Trent Reedy - Stealing Air

“Brian Roberts.”

She started again toward school. “Well, Brian Roberts, let’s hope that’s the most embarrassing thing that happens to you all day. Now tell me all about where you’re from and how you learned to be such an awesome skater.”

“I’m from Seattle,” Brian said. “My family moved here for my dad’s business. And skateboarding… Um, I don’t know. I’ve been doing it a long time. I fell down a lot.”

He would have kicked himself if he could. Why did he always say such dumb stuff, especially around girls? He risked a sideways glance at Wendy, but she wasn’t laughing at him.

“Do you miss Seattle? How do you like Iowa so far?”

“Riverside seems like a pretty good place.” He thought of the flyer. “I think I might really like it here.”

Wendy shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess. It used to be a lot better.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head and looked happy again. “Who do you have for a teacher? Gilbert or Brown?”

“Um, Gilbert,” Brian said. That’s the name Mom said she got at registration.

“Cool! Me too.” They were in front of the school now. Buses and cars pulled into the parking lot to unload. Wendy leaned closer to him and spoke in a low tone that sent tingles up Brian’s neck. “Be careful, though. Gilbert’s a little strict.” She held the front door open and motioned Brian through. “After you.”

Just as he went inside, a voice behind them shrieked, “Oh my gosh, Wendy, how are you?” A skinny girl with really long blond hair suddenly had her arms around Wendy’s neck and half rode her into the building. “I haven’t seen you in so long!”

“Hi, Abbie.” Wendy laughed a little and gently unlocked Abbie’s grip.

A different girl rounded the corner from another hallway and ran up to the two girls. She drew both of them to her in a big hug. “Wendy! Abbie!”

“Heather,” Wendy said, less enthusiastically.

“Hey, Heather!” said Abbie.

“Oh my gosh, Wendy, that poncho is so cute! You guys, I’ve hardly seen you all summer.” Abbie took them both by the hand. “I have so much to tell you. Come on!” She pulled Wendy and Heather away. Wendy looked back at Brian and shrugged.

Why did girls always make such a big deal out of seeing each other again? Brian wondered. It didn’t matter if they had been apart all summer or for just a week. Whenever they were reunited, there were always hugs and high-pitched screeching and giggling. Brian’s old dog used to freak out almost the same way every time Brian came home from school. That was the way of the wolf pack.

A sign hanging from the ceiling said the cafeteria, gym, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades were located in the wing to his right. Brian headed down the hall toward the sixth grade classrooms, but suddenly, he felt a hard pull on his backpack and was yanked sideways through a door. Before he knew what was happening, he was spun around so fast that he dropped Spitfire .

Frankie was in his face, grabbing the front of his shirt. Brian tried to shove him off, but the other boy just pushed him back against a steel railing. Behind him was a six-foot drop down to a cement floor and a huge steel boiler. Frankie shoved him so far over the railing that Brian had to grab Frankie’s arms to keep from falling. Brian kicked him, and Frankie groaned, letting go with one hand. Brian’s left arm flailed as he started to go over the railing.

Frankie pulled him back and shook him. “I got your attention?”

Brian hated feeling so helpless. “Let me go,” he said.

“Oh yeah?” Frankie chuckled. “No problem.” He jerked his arms like he was dropping him. Brian gasped, and Frankie gritted his teeth. “You listening now?”

Brian nodded.

“Good.” Frankie pulled him up a little so he could look Brian in the eye. “I’m glad I don’t have to bruise you up today. Then I’d have to listen to a fit from Wendy. But I will bruise you if I have to.” His eye twitched. “Basically, it’s real simple. I don’t like show-offs who think they’re so great on my skate ramp. I don’t like punk new kids who don’t know their place. Most of all, I hate weirdo freaks who talk to Wendy. So this is your one free pass. Stay away from my sister, and stay out of my way.” Frankie pulled hard and brought him back upright on the top landing of the staircase. “Or else next time…”

He shoved Brian back against the steel railing and left him in the boiler room, the metal door clanging shut behind him.

Brian took deep breaths, trying to make his legs stop shaking and his stomach settle down. His grip on the rail tightened until his knuckles were white. A part of him wanted to run after Frankie and punch him right now. But he’d never been in a fight in his life, and he’d promised Grandpa he’d stay out of trouble. Plus, what Frankie lacked in size, he made up for in strength and quickness.

If only Brian could skip class and stay here in the boiler room. Or hide out in the bathroom. Or just go back home to Seattle.

Brian rested his head over his folded arms on the railing. Those were crazy ideas. His father would be ashamed of him for even thinking them. Dad always charged ahead, taking the big risks to chase after something great. Brian just needed to make himself go to class.

When he did finally get to Mrs. Gilbert’s classroom, he was glad to see some familiar people. Alex nodded to him when he came in. Two desks behind Alex, Max looked up from a thick book. The light shone on his glasses, and he grinned broadly. From the other side of the room near the windows, Wendy offered a little wave, and Brian felt something inside him somersault. He smiled and nodded, grateful that Frankie was not around.

“I don’t know, David,” Alex said to a guy in the next row. “Riverside might have a good football team this year, but I think it’s a little early to start talking about state championships.”

David slapped his hand on his desk. “I’m telling you, they’re going to be awesome. They have six returning varsity seniors and four juniors. They didn’t have to bring up many sophomores.”

“Just because your brother is quarterback…” said a red-haired kid who’d been at the skate park. He leaned over his desk with his knees on his chair.

David frowned. “Shut up, Red. Even if Matt wasn’t quarterback, they’d still dominate.”

Max cleared his throat. “Statistically speaking, when taking into account last year’s football success and analyzing the performance of—”

“Analyze this!” Red threw a ball of crumpled paper, hitting Max right between the eyes. The guys all laughed.

“So dorky, Max,” said David.

Brian slowly made his way toward the guys, but he didn’t know where he was supposed to sit. He stood there, holding his backpack and skateboard, hoping nobody was paying any attention.

“David may be right,” said a guy whose large size filled up all the space at his desk. “The football team had a start-of-season supper at Piggly’s. My dad sold more barbecue pork that night than he did even on the Fourth of July. I thought the team looked pretty tough.” He must have noticed Brian watching him. He flashed a big grin, his chins bunching up. “Hey, I’m Aaron Pineeda. Most people call me B.A. for short.”

Brian frowned. “B.A.?”

“For ‘Big Aaron.’”

Alex pulled his iPhone from a pocket inside his binder. “I don’t know, guys.” He pointed at something on the screen. “We have to play Dysart for the home opener Friday night. The Dysart Trojans went undefeated last year.”

David threw his hands up. “They only beat us by two touchdowns. We’re even better now. We can take ’em.”