben tapped the wheel again. “I’ve got something else to tell you.”
“What? You’re gay?”
“No, I’m not gay.” Ben was taken aback. “I’m a little nerdy, but why would you think I’m gay?”
“I dunno. The car’s beginning to feel like a confessional.”
Not far from the truth. “I lied to you on Friday. I never had any intention of hiking Mount Baldy today. I made up something to tell my mom because I didn’t want to tell her the truth. I am going hiking, but my plan is to look for Katie Doogan. Give it one last shot before I go to Shanks. I didn’t want her to know. And I didn’t want you to know. This is not something that I want you to be a part of.”
“Well, Vicks, I’m here and unless you intend to turn the car around, it looks like you’re stuck with me.”
“Ever been to Albuquerque?”
“Not really.”
“It’s an interesting city. It’s got some good art museums—”
“No, no, no,” Ro said. “I’m coming with you.”
“You’ll distract me.”
“So I won’t talk, okay? I’ll stay ten feet behind you like a good squaw. Or is that politically incorrect to call a Native American a squaw?”
Ben didn’t answer anything.
“This is all a mess!” Ro shook her head but refused to cry. “It’s because of JD, right?”
“That I’m looking for Katie Doogan?”
“That you’re leaving the school.”
“It has nothing to do with JD or you or high school. It’s about me doing what I need to do to jump-start my life.”
“Would you stay in Remez High if I broke up with JD?”
“Absolutely not.”
She crossed her arms. “Then it doesn’t matter to you one way or the other?”
“What matters to me doesn’t count. It’s what you want.” Silence. “Do me a favor, okay?”
“I’m not doing anything for you. I’m pissed at you.”
“Why? Because for once I didn’t follow your script?” She didn’t answer. “If you ever do break up with JD, let me come with you.”
“I don’t need you. I can handle my own affairs.”
“I’m asking you this one thing, okay. Let me come with you.”
“I’m not breaking up with him.”
“Then there’s no issue.”
“At least not until after the winter dance.” A pause. “I already bought the dress.”
Ben laughed. “Well, there’s a reason to stay with a guy.”