“Did you see the look she gave me?” Amy shivered, remembering Sasha’s glare when she picked herself up after Josh helped her face plant.
“Just be glad she doesn’t have powers like that girl in ‘Carrie’.”
Josh gave his solid wall of chest muscles an admiring glance and laughed at the picture Mary’s statement provoked.
“Are you sure she doesn’t? Could you just see her slamming me up against a wall?”
Josh pounded the table, enjoying his own wit, causing everyone in the diner to look their way.
“Or maybe she’d let out a high-pitched scream and shatter the windows.” Amy suggested. She tilted her head and her eyes lost focus as she pictured herself hitting a high note and shattering a wine glass. She lost herself in an image of life after Show Choir where she stood on stage in a sequined costume before thousands of screaming fans.
“I think we’ve done enough.” Josh’s self-congratulatory cacophony died with Paul’s words. His attention on Mary, Paul failed to notice the sudden silence until he was yanked from his chair to stand inches from a twisted red face he barely recognized, flinging spittle with every expletive it spewed. Paul knew better than to show Josh any sign of weakness, so he let his face go slack, then frowned at the five large bruises beginning to blossom on his left arm.
“Nice grip, Josh. Guess you’ve been working out, but I could do without the shower.”
Josh’s violent shove sent him careening into another table which had been hastily vacated when Josh yanked Paul from his chair. Many had learned the hard way to steer clear when Josh was in a rage. Those students who hadn’t made it to the door were huddled against the walls, ready to duck any furniture or glassware Josh opted to fling.
“You goin’ chicken on us, Paulie?” Josh released Paul's shirt to tuck his hands in his armpits and flap his elbows as he danced around the upended table squawking.
“If I were, I’d be cowering in the corners like the rest of your fans.” Paul’s half smile as he looked Josh up and down stoked his rage until he could do little more than sputter incoherently.
“Since you’re having a little trouble with your words, maybe you’ll let me explain.”
Accepting Josh’s spittle-laced squeaks and groans as assent, Paul continued. “Sasha is the lucky recipient of one of Hardass Adams’ most heinous punishments, though she doesn’t know that yet. See if you can take your puny mind back to last year’s food fight.”
Mary made a little ‘O’ with her mouth, scrunching her eyes closed to relive the painful moment.
“If you recall, Adams made a similar speech about disrespecting school property before sentencing the perpetrators to two weeks of floor scrubbing…” he paused and looked around the diner, waiting until he had everyone’s attention. “…with toothbrushes.”
Hands covered mouths to hide smiles and quiet laughter. Josh glared at each person in turn, daring them to laugh aloud while he was still raging, his face only slightly less florid than when he was screaming in Paul’s face.
“If memory serves, he also gave the janitors permission to stand around and berate them for every nasty mess they’d faced because of students who treated the school like their own, personal dump.”
Paul looked around the room, noticing more than a few blushes and lowered eyes from people who’d been part of the floor cleaning detail.
“So how do you think one, single, friendless girl will feel when she is put on display and forced to work off her detention in front of the entire school? Do you think anything else we might dream up could possibly be more humiliating?”
“Yeah, she prob’ly won’t even last a day.” Josh admitted. “I might hafta force myself to watch. Maybe throw an insult or two.”
“Good boy. I knew you’d figure it out.” Paul picked up his books and reached for Mary’s hand, making his escape before Josh could suggest they all join him in raising Sasha’s humiliation to an even higher level.
When they cleared the door of the diner, Mary yanked her hand away and whirled to face him.
“You idiot! When are you going to learn to stop baiting him? He’d like nothing more than an excuse to beat you bloody.”
“Brains over brawn, my dear. Brains over brawn.” He took her hand again and began walking towards her house.
“One of these days, that brawn is going to splatter your brains up and down Main Street.” She pulled her hand away and wrapped it around the books she clutched to her chest.
“I’m hurt and dismayed that you think so little of my ability to defend these brains.”
Mary refused to look at him, knowing he'd twisted his face into a goofy caricature guaranteed to make her laugh.
“Be serious, Paul. Josh outweighs you by at least fifty pounds and regularly knocks refrigerator-sized guys around the football field.”
“True, but what I lack in size, I make up for in maneuverability, not to mention strategy. Those brains, ya know?”
“Whatever. Just don’t expect me to hang around and mop up those brains when you push one too many of his buttons.”
“I’m touched by your concern for my safety.” Paul flung an arm around her shoulders and they walked in silence until they reached Mary’s house.
“Am I crazy for feeling sorry for her?” Her eyes were half closed and she had a small crease between her brows as she turned to look him in the eye.
“No crazier than me for trying to come to her defense after being a willing party to all the cruel pranks.”
“Guess I’m in good company at least.” She continued to frown as she kissed his cheek before turning towards the house.
“I’d like to think so.” He could almost hear her eyes roll as she kept walking.
* * *
Paul and Mary’s exit seemed to signal things were returning to normal. People made their way back to their tables, keeping a wary eye on Josh where he sat glaring at the arms he’d crossed on the tabletop.
“Paul didn’t mean nothin’ by it, Josh.” Tears popped up in Amy’s eyes when Josh shook off the hand she’d laid on his arm.
“He’s a frickin’ idiot. He don’t even care about us any more. Next thing ya know, he and Sasha will be best buds.”
“That would never happen!” Amy brushed a handful of hair from her face, then gathered her books. When she tried to stand, Josh shoved her back into her chair where she huddled, whimpering softly.
“You need to pick a side, Amy. Just remember Paul ain’t gonna look out for you like I do.”
“Do you look out for me, Josh?”
“’course I do. Don’t I drive ya to school every day and stuff?”
“That’s about it.” Amy said too softly for Josh to hear.
“Huh? C’mon. Let’s get outta here. I need ta go see Adams.”
Amy cocked her head to the side and looked at Josh like she’d never seen him before.
“Why do you need to talk to Adams? You two have sure gotten tight lately. I’m surprised no one else seems to think it’s odd.”
“You should worry about yourself. Who I talk to ain’t your business.” Josh pulled Amy out of her chair and looped an arm around her neck. Though Amy’s face was twisted in pain and tears glistened in her eyes, nobody in the diner would dare challenge Josh on a good day, much less today. He left Amy standing on the sidewalk while he jumped into the dark green convertible parked at the curb. She paused for a minute and considered walking home, but knew if she did, Josh would think she was siding with Paul. She shuddered at the possible consequences and opened the car door. She barely got it closed again before Josh tore off, tires squealing.