Project Pallid by Christopher Hoskins Read Free Book Online Page A

share.
    “Anyway,
it turns out that the guy I’m sharing a locker with is a total douche: Ryan
Hayes. I guess he’s some football god at school, and he thinks he deserves a
locker entirely to himself. He took all my stuff and dropped it right in the
middle of the hall. He basically told me to find a new home.”
    “Can
he do that!?” Mom asked, startled.
    “It’s
high school, Martha,” Dad jumped.
    “It’s
survival of the fittest,” Nicole added.
    “Well,
it doesn’t seem right.”
    “It’s
not, Mom, but that’s how it goes. And I’d rather deal with it on my own than be
the guy who runs to get help like some baby. Don’t worry, I’ve got it taken
care of.”
    “So,
you made friends with this boy, then?”
    “God,
no! Never! He’s a total douche!”
    “Please,
Damian, not at the table.”
    “He
does sound like a bit of a douche, Martha.”
    “Darryl!
Stop feeding into it!” My dad never stayed in the green for long when it came
time for sharing. Mom’s sharp words redirected him to his plate.
    “And
my High,” I continued, “came when Catee, this redhead girl I told Mom about
yesterday, offered to share her locker with me, instead.”
    “Catee,
huh?” My dad responded before my mom could vocalize the instant excitement
that’d spread over her face.
    “Darryl,
you promised … ”
    “I
didn’t make any promises. Remember?”
    “Still,
you behave.”
    “Just
relax, Martha. If Damian’s got a new girlfriend, I’d like to hear about her.”
    “Oooohhh,
Damian’s got a girlfriend!? I want to hear about her, too!” My sister, only
remotely engaged to that point, turned her attention to my reveal, and I
instantly had everyone’s complete attention.
    I
tried to back out as best I could. “Cool it guys. I barely know her. We only
talked for a few minutes in the hall, and I didn’t even take her up on the
offer. At least, not yet.”
    “Playing
hard to get then?” Dad prompted.
    “No,
Dad. I’m not playing hard to get. I just don’t know if it’s the best move for
me and all right now.” I opted to leave out the parts about Justin and his
territorial threats.
    “Well,
I think it’s great that you’ve met a girl, Damian. And whenever you’re ready to
bring her home, I’ll plan a nice big dinner and we’ll all be on our best
behavior,” Mom declared with a look back and forth between Nicole and my dad.
    “Of
course we will, Martha,” Dad agreed with his signature, mischievous grin.
    “I’m always on my best behavior, Mom,” Nicole agreed.
    Her
sadistic smile was more like my dad’s than anything else. But even though
neither of them could be trusted, it was all in good fun. Plus, Catee’s quick
wit that afternoon suggested she could handle our sarcastic dinner talks just
as well as anyone.
    But
the road to dinner seemed an unlikely one back then and before Catee and I
started to hang on the regular. And because I knew such little about her, I
wasn’t sure if I’d want to cross that bridge, if we ever came to it. Yeah, she
had my attention, but so didn’t impromptu pizza in a Wednesday lunch line.   It didn’t mean I wanted to date it,
marry it, or bring it home to my family.   As I figured, the most I’d share with Catee would be half a
locker—and even that seemed far-reaching.

 

September
7 th:

 
    By
Friday of week one, I’d begun to develop a serious case of scoliosis from the
sheer weight of my swollen backpack. It contorted my spine in unnatural ways
that was only worsened by those who took notice, and who lent the added weight
of downward tugs.
    I
wound up on the ground a couple more times during those first few
days—mostly by kids after quick and easy laughs. It wasn’t anything
personal, and it didn’t bother me too much. None of them even knew me. I was
just the small guy with a big backpack—an easy, slow moving target.
    And
even though Catee and I saw each other throughout that week, we hadn’t had any
opportunity to talk. We exchanged brief