Will I ever forgive my mother? Maybe sometime in the next decade.
Howie reported that it was the best party in the history of Miami High. He has a mean streak, that guy.
He could have told me that it was the most boring night of his life. Instead, he told me how awesome the two bands were. How he danced until 2 in the morning. And then had a late moonlight swim in the Dalbys's heated pool. How he never laughed so much in his life. And how everyone kept asking him where I was.
I told Howie never to mention the party again.
That was a week ago, and he kept his promise--until the two of us were walking to Tyra's house on Canyon Road after school on Friday.
We walked under low clouds, threatening rain. The air felt cold and wet, more like winter than spring.
"I just don't get it about Brian and Tyra," Howie started.
I shifted my backpack on my shoulders. It was loaded with homework for the weekend.
"What about Brian and Tyra?" I asked, thinking about my history term paper.
"Well, you should have seen them at Ryan's party," Howie continued.
I stopped walking and grabbed the sleeve of his blue sweater.
"You promised. No talking about the party."
He tugged his arm free.
"I'm not talking about the party, AJ. I'm talking about Brian and Tyra."
"Well... What about them?" I asked grudgingly.
"I watched them at the party," Howie replied. "It was pitiful. Tyra followed Brian around like a lovesick puppy dog. And Brian hardly talked to her. I mean, he was busy coming on to every other girl there."
"He likes to flirt," I agreed jogging to cross the street before the light changed.
"It was disgusting," Howie insisted. "You should have seen the way he danced with Samantha Harper. And I saw him making out behind the garage with some girl I'd never seen before."
"Oh wow," I murmured. "And what did Tyra do?"
"Ran around getting him Cokes," Howie reported. "I mean, I don't get it. She had to know what Brian was doing. He was so obvious! He practically pretended Tyra wasn't there. And she just grinned at him and followed him around."
"That's true," I said dryly.
"It's not funny," Howie scolded me. " You know how serious Tyra can be."
"I wish Brandie could get serious," I muttered under my breath. Howie turned and squinted at me.
"What did you say?"
"Oh nothing." I sighed. I pictured Brian flirting with guys at the party. I had tried flirting with Brandie. But she thought I was kidding or something. She just made jokes.
"Tyra is a great girl," Howie continued. "But I think--"
"I actually think they're a great couple," I interrupted. "I mean, Brian can get Tyra to lighten up. She's so shy and quiet all the time. She's never really had a boyfriend before. She's so excited about it ... maybe it will change her. Maybe..."
I waved to a station wagon full of kids from school. When they rumbled out of view, I caught the fretful expression on Howie's face.
"I don't think Brian is good for Tyra," he argued. "I think Tyra is going to get hurt. I think Brian might dump her the first chance he gets."
"I know she's a lot more serious than he is," I agreed. "But aren't you being a little too hard on Brian?"
Howie's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me? Hard on Brian? What are you talking about?"
A strong wind greeted us as we turned on Canyon Road. Tyra's red brick house came to view on the next corner.
I had a feeling that Howie might be a little jealous of Brian. Before Brian started going out with Tyra, Howie was the only other guy of our friends. But when Brian had arrived with his nice clothes, perfect face and hair, perfect sex symbol. And Brian quickly seemed to have all their friends' attention turned on her.
So maybe Howie was the tiniest bit jealous. But as I walked beside him on the sidewalk to Tyra's house, I decided not to mention this theory of mine. It would only hurt his feelings. And he'd spend the rest of the week denying it.
"Brian is okay," I said instead. "He's not a bad guy. He likes to have fun, that's all. And he's not shy."
Howie snickered. "That's for sure" I turned onto the gravel driveway that led up to Tyra's house. But Howie held me back. "Wait," he murmured, gazing up at the house.
"What's wrong?" I asked, turning and studying his face.
"Kevin has been pestering me again," Howie said, rolling his eyes. "Do you believe it?"
"What does he want this time?" I asked. "More money?"
Howie shook his head. "He made me lend him my car."
"Oh wow," I murmured.
"I-I've been so upset and angry about Kevin, I just had to tell someone," Howie stammered.
"Well, of course you can tell me," I replied. "I'm your best friend."
"He's always after me for money, or for my history notes, or for my car," Howie continued, talking rapidly as always, his voice tight with anger.
"He pesters me all the time. And if I try to say no to him--"
"He threatens to tell your parents about the chemistry exam." I finished the sentence for him.
"I'm in the same boat Howie." I sighed.
"I hate myself for letting this happen to me!" Howie yelled. He balled his hands into tight fists. "Kevin has such power over me and it's all my fault. I never should have taken that old test from him. Never, never never! It's the biggest mistake of my life."
I stared at my friend in shock. In all the years we'd been friends, I never saw him lose it like that. I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It'll be okay," I said softly, soothingly. "He's doing the same thing to me. But he'll get bored. Really."
His dark eyes locked on mine. "Bored? Do you think so?" I nodded. "Kevin has a very short attention span. He'll get tired of bullying us. He'll move on to some new victims. You'll see."
He didn't reply. I could see he was thinking hard, maybe about what 'd just said. We made our way up the driveway, our shoes crunching noisily over the gravel. I raised my finger to the doorbell, but the front door swung open before I could press it.
Tyra pushed open the glass storm door. I could see instantly from the troubled look on her face that something was wrong.
"Tyra--what is it?" I demanded.
"Did you here about Kev?" Tyra asked.
Chapter 4
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