The Truth About Faking

gossip.”
    “You don’t have to give up anything,” Mrs. Bender says. “We’ll support you. Tom and I are ready to do whatever needs to be done—”
    “We’re just taking it one day at a time,” Mom stops her. “But thank you.”
    She reaches out and gives Mrs. Bender’s arm a grateful squeeze and then walks back to the car. I watch as Mrs. Bender shakes her head and turns back to her vehicle. She jerks her chin away when Mrs. Perkins gives her a nod, and I decide Mrs. Bender can talk about diarrhea all she wants. I’ll never make faces or laugh at her again.
     
    As always, Ricky’s at our house first thing Monday morning, and I’m especially annoyed that he’s whistling some tune like he’s the happiest person on the planet. I go in the kitchen and start loading my lunch bag, and as usual, he walks over to smooth his hands over my hair.
    “Just lovely,” he says. I jerk my head away.
    “I’m really not in the mood,” I snap.
    He crosses his arms and leans back against the counter, frowning. I give him the most disgusted look I can manage.
     “You know, Harley, I’ve really only ever been nice to you. I wish for once you’d be a little less… like this to me,” he says motioning with his hands.
     “Mm hm. So how was your appointment with Ms. Jackson?”
    His expression changes only slightly, but he hides it with a smile and starts stretching his arms. “She’s an interesting client.”
    “I’m sure,” I say turning back to my lunch.
    “You know, this whole angry teen thing you’re doing?” He motions again. “It’s not the most attractive look for you.”
    I glare at him. “No?”
    “No,” he says. “You’re much prettier as the sweet ingénue. And all that frowning’s going to give you premature aging. Even less attractive.”
    “I really don’t care if you find me attractive,” I say. “In fact, I wish you would pay more attention to girls your own age. In Glennville. And leave my family alone.”
    He laughs. “Your family?”
    “Yes.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    I look at him for a second. I’ve never really confronted Ricky about the way he carries on with my mom, but we’re going on a year now. No time like the present.
    “It means you’re causing a lot of problems here, and I’m sick of it.”
    “Problems?” he repeats. “Like what, princess?”
    “Like Dad losing his job problems.”
    Ricky is instantly serious. “I don’t know what-”
    I cut him off. “You just showing up here at night? Running around half-dressed and showing up at basketball games and touching my mom and being all affectionate? People have noticed.”
    My voice is sharp and his face turns red, but I don’t care. I want him to be embarrassed. I want him to be gone.
    “Mom’s really only ever been nice to you,” I continue, using his words. “She’s worked with you and given you lots of help. You’ll be a real jerk if you don’t set the record straight.”
    “What record?” Ricky’s voice is earnest. “Harley, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    I hear Shelly’s horn beep outside. “I’ve got to go. Be sure and ask Mom what’s going on at church.”
    I leave him standing in the kitchen with a dumb look on his face. Adrenaline’s pulsing through my body, and I feel like I could run all the way to school. If that conversation doesn’t change things around here, nothing will.
    Shelly’s excited as always when I get in the car, and for once I’m glad she doesn’t go to our church anymore. It doesn’t appear she has any idea what’s brewing among the parishioners.
    “So what’dja do this weekend?” She bubbles. “Friday was so great. I almost got Jason naked.”
    It’s all too much. I actually laugh.
    “What?” Shelly frowns. “I did!”
    “Oh, I know.”
    “What do you mean you know?” She glances at me, and I remember she didn’t know I was there Friday night, hiding in the creek.
    “Sorry. I mean, I’m sure. How’d you do it?”
    “Jumped out of the car at the creek. He chased after me, of course, and we almost went skinny dipping.”
    “Well, what happened? Why didn’t you?”
    “Oh some angry old man came out and started yelling at us,” she giggles. “It was so great. I love stuff like that.”
    I look down. All the drama in my house has distracted me from my two other problems. Trent and Shelly.
    “I’m hoping to do a little better this weekend,” she continues.
    “This weekend?”
    “Yeah, I’m going