Wildflower Read Online Free

will
leave him here with you, as I have work to attend to.”
    Hazel returned home from school to learn that
her uncle had slipped with his crutches and fallen down the stairs.
He now had several bad bruises and cracked ribs to go along with
his broken leg. Hazel noted the bruising on her father’s knuckles,
but she said nothing.
    In the weeks to follow, Hazel started to go
to the school dances; she even joined the basketball team. It was
driving her crazy, but she was determined to stay hidden until she
could get out into the world. One night she took a wild chance and
allowed Tommy Reid to walk her home from the dance. All the way
along the road he behaved himself perfectly and he didn’t even try
to kiss her goodnight. When he asked her out the next day, she
agreed to go.
    Hazel had truly enjoyed the movie and Tommy
had behaved himself completely the whole time. She got a bit
nervous when he turned off the main road on the way home and parked
where there was a great view of the Bay of Fundy. She sat very
still as he put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her
awkwardly. When he tried again, she pushed him away. “Tommy,
don’t...”
    “So it’s true then,” sighed the slim red
haired boy as he turned back to the view, and withdrawing his arm,
relaxed back into his seat.
    “What’s true?” she asked as she squirmed over
tight to her door and gripped the handle fiercely.
    “You’re a lezzie,”
    “Screw you, Tommy Reid, you bastard,” she
spat as she struck at his face again and again. Tommy did nothing
to stop her; he just protected his face so she was punching his
open palms. Hazel continued to flail and swear at him with tears
flowing down her cheeks. Finally she ran out of gas and just lay
against the seat of the old car crying softly.
    “It’s Ok, Hazel,” he said softly as he gently
patted her hand, “I was really hoping you were.”
    “What??? Tommy Reid, are you completely
nuts?”
    “Completely gay,”
    “Excuse me? Did I get that right?”
    “You heard it right, Hazel.”
    “So why the hell did you ask me out
then?”
    “Because I need you, Hazel, and you need
me.”
    “Oh yeah? What do I need you for?”
    “Listen Hazel,” he said gently as he turned
back to face her again, “I know what things are like for me, and I
suspect they are much the same for you. You know how folks are
around here. If you haven’t gotten at least one girl pregnant by
grade nine, you’re suspect, and the whole gang is on your case to
perform.”
    “Keep going,” she said softly, relaxing a bit
at last, “I’m listening.”
    “Well, I thought if I had a girlfriend and
you had a boyfriend, they would get off our backs. We only have
this last year to go then we can get the hell out of here and lead
a real life somewhere. I just though this would make it easier for
the both of us.”
    “You’d better not be playing with me, Tommy,”
she said severely. “If you’re messing with me I’ll tell my dad you
raped me.”
    Tommy blanched at that. “Jesus Hazel, don’t
ever kid about a thing like that,” he exclaimed hastily, shrinking
back a bit from her. Walton Fillmore’s reputation was formidable
indeed.
    “I’m not kidding,” she replied as she gazed
deeply into his eyes. “Mess with me on this and I promise, that’s
the price you pay.”
    “I’m not messing with you, Hazel. I need you
to help me here.”
    “Ok, then I guess you’re my boyfriend for the
rest of the year. Just tell me one thing, why did you kiss me?”
    “I wanted to see if it would really taste as
bad as I imagined,” he grinned.
    “Screw you, Tommy Reid,” she exclaimed as she
punched him hard on the arm. He winced as she hit him again, but
she was giggling this time. “Brat,” she growled as she slid over
and nestled against his shoulder. “Do you really think this will
work, Tommy?”
    “It will if we try,” he replied as he put his
arm around her shoulders and lightly kissed the top of her head.
“It’s just