A Berry Good Knight

Knight Shift (THREE)

Tuesday brought with it the first day of school and in me mixed feelings. I wasn't that excited to be back, but considering that this would be my last year, I was counting down the days until graduation. Besides, I had quite the incentive within these walls--Brooke Berry. My...was she my girlfriend? Smiling, I closed my locker having resolved that I would formally ask her tonight. Perhaps I could ask while presenting her with a rose.

Turning toward the left, I nearly ran into Tanya Gunther. Crap. I looked up at her popping a wad of pink bubblegum. It was so annoying. Everything about the cheerleader was annoying. However, the taller figure standing on Tanya's right wasn't. I recalled that two out of the remaining three girls surrounding her were cheerleaders, and the other on the Dragonfly softball team with Brooke. I didn't remember their names, though one of those cheerleaders had secured a spot on my list. Not all of the Dragonfly cheerleaders were bad. Just those that preferred to hang out with Tanya, and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out the appeal.

Tanya's annoying gum smacking recaptured my attention. I hoped that I wouldn't have to strike her with the thick calculus book in my hands. I was determined to get through my high school career without having to attend detention or being suspended. "Howdy, Cooper. How was y'alls summer?"

I glanced toward Brooke. Her eyes were riveted to the floor. "Fine, Tanya." I would have inquired about hers, but why pretend to be interested? I would have been wasting her time as well as my own.

She smirked as she looked between Brooke and I. "A little birdie has been sittin' on my shoulder. Y'all wanna know what it told me?" I supposed that was my cue to reply 'what did the birdie say' but I just stared at her, so Tanya went on. "I heard that you and B.B. were at the park with those lil' friends of yours. Tell me, is that true?" She waited for either Brooke or I to confirm this. The softball player said nothing. I started to feel nauseous.

"What do you care?"

"We care because Baby Dyke shouldn't be hanging out with one of our own," what's-her-name annoying cheerleader #2 answered me. "B.B., what's going on between you and her? Haven't seen much of you since that party two weeks ago." When she pointed at me, I wanted to snap her damn finger off. And just so you know, I don't usually condone violence. These people just brought out the worst in me.

Finally meeting my face with an unreadable expression affixed to her own, Brooke shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing," she softly responded. Clearing her throat, she spoke in a louder voice. "I was spending some time with Coop--Cooper, but uh...it didn't mean anything. It was like charity. You know," pasting on a grin, she looked toward her friends, "it was my good deed for the end of the summer." As they laughed I felt my heart crumbling. Now I wished that this had been a dream.

Throwing an arm around the softball player's shoulders, Tanya grinned at her. "Y'all are so sweet to spend time with Baby Dyke, B.B."

Brooke refused to look at me any further. "Thank you, Tanya. Hey guys let's go. I don't want to miss first period. Kyle is going to be in my class, and I swear he got even hotter over summer break. Makes Brad Pitt look like a troll!" Ignoring me, she walked right passed me along with the small group. Calculus book clenched in my hands, I headed in the opposite direction, tears stinging my eyes. I couldn't wait to get out of this hell called high school.

Relieved that the first day back was officially over, I walked through the bustling student parking lot with the strap of an already heavy backpack slung over my shoulder. I ignored the small cell vibrating in my pants pocket, figuring that it was most likely Julie again. Having discovered me weeping underneath a tree at lunchtime, she immediately folded me into a comforting embrace, insisting that I tell her what was wrong. I felt like an even bigger idiot when she didn't even appear surprised over how Brooke had selected to treat me that morning.