A Hidden Truth

Good at Being Bad

[Juniper]

    We rode most of the way in silence. He seemed to be thinking pretty heavily. I hoped he wasn’t regretting what we did earlier. For the first time since Saturday, I felt confident and strong. I hoped settling into the house and a routine, only slightly different from my previous one, would help me get back to myself.

    When we pulled up in front of the school, Jaxon got out of the car and opened my door. I loved how sweet he was. He put out his hand and helped me from my seat, giving me a small kiss on my forehead before heading back to the driver’s side of the car.

    “Be good, sweet girl. I’ll see you right here after school.” He said with a wave.

    With a smile, I turned to wait by the doors for my friends. We’d been texting so they knew the plan for the remainder of the school year. Amber told me I was glowing and she’d never seen me so happy. Kelly pointed out the small hickeys my hair didn’t cover. Tammy patted me on the back and congratulated me.

    “We didn’t have sex.” I said quietly. “He wants to wait. But the make-out sessions are intense.”

    “It’s for the best, Juni. It means he respects you. I don’t know a single boy who could sleep next to the girl they like and not try.” Amber told me.

    “I’m glad he’s not pressuring you and is being respectful of your history.” Tammy added.

    I blushed. Here I was trying to pressure him, having trouble keeping my hands off the boy I like while he sleeps next to me, and just acting like a horny guy in general. I had to laugh though, it wasn’t what I thought it’d be like when I got a boyfriend. Never in a million years, could I imagine I would be the one to would push things.

    We headed to our classes and I settled in for a day of presentations, final assignment turn-ins, exam reviews, and general boredom until the bell would ring. I almost hoped Becca would try and start something today just to get my mind off the feel of Jaxon on top of me.

    My morning consisted of only two interesting events. The first was that I had acquired a new nickname at school. Auntie June. I loved it. The second was fairly unexpected.

    During the morning break, I was in the ladies’ room and overheard some things. It was the best place to get new gossip and, even though it wasn’t my intention, I found the juiciest new gossip.

    In fourth period, Clayton looked back at me once, then turned away like he was going to be shot. I shook my head. He seemed disturbed, probably a little scared after seeing my back last night. I needed to talk to him about what I heard at the morning break, though. I’d try to see him at the ranch later. School wasn’t the best place for that.

    Mr. Paulson called me to his desk at the beginning of fifth period. He told me he’d be interested in coming to the next book club meeting to check it out. I made sure he had the details down. He showed me he had a copy of the book. I remembered I had to dig mine out and read it soon. I was excited that he was interested. The club needed someone who knew literature.

    The bell rang for lunch and I walked to the cafeteria with Kelly. She loved baked potato days, because she could make a super unhealthy potato and it read on her lunch receipt as salad bar. It was great for appeasing her mother. I looked forward to it as well. Too bad someone didn’t know when to quit. I was anticipating this, but some part of me was hoping she was smarter.

    Becca tapped my shoulder in that really annoying way. I sighed heavily and Kelly rolled her eyes. I turned with a real bored look on my face.

    “What the hell do you want now?” I groaned.

    “Wow, Auntie June, did you forget to take your pills today? A little moody.” She snickered and her friends tittered behind her.

    This wasn’t as fun as I’d hoped, not after what I’d heard in the restroom earlier. I turned and continued in the line. She wasn’t worth my time.

    “Do not ignore me, Juniper Fordyce. I got banned from trainin’ for three months because of you. They won’t let me enter anythin’ without a coach!” Becca yelled poking my back.

    I knew what she was talking about. Three months without training, or competing, she could practically kiss her rodeo future goodbye. It wasn’t my fault, though. She knew what would happen, but her pride was more important.

    “You did it to yourself, Becca Shaw. Clayton told you what would happen if you didn’t leave me be, and you decided you had to try and bother me. The cafeteria yesterday was your warning, but you couldn’t resist coming after me in the parking lot.” I said turning back to her. “Even after you learned why I didn’t want your little boyfriend, you still tried to start with me. You need to get a f*****g life, Becca.”

    The cafeteria had frozen for this. I’d just realized there were more people than yesterday. They were all hoping for a second round and seemed to be hanging on our every word. Some people had their phones out and were recording.

    “You think you’re big s**t for datin’ Jaxon Boone? He’s a northern college boy. Not worth anythin’ here. From what I hear, he’s just like his daddy. A womanizer. But I just guess you were lookin’ for a guy to get under after losin’ your shot at mine.” She spat.

    My anger swelled. How dare she say anything about my Jaxon. I’d give her one last chance to back down, then it was f*****g on.

    “You better decide that was your say, Becca. I know things that could destroy you and I’m not afraid to tell everyone.” I warned.

    “You don’t know s**t. But I know how you and your stepdaddy made a fake video so he wouldn’t get caught havin’ an affair with you. My cousin knows what he saw, Juniper. You just can’t resist a man who’s already taken, can you?” She growled.

    Whispers swept through the cafeteria. She caught me off guard with that one. It really had been an eyelash. Hank never kissed me at work. 

    He had too many cameras and wouldn’t risk it. He was very careful in public. The closest he ever came, was when he had me give him a hand job while he was teaching me to drive and the phone s*x outside the Truck Corral last week.

    “That is the most disgusting, terrible thing you could suggest, Becca. How dare you even imply that?! I would never ever have an affair with a married man, let alone a man who’s been my father for most of my life! But I shouldn’t expect anything less from a girl who’d lie to her boyfriend about going to help her aunt set up for a baby, while she was actually in Green’s Pass holed up in a motel room with Randy Thompson!” I shouted.

    The cafeteria exploded with people yelling ‘what?’ and ‘busted!’. Clayton made eye contact with Randy who shrugged with a smirk. That was apparently enough confirmation for him and Clayton attacked. I only saw a bit of their fight, as Becca flew at me with her hands in claws. My training kicked in and I grabbed the first hand that came at me, pulling her past me where she stumbled to the floor. Tammy came over and stood threateningly between me and Becca’s friends.

    Becca got back up, even though I told her to stay down, and tried again. This time, I twisted her arm behind her back and took her to the ground, holding her there while she screeched and raged. She kept trying to get at me, even though I had her pinned pretty well.

    The shrill scream of a whistle cut through the noise of the cafeteria cheering two concurrent fights. Though mine was short, Clayton and Randy were having an all-out brawl. Their friends had joined in and it was becoming a pretty messy battle between the FFA boys and the rodeo boys. The ones who did both allied with the rodeo boys since they mostly believed Clayton was in the right.

    Faculty and the SRO came in to clear the room and stop the fight. Becca’s friends scattered and I told mine to go so they wouldn’t get in trouble. It was the least I could do.

    When Mr. Tortson, my 8th period teacher, came to separate us with one of the girls’ P.E. teachers, I refused to get off of Becca unless they kept her away from me. They helped me up and grabbed Becca when she made another lunge for me. I made sure to stay calm and not laugh at her and her weak flailing.

    All of the students involved were taken to the office, but there wasn’t enough room. The boys were escorted to the auditorium while Becca, Randy, Clayton, and I were kept in the office as the instigators of the fight.

    The vice principal, Mr. Hartman, took the boys to his office while Becca and I went with the principal, Mr. Terry. The fight had been called in to the sheriff by one of the students and all of our parents would be called.

    I sat quietly while Mr. Terry dialed my home phone. He tried to tell my mother what happened and went silent for a moment before telling her to have a nice day and hanging up. He looked at me with concern.

    “She says you moved out and are Teddy’s responsibility now.” Mr. Terry said with a raised eyebrow.

    “I’m technically an adult and responsible for myself. Yesterday, I came in and informed the office of my change of address. You should have Teddy’s number, but I didn’t have his office number until after school. If you have a pen and paper, I’ll write it down.” I offered politely.

    “She kicked you out for fuckin’ her husband. Didn’t she?” Becca hissed.

    “I told you why I moved, yesterday. This isn’t her responsibility. When I’m in college, I’ll be in my own care, but high schools need an outside party to call.” I shrugged as if I didn’t care. All I could do is keep denying her accusations.

    Mr. Terry called Teddy who said he’d be down shortly. He told us he’d collected all cell phones and the SRO was reviewing all video taken. I wasn’t worried. I’d only been defending myself against accusations and I told her to stay down.