“Trust me you won’t,” Tristan said with an amused smile, “He likes you and he is the friendliest guy I know.He’dlove for you to tag along.You’llalso get to meet his girlfriend, Katie.She’sfrom Pennsylvania too, I thinkyou guyswould like each other.”
“Yeah,I’d love to meet her,” Tessa said, her eyes shining with eagerness. She always loved making new girlfriends, especially girls she had things in common with.
“Good. Now I’m gonna teach you how to catch a football.”
Tessa stood in stunned silence, watching as Tristan jogged onto the sideline of the field and grabbed a football. Her mouth hung open in shock and apprehension as he jogged back over toher, tossing the ball back and forth between his large hands as if itwasasmallbaseball.
“I’ve never caught a ball in my life,” she said with a scoff.
“So,I get to be your first? I like the sound of that,” he said with a smile, making her cheeks blush. His statement had thrown her for a loop, and she was so deep in thought shedidn’thear him trying to talk to her.
“Tessa? You okay?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah sorry. There’s no way I can catch that thing.”
“Hands out like this,” he said, his voice patient and kind, “anddon’tlook at me or your hands, just look at theballokay?”
“Ugh, okay,” she said, laughing nervouslytoherself as he took a few steps back from her.
He tossed the football perfectly towards her, and despite her heart hammering in her chest, she was able to catchit andcouldn’thelp but squeal in delight and jump up and down with excitement.
“Letsgo!” Tristan laughed, pumping his hands in the air. “Okay now throw it to me.”
“Are you out of your damn mind?” she asked, putting a hand on her hip.
“Throw it,” was his only reply as he positioned himself ready for the ball.
She took a deepbreath andgave an awkward toss. It was a short throw, and he had to lunge forward for it, but it was a decent throw that would have landed perfectly if it had gone a little farther.
“Hey that wasn’t bad,” he said with a smile, “We justgot toput a bit more power behinditand you’ll be our star quarter back!”
“Do you see my arms?” She said, holding them out and throwing them aroundawkwardlyto show off their length. “They’reso skinny I can barely even pick up myschoolbooks.I’mlike a weird, awkward baby giraffe.”
He laughed and took a few steps towards her before he leaned in and gave a soft kiss to her lips. “You’re not any of those things,” he said in a deep whisper, his eyes locking intensely on hers, “You’rethe most beautiful girlI’veever seen andyou’reinsanely smart.Andyou’vetaught me about English and Literature so now I get to teach you about football. Go long!”
She stood in place looking at him like he was crazy as he took a few jogging steps backwards.
“What does that even mean?!”
“That means run and catch the ball.”
“I’m in heels, Tristan.”
“You better get going Tess, I’m about to launch this thing!”
She rolled her eyes in amusement and took a few lazy steps in her wedges, wincing and bracing for impact as he threw the ball in the air towards her timid and outstretched arms. She squealed andclosedher eyes tightly,anticipatingthe ball to hit her in the face, but luckily it landed perfectly in her arms.
“Woohooo!! Touchdown!”
She opened her eyes and laughedout loudat the ridiculousness of the situation.She had no idea how she got here. Just over 2 months ago she was knee deep inschoolworkand perfecting her assignments,literally notdoing anything butwritingresearch papers for the school newspaperand playing music, and suddenly she was here – on a football field playing catch with the most handsome guy she had everencountered.
“I thought that was going to hit my face and break my nose,” Tessa said with a laugh. Tristan jogged over to her and took the ball back into his hands.
“I would never let that happen baby,” he said as hedrapedhis arm over her shoulder, and she happily sank into his side.
“You wanna see the locker room?”
Tessa walked around the locker room mostly in silence, looking atallthe plaques and banners on the walls and taking in theamountof awards that adorned the shelves.
