My Lucky Charm (2 page)

Brandon

In the locker room after practice, I pull my phone out and see I have eleven text messages from my ex, Amber. We broke up a month ago, and she won’t leave me alone. What part of, “I won’t date a cheater” don’t she understand?”

I’ll never forget that day that turned into a total nightmare. My friends won’t let me forget it, either. If I took her back
, they’d kick my ass. My fellow teammates and I met up with the guys from our rival high school for a game of football.

Trash talk had
been going back and forth between us since freshman year. We couldn’t wait to play them in season, so we tried to make a game happen outside of school, but Amber blew that all to hell, and it became an afternoon of determining which school had the best fighters.

The game had been going maybe ten minutes.
We set up for a play, and I was staring at an opposing player across from me. He smirked and looked to the guy next to him.

“
What was that chick’s name? The one I picked up at Shane’s party last weekend. You know, the one I had in his parents’ bed by the end of the night.

“
Oh yeah …” He looked back at me. “Amber. That’s right. Her name was Amber.” It was over. First, I charged and tackled him. Then, since I couldn’t beat the shit out of Amber, I did it to this guy. Needless to say, his friends weren’t too happy about it, so in a matter of minutes, over twenty guys were in a fight. A huge fight.

The followin
g Monday, I had no girlfriend, and I, along with the entire varsity football team, was sporting different injuries like black eyes, swollen noses and busted lips. We had to explain ourselves to the principal and coach, who then put us through hell with drills for the entire week.

Amber
tried to deny it, but while I punched this asshole, he ran his mouth some more and knew way too much about her. I guess I should say he knew way too much about her
assets
. She put on a show and cried to our female friends, so they forgave her.

She’s still in our circle, but she’s not so high and mighty at the moment since the guys still won’t speak to her. She’s hot as hell, so I’m sure they’ll be sniffing around her soon enough, but our time together is long over, so she’s wasting her time texting me.

I change and drive home. I can’t find my mom, Teresa, so I go looking for her. It worries me when I don’t know her whereabouts since she likes to drink. Finally spotting her in the hot tub on the deck, I stick my head out the door.

“Mom,
I’m home.” I see the tumbler sitting on the ledge next to her. “Mom, don’t you know you’re not supposed to drink while in a hot tub?”

“Oh, Brandon. You’re not the parent here. It’s one drink.”

I sigh. “Please don’t stay in too long.”

“Yes, father.” She waves her hand in the air like she’s shooing me away.

“Where is Dad?”

“Working late.”

I shut the door and go to the kitchen to find dinner. I worry about her since that
one
drink she claims to be having in the hot tub is most likely the one after the four or five she already downed this evening.

My d
ad, Bill, is “working late,” which is code for “screwing the secretary.” Yes, I believe he really does his secretary. I remember when I thought that only happened in television shows. Yet another reason I would never, ever, EVER forgive Amber.

He’s a good dad in every other way. He makes almost all my
football games, really provides for us, and seems to love my brother and me, but each day that he “works late,” I find myself disliking him a little more.

I warm
a plate of food and run up the stairs to my room. When I open the door, my fourteen year old pest of a brother, Tyler, is on my bed playing Xbox.

“Out.
” He looks at me and smirks. Can I get no respect from anyone? “I said get out.”

“Geez, chill, bro.”

“I don’t get it. You have your own game system.”

“Yeah, a PS3. I don’t have the game GRID
, so if I want to play it, I have to do it on the Xbox. How many times do I have to tell you this?” He passes me and stops at the doorway, so I sit down at my desk and look at him.

“What?” I ask.

“I also like to check out the dirty mags you hide under your mattress. Although, I have to be careful touching the things. Is that a once daily or—”

“
Stay out of my room you little turd!” I launch a book at the door, but he’s already slamming it behind him. That’s OK. I’ll stick one of those mags under his mattress and tell Mom he’s hiding one there. Mine will be safely hidden elsewhere.

I wouldn’t need the damn things if I had a girlfriend that didn’t CHEAT. I can admit it still hurts, but I’m getting over it much
faster than I expected. She’s shallow and not a nice person, so I’m better off.

I need to think of someone safe who won’t run the
ir trap if I ask for Lucky Charm’s name. No, I said I wasn’t going there, but man is she smokin’ hot.

Leah

It’s lunchtime, and I’ve decided from the last four periods that school blows no matter which one you go to. It’s way too easy here, so I’m bored out of my mind. I do have to give props to my old school for keeping it a little more challenging.

I normally steer clear of the cafeteria, but I need to buy a water, so I make my way there. I’m standing in line when a very cute, in a metro sexual kind of way, guy gets behind me.

“Hi, you’re new this year.
”

“Yep.
”

“You got a name? I’m Parker.”

“I’m Leah, but I’m not interested.”

“Ha ha. Sweetheart
, we probably bat for the same team.”

I guess metro sexual was putting it lightly. I c
an’t help but chuckle. “Well, then maybe you can direct me toward the non-losers.”

“You got it, girlfri
end. Although, you’re pretty hot, so you might be competition.”

I snicker. “H
ow about I promise not to go after any you think you have a chance with?”

“That’s fair. S
o, does that mean you’ll come eat with my friend Sierra and me?” He points to a round table that only two girls are sitting at.

“Sure, and just so you know,
I’m not looking for a guy. I was joking.”

“You’
re too cute not to have a boyfriend. I will so hook you up.” Parker is the cute one with his red hair stylin’ and his round, blue eyes. His clothes, however, remind me of something my old guy friends would wear.

He has on dress pants
and a polo. I follow him to the table, getting a ton of stares along the way. I try to keep my focus on the seats ahead.

“Girlfriends, this is
Leah. I asked her to join us.” Both girls look up, and after scanning me from head to toe, they smile.

“Hi, I’m Sierra
, and this is my friend, Kayla.”

“Hi, nice to meet you both.”

Kayla stands. “I’m out of here, chicks.”

“Hey now, I’m still a guy.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Parker.” Kayla gives him a cheesy grin and walks away.

Parker waves his h
and toward her.

“Ignore Kayla. I’m still trying to figure out what Sierra sees in her.”

Sierra acts as if Parker never spoke.

“So, Leah, w
here did you move here from?”

“Um, LA.”

“Hmm. You have cool hair, and I love your purple nails.” She picks up my fingers and studies the dark purple polish. “They’re done so perfectly.” I snatch my hand away.

I purchased a
bunch of less expensive clothing to wear here, but I’ve been unable to give up my time at the salon. I’d attempt to do my nails and hair myself, so there’s no suspicion about how I afford it, but my cousin, Casey, would get her feelings hurt.

“Um, thanks. I think your name is really cool.”

Sierra is dressed like me but doesn’t look like she comes from money. Her clothes are not designer and her shoulder length, black hair is in pretty rough shape, desperately needing a trim.

Maybe Parker was drawn to me because of my style being
similar to Sierra’s. Although, I can’t imagine how the two of them became friends since they seem so different. Regardless, it’s nice to have someone at this school speaking to me without insults.

I pull my peanut butter and jelly sandwich out and take a bite. It’s far from the gourmet lun
ch I was used to, but if Martha prepared my expensive sushi, I think the kids would notice.

“I told Leah here that I’d hook her up.”

Sierra huffs. “With who? There are no guys here worth dating.”

“You
like a few.”

She rolls her eyes
at him. I then watch her scan the cafeteria, so I bravely do the same, and that’s when I see him. The hottie that took up for me yesterday.

He and his large group are at a table across and about five down
on the right from us. It’s closer to the main exit, which means I’ll pass it every time I sit here. He’s staring straight at me, so I turn my head swiftly but not before I feel my pulse pick up.

What is my deal? I wanted to get away from the snobby
, football playing type. It’s his looks. That’s all it is, and I can get past that. There has to be other good looking guys here.

“I k
new it. You’re looking for Gabe,” Parker says to Sierra.

“Shut up, Parker,” she says before continuing
her scan of the room. After a few moments, she sighs. “There he is.”

I take a quick glance in the direction she’s pointing
and see a few guys who look fairly cool. They’re dressed like us. Two of them have brown hair, and the other is blonde.

“Which one?” I ask.

“The blonde. Oh shit, they’re looking this way.” Sierra quickly blocks that side of her face with her hand.

“Well, isn’t that what you want?” I ask.

“I don’t know. He’s intimidating.”

I glance around the room
again and see the football player eyeing me still. I mean, I’m pretty certain he plays. What the freak? Now, he’s going to think I’m checking him out. The three guys Sierra spoke of start walking our direction. Why did I agree to stay in the cafeteria?

“They’re walking over here,” I say.

“Oh my Gosh.”

“Just chill. You’ll do great,
” I add.

“Hey, Sierra.”
She moves her hand and peeks up at him, her face beet red.

“Hi, Gabe.”

“Who’s your new friend?”

“This is Leah.
Leah, this is Gabe, Jarred and Troy,” Sierra says, pointing to each of them.

I smile
. “Hi, guys.”

“Cool ass hair,” Jarred says.

“Ass hair as in
ass
hair?” I ask with a smirk.

“Funny, no
.”

“
I was just messing with you. Thanks. You’re in my calculus class, right?”

“Yep. You had every right to call Nicole a bitch yesterday. Did you get in much trouble?”

“No, and I didn’t know she had another name.” Everyone at the table laughs.

Parker’s eyes flash to me
. “You had words with Nicole Reagan?”

“Yes. She made fun of my kicks.”

“You are one brave girl. She and her friends are vicious.”

“Leah held her own. You, Parker, on the other hand, might’ve got your ass kicked,
” Jarred says.

“Those girls think they’re hot shit, but I could gi
ve them some lessons on fashion.” Parker’s pointing across the cafeteria.

“Now, that I beli
eve,” Troy says. Everyone’s laughing again, including Parker. I’m getting the feeling he’s liked here but still made fun of.

I turn to look in the direc
tion he’s pointing and see the football player sitting at the same long table as Nicole, and she’s only a few seats down from him. I figured he hung out with that crowd.

The sad thing
is had I come here as my old self, I’d probably be sitting with them. It makes me feel crappy since those girls are mean.

“Do those guys sitting with them play football?” I ask.

“Yep, every one of them,” Sierra replies.

“Um, Sierra, you and Leah should come hang out with us at Scope Wednes
day. There’s a concert.”

“That sounds awesome, don’t you think?” I ask, looking at Sierra.
I have no idea what kind of place that is or what kind of music, but I’m trying to help the girl out. I can tell she needs a push.

“Yeah, totally.”

“Cool.” Gabe smiles at her and the bell rings, signaling lunch is over.

“Nice
meeting you guys,” I say as I stand up. I throw my trash away in a garbage can and carry my water out. Sierra bumps my shoulder with hers.

“Thank you
. I probably would’ve stared at him without answering, looking like a complete idiot. You’re really going, right?” she asks, panicking.

“Of course. Oh, but can I meet you there? I think I have something before.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“OK, talk to you later.”

Jarred is cute, and he’s obviously smart since he’s in my calculus class, but he’s not as cute as the hottie. Get him out of your head, Leeza. Leah. I have to get used to calling myself Leah. Gaining a new identity is much harder than I thought it would be.