“That was funny as shit,” Renee snickers, coming out of one of the stalls to wash her hands at the sink.
“Thank you,” I reply, very pleased with myself.
Renee follows me out into the hallway, and we walk toward the gymnasium for a mid-week school-required pep rally for the football team—which means we’ll miss first period. I’d honestly rather be in class. I haven’t seen JD yet, so at least that’s one perk with having to sit through an hour of forced celebration of obligatory school spirit. I’ll get to see him in his football jersey.
Renee and I know each other from the skate park. I would go watch Cam ride his board or BMX and I became familiar with the crowd that would hang out there. Per my usual M.O. of self-isolation, I kept my distance and observed, never interacted. I’m pretty sure that Renee and I have said like five words total to each other. I think she had a crush on Cam.
“So, you and Mr. Football are a thing, huh?”
I stumble a bit over my two left feet but I’m able to recover quickly. “We’re maybe friends,” I reply with all the nonchalance I can muster.
Renee shoots me an incredulous look, then shrugs it off. “Uh-huh. It’s okay if you like him, you know. If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t heard one bad thing about the guy. No rumors about casual hook-ups. I know for a fact that he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Cam always said how nice the guy was.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I keep quiet. Principal Stubbs is already at the podium microphone making announcements when we walk in. And FML, the only place left to sit is right up front on the bottom bleacher. As Principal Stubbs prattles on, I would give anything to have a decent phone so I could have something else to do. The booming sound of dance music interrupts my daydream as the cheerleading squad comes out to do their pep rally routine.
Renee leans over. “I would give good money to watch MB fall on her ass. One of my revenge fantasies has her at the bottom of a cheerleader pyramid that catastrophically collapses on top of her.”
I stifle my giggle.
When the cheerleaders end their performance, Mary Beth slings another “bitch” at me as she walks past. Really?
“You need new material,” Renee shouts at her. “And you have a glitter handprint on your ass!” she yells even louder, causing everyone around us who heard to look at Mary Beth.
The gymnasium erupts with laughter because Renee was spot on. Except instead of one, there are two glittery handprints on the back of her skirt, perfectly positioned on both of her ass cheeks. I wish I could say that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy Mary Beth’s embarrassment, or her rush out of the gymnasium as everyone’s raucous laughter followed her, but I’d be lying.
Principal Stubbs gets everyone quieted down and then introduces Coach Palmer. He tells us what a great football team our school has this year, and how we’re going to “take it all the way to the state championship.” Just like with Principal Stubbs, I tune him out, opting to daydream again—this time about taking Cam’s bike out for a long drive this weekend if the weather holds. His bike is the only thing I have left of him and I’m thankful his mom gave it to me before she packed up and moved out right after his funeral. Whenever I’m on his bike, I feel closer to him. Still miss him like crazy though.
The sound of paper ripping and male whoops bring me back to reality. JD and the other football players are running into the gymnasium to the roar of the student body clapping and cheering. I just sit there like an idiot, staring wide-eyed, because JD is looking right at me with a panty-melting smile spread wide across his face. His hair is damp and slicked back, his jeans hug his long, muscular legs, and he’s wearing his Highland High football jersey. I don’t know if I’m happy with how much one look from him affects me. Just the sight of him watching me has me already melted into a puddle of hormones on the gymnasium floor. I may have to change my mind about this wholemaybe-friendsthing.
“You’re drooling a bit.” Renee chuckles and bumps my shoulder.
I bump her right back. “Stop it. No, I’m not.” I totally am.
Coach introduces each member of the football team and what position they play. When he gets to JD, the gymnasium erupts like we’re at a rock concert. I wouldn’t be able to tell you what happens for the rest of the pep rally except that Dustin keeps waving over at me, Prescott makes funny faces that have me in fits of giggles, and JD’s eyes never stray from where I’m sitting. When the rally is finally over and we are told to report to our second period class, I tell Renee bye and bend over to pick my bag up.
“Good morning, sunshine,” JD greets me, leaning over to take my bag out of my hands.
I chastise myself for the goofy smile that slips by my defenses. “Hey.”
“Mind if I walk you to class?”
“Um, no. That sounds fine,” I say, a bit breathless. He smells really good.Get a grip, Aurora.
Prescott and Dustin are waiting for us at the doors that lead back into the main school building.
“Hey, Rory,” Dustin says as we get closer.
Prescott loops his arm around my shoulders like he did yesterday, and also just like yesterday, JD takes my hand in his, but this time I don’t take it back. I don’t miss the gawking stares from several girls as the four of us walk down the hallway.
“There’s a race at the Fields on Friday. I say we ditch MB’s party after the game and do that instead,” Prescott suggests.
The Fields is a tradition in our county. It’s an abandoned agricultural field that used to belong to Mr. Jacoby, an old farmer, but has since passed down to his grandson. Over a decade ago, Mr. Jacoby allowed the abandoned field to be converted into a dirt track, so kids had a place to race their bikes and cars. Over the years, it has become this huge local racing event. Parents even come out to watch. A few off-duty law enforcement officers attend as well to make sure things don’t get out of hand. It’s like legalized street racing but on a dirt track in the middle of nowhere.
Dustin gives a “hell, yeah,” and JD looks down at me in question.
“I have to work that evening,” I tell him, which causes a small frown to mar his beautiful face. I can’t help myself as I reach up and smooth his frown lines with my fingertips. Just that one soft sweep of my finger against his skin has me jerking my hand back quickly.
Dustin and Prescott veer off and head into their classroom for second period, but JD stays with me as we walk down the hall. “You have free period now, right?”
