High School Hangover (17 page)

“They totally blew us off,” I say. I witnessed the whole thing and I can still barely believe it. We just got blown off by a group of senior citizens.

“You wanna grab something to eat?” Jack asks, holding out the rolls of twenties Ginger stuffed into his palm.

“Sure,” I answer, my stomach a nervous mess thinking about spending three hours alone with Jack. This could be a good thing though. Maybe I’ll find out more about last night.

Jack takes the driver seat and starts up the bus. I move up to the front row and try hard not to remember what Jack looks like without his shirt on.

“How about that seafood place we passed?” Jack asks, practically reading my mind.

“That would be great,” I answer, settling back while Jack drives us to the restaurant.

*****

“Why in the world did you suggest a seafood restaurant if you are allergic to shellfish?” I ask Jack, who ordered a hamburger.

“I saw the way your face lit up when we drove by before, so I knew you wanted to come here,” he admits.

How incredibly sweet! I’m starting to feel guilty for the way I treated Jack about the project. Everybody makes mistakes. The important thing is that I don’t think he would ever let me down again. Not that it matters because after we get home, we’ll probably never see each other again, which kind of makes me sad.

We pass the time waiting for our entrees by talking about the seniors. I feel like an old married couple out for date night that can’t manage any conversation without bringing up their kids. Thankfully our meals arrive in record time.

“What do you remember about last night?” I ask Jack. I crack open a King crab leg and pull out a huge chunk of the sweet meat. I dunk it repeatedly into the tiny vat of drawn butter then pop it into my mouth. It’s all I can do to keep from moaning.

“Not much,” he says, not glancing up from his burger.

“You said you were really drunk, right?”

Jack doesn’t say anything but nods his head back and forth, not meeting my eyes. I have a direct line of vision to the bartender across the restaurant. Watching him rinse alcohol bottles for recycling triggered a memory from last night. I specifically remember Jack filling his beer bottle with water in the kitchen last night. I have a feeling that he did this in secret all night. But why would he lie about being drunk?

“That’s funny because I saw you fill your beer bottle with water last night. Why are you lying to me?” I ask him, putting down my crab cracker.

Jack finally looks up and the pitiful expression on his face pulls on my heart.

“I wasn’t drunk,” he admits.

“But if you weren’t drunk then how did you end up in the back of the truck with me?” I ask, confused.

“I saw Leo and Amelia put you in the back of the truck and I got in to make sure you were okay after they left,” he blurts out.

“You saw what?” I shout, earning me stares from fellow diners.

“Leo and Amelia were carrying you outside. You were passed out and they put you into the moving van. God, Laney, it was terrible. I thought you were dead,” he rushes on. His words are practically on top of each other and he seems relieved to get them out.

“Why would Leo put me in a moving van? He must have been coming back for me later,” I say, even though it makes no sense. If Jack knew this, why didn’t he just tell me this morning?

“Laney, it was all a trick. He was mad at you for beating him for valedictorian,” he tells me gently. But it doesn’t matter how soft his words are, each one feels like a dagger going into my chest.

“How do you know all this?” I ask, feeling overwhelmed. Maybe Jack is lying. He is probably so jealous of Leo he is making up all kinds of crazy things to try and get him and his dad in trouble. Maybe Jack put me into the moving van to try and set up Leo and his dad. I don’t know what to believe right now.

“I’m ready to go,” I say, scooting away from the table. Jack flags down our waiter and pays the bill. He keeps his arm gently against my back as he guides me out of the restaurant and back to the bus. We ride in silence back to the club. Blues music is pouring out of the open windows and I can only imagine the havoc the seniors are wreaking on the place.

Jack parks the bus next to a grassy culvert. He finds a dry towel someone left onboard earlier and gestures for me to follow him. He spreads the towel down on the grass and gestures for me to sit down on it with him. Nervously I do.

“I’m sorry I lied to you. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you,” Jack tells me.

I don’t say anything because my tongue feels like it is frozen. I still don’t know what to believe. Could I really have been so stupid to believe Leo liked me and it was all an act?

Jack traces my cheekbone and chin with his index finger. I glance into his eyes and see nothing but kindness. He’s careful not to move toward me even though I suddenly want him to. I’m so confused. I thought I liked Leo and I thought he liked me. But I have all these weird feelings about Jack. But what if Jack is lying to me about everything?

“Laney, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.” I don’t say anything. I just let myself drift into his eyes trying to find the truth.

If Leo doesn’t care about me, does that mean Jack does? I realize I’ve wanted to kiss Jack for a long time. Even back when we were partners in chemistry, I had moments where I could barely keep from kissing him. I just didn’t want to admit it. I move closer to his lips. He watches me eagerly but I can already tell if this is going to happen, I’m going to have to instigate it.

“Are you sure?” he whispers.

That’s all it takes for me to know that I am. I lean in so close that I can smell his breath. I run my fingers through the back of his hair. I’m just about to touch my lips to his when he jerks away from me.

“I can’t do this,” he yells, practically flying backwards away from me.

I sit dumbfounded as I watch him jump on the bus. I wonder if it’s possible for a person to actually die of humiliation.

“You didn’t have to flash the entire bar,” I hear Ginger’s voice say.

“Somebody said they were taping an episode of Grannies Gone Wild,” Milly replies innocently.

“I didn’t hate it,” Kris says appreciatively.

“Whether we got kicked out or not, it was time to go. Somebody tried to blow up Dom’s oxygen tank,” Trudy adds.

“Twenty years ago, I’d a blasted those punks,” Dom claims.

Everyone is piling back on the bus as Jack is trying to make his way back off of it. I stagger up the steps and plop down in a seat by myself trying to figure out how I can be so smart, yet manage to be so stupid at the same time. This is exactly why I’ve avoided social situations. I am a total failure at reading people.

“Laney, let me explain,” Jack says under his breath so everyone doesn’t hear him.

Bernie hooks his arm in mine and gives Jack a look to let him know that he’s tired of sharing me tonight.

“Leave me alone, Jack,” I reply, turning my head away from him. I can’t believe I thought he wanted to kiss me. I wish I was home so that I’d never have to face Jack again.

“Park it somewhere, Romeo. We’ve gotta scram. The owner said he’s calling the fuzz,” Kris warns. Jack wanders off to the back of the bus looking miserable.

Chapter Nine

Between worrying about Ginger peeing the bed, Trudy’s horrible snoring, and the humiliation of almost kissing Jack against his will, I got zero sleep last night. I skipped the continental breakfast so I wouldn’t have to face Jack before we got on the bus. I wander down to the lobby, peeking around every corner so that I don’t end up alone with Jack.

I still don’t know how I got myself into such a humiliating position in the first place. I’m so out of my comfort zone living out this geriatric version of
The Hangover
that I think I’m kind of losing it. It’s the only explanation I can think of for how I could have misread Jack so badly that I thought he wanted to kiss me back. He practically ran away from me like we were in first grade and I had cooties.

I don’t know what to think or who to believe anymore. I just want to go home. I don’t know how I’m ever going to start fresh at college when I can’t read people any better than I can read Chinese.

“Bus is leaving in five minutes,” Kris says, startling me. I wonder how long I’ve been standing here in the hotel lobby staring at this map like a comatose freak.

“Talk to him,” he whispers. Oh, great. Now Jack is dragging the seniors into my humiliation. Luckily, a family of four bursts into the lobby. Two little boys slowly make their way toward Kris with looks of pure wonder on their faces.

“Santa,” one of the boys says in awe. His bright blue eyes are completely glassed over when he sees Kris. The little boy’s brother joins him in amazement by popping his thumb in his mouth and staring at Kris like he is the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen.

“Well, hello there,” Kris says in a voice that practically oozes hot chocolate. I have to turn around to make sure it’s not actually the big guy in the red suit. But it’s just Kris, dressed in khaki cargo shorts, a Hawaiian print shirt, and tennis shoes. Kind of like what Santa would look like if the North Pole burnt down and he got his clothes at a Key West thrift shop.

“I’ve been good,” the little boy declares. His parents nod in agreement. “My widdle brover has too,” the boy confirms. It doesn’t appear his younger sibling will be speaking for himself because that would require taking his thumb out of his mouth and there is no way that is happening.

“I know you have been. You keep up the good work for a few more months and I’ll leave you some wonderful presents,” Kris assures him. The little boy’s eyes light up at the mention of gifts.

“Maybe your mom wants to take a picture of us together,” Kris offers. The woman nods her head vigorously and starts snapping away with her cell phone as Kris bends down and puts an arm around each child.

I feel like I’m the one witnessing a Christmas miracle. Kris must be a total kid magnet everywhere he goes. It’s so sweet the way he keeps Santa alive for the kids all year long.

The parents thank Kris and wander off to check in. The boys keep their eyes peeled on Santa until we walk outside to the bus.

“That was really sweet,” I tell him.

“There isn’t a whole lot of magic left in the world. I’m doing my part to keep it alive,” he says humbly.

For a second, I almost believe that he really is Santa and I’m tempted to ask him for an early Christmas present. The only thing I want is to see Dad today. Seeing Dad would help me feel like everything is going to be okay. I’ll just have to make do with seeing where he lives for now.

I bolt to the bus before Kris tries to talk about last night.

No one else is on the bus except Milly. She is the last person I want to sit with for three hours but if I choose an empty row then Jack might get on and sit with me. Milly groans as I sit down, confirming that the feeling is indeed mutual.

“Kiss and make up,” Milly says, pulling her purse strap out from under my butt.

“I told you, we’re friends,” I clarify. “Besides, it’s none of your business.”

“It is when it affects my life. Jack was slamming around cereal boxes and silverware this morning like somebody pissed in his Wheaties. When one person is grouchy in this bunch, everybody’s grouchy. And trust me, you don’t want that,” she tells me.

“Drop it. And stop being so mean to Ginger.”

“Why is everyone so concerned about poor Ginger?” she huffs. “All I ever hear about is those damn grandchildren of hers. What’s so great about grandkids anyway?”

I want to yell at her for slamming Ginger but then I realize how much it must hurt to be at her age and not have anyone who cares about you to show for it. Then I get a great idea that almost makes me excited to be secluded for three hours with a busload of seniors and a guy I tried to kiss that blew me off. Almost.

“Kris was totally checking you out at the pool yesterday.”

“Everybody was checking me out,” she says confidently. But I notice the way one of her drawn-on eyebrows arches and I know she’s really thinking about what I said. “Besides, I like Dom.”

“Yeah, I guess you could have your pick around here,” I say, as if the males on this trip are a real buffet of eye candy.

The others start to climb on and pick seats. Bernie gives Milly a dirty look when he sees I already have a seat mate but Ginger pulls him down and starts chatting him up.

I see Jack bound on the bus and quickly turn the other direction. I see him plop down, looking dejected.

I avoid looking at Jack when he climbs on. I see him out of the corner of my eye, lingering in the aisle. At least I’m safe for three more hours.

“That was awesome when you put your dentures in the water glass then asked the waiter for a new glass of water. I thought I would die. Classic,” Ginger compliments Milly.

Milly doesn’t say anything but I can tell that her crusty exterior has softened a bit by Ginger’s compliment. While I’m completely repulsed by the prank, it’s nice to see these two finally getting along.

“Memphis, here we come, yeah?” Dom shouts, clapping his hands together. Dom is always pretty agreeable but he seems to be very excited this morning. I guess he must be a big Elvis fan.

“We’re going to Graceland, Archie. That’s where Elvis Presley lived,” Ginger says, leaning over the aisle to where Archie is sitting.

“No shit, Ginger. I’m the one who suggested we go there,” Archie answers, rolling his eyes dramatically. His expression is especially comical because of his enormously bushy eyebrows. As much as I want to be back home, I’m really going to miss this bunch.

“I guess he knows what the hell is going on again today,” Milly remarks, looking relieved.

I sneak a glance at Jack, who is sharing a seat with Archie. Archie stretches his veiny arm behind Jack and pats him on the shoulder. I guess I’m not the only one Jack started growing on.

Kris fires up the bus and we get back on the highway. I spend the next three hours avoiding Jack’s puppy-dog stares and singing Kris’s praises to Milly. If I can hook these two up, it might make everyone else’s life a little easier. It’s the least I can do for Ginger, Trudy, Archie, Bernie and Dom after everything they’ve done for us. Besides, I think Milly and Kris might actually make each other happy. Kris is a sweet guy who is a kid magnet, so in a way, Milly could get to be the grandma she never was.