PART 3

Carlos stared in disbelief at his friend while trying to take in all that had been said. After what seemed like an eternity, Carlos broke the silence between the two of them by asking, "Trent, I know this seems like a..." he paused as Trent looked up at him before continuing, "...a dumb question.  Does Tandi have a boyfriend?"

Trent sat up, ran his fingers through his blond hair, and replied, "Honestly, I don't know. I had thought about that, but in all the ...excitement that went on last night, I didn't get a chance to ask."  He put his hands behind his head, leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling.

"What are you thinking?" Carlos asked.

"What if I call Mom and tell her I will pick Tandi up from school today?" Trent asked as he sat upright in the folding metal chair.
 

"Well, I'd say if you're going to do that, you'd better hurry," Carlos said as he glanced at his watch.
 "It's almost fifteen ‘til three right now!"

"Already?" Trent raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Yep."

"Seems like today has gone by so fast."

"Ha! That from someone who shows up over three hours late, is only at work for an hour and a half, and then wants to leave early!?!"

"Looks like you are starting to rub off on me!"

Carlos shot Trent an expression of mock hurt before both of them burst out with laughter.

"Hey, Tandi, isn't that your brother?"
"Huh? Where?" Tandi was jolted back into reality from a daydream by her best friend, Karen.

"Over there! Are you blind or something?" Karen paused before adding, "He's cute!"

"Karen!" Tandi scanned the crowded parking lot at Dallas Middle School left and right before finally spotting a familiar pale blue Corvette.

Trent had his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned outside on the passenger's side of the car watching her. When Trent and Tandi made eye contact, he waved a "hello" and motioned for her to join him.

"See you later!" Karen said before she stepped on the bus to go home.

Tandi crossed the parking lot , dodging busses, and other pedestrians as Trent kept an eye on her.  When she neared the car, he opened the door and smiled, ""Need a ride?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Well, you could walk." Trent answered with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"The ride sounds better, thanks. Where's Mom? She didn't mention she had to work late. She okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. I thought we'd go birthday shopping for her though." Trent said as he pulled out of the parking lot, onto the highway, and into the busy traffic.

"So, where do you want to go first?" Trent asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, do you want to go shopping first or do you want to go and get something to eat first?"

"It doesn't matter to me," Tandi replied.

"Well, if it ‘doesn't matter'," Trent turned and grinned at Tandi, "we're gonna eat first. I didn't get to eat lunch and I feel like I am starving!" He pulled in at CD's, jumped out of the ‘Vette, and opened the door for his sister.

"Thanks!" Tandi smiled.

**Well, there's an improvement!**  He grinned back at Tandi. "Come on!"

They walked in together and sat down at a corner booth. After pondering over his menu, Trent asked, " So, what looks good?"

"CD has his vegetarian chilli as the daily special, again," a feminine voice from behind him said.

Trent jumped. "Oh, hi there." He raised his hand and covered his forehead to hide his embarrassment.

"I think I'll just have a hamburger and fries with, oh, uhm, a coke." After placing her order, Tandi handed the menu to the waitress.

"Me too, please." Trent handed in his menu. His eyes never left the table.

"Okay, I'll be right back with your drinks in a second."

Tandi leaned across the table and whispered, "It think she likes you."

"Don't go there. You and Carlos," he paused, "come to think of it, and CD, and Alex, and Trivette..."

"Well, she is kinda cute."

"Tandi! Shhh! Here she comes."

"Two cokes. Anything else?"

"Uh, yeah. My brother, Trent, well," Trent gave Tandi a *Don't you dare!* glare. "He never drinks a coke without a straw." Tandi grinned back at Trent. She got the message.

"Oh, sure." She reached into her apron. "Here you go, Trent." The waitress smiled and walked back to the counter and began to wipe off the counter.

"I ought to..."

"What? You know you like her."

"That is not the point!"

Tandi put both her elbows on the table and held her face in her hands. "Okay then, what is the point?"

"I...oh, never mind. So, do you have anything in mind to get Mom? Tyler, Tommy, and I were thinking along the lines of a sweater or something. What do you think?"

"I think you all have poor taste. Mom would rather have some jewelry, I think."

"Like what?"

Tandi thought for a moment. "Well, I know she needs a new watch. Maybe a bracelet, necklace, and some new earrings."

"Basically anything expensive, right?" laughed Trent.

"Basically!"

"Well, we'll see." Trent spied an all too familiar waitress heading their way. "Finally! Here comes the food!"

After dinner, back in the car, and on their way to the mall, Trent turned the radio on to a sports station.
The announcer was in the middle of a boxing discussion with a caller.

"Yeah, I think Ali had to be the greatest of all time too..." the caller said.

"I will have to say her know how to throw a punch," Trent said.

Tandi turned suddenly to Trent, "It was my fault."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"What were you talking about?"

"I was talking about Ali, the boxer. Why?"

"Oh."

"What did you mean by it was your fault?"

"Nothing, Trent. I was just thinking about something."

Trent hesitated to say it, but he knew he had to ask.
Now would be as good as time as any. "Does it have to do with --"

"With the bruises? What was what you were going to say, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Trent sighed. He was afraid of where this conversation may lead.

"Look, I was just having a bad day yesterday.
Actually, I was having a bad week. I failed my Math and English test, and had a fight with a friend, and..."

"And?"

"And got hit with a softball in practice. As for the rest of the bruises, well, you know you kinda get bruised when you slide into the bases and all."

"Why didn't you tell me this last night?"

"I don't know. Like I told you, it has just been a rough week. I'm just glad today is Friday!"

"Yeah, me too," replied Trent.

Tandi felt a rush of guilt overtake her as she lied to Trent.  **He can't know the truth. He just can't.  Not now anyway.**  Tandi smiled at Trent as he turned to look at her. She prayed he could not tell she was lying.