Free Tripping Me Up by Amber Garza

pulls his thin t-shirt tight, revealing the defined muscles underneath.
    “You promised.” I mock indignation.
    “Sorry.” He holds his palms up, stepping away from his vehicle. “Looks like you got the car today, huh?”
    I nod. “Yeah. Mom’s stuck at home with the little terrors today.”
    “They’re not that bad.” Tripp falls in step beside me.
    I almost squeal with delight as we head toward the school together. It’s like all my high school dreams are coming true. I’m about ready to invite him over for dinner again, when Maverick and Toby start heading in our direction. The panicked look on Tripp’s face causes dread to sink into my gut.
    “Hey, Hadley. I’ll catch up with you later, okay.” He barely glances at me before jogging off in their direction.
    I stand in the middle of the parking lot, my face hot as the three of them strut onto campus. Wh en they reach the hallway a group of cheerleaders descend on them. Tripp doesn’t even look back at me. He fist-bumps his friends, and laughs with the girls. Observing the exchange, I realize that no matter what I do I will never be a part of their group. Even if Tripp hangs out with me after school it won’t change things. At school I will still be invisible to him.
    Forcing my legs to move, I take deliberate steps forward. When I get to the hallway, someone bumps my elbow. I catch a whiff of strong perfume and know exactly who it is.
    I turn to face Sonya. She towers over me with a scowl painted across her face. “I know what you’re doing,” she says.
    I give her a confused look. “Walking to class?”
    “Don’t get smart with me.” She places a slender hand on her hip. “I saw you talking to Tripp in the parking lot. Don’t forget that I know all about your little crush on him.” Sonya’s friends giggle behind her, and I have the urge to curl up in the fetal position on the ground and hide.
    “That was a long time ago,” I say through gritted teeth, my gaze sweeping the area around us. I really hope Tripp doesn’t overhear this.
    “Tripp would never be intereste d in someone like you.” Her eyes rove over my body and her nose turns upward in disgust.
    “He could do a lot worse.” I give her a pointed look. “Oh , wait. He has.”
    She glares at me. “I see you haven’t changed much, Hadley.” Then she leans in close. “Just reme mber what I know. I’ve kept a huge secret for you. Don’t force me to spill it.”
    I swallow hard as she and her groupie s stalk off. For the umpteenth time I curse myself for sharing my family’s secret with her. Only we were friends then. How was I to know she would change so drastically when we got in high school? My stomach churns. If it gets out, I’ll never be able to show my face again.

TWELVE
    TRIPP
     
     
    I sneak out of the house, needing some fresh air. Needing to get away and have a few minutes alone. My ribs hurt with each breath. Without even looking under my shirt I know what it looks like. I can picture the bruises blooming on my flesh, the ugly shade of yellow and purple. No one will ever see. No one will ever know. Pretty soon the marks will disappear and my family will go back to pretending tonight never happened.
    Only I’ll never forget. The images will continue to come back in snapshots, the memories etched in my brain like a tattoo. Like an ugly tattoo, a poor decision made on a drunken night that no matter how much you wish it would vanish, it’s there to stay.
    Angry with my dad for being such an asshole and angry with my mom for being such a wimp, I let out a low groan. It comes from deep in my throat and burns like acid. I will not cry. That’s one thing I stopped when I was a child. He doesn’t deserve my tears. And he will not turn me into some whimpering baby.
    My muscles pulsate under my skin. One of these days I’ll fight back. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. But when he starts using me as a human punching bag, I go numb. I can’t move. I can’t