Plucked - Elizabeth Haley (red seas under red skies .TXT) 📗

class together before lunch.
"We ran into a boy, Jimmy!"
"Her ex? I say.
"I'm not sure, but if so from the way they were looking at each other he wont be her ex for long."
No way I think remebering how Lu had said she regreted her relationship with Jimmy. Kayla must have misunderstood.
"Anyway there eating lunch together or something else considering neither of them came to the lunch room! So where eating in the garden right?" Kayla asks.
"Sorry I already have plans with Asher!" I say just then remembering and wondering where he was.
"Oh yea Bren, guess thats where I should have started! Kayla says following me. Asher stopped me in the hall he had his lunch tray with him and said to tell you he ended up being late for curfew so the coach has him running laps, he said to blame Aj!"
"So I guess we are going to the garden." I say twirling my fork in my hand and mentally stabbing Aj with it.

Out in the garden I settle for stabbing lettuce.
"Boy trouble?" Kayla asks.
"How could you tell I say and pop a cold chicken chunk into my mouth. I am having boy trouble one in particular, Aj!"
"I know he really has it out for you doesn't he?"
"Yea and I don't know why, I don't even know him or want to!"
"Maybe he likes you!"
"Ugh gross Kayla and what is this the third grade?" Kayla giggles "and any way he likes Eve!"
"Really?" Kayla asks like this is great news.
"Yep he follows her around like a puppy and can't keep his eyes off her. Its kind of pathetic!"   Im pathetic.
"It's great you can use it to your advantage!"
"What are you talking about?" I asked looking at her like she was crazy.
"Okay Bren lets talk revenge!" I start to laugh but her pretty face has turned completly wicked.
"Then she smiles nothing to awful, I'm just saying he's due for some bad Karma!"
"No okay? I'm getting really close to perfecting the art of ignoring him so no revenge alright? Really Kayla!"
"Geez Bren I'm just joking relax she says sounding really annoyed, anyway Karma seems to work itself out with or without any help!" She stands to leave.
"Garden club is about to start!" I remind her wanting to forget the bad feeling I had in my stomach and get rid of the tension. Was she causing it? No I was just worried about Aj and what he was going to do next.

Fifteen minutes later its me, Kayla, three kids I've never met named Kirsty,Liam and Ana.
Ofcourse Cassie is there and someone else too someone unexpected. He smirks at me "Hey Bren!"
I full on smile in the most obvious way and say "Hey Jax!"
But Cassie interupts any further conversation.
"First I want to thank all of you for joining! It means alot to me!
What we are going to do today is dig up as many plants as we can, put them in one of the carts and wheel them around back to the green house where I will replant them!"
"Sounds like hard work!" The boy Liam groans and Ana elbowes him no complaining remember!"
"Sorry babe he says breathlessy and rubbing his left rib cage.
"Rule one guys no violence!" Cassie informs half joking while she hands each of us some shovels. Start with the tulips! Head Mistress Bowey wants roses put in there place!"
I got done loading a cart at the same time as Jax everyone else was slacking.
"So who payed you to join? I asked Jax as we walk around the school.
"He smirks the way I like,

"no one, actually over the summer I did some work with my dad he owns a landscaping company I enjoyed it.
"Oh okay so your thinking about going into the family bussiness?"
"Maybe how about you? Why are you in Garden Club?"
"I"m just really into plants and flowers the things some of them are capable of amazes me!"
"Oh so your type that sat at home watching the Discovery Channel?"
"Guilty!" I say and we arrive at the green house laughing. We unload are plants and Kayla comes in theres dirt smudged on her cheeks. She doesnt look like she's enjoying herself I hesitate by the door to wait for her she waves me off dont mind me go on I see you and Jax and I'm no ones third wheel she winks and I don't argue knowing she will just grill me for details later.
 After three more trips back and forth with Jax I learn that he was moved to a more advanced spanish class and his step mom who is hispanic had been teaching him spanish since he was ten I tell him that I suck at spanish and about my Grandma Tru and how she had giving me the bag that caused our staircase disaster. 
When Garden Club is over I'm not ready but Casssie's ordering us to go get cleaned up for our afternoon classes and me and Jax have to go in different directions.
"Later Bren and Kayla!" He's says tossing his shovel on the pile. Bye we both say and then we head for a bathroom. I'm scrubbing my hands and watching the suds turn brown when Kayla sighs.
"Jax really is gorgeous it's to bad that Eve has her claws in him!"
"Yea I guess I say really not wanting to think about Eve my curvy, exotic unknowing competition. 

That night Lulu has a suprise for me.
"Do you like it Bren? I know I sould have asked first I know how you feel about it!"
"Lu let me talk, I love it, thank you so much I say looking at my bag with its new sparkling black strap with silver buckles.
"You relly are talented!" Kayla says coming over and runing her hands over the material.
"Wait a minute! I say semi seriously and pointing accusingly at Lulu. Don't think just because you gave my bag a makeover makes me forget that you were hanging with Jimmy the Jerk today!"
Lulu smiles an eye brow raised.
"Hey I'm going to go grab some stuff to snack on before curfew want anything?" Kayla asks
"I'm fine!" Me and Lulu both say and then Kayla leaves us to talk.
" So Jimmy asked me to the dance!"
"What did you say?" I hope it was a no! No scratch that I hope it was hell no!!! 
" Lu laughs "just listen first I asked about Amber and he was all well she'll never know! So then I had him come with me to the library and you know that secluded room with books no one even thinks about?"
"Yea!" I say wondering where this is going.
"So we started kissing and he was getting all hot and bothered...."
"Wait Lulu please tell me you did not do it  in the library!?!?"
"shhh, So once his pants were down and he reached for my belt I pushed him away and yes I said hell no I'm not going to the dance with you, then I took this picture!"
She pulled her phone out there he was Jimmy with bright pink lipstick stains on his neck and wearing red boxers covered with yellow smiley faces. Jimmy's own face is a mix between shock and terror.
"Oh my God he's so busted are you going to send this to Amber?"
"No ofcourse not but the thought of him walking on egg shells sure is satisifying!" Lu says clicking her phone shut. A few minutes later Kayla returns and after seeing the joy revenge had brought Lulu I'm considering taking Kayla up on her suggestion.  Its only moments before im once again deciding against it. 


.

Rain

After spanish the next day courtasy of Aj I'm pulling tiny paper balls from my hair for the next half hour and its pouring down rain so escaping outside for lunch isnt happening. Today I hate everything from Kayla's alarm clock to fact that garden club is canceled most of all I hate Aj I hate him more with every little moist ball i pull out and even more then the fact that Jax is sitting with Eve. I have no appitite and find myself going to the library I don't mean to sound so rude when Asher finds me and asks how Im doing I reply with a snort. He ignores it and takes a seat.

 "That good huh?" And being a fan of sarcasm I smile a little.

"Its Aj!" I say obviously not wanting to tell him about my jealousy over Jax and Eve. I just dont get it. Did I come into school with a sign on my back that said pick on me I love it?"  Asher laughs. "If it makes you feel any better you're not his only target. I think about it for a moment and realize Asher is also a fovorite or non-favorite of Aj's.

"So what are you gonna do sit here and pout about it or forget about him and come with me so I can show you something?" 

"Im not pouting!" I say at the same time realizing how desperate I am for a distraction. "What do you want to show me anyway?"  

"Come and see!" he says confidently walking away just knowing I'd follow.  My curiousity spikes when we come to a door with intricate circle patterns on it. The door isn't new to me but I've never known what was behind it. Just then he pushes it open and  a tiny staircase leading up is revealed the stairwell is dark and im suprised when Asher takes my hand im thankful for the darkness because the buzz in my cheeks lets me know they are turning pink. The room we enter is round and I relize we must be in one of the four towers on each corner of the school there are two over stuffed chairs as if the room were expecting us. Even though the storm outside is going strong somehow the sun is shining through and hitting the rose covered windows the room is beautiful and quiet all except for Ashers light breathing.

"This is where I came to think last year when things were getting heavy I'd just come up here and breath. He says and my hand goes cold because he realeases it patting one seat and taking the other. I know its not life changing or anything just thought maybe you would like it on days like this when you can't be in the garden hear you can still have a form of flowers, read a book and unlike in the library when you want to be alone no one will come looking up here!" 

"Except you?" I say not meeting his eyes afraid my face matches the petals reflected on the floor. "Not even me he replies if you are not in the library I'll know you dont want to be found!" 

"Thanks for finding me today!" I say  And finally look at him he's staring back as if he'd never been looking anywhere and says "You're welcome!" We are silent after that watching the rain feeling relaxed I close my eyes and lean my head back. Its asher asking if I'm going to get that? That finally jars my attention.

"Get what?" I ask then realize my bag is ringing I dig in and grab the cell phone I constantly forget about since Lu's here at school with me and I dont expect to hear from home until Thanksgiving. The number is blocked and I don't answer in time