The Pledge (16 page)

The competition was really the last thing on my mind, but I knew I couldn't let my squad down.

I asked for his cell phone, ignoring Mr. Matthews's curious look.

The phone rang a couple of times before my mother, still sounding half-asleep, answered.

“Hey, Momma,” I said.

“Courtland?” I heard a rustling sound and figured she was sitting up. “Where are you?”

“At school,” I said, fighting the urge to look at Mr. Matthews and be busted for my lie and praying his name didn't show up on the caller ID. “Remember we have the team breakfast this morning? I had to help decorate.”

Momma sighed. “I guess I forgot,” she said. “Why didn't you wake me?”

“I started to, but you looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you. I called Candy and she picked me up, but I was in such a hurry that I left my uniform. I'm going to see if Bree can stop by and get it,” I said. “I forgot to leave you a note to let you know I had already left, so I was going to leave it on the voice mail.”

“Okay, baby,” she said, fighting a yawn.

“Okay,” I said and hung up before I had to tell any more lies. I dialed Bree.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey. Can you stop by my house and get my uniform and a change of clothes? I'll meet you at school and explain everything.”

“Okay,” she said before I had even finished asking.

“Cool. See you in a few.”

I hung up the phone, slumped back in my seat and closed my eyes.

“I'm sure you're exhausted after all those lies,” Mr. Matthews said.

I opened one eye and looked at him. “I am,” I said. “Can you drop me off at school?” I sat up, suddenly realizing it wouldn't look good if I showed up in a strange man's car. “Wait. Just drop me off down the street. I don't want anyone to see me with you. The last thing I need is for folks to start talking.”

It
took a lot of begging on my part, but Mr. Matthews finally agreed to drop me off near the school. I called Bree back to let her know where to meet me, then we rode in silence until we made it to the McDonald's two blocks away from school. It wasn't until we were pulling up that I remembered that everyone hung out there, but since it was early in the morning, not too many people were around.

Mr. Matthews cruised to a stop, and I reached for the door handle, but his hand on my arm kept me from getting out.

“I don't know who did this to you, but you're not helping him any by not saying anything,” he said.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he stopped me. “I've got a daughter about your age, and I would be sick if some creep put his hands on her, but I would be hurt if she didn't tell me. Don't you think your parents need to know?”

“I'll tell them,” I said, not sure if I really would. The more I thought about it, maybe I had overreacted. In all the time I had known Allen, he had never really done anything as crazy as last night. The more I thought about it, the more I tried to tell myself he had been drinking, but that didn't change the fact that he had wanted to sleep with me to win a bet. Momma said Daddy acted differently when he had been drinking, so maybe that's why Allen had acted the way he did.

“I hope you will,” he said quietly. “I don't want to have to go to your father.”

My eyes got huge.

“There aren't too many kids named Courtland,” he said. “Your father talks about you all the time during our AA meetings.”

“He does?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

He chuckled. “You girls have him wrapped around your finger. He would do anything for you, including kill anyone who messed with you.”

Before I could stop myself, I started laughing. “You must have me mixed up with someone else,” I said. “My dad doesn't care about me and my sister. He barely talks to us.”

“Maybe he doesn't know how,” Mr. Matthews said.

I thought about that, and it made me kind of sad. “All he has to do is just talk,” I said, wondering why that would be so hard.

“Maybe he doesn't know what to say.”

I started to respond, but I saw Nathaniel's car pulling up and Bree hopped out of the passenger side. She looked around and I stuck my hand out of the window to get her attention. She spotted me and grinned, then frowned when she realized I was in a strange car.

“You adults have too many issues for me. Why wouldn't he know what to say to his own daughter?”

I flung the door open and got out, then stuck my head back in. “Thanks for the ride, and I appreciate your not saying anything.” I added the last part for good measure, hoping he would keep his mouth shut.

“Hey, girl,” I said, running over to Bree. I grabbed her arm and led her toward Nathaniel's car.

“What's going on?” Bree asked in confusion, glancing back at Mr. Matthews, who was just pulling off. “Why were you in that man's car?”

She and Nathaniel looked at me, waiting for an answer, and I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. I replayed the night before in my mind, and I wondered if anyone would believe me. Allen Benson was my boyfriend. Why would he try and rape me? Everyone knew he could have any girl he wanted, including me.

“I don't want to talk about it,” I said.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I nodded and Bree looked like she was going to say something else, but she glanced at Nathaniel and he shook his head, telling her to chill.

I raised an eyebrow.

Bree sighed. “When you're ready to talk, let me know.”

On the short drive to school, I watched as Bree and Nathaniel joked around—not that they usually didn't, but this time was different. A couple of times she leaned toward him as much as the seat belt would allow, and when we got to school, they kissed.

“Woah,” I said, shaking my head in amazement. “When did this happen?”

Bree grinned. “Officially last night, but unofficially we've been studying together for a while now.”

“And neither of you told me?” I asked, looking between the two of them.

“I told you I was going to ask her to help me,” Nathaniel said.

“And I've tried to call you,” Bree said, “but somebody can't return a phone call.”

“You know I've had things on my mind,” I said. We said goodbye to Nathaniel, then headed toward the locker room so I could shower and change clothes.

“Okay, what's up?” I said. “I thought you were dating that other guy. What's his name?”

“Jonathan. Girl, we broke up almost as soon as we got together.”

I nodded. “You remembered to bring a change of clothes, right?” I asked, taking a Wal-Mart bag from her.

“Yeah,” she said. “Your mother seemed kind of suspicious. I tried not to say much.” She walked around the locker room, checking to see if anyone else was in it. When she was done, she turned to me. “Tell me what happened.”

“Bree, I told you I don't want to talk—”

“I don't care what you want to do. You're going to tell me,” she said, sounding like my mother. We looked at each other and burst out laughing. “Sorry, but seriously, girl, I'm worried about you. Why were you in that man's car?”

“You promise you won't tell anyone?” I asked.

She looked annoyed. “Since we've known each other, have I ever told anything?”

“No.”

“Tell me,” she said.

It wasn't until that moment that I realized I had been trying to block everything out of my mind. Telling Bree forced me to relive the night before. Before I realized it, I was crying so hard I couldn't breathe, and snot was dripping down my nose.

Bree walked over and hugged me. “Oh, my God, Courtland. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

I shook my head. “I got away before he could.”

“You have to tell someone,” she said.

I looked at her like she was crazy. “I just did,” I said.

“No. I mean like an adult. Maybe you should tell your mom,” she said.

“I can't do that.” I walked over to the sink, grabbed a paper towel, wet it, then started washing my face. “I wasn't supposed to be out last night. I snuck out of the house, remember?”

“You have to tell someone.” She hit the paper-towel dispenser and I jumped. “Sorry,” she said, “but I can't believe this. Courtland, you can't let him get away with this. You know what this means, right?”

“No,” I said. “What?”

“He probably did try to rape that girl who was pressing charges. I wouldn't be surprised if he paid her off to save his stupid basketball career.”

I shook my head, then thought about it. Had Allen really tried to rape that girl? “You really think so?”

“You don't?” she said.

We stood there in silence for a second, then I started changing my clothes, trying to distract myself from my thoughts.

I had just slipped on my pants when Bree shouted, causing me to trip.

“I know,” she said. “Talk to Andrea. She'll know what to do.”

I shook my head. “I don't think that's a good idea,” I said. “She probably won't believe me.”

“Yes, she will,” Bree said. “She's always listened to what we have to say.”

I slipped on my shirt, realizing Bree was right. Andrea had always been open-minded, even when she didn't agree with our opinions.

“I'll think about it,” I said, then got dressed.

“Bree,” I said, grabbing her arm, “promise me you won't say anything to anyone, even Nathaniel.”

“Girl, why are we having this conversation again? I told you I won't say anything, even though I think you should press charges.”

“Just promise me.”

“Okay, okay. I promise.” She gave me a hug. “I'm glad you're okay.”

“Me, too.”

 

I was headed to the locker room after the pep rally when one of Allen's friends walked up to me.

“What's up, Little Miss Unpure?” he said, and walked off laughing.

I looked at him like he was crazy and didn't even respond.

Cheering had worn me out. I had been up all night and after exerting all that energy for our routine, all I wanted to do was crawl into a bed, but I still had the rest of my classes plus a Worth the Wait meeting. I wanted to keep things as normal as possible. I knew if I skipped the meeting Momma would ask questions.

“So how was it?” Rene White asked as I was drying off. I tried to keep as much of myself covered as possible, but it was hard with the little towels the school supplied.

“It was good,” I said, going through the routine in my mind. We had executed all the jumps, and the crowd had been on their feet the entire time.

“I'll bet it was,” she said, grinning at one of the other girls.

“What are you talking about?” I said. “You act like you weren't there.”

Rene looked at her friend, and they both burst out laughing.

“Am I missing something?” I asked.

“Not anymore,” she said.

“You know what?” I said, grabbing my lotion from my locker. “I don't have time for this. Either tell me what you're talking about or go sit down somewhere.”

“It looks like Little Miss Worth the Wait decided not to wait after all,” she said.

“Wait for what?” I said.

“To give it up.”

“What?” I whispered, feeling the blood drain from my face. “Who told you that?”

“I guess it's true,” Rene said. She looked around the room and stood on top of a bench. “Ladies, I have an announcement to make.” The room quieted down and everyone focused on her. “It seems our team co-captain isn't so pure after all. She's just confirmed that she and Allen hooked up last night.” She and a couple of the girls exchanged high fives while Candy looked at me, disappointment shining in her eyes.

“That's not true,” I said.

“Girl, don't try and play all shy now. You just told me. I don't know how you held out this long with that fine Allen Benson,” Rene said.

She and some of the other girls started clapping.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I rushed to put on my clothes, not caring if anyone saw my body, then ran out of the locker room, trying to hide my tears.

Bree was waiting outside the lunchroom for me, and I couldn't believe how innocent she looked.

“How could you?” I asked.

“How could I what?” she asked in confusion.

“I told you not to tell anyone. Now all the cheerleaders think I slept with Allen.”

“I didn't say anything,” she said.

“Bree, stop lying,” I said. “How else would they know? You're the only one I told.” I turned to walk away, not believing my best friend had betrayed me.

“I'm not lying,” she said, grabbing my arm.

Before I could stop myself, I turned around and punched her, and the force of the blow caused her to stumble into the nearby trash can.

I headed toward her, but a hand on my arm stopped me.

“Courtland, what are you doing?” Nathaniel asked. He pushed me into someone else's arms, then went to get Bree, who was stuck in the trash can.

“She told my business to the entire school,” I said, glaring at Bree.

“No, I didn't,” she said. “I told you I wouldn't tell anyone.”

“So how do people know?” I asked. “You're the only one who could have told them.”

“It wasn't me,” Bree said.

The person holding me tugged at my arm and I looked up to see Candy. “She's right, Courtland. It wasn't Bree. Allen told,” she said. “I overheard him telling a couple of his teammates.”

I looked around at the faces of the crowd who had started to gather, and when my gaze landed on Bree, I had to look at the ground. Her eye was starting to swell.

“Bree—” I said, not really knowing what to say.

Nathaniel put his arm around her and led her through the crowd, and I turned to follow them, but a booming voice stopped me.

“What's going on here?”

I looked up to see Principal Abernathy standing in front of me. He took in me holding my fist and Bree's eye as she walked past us.

“You two, in my office now.”

I had been in Principal Abernathy's office before, but not because I was in trouble, and as far as I knew, neither had Bree. I sat staring at one of Principal Abernathy's diplomas while he talked on the phone. When I heard him say my mother's name, I looked up.

“Why'd you call my mother?” I asked as soon as he hung up.