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ROCHESTER HILLS JUNIOR High School
Seventh Grade
November 2005
“Mrs. Crockett, may I talk to you?”
Brandishing her books across her chest like a shield, Penny Ramsay bites her lower lip as she approaches her seventh-grade science teacher. Apprehension spoils her insides like sour milk. She’s been dreading this conversation all day. But she can’t do this anymore.
Her science fair partner, Hannah Sparks, is a nightmare. Penny has been working with her on this project for almost three weeks, and the girl refuses to help. She won’t do any research on their subject. She won’t add any insight. Even the idea of the project, behavior modification of a mammal, had been left up to Penny. Using her pet hamster Ramses as a test subject, she built the labyrinth and conducted most of the experiments herself.
What is wrong with working alone? I’m already doing it.
Glancing up from grading papers, Mrs. Crockett presses her thin lips together and sighs. “Yes, Penelope. How can I help you?”
Penny shuffles her feet nervously. Much as she enjoys science, Mrs. Crockett isn’t her favorite teacher. The thirtyish woman doesn’t like her. More than aware of her teacher’s feelings, Penny tries to stay under the radar, only answering questions when she’s called upon and never speaking out of turn.
But every class period, Mrs. Crockett draws attention to Penny and humiliates her. Worse, the woman paired her with the one girl who has bullied her relentlessly since fourth grade.
Penny isn’t sure why Mrs. Crockett hates her. It could be that as the junior high cheer squad coach, Mrs. Crockett knows she and Hannah Sparks have had a difficult history. Being one of Crockett’s prized cheerleaders, Hannah often manipulates situations and plays the martyr.
Staring at her teacher, Penny grips her books tighter. It probably has more to do with the rumors that Mrs. Crockett’s husband, one of the younger cops under Captain Donovan’s command, had an affair with Miranda Ramsay last summer. Not that Penny usually believes such nonsense. Nasty rumors about the Ramsay family have circulated around town for years.
Except this one is probably true. Miranda had brought Officer Crockett home several times and he’d stayed the night often.
Cringing, Penny shakes her head. No matter what she tries to do, she can’t shake her mother’s horrible reputation. The situation has only gotten worse since her dad’s death... the excessive drinking, the all-nighters with strange—and sometimes familiar—men.
Not to mention the abuse.
A sharp pain jolts from Penny’s right hip as if she needs a reminder of her mother’s wrath. Two nights ago, Miranda had shoved Penny down the stairs because she hadn’t finished the laundry.
“I don’t have all day, Ms. Ramsay.”
Pulled back to the present, Penny clears her throat. “Um, I was just wondering if it’s possible to change partners for the science fair.” As Mrs. Crockett’s lips purse, Penny quickly squeaks out, “—or maybe I can do the project on my own?”
Real impressive.
Mrs. Crockett’s pencil-thin eyebrows arch. Placing her papers aside, she folds her hands in front of her, her body language stating just how far beneath her she thinks Penny is. “Ms. Ramsay, we’ve been through this. The seventh-grade science fair is always conducted with a partner. Your classmates have been split into equal groups, and there are no exceptions. Besides, the presentations are in two weeks. It’s too late.”
Penny huffs a sigh. “But I’m doing everything by myself!”
“What will you do in the future—in college or beyond—when you’re expected to design a project and work with someone you don’t like? Will you bow out then?”
“No, but—”
Squinting, Mrs. Crockett leans forward. “I paired you with Ms. Sparks for a reason. Academically, she is falling behind. I’d hoped you might be able to motivate her.”
Penny’s mouth falls open. That’s nearly impossible. Hannah isn’t stupid. She’s lazy and manipulative and doesn’t care about her grades. Why should she? Her rich mommy and daddy can take care of her.
Not to mention she hates Penny with a passion.
Penny swallows hard. “I don’t know if that’s possible, ma’am.”
Lifting her chin, Mrs. Crockett hums. “I suggest you find a way to make it work. You don’t want your grade to suffer, do you?”
A snide smile curves at the petite teacher’s lips, and Penny’s heart drops to her stomach. Her grades mean everything. They’re the only way she’ll be able to make something of herself and get out of this fresh hell. “That’s not fair! Why do I have to be punished because Hannah won’t work? Isn’t it your job to motivate her?”
“Excuse me?” The muscles in Mrs. Crockett’s jaw jump.
Cursing her stupidity, Penny takes a step back. Why does she always have to run off at the mouth? Again, it’s a Ramsay curse. Colt had the same issue. Old Mrs. Trenton still doesn’t like him.
But if I don’t speak up for myself, who will?
She sighs. “Ma’am, I mean no disrespect, but Hannah won’t listen to me. How am I supposed to finish the project without her help?”
Ripping a piece of paper from the top of her pink pad, Mrs. Crockett scribbles a note on the bottom. “I’m sure you’ll come up with something. Perhaps during detention with Mr. Fulson tomorrow morning.”
A hard knock on the door interrupts them. “Er, Mrs. Crockett? I’m returning the lab vest you loaned Mrs. Leavy.”
Penny’s heart leaps in her throat as Luke saunters in, his hair still damp from swimming practice. He’s a freshman in high school this year, and the star of the Rochester Hills High swimming team. The last few summers, he’s been training with a private coach. The rumor is he’s Olympic material.
And the only boy she’s ever crushed on.
Ignoring Penny, Mrs. Crockett smiles broadly and stands. “Luke! Good to see you, honey. Thank her for me. I miss having you in my class. You were one of my brightest.”
As Luke walks toward them with his aw, shucks grin, Penny frowns. She’s never seen Mrs. Crockett so smiley. “Er...”
Mrs. Crockett shoves the detention slip in Penny’s hand. “Tomorrow morning, Ms. Ramsay. We’re finished here. You may leave.”
A vacant pain shifts across Penny’s chest as the woman dismisses her like she’s a peasant. Penny gives Luke a sidelong glance. Her body stiffens as pity springs from his eyes. It always does when he catches her in these situations.
And unfortunately, it happens more often than not.
Heat blasts across her cheeks as she takes the pink slip from her teacher’s hand. Driving her gaze to the ground, she hunches her shoulders and shuffles out of the classroom.
Tears pool at her eyelashes. Detention. Again. How is she going to get to school? It’s a five-mile walk, and it’s the middle of winter. Colt works at the diner in the mornings before classes, so he can’t take her. And if she tells her mother about this, she’ll get the belt across her backside.
“What am I going to do?”
“Pen, wait!”
Forcing back a sob, Penny walks faster. At the end of the hall, she ducks into the bathroom before Luke can catch up to her. She angrily swipes the tears from her cheeks. The last thing she needs is him seeing her blubber like the whale she is.
She catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror and curses at her reflection. Every time she and Luke cross paths, she looks like she’s tangled with a bear. Her unruly blond curls sway at her shoulders, daring her to tame them. Moisture covers her puffy cheeks. Fresh breakouts of acne dot her chin and forehead.
She cringes.
Make that a Yeti.
All of a sudden, a sharp pain spikes through her belly. Sinking onto the toilet seat in the final stall, she wraps her arms around her aching abdomen and sighs. “Figures.”
Growing up sucks. Not only has her acne erupted like wildfire, but she recently started her period. Her mother was less than helpful. Most of what Penny has learned she googled. Worse, she’s starting to develop breasts. She’s hidden them fairly well this year with Colt’s track sweatshirts. But what happens when summer comes?
Why can’t I be normal like everyone else?
Taking a sanitary napkin from her backpack, she deals with her problem. After she finishes, she washes her hands and slowly packs her things.
She opens the bathroom door. Sneaking a peek around the corner, she sighs. Thank goodness, Luke has moved on. Maybe she’ll make it to Colt’s car without anyone seeing her. He had scholar bowl practice and promised to take her home since she had to talk to her teacher.
Why does Mrs. Crocket have to be such a b—?
“Hey, Sunshine. You okay?”
With a short screech, Penny jumps. “Luke? Jeez, what are you doing? You scared me to death.”
The pity that always seems to be present on his face morphs into a lopsided grin. “Sorry. I just wanted to check on you.”
She releases a breath. “Thanks, but I’m fine. I can take care of myself.”
He cocks his head. “You heading to Colt’s car?” She nods, and he grabs her bag from her hands. “Come on. I’ll walk with you. He said he’d give me a lift, too.”
She looks at his damp hair. “You’re done?”
He rakes a hand through his cocoa-colored locks. “Yeah. We have a meet tomorrow. My coach just wanted me to warm up. So, are you still working on your science fair project? How’s Ramses?”
As his blue gaze meets hers, she clamps her lips shut. Her heartbeat pounds through her ears like a pack of wild dogs. Why does he always make her feel like she’s drowning? “Er, he’s fine.”
“Luke! You’re finished with practice already?”
As Mrs. Donovan walks toward them with a thirtyish couple in tow, her smile broadens. “Penny! Good to see you, honey. Do you need a ride home? We can drop you off after our tour.”
Warmth spreads from Penny’s heart to her entire body as Mrs. Donovan pats her shoulder affectionately. Why can’t her own mother care about her like Mrs. Donovan does? “Thank you, ma’am. But Colt said he’d drive me.”
A smartly dressed gentleman saunters up beside Mrs. Donovan and arches a bushy eyebrow. “Caroline, I’m quite impressed. I think our daughter will fit in well here.” He glances at Luke. “Is this your son?”
Mrs. Donovan nods proudly. “Yes, this is Luke. He’s a freshman. This is Dr. Mefford. He and his wife are moving to the area in December. Their daughter Christy will be enrolling after the new year.”
Luke extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
The man grins. “Likewise. Julia?” As his wife slowly emerges with a defiant brunette girl lagging behind, he clears his throat. “This is my wife, and my daughter, Christy. She’s in the eighth grade. She isn’t happy we’re moving from Ann Arbor.”
“Da-ad, stop! So embarrassing.” Hiding her face, the girl folds her arms across her chest.
Mrs. Donovan drapes an arm around Penny’s shoulder. “This is one of our neighbors, Penny Ramsay. She’s a seventh grader, although you’re in eighth grade math and English, am I right? One of our brightest students.”
Heat sweeps across Penny’s cheeks. Her own mother never acknowledges her high I.Q. or good grades, especially not in public. She sucks the corner of her lip between her teeth. “I don’t know...”
Luke nudges her with a chuckle. “Don’t be so modest, Pen.”
The new girl steps out of her parents’ shadows. Luke glances up and freezes. A gasp leaves her lips and her eyes go wide as her dour expression morphs into a dazzling smile. A deep dimple puckers in her blemish-free chin.
Apparently speechless, Luke stares right back.
Penny cocks her head, darting a glance between the two of them. It’s like watching some weird hypnotist act.
The girl sweeps her beautifully tamed hair behind her back and giggles. “Hi. I’m Christy.”
“Luke. Good to meet you.” His dimples pop as his voice lowers.
“Luke’s on the swimming team,” Mrs. Donovan says. As Luke’s chest puffs out like a preening peacock’s, Penny’s heart sinks.
Really?
She’s never seen him act this way around girls. Colt teases him about girls flirting with him all the time, but Luke just rolls his eyes and punches him in the arm.
“I hear you have a pretty active athletic program?” Mrs. Mefford adds, “Christy’s been on the cheer squad for two years.”
Mrs. Donovan smiles. “Indeed, we do. Our junior high cheer coach, Bethany Crockett, was a captain at a division one school. She also teaches seventh and eighth grade science.”
Mrs. Mefford touches Christy’s arm. “This move might not be bad after all, darling.”
Christy licks her lips. Her eyes are still glued to Luke’s. “Um, yeah. Sure.”
Dr. Mefford harrumphs. “Can we meet Ms. Crockett?”
Stepping in front of Luke, Mrs. Donovan smiles. “Of course. I’ll take you to the science wing. With basketball season starting, we’ll be hosting a cheer clinic soon. When did you say you’re moving to town?”
As the adults amble down the hall, Luke and Christy continue the longest game of make-you-blink Penny has ever seen. Rolling her eyes, she finally takes her backpack from Luke’s hand.
He jumps. “Oh! Sorry, Pen.”
Arching a finely sculpted eyebrow, Christy looks Penny over. She crosses her arms over her chest, juts out a hip, and smirks. “Is this your girlfriend?”
Penny gazes at Luke, and her heart pitter-patters. Oh, how she loves the sound of that. Penny Donovan. She’s written it a hundred times on the inside cover of her journal. He frowns. Shifting her weight, she ducks her head and blushes.
All of a sudden, Luke bursts out laughing. “God, no.” He drapes an arm around her shoulders and rubs his knuckles across the top of her head like he and Colt often do to each other. “Pen is my best friend’s little sister.”
Christy beams. Edging Penny out of the way, she takes Luke’s arm and purrs, “This school is so big! Can you give me a tour?”
Luke’s brow lifts. “Um, sure.” He looks at Penny. “You gonna be okay?”
Grasping the strap of her book bag, she gives him a tight smile. “I’m just waiting for my brother.”
“Let Colt know I’ll get a ride with Mom.”
As Luke and Christy take off in the opposite direction, chatting like old friends, Penny stares at them. A fantastic ache penetrates her chest. Christy is perfect. Her shiny brown hair falls across her back like a silk curtain. Her tiny waist leads to slight hips and toned legs that never seem to end. Worse, she’s dressed like a model ready for the catwalk.
Shuffling uncomfortably, Penny pulls her plain sweatshirt over her butt. Her ripped jeans and dirty converse haven’t been washed for a few days. Between her untamable curls and the wicked torture of puberty, she looks like a reject from the Sandlot.
There is no comparison.
Luke Donovan will never look at me like he does that girl.
She wipes the tears from her eyes. She knew this day would come. He’s the cutest boy in school—not that he realizes it. But they’re getting older. And his classmates are beginning to notice him. Can she survive watching him flirt with other girls?
As she reaches her brother’s car, she leans against the hood. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”