Here’s another Ben Carrick chapter. Because Ben is the storyteller of the group, there is another anecdote about life at OLV high school.

I went to Sacred Heart Academy on Long Island, an all-girls Catholic college prep school. Our Lady of Victory is loosely based on Sacred Heart (emphasis on the loosely).  In my book, Chancellor High School (based on the real life Chaminade in Mineola) burns down and its students have to scramble for places at neighboring schools. That means all-girls OLV has to take on several boys (sons of major donors mostly) so that everyone’s education isn’t interrupted and so that OLV can save face in Catholic New York.

This would NEVER have happened at SHA. And while I’m sure “teenager me” would have loved it if it did,  “adult me” is very happy to have spent my high school years at a same-sex school. I don’t think I’d be writing this book and publishing it on my blog if I hadn’t attended Sacred Heart. My SHA girls will know what I’m talking about. We’ve got major chutzpah.

Chapter 8

Kylie’s Back

(BEN)

 

            “Dude, it’s Siobhan., I got to get this,” I said to Taylor as my phone rang. He wouldn’t agree to go home until we got some food. He said that we’d be in traffic forever on the Hutch waiting to get over the bridge. I had no idea where to eat in the Bronx so I just stopped at this diner we saw.

“Come on.” Taylor whined.

“Taylor, go start eating. You are like the hungriest dude I know and yet you’re a fucking skeleton. Look at you, man.” He went in but I stayed in the lobby of the restaurant. I wanted to tell someone who actually cared that I saw Kylie Baines today.

“Whatever. Tell her I said ‘what’s up.’ I’m goin’ inside.”

I waved Taylor on and flipped my phone open, “Hey, did you get in all right? How was the flight from D.C.?”

“It was fine. I’m home now. Mom picked me up at LaGuardia and then we had some lunch at the club.” Siobhan answered. “So, I know you’re busy today and up in the Bronx but I wanted to call real quick. When you get back to Long Island, call me because my mom has all these questions about the engagement party.”

“Wait a minute, you and your mom are planning this party. I am coming as a guest. Remember?”

She laughed, “I know. I’m sorry you had to go to the florist with her this week. She was driving me crazy about some special rose they got in.”

“Yeah, not fun, S.J.”

“You know you liked it.” She joked. I hadn’t seen her in months. Even though we were still just talking on the phone, I felt like I could picture her smile so vividly. She continued, “Still there? My brother is coming in tonight.”

“Matt’s coming in this weekend?”

“Yeah and is staying home for like forever.”

“I forgot he graduated early.” Matt had finished school this past May but had been traveling around Europe with his girlfriend (or was she his officially his fiancé now?) ever since.

“Yep, I was always the smart twin and yet Matt graduates early.”

“You still are the smart twin.  You’re just not the efficient twin. I can’t believe Matt is home already. I wasn’t expecting to see him until the spring for the wedding.”

“For his best friend and his college roommate, you never seem to know much about his plans.”

I was only roommates with Matt for like a year. We went into different programs and all the housing got screwy. “Matt has been attached to Emma for the past—I don’t know—at least six months. Didn’t you have a question to ask me?”

“No, my mom has to ask you. It’s about ordering Jewish food or something for the engagement party.”

“Jewish food?’

“Kosher food options for your mother’s family.””

“Why don’t you just tell your mom to call my mom about the Kosher stuff. You know I don’t know.”

“Yeah, I guess you wouldn’t know. Do you remember that time that you ordered shrimp with cream sauce when we took your Grandma out to lunch? I thought she was going to die.”

“Yeah, bad move, huh? Whatever, she never liked me the best anyway.”

“Nothing like putting another nail in that coffin.” I could hear her take a slurp of some drink.

“Whatever. Oh shit, I left Taylor waiting in there.”  Taylor was staring at me creepily over the top of a menu.

“In where?”

“We’re at the diner.”

“Okay,  I’ll see you later then.” She was about to hang up.

“Oh, hold up one second, I forgot to tell you who I saw today. No, wait, I’ll tell you later.” I realized it would be much more fun to tell this story in person. Siobhan loved gossip or anything scandalous. What could be better than seeing Matt’s ex-girlfriend for the first time since senior year of high school on the day her uncle was arrested for murder? Nothing.

“Ben! You know I hate it when you do that—even though your story or who you saw is never good.”

“This time it is.”

“Well—who?”

“Taylor’s waiting—I’ll tell you later.”

“Uh, Taylor can wait if this is good.”

“No, you were right. I shouldn’t keep someone waiting this long.”

“Ben!” She squealed.

“Kylie Baines.”

“What?!” I think Siobhan almost choked on her drink. After she recovered, “How was she? What did you say to her?”

“I said,  ‘Kylie, where have you been for the past three years? We used to be such close friends and then you started hanging out with drug dealers.”

“You said that? Oh my God, Ben. She is going to have us killed.”I knew this would put Siobhan in a talespin. I can’t believe she bought that line.

“She’s not going to have us killed. She’s going to have her uncle have us killed.” I said to keep this going.

“Shut up! Did you really say that to her? Oh my God, Ben. Please tell me you didn’t say that.” She was talking a mile a minute. She knew I didn’t say that—still, Siobhan wasn’t one to go without confirmation.

“Yes, S.J., I really called her out like that after three years of not talking to her. Right in front of the elevator in Darcy Hall. It was as good as anytime to do it. I told her that you said she was a bitch for never emailing or calling you down in D.C. too.”

“No you didn’t. Can you stop screwing around and tell me what she said?”

“I thought you wanted to hear what I said?” I loved it when she was excited about this. She was probably twirling her hair real fast and pacing from side to side. And I’m sure this conversation had piqued her mother’s interest too. No doubt my future mother-in-law was only a few feet away.

“Ben!”

“Alright!—don’t get your bra all twisted. I told her that it was great to see her. I told her that we were getting married.”

“What did she say to that?”

“I think she was a little surprised that she wasn’t your maid of honor, babe.”

“Shut. Up.”

“Just kidding. But, I think she was surprised that we were still together.”

“What else?” She was in rapid fire mode.

“Well, it was a short conversation. She looked like she was in a hurry. But we are getting together on Saturday night.”

Siobhan’s voice hit a high note, “What? Really?” I could tell she was shocked at the whole situation, a little annoyed that I made plans without consulting her, yet kind of excited about getting to see Kylie.

“Well, we are going to the Loose Moose and she said she would put us on the list.”

“The Loose Moose? She’d put us on the list? What is she? Like the fucking mayor or something?”

“Siobhan, don’t get mad. She was being nice. You yourself said that you missed her—just the other day you talked about her.” I knew she’d be upset about having to hang out at a club. My fiancé really never got over how her friendship with Kylie fizzled. No fight. No big drama. Just fizzle.

“I’m not mad. I just don’t see why we can’t just hang out with her.”

“Maybe you need to face it that Kylie might not want to be best friends again. I mean your brother did…well, whatever.” I wasn’t going to go there just then. “We are hanging out with her on Saturday—it’ll just be at her club.” I kind of wondered if I had done the right thing—maybe I shouldn’t have made plans with Kylie.

“No, it will be like the last time we hung out with her. Do you remember that?”

“Listen, I really got to go. Taylor just flipped me off from the table.”

“Is he coming? On Saturday?”

“Yeah, he was there for the whole conversation. Matt should come too.”

“Like Matt will come out to Kylie’s place.”

“He should come. I think we might have fun. Like I said, she seemed nice.”

“He’s too embarrassed to come.”

“I’ve never heard your brother say he was embarrassed—about anything. Besides, like Kylie still hates Matt for shit that happened in high school.”

“I know…we should get them back together.” Siobhan spoke as if the metaphorical lightbulb had just lit up over her head.

“What? No, you have enough to plan in your own life. Don’t worry about your brother’s or a girl who you’ve barely spoken to for the past three years.”

“Whatever, I love projects. This could be the Greatest. Project. Of My LIFE.” She affected an announcer’s voice. I smiled as I thought that she would spend the rest of the afternoon adding items to her wedding “To Do” lists. Except this time they would all revolve around getting Kylie and Matt in the same room.

“It’s not ‘the greatest project of your life.’ You have a wedding to plan, me to boss around, and a party-crazy mother to keep at bay. And besides all that, Matt is with Emma.”

“So? I hate her.”

“You don’t even know her. You’ve only seen pictures.”

“I hate the pictures.”

 

I smiled as I got off the phone. I mean, the thought had entered my mind. But trying to get Kylie and Matt back together – two people who are orbiting in totally different worlds – was a dumb idea. It was just a little nostalgia. Me and Siobhan were always suckers for nostalgia.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be friends with Kylie again. And I honestly did want Matt to come on Saturday. And I wanted him, and Kylie, and everyone else to have a good time. I have this weird need for everyone to be cool, you know?  Everything needs to be copasetic. Plus, I learned in college that sometimes the people you made friends with in high school are the ones worth keeping. The friends who knew you first are the ones who knew you best.

Taylor and I ate. Taylor stopped complaining with an order of chicken tenders (with both honey mustard and ranch), an order of fries topped with mozzarella cheese, and a salad in front of him. Who gets a salad with all that? I had some French onion soup. I tried to have some of Taylor’s fries but he nearly growled at me when I reached over. “Dude! You said you didn’t want them when we ordered!”

We got in the car and Taylor was right—the traffic on the Hutch was disastrous. But of course after all that freaking food, the guy needed a nap. I looked over at him and he had pulled his Starter cap over his face. I shook my head. Taylor was like a kindergartner…or maybe a sea monkey.

So, it was just me and traffic. I played some music but if I can’t blast the songs, I really don’t want to listen to them. With nothing else to distract me from the monotony of brake lights, I started thinking about high school…again.

 

*                                  *                                  *

 

 

            There we were—in my mom’s SUV going to Matt and Siobhan’s house for their birthday party. Kylie and I were at play practice (all day Saturday—I’d say “what a drag” but I was a sucker for the plays in high school).

I was pretty excited about the party. Jacquelyn Tracy was known for her parties and just because we were a bunch of teenagers, I was sure this would be no exception. Plus, Matt and Siobhan’s birthday was at the end of January. I’m sure by that time, after the two months of holiday parties, Jacquelyn was itching for something to plan.

I was kind of even hoping that there would be alcohol at this party. For some reason, even back then, the Tracys always struck me as a little unscrupulous. And if Jacquelyn or Gunner didn’t get the booze, I though maybe Matt and Siobhan’s older brother Sean might help us out.

I remember my mom going over all her “rules” with me. She even included Kylie in her lecture. I’m sure that’s the last thing Kylie wanted to hear after five hours of Godspell rehearsal on a Saturday but she quietly sat through it.  I could hear her giggling from the backseat when my mom was giving me examples of my past behavior.

“I hope he never did that at your house, Kylie.”

“Nope. Never, Mrs. Carrick.”

“You should call me Mara. I mean we’re practically family aren’t we?”

We weren’t really family at all.  Or maybe we were. I’m just not sure what you would call it. My sister Rebecca was married to Brice Baptiste, Kylie’s first cousin. Yeah, that Brice Baptiste. He was on the news quite a bit today too.

“Oh, Benji, she is just too cute.” My mom was apparently hellbent on humiliating me. “I remember the first time you came to my house. I told Benji I thought you were perfect for him.”

“Maaaah…please!”

Kylie laughed, “I think he’s more into Siobhan Tracy.”

“What’s this? Are you really into Siobhan? ‘Into?’ I don’t know what you kids say these days.”

“We don’t say anything, Ma. Look. You’re gonna miss the turn.”

Not that my mom could possibly miss the Tracy property. Every time I pulled up to the Tracy’s home was like an out-of-body experience. (Still is, to be honest.) They had a callbox—the only family in our group of friends to have that.  It’s totally cliché but they had guard dogs too. Well, not really guard dogs. Gunner liked Dobermans so he had like three of them. They were special too—all German-trained. They knew commands in both German and English. I swear my future father-in-law trained them to hate any guy who wanted to date his only daughter.

The house was a large white Georgian colonial with black shutters and a black double-door with a gold knocker. It was a really symmetrical-looking building. They had extensions done in brick put on both sides—one was for guest rooms and the other was for Gunner’s office and Jacquelyn’s gallery.

It had this long front porch with big columns too. They had all these stairs leading up to the front porch (I still have the Junior Prom photo where the moms lined us up on them—girls on one side and guys on the other, like it was a freaking wedding). Even though it was January, the columns were still decorated for the holidays with stuff wrapped around each one. It looked like the freaking White House I swear.

When we got there, we made a joke about climbing those ridiculous stairs. Kylie who usually wasn’t so snide, made a comment about how Jacquelyn probably beat her servants for not taking the decorations down directly after the holidays. I laughed. I had only seen Jacquelyn once or twice at school functions but she looked like she had a sadistic side.

“Finally at the top!” I announced. I took in the double doors than looked back at Kylie, “Knocker or Doorbell?”

“Doorbell, I guess. Are we even going in the right door? Did Siobhan or Matt tell you to come in the side? The house looks dead.”

I rang the doorbell and the dogs went crazy barking. You could hear their claws trying to grip the marble floor as they ran into the foyer. Then we heard a voice shout an order and there was silence. The door opened on the dogs quietly sitting behind Gunner Tracy. I half expected the guy to be in hunting clothes or something.

“You must be here for the twins. They’re downstairs. Just walk straight back and you’ll see the door open. You can leave your coats in that first closet.” He pointed where we needed to go then he held up a cigar. He stepped past us to the porch. “The wife won’t even let me smoke Cubans in my own house,” he snickered at me. I don’t even think he noticed Kylie.

The dogs followed Gunner out to the front porch and the heavy doors shut behind him. We put our coats in the closet he mentioned and walked cautiously down the corridor. I still couldn’t hear anyone. It was all twilight-zone-ish. I don’t really have a better way to describe it.  It was cool that Gunner Tracy smoked Cuban cigars—I remember being scared of him but kind of impressed too.

I whispered, “Did you see that cigar? A Cuban? Do you know how expensive those are?” (Like I did.)

“No, I don’t. My dad doesn’t smoke illegal cigars,” she whispered back.

“You’re dad doesn’t do anything illegal. I bet he doesn’t even smoke.”

“No, he has a cigar every once and awhile. And he has to be careful about that stuff.”

“Yeah, it’ll be all over the town paper. PATRICK BAINES RESIGNS FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS—CUBAN CIGARS FOUND IN HIS DESK.”

Kylie laughed a little, “Shut-up, Ben.”

“So where do you think he got the cigar?”

“How should I know? They probably invite Fidel Castro to their New Year’s Eve bash.”

“My mom would be jealous that Senor Castro got an invitation.”

“Your mom can’t do much about it. She doesn’t have access to Cuban cigars.”

Just then, Siobhan came bouncing down the hallway. She was real excited. I loved the look on her face. She always was so collected in school. She really cared about her schoolwork and was a bit of a tight-ass about it. But, when she had fun, she really enjoyed herself. She had this ability to make everyone else enjoy themselves. Even when she bitched about stuff—it was still funny and entertaining some how.

She said something about how we were late and we should have blown off play practice like she did. Then she said, “Oh my God, Kylie. I totally just heard. What happened with you and Bret Dillon?” Kylie had been dating Bret for a like six months (which in “high school time” is like being married). My antennae were up right away. I was a sucker for drama.

Kylie reddened at hearing that question. She didn’t like being put on the spot in front of me. I could tell. But I couldn’t help myself. It sounded like Kylie and Bret had broken up or something.

“What happened, Kylie?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing. Me and Bret are done. It just wasn’t working.” She looked at us and knew we weren’t buying it. We had been friends long enough to call each other’s bluff. “He called me last night and was all like hinting around about breaking up. He said he didn’t have time with basketball season and all.”

“Yeah, Kylie, that’s not what I heard though. He’s such an ass. I can’t believe Matt invited him. I told him not to Kylie, I swear.” Siobhan continued.

Kylie shrugged her shoulders, “It’s…whatever…it’s okay.”

Apparently, Bret had moved on to bigger and better things like some cheerleader from the public school in his town. To make things worse, Bret was at the party with his new girl in tow. Matt never liked Bret all that much. It seemed stupid to invite him. I don’t know.

“Kylie, she is so not as pretty as you. You are like ten times better looking than her. She’s totally fat too.” Siobhan went into over-the-top gossip mode.

“I know who she is and she’s not fat. It’s okay. Really.”

“Whatever, she’s a total slut though.”

“That, I’ll agree with!” They both snickered. They always built each other up like that. Siobhan was way hyperbolic while Kylie was practical and blunt—but blunt in a mean way sometimes. They were the perfect match for conversation.

“You know what? Screw it. Screw stupid-ass Bret and his slutty girlfriend. I just want to have fun with you tonight. It’s your birthday.”

“Yeah, screw that retarded meathead! Screw his blow-job queen! Her only goal in life is to be a porn star!” This was when I had to butt in. They could go all night like this.

“Okay, girls, I think I get the point. Kylie, seriously, don’t worry about Mike.”

“I’m not, Benny. Can’t ya tell?”

“No, really, there are tons of guys that like you.”

“Yeah, like my brother…I mean…he thinks you’re cute is all.” In her excitement, Siobhan called out Matt. Clearly something she wasn’t supposed to tell.

Just then, Gunner came back down the hallway.

“What are you guys doing upstairs? And who are you gossiping about?”

“No one, Mr. Tracy. We were just making our way downstairs.” I said quickly.  Man, that guy had an intimidating voice—even when he was trying to be all cool with the teenagers.

“Daddy, stop eavesdropping.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping. Siobhan, you could hear that voice of yours from outside.”

“Whatever, Dad.”

“C’mon. You should be glad it was me hearing you talk like that and not your mother.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re the cool one.”

Gunner pulled some dog treat out of his coat pocket and gave it to the dogs. He started walking away, into the kitchen. Siobhan turned back to me and Kylie, “Come on, Miss Kylie Baines. Don’t worry about stupid Bret Dillon. Miss Kylie Baines is a diva and a superstar!” She doubled over in laughter, happy with her proclamation.

Gunner came back around the corner, “Kylie Baines? That name sounds so familiar. Your Patrick Baines’s girl then.”

“Yes.” Kylie returned, quiet but proud.

“You have a few well-known people in your family, don’t you?”

“I’m—umm—I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Tracy.”

“Dad, can I get back to my party now? Kylie didn’t come here to talk to you. Besides she’s been her like a gazillion times already. Dad, this is Kylie. Kylie, Dad.”

He made this weird smile and walked away again. Then from in the kitchen, “If you kids need anything, your mother will get it for you.”

The party was fun. I played Matt’s new video games and stayed away from the couples and the girls. Kylie and Siobhan went around and greeted everyone together—like they were adults. I heard them laughing about all kinds of stuff. I even heard my name a few times. I tried not to think about it but I was fantasizing that Siobhan was telling everyone how much she liked that Ben Carrick, the tall kid who was over in the corner playing Tony Hawk on Matt’s new Play Station the whole night.

Matt mostly played video games too. He flirted a bit with this cute girl from another Catholic high school in our area called Cardinal McKellan Academy. I heard her say that he should invite her to his country club for a round of golf. He should teach her how to play. Smooth. Real smooth. Already bossing Matt around like their in a relationship for years.

Towards the end of the night, I saw Matt talk for awhile with Kylie. It caught my eye because it was probably the first civilized conversation they’d ever had. They barely talked in school. I saw Kylie talk to Taylor more than Matt. And Kylie never seemed to like Taylor. She thought he was funny sometimes but other than that, she just tolerated him. Taylor was kind of immature back then. No, scratch that last part. Taylor just is immature.

Here’s the weirdest thing that happened that night. I went upstairs to use the restroom and I got kind of lost (not the last time I got lost in the Tracy home). I heard Jacquelyn and Gunner Tracy talking in the kitchen.

“So, did that Kylie come to the party? Siobhan just adores her,” Jacquelyn asked. “I tried to get the door for all the kids. I like to see all their friends. I know I missed it a few times though.”

“I only got the door once. Betsy or Abby must have gotten the other ones you missed.”

“Who did you let in?”

“The tall kid. Ben. I’ve seen him once or twice before. Oh, and he was with Kylie Baines.”

“Ohhh, good. Siobhan told me that she thinks Matt likes her. When I asked her to define “like” she just gave me that face. You know the one.”

“Matt is interested in Kylie Baines?”

“Yeah, she’s very pretty.”

“Jackie. The name. You don’t recognize her last name?” He started doing this strong forceful whisper. This was where it got really weird.

“Kylie Baines…Of course, is she related to that administrator from the South Shore. He’s a superintendent of some big school district there, right? Rockville Centre maybe?” I heard the pop of a wine cork and some glasses getting put out on the marble countertops.

“Yes, she’s the daughter of Patrick Baines.”

“Great, sounds like a good stand-up family. So, what does she look like?”

“She’s, well, like you said, she’s very beautiful.”

“Ooh, maybe we should invite the Baines family over for dinner?” Jacquelyn sounded like Siobhan—or should I say Siobhan sounded like Jacquelyn?

“Jackie, you getting a little ahead of yourself. They’re fifteen; they’re not getting married.” Gunner sounded so serious.

“Gunner, did something happen? I know they’re fifteen. I think this stuff is cute though. Our Mattie, with a crush. C’mon, it’s adorable”

“Jacquelyn, you’re being ridiculous.”

“No, you’re being a bear. Why are you so cranky? It’s like you don’t like the girl.”

“The girl is fine. Her father is fine. Who is Patrick Baines married to?”

“I don’t know.”

“Think, Jacquelyn.” At this point, I remember wishing I had just found the bathroom. Then I heard a glass slam down, “Jacquelyn. Patrick Baines married Carine Baptiste. Baptiste! Does the name ring a bell now?”

“Gunner, like it matters…” Then she saw me and fumbled a smile, “Can I help you, sweetie?” She totally knew I was listening. I couldn’t talk right away. All I needed was the bathroom. But I didn’t understand back then what they meant about Kylie’s family. All I knew was—they didn’t like her because of the name Baptiste, my brother-in-law’s name.

When I saw my sister that weekend, I asked her about it. I asked her while the Tracys wouldn’t like anyone with the last name Baptiste. I was expecting her to say something like, “Ben, they’re the Tracys. They don’t like anyone who’s not a Tracy.” Or something to that effect. That would have made me feel better. I like my future in laws but they’re snobs. I would have felt more comfortable knowing that they didn’t like Kylie just because they were a little snooty like that.

Here’s the answer she gave me, “Ben, they like my husband just fine. Brice had drinks with Gunner in the city when he started at the D.A.’s office. Brice is a good man. He puts away scumbags for a living. How could they not like him?”

I was even more confused than before.

 

*                                  *                                  *

Taylor woke up just then, “Bro, are we even other the bridge yet?”

“Yeah, we’re in Queens. On the Cross Island.”

He lifted his head up to look out the window. Then he readjusted the seat back into the regular upright position. “Queens is gross, man.”

I looked over, “Did the baby have a nice nap? Did he wake up cranky?”

“Shut up, dude.”

“Hey…do you think that Jacquelyn and Gunner don’t like me because my sister is married to Brice Baptiste?”

“What? What kind of mental question is that?”

“You know they never liked Kylie because of her family right?”

“Is it all that hard to believe?”

“Like they really never gave her a chance.”

“Okay, first of all, just cause we saw Kylie randomly today, doesn’t mean that you suddenly have to worry about her hurt feelings over the freaking Tracys. I think Kylie can handle herself. I don’t think she’s losing sleep over how Gunner and Jacquelyn Tracy never gave her a chance.”

“I’m just saying…”

But Taylor was totally awake now. And I was in for it, “And second, I’m sure the Tracys like you just fine. Actually, wait. Gunner Tracy doesn’t really like anybody, especially not the half-Jewish kid who’s marrying his only daughter. Anyway, point is, Gunner doesn’t NOT like you because of Brice Baptiste. He doesn’t like you because he doesn’t like anyone.”

“Well, that makes me feel better.”

“Why are we talking about Brice anyway?  Because of Kylie? Or is it because Brice was all on the news today—all vigilante and shit?”

“I don’t know. I was just thinking about how Gunner and Jacquelyn probably never liked Kylie.”

“Who the fuck cares? We’re going to see her on Saturday. She’s going to be all busy and fake to us. And that’s it. End of story.”

I let out a big sigh. “Just go back to sleep.”

“I will. Don’t freaking wake me up. And don’t take Glen Cove Road home either.”

“Why not?”

“I got girlfriends on that street. I don’t want them to see the car.”

“You’re an ass.”

“What?” He flipped his cell phone open and started pushing keys, “I’m texting one of ‘em now.” Then he started rapping, “I’ve got hoes. In different area codes.”