I opened my Tijan book, thrilled that the library had her new release, but before I could dip into the pretend world I was looking forward to, I watched Gaze. Tocks was on his team. Tallest and shortest versus the other two. I couldn’t tell if the guys were going as hard as they usually went, but it was a quick-moving game. Gaze wasn’t a basketball wonder, but he was holding his own and feeding the ball to Tocks regularly.
I started on my book for just a page before Gaze was standing over me, breathing hard. I handed him a water bottle. He guzzled it quickly without even thanking me. Tocks waved at me as the guys left the park.
When Gaze still looked desperate, I handed him my other bottle. He slugged that one until it was half-empty and then handed it back to me. “Sorry. Thanks. I was so thirsty I was afraid my eyeballs were going to turn into raisins.”
I stood up. “That’s okay. It’s going to be ninety-four degrees today with 480% humidity. It’s understandable. I have to get cheese for dinner tonight.”
He put his hands on his knees and took deep breaths. “Can you do that alone? I have to shower and finish unpacking the kitchen.”
When he stood up, I walked him to the gate so no one would give him a hard time. When it was clear he knew the way home just fine, I let him go.
I felt protective of Gaze. I’d seen it before, a new kid that was picked on right away. I wanted to change that pattern. It didn’t have to be that way. People didn’t have to be alone.
After getting to the CVS, I was freely sweating. It was so blazing hot, but it had been ridiculously hot all summer. I was happy to see they were setting up the back-to-school display. I liked school. I loved the air-conditioning that some of the classrooms had. I grabbed a block of cheddar and walked back up to the register. This new cashier was someone I didn’t know yet. I slid the cheese to him.
His nametag read Butter. I smiled and welcomed him to the neighborhood. “That’s a heck of a name you’ve got there.”
He looked confused and then read his tag. “Oh yeah. That’s right. This is the temp tag. It was either this or Marigold.” He shrugged.
“I think you made the right choice, Butter.” Before I could get his real name, I had to move on because a line was forming.
His eyes narrowed at me, and then he shook his head just a little, covering his eyes with his long brown bangs.
On my way out the door, I turned around and gave Butter a wave.
Chapter 4
Gaze
IT WAS GETTING steamy, and I was really disappointed to feel the heat increasing on my way up the stairs. By the time I got my door opened, I realized the summer heat was really going to be a problem.
I locked my door behind me and went into my room to get some new clothes. I looked over to Pixie’s room and she wasn’t there. Or at least I couldn’t see her if she was.
I tried the shower, and it took me a few rounds with the handle to get it the right temperature, which was cold. Ice cold. I hopped in and forced myself to stay until my body cooled down. Then the water started warming up on its own. It settled at room temperature and I kept the shower short because it stopped being a luxury.
I dressed in a tank and basketball shorts. I checked for Pixie again, and still didn’t see her. It was time to get into my job for the day. I had to unpack the kitchen boxes. It didn’t take long to put our stuff away since we didn’t have a huge amount of things. I put the forks and other silverware near the fridge and the plates above the sink.
Still no Pixie when I was done, so I started on my room. After moving around for a little while, I was sweating again. I felt like I was suffocating in the apartment, so I hit the street. The sun was starting to crawl behind the buildings, but it was just as sizzling outside. At least it didn’t feel as claustrophobic. I was heading back to the basketball court when I saw Pixie coming at me. She had a wide grin and all her hair was tied up under a scarf. Her blue t-shirt and jean shorts blended in with every other kid on the street.
“You waste a shower?” She pointed at my face and arms that were beaded with sweat.
“Yes. I totally did.”
She offered her hand like the teens earlier, so I knew what to do. We did the handshake, but she definitely put a girlish spin on it.
“How’s your book?” I motioned to the book with the pretty cover under her arm.
“Bonkers good. I was planning on making mac and cheese, but it’s too hot to turn on the oven.” She used the book to fan her face and then my face.
“You make dinner?” Dinner was a task that Dad and I sucked at. We were good at fast food and ordering out.
“Yeah. Someone has to.” She shaded her eyes and peered over my left shoulder. “Tocks’ opening the hydrant. Come on!”
I turned and trotted next to her as she put down her book. The kids around cheered as Tocks twisted the spray cap from the fire department. He had the octagonal tool so that he and the boys were able to crank it open. And then there was chaos. Eventually, there seemed to be turns that everyone was taking. Some of the big kids pushed toward the front, but everyone got a chance in the spray. A few kids got held in front of the spray just long enough to look panicked, but Tocks ushered them through.
Pixie’s scarf came loose and her hair curled up in the water. She turned to me again with a huge grin, holding my hands like she wanted to stay connected to keep me safe. I held my breath.
The mist from the hydrant combined with the angle of the declining sun tossed a rainbow-colored halo above her head. I felt it in my toes. I felt it in a part of my mind that knew my name. Pixie Rae was part of me. I was in love with her.
She tugged on my hands to pull me into the full spray and I followed. I was twelve. I would have followed her anywhere.
Chapter 5
Pixie
COOLING OFF IN the fire hydrant was really the only way to get relief on a day like today. It was cold. Always ice cold. And the one Tocks picked made a deep puddle that we could splash in as the spray rained down. It was filthy, but it was worth it.
Gaze and I were sopping wet and our fingers were pruning when we dried off in the sun. We sat on the stoop to his building for a while, enjoying the cool goosebumps smoothing into regular skin.
“How long have you known Tocks?” Gaze popped a piece of mint gum and held a floppy, wet piece to me, which I took.
“He lives in my building. Above me two floors. When I was little, he babysat me.” I chewed the gum until I could make it snap.
For a while Gaze and I had a gum snapping contest. We couldn’t tell who won. Gaze mentioned that he was going to have to take his second shower of the day after playing in the puddle. And then his face fell. I looked to see what had caused the change in his face. There was a man coming toward us. Gaze’s jaw snapped shut and I could tell he was clenching it.
“Hey. Why don’t you go home?” Gaze stood and I did, too. He spoke the words while looking at the man, so for a minute I thought he was talking to the adult. But then Gaze put his hand on my elbow. “You okay? Can you head home?”
Then I knew he meant me. Maybe it was the eyes that were the same for both Gaze and the man. But I knew this was his father. The man’s wide smile was accompanied by, “Gaze, son, having fun?”
His father was drunk. I could smell it. I could hear it in the slight delay in his speech. And now I knew why Gaze wanted me to leave. It was like that sometimes around here. Tapps was right here in the neighborhood, and a lot of people brought their paychecks straight there.