The Book Fight

CHAPTER 15: Tug of War

SEKANI

The week is almost over but something still doesn’t feel right.

I feel it when my father chats with his dates online. I feel it when Ryder and Soon-Yi show any PDA (which is a lot), and I feel it when the posters for Homecoming start being put up.

It’s like my heart is—

“Sekani, are you even listening?” Yi’s voice increases. “I said you’re nominated for homecoming court again. Congrats dude, that has to be some kind of record.”

“Record?” I hang my wet swimsuit with the others.

We’re changing in the lockeroom from our after school activities and as usual we’re the only ones left behind.

“You got nominated last year and freshmen year too and since everyone wanted you for junior prom queen—which you got—you didn’t win but I think you’re winning this time.”

She explains as I finish changing.

“Right,” I somehow manage to say it convincingly.

Soon-Yi doesn’t know I’ve been sabotaging myself not to win these things every time I get nominated. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure it’s an honor and all but it’s only a ‘big deal’ in teen movies.

No one really cares in real life, especially not me.

All the attention and intense preparations that goes into these dances is not worth the hassle. The after-parties are always better, less pressure and no heels.

“Now, let’s talk HoCo dates.” Yi begins her monthly lecture as we walk out.

She starts by saying, even though I don’t need a boy by my side, they are frames and every pretty picture needs a frame. She doesn’t stop when we get ice-cream or when we go shopping for homecoming dresses.

I spend 2hours listening to her lecture me about boys and eventually, we run into one I hoped to never see again.

“I don’t think that dress would suit you.” A male voice rejects when I pick up a strapless maxi dress. “Before you react, I just meant my mother has it and I don’t think you’d want a dress she owns.”

“Thank you creepy stranger in a woman’s clothing store,” I turn away without looking.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” He asks with a teasing tone.

I turn back to find Greg Macy, the boy that made grade school a living hell staring at me with a smirk.

“No, I don’t actually.” I go back to mindlessly skimming through dresses. “Refresh my memory?”

I have physically fought 3 people in my life. The first, was my cousin Eli for cutting his sister’s hair, the 2nd was Zach Mackintosh who was Greg’s best friend and the 3rd is Greg Macy—the devil’s spawn.

“How about this?” He tilts his head to show me the scar on the side of his neck. “Can you believe a girl gave it to me? With a pair of safety scissors too,” he smiles like it’s a happy memory. “They were small but cut deep, just like her.”

The scar is small and faded now but I remember it, I remember him too unfortunately.

“What do you want Greg?” I pick up a navy mini-dress from the rack.

“So you do remember me,” he sounds flattered. “Good.”

“Nah, I remember the scar and it wasn’t done with safety scissors. I know because I was trying to draw a heart since you didn’t have one.” I move to another side of the shop and he follows.

“Okay, I was d**k in grade school but I had an explanation, a good reason.” Greg stops in front of me. “I sort of liked you Sekani.”

I frown.

“Well, I didn’t ‘sort of’ hate you Greg. I really hated you. I even hoped a bus ran into you and paralyzed you forever.”

Horrible I know but if there was ever a Caucasian male that turned me into an angry black woman, it was him.

“Whoa,” Greg steps back nervously. “That’s a bit morbid,” he tries to laugh it off but it only it makes me angry.

Greg might be older and more…I don’t even know what but his laugh is still the same. It’s still shallow and resembles a villain in a bad movie, he still unnerves me like he did when were 13 and I hate that.

“No,” I step forward. “Morbid is losing your mother then having every kid in your class tease you so bad, you can’t even take the bus home.” And it was all because of him.

“Sekani we were kids,” Greg defends. “And I’m truly sorry.”

I don’t know what I thought his apology would do. Maybe it’s because I didn’t think I’d ever get one but I just did and its doing nothing for me.

“You and Zach called me, Stinky Sekani, right?” I bump his shoulder and leave the shop altogether.

Years of torment will not be erased by a laughable apology. After Aston and his lying—stealing ways, I just want all boys to stay away from me altogether.

“Nothing?” Yi is surrounded by shopping bags.

“Nope, can we go home now? Homecoming is still a week away, I promise to find something.” I pick up some of her bags to help with the load.

“Add a date to the list too, people are starting to wonder if you’re aromantic. I just saw a cute guy flirting with you and you literally just walked out.”

“By people, you mean you. And by cute guy, you mean the person that made junior high suck before you came along then yes—you are absolutely correct about nothing.”

I sneer at Greg when I notice him watching us through the glass. He was the first person that took my power away.

In the beginning, I thought it was because my skin color and hair texture were different from his but he treated my father and our teacher (both black) with nothing but respect and kindness.

It’s when he pushed me into a pool that I realized he wasn’t racist. He was just an asshole with too much influence but I have my power back now so he can suck it.

I don’t leave the house all weekend, except for swim meets. I spend my time reading Basic Instructions and help my father weed out the bad profiles.

Greg sends a fruit basket Sunday morning but I send it back. I honestly just want to act like I never saw him but he seems determined to either piss me off or humiliate himself.

“Remember the boy from the mall, the cute bully?” Yi starts as we sit on the bench across the main entrance.

She was so early today, we had time to get bagels and coffee before coming to school.

“Yeah but why are we talking about him?” The frown on my face is automatic.

“You didn’t tell me he goes to a private school.” She points behind me, “he is coming over here and he is wearing a Camp Academy uniform.”

I follow her gaze and just like she said, Greg is walking towards us in a C.A school uniform and a large bouquet of white tulips.

“Morning,” he greets with a bright smile.

Yi gives me a nudge but I don’t acknowledge him. I bite the mini bagel and check my class schedule on my phone.

“Hi,” Yi receives him.

“I’m Greg, we haven’t met.” He extends his hand and they shake. “Soon-Yi,” she separates their hands to point. “Nice flowers.”

“Thanks, they are for Sekani.” He says proudly, “she sent back my basket so I thought I should try tulips.”

I look up because “I prefer roses.”

“Okay. I only came here to tell you that you were right anyway,” Greg clarifies. “I was a d**k to you growing up. No excuse, lame apology, fruit or flowers will ever make up for it.”

“That’s correct,” I keep my eyes on my phone.

“But I am sorry Sekani,” Greg tries one more time. “I was a dumb kid and I am trying to make up for my mistakes.”

A long silence follows because I have no response.

There is no grey area here. He was a bully, he made me cry numerous times, turned everyone against me and made the loss of my mother hurt 10x more. I have nothing to say to him.

“I should go check on Ryder.” Yi stands with the rest of the bagels. “But it was nice to meet you Greg,” she walks away after he says, “you too.”

“Be nice.” Yi mouths the same time Greg says, “your friend is cool” as he replaces her on the bench.

“She bites,” I tip but he exhales regretfully.

“Sekani, I’m really, really sorry for everything I said and did to you.” Greg actually sounds sincere, “I understand if you want me to disappear and I will but I had to try one last time.”

I’m about to respond but a car roughly parks across from us. Aston steps out and as usual, a cloud of smoke follows. I move my eyes away before he can catch me but I feel his on me immediately.

I have made it my mission to tune him out since our fallout. This is actually the first time I’ve been aware of him and all it does is make me realize how pissed, I still am.

“Okay.” I take the tulips. “Apology accepted.”

I don’t want to compare but an ex bully is the lesser of my two evils right now. At least Greg has the decency to apologize, grovel and take accountability. Him attending a different school is just the bonus. .

“Really?” Greg’s blue eyes fill with a little hope when I nod, “wow. I didn’t expect—”

“Hold your horses, you still need to make it up to me.” I look at the bouquet on my lap.

The flowers are fresh, the presentation is grand and the bouquet feels heavy. Maybe he really is sorry because these flowers do not look cheap.

“I’ll do anything,” Greg doesn’t miss a beat.

“Good,” I hide my lips with my foam cup. “Is anyone looking at us?”.

“Ahm Sekani,” Greg looks around the parking lot. “Everyone, is literally staring at us.”

Typical but “I am talking about the guy who is standing by the Jeep across the lot. Tall, probably wearing Converse.” I try my best to be subtle.

“The broad dude in the football jersey or the lean one looking like he is not trying to stare at us but is miserably failing?” That must be Buck in the jersey since its homecoming week and Aston must be the other.

“The second one.” I pick up my new bag and Greg follows up.

I use a black fringe backpack now, it’s nothing special but at least a certain someone doesn’t have it.

“Oh, is he an ex-boyfriend or something?” Greg’s voice is filled with something I don’t understand or care to identify.

“Neither, it’s just—complicated.” I rub the back of my neck and stop myself when I realize who always does this. “Just go with it.”

“Go with—” I wrap my hand around his bicep to illuminate.

His arm is not big but it’s firm and muscly, which means he still plays rugby and soccer. Ew—I hate that I still remember that.

“Can you walk me to my locker?” I don’t really give him a choice but he nods as he begins to update me on his life.

Apparently Greg has been moving around the world with his father, who is a private contractor for the U.S army. His family came back to Rooksville for the 4th of July and plan to stay till he finishes high school.

When he asks about me, all I say is “I grew up” because not much has changed.

“And you grew up gorgeous,” Greg bites his lower lip.

“Thank you, you don’t look bad yourself,” I let go of his arm when we reach my locker.

Greg Macy looks like a typical all-American boy. Piercing blue eyes, bouncy blonde hair and naturally straight teeth with a Captain America voice. No tattoos, no piercings and no baggage.

He is clearly well off because he attends a fancy boarding school in the next town and his grin resembles a clip and save catalogue model.

I admit, he is very attractive but that’s how I ended up in a book fight in the first place because I found a boy that picks on me good-looking.

But I won’t be that mistake again.