“Ryder’s got to get Jamie and will probably miss the entire game,” I tell Hailey and Jayson who are sitting on either side of me on the bleachers. Not that Jayson is paying any attention to me. He's been closely watching the scouts who are sitting three rows down from us.
“They haven’t taken their eyes off Julien the entire game,” he says excitedly, most of that excitement coming from the fact that he found out one of the scouts was from Carolina University.
Hailey leans back and pulls Jayson over toward her, “Want me to go sit behind them and cheer loudly for Julien and scream how awesome he is?”
“Don’t be silly,” I say as Jayson says, “Yes.”
“Absolutely not Jayson Jameson. Leave them alone. Julien would be mortified if you did that. And you, troublemaker of a sister,” I poke her in the side, “don’t-” I stop talking when Hailey flinches in pain and jerks away from me. “I’m so sorry, Hales. Did I hurt you?”
She drops her hand quickly from her side. “I’m fine. It’s nothing,” she replies, not looking at me. I try to lift the side of her shirt, but she forcefully swipes my hand away. “I said I’m fine Lizzie. Geesh, stop mothering me.”
Her face falls when she sees my hurt expression. I can’t believe she just slapped me.
“I’m sorry. I ran into the door this morning leaving for school so have a bruise. It’s a bit tender where you poked it. See? No biggie. Nothing to worry about. Um, I need to go to the restroom. Be right back.” Hailey hurriedly climbs down off the bleachers like her pants are on fire.
“What’s up with your sister?” Jayson asks and then jumps up to yell something when Julien is tripped by one of the opposing team members. “Shit,” Jayson mumbles as Julien gets up off the ground and brushes himself off.
After Marshall shredded Julien’s calf during a game with his cleats, we all worry about him getting injured again while playing. Julien worked hard to come back from his injury, and even went to a specialized sports therapist for physical therapy and strength training for months to get back in top shape. He still experiences phantom pains from the nerve damage, not to mention the skin at the injury site is bumpy and puckered. He had the option to do skin grafts to repair the damage but declined. Even though Jayson doesn’t know it, Elijah played a huge part in Julien's rapid recovery. They told me about it later, explaining that was when Elijah found out Julien had feelings for him and vice versa.
Jayson sits back down and pulls me into his lap, burying his nose in my hair. I realize that Hailey has been gone for a while and look around the rows of people for her. I send her a text.
After five minutes and nothing back from Hailey, I turn to Jayson. “I wonder where Hailey is? Do you mind if I go look for her?”
“Game’s about over. I’ll come with and then we can meet up with Julien.”
A bunch of students congregate around the unlocked entrance to the school’s gymnasium where the restrooms are located. Our school’s SROs, which are school resource officers that work for our town’s sheriff’s department, usually stay for home games and stand guard at the door and in the gymnasium to make sure students don’t try to sneak into the school or damage school property.
“What’s up, Henry?” Jayson fist bumps the older officer. Henry’s been an SRO at our school for years and Jayson is on a first name basis with him.
While they’re talking, I slip inside to check the women’s restroom for Hailey. Two girls I know from AP Lit are primping in the mirror. “Hey, Beth, hey Celeste.”
“Lizzie girl!” Beth exclaims and gives me a big hug. “Should have figured you’d be here watching Julien.”
Celeste is next to hug me. “Where’s your boy? I’m surprised he let you out his sight for more than a second.”
“He’s not that bad.” They both give me ayeah, rightlook. “Have you guys seen Hailey? She’s disappeared on me and the game’s almost over.”
“Celeste, didn’t we see her with that guy earlier?”
“What guy?”
“Oh, right. Yeah, she was with some older guy in the hallway. Didn’t recognize him so he must not go here. They looked like they were arguing.” Hailey has got some explaining to do when I find her.
“Do you mind showing me?”
“Yeah, no prob.” I follow them out of the restroom and around the corner to the hallway. The metal accordion gate is up and locked but no sign of Hailey. “Oh, well, they’re not here anymore. But this is where we saw her.”
My phone pings and I pull it out.
Hailey: Met up with a friend.
Me: Hales. Where r u? I want to talk to you before you leave.
Hailey: Sorry. Already left.
Me: I’ll see you at the party then.
Hailey: Not going. Doing something else. Don’t wait up.
