Ransom(4)

“I haven’t decided yet,” I say, fiddling with my bag strap again. “My dad is making me take a bunch of business classes. He wants me to be a business major.”

Paige makes a face. “That sounds painfully boring.”

“What about you?”

“I’m into drawing, so I might try graphic design. Or advertising. Definitely something creative.”

I rack my brain for possible follow-up questions. I know the polite thing, the normal thing, is to ask her about her classes, or why she’s interested in graphic design, or… something. But my tongue seems to stumble over the words. I can feel another flush coming to my face, and shame wells inside me. I’m completely hopeless. Pathetic.

I thank my lucky stars when we reach the Student Center. Paige’s friend will be here, and I’ll be off the hook conversation-wise. Sure enough, Paige waves to a tall blonde waiting by the entrance.

When we reach the girl, Paige gives her a quick, one-armed hug. “Hey, Karen.” She gestures at me. “This is Daisy. She suffers through the hell of Bartlet’s class with me.”

Karen smiles. “Hey, Daisy, nice to meet you.”

I give Karen a quick wave, hating the way her eyes flick up and down my figure. I had expected her to be a clone of Paige with her bold clothes and multiple piercings, so I’m surprised by her relatively unobtrusive flowery sundress. Her hair is straight and falls halfway down her back, and her teeth are so perfectly white and even that she could be in toothpaste commercials.

“Let’s get in line,” she says, turning away to enter the building. “We decided on Panda Express, right?”

“No, we did not,” Paige says firmly. “I said I wanted Subway. And it’s my turn to pick.”

“I’m tired of Subway. It’s all you eat. I need some fucking grease, okay, Paige?”

I wasn’t expecting Karen to have such a mouth. Do beauty queens talk that way?

But Paige laughs, clearly used to this kind of language from her friend. “Let’s just get pizza.”

“Score,” Karen says happily, leading the way to the pizza line. “I can get sausage and pepperoni, and you can get whatever green healthy shit you want.”

“You know, you’ll eventually gain weight, eating the way you do,” Paige says. “Then you’ll be begging me for my healthy tips.”

“Keep dreaming.”

I follow them over to the line. It’s hard keeping up with their flurry of conversation, but I would rather listen than join in. And if I can manage to shovel down my pizza fast enough, I should be able to get out of here in ten minutes. My good luck lasts about as long as it takes to get our pizza and find a seat in the busy food court.

Paige says, “Daisy and I bonded over your favorite thing on earth, Karen.”

“Yeah?” Karen asks, turning her brown eyes to me. “What would that be?”

I look at Paige, at a loss, and she grins. “The hottie.”

Karen’s face lights up. “Might this have something to do with my favorite rocker?”

Oh. That.

“It does indeed.” Paige closes her eyes, a dreamy expression on her face. “The one and only Daltrey Ransome.”

I shift awkwardly in my seat. I really don’t want to talk about Daltrey.

“I just love him,” Karen gushes. “He’s so insanely hot.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, picking up my pizza.

“Get out that magazine,” Paige says, gesturing at my bag. “I want to see the sexies.”

With growing dread, I pull out the magazine. I can’t very well refuse. I would look even crazier than Paige probably already thinks I am. I lay the tabloid on the table then flip through the pages until I find him. Daltrey.

Both girls sigh as we stare down at him. Saying he looks good is an understatement, like saying the surface of the sun is warm. He’s beyond gorgeous.

“What’s the article about?” Paige asks, reaching for the magazine. “The tour?”

“Who cares?” Karen slaps Paige’s hand away. “I want to see if there are more pictures.” She flips the page.

Several more pictures of Daltrey cover the next two pages. Daltrey walking into a recording studio. Daltrey ducking into a cab. Daltrey leaving a restaurant with Lennon, Cash, and Levi. A knot has formed in my stomach, and I’m sure I’m about to start crying. This is why I’ve avoided most media this year. I knew I wouldn’t be able to deal.

“I can’t believe we get to see him in a few weeks,” Paige says happily. “What’s the countdown?”

“Fifteen days until Ransom,” Karen replies. “It can’t come too soon.”