Welcome To Hickville High (Hickville High Series Book 1) (7 page)

Mackenzie leaned further over the book. “Where are you, Aunt Susan?”

“Look under Susan Blakely.”

Kelsey let Mackenzie turn the pages until they found the picture of their aunt. Kelsey could tell she was one of the popular girls. She was beautiful, with long hair parted down the middle and a heart-shaped face. She wore an expression of confidence, like she owned the school. Kelsey knew the look; it was the one she wore in last year’s St. Monica’s yearbook. The one taken before Dad lost his job, before Ryan shamed the family.

Hurt and anger flooded back, and the room seemed about two sizes too small. Tears threatened to show themselves and she wasn’t about to let that happen. She excused herself from the table and headed down the hall to find the bathroom.

Once safely behind the closed door, she choked back the urge to cry. If she let loose she wouldn’t be able to stop before her eyes swelled and turned red.

Once she tamped down her emotions, she took a couple of deep breaths and tried to plaster a smile on her face—but she just couldn’t make it stick.

This was her year, damn it. Her senior year. She probably would have been valedictorian, was friends with pretty much everyone, had planned to run for senior class president. She should own St. Monica’s this year. Damn Ryan for screwing it up. Damn Dad for screwing it up. And damn Drew for having fun in Italy.

She was being unfair. It’s not like she expected him to stay home because she’d been exiled to Texas. Her heart ached for him. Where was his heart? Did he miss her? She yanked her cell from her hip pocket and punched in:

Kelsey: Do u miss me?

She stared at the message waiting to be sent. Did he love her? She re-typed.

Kelsey: Do u love me?

The blue cursor blinked at her, waiting impatiently for her to hit Send. Should she? She’d never been brave enough to ask Drew about his feelings. If he said no she would be left with nothing. No boyfriend to talk about, to dream about. No reason to go to college in the East. No reason to escape Hickville.

But if he answered yes, what would that mean? He loved her and she’d still be stuck in Texas without him.

She looked at the cursor again. It seemed to blink, “Come on, Kelsey, you know what you want to do. Hit Send.”

She took a deep breath. Her thumb hovered over the icon. Her heart pounded in her chest, pushing heat to her face. She was about to do it when her mother tapped on the door.

“Are you all right in there, honey?”

She let her breath out slowly. “Mom, could you be more embarrassing?”

“Well hurry up. Dad is ready to go.”

Kelsey pressed her thumb on the green square labeled Send, shoved the phone in her pocket and headed out of the bathroom. The phone dinged a reply before she reached the foyer. She wanted to read it right then, but Uncle Jack and Aunt Susan were making the rounds giving hugs so she figured she could wait until she was in the car.

Dad took the truck keys from Uncle Jack. “Who wants to ride with me?” When nobody spoke up he shrugged and said, “Okay. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Ryan looked at him and said, “Yeah we do, Dad. Trust me.”

Once they were in the Infinity and Kelsey got a chance to look at the text, her heart sank just a little.

It was from Zoe.

She read the message and looked at her mom. “Mom, Zoe has invited me to stay with her for the Gala. She said her parents offered to pay for my airline ticket.”

Mom glanced at her and back to the road. “We’re not going let Zoe’s parents buy you an airline ticket.”

“Why? You know I have planned on going all summer.”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Yeah, we’ll talk about it later. Her breath caught in her chest and she could feel her pulse pounding in her head. Basically, Mom meant no. Obviously, she didn’t want to deal with the fallout of those two letters tonight.

Kelsey’s mind raced. They weren’t taking her last tie to Chicago away from her. She’d figure out a way. “What if I earn the money? I’ll get a job.”

“If you can pay for it, I can’t see any reason not to let you go. But a job has to work around your responsibilities at home. And, we’ll have to work out transportation.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes.” Anything to get a reprieve from chores, chickens, and the cowboy. Oh the cowboy. Navy blue eyes that seemed to burn right through her. Definitely, need a reprieve from him.

In Texas, it’s against the law to carry fence cutters or a pair of pliers that could cut a fence.

Kelsey stood in the combination bathtub-shower and let herself cry. In there, she didn’t have to be strong. Nobody would see the anguish she’d kept hidden. Nobody could hear the hiccupping sobs that erupted from her body. She didn’t have to convince herself not to worry about Drew not answering her text. She didn’t have to pretend that she wasn’t worried about earning the money to fly to Chicago.

And then there was her conversation with Zoe. Kelsey wanted to scream. Shopping. Dancing in the park. She should have been with them instead of playing chicken and snake with Austin. Zoe and her other friends were making new memories—ones that didn’t include her. The life she knew was gone like the water rushing down the drain. And as much as she wanted to pretend otherwise, there was nothing she could do to stop it.

She climbed out of the tub and checked her phone just in case she’d missed a message from Drew. She checked it again after blowing her hair dry and fell asleep with it cradled in her hand—still waiting for Drew’s reply.

On day two in Hickville, Kelsey stepped out onto the porch to find Austin sitting in the wicker rocker sipping from a mug. He smiled at her and set the cup on the coffee table. “Morning, Kelsey, ready to work?”

“No, I’m ready to relax with my coffee.” She took a sip and sat in the glider across from him.

He slung a bucket full of feed on the table. “Chickens are hungry.”

She leaned back and let out a long sigh. “Umm, this coffee is good.”

The screen door screeched open and Dad stepped onto the porch. “Good morning, Kelsey, Austin.” Kelsey sipped from her cup and watched him stretch and yawn. The man who always wore a suit and tie to work was dressed in khaki slacks and a golf shirt. Casual for him, but she wondered how much cred he’d have at the feed store with that embroidered penguin above the breast pocket. He looked at Kelsey. “I want you to work around the farm with Austin. He’ll show you what to do. As soon as Kenzie and Ryan come down we’re heading to the store.”

Kelsey peeked over the rim of her mug. “I thought we were registering for school today.”

“After lunch,” he said.

Kelsey cradled her cup in her hand. “Hey, Dad? Did mom talk to you about my idea to get a job?”

He folded his arms across his chest and Kelsey just knew he was going to balk. Instead, he nodded and said, “Yes. I think it’s a good idea—after we’ve settled in here a bit. And, provided we can work out timing and transportation.”

“How much settling in do we need?”

“We haven’t finished unpacking boxes. You still have a few things to learn about the animals. Give it a few weeks.”

“A few weeks? Dad, the gala is six weeks away?” She knew the drill. He wasn’t going to out and out say no, he was just going to make it impossible for her to earn enough money to go.

“Let’s get the house unpacked, learn your chores, and we’ll talk.”

“So are you saying if the house is put away and I learn how to take care of the animals, I can get a job?”

Dad scratched his chin. “I guess I’m saying if you do those things you can start looking for a job.”

I can so do that.
What else was she going to do during the day?

Austin sat forward in his chair. “Mom says they can always use help at the diner. I could talk to her if you want.”

No way was Kelsey going to work as a waitress. “Thanks, but I’d rather work in a boutique.”

He leaned back and took another sip from his mug. “Okay, let me know if you change your mind.”

“Yeah.” That’s not going to happen. She sat her mug down and picked up the pail. “Come on, Austin, make me a farm girl.”

Austin’s bum hand left him pretty much useless as far as actually helping with the chores. But he could talk, and talk he did. Kelsey learned how to feed the chickens, Winifred the pig, and the horses. She cleaned the coop, mucked stalls, and swept the barn. Austin tried to get her to help him turn the horses out onto the pasture, but she wasn’t ready for contact with animals that were bigger than her. She felt a little guilty about watching him struggle to buckle the halter around the horses, but she sure wasn’t going near them. Being chased by chickens was bad enough.

They visited the school to register after lunch. Still no word from Drew. Kelsey tried not to dwell on his non-response by reminding herself he was traveling across Italy on a bike; his phone could be dead. She couldn’t untangle the giant knot that formed in her gut when she thought about it.

Instead, she focused on the school.

The school Dad attended in the center of town had been converted to administrative offices a few years ago. This version of Hillside High was built on the north end of town to reflect growth in the area. Behind the school stood the concrete football stadium. “This is Hornet Territory!” stretched across the top of the entrance. Below the welcome was the warning, “Beware the Sting!” with an image of an angry hornet making the exclamation point.

As they turned the corner to the front of the school, Kelsey’s heart sank a little. It was a sprawling single-story brick building with few windows and about as much charm as a prison. A couple of spindly wannabe trees were staked and anchored upright near the entrance.

Anxious butterflies took flight in her stomach as they parked in the visitor’s space. If Mom was nervous, she didn’t show it. But then, she wore her Junior League attire. Pearls, a cute but sophisticated summer dress and an expensive pair of sandals. To most people it screamed money, but Kelsey knew the truth. Those things were just remnants of the fairytale that had once been their life.

As they got out of the SUV, Kelsey wondered how the counselor would evaluate the Quinn sisters. Each of them wore a skirt and blouse but they were as different as their personalities. Mackenzie wore a drop waist white skirt that flared at the bottom and a soft pink sleeveless top. The soft color of her blouse reflected color onto her normally pale face. And the white in her skirt seemed to accentuate her curly blonde hair. Her look was put together with the same precision as her performance in competition. Ryan, on the other hand, was as thrown together and as her life. She was dressed in her hippie long cotton wrap skirt and layered tank tops. And, although Mom has specifically asked her to tone down the spikes in her super short brown hair, she’d spiked it with the same abandonment as her art. Kelsey smoothed her a-line khaki skirt and smiled. At least one of us opted for a conservative but sophisticated polo.

They met with Mrs. Bettis, the counselor. She was a tall willowy woman, younger than their mom. Her features were delicate and she looked like she might blow over if she was yelled at too hard. After the introductions, she picked up the folder containing their transcripts from Chicago. “It’s so nice that we are getting three such fine young women at Hillside High. Let’s start with you, Kelsey.”

Kelsey sat forward on the plastic chair. “I’d like to take Latin four, Philosophy, and I know this is a public school, but I was wondering if you offer a Theology class.”

Mrs. Bettis sat up a little straighter and cleared her throat. “We don’t have Latin, Philosophy, or Theology. We tried to get a Latin teacher but we just aren’t budgeted for it.” She handed Kelsey a sheet of paper. Here’s the list of classes you can take. I highlighted my suggestions.”

Kelsey studied the list. “You highlighted Spanish, but I’ve had three years of German.”

“Since we don’t offer German, I thought Spanish made sense, besides you are in Texas, it would be helpful. You can take French, though. Look at it as a way to expand beyond German.”

“French then. Definitely want to take AP English. I’d like Mrs. White.”

“Yes, everybody else does too. Her class is full. I can put you in Mr. Shipley’s class.” She agreed and in the end she was also put in calculus and physics.

Ryan and Mackenzie fared worse. Ryan was devastated to find the art program did not extend beyond drawing and painting. She had been into wood sculptures in Chicago. The only way she could work with wood at this school was to join shop class.

Mackenzie sat quietly while the counselor planned her schedule. Once the required classes were plugged in, Mrs. Bettis pulled her readers low onto her nose, peeped over the top of the red rims, and said, “You look very fit. Do you play a sport?”

Mackenzie winced and shook her head. “No, not any more.”

Her mom said, “Mackenzie was quite the gymnast in Chicago.”

Mrs. Bettis tapped her pen on the folder. “Ah, that explains the biceps. We don’t have gymnastics and it’s too late to try out for cheerleading, but it’s something to consider for next year. Tryouts are in the spring.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mackenzie smiled at the counselor’s suggestion, but asking a bona fide gymnast to try out for cheerleader was like asking a pro football player to join a flag football team. Kelsey doubted her sister would really consider it.

Mrs. Bettis dropped her pen and leaned back in her chair. “Meanwhile, since you’re a freshman, the field is wide open, so to speak. Is there a sport you’d like to try?”

Kenzie gave a half shrug. “I like to run.”

“Track it is.” She smiled like she’d just negotiated a major sports deal. “Well, that concludes our meeting.” She picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Raeanne, I’m finished with the Quinns. Would you mind giving them a little tour of the school?”

Mrs. Bettis set the phone back in the charger and folded her hands on top of the desk. “Raeanne will be right in. We’re so glad you’re joining our little hornet family.”

Kelsey watched her mom put on an almost mask-like smile as she stood. “Thank you for your time.”

When Raeanne entered the office, Kelsey thought Mom was going to choke. Their middle aged, five-foot-tall tour guide was the epitome of big hair and boobs. Big hair because she had shoulder length, dark brown hair that was full of product and poofed to add maximum height. Boobs, because “the girls” were not happy to be confined by her bra and low-cut blouse.

“Well, howdy. I’m Raeanne. I hear y’all are from the north.”

“I’m Maggie Quinn. These are my daughters Kelsey, Ryan, and Mackenzie.”

The girls shook hands as they were introduced.

“Well come on, time’s awasting.” Raeanne led them out of the office to a hall lined on both sides with trophy cases. “This is the Hornet Hall of Fame.” She spoke slowly, giving weight to the words hornet and fame. “Now if you get lost, just find your way to the hall with the trophies. It will lead you to the office.” Raeanne’s platform heels clicked across the linoleum in quick steps as she led them down the hall. It crossed Kelsey’s mind to ask her if anybody had ever been eternally lost in the school but figured now was not the time to be a smart ass.

Raeanne’s boobs were practically dancing out of her blouse as she walked. When the woman stopped in front of a trophy case and turned to face the group, each boob gave a final bump bump before settling into place. “It’s quiz time. Who can tell me who was the highest scoring quarterback in a single game in Hornet history? It oughta be an easy one.” She smiled and gave a little wink to Mrs. Quinn.

They stared back at her.

“You mean you don’t know?” She rolled her eyes. “Oh my, only the handsomest guy to walk these halls back in nineteen-eighty-four. The one and only Mr. Tom Quinn—and he was a junior when he did it.” She stepped aside revealing a picture of Kelsey’s dad running across the goal line. The score board in the background read: Home: 42 Visitors: 0

Raeanne looked directly at Kelsey as though she were speaking only to her. “Your daddy scored all of those points. All of them. It was a wonder to see.”

Kelsey stepped close to the case and studied the picture. She didn’t know squat about football, but it didn’t seem quite fair to run over the other team. Besides, what kind of victory could it be if the team was so lousy they couldn’t score a single point? She wondered how the town would feel about their hero when they found out he’d been fired from his job, had come home penniless, and was living on a loan from his brother.

“It must have been something.” Her mom’s eyes sparkled when she spoke, but Kelsey knew the look was an act of diplomacy, not sincerity. “I can’t wait to see the rest of the school.”

“Well, just come right this way to the science wing.”

This school was way different from St. Monica’s. First, St. Monica’s was two-story and old. But it had character too. Its ancient metal lockers had to be kicked or pushed at just the right spot to open. These lockers looked new, devoid of dents and scratches. Instead of solid wood doors, these classrooms had metal doors with only a vertical window about six inches wide and three feet long. Ryan stopped and peeked into one of the rooms. “Wow, they’re not much for seeing in or out, are they?”

Raeanne stopped and looked at Ryan like she was divulging very important information to a little kid. “That’s part of our efforts to make this school a safe zone. If we have an armed intruder we don’t want to give him a big target, now do we?”

Ryan looked back at Raeanne. Kelsey expected her sister to give a little head bob before firing off some smart-ass remark. But, before Ryan had a chance to respond, Raeanne continued down the hall. “Be sure to look at the student handbook. This year we have instituted a strict zero tolerance about firearms. Guns, even hunting rifles, cannot come on school property.”

“Do you have a problem with guns?” Mackenzie asked.

Raeanne stiffened her back a little. “I don’t have a problem with guns. But we’ve had a real problem in the past couple of years with kids leaving rifles in the gun racks of their trucks. It’s just a potentially dangerous situation. So we decided to go zero tolerance this year.”

“That’s progressive of you.”

Kelsey’s mom spoke with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, but Raeanne apparently missed it because she leaned toward her and said, “I’ll tell you what it is. It’s pro active. We went to a seminar earlier in the summer and learned all about being proactive. Mr. Schaffer, the administrator, is a big believer in it, and now we are too.”