Doreen by Ilana Manaster Page B

ASSHOLE! He kept going on and on about how I was lucky to get the opportunity to attend Chandler, that he’d pulled strings for me. Like I was a stranger, you know? Not his own kid.”
    â€œOh man. If he could see you now, right? He probably never expected you to be so popular. Gordon Lichter is fawning over you, any number of boys would love to get their hands on you.”
    â€œWell, they are out of luck. Because I only have eyes for Simon.”
    â€œYes. Right.”
    A darkness fell across Doreen’s lovely face. “Sometimes, when I watch him play football, I like to think of how small my dad would look next to him. How weak and unmanly compared to Simon.”
    â€œYour father would probably hate him,” Heidi said encouragingly.
    â€œI know. Isn’t it grand?” Doreen gave Heidi a savage grin. “Don’t think I didn’t think of that.” Doreen resumed the sweet tone of a young innocent. “None of it matters now. When I bring Simon to the Fall Dance—”
    â€œSorry?” said Heidi as she coughed out her hit. “Did you say . . . ? Hold on.” She was afraid she might choke. To the dance? That was unacceptable .
    â€œDidn’t I tell you? He’s going to be my date.”
    â€œNo. That’s not . . . What about . . . Gordon will be there.”
    â€œI don’t care about stupid, little Gordon Lichter! He’s nothing but a version of my father. Not Simon. You wait, Heidi. Wait until you see him play football. You’re coming to the game tomorrow, aren’t you?”
    Heidi rubbed her eye. Okay. She could fix this. She would think of something. “I said I would, Doreen, so I will. A real lady always fulfills her obligations.”
    â€œGood. You’ll see. You’ll understand it all when you see him play.” Doreen leaned her head back against the side of the shed. She breathed deep into her chest. That little lost girl was gone now, replaced by a fearless, powerful woman.
    Had Simon done all this for her? If so, how could it be anything but good? But it didn’t seem good, not at all. Something new had come into Doreen, a coldness Heidi had never seen before. It took an absolute hold on the girl, sending a chill through Heidi.
    But then, just as suddenly, the old warmth returned. “Trust me,” Doreen said and patted her friend on the leg, “it will all work out. You’ll see.”
    Heidi scraped the joint against the wall and buried the roach. She wanted to be far away from that place. “Okay, lovergirl, we better jet.”

    Later that night, Heidi tried to focus on her AP Chem homework, but was distracted by thoughts of Simon and Doreen. It was bad enough for Doreen to go off-roading so early in her time at Chandler, but to shove it in everyone’s face at the Fall Dance? It was a disaster waiting to happen. Heidi hoped that whatever Simon and Doreen had between them, it was worth losing everything for. Or worse. Chandler kids were not above dishing out the kind of cruelty Doreen had faced at her old school. Sure, she had gained some standing on campus, but she was still an unknown, with few ties and no history. Her status was hardly guaranteed. The girl was setting herself up for some heavy retribution, especially where Gordon Lichter was concerned.
    But she was Heidi Whelan! She could protect Doreen, couldn’t she? The periodic table swam before her eyes and she closed her book. Heidi felt off her game. When she focused on her own desires, she always knew what to do. But this new effort to use her powers for good was leaving her more confused than anything else. Leave them to their happiness and hope she had enough clout to keep Doreen safe from the wolves? Or break them up and sacrifice what Doreen swore was true love? She certainly did seem to have very strong feelings for the boy. But how long could that last? They were just kids, after all.
    Heidi munched a pistachio. Was it