Free Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan Page B

raced to my room and shut the door. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with my parents, but conversations with Tameka left me with a lot to think about. Conversations about love and sex and boys. It was all racing through my mind like a freight train. If we were the last two teenagers on earth who hadn’t had sex, then what was wrong with us?
    My blinds were open and I caught a glimpse of Marcus pacing the floor in his room, his headphones covering his ears, a chicken leg in his hand. He caught me watching him and blew me a kiss. I rolled my eyes at him, and snatched my blinds shut. Why did boys have to be so stupid?

Chapter 11
    Marcus
    I pulled into the driveway, Killer on the passenger seat, his head hanging out the window. As soon as I stopped my Jeep, he started barking uncontrollably.
    â€œShut up, dude!” I told him, and he whimpered and sat on his hind legs. Cocked his head to the side and gave me a look as if to say, “what did I do?” German Shepherds had a way of communicating with you. They had their own personalities, and I knew what he was thinking at all times. Sometimes they acted just like little kids.
    I hopped out of my truck, and Killer hopped out behind me. Justin spotted me and started pedaling his bike toward me at full speed.
    â€œMarcus!” he yelled, but stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Killer.
    I recognized the fear in his eyes and said, “He won’t hurt you, little man.”
    Killer ran toward Justin, jumped up on him and knocked him off of his bike. Justin yelled. “Stop!”
    â€œHe just trying to play with you, man.” I laughed. “Killer! Leave him alone.”
    He continued to jump up on Jason.
    â€œKiller, sit!” I yelled once more, this time in a deep voice that let him know that I wasn’t playing.
    At the sound of my voice, Killer moved away from Justin and innocently rubbed up against my leg. “Stop playing so much, dude.” I rubbed his head and he began to whimper like a child again.
    â€œI’m scared of him, Marcus. He’s so big.”
    â€œHe won’t hurt you, man. He’s just a puppy.” I continued to rub Killer’s head.
    â€œA puppy?” Justin’s eyes grew big.
    â€œYeah, he’s just big for his age.” I laughed. “He just wants you to play with him. Here, rub his head like this.”
    Justin reached his hand out reluctantly toward Killer’s head. Rubbed the top of it, smoothing his golden mane.
    â€œHere, rub him under here, too,” I said, telling Justin to rub Killer under his chin, just the way he liked it.
    Slowly, he touched Killer under his chin.
    â€œSee he won’t hurt you, little man. He likes that,” I said. “He wasn’t trying to hurt you, he just wanted to play.”
    Justin began to relax and so did Killer.
    â€œWhy you call him Killer?” he asked.
    â€œBecause if he doesn’t like you, he’s trained to attack.”
    â€œHas he ever attacked somebody, Marcus?”
    â€œJust a mailman once.” I laughed. “He likes just about everybody, though.”
    After Justin let his guard down, he and Killer started running around the yard. Justin would run just to see if he would chase him, and of course he did. Then Justin would throw a tennis ball, and Killer would take off after it, bringing it back and dropping it at Justin’s feet. Justin would throw it again, and Killer would fetch. They were okay after that.
    â€œHey there, Marcus.” Beverly held the door opened, a silk scarf wrapped around her head.
    â€œHi, Miss Beverly,” I said.
    â€œThat your dog?” She asked, and I nodded. “He bite?”
    â€œNo, ma’am. He’s harmless.” I smiled. “He’s still a baby.”
    â€œThat big old dog is just a baby?” she asked, stepping out onto the porch to get a better look at Killer. “How old?”
    â€œSeven months,” I told