Carlson Melody - Stealing Bradford

“Hey, girls,” said Eliza as she joined them. “It’s the big day.”

“Big day?” asked DJ, confused.

“Mr. Harper’s going to announce which play we’ll be doing.”

“Oh, right.” Not for the first time, DJ wondered why she’d taken drama. Oh, sure it was sort of fun, but when it came to acting, DJ felt fairly certain she would make a complete fool of herself. Hopefully, she could get a backstage assignment and avoid the limelight altogether. Rhiannon had mentioned that she primarily wanted to work on sets. Maybe DJ could be her assistant.

“Okay, class,” said Mr. Harper from the stage. “It’s time to unveil the choice for the next CCH production, but first I’ll give you some clues. For starters it’s a musical.”

Some of the kids, including DJ, groaned.

“Second, it’s written by Rogers and Hammerstein.”

“Is Harper gay?” whispered Taylor and those close enough to hear it laughed, although DJ did not. Fortunately, Mr. Harper didn’t seem to hear, not that he’d care, since most kids knew he was married, and that his pretty wife, Mrs. Harper, taught English.

“Third, it’s a war story.” He paused and looked out over the class now. “Any guesses?”

“White Christmas ?” shouted a girl.

“No, but that’s a good guess…although White Christmas was an Irving Berlin production.”

“Sure he’s not gay?” said Taylor a bit more loudly, followed by more laughter.

“No, he’s not gay,” said Mr. Harper. “Did you have a guess, Miss Mitchell?”

“Did Mitzi Gaynor star in it?”

He looked surprised and then nodded. “Care to wager a guess?”

“That’s okay. I don’t want to spoil your surprise.”

“Okay, my fourth clue is that it’s set in an exotic location.” Now he pantomimed a drummer as someone behind the scenes played the audio for a drum roll. “We will be performing South Pacific !“

Some of the kids cheered, some clapped, but most of them seemed unfamiliar with the choice. Taylor feigned a yawn. What an actress.

“Okay,” he said, pointing toward the movie screen, which was already in place. “Let’s roll some film.”

The movie was actually sort of interesting once they got into it, but DJ wasn’t too sure about all that singing and dancing. She, for one, couldn’t carry a tune in a wheelbarrow. Then, when the movie stopped in the middle of an exciting scene, everyone moaned and complained.

“Sorry,” said Mr. Harper as the house lights came back on. “ South Pacific will be continued tomorrow—in a theater near you.”

“Or tonight,” said Eliza as they exited the auditorium. “I plan to rent that movie after school. You guys in?”

“Sure,” said Rhiannon. “I’ve never seen it before.”

“I have,” said Taylor in her bored voice. “Cable gets killed.”

“Shut up!” said DJ. And she didn’t mean the “get out of town” shut up, but more like the “shut your mouth,” shut up. Fortunately, Taylor didn’t perceive it that way.

“Really, he does.”

“Ignore her,” Eliza instructed them. “She’s probably just making that up anyway.”

“Hey, I can give details,” said Taylor. “Lieutenant Cable goes out to—”

“Don’t spoil it for everyone,” said Rhiannon sharply.

“Fine.” Taylor walked off like she was in a huff.

“Do you think I actually offended her?” asked Rhiannon with surprise.

“I don’t think that’s even possible,” said DJ. “See ya later.” Then she headed off to her next class. She was trying not to hate Taylor, since she was pretty sure that Christians were not supposed to hate people. But in the case of Taylor Mitchell, she thought perhaps there could be exceptions.

By the time seventh period rolled around, DJ was extremely angry at Taylor for stealing Bradford from Rhiannon. Maybe even more angry than she’d been when Taylor had put the move on Conner. As a result, she totally ignored Taylor throughout PE. This was even easier to do now that Casey had changed her schedule so that she had PE with DJ.

“Did you hear what Taylor did?” she said quietly to Casey as they walked back to the locker room after a hard workout.

“I’ve noticed that you’ve been freezing her out,” said Casey. “What’s up?”

So DJ told her how Taylor had stabbed Rhiannon in the back.

“What’s new about that?”

“Nothing, it just really ticks me off. I mean, Rhiannon has been so good to Taylor. She invited her to go with them last night. Even when Taylor stepped over the line, Rhiannon didn’t get mad.”

“Rhiannon is too good to be true.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just that when something seems too good be to be true, it usually is.”

“That’s not very nice, Casey. Rhiannon has been really kind to you too. Are you saying she’s not what she claims to be?”

“I’m saying I don’t get her.”

“Well, you know that she’s a Christian.”

“So?”

“So…Christians are supposed to be good, aren’t they?”

Casey laughed. “They’re supposed to be, but most of them aren’t.”

“Maybe Rhiannon’s different.”

Casey just shrugged.

“Why don’t you come out for volleyball?” suggested DJ, ready to change the subject.

“I don’t know…”

“You used to like it,” DJ reminded her.

“Yeah, but I haven’t played in a while.”

“But you were good.”

“I thought you said the coach was making cuts today.”

“Not until after practice.”

“But I haven’t even been to practice once,” protested Casey. “I’d probably be cut straight off the bat.”

DJ glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “No,” she said quietly. “You probably wouldn’t. The team’s not that good.”

“So, you’re desperate?”

DJ grinned. “Come on, Casey, it’d be fun. Just give it a try. You’re already dressed down.”

Taylor was coming out of the shower now. She had the towel around her like a sarong, and DJ could tell by the way she walked that she thought she was pretty hot. DJ turned her back to her.

“What’s up with you two?” asked Taylor as she came over to join them.

“Not much,” said Casey. DJ didn’t say anything.

“Seems pretty chilly over here,” said Taylor as she began to towel dry. “Is DJ upset about something?”

DJ still didn’t say a word.

“She was just trying to talk me into going out for volleyball,” said Casey. And DJ wished she’d quit talking to Taylor.

“Oh, so she’s still able to talk,” said Taylor. “I thought maybe she’d suffered a stroke in PE; maybe she was speech impaired now. Apparently she’s just manner impaired. I wonder what Mrs. Carter would say about that.”

DJ glared at Taylor. “I wonder what Mrs. Carter would say about girls who stab other girls in the back?”

Taylor feigned a wounded expression now. “What are you suggesting?”

“I’m not suggesting anything. But if you want to talk about bad manners, maybe you should take a look in the mirror, Taylor.”

Taylor frowned at DJ. “Really, I do not get you. I go out of my way to be nice, and you’re acting like I’m your worst enemy. Why?”

“Why?” repeated DJ. “Why?”

Taylor nodded. “Yeah, why?”

“Because you stole Bradford from Rhiannon.”

Taylor blinked. “I what?”

“You stole Bradford.”

Now Taylor laughed. “In the first place, I haven’t stolen anyone. In the second place, Bradford and I are only friends. That’s all.”

“That’s not what I hear.”

“What did you hear?” Taylor focused her attention on fastening the front clasp on her black lace bra.