Ben was in somewhat of a good mood, which, in and of itself, was unsettling. He walked up to Ro, who was at her locker, and tried out a smile. It was a strange sensation. “You talked me into it. I am bringing the girls to the kickoff game.”
“Great.” Her own smile was forced.
He said, “Or is that not a good idea?”
“No, it’s great that you’re coming.”
She was clearly bothered. He said, “Are you pissed or something?”
“You’re gonna think it’s silly.” Ben waited. She said, “They just posted the spots on cheerleading for this year. I made it. Varsity.”
“Wow. I know that’s fiercely competitive. Congratulations.”
She said, “I didn’t make captain.”
“Okay.” He shrugged. “Sorry.”
“See, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you.” She stomped off.
“What’d I . . . ?” He had to jog a few steps to catch up with her. “I said sorry.”
“You think I’m acting like a spoiled brat.” She stopped walking and clamped her fingers on to his arm. “Don’t deny it. If you deny it, I’ll know you’re a first-class phony like I am and I’ll never speak to you again.”
“You’re not a phony.”
“Of course I’m a phony. I am the premier phony. I went up to Shannon and congratulated her like I was all excited and happy and all I could think was, How did this happen? I did, like, way better than she did.” Her eyes welled up with tears.
Ben was stunned. Even living with Haley, he had absolutely no understanding of girls. “Jeez, Ro.”
“See! That’s the ‘you’re a spoiled brat’ look. Don’t deny it.”
Again, she stomped off. Ben followed her. “It’s just that you come in here like gangbusters, snagging the alpha dog. You make the varsity squad, which is unheard of for a newcomer. What I’m really thinking is, how about a little deference for the homegirls, you know?”
“I can’t help the way I feel. Oh God, that’s Shannon. Don’t say anything.”
“I’ll catch up with you later,” he said.
But again Ro grabbed his arm with a firm grip. “Hey, Shannon. Congrats.”
“Thanks. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“You can talk in front of Vicks. It’s just Vicks.”
“Plain old Vicks,” he said.
Ro nudged him. “What is it?”
“I just don’t want you to be upset.”
“Me?” Ro pointed to herself. “Why would I be upset?”
“Because you were obviously better than I was and the only reason I made captain is because, like, I live here. I mean, you live here too, but you just came to the school. I got the spot because I . . . you know.”
“You did great. You deserve it.”
“No, I don’t. I wasn’t half as good as you. I do have eyes.”
“Look, we’re a team—”
“There’s no ‘I’ in team,” Ben said.
Ro elbowed him again. “C’mon. Stop talking nonsense. You deserve it, Shannon. Honestly.”
“No, I don’t. But thanks for saying that.” She was still reticent. “So you don’t think JD is mad?”
“No. Why should he be mad?”
“Because you’re his girlfriend and all . . .”
Said wistfully, Ben noted. Shannon used to be JD’s girlfriend. When Ro came, she was relegated to Ron Weekly—a first-class jerk—and the number two spot. But if she harbored any ill will toward Ro, she was masking it well.
Ro said, “I’m sure JD doesn’t care at all.”
“Okay. Good.” Shannon smiled. “Practice every day after school. We’ve got four days before Friday’s game.”
“I’ll be there.” Ro saluted. “I’ve got a few things to work out with Vicks. See ya.”
“See ya.” Shannon cartwheeled down the hallway then jogged away.
Ro zeroed in on Ben. “Don’t say anything, okay. Just listen. I know what I am. I’m competitive, but I also want to be popular. Why is that important to me? I have no idea, but it is. I’m a mass of insecurities.”
Ben started to say something, but instead just laughed. “You’re nothing if not honest.”
She shrugged. “I like talking to you.”
“That won’t get you far in the popularity department.”
“You know, I’ve got everyone’s ear here. You’re not as low down on the food chain as you’d like to play yourself.”
“I’m not a freak, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“Well, kind of a freak. You’re not on Facebook or Instagram or Reddit.”
“You looked me up?”
“I wanted to friend you.”
“Yeah . . . I don’t do social media.”
“You’re so busy that you don’t have a minute to catch up with friends?”
He smiled, but said nothing, thinking to himself: What friends?
She smiled back. “Want to watch me at practice after school?”
“I can’t. I have to take Haley and Lilly to Santa Clara Pueblo today. It’s Lilly’s grandfather’s birthday and there’s a big communal celebration.”
“Lilly’s Native American? She looks Chinese.”
“She is half Chinese, half Santa Clara. Both of her parents are senior scientists and work at Los Alamos. The Tafoyas live in River Remez, but Dr. Tafoya has an ancestral home there. I mean, the homes aren’t ancestral but the land is. You can come if you want . . . to the celebration. It should still be going on way after practice.”
“Where is the Santa Clara pueblo?”
“Thirty-eight miles from here. I could come and pick you up. I think I’m taking your little brother too. Haley said something about a new boy wanting to see it when Lilly told him about her family and the pueblo. Griffith?”
“Griffen. Yes, that’s my brother. I don’t think I’m going to be done with practice until like eight or nine.”
“Up to you. Give me a call if you change your mind.”
“I don’t have your phone number.”
“That can be remedied.” Ben gave her the number. “I might actually rack up minutes on my calling plan if you decide to use it.”
Ro smiled at him. “Did you ever read Winnie-the-Pooh?”
“Eeyore, right?”
“Absolutely. Like you, there’s something adorable about his gloominess. I think underneath that morose fa?ade is—”
“Someone very depressed?”
She laughed. Then she smiled and waved good-bye. For a brief moment he really wished he could come to her practice. He would have loved to look up her dress. But once he got up there, he wouldn’t have a clue about what to do.
Chapter 5
There was no direct way to get to the Santa Clara pueblo from River Remez. Ben decided that rather than take the roads—most of them rutted pathways of dirt and gravel and mud after the recent rains—he’d take the highway, which meant backtracking into town. That was okay. Lilly and Haley and their new friend, Griffen, wanted to shop for groceries for the party.