PART 3: YELLOW ROSES FOR REVENGE

My world spun faster than Mrs. Price's tires as her sports car sped down the road. I took a step and stumbled. Melaney caught me before I skinned my knee on the sidewalk.

"Wow! Tyler was in a hurry," Melaney remarked as she helped me steady myself.

Melaney probably assumed I was upset because Tyler didn't talk to me, but that wasn't the real reason for my lack of balance. I needed to be alone to process everything that happened today.

"Do you mind if I run home?" I asked Melaney and Emily, hoping they would understand. "I don't feel up to small talk."

"So you're too big for us? Now that Tyler likes you. I was afraid this would happen," Melaney teased.

Honestly, I didn't know why Melaney put up with me and all my tilt 'n' whirl emotions. I wasn't good enough to be her friend.

"Go, run off some steam," she insisted, ushering me forward. "Before you have to face the parental firing squad."

"Thanks," I said, waving goodbye as I ran.

My feet pounded on the pavement as my book bag bumped against my back. I made it home in record time, four and a half minutes.

Out of breath from my sprint, I entered the back door. Mother and Jonathan sat at the kitchen table. The deep frown lines etched into their faces revealed their obvious disappointment with my most recent failure and all my prior ones. I took my book bag off my shoulders, placed it on the chair in front of me, and stood there waiting for the lecture.

Mother looked me straight in the eye when she spoke. "The school called and informed us that you ran out of gym class today. You are grounded for two weeks. If it happens again, you will be grounded for an entire month and start attending counseling sessions with Pastor Paul again."

I bowed my head and examined the beads on my moccasins. Now I would miss the Back to School Jam.

"Jasmine," Mother said softly to get my attention.

I lifted my chin and resumed eye contact with her.

"No more excuses. You need to start obeying the rules and act like an adult. You'll be eighteen in nine months. Prove to the school that you can be a functioning member of society." Her voice lacked conviction. My own mother didn't believe in me.

"What if I can't?" I whispered.

"You heard your mother. No more excuses. Follow the rules or face the consequences," Jonathan commanded. "Now go to your room and do your homework."

My first instinct was to run out the kitchen door. I would have done that in the past, but they were right. No more excuses. If I was going to persuade Tyler Price to trust me, then Fly Girl had to be grounded. No more running away.

Instead, I grabbed my bag off the chair, marched up the stairs to my room, and slammed the door in defiance of parental tyrants everywhere. I threw the book bag on my bed. It hit my navy-blue quilt and bounced to the floor with a thud. I stepped over it and reached for the jewelry box on the top shelf of my closet.

I gently placed the cedar box on my desk and lovingly traced the double infinity sign Daddy had carved into the lid. I pulled out the drawer above the chair and shuffled through its contents, searching for the tiny key taped to the inside of a notebook. Finally finding the blue one labeled DREAMS, I ripped the key off the inside cover and twisted it clockwise in the lock three times until the lid popped open.

The comforting scent of cedar drifted to my nose. I closed my eyes, enjoying the familiar fragrance. Daddy always smelled like cedar. Memories flooded my mind, flashes of Daddy and me fishing, dancing, singing . . .

Sniffling, I removed the "Sleigh Ride" CD from the jewelry box and set it on the desk, leaving behind my mini scrapbook stuffed with newspaper clippings about the Price family. Hidden between them were the articles about Daddy's car accident. I had memorized every word. No, every lie written in them! The reporters accused Daddy of driving under the influence, but Daddy wasn't drunk. He would never drink and drive, especially with me in the car.

Somehow the Price family had paid someone to switch the blood test results. I knew Mrs. Price had been drinking that night because I'd smelled alcohol on her breath. When she leaned in my broken window, wearing a black fur coat, I thought the Big Bad Wolf had come to eat me. She demanded that I calm down and stop screaming because I was giving her a headache. More than her head should had been hurt.

My daddy died because of Mrs. Price, but nobody would listen to an eight-year-old girl. My own mother didn't believe me when I told her about Mrs. Price's glassy eyes and bad breath. I always had an overactive imagination, and Mother thought I was hallucinating from the trauma of the accident. So I never told anyone else about my suspicions. Not even Melaney.

Mother knew Daddy was innocent, but she didn't fight for him. She excused all the lies because he was dead and nothing could bring him back. I disagreed, then and now.

Daddy deserved justice, which was why I needed Tyler's help. He was in the car accident, too. He must have seen his mother drinking earlier that evening. He had to tell everyone the truth and exonerate my father of all charges, and then my nightmares would end.

The door opened, and Hannah came into the room with a naked princess doll in one hand and its sparkly pink dress in the other. She held them up.

"Do you need some help?" I asked.

She nodded.

I dressed the doll and gave it back to her. "Please play downstairs until I'm done with my homework, and then I'll read you a story. Okay?"

She nodded again and left the room, shutting the door behind her.

I returned the CD to the jewelry box, the key to the drawer, and the box to its proper place on the closet shelf between my winter sweaters. I took my English book and agenda out of the book bag on the floor and dropped them on the desk top. I wanted to plop on my bed and contemplate the day's events, but I obediently sat down at my desk and started my homework.

Fifty minutes later, Hannah entered the room and grabbed "The Complete Book of Fairy Tales" off of our bookshelf. She climbed onto her bed, placed the princess doll in the middle of her lap, and opened the book to the story of "Cinderella," my favorite story when I was a little girl. Daddy read it to me every night until I had it memorized, and then I read it to him.

Snuggling next to Hannah on her bed, I picked up the book and began reading, "Once upon a time." When I read to Hannah, I sensed Daddy's presence, felt his warm arms around me, and heard his deep voice saying the words. Reading was the best remedy for loneliness.

Hannah missed her mommy, like I missed my daddy after he died. She didn't understand things like illegal drugs and rehab. She thought her mother had abandoned her. I tried to help Hannah feel loved, but my feeble efforts would never be enough. She wanted her mommy, not a sad substitute, and I wanted my daddy back. My heart ached for Hannah and myself, for what we had lost.

* * * * *

I placed the last calculator in the glass display case at the back of Ms. Keys' classroom and then checked the clock above the white board. 2:40. I had only thirty minutes remaining club period on the second day of school. I should be happy because:

1) I had survived seven periods without any panic attacks, escape attempts, or pink slips.

2) Mimi and her minions had ignored me and my friends all day. If this trend continued all week, I intended to do cartwheels across the entire football field on Friday.

3) Tyler had obeyed my instructions to be discreet and pretended I didn't exist in History and Gym.

I should be happy, but I was miserable. Playing hard to get was supposed to keep him interested in me, but what if it didn't work? 

"Finished," I told Melaney. "What do you want me to do next?"

"Why don't you put the candy on the top shelf?" She handed me the open cardboard box.

I removed the first carton of chocolate bars and positioned it on the shelf. Chocolate reminded me of Tyler's kiss. When was this depressing day going to end?

"Hi, Tyler. You're late," Ms. Keys said.

I looked up and Tyler walked in, flashing his megawatt smile. His teeth were blinding white against his cherry lips. I wanted that mouth to kiss me again. I blinked and then blushed, hoping he couldn't read my mind.

"Sorry. Coach Chapel had to talk to me." Tyler handed the teacher his pink slip and sauntered over to Melaney. "Looks like you've got everything under control. Need any help?"

"Emily and I are making labels. Shawn and Chad are doing inventory, and Jasmine is arranging the candy. Why don't you fill the lollipop tree? The Chupas are here, somewhere."

Chad helped Tyler find the correct box, and then Tyler began putting the lollipop sticks into the tiny holes in the miniature, plastic pine tree on top of the display case.

I oscillated between wanting to strangle Melaney and wanting to thank her, but first, I had to figure out how to breathe with Tyler standing so close my shoulder almost brushed his. I couldn't think of a single intelligent thing to say to him, except for "Kiss me!" which probably wasn't appropriate conversation for club period. Though it certainly would be a fun activity. Much more fun than arranging cartons on a display shelf.

I dropped the last one in place, and Tyler put in the last Chupa. He rotated the stand, and it spun around twice. "What's your favorite flavor?" he asked. "Mine's chocolate."

"I prefer cinnamon."

"Red hot and spicy," he remarked and then whispered into my ear, "like you."

My cheeks burned, and I tried to catch my breath. The lack of oxygen to my brain might be affecting my hearing. Did Tyler call me hot? I just stood there and smiled like a fool.

"The display looks great, Jasmine. Could you and Tyler put the labels in front of the merchandise?" Melaney asked, smirking. I could tell she was trying not to laugh at the expression on my face. She gave half the labels to me and the other half to Tyler.

We took turns labeling all the items - pencils, pens, erasers, notebooks, folders, rulers, calculators, calendars, and all sorts of snacks and candy - in the display case. My skin tingled every time my arm accidentally touched Tyler's. We finished too soon.

"We make a good team," Tyler declared as we stood back and admired our work.

I had to agree. "Yes. We do."

"What are you doing on Friday night?" Tyler asked in a soft voice that only I could hear.

"I was going to the Back to School Jam, but now I'm grounded for eternity," I explained with a sad sigh.

"That's too bad. I could've met you there." He looked as disappointed as I felt.

Melaney locked the display case and the cash register. "Good work, everyone! We open tomorrow morning at 8:00!"

"Will you be here?" I asked Tyler.

"No, I have to be in the gym. I can only be here on Friday mornings."

"I guess I'll see you then." I could hardly wait.

"I'll see you in History and Gym tomorrow," he reminded me.

"Sure, but I can't talk to you in those classes."

"Why not?"

"Because. . ." Because I don't want to be a topic for the daily gossip. Because people will tell Mimi if they see us together. Because Mimi will make mincemeat out of me and my friends.

Tyler tilted his head, combed his fingers through his hair, and waited for me to continue.

"Because we need to be discreet, okay?" I pleaded.

"Sure," Tyler snapped. "Whatever." He walked away to talk to Ms. Keys.

My heart dropped to my stomach, and I swallowed the acid rising in my throat. I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, and maybe, the end of my relationship with Tyler.

A/N: Video above is Hold My Heart by Tenth Avenue North.

"One tear in the driving rain.

One voice in a sea of pain.

Could the maker of the stars 

Hear the sound of my breaking heart?

One life that's all I am.

Right now I can barely stand.

If you're everything you say you are,

Would you come close and hold my heart?

Hold my heart." 

How would you feel if your mother didn't believe you when you told her the truth? Let me know in the comments.

Forever Remember to Live, Laugh, and LOVE! - 3L