Flowers
Zahirah
“When didyour brother turn into a complete bully?” I say into the phone as I talk to Erica.
“I don’t know. That doesn’t sound like him. That guy had to have had it coming for something,” she replies.
I can’t tell her the guy ratted her brother out for blocking guys from talking to me. I don’t want to raise any questions. I can’t lie to Erica. She’ll know something more is up.
Instead, I try to change the subject. “How is school going for you so far?”
“You mean this lame campus where I know no one and have no friends? Yeah, go on and call me an idiot. I should be there with you and Bentley. This was such a dumb idea.”
“I still don’t know what made you change your mind.”
She heaves a heavy sigh. “If I tell you something, will you keep it between us?”
“You know I will. Of course.”
“I overheard Mom and Dad talking. They were thinking about selling the house. Dad lost a few million dollars in some bad investments. He needed to turn things around, or we were headed toward losing everything.
“I couldn’t follow you and Bentley. You’re both on scholarship. I would have been counting on Mom and Dad to pay my tuition. I couldn’t put that on them, so I chose the affordable option once I couldn’t pull off a scholarship like you guys,” she explains.
“Oh, Erica. I didn’t know. Is everything all right now?”
“Now, yeah. Dad was able to turn it all around. I might transfer next semester or something. I really hate it here,” she groans.
“I would love that. I miss you so much.”
“I miss you too, best. It will be like old times. The three of us taking over the world.”
“I don’t know about that. Bentley is … I don’t know. He’s different.”
“Still think there’s something going on you’re missing. You should talk to him and see what’s up,” she says.
“I don’t know,” I drag out. I glance at the clock and see I’m running late. “Erica, I have to go. We’re doing evening training this week and I should be on my way to practice. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Love you. Call me later.”
“Love you too. I will. Promise.”
I hang up and grab my gym bag to rush out. I’m going to have to run for it so I’m not late. I take off as soon as I step out of the dorm building. As I run, a shirtless Bentley catches my eye in the grass outside the training facility. He’s surrounded by a bunch of girls while he laughs and smiles at them.
I roll my eyes and keep running. I don’t miss that he pauses and watches me as I pass by. I still can’t get over how hebeat that guy up earlier. If Arlene didn’t have to drop off those notes to one of Bentley’s teammates, I wouldn’t have known my childhood friend had turned so violent.
Sure, I’ve seen him lose it on the field before, or go at it with guys at school, but that was different today. It seemed so personal. Bentley meant to hurt that guy.
I shake the thought off as I pull the door open to the gym. We’re using the indoor track today. I sigh as I glance at my watch. I’m not late, but I’m right on time, which is late to me.
I chide myself for not paying more attention to the clock. My dad would give me an earful right about now if he were here. You waste no one’s time and respect every minute you’re given. If you’re a Nickels, you don’t give people a chance to say you’re ever late.
“Hey, this is the first time we’ve all beat you anywhere. I had thought you weren’t coming,” Tori, one of my teammates, says.
“No, I got caught up and lost track of time.”
“Could you have gotten caught up with a certain quarterback? Rumors are flying around that you two are together,” she says excitedly and wiggles her brows.
I look at her and my mouth falls open as we stretch for practice. I release my arm and shake both out. Maybe I heard her wrong.
