“I’m not sure. I assume that was your sister. Was it?”
“I assume so too. I can’t believe she heard that.”
“Whoever it was sure got an earful,” he said, then we both laughed, but I was secretly panicking that Amy had heard what I said. The last thing I needed was her spreading rumors about me. Pretending not to care, but actually embarrassed, I changed the subject, but I think I could hear him smiling through the phone.
“You’ve got a big game tomorrow, you should probably get some sleep, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Goodnight Superstar,”
“Goodnight,” I replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, you will,” he said, and we both hung up.
I set the phone back on its cradle and turned on the stereo as Dave Matthews Band — Grey Street came through the speakers. Then I quickly went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, hoping to avoid my sister, assuming it was her eavesdropping on the phone, then came back to my room and got into bed. I rolled over to pull the blinds shut, closed my eyes, and hoped that tomorrow’s game wouldn’t be a disaster.
10
“Why aren’t you speaking to me? What have I done wrong?” I asked Amy as I reached for the tube of toothpaste.
“I thought you were giving the hoodie back?” she said, glaring at me.
“I changed my mind.”
“Why did it have to be him, of all people?
“What are you talking about?” I looked at her, utterly confused.
“I guess I thought you were actually going to turn him down. I’ve liked Chris forever, and now I’m just jealous. I’m sorry, I can’t help it. What did you do with him yesterday?” she pried.
“I don’t really want to tell you, but I assume you heard me last night on the phone, which is super embarrassing. I can’t help it that I like him.”
“Ugh!” she huffed, then she stormed out of the bathroom.
I wasn’t sure if she was mad because I wouldn’t tell her about our time together, or because she was hoping I would say I was willing to stop pursuing him. I had no idea she had feelings for him, and I was relieved to have my Jeep back from the shop so that I could drive to school alone today. I made my way down the back stairs into the kitchen to find that Mom was pouring a smoothie into a glass. I picked up my backpack and was about to head out the door when she stopped me.
“Not so fast, Allie, you need to eat something. You need calories before your big game today,” she said. It was weird that she was always aware when I had games, but could never be bothered to attend. I tried not to let it bother me, but it did.
I grabbed the glass, chugged as much as I could in three gulps, handed the glass back to her, and headed out the door. I tossed my backpack in the back seat, climbed in the front, and just sat for a minute before putting the keys in the ignition. Hopeful that by the time I got to school, Amy would have chilled out and started acting normal again, I started the car and headed to school in silence. I wasn’t in the mood for any music to lighten my frustrated mood.
When I pulled into the parking lot, I found a spot by the front of the lot so I could avoid having to walk past Amy’s car, and I cut the engine, but left the keys in the ignition so I could listen to the tape that was still in the deck since I still had ten minutes before I needed to get to class. That’s when I heard a knock on my window. For a split second, I was worried it was Amy, so I didn’t turn to look, but when I saw that it was Chris, my whole demeanor changed.
“Hey, what are you doing sitting in your car?” I heard him say through the glass. “Do you want to walk with me?”
“No, I just need a minute to sit and unwind,” I said. “You can sit with me if you want.”
I motioned for him to come around to the other door, and without replying, he walked around the front of the car and got in.
“Are you okay?” he asked before reaching a hand across the car, placing one finger under my chin, and pulling me in for a kiss.
“This morning was really weird with Amy,” I replied with my nose resting against his.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, then he kissed me again.
Just then, I opened my eyes, Amy walked past the car, looked at me in disgust, then she picked up the pace and walked faster.
“What the hell is her problem!” I said loudly.
