Heartache on the Play Stage

“Wait a minute. You’re doing what now?”

“I’m tutoring Jack Derstine. What’s wrong with that?” Her friends looked at Katie like she committed the ultimate crime. In their eyes, she did.

“Well, for one thing, he’s Popular.” Sam pointed out.

“He just wants to screw you.” Johnny muttered under his breath but Katie caught it.

“Excuse me?” She looked at her boyfriend, slightly offended.

Johnny cleared his throat – the telltale sign he was about to lie. “I said, he’s just gonna screw you over.”

“Mmhmm,” Katie agreed sarcastically before rolling her eyes.

“He’s Popular.” Johnny enunciated the label as if it explained everything. It should’ve; Katie knew their long history with the rich kids as well as anyone else. Of course, Jack wasn’t a part of this; he had only been considered popular for a month, but the gang had a bad habit of grouping all Populars to be the same: horrible backstabbers with the worst intentions. Johnny looked up to see Ashton and Daniella approaching from the parking lot and Keaton walking across the porch of Detweiler House. “Do you hear this?”

“What?” Daniella asked as she threw her backpack down. Just from the thump as it hit the ground expressed how heavy it was.

Looking at Katie, he said, “Tell ‘em.”

Katie sighed, still not understanding why this was such a big deal. “Y’know, as my friends, I figured you’d want to know what’s going on in my life, and you’d support me.”

“As your friends, we are your life.” Keaton joked as he set down his own backpack. “What are you doing?”

“Betraying us,” Johnny answered with crossed arms.

Kate gave him a look, Are you kidding me? “I’m tutoring Jack Derstine.”

“Wait, what?” Daniella cocked and eyebrow and then scoffed, refusing to believe she heard Katie correctly.

“Oh my God,” Katie groaned, exasperated. “What has he done? What has he, Jackson Derstine, done to you guys personally? It’s not like I’m secretly dating Lucifer,” meaning Luke. The friends were convinced that was his full name. “I’m tutoring a kid who was a complete stranger a month ago.”

This shut them up; they knew they couldn’t argue this, but Johnny was still upset. Why was she defending him? As someone who lived in the moment, Johnny couldn’t recall Jack as his teammate and friend. He only saw him as Popular, a minion to Satan. Jack was only using Kate, Johnny could feel it. But he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to have another fight.

“I gotta get to Family Living.” Johnny grumbled, throwing his backpack over his shoulder and headed over to Rosenberger Academic Center.

“Johnny, we all do.” Daniella reminded him but he couldn’t hear. He was already past the Art Building, eyes glued to his phone.

Katie sighed, regretting what she had said. She should’ve kept a secret. Jack probably didn’t want the gang to know cause the news could get around the whole school by lunchtime. Why did she do this? Ashton’s deep voice was the calm in the storm of her raging thoughts. “It’s gonna be okay, Kate.”

“Will it?” She snapped; her friends knew she hated that phrase. Everyone said it but who actually meant it? How did they know? They weren’t where she was. But Ashton looked in her eyes and she realized: he, of all people, would know everything is going to be okay.

“It will. C’mon, let’s go to class.”

“The bell hasn’t even rung.”

“You and Sam need to switch out your binders.” Ashton and Katie made faces at each other, sticking their tongues out until she finally followed him.

“They’re literally a married couple.” Sam said to Keaton as they followed their friends up to Rosenberger.

“Don’t let Johnny hear you. He’s already pissed enough that she’s sleeping either Derstine.” Keaton added and Katie heard him.

“He’s a good kid!” She exclaimed defensively.

“Why are you on his side?” Keaton snapped. “What has he done that’s so good?”

“What has he done that’s so bad?” Katie threw back at him. “It’s not like he’s Luke.” She realized what she had just said and instantly regretted it. She took a deep breath before apologizing. “Keaton, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Keaton stomped past her, entering Rosenberger before any of the other friends.

“Nice goin’, Mellinger.” Katie muttered to herself as they walked down the science hallway.

Ashton heard her grumbling and corrected her. “Curtis-Mellinger.” The German last name always carried the weight of manipulation, lies, and lack of manners. The English last name, however, served as a reminder of generations of honesty, compassion, and courtesy.

Kate have him a tired, defeated look. “I tried being courteous and now my best friends and boyfriend hate me.”

“They don’t hate you.” Ashton said, holding her close to his big, warm body in a hug. “You’re just upset and scared they’ll lose you.”

“You’re siding with them now, too?” Katie couldn’t believe that Ashton, out of all people, was ganging up against her.

“No, I’m telling you what they’re feeling. I don’t think their behavior is okay, but there’s always an explanation. They’ll calm down once they realize you won’t change or leave them as you tutor Jack.”

“This is ridiculous.” Katie rolled her eyes.

“Who ever said we’re functional?” Sam asked. “Dysfunction is what holds up together.” Katie gave her a tired, forced smile as she held the door open for her friends. At least she was trying and that’s what mattered.