Rosemary Danced: Ivy Book One Page 13

  Rosemary sighed and peeled away the paper. The small old-fashioned soda glass contained pink carnations, pink roses, and a pink straw. The card envelope had a picture of the Pink Ladies from Grease.

  She opened the card, read it quickly and shoved it into her sketchbook before she took a bite of her apple. Mike took a large bite of mac and cheese and studied the flowers glumly. He drained a second container of milk. “Let me guess. The basketball player from last night?”

  Rosemary nodded. “He asked for my number last night, but I pretended like I didn’t hear him. He knew my name and my school. I guess he didn’t need my number.”

  “I guess not.” Mike shoveled in green beans. “Did he ask you out?”

  “No. He gave me his cell number and asked me to call him next week, after he gets back from a road trip.”

  “Are you going to call him?”

  “I don’t know. I doubt it.” She chewed her lip. “I’m not…I mean, I don’t know why… Never mind.” She clamped her mouth shut.

  “What? Tell me.”

  “I’m not…you know, I’m not that girl. I told you that already. I mean, look at me.” Rosemary looked down at her hoodie and jeans.

  His voice lowered. “Rosemary, I don’t know who has trashed your confidence so much, but they’re wrong. You’re beautiful.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

  “No, I’m not. And I’m still wondering where you got the idea that guys wouldn’t be interested.”

  “Until last summer, nobody ever had been. Guys were repelled by me.”

  “Not possible.” Mike shook his head firmly. “It’s more likely guys were intimidated.”

  “That’s not possible,” Rosemary scoffed. “Other than my height, there’s nothing intimidating about me.”

  Chad Keller sat down next to Mike. “More flowers? Who sent those?”

  “A basketball player for the Iowa Wolves she met last night,” Mike answered.

  “The guy your sisters think you should date?”

  “Geez. How did you know that?” Rosemary blushed.

  “I took Connor and Chelsea to the fashion show, but we were late and had to stand in the back. Connor about went ballistic about that basketball player.”

  Mike elbowed Chad. “She’s trying to tell me guys are repelled by her.”

  Chad laughed. “Yeah, right. According to my sister Darrah, high school guys are idiots. That could be part of the problem.” He leaned in. “I videoed the thing at the end with you in the black leather get-up to send to Cruz after I got home. I accidentally sent it on a thread to all three of my brothers. Chase and Chris blew up my phone for an hour, fighting over who was going to ask you out first. Chase reminded Chris he’s in Afghanistan and since Omaha is much closer, Chase wins, according to him. Cruz finally shut them up; he said you’re his friend and they were grossing him out. So, no. Guys are not repelled by you. Just no, Rosemary.”

  Rosemary rolled her eyes and stood up. “I have to go.”

  “What are you doing with those?” Mike eyed the flowers.

  “Would you mind dropping them off in your mom’s room? Ask her to take them to Miranda.”

  Chad snickered. “Walk up the hall with that girly pink flower thingy. I dare you.”

  “Shut up, Keller. Who do you think is going to hassle me about it?”

  “You’re right. Who would dare?” Chad put his head down to eat, still grinning.

  “Sure, I’ll take it. Miranda will love them.”

  “Thanks. Bye.” Rosemary strode away while Mike and Chad watched.

  “Keep your eyes to yourself, Keller,” Mike grumbled.

  “Who’s gonna make me, Stud?” Chad grinned.

  Mike growled. “Don’t think I can’t do it, Keller.”

  “Oh, I know you can. But she’s not yours.”

  “Yet.” Mike promised.

  “You’d better get to work. Seems like you get more competition every day.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Mike glared at the flowers.

  Chad nudged him. “Look at that.”

  Mike looked up. The new history teacher and basketball coach was holding the door open for Rosemary, smiling. She smiled back at him and then headed down the hall while the young coach watched appreciatively. Mike groaned. “This is getting ridiculous.”

  “That guy is giving every girl in school palpitations. He’s only twenty-two and according to my sisters, he is majorly hot.” Chad chuckled. “She’s gonna dance right into the arms of some hot basketball player if you don’t quit wasting time.”

  “I hate basketball,” Mike groused.

  Chad laughed. “Chloe is taking dance from Rosemary after school. Their class is on the west end of the deck. All the coach has to do is look over his shoulder and there’s Rosemary, dancing in a leotard.”

  “You shouldn’t torture the guy who throws the passes to you on the football field.”

  “But it’s so much fun. I’ve never seen you so unsure of yourself about a girl.”

  Mike drank his last carton of milk. “I’ve never felt so unsure of myself around a girl. Never.”

  Mike threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth later that night. He was excited about the win like the rest of the team, but it was a two-hour bus trip home and it quickly became boring. Mike was almost asleep when he heard the guys in front of him. “Yeah, she’s freaky. But I like freaky.”

  “Ask her out, man.”

  “I tried. She looked at me like I was crazy. Like…she didn’t get what I was saying.”

  “So, she ain’t smart, then?”

  The big lineman shrugged. “Maybe. But, I don’t care. I just think she’s kinda hot when she walks.”

  “When she walks?”

  “Yeah, she …doesn’t dance, exactly, but she walks like a dancer. And it’s hot.”

  “Don’t it bother you that she’s fat?”

  “Naw, she looks like she could handle me. Know what I mean?”

  “Yeah, I know, man.”

  Mike clapped his hand down on the guy’s shoulder. “What the…? What’s up, Studor?”

  “Rosemary’s off-limits. You got that?” Mike growled.

  “Why do you care, Studor?”

  “Did you hear what I said, jerk-face?”

  “Yeah, I heard ya, Studor.” The guy threw up his hands. “I heard ya.”

  Mike ground his teeth in frustration. He didn’t want anybody talking about Rosemary. He didn’t want anybody else looking at Rosemary.

  Chapter 24

  Mike had been thinking about Rosemary all weekend and he was anxious to see her. She texted him that she was running late, but he was surprised that she was almost an hour late. When she came in, she seemed distracted. “Hey, Rosemary.”

  “I have a couple of problems I need to go over. Look at twenty-seven; I’ll show you what I’ve done.”

  The hour flew by; before he knew it, she was packing her bag. “I’ll walk you out.” On the step, he asked, “where’s your truck?”

  “I walked from the church. The truck is…acting up.”

  “I’ll take you to the church.”

  “That’s okay. It’s only two blocks.”

  “I know, but I’ll drive you.”

  “That’s silly, Mike.”

  “Come on. I know it’s just two blocks, but I want to take you.”

  Rosemary sighed. “Okay.”

  “Hey, just let me out in front.” Rosemary pointed to the parking lot in front of the church.

  “I’ll let you out by the door you use.” Mike turned the corner and pulled up into a parking space by the side door. “What the…? Your tires are slashed. What happened?” Mike didn’t wait to hear her answer; he jumped out of the car and stood over her truck.

  Rosemary stepped out and stood next to Mike. “I heard some shrieking and laughing. When I got out here, all my tires were slashed. I saw a red SUV going around the corner with four girls in it, but I don’t know if
they did this.”

  “A red SUV?”

  “Yeah. But that could have been anybody.”

  Mike fired off a text. He got a quick reply, and typed out a second message. “Jake and I’ll take your truck down to Anders’ Tire Store and change out your tires. He’s bringing the tow truck.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that. I’ll have somebody pick it up tomorrow and get the tires changed out.”

  “Too late. Jake’s on his way and it won’t take us very long.”

  “No, Mike, I…” She stopped when the big tow truck careened around the corner. Jake slammed on the brakes and jumped down. He whistled when he saw Rosemary’s truck. “Did you make somebody mad?”

  “I suspect it was Amy,” Mike said. “She drives a red SUV.”

  “Give me a minute.” Jake walked away and made a call.

  “You think Amy did this?” Rosemary asked Mike.

  “I think so. She’s been too quiet. Quiet’s not her style.”

  “Let’s go, Studly. Help me hook up her truck.”

  “Guys, you don’t have to do this. Seriously.”

  “It’s not a big deal, Rosemary. My dad said to go for it.” Jake grinned.

  “Who’s your dad?”

  “My parents are Gerald and Miriam Anders.”

  “Oh.” Gerald was a deacon and Miriam ran the Ladies Auxiliary at the church. They owned the car dealership, an auto supply store and a tire store.

  “Yeah, oh. I already talked to my dad. We’ve got it covered.”

  “Jake, I’ve got the money to pay for it. I’ll give you my card.”

  “Not gonna happen. But you can take it up with my dad next week if you feel the need.”

  Rosemary finally gave in. “This is very nice of you. I’ll talk to your dad, but thank you for taking time out of your weekend to fix my tires.”

  “It’s just a thing, sweetheart.” Jake grinned.

  “Jake,” Mike growled.

  “Down, boy. I didn’t mean anything.” Jake grinned. “Get a grip, Stud.”

  Mike drove Rosemary’s truck back to the church. When he opened the side door, he could hear music coming from the studio. The hallway was dark, but he had been in this building hundreds of times and he didn’t need lights to find his way. Rosemary was dancing in a black leotard. Her hair flew in wild curls around her head as she twirled and jumped and stepped, her body twisting, stretching and moving to the music. He was totally engrossed in the girl. Her body, her hair, her joyful oblivion to anything but the dance. When the music switched to something slower, her dancing slowed, became more graceful, more elegant and even more beautiful. As she slowed the dance, he crept to the door. Opening the door and closing it loudly, he called her name. “Just a minute,” Rosemary called. When she stepped out, she had tied a wrap skirt around her waist and was pulling her hair into a ponytail.

  “Hi.”

  “Are you okay?” Although he knew she was.

  “Yeah, I was just practicing. Did you bring the truck back?”

  “Yeah.” He handed her the keys.

  “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome. The whole thing is kind of my fault.”

  “No, it isn’t. You didn’t do it.”

  “But I think Amy did it—if she did, it was because she was mad at me.”

  “Well, if she did, then it’s her fault, not yours.” Rosemary turned away.

  “Maybe you’re right.” Mike took a step towards her. “Rosemary?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Would you go out with me?”

  “Uh.” Rosemary stared at him. “On a date?”

  “Yeah. On a date.”

  Rosemary froze for a long moment before she edged away, her face ashen. She looked like she was a breath away from a panic attack. “I don’t think so. Thanks for asking, but no.”

  “Rosemary, don’t freak out. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

  “I’m not freaking out. I’ve got to…I’ve got to go. Thanks again. Gotta go.” Rosemary all but ran away into the studio, closing the door behind her.

  Mike stood in the almost-dark, watching her retreat. “Well, that went well, Studor,” he muttered. He went to his car and slowly pulled away, drove across the street to the school parking lot, and parked beside the bus barn. He waited until he saw her get into her truck and turn toward home. He watched her truck lights until they disappeared.

  He sat at the dining room table after he got home, staring at a piece of scratch paper Rosemary had been using. Patty came through the dining room and stopped. “Is everything all right, honey?”

  “I don’t know, Mom. I can’t figure her out.”

  Patty smiled gently and sat beside Mike. “Mickey, Rosemary’s not a football play. She isn’t going to be easy to figure out.”

  “That’s for sure.” He looked at his mom. “I asked her out tonight.”

  “You did? What did she say?”

  “She freaked out. She started backing away from me, mumbling stuff. Her face looked like I had suggested she strangle a kitten.”

  “She said no?”

  “Uh, yeah. She couldn’t say no fast enough.” Mike shook his head. “It’s a good thing I have a healthy ego.”

  “You’ll be fine.” Patty hugged him. “You really like her, though, don’t you?”

  “It scares me how much I like her. I think about her all the time; I look for her all the time at school. I think of a hundred things a day I want to say to her. I want to protect her and I want to…well, never mind that part.”

  Patty laughed. “Thanks for that, son. There are some things a mom is better off not knowing. What are you going to do now?”

  “I’m gonna play the long game. No matter how long it takes.” Mike said stubbornly.

  “That’s my boy.” Patty hugged him again and kissed his temple. “Rosemary is a wonderful girl, honey. If you’re patient with her, I think it will all work out.”

  “I hope so, Mom.”

  Chapter 25

  Mike saw Rosemary walking up the hall the next morning. He took in her pale face and the wild look in her eyes and stopped her. “Rosemary. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She didn’t look at him. “I just…I don’t feel very well. That’s all.”

  “Do you want me to take you home?”

  “No, no…it’s not like that. Thanks. I gotta go.” She veered into his mom’s classroom. He sighed, went back to his locker and after pulling out his notebook and laptop for his next class, he slammed his locker door, none too gently.

  Hearing a shrill whistle, he saw Jake waving at him from the end of the hall. “Stud, you aren’t gonna like this.” Jake led him down a short hallway.

  “Crap! Is that Rosemary’s locker?”

  “Yeah.”

  Somebody had used Sharpies and written ‘fat freak,’ ‘ugly girl,’ ‘big fat heifer,’ ‘hillbilly in overalls’ and ‘Give me an E!’ all over Rosemary’s locker, dozens of times. The graffiti covered her locker.

  Mike exploded. “I’m gonna kill her. I mean it, I’m going to…”

  “Nope. You’re not. Here’s what you’re going to do.”

  After Jake finished, Mike smiled grimly. “You’re a genius. A true, diabolical genius.”

  “Of course, I am.” Jake gave Mike a jab on the shoulder. “You go see the Athletic Director and take care of it.” Mike seethed while he jogged to the gym to see the A.D.

  Mike listened closely to the announcements the next day. “Students will note that there is a new ballot, dated today, that you must use to vote for Homecoming Queen and King. No earlier ballots will be used to determine the winners. One candidate has dropped out and the corresponding partner candidate is disqualified.” Mike pulled out his phone and checked the email. Perfect.

  Jake was waiting for him after class. “I thought I’d walk with you.”

  “You just don’t want to miss the fireworks.”

  “That’s right. I don’t.” Jake grinned. They
sauntered down the hall, making their way to the gym.

  “Studor!” The two boys looked at each other and grinned before they attempted to look serious.

  “Yeah?” Mike called. “What’s up, Amy?”

  She flew at him, striking out and kicking. Mike held her shoulders to keep her at arm’s length. “I hate you! I hate you! You did this!” Amy screamed.

  Mike tried to look concerned. “Amy. Amy, try to use your words—you know it’s better when you use your words.”

  “You jerk! You dropped out. I was disqualified! Why did you do that to me?” Amy tried to aim a kick at Mike’s shin.

  “You know why.” Dropping his hands, he advanced on her until she backed up. The small crowd around them watched the exchange between the quarterback and the head cheerleader. “Stay away from her. Stay away from her brother. Stay away from her locker. Stay away from her truck. Stay away from her. If you don’t, I’m going to have you thrown off the cheerleading squad for what you’ve done. Do. You. Understand. Me?”

  “There’s no proof I’ve done anything, jerk!” Amy screeched.

  “You think so?” Mike motioned at Jake. “Show her that video.”

  Jake pulled out his phone with a flourish. “Hey, Amy. The neighbor across the street from the church filmed your little stunt.” Amy’s eyes widened at the video clearly showing her slashing the tires on Rosemary’s truck. There was another clear shot of the four girls in the red SUV with the license plate ‘DADYGRL.’ “I can even see the faces of the other three girls. Really, truly, stupid, Amy-kins.”

  Mike pointed at Amy. “This is my last warning. Stay away from her. You and all of your friends. Stay away from her. Say nothing to her. You got that?”

  He waited until Amy finally nodded. “We’re done here. Goodbye, Amy.”

  Mike and Jake dressed for football practice. “Gonna ask Rosemary to Homecoming?”

  “No.”

  “No? Why?” Jake looked puzzled.

  “I already asked her out and she turned me down flat.”

  “She said no? Does she know girls don’t say ‘no’ to the Stud? She said no to the Stud. Wow.”