Carlson Melody - Stealing Bradford

“And when did you get to be so knowledgeable about local events?” teased Harry.

“I pay attention,” she said. “I read the newspaper…and…Bradford invited me to be his guest at his mom’s exhibit. That’s what he’s working on today. One of her regular guys was sick, and she needed to get some things up. He got excused for the afternoon.”

“Lucky dude,” said Harry. “Wonder if he needs any help.”

Taylor shrugged. “Guess you could call and offer.” After lunch, Conner walked DJ to drama.

“We’re watching the end of South Pacific ,” she told him.

“Again?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure we’ll be sick of it in a few weeks.”

“What part do you want?” She laughed. “I want the part where no acting is involved—a behind-the-scenes part.”

“Maybe you could do lighting.”

“Or I could be the curtain puller.”

They paused in front of the auditorium. “So, do you want to do the art walk with me tonight?”

“Sure.”

“Maybe we could grab a bite first.”

“At the Hammerhead?”

He laughed. “You poor thing. We need to make sure you get out for a high-carb, greasy, fattening meal at least two to three times a week.”

She grinned at him. “You are my kind of guy, Conner.”

“See ya.” Then he leaned over and pecked her on the cheek.

DJ smiled to herself as she went into the auditorium. Having a boyfriend, although it took some getting used to, was kind of fun. Still, she didn’t want things to get as serious as they had on that first date. She would never forget how that had really messed up their relationship.

After volleyball practice, DJ and Casey decided to walk home.

“So, you’re really getting a car?” asked Casey.

“I guess so…”

“You don’t sound too thrilled.”

“Yeah, because it means I’m going to get stuck driving everyone around now.”

“What about Eliza?”

“Well, she’s been nice to share rides, but her grandmother isn’t Mrs. Carter. And if she decides to keep her car to herself, no one can object.”

“Good thing she’s nice.”

“Yeah.”

“Unlike some people. Speaking of witches, how is it being Taylor’s roommate, DJ? Were you afraid to close your eyes last night?”

“She’s not that bad.”

“Are you kidding?” Casey turned and stared at DJ. “She’s totally evil.”

“Not totally.”

“Well, ninety-nine point nine percent then.”

“Yeah, maybe, but I’m trying to be nice to her.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.” DJ considered telling her about the Bible verse. But how do you explain something that you don’t even get yourself?

“Following Eliza’s example?”

“Maybe so.”

Eliza’s car pulled up as they got home. She had the top down, and she and Rhiannon hopped out and waved.

“What’s up?” asked DJ.

“Eliza just helped me take some of my things to the Mockingbird,” said Rhiannon.

“Isn’t that Bradford’s mom’s gallery?” asked DJ. Rhiannon nodded and grinned.

“Gabrielle had already invited Rhiannon to display some pieces. So I helped her take them over.”

“Then we stayed and helped out,” said Rhiannon.

“I can’t wait to email my mom that I spent the afternoon helping at Gabrielle Bruyere’s gallery,” said Eliza. “She’ll be so impressed.”

“So Bradford’s mom is really a big deal?”

“Totally,” said Eliza. “Plus she’s really nice, and she really likes Rhiannon.”

“Aha,” said DJ.

Rhiannon shook her head. “No, it’s not like that, DJ. I just went to help.”

But Eliza winked.

“So, was Bradford around?” asked DJ innocently.

“Oh, yeah,” said Eliza. “And we both just totally ignored him. We were sugar and spice to Gabrielle, but we acted like Bradford had the black plague.”

“Well, I didn’t…” Rhiannon frowned.

“I did it for both of us.”

Rhiannon sighed, holding out a pair of paint-stained hands. “I’m going to go get cleaned up.”

Then after she went inside, Eliza continued to unveil her little plan. “Anyway, Gabrielle finally noticed that Bradford was on the outside of things, and she asked me if something was wrong.”

“And?” DJ was actually getting curious now. How did girls like Eliza and Taylor know how to play these complicated games? Was there an Internet site somewhere that gave stepby-step instructions?

“And I told her about Taylor.”

“What did you tell her?”

“Just the truth.”

“As in?”

“I told about some of the pranks she’d played on you when she was trying to get Conner. Then I told about how she’d stabbed Rhiannon in the back to get to Bradford—those weren’t my exact words, of course.”

“Of course,” said Casey, stifling a laugh.

“What did Gabrielle say?”

“She didn’t say much, but it was clear that she didn’t approve.” Eliza glanced up toward the house as if she thought they were being watched and then continued in a quiet voice. “I let her know that we all think Bradford is a sweet guy, but that we’re concerned that he’s fallen for Taylor’s tricks. I told her that I hope he doesn’t get hurt. And I told her that Rhiannon has been hurt deeply, but that she’s taking it like a trooper.”

“Wow!” DJ just shook her head.

“You are good,” said Casey with open admiration.

Eliza might be good, but DJ wasn’t convinced that she was good enough to get the best of Taylor. So far DJ had witnessed no one, including herself, able to outwit Taylor Mitchell. Still, it might make for an interesting evening.

“It’s the volleyball queen herself,” said Taylor when DJ walked in, without knocking, of course. “Do you have a nickname on the team? Like Spike?”

“Funny,” said DJ.

“Seriously, DJ.” Taylor frowned at her. “How can you stand to walk home looking and smelling like that?”

DJ looked down at her gym clothes. “It beats walking home in heels. Besides I prefer the shower here to the one in the locker room.”

Taylor’s brows lifted. “Aha, I get it. It’s Coach Jones, isn’t it? Does she look at you while you’re showering? I’m pretty sure she was gaping at me this afternoon, pretending to be doing office work, but I felt her looking.”

“Give it a break, Taylor.”

“But they say she’s a dyke—”

“Puh-leeze,” insisted DJ. “That’s way more than enough.” But even when she was in the bathroom, she could still hear Taylor making loud off-color comments, like she thought DJ was still listening and then Taylor would laugh at her own pathetic humor.

DJ drowned out Taylor as she took her time showering. Then she carefully dried her hair and put on a little makeup, finally emerging from the bathroom and hoping that Taylor might’ve gone outside for a cigarette or something. But there she was, sitting in the window seat and flipping through a thick issue of Elle . Suddenly, she held the magazine up. “Don’t you think I look like this model?” asked Taylor.

“Huh?” DJ leaned over and peered at the glossy photo of a sultry-looking young woman who didn’t seem to have a stitch of clothing on, although her private parts were sort of hidden within the shot. “What’s she modeling anyway?” asked DJ.

“Prada perfume, but that’s not the point. Don’t you think I look like Kamila Klimczak’s younger sister?”

“You mean that whole blue-eyed blonde thing you both got going on?”

“Not that, you moron.” Taylor stood up and took the magazine over to the mirror, holding it up by her face to examine it more closely. “I mean the bone structure, stupid, the shape of the face, the slant of the eyes, the full lips—can’t you see it?”