Lola grabbed his hand and held it tight. Did she imagine he lightly squeezed her hand before releasing it?
They didn’t look at each other as they walked. Over fallen limbs and loose rocks; brittle twigs snapping under their shoes. The sun filtered through the many high branches, a kaleidoscope of heat and light flickering over them. It was silent except for the chatter of small animals and the chirping of birds.
“Favorite band?”
Lola started at the sound of his deep voice. “Uh…Pink?”
“Are you asking or telling?”
“Pink,” she said firmly.
“Why Pink?”
“Because she’s strong, mentally and physically. She’s tough and she doesn’t take crap from anyone. Her music can be light or it can be deep. There’s the pop side to her and the one that makes you feel something when you listen to her music. It’s like there are two sides to her, just like everyone. She’s complicated and diverse and phenomenal. Plus she’s a great dancer.”
Jack was staring at her. “What?” Lola demanded.
“Nothing. Just…that’s a really in depth description.”
“Sorry.” Lola felt her skin heat up.
“No. It’s…I like it.”
Her eyes flew to his. She caught his smile, was warmed by it. “How about you?”
“That’s easy. Muse.”
“Why?”
“They’re kick ass.”
After her lengthy narrative, Jack’s three words made her laugh. He laughed too and her flesh tingled at the too often absent sound.
“How’s Granger’s?”
Lola glanced at him, surprised he knew she worked there. “It’s a job. I’m saving up to get a car.” She shrugged. “Do you work anywhere?”
“Yeah.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a cynical smirk. “I help out on Jared Summers’ farm. Know him?” Lola shook her head. “He lives down the road from us. He’s a quiet guy; decent.”
“Have you worked there long?”
He gave a short back of laughter. “Yeah. Since I was twelve. At least, that’s when I started hanging out there, pestering him. Every day I walked over to his farm, asking for something to do, practically begging to be put to work. I did what I could, but I think I got in his way more than anything.
“Jared didn’t have the heart to tell me to go home. He acts tough, but he’s really not. I think he knew I needed to be there, needed somewhere to go. When I got old enough, he put me to work.”
“Do you like it?” Lola didn’t know anything about farming, nor did she particularly want to.
It was Jack’s turn to shrug. “Helps buy groceries.”
Lola’s brows furrowed. Jack made her reevaluate her situation fast. People had it worse than her; Jack was one of those people. She knew he would hate her pity; as she would hate his, but she felt so bad for him, for his life that wasn’t really a life.
They were silent after that.
Jack was so much taller than she; her head was barely at level with his shoulder. The sides of their bodies grazed one another as they made their way through the woods. Lola couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt around a boy she barely knew. It was like they were kindred spirits in misfortune. No words were necessary.
Twigs snapped under the weight of their shoes. Squirrels scampered around them, keeping their distance. And the birds sang breathtakingly beautiful songs. It was exactly what Lola needed.
“What do you want to do after school’s finished?” His quiet voice broke the stillness.
Live, was the first thought that popped into her head. Lola stopped walking. She frowned at the truth of it. “I don’t know,” was all she said.
“Liar,” Jack said softly.
Lola’s face heated. She didn’t consider herself a liar; there were simply some things she didn’t want to tell people, and so she evaded the question.
“I want to go to college.”
“For?”
Lola reached down and picked up a twig. She snapped it into little pieces. “I don’t know for sure, something with writing.” The broken pieces fell from her hands. Lola wiped her hands on her jeans.
“I’m going to stay around, probably work at Green Factory operating machinery like my old man. At least until Isabelle finishes school. Then, who knows?”
Lola blinked her eyes, but tears began to fall from them anyway. What she wouldn’t give to have someone look out for her, someone who cared enough to keep her safe. Wasn’t that what a parent was supposed to do? Neither she nor Jack had a parent, not really.
She wondered if it worse to have one and then suddenly not or to never have one at all?