Chapter 23

‘Eric Prince? ’ Aleshia, walking with Beth during lunch period, rolled her eyes. ‘He’s such a simp. You certainly could’ve done better than Eric Prince. ’

‘I like him. ’ Beth dodged to safety as a boy raced by on the asphalt.

‘I like Hostess Twinkies, for heaven’s sake. That doesn’t mean I have to date one. ’

Beth shrugged and took a bite of her turkey sandwich. Mom had made it for her and used such a tiny speck of mayonnaise that the sandwich was too dry to eat. She managed to swallow the lump already in her mouth. ‘There’s nothing wrong with Eric, ’ she said.

‘There’s nothing wrong with Twinkies. ’

‘The guys just pick on him because he’s smaller than they are. ’

‘If you prefer to think that, be my guest. ’

‘He’s not a fag. ’

Aleshia smiled. ‘Is that a fact? ’

‘Everybody’s a “fag” around here if he gets good grades and doesn’t go out for football. ’ She tossed her uneaten sandwich. It vanished into a trash can, and thunked. ‘Eric’s just more sensitive than most of the other guys. ’

‘You must admit he’s a trifle effeminate. ’

‘A little, maybe. Doesn’t bother me. I mean, the guy hasn’t got a father. ’

‘I always knew he was hatched. ’

‘I’m being serious. How can you expect a guy to act all tough and masculine when he’s never had a father around to learn from? ’

‘Beats me. What’re you going as? ’

‘We haven’t decided. We’re meeting after cheerleaders and going over some ideas. Do you know what you’ll be wearing? ’

Aleshia struck a pose, chin high, one eyebrow raised, fingers deep in her hair. ‘Perhaps I’ll come as myself, Aleshia, the divine one whose body lights men afire with pagan lust. ’

‘Lots of luck, ’ Beth said, and danced out of the way laughing as Aleshia kicked. Her shoulder struck someone. Her feet tangled. Hands flew and clutched her, pulling her down backwards. She landed on top of a sprawling boy.

‘Hey, offa the merchandise, ’ he said.

Beth recognized the voice. Squirming onto her side, she saw the grinning, whiskered face of Nate Houlder.

‘I mean, I know you’re crazy about me but this is ridic …’

Her elbow dug into his ribs as she raised herself.

‘Oomph! Jesus Christ! ’ He slammed her elbow away and she flopped onto him, her cheek against his scratchy chin, her breasts mashed against his chest, her hips inside his open legs.

Beth tried to push away, but he held her to him.

‘Let go! ’

‘Nate Houlder! ’ Aleshia snapped.

Others had already gathered around, laughing and whistling and offering comments.

‘Put it to her, Houlder! ’

‘Right on, right on! ’

‘Let her go! ’

‘Oaf. ’

He bumped up against her, ramming his groin against her lap, bouncing her.

‘Stop! ’ she cried.

‘Have at it, Houlder! ’

‘Leave her alone. ’

‘Give her one for me! ’

‘Oooh baby, ’ Nate said. ‘Oooh baby, I like it, I like it. ’

‘Teacher’s coming! ’

Nate suddenly flung her aside. She hit the asphalt, rolling against several feet as the crowd backed off. Through teary eyes, she saw Nate smash aside the spectators and disappear.

Aleshia and Mary Lou helped her up.

‘All right! ’ shouted Mr Doons as he shoved through the ring of students. ‘All right, break it up. What’s going on here! ’ He clutched Beth’s arm. ‘What’s going on? ’

‘Nothing, ’ she said.

‘Yeah? How come you’re crying? ’

‘Nate Houlder, ’ Aleshia said.

‘He pushed her down, ’ said Mary Lou.

‘No, ’ said a boy. ‘She pushed him. I saw it. ’

‘They were wrestling, ’ said a small girl in glasses.

‘Okay, young lady, you come with me. ’ He pulled Beth by the arm.

‘I didn’t do anything. ’

‘Come along. ’ He pulled her through the crowd and led her across the asphalt yard.

Beth fought back her tears. Everyone was looking.

‘Please, ’ she said.

‘We’ll discuss it in my office. ’

There was a cold lump in her stomach. This can’t be happening, she thought. She’d never been taken to the office before. She felt helpless and terrified.

They walked past one of the teachers, Mr Jones. He glanced at her, looking perplexed.

‘You don’t have to drag me, ’ she said to Doons.

He ignored her.

‘I’m not a criminal. ’

He pulled her up the back stairs and into the building. The hallway, at least, was deserted; students weren’t allowed to wander inside during the lunch period. Halfway down the long hall, he opened a door. The paint on its frosted glass read MR DOONS, VICE PRINCIPAL.

‘Inside, ’ he said, and let go of her arm.

She stepped into a carpeted room with a dozen empty chairs against its walls. Mrs Houston, a silver-haired secretary, looked up from her typewriter.

‘Sit, ’ Mr Doons said. ‘I’ll see you later. ’

Beth sat down, and Doons left.

Mrs Houston returned to her typing.

‘Yeah, just like I was humping her. Should’ve been there, Bill-boy. The little twat didn’t know whether to shit or go blind. ’

Bill was glad he’d missed it. He’d been in classes with Beth, here and in junior high, and he didn’t like the idea of Nate bullying her. She was a soft-spoken, cheerful girl. If Nate wanted to dump on someone, he should’ve picked one of the bitches. Plenty of them around.

‘Why her? ’ Bill asked.

‘Like I said, man, she bumped into me. ’ He grinned. ‘She’s what y’call your “target of opportunity”. I mean, you can’t just go up to a gal and throw her down – you’d be up Shit Creek without a canoe. But if she bumps into you, well now, that’s different. ’

‘You shouldn’t have done it. Not to her. ’

‘Christ on a hunchin’ crutch, man, you turning into a fag on me? First it’s Bennett you’re sticking up for, now it’s this Beth. You lost your sense of humor? ’ He shook his head, looking disgusted. ‘And here I was, just about to give you my plan that’s one-hundred percent guaranteed to get you in the sack with Bennett. ’

‘I’ve already heard it: you hold her down, I …’ He found himself unable to say, ‘fuck her’.

‘Fuck her? ’ Nate said for him. ‘Nothing so crude, dingus. That’d be rape. We’d go to el slammer for that. No no no. What I’ve got in mind is seduction. ’

Bill grinned as if he thought Nate was crazy. ‘A plan guaranteed to work? ’

‘One hundred percent. ’

‘I’ll believe it when it works, ’ he said, feeling a tight eagerness inside. Christ, what if he could somehow seduce Miss Bennett? ‘Let’s have it. ’

‘In the art of seduction, Billy my lad, the trick is to get yourself alone with the seducee and let nature take its course. ’

‘Sure. ’

Nate tilted back his head and shut his eyes. ‘Our romance begins with a flat tire. You happen to be nearby and rush to the aid of the stranded motorist. ’ He opened one eye and looked at Bill. ‘Get it? ’

‘Here comes Doons. ’

‘Oh shit! See you later. ’ Nate dashed away.

‘Hold it! ’ Doons yelled.

Bill laughed, earning a fierce glare from the v. p.

‘Stop! Get back here, Houlder! ’

Nate kept running, and vanished around a corner.

‘Prick, ’ Doons muttered. Then he fixed his eyes on Bill. ‘Wipe that grin off your face, Kearny. ’

Beth sat in the office, waiting. She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself, but the thought of facing Mr Doons was too terrifying. Her hands felt cold and numb. Goosebumps made the light hair on her arms stand up. Her cheerleading sweater, under her arms, was soaked with perspiration. Droplets even rolled down her sides, wetting her bra.

This was worse than waiting for a doctor’s exam, and she’d thought nothing could be that bad.

Finally, the bell rang, ending the lunch period.

Won’t be long now.

She pressed her hands between her thighs to warm them.

That creep, Nate. It was all his fault.

She heard voices, laughter, and banging lockers from the hallway.

What would happen if she just got up and walked out? Wouldn’t help. Doons’d send a call slip to her next class – or go over, himself, and drag her out.

How? He doesn’t know my name, does he?

He could find out, easily enough.

Besides, sooner or later he would see her between classes or something, and grab her. But maybe he’d forget about her, by that time.

Mrs Houston glanced at her. Beth smiled, but her mouth trembled. The woman returned to her typing.

She won’t try to stop me …

The door opened and Mr Doons came in. ‘Into my office, Elizabeth. ’

He does know my name!

She got up. On weak legs, she walked ahead of him, past Mrs Houston’s desk, and through the open door.

Doons shut the door. He stepped around a big desk and sat on a swivel chair. Leaning forward, he planted his elbows on the green blotter. ‘Take a seat, ’ he said.

She sat on a folding chair across from him. Her chin trembled. She pressed her lips together.

‘Now, Elizabeth, tell me what happened. ’

‘I was just … I was talking to Aleshia and I backed up and bumped into him. ’

‘Nate Houlder. ’

‘Yes. ’

‘Then what? ’

‘We fell down. ’

‘Houlder pushed you down? ’

‘We … just fell. ’

‘And he wouldn’t let you up? ’

‘No. I mean yes. He held me down. ’

‘Why? ’

‘I don’t know. ’

‘What did he do, then? ’

‘Nothing. ’ Her throat felt tight and achy. She tried to swallow, and almost gagged.

‘Where were his hands? ’

‘Just … just holding me. I wanted to get up, but he wouldn’t let me. ’

‘Where were his hands? ’

‘Behind me, I guess. ’

‘You guess? ’

She nodded.

Mr Doons’s eyes dropped briefly to her breasts, then returned to her face. His thumb and forefinger rubbed the flesh above his lip. ‘Did Houlder touch you anyplace intimate? ’

She shook her head.

‘Your breasts? ’

‘No. ’

‘Your genital area or buttocks? ’

‘No, ’ she said, her voice husky and quiet.

‘You don’t sound very sure. ’

‘He didn’t! ’ Tears came to her eyes. She wiped them off with her sleeve.

‘I don’t like liars, Miss Green. ’

‘He didn’t touch me there! ’

‘I was told by a witness that he put a hand in your panties. ’

‘That’s a lie! ’

His face reddened. ‘Are you calling me a liar? ’

‘No, ’ she sobbed. ‘Not you. The witness. Whoever told you that. ’

‘It came from a reliable source. Why do you feel that you have to protect Houlder? ’

‘I’m not! ’

‘Is he your boyfriend? ’

‘No! ’

‘Then why did you let him put a hand inside your pants? ’

‘I didn’t. He didn’t. ’

Doons sighed.

‘He didn’t! ’

‘Perhaps you just didn’t notice. All right, Elizabeth. That’ll be all. Have Mrs Houston give you a re-admit slip. ’

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