Stealing Bradford

The three girls took off, heading around the corner of the gym that led to the street, as DJ continued to have this fake conversation. When the coast seemed to be clear, she went over and grabbed Casey by the arm. “You’re coming with me,” she said firmly. And to her surprised relief, Casey didn’t even resist. “What on earth are you trying to do?” demanded DJ when they were walking through the courtyard outside of the commons, safely away from that isolated place by the gym.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, why are you hanging in places where you’re making yourself an easy target for girls like that?”

“Having a smoke.”

“Oh, Casey!” DJ sat down on a cement bench now, pulling Casey down next to her. “You are such a fool. If you really need to smoke, go out on the sidewalk in front of the school where the other smokers go. It’s not like anyone cares when you’re not on school grounds. And at least you won’t get beat up out there since it’s in plain sight of the office.”

“Oh.”

“I just do not understand you.” DJ could hear the exasperation in her voice. She knew it was partially due to the adrenaline which was still rushing through her, but she didn’t really care. Maybe Casey needed someone to yell at her just now. “You were never like this before.”

Casey frowned at her. “Neither were you.”

“Yes, but my changes are mostly on the surface, and they’re not the kind of things that put me in harm’s way. I cannot say the same about you.”

Casey just shrugged. “Hey, it’s my life.”

“But your life affects others.”

“So…”

“So, don’t be so selfish, Casey.”

Casey laughed in a cynical way. “Yeah, right. Look who’s talking.”

“Fine, I suppose I do seem selfish, but I’m just trying to get by.”

“Me too.”

“Yeah, well, you almost got beat up just now. That doesn’t sound like you’re getting by too well.”

Casey shrugged again, and this made DJ seriously irritated.

“Well, thanks anyway,” said Casey as she stood.

“Would you be a little more careful?” asked DJ as she stood. “At least go out in front of the school next time you have a nicotine fit.”

“Yeah…” Casey’s voice broke slightly now. Like maybe DJ had actually gotten through to her. In fact, she looked on the brink of tears—now that could totally unravel her tough-girl act!

Suddenly, DJ felt genuinely sorry for Casey, and she did something that she probably should’ve done on the day Casey had arrived in Crescent Cove; she reached out and hugged her old friend. At first it felt like Casey was pulling away…and then she sort of gave in to it.

“I do not know what your problem is,” said DJ as she continued to hug her, “but I still love you, Casey. You were like a sister to me, and I’m not willing to just let that go now. When you’re ready to get real and talk, I’m ready to listen.” When she finally released her from the bear hug, DJ noticed that Casey’s eyes were glistening with tears.

“Yeah, right,” said Casey in a gruff voice. “Thanks, DJ.”

“Get a load of the lesbians,” said a slightly familiar girl’s voice. DJ looked over to see Tina pointing at them now. “Why don’t you two dykes get a room?” she teased, making Madison and several others laugh.

“Why don’t you get a life?” DJ tossed back in anger. As Casey slipped off, DJ noticed that some of her friends, including Conner, were also in the crowd of onlookers. Well, it just figured. Still, DJ held her head high as she turned and walked away. What difference did it really make what they thought of her anyway? Why should she even care?

Her next class was drama, which seemed appropriate, although she wondered why she’d taken it—probably because it sounded easy. Now, despite the ravenous growling in her stomach, she kept walking toward the auditorium where the drama class was supposed to meet. Too bad she hadn’t had the sense to take her cheeseburger with her when she’d made her hasty exit from the cafeteria.

“Hey, wait,” called a voice from behind her. She turned to see Rhiannon jogging to catch her.

“What’s up?” asked DJ as they walked together.

“That’s what I was wondering,” said Rhiannon. “How’s it going?”

“You mean you didn’t witness that last little episode?”

“In the cafeteria?”

“No, I’ve managed to embarrass myself twice in one day.”

“I actually meant how’s it going on the inside?” clarified Rhiannon.

“You mean the God thing?” DJ shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

“I mean you, DJ, how are you doing?”

“I’ve had better days.”

“Sorry.”

“But then I suppose I’ve had worse ones too.” She forced a smile for Rhiannon’s sake. “So, you didn’t catch that little scene with Casey and me in the courtyard just now?”

“No, what happened?”

So DJ gave her the condensed version. “I probably would’ve been more cautious if I’d known I had an audience.” She shook her head. “But then again, maybe that was for the best. Maybe it helps Casey to see that I really do care about her…no matter who’s looking.”

“That’s totally cool that you connected with her like that, DJ. Casey really needs to be loved.”

Then DJ told her about Casey’s near-mugging incident.

“Wow, you’re having a busy day.”