It felt strange sitting in the classroom again. I had managed to get into the Algebra 2 class. That was a shock for many of my fellow classmates. The school had welcomed me as a returning student. They seemed ready to save me all over again.
“What are you doing here?” Billy sat in the desk next to me.
I looked at the big boy who had carried my broken body home. I looked at the boy who knew the secret of my golden Barbie. I looked at him and lied, “I’m here to learn.” I smiled and continued, “You even told me I’d changed.”
Billy shook his head, “Yeah. That was before …” He stopped.
“Before what?” I asked like I was confused.
Billy leaned over and whispered. “TJ, you’re not fooling anyone. We know you belong to the Hillside Vipers.” He rolled his eyes. “We’re not blind.” His eyes rested on the small incomplete chain that was beginning to wrap around my wrist.
I touched it, quickly realizing how stupid I was to forget that the tattoo would give me away. After a moment I said, “Well I was, but it wasn’t for me.”
Billy leaned back in his chair. “Whatever!” He looked at me and said, “It’s not easy to get out. It’s not like you just decide one day to change your hairstyle.” Then he leaned in again. “Look, TJ. It’s your business. Just leave me out of it, okay?”
I could see Billy wasn’t being tough. He was being brave. He was asking for a favor and I owed him. I nodded and said, “Okay.” Billy turned around and looked at the teacher who had just walked in the door.
I turned and paid attention to her too. My heart raced just a little as she handed me the textbook. I ran my hand across the cover. I opened the book and listened to the teacher. My mind started gathering new information. It felt strange to think about something else other than what BB would ask me to do next. Those moments lasted no longer than an hour at a time. When the last bell rang, I felt myself search for the tough TJ that had to live out on the streets.
I found myself getting to school on time and diving into my work. The rest of the gang teased me, but BB would cuss them, and they’d leave me alone.
It only took a week before kids found me. The kids who would be customers. They looked for my chain. I realized that BB hadn’t sent me earlier because my chain wasn’t long enough yet. Once others found me, it was easy. We agreed on a time, and then the drop off took place off campus. This way the school drug dogs left me alone, and I could keep pretending I was a regular student. At least between bells.