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.