Big Guy by Robin Stevenson Page B

you?”
    She shakes her head. “No. Well, it couldn’t really.”
    â€œThen why are you so mad about it?”
    She spins back toward me. “Damn it, Derek. You were the one person here who at least treated me like an adult. Don’t you think if I wanted to complain, I’d do it myself?”
    â€œYou didn’t do it,” I say, stung. “You were too busy pretending not to care.”
    â€œSo? That’s my choice. You don’t haveto agree, but you have to let me make my own choices.”
    I stare at her. I can’t think of anything to say. The thing is, she’s right. I was feeling sorry for her. That’s why I did it. Not because of what Francine accused me of. Not because I wanted to clear my name. But because I was feeling sorry for her.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I say at last. “I really am. I just...I just wanted to make one thing right. Just wanted to fix this one thing.” My voice cracks a little and I shut up, swallow hard, dig my nails into my palms.
    She finally sighs. “Try fixing your own life, not mine.” The words are tough, but her voice is suddenly softer and I know she’s not really mad anymore.
    Or maybe she still is, a little, but she’s willing to give me a break this time.
    Aaliyah meets my eyes and smiles, her face relaxing. “I called him.”
    â€œWho?” But I know who she means as soon as the word is out of my mouth. “Your fiancé? You did? What happened?”
    She looks a little embarrassed, almosta little shy. “We’re having dinner together tonight.”
    â€œYou are?”
    â€œYeah.” She laughs. “And I’m really nervous. I think...well, I think pretending not to care might have been easier.”
    â€œYeah.” I push Ethan out of my mind.
    â€œDerek? He wants me to move in with him.” Her eyes are wide. Scared? I can’t tell.
    â€œWow.” I’m happy for her, but I feel lonely all of a sudden. “I’ll miss you, if you go.”
    â€œWell, I haven’t decided anything yet. We’ll talk about it over dinner.” She gives me a crooked grin. “He’s taking me to Shallot’s.”
    Shallot’s is probably the most expensive restaurant in town. Needless to say, I haven’t been there. “Wow. That’s pretty special.”
    â€œYeah.”
    Something occurs to me. “Hey, Aaliyah? I’m not supposed to be here, really, but...well, my shift’s over and, this dinner’s a big deal.” I look at her, not sure how she’ll take this. “Can I help you get ready?”
    Aaliyah hesitates. “Paula’s coming.”
    I shrug. Pretending not to care.
    She meets my eyes. “Screw Paula,” she says. “Yeah. I’d love it if you’d help me get ready.” She wheels her chair toward the bedroom, stops, turns and talks to me over her shoulder. “If Francine finds out, you’ll be out on your ass.”
    I nod. “I think I’m pretty much done with this place anyway.”
    She raises one eyebrow.
    â€œI was thinking, you know, about going back to school. Finishing grade twelve.” I look down at my hands, missing the feel of the keyboard, missing the long late hours talking online. “Ethan was always bugging me to go back,” I say. My voice seems to come from a long way away.
    Aaliyah picks out the same soft brown shirt I helped her into the first time we met, with a straight denim skirt and brown nylons. Clumsy as always, I manage to snag one of her nylons and put a run in it. I expect her to snap at me, but she just laughs and tells me there’s another pair in her drawer. I blow-dry and brush her hair so that it’s straight andshining, help her put on blush and a touch of lipstick.
    Of course, I don’t know what I’m doing. But when we’re done, she looks gorgeous.
    She looks in the mirror. “Wow. You’re good at