“Ooh!” Poppy raised her hand. “We should support some kind of weight loss cause. Jordan can be, like, our figurehead!”
I glared at her. “Are you kidding me?”
“What?” Tinsley defended her friend. “She’s not wrong.”
The force it took to keep my mouth shut should have won me a medal, because I was seconds from telling them that we should support a proctologist so they could figurehead as butt holes.
All business, Pixie said, “We did a weight loss program last year when Mrs. H. sponsored us. Now that Mrs. Bardot has to sign off on it, we should probably have something related to mental health.”
My ears perked. “Why don’t we do Invisible Mountains? They’re a nonprofit and they support local mental health efforts, even in Seaton. Plus, Callie’s dad is the CEO, so we’ll have an easy time communicating with them.”
With an appreciative nod, Pixie said, “I think it will be a great option for our school’s image. It will help us show that we aren't discriminating against people based on their socioeconomic status or anything like that.”
Never mind the fact that we could actually help people...
“Besides,” Pixie continued, “if we give it to something like the local hospital, there's no telling where the money will go, or that it will be fairly distributed.”
At least she had that one right. Historically, people of color had higher infant mortality rates and didn't receive the same quality health care. I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for my mom when my sister was suffering from cancer. Especially when they brushed her off at first, saying that she was just overly worried.
“What do you think as far as a fundraiser?” I asked.
Poppy clapped her hands together. “A gala sounds fun. We could have a big party.”
I shook my head. “A gala is a lot of work. Do we really have time to plan that?”
Tinsley frowned “Well, if you're not that interested in raising money for people with mental health issues, then I guess we can just do another car wash.”
“Yeah,” Poppy said. “Besides, we can have my family’s party planner handle it.”
I closed my eyes and checked myself. If I didn’t, I would lose it.
“It’s settled then,” Pixie said. “We’ll have a gala for the fall fundraiser. There are a few details we need to iron out...” She began divvying out tasks well outside of my comfort zone. I couldn’t believe these people making plans to rent buildings for thousands of dollars and order catering and planning for extravagant silent auction items. It made me realize just how small my world had been before, how small it was now.
The fact of the matter was that a goal like this could really help people. I tried to keep that in mind as I listened, but it just made me feel smaller. I wished I could do it on my own.
“Anything else before we close the meeting?” Pixie asked me.
I shook my head.
She nodded. “Meeting adjourned.”
Everyone else hurried out of the room, but I took my time, trying to calm down. I hated that people like Poppy, who didn’t really care about anyone else, could be more helpful than me, who had a heart full of love but nothing of substance to give.
The door handle twisted, and our school janitor, Phil, poked his head in. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were in here. I was just going to lock up, but I can circle back.”
“No.” I shook my head. “That’s okay.” I gathered my things and stood to leave. As I passed him, I gave him a grin and said, “Thanks for your work around here. It looks great.”
“Thanks for saying that.” His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “I don’t hear that too often.”
I knew the feeling too well, of being unappreciated. Of feeling like your work didn’t matter to anyone. When I replied, I was speaking as much to him as to myself. “The world needs all kinds of people. Especially ones who work as hard as you.”
His eyes seemed to shine as he clapped my shoulder. I passed by him and entered an empty hallway. My footsteps echoed off the wall as I went to my locker to retrieve my books for the weekend. They strained against the worn canvas of my backpack, and I made a mental note to ask Mom to sew on the ripping strap again before it came off all the way.
From my pocket, my phone made its notification sound. I withdrew it, reading the new message in my Sermo chat app.
Zara: We’re going to the diner. Meet us there?
Jordan: About to leave the school. See you soon!
My locker door clanged noisily against the metal, and I cringed. During the school day it didn’t seem this loud. As the echo faded, a new sound hit my ears.
Soft violin notes floated through the hallway, enchanting and haunting at the same time.
I followed the sound, not completely sure why. Deep down, I knew it had to be Kai playing. I’d heard him once before and this song was every bit as beautiful as that time. As I reached the music room, my suspicion was confirmed.
He stood in the middle of the floor, his angular chin pressed against the cherry wood of his instrument. The song must have been one he knew by heart, as his eyes were closed, his black lashes fanned against his pale skin.
The sight was mesmerizing. I didn’t have anything I got lost in, heart and soul, quite like that. The song filtered through the door and swirled around me, taking my heart for a ride I hadn’t expected. Classical music wasn’t my jam, but I’d never heard it performed quite like this...
The final notes of the song played, bringing tears to my eyes I didn’t quite understand.
Kai opened his eyes. They flashed on me, and my heart stuttered.
Nine
For a moment, we examined each other. Him, curious. Me, frozen.
He set down his violin to put it in the case, and I realized this was my chance to move. I dodged out of sight of the window and hurried down the hallway toward the parking lot. I’d been stupid to linger for so long, especially with my friends waiting on me.
My shoulders didn’t relax until I’d reached the doors to the parking lot without hearing footsteps behind me. Now, there were only a few cars left in the student lot. A flashy Tesla and my decade-and-a-half-year-old vehicle stood in stark contrast, the perfect reminder of how Kai and I belonged in different worlds. Even without my mom’s rule, I never would have dated him. I couldn’t love someone who sat on so much wealth—lived in such excess—without using it for good.
“Jordan!” Kai called.
I got into my car and turned the key. The engine sputtered, and I gassed it—just as the mechanic had taught me to do—to no avail.
I let off the gas and took my hand off the ignition for a moment. I didn’t know much about cars, but I knew gassing it too long could flood the engine.
Kai’s long legs carried him quickly over the pavement.
My heart sped up as I reached for the keys again and said a quick prayer that my car would start.
It did—but only for a moment. The engine died just as quickly as it had come to life. I tried again, but it was useless. Kai was drawing nearer now, and I was no closer to getting out of the parking lot than I had been without the pressure of his proximity.
Frustrated, I dropped my hands to my lap, then reached for my phone. I hesitated over the screen. This was the last thing my mom needed. One mechanic issue could set us back months. She was so close to paying off Juana’s bill. I couldn’t take that from her.