Snowed in Together (6 page)

Chapter Seven

As I ran to help Korman, I tried to pretend cold terror was not rushing through my veins.

In a flash, the others were there to help, except Tenray, who limped in our direction. Tony and I lifted the branch off Mr. Korman.

Korman moaned.

"Oh, Charles, thank goodness you're alive!" Ms. Tenray said when she knelt over him.

"It … it just hit my shoulder," Korman said. "I don't know if it's dislocated, or what. But it …it hurts if I move my arm."

"Let me see." Ms. Tenray said, Korman wincing as she carefully pulled off his jacket and felt his shoulder. "I don't think anything is broken, but maybe we should make a sling for it."

"I've got something!" Tiffany said. She reached into her tote bag and pulled out a huge scarf with a map of
Hawaii
on it.

"Thanks." Tenray took the scarf and started making a sling.

"You wouldn't happen to have a snowplow in that bag of tricks, would you, Tiffany?" Korman joked. At least he still had a sense of humor.

"I wish." Tiffany said.

"There." Tenray said, as she finished the sling. "Now, maybe we should get back to the art room before we all freeze."

Snow blew in through the broken window and already was sticking to the floor.

Tony and I helped Korman to his feet, and we all started back to the art room. Korman kind of scuffed along. The rest of clumped together as we walked in nerve-wracking silence.

"W-what if a whole tree falls and crushes us?" Cari whimpered.

"Don't worry," Jeff said. "The art room is probably the safest place. There aren't any trees next to it, just the picnic benches."

"Oh. Yeah." Cari forced a small smile.

I noticed that Ms. Tenray was really starting to limp badly. I guess Ellyce saw that too, because she took Ms. Tenray's arm and helped her walk. “Just lean on me.”

When we got back to the art room, I realized the art-room stools or the floor wouldn't work for Korman and Tenray. "Tony, Jeff, let's go to the gym and get some mats. We're gonna be here a while, so we might as well be comfortable."

"I'll help," Tiffany said. She winked at Ellyce and Cari. "You guys can stay and chaperone."

I wished Ellyce had been the one to volunteer to help us, but Tiffany looked as if she was the strongest. And maybe someone should stay with Korman and Ms. Tenray. They weren't looking real good.

I still had the safety pin, so when we got to the gym it was easy to pick the lock to the storage room. I hoped this was not going to go on my Permanent Record as breaking-and-entering.

We decided it'd be easiest to make two stacks of four mats and pair up to carry them. It didn't take Tony long to team up with Tiffany.

Jeff and I got back to the art room well ahead of Tony and Tiffany. That's 'cause Jeff and I weren't preoccupied with eyeballing each other, although I confess I did steal a look at Tiffany. I mean, she really did stretch her cheerleading outfit to the outer limits. Not that I’m complaining.

Just as Jeff and I set our mats on the floor, Ellyce said, "Could you bring a couple up here for Ms. Tenray and Mr. Korman?" She pointed to the front of the room next to Korman's desk.

As soon as we'd made Ms. Tenray and Korman as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, Ellyce had us push aside some of the art tables and line up the rest of the mats along the back and side wall in an L-shaped formation. I was just speculating on the possibilities of Ellyce's motive for distancing us from Korman and Tenray, when she said, "They look so tired. I figured they'd rest better with some privacy."

"How 'bout we move into the gym?" Tony wriggled his eyebrows. "We could have some real privacy."

"Sounds good." Tiffany smiled suggestively.

For a second, I thought Tony was going to faint.

"I think we'll be better off staying together," Ellyce said. "Besides, this is the warmest room in the school."

"But who knows how long we'll be stuck here," Jeff said. "We could shoot baskets, or something. I mean, exercise would keep us warm."

I was impressed with Jeff's quick thinking.

"You guys go, if you want," Ellyce said. "We just spent the whole morning practicing cheers."

"We'll be sitting around for hours, maybe days!" Tiffany said. "I vote for going to the gym."

Cari looked around timidly, then stuck her chin out and said, "Me, too."

"Okay." Ellyce shrugged. "I'll just tell Ms. Tenray."

Tenray looked as if she was happy to see us go. Was she that tired? Or was she that eager to be alone with Korman? Why was I worrying about supervising two teachers when I could be with Ellyce?

Just before we got to the gym, Ellyce decided to try the phone again. It was still dead. My stomach tightened as I started to think about my Dad. Was he worried about me? Or did he even realize I was gone? Either way, I figured he'd still be drinking. I just hoped he wouldn't go outside looking for me. Nothing I could do about it, though. I decided I had to put him out of my mind.

When we got to the gym, Ellyce went right for the basketballs. Though the idea had been to be alone with the girls, the plan wasn't really fully developed, so basketball was as good as anything, I guess.

I stepped up to the foul line and hit ten shots in a row. I was about ninety percent at free throws. Unfortunately, I was about a ten-percent shooter otherwise, which was why I never bothered to go out for basketball. That, plus the fact that I was so skinny that when things got rough under the boards, I usually ended up in a heap on the floor. Not an attractive position.

After a few minutes, though, Tony said, "This is boring. Let's have a game. Me, Tiffany and Ellyce against the rest of you."

Tiffany and Ellyce totally liked that plan. Jeff, Cari and I, not so much, since it was obvious we were the lesser team.

"Come on," Tiffany said. "It's just for fun."

So, finally, we agreed.

It wasn't too bad guarding Tony, since it quickly became obvious he really was playing just for fun. He could barrel right over me if he wanted to. It was when I had to guard Ellyce or Tiffany that I fell apart.

With Ellyce, all I had to do was look in her eyes and my knees started to shake. With Tiffany, all I had to do was brush against her most prominent body parts, and that got a rise out of me. I tried to let Jeff or Cari guard them when I could.

It was hard to play basketball and feel guilty at the same time. I mean, I really liked Ellyce, but, well, all this proximity to Tiffany ….

 
It wasn't long before I started to feel really hot. I wanted to peel off my sweater, but I'd look as thin as a dollar bill without it. On the other hand, I didn't want to work up a major sweat and gross everyone out that way.

I was just wondering if anyone else was worried about that kind of thing, when Tony suddenly stopped and said, "Let's cool it. We might, uh, need some energy---in case of an emergency."

"Sounds good," I said.

Everyone quickly agreed. Apparently, I wasn't the only one worried about a deodorant meltdown.

We put the basketballs away. The girls showed no intention of lingering in the gym with us guys, so we all headed back to the art room. As we walked by the cafeteria, a blast of cold air hit us. The wind and snow were still blowing in.

“Hey, we should cover up that window,” Tony said.

"With what?" Tiffany asked.

"How 'bout a couple of cafeteria tables," I said. "We could fold up the legs and stack them over the opening. It'd be better than nothing."

Ellyce smiled her approval, and suddenly my heart was bouncing.

As she and I lifted one end of a table, my leg brushed against hers. Immediately, I was at full attention. As soon as I could, I turned and stared out the window to hide my condition.

Cold wind still sliced its way inside, but not full force, and at least the snow wasn't blowing in. Outside was a blur of white. I couldn't even see the trees that I knew stood only a few feet away. Remembering that, I said, "We'd better get out of here, before another branch falls."

"Good idea," Ellyce said. Her voice was low, but I thought I detected a slight shiver in it. It would've been the perfect time to put my arm around her and tell her everything would be okay. But I couldn't get up the nerve.

We started down the hall, when Tony said, "I've gotta make a pit stop." He ducked into the bathroom.

"You know, I've never seen the guys' bathroom." Tiffany flashed a wicked grin. "Come on, girls." She hooked arms with Ellyce and Cari and pulled them into the bathroom with her.

I heard Tony yell, "Hey!"

"Maybe we should rescue him," Jeff said.

I nodded, and we plunged into the bathroom just in time to see a red-faced Tony zipping up his fly.

"I don't need a committee to go to the bathroom!" Tony roared.

"Relax," Tiffany said. "We didn't see anything. Unfortunately."

Jeff and Cari looked sort of embarrassed, but I think Ellyce was trying not to giggle.

I wondered if Tiffany was all talk and no action or is she really lived up (or down) to her reputation as, um, being indiscriminate when it came to guys. I wondered why I kept wondering about Tiffany. I mean, yeah, I'm a guy, but I didn't actually believe in Doing It with just anybody. I always thought, for me, anyway, it'd be with someone I really like.

Still. Now I found myself thinking that way about Tiffany. Maybe I was just your typical pervert after all. Or maybe I had an overactive imagination. I mean, it's not as if Tiffany was directing anything my way.

Besides, Tony liked Tiffany, so if I had any sense of honor at all, I'd totally blot her out of my mind. Easier said than done, but I could at least try.

"So, Tiffany, are you impressed--with the surroundings?" Tony said.

"Mmm … no," Tiffany said, as if she'd given it a lot of thought. "Except for the blue tiles and the urinals, it could be the girls' lav.”

"I could give you a private tour of one of the stalls." Tony's eyebrows wiggled like a couple of caterpillars.

"An offer I can't refuse!" Tiffany put her hand on her forehead and pretended to swoon.

Jeff and Cari laughed, but Ellyce rolled her eyes and said, "I hate to break this up, but we should get back to the--"

The lights flickered. Then the room went completely black.

Chapter Eight

Thank God I wasn't alone in the dark.

"Hey, Tony," Tiffany called through the darkness. "Get your hand off my you-know-what!"

"Whattya mean?" Tony exclaimed. "My hands are nowhere near--"

Tiffany let out a great peal of laughter. "Gotcha!"

Someone's hand slid around mine. Judging by the long, slender fingers, it had to be Ellyce. The pounding of my heart was so loud I was sure everyone could hear it echoing around the lav.

"Everyone hold hands so we don't lose anyone on the way back," Ellyce said. "This is serious, Tiffany. We have to get back to the art room and check on Ms. Tenray and Mr. Korman."

Okay, so Ellyce holding my hand wasn't exactly motivated by a sudden and deep passionate love for me. Still, it was my hand she was holding. Mine!

Next thing, soft, warm pudgy fingers clutched my free hand. When she spoke, I knew it was Tiffany.

"Over here, Tony," she said.

"Where--" Tony started to say. "Oh. Here."

"Jeff? Cari?" Ellyce said.

No answer.

"Jeff? Cari?" Ellyce repeated, a little louder.

Another silence. Then Jeff said, "We're here."

I was just wondering why it'd taken so long for Jeff to say something, when Tony said, "Hughes, I'm not holding hands with you! Switch places with Cari."

"Are we ready?" Ellyce asked impatiently.

Assorted grunts and mumbles of affirmation were the answer.

"Okay, let's go," Ellyce said. "Don't anyone let go of anyone."

I heard her start to feel her way out of the bathroom. Ever so bravely, for me, I squeezed her hand. She squeezed it back! I didn't care why she did, just that she did.

The door squeaked open. It was so black I couldn't even see the lockers in the hall.

I heard the bathroom door close, so I figured we'd all made it out. I was just thinking things were going okay, when Tiffany let go of my hand. Next thing, I felt her hand slide into my back pocket. Her body pressed against mine.

Good thing it was pitch black. No one could see my face turn a scalding red. I mean, there I was with Ellyce's slender fingers wrapped around my hand as she led us through the darkness, while Tiffany's enormous boobs pressed against my back.

Amazingly enough, I wanted to tell Tiffany to take her hand off me. But I was too embarrassed. I mean, I didn't want anyone to wonder exactly where her hand was.

Still, I had to admit the soft lushness of Tiffany's breasts rubbing against my back was … not bad, to say the least. For moral support, or whatever, I squeezed Ellyce's hand, and again she squeezed mine in return.

I never would've thought holding one girl's hand could register as high on my excitement scoreboard as having another girl's body pressed against me. But it did. I guess knowing it was Ellyce's hand made all the difference.

Suddenly, the lights flickered on, then off, then came on and stayed on. At the first flicker, Tiffany unfastened herself from my back and stood there, holding hands with Tony, a grin on her face. I wondered what she was thinking, or if thinking had anything to do with it.

"Hey. Look at you two," Tony said.

I felt a guilty blush creep up my face until I realized he was talking to Jeff and Cari, who were holding hands, as Cari rested her head on Jeff's shoulder.

"It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for," I said. I noticed that Tiffany was still grinning. She wasn't one of the quiet ones, but I sure had to watch out for her anyway.

Why couldn't it just be Cari and Jeff, Tiffany and Tony, me and Ellyce, with no complications?

"We didn't get very far," Ellyce said, and I realized she meant walking in the dark. "At least the lights are working again. For now." She let go of my hand and hurried toward the art room. "Let's get back while we can still see where we're going."

My hand suddenly felt cold, naked and lonely without my fingers curled around Ellyce’s.

Jeff and Cari walked arm-in-arm. Tiffany hung all over Tony, whispering and giggling, Tony's face split into a wide smile. I figured what he didn't know about Tiffany wouldn't hurt him. At least I hoped it wouldn’t.

As I watched Ellyce walk along so briskly, so efficiently, so … removed from me, I almost wished I had Tiffany clinging to me again. If I couldn't have Ellyce, maybe I should take whatever it was Tiffany was willing to offer. If she was actually offering me anything.

That would be better than sitting around like my Dad, waiting for someone who didn't want me.

When we reached the art room, we found Korman and Ms. Tenray still sprawled out on their mats.

"Ah, you're back," Korman said."

"At least we don't have to go searching for you," Ms. Tenray said, rubbing her backside.

"Is there anything we can do for you?" Ellyce asked.

"Not unless you have some aspirin," Ms. Tenray said.

"Hey, Tiffany," I found myself saying. "Got any aspirin in that tote bag of yours?" I put my hand on her shoulder, wondering if I did that to get her attention, or maybe to make Ellyce jealous.

"I must have something." Tiffany curved her finger under my chin. "Help me look."

Guilt struck like a lightning bolt as I followed Tiffany across the room. What was wrong with me, letting the specter of imagined sex mess with my friendship with Tony, not to mention whatever slight relationship I might have developed with Ellyce?

Tiffany grabbed her tote bag and opened it. "There's aspirin in here somewhere. Dig in and help me find it."

As we bent over to search through the tote bag, I felt Tiffany's hot breath against my ear. Our hands touched. Her leg brushed against mine. Even though part of me ached to have ten minutes alone with her, the rest of me felt like a jerk.

She wasn't the one I wanted, not really. I was probably just imagining that she wanted anything more than flirting, and that was probably for entertainment purposes only. After all, she was very … outgoing. If she thought that I thought she actually wanted to … to … move the earth with me, she'd probably just let loose with one of those big peals of laughter.

"Ta, da!" Tiffany pulled a bottle of aspirin out of her tote bag.

As we walked back across the room, I realized that our aspirin-hunting expedition was just that. But. Ellyce and Tony gave us funny looks. Maybe Tiffany just liked keeping guys off balance. But I didn't want to keep Ellyce off
 
balance, even if I wasn't sure there was enough between us for that to matter.

I offered Ellyce a half-smile, but she didn't smile back. Had I ruined whatever minor progress I might have made with her just because I'd let my hormones take command for a couple minutes?

For all my wild fantasies, when it got right down to it, I thought I'd rather hold hands with Ellyce than um, romp, with Tiffany (not that I'd turn down
anything
with Ellyce, given the opportunity!). But, if the opportunity presented itself, would I actually turn down the chance to Do It with Tiffany?

"I said, are you coming, Wes?" Ellyce was asking me.

"Huh? What?" I snapped out of my trance. She and the others were heading back to the student side of the room. "Oh. Yeah. Sure," I babbled, grateful that Ellyce was at least still speaking to me.

"Might as well get comfortable," Tony said. "Who knows how long we'll be here." He plopped down on a mat. Tiffany sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. Tony put his arm around her. She smiled up at him.

I thought that out of the corner of her eye she was watching me. Waiting to see my reaction, maybe? Or maybe, just my imagination.

Jeff and Cari sat down, held hands and smiled shyly at each other. That left me and Ellyce. She sat down, cross-legged, facing the others. There wasn't anywhere else for me to sit except next to her, unless I wanted to be on the cold, hard floor, and I didn't. So I sat next to Ellyce and studied a hangnail at great length.

There was a long silence. Just as I was wondering how long I could stare at my fingertips, Tiffany said, "Let's do something."

"You have some computer games in that tote bag?" Tony joked.

"Maybe there's a deck of cards in the storage closet," Jeff said. "You know, from an old play, or something."

"That's not what I mean," Tiffany said. "I mean something like, 'What would you do for a million dollars?'"

"What do you mean," Tony asked. "Like rob a bank or blow up the school?"

Tiffany shook her head. "Nothing illegal. I mean something like, um,
 
'Would you run through the halls of the school naked for a million dollars?' Wes?" Tiffany smiled at me. "Would you?"

"No way!"

"Why not?" Tiffany asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know," I said, even though I did. I didn't want anyone laughing at my bony ribs, or assessing my, uh, private parts."

"Okay, someone else then," Tiffany said. "Would
any
of you run naked through the school for a million dollars?"

When no one said Yes, I threw the question back at Tiffany. "What about you, Tiff? Would you?"

"Yes!"

"But it would be so embarrassing." Cari blushed.

"Yeah," Jeff said. "This is a small school. Everyone knows everyone."

"You people have no imagination." Tiffany sighed. "With a million dollars, I could move a thousand miles from here and no one would know I'd ever run naked through the halls of Willamette Valley Regional High School."

"You'd know," I said.

"Wes is right," Ellyce said. "You'd know."

"Pfft. Like, you think I die of shame?" Tiffany shook her finger at me and Ellyce. "Not everyone is Mr. and Ms. Innocent like you."

Ellyce laughed and held up her hands. "Okay! Run naked through the halls all you want."

"But get the million in advance," I joked.

"He-e-e-y, is that an insult?" Tiffany's mouth puckered with annoyance.

"No. I'm sure you'd look great naked." I felt my face turning red and hot. "I mean …that is …."

"Wes would never insult anyone, Tiffany," Ellyce said. She reached over and patted my hand. "We're Mr. and Ms. Innocent, remember?" She turned and smiled at me, and I felt as if a delicate cord had started to form between us.

"Okay," Tiffany said. "Forget the million-dollar question. Can anyone think of something better to do?"

"Get out the cheese curls?" Tony suggested. "I'm starving."

"Brilliant idea." Tiffany poked Tony in the stomach.

"Now that you mention it," Jeff said, "I'm hungry."

"Me, too," Cari said.

"Okay," Tiffany said. "All in favor of cheese curls, say--"

"Wait!" An idea was forming in my brain. "Save the cheese curls for when we're desperate. Ellyce and I can fix some real food. Tiffany, give me your chocolate bars."

Tiffany pulled the chocolate bars out of her tote bag. But just before she was going to hand them to me, she stopped and said, "What're you gonna do with these, anyway?"

"I'm not going to eat them myself, if that's what you're worried about."

"Well … okay. Here." Tiffany reluctantly hand me the chocolate.

"Thanks."

I stood, and offered my hand to Ellyce.

She took it and slowly pulled herself up. For a moment her tall, trim body was just millimeters from mine.

"Don't do anything in that kitchen that I wouldn't do," Tiffany warned.

Ellyce laughed. "You mean, like cook?" Then with a springy bounce, she headed for the kitchen.

I hurried to catch up with her.

"Do you have something special planned for supper?" Ellyce asked.

"No,
I vant to be alone with you
." So Ellyce would think I was joking, I tried to sound like Dracula. Dad always watched those old movies on the Classic movie channel and I'd seen more than one version of Dracula. But being alone with Ellyce was exactly what I wanted and making supper with her was the only idea my slow-going brain could muster.