Chapter 11: Change of Plans

Thank God, for JJ and his supply. I was feeling especially restless all day and I wanted to be able to fall asleep early tonight. I hadn't seen JJ at school after lunch, so I figured I would stop by his house on my way home.

He's a decent guy, JJ He has a way of always taking care of things for us. If any of the seven of us needs something, JJ can usually get it. Josh calls him Johnny on the spot. He doesn't ask for anything in return either. One-time Petey needed a new tire for his bike and JJ showed up the next day at his house with one. In December, Greg lost his gloves and JJ said he had an extra pair and gave them to Greg. And Laurel kept going on and on about these rainbow leg warmers she wanted. A few days later, JJ showed up at the dunes with the exact pair. When Aerosmith was coming in concert last year, he bought tickets for all eight of us. None of us could afford the tickets, but JJ made it happen. Debbie kept pushing, asking him about how he could pay for all the tickets, but JJ gave her some ridiculous response. My favorite one was that he sold his body to lonely housewives. She stopped asking after that. Personally, I didn't care how he got the tickets. We were all going and that was good enough for me.

I was a little surprised that JJ asked me to meet him alone. I do want to try his new strain, but I should have asked why he didn't want to include everyone. He has never asked me to get together alone before. JJ is like having another brother, and so are the other guys. As far as I am concerned we are like family. But, thinking back on this afternoon he was staring at me sort of strangely. It's probably nothing. Besides, I know that Debbie is into him. It seems pretty obvious to me. I wonder if the others have picked up on it. I can understand the appeal, JJ is really good looking if you like blondes. I prefer guys with dark eyes, like Ralph Macchio. There is a boy at our school, Marc Sisto, who looks a lot like Ralph Macchio. I have seen him with a few girls, but I think they are all just friends. Laurel is supposed to do some digging for me.

Thankfully, Laurel doesn't think much of Marc, otherwise, I could forget about getting his attention. I have never known Laurel not to get the guy she goes after. She has a way of making any guy she is interested fall at her feet. I definitely do not have her confidence. Laurel is in between boyfriends right now. She broke up with Ray Bryant about three weeks ago. The guy was walking around flirting with everyone. He was going on about how it was her loss to anyone who would listen. Meanwhile, he missed a week of school. Rumor has it he was crying at home and couldn't handle seeing Laurel. When he returned, he told everyone he had the flu. Poor guy.

I hope that JJ won't get the wrong idea if I show up alone tomorrow. Maybe I should call Franey or Laurel to come with me? No, that's a dumb idea. There would be too many questions and it would make things even weirder. Maybe I shouldn't go at all? I could just flake on him and make something up when I see him at school. Another reason not to go is that I don't want Deb to wonder why we met alone. It's completely obvious that Debbie likes him. I haven't confronted her about it yet. I have been waiting to see if something develops or if maybe she decides to come clean and admit her feelings. I have zero interest in JJ beyond friendship. Maybe I am reading too much in to his invite? Maybe he asked me to meet him alone because there wouldn't be enough for the eight of us? It could be that if it was Greg who stopped by JJ would have simply asked him? Maybe I was the one who was asked because I happened to be there. That's probably it.

I don't know. Somehow going alone doesn't feel right. Not showing up is the correct thing to do. When he gets to the bleachers I will talk to him about why I didn't show. Now what can I say kept me from going? I could say that my mom needed me for something. No, that's lame. Plus, if JJ brings it up with anyone, I will have to make up what it was I had to help with.

I could blame it on Tino? That won't work either. The risk is the same, creating another lie. Tino is not a big fan of JJ's. He has made a few comments here and there, nothing too terrible. For example, this one time when everyone came over to my house and we were hanging out in the basement. JJ went behind my dad's bar and pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels. Even though no one had touched the alcohol since my dad died, I insisted that he put the bottle back.

"Come on Stacey. It's not like your mom is going to dip into the whiskey. What's the harm?" JJ questioned.

"Put it back. I don't want anyone wondering why things were moved," I insisted.

It was at that moment that Tino appeared at the bottom of the stairs. He didn't say a word. He stared at JJ and then slowly raised his chin. JJ nodded and replaced the bottle without incident. After that, it was clear that Tino had an issue with JJ.

Well, whatever the excuse is for not showing, I'd better come up with a convincing one before morning.