The Stillburrow Crush

She smiled up at my brother, blushed and tucked a straight lock of hair behind her ear. Marty was half sitting on the end of the conveyer belt with one foot still on the tiled floor and one folded under him. He had a Blow Pop stick poking out of his mouth and there was a bulge in his cheek where the sucker was stashed.

He was tall and ski

When he saw me he didn't stand, he just transferred the lollypop from one side of his cheek to the other.

"Hey, brat."

Abby's head spun around and her face went beet red, as if she'd been caught in the back seat of a car with him over at the camping ground—which was the major make-out spot for all Stillburrow teenagers.

"Hi, Carrie," she said.

42

The Stillburrow Crush

by Linda Kage

If I kept a notebook of firsts, I'd have to scribble down her

"Hi, Carrie, " as the first time Abby Eggrow ever voluntarily spoke to me.

"Ready for the big test in history tomorrow?" she asked. Another first. Abby smiling and asking me a question, instead of treating me like I was invisible. I wondered if the apocalypse had begun.

For the sake of my brother, I pushed all rude thoughts out of my brain and nodded politely to her. I told her, in my most respectful tone, that I wasn't ready for the test at all. History with Mr. Decker was not my strong point. Neither was trigonometry for that matter. But Abby always seemed to know what questions would be on all the history tests. So on a crazy whim, I invited her to come over after supper and maybe help me study.

I never asked people to my house. And Abby Eggrow wouldn't have been my first choice. But asking her over would be like inviting Marty as well. And a little discomfort at having a guest would surely be overridden by my duty to my parents in coercing Marty to come and visit them.

Or maybe I just liked to stir the pot.

"Oh...uh, sorry, but I can't," she said, not sounding sorry at all. "I'm going to the movies in Paulbrook tonight. But I've heard Mr. Decker asks a lot of questions about Appomattox Court House."

I had no idea what the Appomattox Court House was and made a mental note to find out.

Abby ran me through the checkout line and I paid with the bill Mom had given me. Then Mrs. Bates, by the cleaning 43

The Stillburrow Crush

by Linda Kage

supplies, called for help. As Abby glided off to assist the sheriff's wife, I turned to Marty and watched him double bag the ice cream.

"Got a letter for you," I said. He stopped bagging and glanced up. "From Mom," I added and slid the envelope down the conveyer belt to him. His shoulders deflated a little but he grabbed it up and pulled out the letter as well as a twentydollar bill. He jammed the money into his pocket with one hand and unfolded the note with his other. His eyebrows instantly rose. "Walking in the park with Luke Carter, huh?"

I clenched my teeth and folded my arms over my chest, refusing to show any embarrassment or shock. Mom hadn't said anything to me last night. She hadn't even let on that she'd known at all.

Dad must've told her.

I tried to ignore the heat rising to my face and shrugged with one lazy shoulder. "I wrote an article about Homecoming for the paper, featuring the coach and quarterback." Then I got angry with myself, wondering why I was trying to explain it to Marty.

"Uh-huh. I read it." He snorted the name Lucas under his breath and went back to reading Mom's note. "And helping out the old man in the shop too? You've been a busy girl, brat."

"I wouldn't have to help him if you'd come home," I said between my teeth, since I couldn't seem to get them unclenched.

44

The Stillburrow Crush

by Linda Kage

He glanced up once with a quick scowl, then back down and finished the letter. "And tell Mom I can't make it for supper." He shot a quick glance toward Abby. When he looked back at me, he was stuffing the letter into his back pocket. He wiggled his eyebrows. "I'm going to the movies tonight." My arms unfolded and my hands ground into my hips.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" He frowned and I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "She's only eighteen."

"Only?" He laughed and tugged on my hair. "That's over a year older than you."

"And five years too young for you!" He pulled back. "So what? Dad's seven years older than Mom."

My mouth fell open. "It's that serious, then? You're thinking marriage?"

"No!" He backed away from the counter and ripped the lollypop out of his mouth. "It's just a date. Nothing serious."

"Then why're you fooling around with her in the first place?" I said, lowering my voice even more. "She's leaving in a year to get a real life. What do you have to offer her, Marty? A stock boy's salary? It looks pretty worthless to me. I mean, the whole relationship is going nowhere right from the begi

He scoffed and pointed the lollypop at my head. "Well, aren't you the pot calling the kettle black? Or have you already forgotten about your little stroll with Luke Carter?" My jaw felt tight. I took a second to gather my thoughts. OK, I was just trying to cool my temper because I wanted to hit him—bad. If he hadn't mentioned Luke, I might've been 45

The Stillburrow Crush

by Linda Kage

able to sniff and walk off. But since I was still sore about Mr. Carter, I had to strike back. When I felt clear I spoke, my voice cool.

"Excuse me," I said, "but I am not, nor will I ever, go to the movies with Luke Carter. I'm not stupid like you. The only reason he came to see me yesterday was to yell at me for putting his full name in the paper."

Marty wasn't buying it, though. "He had to hold your hand for that?" he taunted.

If there were ever a moment I could've killed my parents, that would've been it. I felt my face flame red. Dad must've watched the entire episode of Luke and me in the park. But would he have mentioned the hand-holding part to Mom? And would Mom have put it in her letter to Marty? I seriously doubted it, so I took my chances and called his bluff.

"He did not," I said with force. "Mom didn't put that in your letter. You made it up."

I knew he'd made it up when he leaned over the counter and snickered. "I bet you wanted him to, though."

"No, not at all," I a

"Shut up," he said, and glanced away.

"Does her dad know?" I watched his face go noticeably paler. "I'm sure Principal Eggrow would just love the idea of 46

The Stillburrow Crush

by Linda Kage

his daughter dating the boy who tried to break the record for most detentions."

"Carrie." His voice was low, hard and spoken through unmoving lips. He turned to stare evil beams at me. "It's none of your business. Back off."