Tony's story
"There he is."
"Well don't stare. He's liable to think you're coming on to him."
Karen and Karla were always a couple of snotty stuck-ups and Kelly usually never paid any attention to them. After all, she was just a shy, under-developed for her age girl and they were the twin, blonde-bomb-shells that practically ruled the school.
When Kelly first saw Tony he looked pathetic and dangerous all at the same time. His curly long dark hair was getting in his eyes as he was trying to see the numbers on top of the lockers. His hands full of books, he couldn't use his hand to push it out of his kind, yet rough, face.
Karen and Karla gasped as Kelly approached him.
"Hey, need some help?" asked Kelly.
She reached up and moved a particularly annoying strand of hair out of his eyes. His eyes were dark, but kind; thankful, yet strong and defiant.
He almost smiled. "I'm looking for number 310."
"That's down the hall apiece. I'll show you."
As they walked Kelly kept wondering to herself why she was doing this. She had never had the guts to approach anyone, especially a boy.
"Here we are. Give me the books so you can open it."
As he handed her the books he almost smiled, then he turned quickly to the locker and worked the combination. He took the books and shoved them in a heap on the top shelf, then started searching through the pockets of his leather jacket. His demeanor suddenly changed as he shoved a cigarette in his mouth.
"I'm not keeping you from a class, am I?" He was still searching the pockets.
"No," Kelly stuttered, "I'm suppose to be in the library."
"Oh." he pulled out a rubber band and put his hair back in a messy pony tail. Kelly was glad he hadn't pulled out a lighter.
A well dressed older man approached them. He had balding hair and wore thick, black rimmed, spectacles. Kelly recognized him as being the principal, Paul Markson.
"Hello Miss Parkers, Mr. Botcher. I see you two have met?"
"I was on my way to lunch when I noticed he was having trouble."
"Well, it's nice to see some of my students have a little bit of common courtesy." He glanced towards the nearest corner of the hall in time to see Karen and Karla trying to duck out of sight.
"I believe, Tony, that having that cigarette hanging out of your mouth unlit will remain unlit while you are still inside my school?"
Tony removed the cigarette and returned it to his pack. "I'm not that much of a rebel, Mr., Markson, no matter what may have come up in my transcripts."
"Well, I tend to not let past records influence me. Many of my staff tell me it's a bad habit. If memory serves me correctly, Kelly, you should be heading to lunch and then Study Hall, correct?"
"You always remember everyone's schedule, Mr. Markson, or just mine?"
"Only the one's I like, Kelly. Glancing at Tony's schedule here he has the same thing. I'm going to write you a note here so you can show him around instead of going to Study Hall. I know how overwhelming this school can sometimes be to a newcomer."
Tony almost let that smile hint out again as Mr. Markson handed Kelly the note.
"You send anyone who gives you trouble to me, Okay?"
"Sure thing, Mr. M."
"I like the pony tail better, Tony, and I think most of the teachers will also."
"Thanks, Mr. M."
Mr. Markson smiled at the use of the less official initial and patted Tony's back. "I think you'll get along here just fine, Mr. Botcher, no matter what those transcripts say."
This time Tony did smile.
Tony and Kelly spent the rest of the hour figuring out the best ways for him to get to his classes. He smiled rarely, mostly when she made a suggestion that he didn't seem to have thought of.
"So, who were those girls anyways?"
"What girls?" asked Kelly.
"The ones that sort of gasped when you approached me." He said it as though he could read their minds and knew they thought very bad of him.
"Don't mind them. That's just Karen and Karla. They think they know everything just because they're head of the senior student council and co-captains of the cheerleading squad."
"Oh, that kind."
"I guess every school has their bad apples, huh?"
His eyes got that look of remembering things better left forgotten. "Yeah, I guess so."
Kelly showed him to a couple more of the rooms and showed him to his class before finally going to her next class. She felt like something was missing the moment he was out of sight.
Cindy was a tall, well built blonde girl who made Kelly feel like her little sister. Steve, Cindy's boyfriend and most valuable player on the football team, made her feel more like he was some kind of bodyguard to her. At the end of the school day Kelly was walking out of the main doors with them when she caught sight of Tony. He was sitting on his motorcycle a couple of parking places up from Steve's car. She blushed and giggled under her breath when she saw him.
"Uh oh," said Cindy, "he's right there."
"Gosh, he looks like he could have done it, " said Steve.
"Well, let's just walk by, okay?"
"What are you two talking about?" Kelly asked.
Before either of them could answer, Tony caught sight of Kelly and waved. She happily returned the gesture and walked towards him.
"So how'd it go after I left you?"
"Okay I guess. Some of the other teachers made off-handed comments about my hair. I told them Mr. M said it was fine as long as I kept it up."
"Yeah. He likes you."
"I wouldn't say that for sure right now. He probably just hasn't seen my records."
"He wasn't kidding when he said records don't matter to him. I work in his office for second hour. He really doesn't like to condemn anyone."
"I guess it doesn't really matter."
Kelly glanced back at Cindy and Steve. "We usually stop at the soda shop on the way home. Would you like to go?"
"You going to let me buy you a soda?" He winked at Kelly and she blushed.
"Only if I can sit by you," she answered.
"Well, that's a given."
The engine of the Harley roared to life. Tony picked up his feet and sped off. Half way through the parking lot he went into a wheelie. Kelly laughed and clapped like a elementary school kid until she saw the cop car that was driving slowly passed. Kelly knew he had seen her.
Cindy stepped up behind her. "Do you know what you're getting yourself into, little girl?"
Kelly pulled her book bag up onto her shoulders, ignoring the comment.
"Come on, he's expecting me at the shop."
"Kelly...."
She started running for Steve's car. "Come on!"
Cindy and Steve looked at each other, shrugged, then followed reluctantly.
"You sure you don't want to go with us to the Arcade instead?" asked Steve, "Mike's going to be there."
Kelly crinkled up her nose. "I can do better than a water boy."
"Dave's going to be there . .. . "
The look Cindy shot at Steve could have killed him. Kelly just gulped.
Cindy hugged Kelly's shoulders. "Just be careful, okay kid?"
"Just make sure your Dad knows that we tried to stop you, egh?" laughed Steve.
Kelly drew in a sharp breath. "I can deal with Daddy." She didn't sound as sure as she would have liked.
When Steve pulled in the Soda shop parking lot she slid out quickly and closed the door. Cindy hung out the open window.
"Just take my advice, okay? Be careful with him."
"I think he needs people who won't be so careful all the time."
When Kelly entered the Soda Shop she didn't see Tony.
"Hey, aren't you a couple of people short?"
Jodi was one of the few friends who didn't seem to condemn Kelly all the time. She was short, with a small build and dancing green eyes that didn't at all fit her dark complexion. Maria, a pure blooded Mexican girl in every sense was working behind the counter.
"No, I'm here to meet someone else," answered Kelly.
"You mean Senor Antone with the motor sickle?"
"How did you know?"
"Karen and Karla have it all over school that he was putting the moves on you this morning." said Jodi.
"I helped him find his locker, and it was just before lunch. What's the big deal anyways?"
"Mamma mia, little Nina, don't you know nada?"
"Know what?"
Jodi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Candace looked in his records when they came in last week. He got transferred here cause he tried to rape a girl at his last school."
Kelly bit her bottom lip. "I don' t think that's any of our business," she said defiantly, "Besides, I think he needs the benefit of the doubts."
Just then Tony entered the Soda Shop. Kelly waved and walked over without saying another word to either of the girls.
"What? Embarrassed to introduce me to your friends?" Tony asked.
"No," said Kelly, "I just want to spend as much time alone with you as I can."
"Oh really." He raised one eyebrow and Kelly felt herself blushing again.
Tony picked a table near the windows by his bike. "I'd like to sit here if that's okay. I don't really trust anyone around here yet."
Kelly shot a dirty look toward the girls at the counter. "I can kind of understand that."
"Your friends after school didn't seem to take to me too well."
"Cindy and Steve just listen to too much gossip."
Tony sighed. "It's already started."
Kelly tried to sound light hearted. "You kinda got to expect it when someone's as noticeable as you are."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Kelly felt like she was losing him again as his eyes had that far away look.
"Hey, I didn't mean anything by that."
Tony forced a smile. "I know."
There was a silence that Kelly felt like would go on forever.
Maria came over and dropped menus on the table and set down two glasses of water. She stood over the table with pad and pen poised. "You ordering anything today, Kel?"
"Hi Maria," she said, "this is Tony."
"Hi," said Tony.
Maria ignored the kind gestures and just stood there, nervously tapping
her pen on the pad.
Tony became defensive. "Two burger plates, please. You are hungry , aren't you Kelly?"
"Yeah," Kelly sighed, "burgers sound okay."
As Maria walked away Tony reached across the table and squeezed Kelly's hand. "It's okay. Like you said, I have to kind of expect it."
Kelly tried to force a smile. "That doesn't mean that it's right."
Kelly and Tony were chatting like they had known each other forever when a commotion at the door caught their attention. Karen and Karla entered on the arms of Kris and Karl Kreig, co-captains of the Senior Football team. They noticed Tony and Kelly together and Karen whispered to the others. They all laughed as they walked by to a corner booth.
Maria came to the table and put down the drinks. "The burgers should be up in a minute." She walked over to Karen and Karla's table before Kristy could say anything.
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea," said Tony, "I better go."
"You do and I'll never speak to you again."
"It might be better for you, and safer."
"Tony, I've done what was considered right by everyone else all my life. For once let me do what I think is right."
"Okay. Just don't say I didn't warn you. It's probably going to get worse."
"I don't care. I like you. I want to be friends. If they want to believe what they read that's their problem."
Tony took a deep breath. "Someone's seen my records."
Kelly shuddered. "Karen and Karla's best friend Candace works in the counseling office. I was going to tell you."
"Hey, I wouldn't have been able to hide forever." Tony stood up. "I can't stay."
Kelly got up too. "Fine." She turned toward the counter. "Maria, this is for the pops and you can cancel the burgers. It's too stuffy in here." She threw three dollars on the table and headed for the door. Tony followed.
"That was some performance."
Kelly leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I don't know where that came from."
"Well, I'll lead you through the rest. Come on."
Tony got on his motorcycle and brought it to life, then held his hand out to Kelly. She stood up and took his hand and he gently lead her to his side and leaned to her.
"They'll think I'm kissing you. Hug me then slide onto the back."
Kelly slid her arms around his torso in a quick hug then climbed on behind him, putting her arms tightly around his waist.
Tony smiled and did a slight salute to the teenagers gathered in the window of the Soda Shop before picking up his feet and speeding off.
Kelly didn't understand if it was the closeness of Tony's body or the power of the Harley that was giving her the tingly feeling she had. Never before has she felt so free. She loosened her grip slightly and leaned her head back so she could feel the wind in her face.
Tony had kept his speed down. It was hard to maneuver with Kelly's arms so tight he couldn't taken in a full breath. Now that she relaxed some he did too. He knew just where he wanted to go.
Kelly shut her eyes and let all these new feeling stake her away. She felt like she was dreaming and if she would have she knew she would have never wanted to wake up.
Tony had been in the area a week already and had found the old mill on one of his first rides . The gap between the gate and the gate house was just big enough for the Harley.
Kelly opened her eyes when Tony slowed to be able to maneuver through the gap. She had heard her father complain about how kids had broken into the old mill for their weekend parties and now there had to be a patrol car stationed at the gate on Friday and Saturday nights. There were no cars in sight now but it didn't make her feel any easier.
Tony kept the bike in neutral and coasted down the drive into the large parking area. There was a large gray building straight ahead but he veered off to the right towards a small dirt road.
"There's something I want to show you," Tony told Kelly.
Kelly nodded without thinking. Since they had come through the gate she had felt like a scared child again. That was a part of her she didn't want Tony to see.
The small dirt road turned left and right, going over two small hills until it finally ended at a creek. Rotted pears and fallen leaves covered the shore on both sides.
"This is beautiful. "
"I couldn't believe how quiet it was when I first found it. You can actually hear the water."
"Yeah. Its really peaceful."Tony helped Kelly off the bike. She walked over to a large boulder and took off her shoes. Tony pulled the rubber band out of his hair and put it around one handlebar, then laid his leather over the seat after removing his cigarettes. When he turned back Kelly was letting the cool water run over her toes.
Kelly looked back at Tony as he lit a cigarette.
"Why do you smoke?"
Tony shrugged. "It's relaxing."
"I can think of healthier ways to relax."
"We all go sometime. Personally I think its all up to fate. I could walk into a bank robbery and die tomorrow or I could live to be a Grandpa. Who can really say?"
Kelly turned back and watched the water run over her feet. Who really could say?
Tony sat down behind her. "Hey, you okay?"
Kelly didn't turn around. "I've never thought about death before. I'm only 17 for Pete's sake."
Tony put his hands tightly on her shoulders and turned her around. Kelly eye's glistened with unshed tears. Tony put one rough hand on her cheek and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry."
Kelly answered by sliding her hand up behind his neck and kissing him.
It was strange for her. The last time she had initiated a kiss was Tommy
Johnson in the park sandbox 10 years ago., and then she had only kissed
his cheek.
This is where I've left off.
The idea is that, on her way home that evening, Kelly is going to be raped by Dave.. a member of the football team who has his eye on taking her just becuase she's a virigin. OF course, the last person anyone had seen Kelly with was Tony.
Kelly's father is the chief of police. The rest of the story will go along as to how Tony and Kristy work to prove his innocence and finally bring Dave to justice....
Any suggestions would be helpful... please e-mail LV...
Thanks in advance... Kristy
Story Continues here
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