Games We Play (Thistle Cove 2)

“I told you to go ahead.”

He tightens his grip on his backpack strap. “I have a free period. Were you asking her about Jacqueline?”

Of course he knew what I was doing. “Yeah, she gave me nothing—barely even admitted it happened.”

“Maybe the staff was told not to talk about it. That’s happened before.”

He’s right. There have been a few situations at school; bullying, threats of violence, rumors, that have caused the administration to clamp down on any and all discussion on a particular topic. Any violators will get a swift punishment.

“It looks like if we want to get any more information about this we’re going to have to figure out a different source,” he says. “One not affiliated with the school.”

I sigh. “I think you’re right.”

We start walking, my class is around the corner and Ozzy usually spends this period in the library. I’ve got my late slip in my hand but that doesn’t stop me from jumping when I hear an adult voice bounce off the lockers.

“Ms. James, although the dress code is lax during Homecoming week, that outfit violates several policies.”

I glance at Ozzy. His eyebrow raises. There’s no doubt who’s speaking; Coach Chandler. I peer around the corner. He’s standing in the doorway to his office speaking to Kayla James, a sophomore on the dance team. She’s wearing purple spandex tights and has pink legwarmers wrapped around her ankles. A cut off sweatshirt reveals a large swath of her stomach and the tights are rolled low enough to see her belly button. It, to put it lightly, is a lot, and way out of the bounds of any and all dress codes.

“Are you going to send me to the office?” she asks.

“That’s the policy.”

Kayla sighs. “Mr. Russell is going to send me to in-school suspension, and Mrs. Jackson, the dance coach will bench me from the game on Friday.”

Coach Chandler crosses his arms over his chest. He’s a big guy—it’s obvious without knowing details that he was once an elite athlete. Tall, broad-shouldered. He was probably bigger back then when he played high school and college football. His eyes sweep over Kayla.

“You’re a friend of my daughter’s, right?”

Kayla perks up. “Juliette? Yeah. We hang out.”

“I hate to ruin anyone’s homecoming week. It’s a big game and everyone, including the dance team, is there to support my team. I don’t want something like this to throw anyone off.”

“I’d hate that. They’re so good this year. I really think they can go all the way to the finals.”

He smiles, which lights up his handsome face. He’s pleased with the assessment of his team. Kayla’s not just pretty. She’s smart, too.

“You’re a beautiful, talented girl, Ms. James. Showing off your body is part of who you are as a dancer. I understand this. I’m an athlete. We’re proud of our hard work, but not everyone sees it that way.” Again, his eyes skirt over her body. “As the father of a girl, I hate the double-standard for females in the dress code. There’s a sexist implication that boys can’t control themselves and it’s the girl’s responsibility to manage those urges for them. It’s bullshit.” Kayla gasps at his language. “Well, it is, and unfortunately it’s a decision well above my pay grade, but, how about this, we head into my office and find you some sweats to wear over those tights. Cover up and we can make this go away.”

Kayla’s shoulders relax. “Really? That would be awesome.”

“Yeah, follow me, I’m pretty sure there are some small JV boy’s sweats in the storage room.”

Kayla follows him into his office and the door shuts behind them.

I turn and face Ozzy, who has seen and heard it all.

“Holy shit. Did he just ogle the shit out of that girl while spewing about the patriarchy?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Yeah, that was a masterful move.” I hit him in the stomach and he frowns, rubbing the spot. “It’s not a compliment. It was manipulative and shady as hell.”

I stare at the door, feeling like I should go in there and interrupt. Except that Kayla willingly went with him, and ultimately, he was helping her out, and what would I say, anyway?

Ozzy places a hand on my back, encouraging me to move. We part outside my classroom, where one thing lingers on my mind. One of Rose’s exchanges with BD when they first started talking…

BD: Have you ever been with an older man before?

R: Yeah, I have. My friend’s dad.