“You’re glowing.”
“Yeah, it’s my highlight.”
Alli palms her forehead at my response. “Not that kind of glowing.”
“Can you get to your point?” I reinforce, crossing my arms. My eyes glance around us, noticing that it’s just us two. The rest of our team is still in the gym.
“You’reglowing glowing,” Alli says, finger-quoting the words.
I arch a brow, still not following.
“Why didn’t you tell me you lost your virginity?” Alli hushes her tone for any prying ears.
What the fuck. That’s a thing when you lose your virginity? You sparkle like Edward Cullen?
I shake the thoughts off. “It’s nothing.”
Alli slaps my arm, making me yelp.
“Ow, be gentle with me! I just tossed my body across the mat and in the air for half that routine.”
“Lo siento.” Alli winces. She puts her hand up to keep the topic at hand. “You never told me you did the deed with Tyler.”
A pang of sadness washes over me, and I feel a part of my heartbreak. Tyler and I haven’t had a chance to talk lately, or maybe I’m just the one not giving us a chance. I just haven’t had the time to process and think about how to express my feelings to him. Every time I think about broaching the subject, the timing never seems right or everything I practice in my head doesn’t turn out right and I’m left feeling frustrated. Texting wouldn’t be right. Calling doesn’t sound right either. What I want to say, I don’t have the words yet. The words I want to say are trapped inside me, unable to find their way out. I haven’t spoken to him in a week. I’ve been fortunate that Coach Miller pulled me out of tutoring sessions this past week to extend our practice sessions. It’s allowed me some time to mull over what Iwant to say. However, every moment has been consumed by practice.
“Can we not talk about him right now?” I ask, grabbing my bag to head out.
“Serena, did something happen? Because I’ll slash his tires if I need to,” Alli offers, her words laced with protective fierceness.
We pause outside the doors, and I pull her away from the bustling crowd of cheerleaders, spectators, and parents for a moment of privacy. Jared managed to get the school’s gossip forum to take down all posts about me, but that doesn’t save me from wandering ears.
“I appreciate your offer to commit a crime, but I think I’m okay.”
Alli chuckles softly, her eyes reflecting seriousness afterwards. “No, you’re not, there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“Alli–”
“Serena, tell me right now. Committing a crime isn’t sounding that bad to me,” Alli interrupts, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I sigh, realizing that Alli’s determination is unwavering. With a hesitant glance around to ensure our privacy, I lower my voice to a hush. “Yes, Tyler and I had sex.”
Alli’s eyes start beaming in pure joy for me.
“The other night at Beckham’s party, he told me he loves me… and he’sin lovewith me.”
Alli’s jaw drops immediately in disbelief before she grabs my shoulders, her grip tight with excitement. “So, you two are finally together? Fucking finally! The way you both act around each other was so suffocating. Always dancing around how you guys felt about each other.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Alli shakes her head. “He looks at you like how you look at sunsets.”
I exhale heavily. “It’s really complicated.”
“Tell me.”
The night replays at triple speed. “You know I saw my mom when we went to the gas station. I–”
Alli opens her mouth, then shuts it to let me go on.
