Throw Away Teen (17 page)

Oh yeah, like that was gonna happen. I barely knew one of these five guys. No way would I go off alone with them when I left my
Mag-lite
at home. “Sorry. Willa already said she’d do it.” Before she could escape, I caught her arm and hustled her toward the first brick building. “Come on. Let’s go.”

She pulled free. “The trouble is that Math classes are over there.” She pointed to the left hand side of the courtyard where Ringo and his gang stood watching us. “If you want to go with your boyfriend, it’s okay.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I told her. “And I also don’t have
Stupid
tattooed on my forehead, so I’m not going off with a bunch of strange guys. It’s safer with you.”

“Thanks a lot.” A smile flickered into her eyes. “School doesn’t start for fifteen minutes. Come on. I’ll show you where your classes are, B.J.”

“Cool. Thanks.”

By the time she finished, I knew my way around the Academy. She was a better guide than Vonnie. Willa didn’t talk much, which was all right with me. The high school took up three buildings—laid out like a U. At the far end was the gym complete with a swimming pool. The two long halls had three stories and different departments, sort of like a college. Willa told me there was a map in the student handbook, but I thought her directions would do just fine.

The first bell rang, so we went to Algebra. The teacher turned out to be a dark-haired geek in slacks and a striped shirt. He gave me a phony smile when Willa introduced us. “Ringo, find B.J. a book and assign her a place to sit.”

Sure enough, Ringo was there. He scowled at me and I figured he was still upset about earlier, but he found me a textbook. “I thought this was ninth grade math,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m a T.A. for this class,” Ringo said. “So, where do you want to sit? Choose a desk and I’ll put it on the chart.”

“Fair enough.” I looked around and spotted Willa. The class was a lot smaller than the ones at my old school. I only counted thirteen other kids besides me and Willa. There were two empty seats next to her. I took one of them as the last bell rang.

Ringo went through and did attendance. After that, he read the bulletin. These people actually sat and listened to all the news of the day, which ranged from sports to events to potential scholarships. The lunch menu went on forever, listing pasta, sandwiches, burgers and even a salad bar.

When Ringo finished with the bulletin, he handed back a stack of tests.

The teacher turned on a fancy document camera and put up the first page of the exam on the screen in front of the room. “I don’t know what the matter is with you people. We reviewed for three days before I gave you the test. You won’t make it through the Academy, much less college if you keep up the lazy act.”

Nobody raised their hand with a question or said a word, so I guessed it wasn’t the first time he’d pitched a fit.

“Only one student passed the test,” Mr. Garrison went on. “And she got a perfect score. What’s wrong with the rest of you?”

No answers came. I glanced at Willa. She had her gaze pinned on the problems in her test.

“Wilhelmina Jackson,” Mr. Garrison pounced. “How did you get a hundred percent when nobody else got more than twenty?”

Willa looked like she wished she could crawl under her desk and disappear.

I didn’t blame her. I leaned over and whispered. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. Tears welled up behind her glasses, but she didn’t cry. She also didn’t speak to or even look at the teacher. I felt really sorry for her. I knew it must bug her when I kept watching her, so I started looking around the room. That was when I spotted Dallas. She was in the opposite corner, giggling with a couple friends whenever the teacher wasn’t looking at her.

When the bell rang, Dallas booked it out of there, as if she was afraid I might say something to her. I stuffed the Algebra text in my backpack and eyed Willa. “Quit sniveling. You have to take me to English. I forgot where the building is.” I lied, and it perked her up.

Mr. Garrison was lecturing Ringo when we left and I kept going even when he tried to wave me to a stop. I had money to earn and being late to the next class wouldn’t make points with the English teacher.

Willa and I were on our way up the stairs when another teacher spoke to us in Spanish. Willa answered in the same language, but she still looked all spaced out, so I interrupted. “
Hola. Estoy B.J. Larson. Como esta, usted
?”

Introducing myself and asking how she was got the teacher to focus on me. She told me she was Senora Carstairs. She chattered away, asking me how I learned Spanish. I told her I had classes before. I didn’t tell her I knew a lot of swear words from hanging out with Irene who could cuss in four languages.

After we left Senora Carstairs at her room, we headed for English class. “So, how did you pass the math test, Willa? You sure didn’t learn anything from that geeky teacher.”

Willa stared at me for a moment. “Nobody else has ever figured that out. How did you?”

“Because I’m not dumb.” I shrugged, like it was no big deal. “You have an edge. What is it?”

“An edge?” Willa repeated. “What do you mean?”

“An advantage.” I tried again. “Come on. Talk.”

“
My dad teaches Math at the University of Washington.” She began to smile. “He tutors me at night, and on weekends. He says I’m brilliant.”

“That’s only because he hasn’t seen what you read on the bus.” I chuckled. “What does he think of our wonderful math teacher?”

Willa giggled. “Not much. Dad says when Mr. Garrison teaches for a few more years, he’ll chill out. He’s just nervous.”

“Either that, or he’ll quit.”

Willa blinked those big golden eyes again. “How did you know? That’s the other thing Dad told me.”

“Like I said, I’m not dumb.” I walked up to the silver-haired dude at the front of the room and introduced myself. I handed him the schedule the counselor gave me. “Where do you want me to sit?”

“Anywhere you like. I’m Mister Barrett. Welcome to Stewart Falls, B.J. We’re reading
Great Expectations
. Have you read that?”

I shook my head. He picked up a copy off his desk, looked at it and then handed over the book. He signed off on my class form and handed it back to me. “Find a seat.”

I counted again and this time there were only seventeen students besides me. Another small class compared to others I’d attended. I went to sit by Willa.

CHAPTER 10

In Washington State History, the substitute teacher said we could have partners to do the assignment. Sarah had already paired up with Vonnie and they sat giggling over their textbooks. Other than Dallas, Sarah was the only person I knew, so I opened the book and started reading the chapter.

Ms. Walker worked the room, checking on how people were doing, all twelve of them. Finally, she approached me, attendance sheet in hand. “B.J., don’t you want to work with someone?”

“
Yeah, but I’m new and the only people I know have partners already.” I looked up at her when she didn’t move. “It’s okay. I’m cool. I’ve got a lot to catch up on if I want to pass this quarter.”

“
I’m glad you’re so motivated.” She sounded like she meant it. “Turn in whatever you finish at the end of the period.”

“
I will.” I started looking up the names of people who were important in Washington history. It wasn’t as if I really cared. What I wanted was the fifty bucks Ted would give me when I aced this class.

I’d just found out the Whitmans were a couple of old time do-gooders called missionaries when Sarah came over. “What?”

“
Come work with me and Vonnie,” Sarah said. “Fiona, I mean Ms. Walker’s fine with it. She said we could have three people in our group.”

I eyed Sarah in her perky red sweater and short plaid skirt. The rest of us looked like robots in our blue and white get-ups, but not her. She stood out—like, like a cheerleader. Was I supposed to believe she honestly wanted to be friends with me? She was definitely one of the elite here at the Academy since she wasn’t stuck in a uniform like the rest of us. What was she really up to?

“
Yeah, but I don’t have time to mess around,” I said. “I’ve got to catch up a quarter’s worth of work in eight weeks if I want a good grade.”

“
Then, you definitely better get out of that chair and work with us.” Sarah tossed her dark hair. “I’m getting an A in this class and I’ll keep it as long as I do my assignments. It’s the only way I get to stay on the squad. And Vonnie’s smarter than I am.”

“
Okay, but if you’re just going to goof off, I’ll do it on my own.” I collected my stuff and went over to sit with them. That got me another glare from Dallas. What was her problem?

Vonnie and Sarah might giggle a lot, but they also did an amazing amount of work. While Vonnie labeled important places on her copy of the state map, Sarah outlined major points in the chapter. I kept coming up with identifications. We completed our sections before the end of the period then swapped papers to copy each other’s answers.

“
I can’t believe we’re done,” I said. “I figured I’d be doing this all weekend. Now, I can do the first four chapters.”

Vonnie blinked big blue eyes. “So, what did you do in your old school, B.J.?”

“
You’re such a hard worker,” Sarah added. “Why are you behind? Aren’t they giving you credit for what you did there?”

I shrugged. “In Seattle, I just hung out with the smokers and skipped any classes where they might expect me to do something. I went to Art and P.E., but that was it.”

“
Then, why bust your butt now?” Sarah asked. “Aunt Liz and Uncle Ted are big on choices. They’re not going to kick you out for bad grades.”

“
They also won’t pay me either,” I said. “I get fifty dollars for each A. With seven classes, that’s three hundred and fifty bucks when school’s out in June.”

“
Wow, that’s awesome.” Sarah tilted her head to the side. “I’m their great-niece and I don’t get squat for good grades. I wonder if I could move in with them.”

“
Yeah, like that’s
gonna
happen,” Vonnie said. “Your mom would lose the child support your real dad pays and you know how she is about money. My old man would freak out if I asked to be paid for my grades. He says school is my job and if I want a life outside it, I’d better have a four-point.”

“
I like Liz and Ted’s system better,” I said.

The bell rang and we headed for the door. I stopped when Ms. Walker waved at me and went over to the teacher’s desk. Had I done something wrong already?

Red-haired, tall, and curvy like an old time actress, Ms. Walker gave me a friendly smile. “I’m your tutor, B.J. Is tonight a good time for us to get together?”

“
Why?” I asked cautiously. “I did okay in class today, didn’t I?”

“
Yes and you’ll do even better when I start helping you.”

“
Okay,” I said. “We eat at six. So do you want to come before that or after?”

“
I’ll come at seven-thirty tonight,” Ms. Walker said. “Then, we’ll lay out a schedule for the rest of the school year. Now, you better hurry to your next class. If you’re late, have the teacher call me.”

I nodded and booked it next door for American History. Willa waved at me and I sauntered over to the table she shared with two other girls. Across the room, Dallas gave me another dirty look. At least this class was closer to what I considered a normal size, twenty-three teens and me.

Later, at lunch I spotted Willa sitting by herself. Once again, she had her nose buried in a steamy novel. I went to join her.

Ringo met me before I was halfway there. “Hey, B.J. We’ve got a table here.”

“
That’s nice.” I thought about sitting with him, but there were already three guys at the round table. Dallas had been treating me like pond scum all day and she’d probably be along any minute. “Thanks, but I’ve got a friend waiting.”

A dark-haired guy gave me a look that said I must be stupid. “Ringo gets whatever girl he wants.”

“
What does that have to do with me?”

“
Shut up, Mike.” Ringo glared at his buddy. “What’s the problem, B.J.?”

“
Nothing.” I saw Dallas on the way to join her brother and his friends. I beat it before she arrived. I didn’t feel like dealing with her at the moment, especially in front of a bunch of guys. I had no doubt they’d back her up if we got in a fight and I didn’t want my butt kicked on the first day of school. And I also didn’t want to break one of Mr. Donnelly’s rules and end up running five miles or have him call Liz. Trouble in school meant a quick ticket back to Evergreen and I could lose Guard if we didn’t escape together.

I went to sit by Willa. She kept reading and I pulled the book out of her hand. “You’re as addicted to this junk as addicts are to crack.”

“
Stuff it.” Willa grabbed her book. “This author happens to get her history right.”

“
You’re joking.” I opened my backpack and pulled out my sack lunch. “I don’t believe it.”

Willa flipped to the back cover and showed me a picture of a sweet looking, silver-haired woman. She had all sorts of degrees in history and actually taught at a big university back east that Willa claimed was one of the top schools in the country.

“
Her stuff is a lot more interesting than those dumb lectures we get on the Dark Ages and all that rot,” Willa said. “Mr. Miller never tells us the interesting stuff, like about this king who got real sick. His doctors asked how often he bathed. The king said twice a year. He was real progressive. Anyway, his doctors said he needed to cut back. He’d endangered his health.”

“
Yuck. That’s totally gross. I’ll bet he stunk.”

Willa grinned. “You’re probably right. Did you know the knights had lice? And fleas?”