The Underground Man

15

Jeremy gave high-fives to the two seniors, then stuck his hands in his pockets and watched them walk off down the hallway. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Beth Killmore, who was standing with a girlfriend halfway down the hall. He wondered if she caught that action-the seniors treating him like an equal, slapping him high-fives. Surely she’d think that was cool.

Jeremy had a real thing for Beth Killmore. Even though she herself wasn’t cool. Even though she was an A student. Even though she was straight-laced, didn’t party, and had a good reputation. But Jesus, what a killer bod.

He wondered if she knew it. He wondered if she knew she drove boys nuts. She certainly drove him nuts. And shit, she was only a sophomore, for Christ’s sake. He was a junior and then some. Christ, had she seen him with those two seniors?

The bell rang. Damn, always the fucking bell. He had to get upstairs. And he hadn’t even got his book out.

He walked down the hall to his locker, spun the combination, opened the door. He took out his backpack, unzipped it, started to fumble through.

A hand grabbed his shoulder. Aw shit, the principal? What now?

He swung around with an angry scowl on his lip.

“Well, now, you don’t look pleased to see me.”

Jeremy blinked at the ragged beggar in front of him. “Uncle Jack.”

“The one and only. Footloose and fancy free. And thanks to you, I understand.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Dodgin’ teachers, mainly. Come on, my boy, we gotta get out of here.”

“What?”

“Let’s go. Let’s go, before they throw me out on my ear.”

“Go where?”

“What does that matter, as long as it’s out of here? This place gives me the creeps, you know? You ever notice that?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet you do. Well come on, boy, we gotta go.”

“Sure. But where? Why? What’s going on, Uncle Jack?”

“A lot of things, my boy, a lot of things. As it happens-Oh shit, here comes a teacher.”

Walsh spun Jeremy around. “Let’s go this way. We get separated, get out best you can and meet me out front. You’ll have to look around, ’cause I may be hidin’. Don’t worry though, I’ll spot you.”

“Yeah, but-”

But Jack Walsh was already heading down the hallway. Jeremy hurried to catch up with him.

Jeremy was so distracted by Uncle Jack he walked right past Beth Killmore without even seeing her. He glanced back over his shoulder to see if they were being followed, and found her staring after him.

Good lord. What would Beth Killmore make of this?