Stealing Bradford

Rhiannon fell into step with Taylor now. “I noticed we have some classes together too, Taylor. You need any directions?”

“I suppose that would be helpful,” said Taylor in a bored and I’m-so-much-better-than-you tone.

“And we have our maps,” said Kriti as she slipped a paper out of the folder. “I think I can find my way to the science department on my own. I have chemistry first period.”

“Chemistry,” said Taylor with a disgusted expression. “Why on earth would you intentionally subject yourself to that?”

“It’s called education,” said Kriti.

“It’s called boring,” said Taylor.

“Let’s find our lockers first,” suggested DJ.

“Like I’m going to use a locker,” said Taylor with disgust.

“You mean you’re going to carry everything around with you?” asked Rhiannon.

Taylor held up her oversized Burberry bag. “Why not?”

“What about when it’s winter and you have coats and scarves and mittens and things?” persisted Rhiannon. “You’re going to haul all that around with you too?”

Taylor seemed to consider this. “Maybe I’ll look into the locker…”

They quickly found their lockers. After several failed attempts at the combination lock, DJ finally let Eliza take a turn at opening the locker. Naturally, it opened on the first try.

Eliza just laughed. “I guess I have the touch.”

DJ threw her gym bag in and slammed the door shut.

“See you later,” called Kriti. “I don’t want to be late to chem class.”

Taylor turned to Rhiannon now. “Lead me to the music department.”

Rhiannon did a fake salute. “Yes, sir.” And they took off.

“And the English department is this way,” said DJ, pointing in the opposite direction.

“This is fun,” said Eliza as they navigated through the crowded hallway.

“Fun?” echoed DJ.

“Sure…all these new people, new challenges. Don’t you think it’s fun?”

DJ considered this. “Yeah, maybe. I guess I just hadn’t looked at it like that before.”

“Hey, there’s Conner and Harry up ahead.” Eliza waved and DJ cringed. She just wasn’t ready for this yet. Still, there seemed no choice but to paste on a happy face and act as if all was well.

2

“WELCOME TO CCH,” SAID HARRY as he slipped an arm around Eliza’s waist, “Home of the Mighty Maroons.”

“Maroons?” echoed Eliza. “As in the color maroon?”

“Well, it is our school color,” said Harry. “But there’s actually a story behind the word maroon.”

“A story I don’t have time to hear,” said Conner. “Excuse me, ladies.” Then he sort of nodded and dashed off.

“Conner doesn’t want to be late on his first day of school,” said Harry in a teasing tone. “Which way you girls heading anyway?”

“English,” said DJ calmly. She was trying to act perfectly natural, as if Conner’s quick departure wasn’t really a rejection, as if it had nothing to do with her, and as if it hadn’t hurt her feelings.

“So am I,” said Harry happily.

“So what is the maroon story?” asked Eliza as the three of them continued toward the English department together.

“Well, maroon is for marooned, as in passengers who are dumped off a ship—apparently this used to happen with illegally gotten slaves. If the ship was being pursued by the law, the captain would dump the slaves on an island.”

“And that’s our mascot?” Eliza was clearly confused. “Like we’re slaves who’ve been dumped here? Not too flattering.”

“That’s not the whole story. The marooned people turned out to be really feisty, and they fought for their freedom when the ship came back to get them.”

“I guess that makes a little sense.” Although Eliza didn’t look fully convinced as they paused by room 233.

Harry grinned. “Hey, I don’t make this stuff up.”

Eliza patted Harry on the cheek now. “Well, you are an awfully smart boy. I think I might like to keep you around.”

Then he leaned over and gave her a little peck on the forehead. “Later.” And he continued on down the hall.

“English lit, I presume?” asked Eliza as DJ headed into the classroom.

DJ nodded, pointing to a couple of seats in the back.

“No.” Eliza put her hand on DJ’s arm to stop her. Then, pointing to a pair of seats closer to the front, she leaned over and whispered. “Back-row seats are for losers or snoozers, dear.”

DJ wasn’t sure that she totally agreed with Eliza’s little rhyme, but she followed her anyway. Who knew, maybe Eliza really had this all figured out. And maybe there were a few tricks that DJ could learn from this rather sophisticated girl. For starters, DJ would like to ask Eliza how one is supposed to deal with certain boys—the kind who liked you one day but not the next. Especially those particularly mysterious ones like Conner. Maybe she would ask her about this later.