popularity with my teammates as long as I could.
“Amazing how many people think Randy and I are together,” I said, leaning forward to make they all heard me. “I even got free parking because the guy thought I’m the new Jacy.” Saving them from the details of that nitwit, I tucked hair behind my ear. “The important thing is, we all know the truth, that I’m just hanging out with him this weekend only.”
After a long beat, Saffron nodded, Madison snapped her gum in agreement and Flea did a silly little dance with her shoulders. Okay, message received. Three down, the rest of the world to go.
On the field, someone was running with the ball. The crowd on our school’s side was going wild. Even Flea was on her feet, clapping.
I stood, but from my nose-bleed seat, the players just looked like bunch of blurry colors to me. Instead of trying to follow the action, my mind drifted to how nice it was going to be to have the bonfire and dance behind me, not unlike the relief I expected to feel following my dad’s and Jennifer’s wedding.
“That’s Randy with the ball,” Madison announced, leaning around in back of Flea to poke me. “Maybe if he makes this touchdown, he’ll dedicate it to you, babycakes.”
I tried real hard not to frown. And could they even do that?
Two S.B. High touchdowns later, the clock expired. A roar rang out from our bleachers, guys pumped fists, and girls hugged and jumped up and down. Flea, who clearly cared the most of any of us about football, gave me a one-armed squeeze. Then she said something to the others about hitting the frozen yogurt store.
I blinked hard. “Wait, none of you are going to the bonfire?”
Madison looked at me like I had those alien horns and eyes after all. “Have we ever ?”
“Well, no, but Saffron,” I said, turning to her, “didn’t you go with your ex and his crowd last year?”
“I did my duty, yeah. But that’s pretty much player/cheerleader stuff.”
“You also get the student body types, too, so you might know some people,” Flea added, patting my arm. “And of course, you’ll be with Randy.”
I felt my back teeth grind together.
We trailed with the foot traffic down to the back exit, where I’d promised to meet Randy. There, the girls did a see you tomorrow at the group mani/pedi appointment thing, and took off. Practically linking arms. Leaving me feeling about as vital as a runner left on base. And shaking my head at the irony that I was basically doing all this to strengthen my relationship with my friends.
Soon Randy lumbered toward me in a grass-stained uniform, cleats, and charcoal smudged beneath his eyes.
“Good, you’re here,” he said, his mouth quivering into something that could reasonably be taken for a smile. “I gotta change and everything, so come hang out with the others.”
We moved into the darkened hallway behind the bleachers. People passed in small groups, talking and clowning around, but there remained an intimacy about the cramped walkway that felt slightly embarrassing to me since we were, technically, on a date. Or at least, a pre-date.
When he picked up his pace toward the bright lights, I ran-walked a couple steps to catch up. “This must be weird for you,” I blurted out, deciding to clear the air. “Being with me instead of Jacy. How long were you guys together?”
Randy slowed to look me full in the eyes. It was a struggle not to study the smudges beneath them, especially since one was broader and deeper than the other.
“A year next month.”
“You didn’t see the break-up coming?”
“We had problems, sure. I thought we’d make to prom, at least.” His footsteps slowed, but sounded harder. “Oh, well, it is what it is.”
We shot out across the Astroturf in the direction of a group hanging outside the guys’ locker room.
“Hey, everybody,” Randy called out. “You all know Courtney.”
I forced a smile and scanned the fifteen or so faces. Mostly girls. Some new, some
“Amazing how many people think Randy and I are together,” I said, leaning forward to make they all heard me. “I even got free parking because the guy thought I’m the new Jacy.” Saving them from the details of that nitwit, I tucked hair behind my ear. “The important thing is, we all know the truth, that I’m just hanging out with him this weekend only.”
After a long beat, Saffron nodded, Madison snapped her gum in agreement and Flea did a silly little dance with her shoulders. Okay, message received. Three down, the rest of the world to go.
On the field, someone was running with the ball. The crowd on our school’s side was going wild. Even Flea was on her feet, clapping.
I stood, but from my nose-bleed seat, the players just looked like bunch of blurry colors to me. Instead of trying to follow the action, my mind drifted to how nice it was going to be to have the bonfire and dance behind me, not unlike the relief I expected to feel following my dad’s and Jennifer’s wedding.
“That’s Randy with the ball,” Madison announced, leaning around in back of Flea to poke me. “Maybe if he makes this touchdown, he’ll dedicate it to you, babycakes.”
I tried real hard not to frown. And could they even do that?
Two S.B. High touchdowns later, the clock expired. A roar rang out from our bleachers, guys pumped fists, and girls hugged and jumped up and down. Flea, who clearly cared the most of any of us about football, gave me a one-armed squeeze. Then she said something to the others about hitting the frozen yogurt store.
I blinked hard. “Wait, none of you are going to the bonfire?”
Madison looked at me like I had those alien horns and eyes after all. “Have we ever ?”
“Well, no, but Saffron,” I said, turning to her, “didn’t you go with your ex and his crowd last year?”
“I did my duty, yeah. But that’s pretty much player/cheerleader stuff.”
“You also get the student body types, too, so you might know some people,” Flea added, patting my arm. “And of course, you’ll be with Randy.”
I felt my back teeth grind together.
We trailed with the foot traffic down to the back exit, where I’d promised to meet Randy. There, the girls did a see you tomorrow at the group mani/pedi appointment thing, and took off. Practically linking arms. Leaving me feeling about as vital as a runner left on base. And shaking my head at the irony that I was basically doing all this to strengthen my relationship with my friends.
Soon Randy lumbered toward me in a grass-stained uniform, cleats, and charcoal smudged beneath his eyes.
“Good, you’re here,” he said, his mouth quivering into something that could reasonably be taken for a smile. “I gotta change and everything, so come hang out with the others.”
We moved into the darkened hallway behind the bleachers. People passed in small groups, talking and clowning around, but there remained an intimacy about the cramped walkway that felt slightly embarrassing to me since we were, technically, on a date. Or at least, a pre-date.
When he picked up his pace toward the bright lights, I ran-walked a couple steps to catch up. “This must be weird for you,” I blurted out, deciding to clear the air. “Being with me instead of Jacy. How long were you guys together?”
Randy slowed to look me full in the eyes. It was a struggle not to study the smudges beneath them, especially since one was broader and deeper than the other.
“A year next month.”
“You didn’t see the break-up coming?”
“We had problems, sure. I thought we’d make to prom, at least.” His footsteps slowed, but sounded harder. “Oh, well, it is what it is.”
We shot out across the Astroturf in the direction of a group hanging outside the guys’ locker room.
“Hey, everybody,” Randy called out. “You all know Courtney.”
I forced a smile and scanned the fifteen or so faces. Mostly girls. Some new, some
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