Chapter 16. Summer plans, tans, and annoying bitches
A heavy screen of light grey smoke, blanketed her face, filling her nose. The rough feel of the fume rushing into her mouth and traveling into her slowly failing lungs helped numb the activities of the day away and the medium-hard cylindrical tube gave her a sense of control.
Tapping the butt of the stick on an ashtray she tricked one of her dummies into getting for her, she released the toxic puff into the polluted climate of the room.
A loud bang resonated through the house, knocking the death stick out of the loose grip of her thumb and index finger.
Protesting under her breath, she threw the sundress strewn negligently over the back of the couch on, tidied the living area, and dragged her feet to the door taking look through the peephole.
It couldn't have been her cousin back from school. The clock reminded her that it was just a little past eleven.
After a little scrape, the door gave way to tanned skin beneath a dark tank top and jeans, a head glowing under the morning rays, and inked arms covered in tattoos of different shapes and colors.
“Can I help you?”
The man rolled his neck, the muscles giving out intimidating snaps causing her to take an uncertain step back. She had met numerous men way taller than her but none of them made raw apprehension run through her spine like the bear before her.
“I'm looking for a miss Thompson.” He shoved a hand in his pocket the other going to rest on the door frame with crossed ankles. “Do you know her?”
Mulling over possible reasons behind this visit, Helen straightened her back and cleared her throat. “No.”
“Are you certain about that?” His crusty baritone was low with a hint of dark satire like he knew something she didn't.
Not blinking, she answered. “Yes, I'm sure I don't know the lady you're asking of.”
“And how long have you been in this neighborhood?”
“Look, I don't appreciate a stranger knocking on my door this early and questioning me like this.” Her voice was raised now hoping the neighbors would overhear or even eavesdrop.
“Now I would like to get on with my chores and you can go back to wherever you came from.”
The door had almost banged shut but the large man, with a force of his foot, stopped it from shutting him out. She was growing frantic. Who was this man and why her?
“Look here, sir.” She was wrenching little fistfuls of her dress with her fingers which trembled now. “I already told you I don't know this lady, why don't you ask someone else?”
In the middle of her suggestion, the man had whipped out his phone from his pocket and seemed to be texting somebody. His jagged, low laugh caused heavy silence to descend upon the taut atmosphere between them.
Keeping up the screen of the phone for her to see, he whispered, “I'm sure you recognize this woman. Seems kind of familiar to me.”
The picture on the bright screen punched the air out of her lungs and she stopped moving her fingers feeling drained. Suddenly lightheaded, her mouth hung open, eyeballs rolling to the back of her head, she staggered a little.
“Ricco's the name,” he bowed a little in mock respect. “Glad to meet the face behind all the fuss.”
Like a block of poorly constructed Lego building blocks assembled by a toddler, she wobbled, leaned forward as if to whisper but turned limp, landing in Ricco's open arms.
“Gotcha ya little rascal.” He supported her and readjusted her position to his benefit.
After scanning the road, the houses in better condition, and the seemingly empty houses, Ricco scooped her and marched to his SUV, parked smack dab in the middle of the road.
Strong, adept hands, started the old engine and turned on the radio before they disappeared down the almost straight tarred road.
***
Summer break crept up closer on the students of L. H. S and the energized surge of excitement couldn't have been more palpable.
Back at Warren Bay, the students had been filled with dread at the prospect of the infamous hot, and dry season but here at Lakeland, everyone made plans ranging from getting the dream tan to surfing or just standing and showing off their swimwear.
“I already have a great lineup of sick activities lined up.” Bethany was that what she called herself? Her name eluded him but her presence was one he could do without.
Not only had she been nattering away in a hyped monologue about the summer holiday plans; the clothes, her parents, the reactions, and favorite comments of her followers on social media.
At this point, shoving a ball of rag in that big mouth of hers would give him immense satisfaction.
A smile broke through his indifferent expression and Bethany, thinking he was finally reacting to her rant, leaned into his personal space trying to flash her barely-there breasts at him.
Nose scrunched up, he attempted to stop her before things got hideous. “Hold on.” Pretending to feel his phone vibrate, he pulled it out of the pocket of his black shorts to read the blank screen.
Since this was study hall period, Bethany soon lost interest while waiting for Storm to finish reading his text message and was soon invested in playing games on her phone.
A flash of colorful lime had his head snapping to the right already imagining how to shake and create a ripple in the owner of the bright long-sleeved dress.
“I'll see you around.” He was explaining while rising.
“Will you be there?”
There she went, asking questions without giving explanations.
“If I'm free maybe but no promises.” He calculated how to avoid the irritating girl for the rest of the week or semester if possible.
“Great! So I'll be expecting you then.” She flipped her board-straight raven mane behind her shoulders and pouted raising her smartphone ready for a selfie. Did she ever take a break? Probably not was his guess.
Sauntering over to the vivid color, a corner of his lips twisted upwards when the dark, vicious afro bounced with her head movements. Two other girls sat on either side of her.
Still, directly behind them, he swayed on the balls of his feet with both hands in pockets.
“Sup ladies!” Inviting himself over, he drew a chair to sit in front of the three silent girls; two with welcoming grins and one with a neutral face and squinted eyes.
“Can't you sit somewhere else?”
To answer her he raised both hands above his head, stretching and intentionally showing off his arms and torso where his shirt rode up.
He craned his neck to meet the front of the class, taking a short glimpse at Mr. Greene whose head was face down with both elbows serving as pillows for his forehead.
“The teacher doesn't mind does he?”
From her left, Ronnie snickered. “Yeah, he doesn't.”
“So we're catching up on some girl talk eh,” He wiggled his brows.
“Kinda.” That was Leilani.
“So Bethany over there,” he motioned to the place the
fast-rising social media goddess just had she shot another pose, “Is throwing a summer get together, yunno, tanning, swimming contests, you know the drill.”
“You mean Brittany?” Adana corrected.
So that was her name. Close enough.
“Yeah.”
“But she looks like the kind of person who would do 'invitations only',” Leilani claimed, doodling disorganized lines in her jotter.
“She does doesn't she?” Ronnie repeated her words.
Leilani and Ronnie seemed bummed about missing out on all the fun but Adana's face remained straight. Not a crack of a smile or frown. Just flat, emotionless.
Determined to get a reaction out of her, he said, “What about you gorgeous. Are you coming? I'll get you invitations one way or the other.”
Bringing up her head so fast, he was almost worried she would crack her neck in two. Almost. Her jaw unlocked slightly.
“You'll get us invitations?”
“Sure, anything for my favorite sweetcakes.” He winked.
Leilani nudged her ribs with one elbow while they both took turns whispering to her. He could take a vague guess at what they were saying because her cheeks which had been normal a second ago now held a suspicious tint.
Mission accomplished.
“See you ladies later, maybe after school. Just ring me.” He stood, lips straight. He didn't want to leave them. Or rather, her alone.
“I'm down for you anytime.” This was intended for Adana.
There was a noticeable debate on her face before she settled on letting a grin breakthrough.
They all understood the double meaning of his words. He turned before he convinced himself to stay and ambled towards the exit.