Rule #9 by Sheri Duff
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The halls of Pine Gulch rumble with gossip. It’s like the Stallion mural on the wall cloned itself and hundreds of wild horses jumped off the wall and race through the halls, making tons of noise.
“Did you hear that Vianna beat up her stepmom and will spend her summer either in juvie or boarding school?’
“I heard that Vianna’s mom is writing a novel based on what happened? She already has a three-book series deal.”
“I heard it will be the next reality series.”
“I heard that Vianna’s dad is dating the plastic surgeon’s wife and he bought her an engagement ring.”
“Massie, Vianna, and Natalie have to be separated. Nobody’s determined who will get to stay at Pine Gulch.”
“I think Massie is leaving. Her mom got a job in London.”
“I heard Massie’s mom moved to France without her.”
“Maybe Massie can move with Jack. He’s moving to Hawaii.”
The facts: Wendy was arrested and released the same day. The plastic surgeon got an apartment, and Wendy’s moving in with him. Vianna’s dad filed for divorce and put his house up for sale. He’s spending more time with his daughter. Vianna’s mom has even gone out to dinner with them, which will start a different rumor. But it’ll take an act of God before Vianna’s mom lets that man back into her house—her words, not ours. My mom left for France for a month. I had to push her out the door this time. She warned my father that she’s getting both me and her dog back. She even threatened to take Alicia. And Jack’s moving to Georgia.
I want to die.
The transfer to Colorado fell through. Jack’s dad received new orders. He’ll be training new recruits in Georgia or something stupid like that. That’s why his mom was so vague about the house hunting.
Oh, and we made the playoffs. I’m not even excited. Once football season ends, Jack will head south. My father, on the other hand, can’t stop bouncing off the walls. It’s not his fault. He should be excited about the playoffs. He just doesn’t see past it. But I’m coming to terms with that. Most dads don’t get what their daughters are going through (all of this according to my mother). And although he is having a hard time coming to terms with Jack leaving, it is for completely different reasons.
Alicia has decorated the outside of the house with Stallion colors. Blue and white flashing lights illuminate the porch at night. Flags hang and signs cover our yard. Benny and Bianca take over the kitchen table, making large posters to take to the game. Benny looks good. Benny looks happy.
Benny looks up from his poster. “Hijita, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I grab a marker and doodle on the paper. The pollywog’s a spectator on the sideline. I’d make her a cheerleader but the whole Sidney thing, I can’t. Miss Pollywog’s sad. She wants to cheer for her Pollywog Linebacker but she can’t. So she puts her hands together like she’s clapping but they really hold her heart in her chest. The faint touch of red on her left side bleeds through.
“You’re the one,” Benny says slowly.
“The one what?” I ask.
“You draw the Pollywogs,” he says.
“Guilty,” I raise my fingers.
“They wouldn’t tell me,” Benny says. “At the coffee shop, I asked.”
“Cause it’s supposed to be a secret,” I place my index finger on my lips and whisper.
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” I say. And I don’t anymore. “At first it was because I would only show my dad my work. Then I would leave the drawing at Pollywog’s. The owner would frame and hang them. Then the owner left a note on one asking who the artist was because he thought he could sell them. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. My parents know, Natalie and Vianna know of course, the staff at Pollywog’s, and Gaby. Then Jack, Lily, and Alicia found out. I didn’t think it was a secret anymore.”
“I could’ve told you that, Papi. Lily has one of Jack hanging in her house.” Alicia carries the wooden carving of the Stallion to the porch.
“Will you draw one for me?” Benny asks.
“Maybe.”
The halls of Pine Gulch rumble with gossip. It’s like the Stallion mural on the wall cloned itself and hundreds of wild horses jumped off the wall and race through the halls, making tons of noise.
“Did you hear that Vianna beat up her stepmom and will spend her summer either in juvie or boarding school?’
“I heard that Vianna’s mom is writing a novel based on what happened? She already has a three-book series deal.”
“I heard it will be the next reality series.”
“I heard that Vianna’s dad is dating the plastic surgeon’s wife and he bought her an engagement ring.”
“Massie, Vianna, and Natalie have to be separated. Nobody’s determined who will get to stay at Pine Gulch.”
“I think Massie is leaving. Her mom got a job in London.”
“I heard Massie’s mom moved to France without her.”
“Maybe Massie can move with Jack. He’s moving to Hawaii.”
The facts: Wendy was arrested and released the same day. The plastic surgeon got an apartment, and Wendy’s moving in with him. Vianna’s dad filed for divorce and put his house up for sale. He’s spending more time with his daughter. Vianna’s mom has even gone out to dinner with them, which will start a different rumor. But it’ll take an act of God before Vianna’s mom lets that man back into her house—her words, not ours. My mom left for France for a month. I had to push her out the door this time. She warned my father that she’s getting both me and her dog back. She even threatened to take Alicia. And Jack’s moving to Georgia.
I want to die.
The transfer to Colorado fell through. Jack’s dad received new orders. He’ll be training new recruits in Georgia or something stupid like that. That’s why his mom was so vague about the house hunting.
Oh, and we made the playoffs. I’m not even excited. Once football season ends, Jack will head south. My father, on the other hand, can’t stop bouncing off the walls. It’s not his fault. He should be excited about the playoffs. He just doesn’t see past it. But I’m coming to terms with that. Most dads don’t get what their daughters are going through (all of this according to my mother). And although he is having a hard time coming to terms with Jack leaving, it is for completely different reasons.
Alicia has decorated the outside of the house with Stallion colors. Blue and white flashing lights illuminate the porch at night. Flags hang and signs cover our yard. Benny and Bianca take over the kitchen table, making large posters to take to the game. Benny looks good. Benny looks happy.
Benny looks up from his poster. “Hijita, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I grab a marker and doodle on the paper. The pollywog’s a spectator on the sideline. I’d make her a cheerleader but the whole Sidney thing, I can’t. Miss Pollywog’s sad. She wants to cheer for her Pollywog Linebacker but she can’t. So she puts her hands together like she’s clapping but they really hold her heart in her chest. The faint touch of red on her left side bleeds through.
“You’re the one,” Benny says slowly.
“The one what?” I ask.
“You draw the Pollywogs,” he says.
“Guilty,” I raise my fingers.
“They wouldn’t tell me,” Benny says. “At the coffee shop, I asked.”
“Cause it’s supposed to be a secret,” I place my index finger on my lips and whisper.
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” I say. And I don’t anymore. “At first it was because I would only show my dad my work. Then I would leave the drawing at Pollywog’s. The owner would frame and hang them. Then the owner left a note on one asking who the artist was because he thought he could sell them. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. My parents know, Natalie and Vianna know of course, the staff at Pollywog’s, and Gaby. Then Jack, Lily, and Alicia found out. I didn’t think it was a secret anymore.”
“I could’ve told you that, Papi. Lily has one of Jack hanging in her house.” Alicia carries the wooden carving of the Stallion to the porch.
“Will you draw one for me?” Benny asks.
“Maybe.”