Chapter 7

I sat down at Anna's table with her, and Natalie invited me with a nod of her head and a smile, then she went on talking with the girl next to her. The girl had natural-looking brown hair and tan plastic-rimmed glasses. A hemp necklace circled her neck and a few silver bracelets were clasped around her wrist. She wasn't exactly the definition of skinny, but she wasn't fat either. I decided that her build was more muscular; an athletic body.1

Anna had started a conversation with the girl on the other side of her, who I soon learned was Brittany. Brittany had dyed black hair, styled similar to mine. It was obvious that she used to have her eyebrow pierced, however, the hole was nearly obsolete. Her laugh was a bit annoying, but her teeth sparkled white and left her smile gleaming.2

I started eating, letting Anna talk with her friends. My eyes scanned over to the table where Kelsey normally sat. Jamie was sitting with a few other girls and one of their boyfriends. The way her head peered over the crowd, she was obviously searching for the absent Kelsey and me.3

Swiveling my body to look on the other side of the cafeteria, I found the table that Mike normally ate at before he came over by Kelsey. She sat in a chair next to him, her body leaning against him. Mike had an arm around her waist, and she didn't have a tray at all in front of her. On the other hand, Mike was stuffing his face with what looked like a corn dog, a brownie, some sort of mixed veggies and a carton of milk. He kissed her cheek after washing down part of his main course, and I turned back to the table I was sitting at as I heard my name.4

Anna was introducing me to Brittany and I nodded my head, whispering a soft greeting. Brittany giggled and I quickly took a forkful of my salad to keep me from wincing. Anna leaned over and whispered something into Brittany's ear and Brittany covered her mouth as she giggled again. Both of them looked at me and smiled, I buried my face in my tray and concentrated on my food.5

I finished my lunch and waited for Anna, then we both dumped our trays and headed back to the table. Everyone else was engulfed in their own conversations when we sat down, but they quieted quickly. I looked over them all and then over at Anna. She looked back at me and smiled, then looked over to her friends.6

“So,” Anna said aloud. “We needa find this girl a date for the dance.”7

My cheeks reddened and I looked at her in disbelief. Natalie perked her eyebrows as she looked over at Anna. I could see her mouthing something to Anna, but Anna just shook her head.8

“No, really. I don't even wanna go--” I was cut off by one of the two guys at the table who was sitting between Brittany and the other girl I didn't know.9

“I'll take you,” he said.10

My eyes cut off of Anna and locked on his. They were a soft amber color, his hair a sandy blonde.11

“But I don't even know--”12

“Relax, Dani,” Anna chimed in. “It'd be merely for the discount. Right, Justin?”13

She gave him a glare and he nodded. The boy next to him chuckled. He had braces and red hair, freckles painted on his face like a monochrome stipple piece. His hair was shaggy and curled a bit past his ears, meeting his equally-freckled neck.14

“You mean we can't find her someone better?” the girl Natalie was talking to added.15

I slouched in my chair, not wanting to add into this conversation.16

“Shut up, Helen. You're brother'll pay. Won't you, Justin?” Anna replied.17

When I looked over at the girl who made the comment, I realized how much she looked like Justin. From the amber eyes to the thin lips they looked almost identical save the hair color. I didn't know how I didn't notice it before, but they definitely looked like siblings.18

“Yeah, yeah, I'll pay,” Justin gave in.19

“I can –” I break in, but Anna nudged me.20

“Let him pay, hun. He needs to learn how to be chivalrous.”21

The entire table laughed except for Justin.22

“Yeah, yeah,” he jokes.23

“So are they twins?” I asked Anna as we walked to Mrs. Genaldi's room, Brittany trailing somewhere close behind as she had Mr. Olson's class next.24

“Who? Helen and Justin?”25

I nodded.26

“No. Helen's a senior and Justin's a junior.”27

Anna followed me into the art room and immediately put her arm around my waist, pulling me closer as we walked over to our usual table. We set our bags down and sat on the stools. I pulled out my sketchbook as Anna pulled out hers. She got up and grabbed some of Mrs. Genaldi's drawing pencils while I stared at the picture of Kelsey. Anna set the pencils down on the table and stood behind me.28

“It's looking really good, hun. Just make sure you completely erase your outline of that jackass off of the page.”29

Mrs. Genaldi walked in carrying her lunch as Anna said this and gave her a warning to watch her language. Anna apologized and we giggled.30

I picked up one of the pencils and started adding a few lines. Anna took my hand in hers and guided it slightly against the paper. Her hands were so soft and I could feel her warm breath against my neck as she concentrated on the drawing. I bit my lip at this different sensation, watching an image appear before my eyes, a collaboration, Kelsey's frame materializing.31

We sat like that nearly the entire class period, her hand against mine, simply drawing. Every once in awhile I took control and made it look more like Kelsey, but then she'd take over again to make it look more realistic. Our combination made a perfect team.32

After some time, Mrs. Genaldi came over to spectate.33

“There is still hope for this drawing,” she repeated from a previous meeting.34

I smiled, Anna and I placed the pencil down, Kelsey looking back up at me. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to give it to her anymore, but I was happy to have completed it. When we had put all but one of the drawing pencils back, Mrs. Genaldi went back to setting up for the next class.35

Anna and I sat back down at the table, and I put my sketchbook back in my bag, Anna keeping hers out. She started making lines on her paper, and I merely watched for awhile. After a few minutes I broke the silence.36

“What did you say to Brittany at the lunch table?” I recalled when they whispered and giggled then looked over at me.37

Anna seemed to be pretending that she hadn't heard anything at first, but then replied, “Just talking about how lucky I am.”38

I looked at her with a quizzical look on my face, her cheeks reddening and she continued, “And how cute you are.”39

Now it was my turn for my cheeks to turn hues. “You mean she knows that you're...”40

“Bi? Yeah. She's gay, herself,” Anna continued to draw as if she had conversations like this all the time. “I actually went out with her last year after I broke up with Nate.”41

I nodded and looked over at Anna's drawing, starting to realize that she was actually drawing Mrs. Genaldi working at her desk, grading art projects.42

I lowered my voice to a whisper, “So she knows?”43

Anna nodded, still talking in her normal tone. “I was in here all the time with Brittany last year. If she didn't know, she'd be blind.”44

I smiled slightly at Anna's laugh and then watched her draw again. We stayed in silence the rest of the class period, only shuffling when the bell rang. I waited for her to put her materials away.45

“Where're you headed?” she asked.46

“Computer lab for Mr. Partricks, you?”47

“Spanish with Senora. I'll meet you at your locker after school?”48

I nodded and she pulled me into a tight hug, and I returned it. She kissed my cheek but she broke off from the hug before I could kiss her back. As soon as she left my arms, students started filing into the room. I followed her out the door and waved as I went the other direction.49

As soon as I walked into the computer room, I could hear the soft whir of the couple dozen machines. A few of the students were already rolling across the room in the chairs, but Mr. Patricks was yet to be seen.50

I found a desk next to the only girl I really knew in that class, Michelle. She could easily have been the younger sister of the boy that sat next to Justin at lunch. Freckles spread across her face and wire-framed glasses circled her eyes. She looked as though she could have used the braces the boy wore, and her hair was like fire, spreading down to her lower back. I guessed that she was probably taller than Anna's friend; long, slender legs registered her somewhere just shy of six feet. She was very awkward-looking with her disproportional body.51

Just then Mr. Patricks walked in with a yellow pad of lined paper and he slapped it down on a center table. He bellowed out, “Sign up!”52

A few students, including me went to the paper with a pen, the rest groaned because they forgot to pick their topic.53

“No two alike, now. I want those that haven't picked their topics to back away from the computers until they have their name and topic written on this sheet of paper.” He held up the pad just before I was about to scrawl my name on it. “Be as specific as possible, then start researching. Mr. Jackson, your librarian friend, and myself will be here for counseling if you get stuck.”54

He sat down the pad of paper and then went to a side table with Mr. Jackson and they started conversing.55

Danielle Allen Abusive Relationships56

I scribbled down my name and topic quickly before I returned to the desk with my bag by it. I went to the student databases just how our research packet told us to do and typed in my topic. I received dozens of hits and started skimming through them, printing out whatever I thought looked like some good information.57

Peering over at Michelle's computer I read a few titles relating to Mia Hamm and American soccer, remembering that Michelle was probably going to be placed into varsity soccer this year.58

I brought out a highlighter and started marking down important information when the bell rang.59

“Back in here tomorrow!” Mr. Patricks called to the backs of about twenty students as they paraded out the door to the end of another day.60

I couldn't get to my locker fast enough, knowing I'd see Anna once again.61

I saw her coming down the hallway, her bag slung over her shoulder, talking to some guy I didn't recognize, although as he came closer he looked more familiar. I shut my locker door as they came up next to it.62

“Ready?” Anna asked.63

I nodded and we started heading for the front of the building. Anna waved to the boy as we split by the front doors.64

“See ya, Anna.”65

“Later, Jon.” she replied.66

I looked at her as we walked to her car, and she read my mind. “Natalie's brother. I'm going with him to the dance.”67

I nodded and stepped into her car as she loaded into the driver's seat.68

“Ready for your first day into the real world?” she winked and brought her car to life.69

We pulled into the back lot of the record store and walked through the back entrance. She led me into her dad's office and shuffled through a filing cabinet and found a little plastic pin that read “Dani” on it.70

“Dad wanted to put 'Danielle' but I told him, no.”71

She smiled over at me. And then went to the other side of the office, remembering something.72

“We need to find you a uniform shirt, too. Otherwise whatever jeans you wear or whatever should be fine...” her voice trailed off as she flipped through some black and neon-colored t-shirts with “Round-A-Bout Records” printed diagonally across it.73

She tossed me a shirt and then started looking in a different drawer, pulling out a crumpled up tee with her name tag already on it. I was just about to ask her where I should change when she turned her back to me and pulled off her shirt. I completely froze where I was standing. My eyes scanned her shoulders, and down her back, her muscles moving as she pulled on her work shirt.74

Anna turned around and realized I was watching her, her cheeks reddened, but by the way mine burned, I could tell I was a darker shade than her. She just chuckled and walked to the door.75

“It's not like it's nothing you don't see looking into a mirror, hun,” she winked and walked out the door.76

As soon as the door shut, I felt my blood rushing back through me, allowing me to regain motion. I quickly stripped off my t-shirt and put on the one she tossed to me. I discarded the shirt I wore at school where Anna put hers and slipped through the door she had just exited through. I found her across the hall and walked up to her.77

“Here's the time clock. It's really simple – just punch in your employee number and hit enter. Dad hates it, he'd rather us just write down when we get in, but whatever.” She punched in and then made room for me.78

I looked at her, “Uh...”79

“Right, your number...” She scanned over a sheet of paper that was chained to the wall near the clock, realizing that it was alphabetical by last name she went back to the top of the page. “Ah.. Allen...You're number is... 26.”80

I mimicked her previous action and hit enter on the clock. It made a beeping noise, telling me I was in.81

For awhile she just showed me through how they ran things. She pointed out to me where a few things were in the store, showed me where they kept things in the back room and where new shipments came in. She also showed me how to use the cash register and taught me the most efficient ways to get things done right. Anna also introduced me to the day worker, Jeremy, before he finished his shift. He looked to be about thirty-something, wider than he was tall, with an overabundance of facial hair that made up for the lack of hair on the top of his head.82

Jeremy left within an hour of us showing up. Anna and I restocked shelves most of the time. She mainly took care of the customers, wanting me to get used to where things were first. The store was bigger than most of the local record stores, but it wasn't as large as places like Best Buy or Sam Goody.83

I nudged Anna while she leaned over a CD rack as a couple walked into the store. We both chuckled softly to ourselves as we realized it was the same couple that had been here on Friday. They walked up to Anna, still bickering amongst themselves.84

“The man that was here on Saturday tried selling us a different stereo system than you had showed us on Friday,” the woman said. “Could we get a little more information on it?”85

“But I like the one she showed us, honey,” the man said to her.86

I had to look into the CD bin so they didn't see the smile cracked across my face. Anna ushered them over to the stereo wall and started showing them the stereos once more.87

I looked up as I heard my name.88

“Dani could you please do register for a minute?” Anna called across a few aisles of DVDs.89

I nodded and headed over to the register where a couple of girls were putting CDs on the counter. I recognized them right away from my photography class. They're the ones that Kelsey had sat next to earlier that day. I don't think they realized who I was.90

When I had finished ringing up a few CDs, a couple DVDs and a pack of gum that the blonde girl laid on the counter last minute, they patted their pockets like they were looking for their money. I put their purchases in a bag and set it on the counter, waiting for them to procure nearly seventy dollars.91

“I think I left all my money at home,” one girl said in an almost fake-surprised tone as she checked her last pocket.92

“Shit, me, too!”93

The girls looked towards each other and then down an aisle a little ways away.94

“Kels, sweetie?” the blonde called down it. “Could you pick this up for us?”95

“Yeah...” the blonde's friend said with a sarcastic-sounding tone, “We'll...uh...pay you later.”96

The girls giggled and waited for Kelsey to come out of the aisle. They grabbed the bag and walked off before Kelsey even got to the register.97

She didn't see me at first, looking at the total price.98

“Shit...” she said under her breath.99

Her hands reached into her pockets to pull out a few crumpled bills. I picked them up off of the counter and her eyes followed my arm up. Her eyes dropped immediately as ours met and she continued to search her pockets. She brought up a few more bills but was still short of her total. I reached into my pocket as Anna came up behind me, carrying a large stereo. I brought up a few more bills and as Anna set the box down, she cleared the difference. I handed Kelsey the receipt and Anna put the change in the tip jar. As Kelsey walked briskly out of the store, Anna bid her goodnight.100

Anna and I exchanged glances as she rung up the stereo system she had shown the couple the last Friday. The woman swiped her card with a disgruntled look and the man carried the stereo to their vehicle as Anna handed the woman their receipt.101

Anna looked at her watch, “We have about an hour before we have to start closing up... I think there's one more box in the back that we have to put out...”102

I followed her to the back room and we both found the box at the same time. The dimensions were about half my height, just about as wide and about as deep as I was wide.103

“Finally!” Anna exclaimed.104

She shocked me with the loudness of her voice.105

“What? What is it?”106

“It's the TV my dad ordered last week. It'll be our largest display yet. He didn't tell me we got it in!” Her hand ran across the cardboard like she was trying to see through it, “High definition... with option of camera card slot, swivel base...”107

I giggled and broke her out of her dreamland.108

“How about we just get this thing out and onto the floor?”109

“We should probably wait until we close down. It'll be awkward to set up with people around.”110

I nodded and we both walked from the back room. She headed for the register and I went to get myself accustomed to the store a little more. After she helped out the last customer in the store, she explained to me what some of the cables they sold did and taught be the differences between models of stereos.111

When it was time for the store to close down, Anna flipped the open sign around.112

“We've got about an hour of work to do yet... Just cleaning up and setting that TV up.”113

I nodded and we got to work. Within the first half an hour we had all of the glass cases cleaned off, the counter tops polished and the shelves organized. The rest of the time was spent bringing the TV out, hooking it up and bringing the old display TV to the back room.114

We set the large monitor on the floor and I wiped my hands on my shirt. We smiled at each other as she dusted her hands off as well.115

“I'd say that was a job well done. I guess we can have you come back tomorrow.”116

She wrapped her arm around my waist, her smile weakening me slightly. As if that wasn't enough, our lips touched again, sending a thrill through me. Before I even had a chance to react, she broke away and guided me down the hall back to the time clock where we punched out.117

“Oh, and we get paid every other Friday... Has my dad settled on a wage for you yet?”118

I shook my head and shrugged, “Nothing that he's informed me of.”119

“I'll talk to him and let you know later. Maybe I can get him to raise it up more than normal,” she winked and we walked back into her dad's office so we could change back into our street clothes.120

Anna leaned over and grabbed our two t-shirts, tossing me mine. She started peeling her work shirt off, and I promised myself this time that I wouldn't watch. This proved to be difficult. She seemed to take extra long, adding extra movement. I wasn't sure if she actually was, or if time had to slowed. She looked over her shoulder as she reached for her other shirt, noticing me looking at her. Her cheeks reddened again, but she stayed silent. Her body turned and faced me, I couldn't keep my eyes from taking her in. My feet wouldn't move and I couldn't turn away. She started walking towards me, shirt in hand. She stopped when she was only a few paces away.121

Her head tilted slightly, “Like what you see?”