Page 8 of My High School Rebel Boyfriend
“Why not?” I clipped. “Can’t diabetics run marathons?” It was a stupid question really, I had no inclination to run cross country, let alone twenty six miles.
“You know that too much exercise can send you hypo,” Mom said, “so it certainly wouldn’t be recommended.” Her quiet, sensible mother’s voice had returned. “Your blood sugar levels need to be constantly monitored and—” She paused, and I knew her heart was in the right place, but that didn’t mean I liked what she was about to say, “And Harper, there are real consequences to not managing your condition properly, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
I nodded. It was true. Diabetes wasn’t just a daily pain in the neck, but long term it could affect your vision, your feet, your kidney, your heart—all fairly vital organs.
Ironically, my life wasso muchlike a fairy tale, yet itwas nofairy tale. Like Sleeping Beauty, my world involved needle pricks and curses for eternity.
But where was my handsome prince with a kiss to free me from my disease...
Yeah, in River Valley that seemed about as likely as a fairy godmother who could wave her magic wand and cure me.
Chapter 4
HARPER
MOM SUGGESTED WE GOshopping on the weekend. She needed a dress for the Fall Fundraiser that was being held at Covington Heights Country Club. Covington was the posh area of town, where the wealthy people lived in their mansions on the hill, overlooking the river.
The Whittaker family hosted the annual event, a fundraiser for the children’s hospital. As Dad was in the management team in the factory at Whittakers, it was expected that he should attend. He resented having to fork out for the outrageously expensive tickets, but Mom pointed out that it all went to charity, and as I had previously been a patient at the children’s hospital, she assured him it was a good cause.
Whittakers was a good company to work for, and Dad had been there since he’d left school. He’d trained as an auto mechanic but started as a machine operator, and had worked his way up to factory production supervisor.
He grumbled about having to hire a suit and being hoity-toity for the evening, but Mom was looking forward to dressing up for a night out. Dad preferred nights at home drinking beer and watching sports.
I told Mom how Bella had been invited to the Fall Fundraiser too, about her new boyfriend Jack, who was a Whittaker.
“Oh well, if Daddy doesn’t go, you’ll have to come with me,” she joked.
Mom found a lacy dress in deep wine that was draped in a chiffon overlay. It was floaty and pretty and sophisticated. “If I can get Dad a matching bow tie, we’ll look quite the couple,” she said.
“Hmm, I’d love to be a fly on the wall,” I said, “and watch you and Dad dancing.”
“He hates every moment of it,” Mom said with a laugh, “but these are the things you have to do in life.” I think it was her subtle way of reiterating that life wasn’t a bed of roses for anyone, that we all had to put up with hardships. My straw was just shorter than most people’s.
“Now, how about we go for a treat? I think you deserve it for putting up with me trying on a hundred dresses!” Mom’s idea of a treat would be ice cream or a cupcake, but for once I declined.
“It’s okay,” I said, “I’m going to meet Maddie for some training this afternoon. So a treat would really defeat the purpose.”
“Maddie’s Mom was saying some scouts will be at the tournament.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Some have already contacted her. And Bella, too. And Tanchia, though she’s not even trying for one.” Tanchia had the liberty of negotiating with colleges for a track scholarship, a reflection of her talent.
“That’s great,” Mom said, oblivious to the bitter edge in my voice. “So, you don’t want ice cream?”
“Thanks, but maybe next time,” I said, trying to bury the resentment that was building. What sort of friend was I to be jealous of my friends’ successes? I should be encouraging them, not feeling sorry for myself.
I biked to Maddie’s place, Mom ensuring I had a bag of emergency snacks in case I overdid it, or got lost...for about a month. Maddie didn’t enjoy running, which was kind of ironic because both boys she’d dated were runners, first Josh, and now Peyton who was our school’s cross country champion. That’s right, Maddie was onto her second boyfriend, Bella for that matter too.
Ugh...the green-eyed monster was rising again. Well, why wouldn’t it? Harper Dent hadn’t been on a date, let alone had a first kiss. I had a whimsical premonition of me doing online college courses and neverleaving home, forever cared for by my mother who would count carbs with me daily.
“What are you smiling at?” Maddie asked, clipping up her helmet as we pushed our bikes out to the street.
“Oh, nothing,” I said. “Just that my Mom packed enough snacks for a class picnic.”
“I thought we might bike out to Old Farm Road?” Maddie said.
“Okay,” I said. That’s where Peyton lived. It was about eight miles out of town. I was pretty sure I could manage it. I wondered if she wanted to drop in and see him.
“It’s quite a tough ride, quite hilly,” she said. “Tell me if you need to stop, I won’t mind.”
