Carlson Melody - Stealing Bradford

She frowned. “When?”

“I don’t know…a while back. But he thinks you’re trouble. As a guy, his perception of you is a girl who wants to trap a guy, chew him up, and spit him out. I’m pretty sure he said something like that.”

She made a face. “He’s probably just jealous.”

“Jealous?” DJ laughed. “He had his chance with you, Taylor. Remember? He was not interested.”

“Or maybe he was just afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” asked DJ.

She shrugged. “A man-eater.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“Sometimes I wish I could be like you.” Taylor went on.

DJ looked up again. “What does that mean?”

“You know, just ordinary.” DJ rolled her eyes.

“I don’t mean ordinary in a bad way. I mean just a normal girl…doing normal stuff—none of this baggage.”

“Did you ever stop to think that you create your own baggage, Taylor?”

“Maybe…sometimes…but you don’t know everything about me.”

“And you don’t know everything about me either. Yet you think I’m so ordinary—so normal. You don’t know what I’ve been through.”

“I know your mom died.” She sighed. “Sorry.”

DJ just nodded and, surprisingly, felt a lump in her throat.

“I don’t know what I’d do if my mom died. I mean, I act like I hate her sometimes, but I don’t. I just hate some of the things she does.”

“Like what?” DJ was actually curious now. This was the most personal thing Taylor had ever revealed about herself and her family.

“I hate that she puts up with my dad.”

“Puts up with him? How?”

“All kinds of ways. His drinking for one thing. His abuse.”

“He’s abusive?”

“When he’s drunk.”

“To your mom?”

Taylor shook her head and looked down at her lap. “No. He’s good to my mom.”

“Who’s he abusive…” But even as DJ said it, she knew.

Taylor shook the last kernels of popcorn into her hand and just stared at them.

“Your dad’s been abusive to you?”

She just shrugged.

“Does your mom know?”

“Oh, yeah…she knows.”

DJ felt like she was in way over her head now. It wasn’t as if she was a counselor or a shrink or anything. On the other hand, Taylor was opening up to her. Unless this was a trick. Was Taylor making this up just to win DJ’s sympathy? “So, if your mom knows, why does she put up with it?”

“She loves him.” Taylor looked up with an impossible-to-read expression. “Obviously more than she loves me.”

“Oh.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

DJ nodded.

“I probably shouldn’t have told you all that.” Taylor looked worried now. “But for some crazy reason, I trust you.”

“It’s okay,” said DJ. “I won’t tell anyone.”

Then without saying anything more, they both finished getting ready for bed and turned out the lights. And once she was under her comforter, DJ prayed for Taylor. For real this time.

TWO CARS LEFT THE CARTER HOUSEfor school on Monday morning. Four girls rode with Eliza. But Taylor was DJ’s only passenger. And she had a strong feeling that wasn’t a coincidence. It seemed like everyone was punishing Taylor now. Well, except for DJ. Not that she wasn’t still aggravated at Taylor, especially for Rhiannon’s sake, but that earlier sense of outrage had pretty much evaporated.

“They’re freezing me out,” said Taylor as DJ drove them to school.

“I don’t know.”

“You do too know.” Taylor reached for her bag, taking out her cigarettes.

“Not in my car,” warned DJ.

“I’ll open the window.”

“No.” DJ turned and gave her a look to show she meant it.

“Fine. Whatever.” Taylor scowled darkly now.

“Why do you smoke anyway?” asked DJ.

“Why not?”

“Don’t you care about your lungs?”

“My lungs are fine.”

“Right, now…maybe…but what about later? What if you were going to have a singing career like your mom, but you couldn’t because of smoking?”

“My mom used to smoke.”

DJ considered this. “Used to…so she had the sense to quit, right?”

“Yeah.”

“My point.”

“Look, DJ. I’m sure you mean well, but you are getting on my nerves, and that just makes me want to smoke.” So DJ attempted to change the subject, asking about whether Taylor had a specific role she wanted to try out for in drama.

“Probably.”

“Which one?”

“I’d say Nellie, but I have a feeling Eliza will bag that one.”

“Eliza does seem like a Nellie,” agreed DJ.

“You mean all that perky, blue-eyed blonde stuff? Well, don’t kid yourself, I could wear a wig and makeup.”

“You really think you can pull off cheerful and happy?”

“It’s called acting. ”

“So, you’re trying out for Nellie then?”

“No. I’m not stupid.”

“What?”

“Probably Liat. That seems the obvious choice.”

DJ nodded. “Well, you’d be a good Liat. You could even pass for Polynesian. And you wouldn’t need a wig or anything.”

“And she’s got some good songs.”

“And you’ve got a nice voice.”

“How do you know?” Taylor asked.

“I heard you in the shower the other day. You were good.”

“Thanks.”

DJ barely had the car in park before Taylor jumped out and lit a cigarette. So much for DJ’s distraction tactics.

“I’m going to class,” DJ said. “Enjoy the fresh air.”

“Thanks.” Taylor rolled her eyes as she blew out a long puff of smoke.

DJ looked for Eliza and the other girls, spotting them just as she reached the entrance. “Hey, wait,” she called, hurrying to join them.

“Sorry you got stuck with her,” said Eliza as they gathered at the top of the steps.

“That’s okay.”

“She’s such a witch,” said Casey. “I don’t know how you can stand her, DJ. I mean you not only room with her, you get stuck driving her too. Why didn’t you make her walk or take her Vespa?”

DJ just shrugged.

“I’m glad you’re being nice to her,” said Rhiannon.

“Really?” DJ felt relieved.

“Of course. That’s the right thing to do.”

“That’s nuts,” said Casey.

“Hey, I really appreciate that you guys care about me,” said Rhiannon. “But I’m ready to move on, okay?”

“That seems wise,” said Kriti. She smiled at Rhiannon. “What’s that saying? There are a lot of fish in the ocean?”

Rhiannon nodded. “Definitely.”

“So that’s it?” said Casey. She looked disappointed. “Taylor wins?”

“She’s not winning,” said Rhiannon.

“Yes, she is,” said Casey. “You act like her doormat, and she gets away with being a selfish witch and then ends up with Bradford too?”

“That’s not winning,” said Rhiannon.

“I don’t get that,” said Casey.

“I think Rhiannon is saying that it’s not over until it’s over,” said Eliza.

“Here she comes now,” warned Kriti.

Suddenly, they were all scattering and only DJ remained.

“They are so immature,” said Taylor. “Can’t they just get over it?”

“I’m sure they will,” said DJ as they went into the building. “In time.”

“Hey, Taylor,” called Bradford, waving as he approached them.

“Hey,” said Taylor. Her previous scowl amazingly turned into a brilliant smile as he slipped an arm around her waist.

“What’s up, Babe?” He looked at her like she was a goddess, and she literally beamed. DJ wanted to hurl.

“See you guys,” DJ said, eager to escape this embarrassing display of stupidity. She wasn’t totally opposed to expressing affection in public, but she was one of those girls who thought less was more. Fortunately, Conner seemed to be of a similar mind. But maybe they should discuss this before long, just in case it ever became an issue.