Veneer
It’s late by the time I’m nearly finished my workout. My favorite
treadmill is available and I can’t resist, so I decide to warm-down with
a jog. I top up my water bottle and start the machine at a walk. Behind
me, the door thuds and I wonder who would come here so late.
“Andrea?” a voice beside me says. I turn my head. The girl looks
familiar but it takes me a second to summon her name. She quickly
scans me up and down, observing my worn out sweats with Hard
Core written across the back and my hand-me-down T-shirt. I look
her over, too, just so we’re even. She’s wearing the shortest shorts I’ve
ever seen and a florescent pink v-neck that hurts my eyes.
“Liz, right?”
“Ya,” she grins smugly and steps on the treadmill beside me.
“The school must’ve payed a fortune to have access to this place,” she
says appreciatively.
“Nah, we put Joe’s Gym on all our jerseys and they let Danley
students in for free.”
“They let everyone in?” Liz asks, eying me skeptically.
“No, just the teams. I’m on the track team - long distance,
mostly.”
“Oh,” she grunts, as if she considers running as much of a sport
as cheerleading or ping pong. “Nice deal. My old school could only
afford a couple StairMasters.”
We walk in silence for a while. Liz is new at Danley but has
certainly made a reputation for herself. She’s about my height, which is average, but is on the starting lineup for the senior basketball team. From what I’ve heard, she never misses and what she lacks in height, is made up for in speed. She’s amazing - and knows it.
“I hear you know Nick Cornish,” she says, too casually. Oh. That
explains why she’s here.
“We’re in homeroom together. I helped him with math in ninth
grade. I still do every -”
“Someone told me you guys are really close.”
“Yeah... We live a couple blocks away from each other. Nick
drives me to school.”
“Hmm.”
“Do you have any siblings?” I’m almost certain I know the
answer, but I ask anyway.
“Nope. I’m an only child.”
I knew it.
“Well, I have three sisters. Most of the time, the only peace and
quiet I get are at his house. Besides, they need me more. Neither can
cook.”
“They?”
“Nick and his dad.”
“Just the two of them?” she remarks, intrusively. I wait for a
moment, reflecting on my options. I don’t like it, but it’s better Liz
hears the truth from me than a rumor from the local grapevine.
“His mother died a long time ago; his brother moved out soon after
that. He doesn’t talk about it much.” I take a gulp of water and turn
the treadmill up a few speeds so I can jog for a while. Liz adjusts her
ponytail of thick, blond hair.
“You aren’t dating him, Andrea,” she says more as a statement
than a question. I shake my head firmly no. “Good,” she murmurs
under her breath and I’m certain I wasn’t supposed to hear it.
“What?” I ask, innocently.
“Oh nothing, Andy,” she smiles so sweetly that I can feel the
cavities it just gave me. “I didn’t think you were his type.”
“He doesn’t have a type, Elizabeth.” I can tell she doesn’t like her
full name as much as I dislike my nickname.
“Sure,” she says unconvinced and then giggles. I gradually slow
my treadmill and grab my bottle from its holder.
“Good luck on the game tomorrow.”
“Thanks. Good luck with your...walking.”
“Track.”
“Whatever.”
Good grief, I think. I really hate only children.
Gender:
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