"Rory, this is Kendall. She graduated last year, she's at Northwestern now," Carl introduces.
I exaggerate my fake smile and murmur hello, silently wondering if her being in Chicago is the reason she and Sam aren't an item. Chicago isn't more than a couple hours away by plane, surely if they wanted to make a go of a long distance relationship, they could have.
"Kendall and her older brother Randy were a big deal in Port Wood. He's at NYU now, isn't he?" she asks Kendall, who'd rolled her eyes when Carl described her popularity. "That's where you're going, Rory, right?"
"Uh, yeah," I murmur.
"Ooh, maybe you can introduce her, Ken.God, Rory, Randy is so hot. We all had crushes on him freshman and sophomore year, you know, until he graduated," Carl explains.
Kendall smiles wryly, as if she's up to something, and I worry I might have another Chelsea on my hands. But of course, Chelsea lashed out at me because Sam didn't want her. Kendall doesn't have that problem.
"Carl, that is an inspired idea. Honestly, Rory, you're just his type, and he was just telling me how he'd love to meet someone and settle down," Kendall replies.
"Rory's not looking to date. She just got out of a relationship," Sam interrupts.
I furrow my brow at him and he clams up. "Uh, yeah. I'm a little young for all that settling down stuff, anyway," I murmur.
Carl and Kendall both laugh. "I didn't mean like marriage. I meant just to start taking someone seriously. But hey, if you're not looking for that, that's cool too. My brother's awesome - I'm sure he'd be happy to show you around campus, you know, as a friend. It's always good to know someone going into college."
"My cousin Thea goes there too. She can show Rory around," Sam interrupts again. "She's going to be in Miami for two days while we're there. I'll introduce you," he offers.
Kendall's smirk is back and I'm a little put off by the entire exchange. Does Sam think I can't handle interacting with men at all? That he's the only guy I can be friends with? Maybe that was true a few months ago, but I can't hide from the opposite sex forever, I realize, and my feelings for Sam are clouding my judgment.
"Yeah, well I guess it can't hurt to know some people. Why don't you give me his number and maybe I'll call him when I'm in the city," I murmur with false confidence.
"Here, give me your phone. I'll add him to your contacts," she offers with a grin, and I hand it over. I doubt I'll ever call him, but considering it, orconsideringconsidering it anyway, is a step in the right direction, I think. "Cap can vouch for him, they played football together for years," she murmurs as she programs her brother's number and hands me back my phone.
Wait,football?
Sam played football?
"So, Rory, I've heard a lot about you, I'm glad I got to meet you. Cap says you're from Florida, right?"
Sam is scowling, and he looks cute as hell like that too, but...why has he never mentioned he's a football player?I know it's come up. I think I even once ranted to him how football players are all over-privileged, self-important, asshole jocks...
"Yeah, northern Florida," I reply absently.
"Cool. Well, have a good time in Miami. Look out for my friends, will ya?" she says lightly, and teasingly musses Sam’s hair.
"Uh, sure," I mutter, but then I turn to Sam, I can't help it, "you play football?" I ask quietly. He bristles, blinking at me, and it's Carl who replies.
"Duh, he's the star of the team. He's been the captain of every team since pee wee league. He's the freaking quarterback," Carl says with a laugh. "That's why everyone calls himCap. Because of his last name and that he's been team captain like four times."
This irks me deeply. Rationally I know the fact that Sam plays the sport doesn't change who he is. But it's just one more thing he has in common with Robin to add to the list. Not to mention the fact that he played quarterback too and was captain. And it can't be a coincidence that he's never brought it up. It doesn't make sense. Being the quarterback of the football team, the captain, thestar... it's got to have been a significant part of his life, even if the season's over and he's not playing anymore.
"Oh," I reply as casually as I can manage. I don't want anyone to realize I'm upset, because frankly I'm not sure I have a right to be. I'm just a stupid, jealous girl who's surprised to find out she doesn't know her crush as well as she thought she did. I just want to leave.
"Anyway, I'm starving, we were just going to head to the diner for a late night snack. Do you guys want to join us?" Kendall offers Carl and me. Why she would want us on her date with Sam, I can't imagine. If I were her, I'd want him all to myself, especially after being apart for so long.
"I'm actually kinda tired. I was, um, about to leave anyway. It was nice to meet you," I say to Kendall as sincerely as I can. "See you," I add to Carl and Sam, and turn on my heel before either of them can stop me.
I'm out the back door and around the side of the house before I can watch Sam and Kendall leave for their outing to the diner.
"Lookin' good, Pine," Marshall drunkenly calls out from the front of the house. I ignore him - and the wafting scent of pot smoke - and keep moving toward my car which I parked just up the street.
"Ror!"
It's Sam. He's out of breath, but I don't stop. Instead, I pick up pace. Maybe he'll think I didn't hear him.
