by E. M. Moore
Turning toward me, she says, “I’m so proud of you, Tess. Don’t forget that. Don’t even doubt that.” She pulls away. “It’s just I don’t think I can handle that right now. But I’ll see your picture in the paper, and you can tell me all about it when you get home. Now,” she says, gesturing toward the table, “Breakfast?”
She seems so broken today, I can’t tell her no. I sit and eat as much as I can before I have to go. I already texted Dawn to tell her I’d be picking her up this morning and to wear something sexy. I’m a little scared to see what that means to her, but hey, I asked for it. For the first time since I started school at Rockport, I leave the Mustang’s top up as I go to school. I’d also curled my hair this morning and the curls have to last hours. They wouldn’t last thirty seconds in the wind.
When I pull up to Dawn’s house, she bounds down the front steps. “What’s up, girlfriend?” She’s wearing a tight tank top. The kind with the thin straps. She must have a hot pink bra on underneath, because the red strap of her tank top mixes with a hot pink strap. Her shorts are cut way too short. They must go against the school’s policy. She looks over at me. “Oh, so when you said sexy, you didn’t mean slutty?”
She laughs, and I follow suit. “You look amazing.” She does, too. Her shorts have faded, stringy holes in them, showing off even more skin. The look works for her though.
“I’ll have to hide from teachers all day, but…” She shrugs. I guess that’s why I like Dawn. She doesn’t give a fuck.
I don’t tell her about how Lake and his brother held me down and drew a dick on my face last night. The thought is tempting, but I’m embarrassed as hell about it. For some reason, I don’t want her to know it’s this bad. It’s easier to pretend that they just throw insults at me any chance they get.
I park down the street, already guessing the Ballers are near the front of the school again, just waiting to make sure I don’t try to park in the student lot. And, since I can’t park in the faculty lot either, I’ll just walk a block. I grimace over at Dawn, seeing that she’s wearing heels. “Sorry.”
“Sorry for what? It’s those fucking assholes’ fault.” She’s quiet for a moment as we walk up the sidewalk. “Why didn’t you just tell Mr. Holden that you were literally barred entry into the student lot?”
I shrug. “One, he already thinks I’m entitled. Two, they look the other way when it comes to the Ballers. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
She scoffs. “Yeah, those five and that Richie Youngs kid who deals pot on school grounds that everyone else seems to know about except them.”
My eyebrows raise. “What?!”
She laughs. “You think that’s bad? At my old school, it was way worse than pot. It was the hard stuff, and guns and knives, too.”
“Yikes.”
Dawn stares at me and shakes her head. “Jesus. You really did go to a private school, didn’t you? Who says yikes?”
I belly laugh, shoving her a little in the shoulder. “Shut up.”
My outfit does exactly what I want it to do. Everyone’s still glaring at me, the Broadwell Academy bitch they don’t want here. But the guys? Most of their stares dip lower, checking me out. It gives me a sick satisfaction all day. When lunch rolls around, I know I’ve made the exact impression I want to. The Ballers are glaring at me as I sashay by them with my tray, acting as if nothing is wrong. The girl on Ryan, whose name I found out is Rhonda Kyle, practically stomps off when she first sees me. I pick at my salad and laugh and joke with Dawn the entire time.
I’m not naive enough to think I’ve won or that the Ballers are done with me, but at least I can have this moment. And this won’t even be my triumph of the day. That I’m saving for later.
“Tell me you’re coming to the Sign-Up event after school,” I say to Dawn, leaning in close.
She rolls her eyes and looks around the cafeteria. The place is decked out in blue and gold. The Ballers are even wearing button-up shirts with blue and gold ties. “Jesus. Is everyone obsessed with this?”
“It’s a big deal,” I tell her, my smile instantly widening at the bomb I’ll drop on everyone later today.
She shrugs. “You know I’m going.”
I smile and then we stand to leave before the bell rings. Her heels click over the floor as we put our trays down, and I start out for Life Sciences. We’re in the middle of learning how to track household budgets right now. I can’t really scoff at it. Sure, my family has personal accountants for this stuff, but it’s good to know what’s going on with your own money. Especially since professional women’s basketball players aren’t making bank like their male counterparts. Yes, some of that can be attributed to the money the league makes overall, but the gap between women and men’s pay in this instance is sickening. Now, if I can get a sponsorship deal with Nike, that’s another thing.
A hand slams against a locker right in front of me. I skid to a stop and glare up at Sloan Ivy. His hazel eyes, coupled with the speckling of freckles over his skin, make him look less threatening, but I know better. His black pants and white button-up hug his muscles. His hair is gelled today and despite the fact his father is a senator and his parents are paraded around everywhere, he doesn’t look quite as haughty as he should. “Sloan,” I say, looking past him to my classroom.
He looks me over the same way I did him. Heat crawls up my neck and a fire starts in my lower stomach. “You certainly look different,” he says, a disinterested drawl to his voice.
“Sign-Ups Day.” I give him a demure smile and a slight shrug.
“You’ll be next to Daddy?”
“Aren’t I always?” We stare at each other for a little while longer. “Will Senator Ivy be with us tonight?”
His eyes draw in. “No,” he says curtly. “But my mother will be there.”
I can’t help the regret that laces through me. I honestly didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject. “I didn’t—”
“It doesn’t matter, Dale,” he says with a sigh. “It’s best you keep close to Daddy tonight.” He winks. “We wouldn’t want something happening to you.” He reaches up and trails a finger down my cheek. Right where Lake drew a dick on my face. His lips curve up wickedly. “Right?”
I push his hand out of the way, then place my palm against his chest. My fingers burn once I feel his tight muscles, but I move him back steadily until I’m standing right next to the open door of my class. “Thanks for your concern, Sloan, but I think I’ll be okay.”
I turn to leave, but Sloan reaches out and grabs my wrist, forcing me to turn around. “What are you doing here, Tessa?”
His eyes burn into me, but otherwise, they’re practically unreadable. All I know is that his look makes goosebumps sprout over my body. “Attending school,” I tell him, my mouth dry. I don’t know why they distrust me so much. The problem has never been me. Maybe they’re just worried that I’m sick of their bullshit now. That I’m ready to speak up and act out. I am, but what’s to come isn’t about them. It’s only about me. “See you tonight,” I tell him, then peel my wrist away from his fingers and head into class.
For the rest of the period, I stare at my wrist where we touched. I swear I can still feel his skin on mine. When the bell rings, I follow everyone out of class and head toward the gym. When I’m halfway down the hall, I stop in my tracks. At the end of the corridor, I see Tim “The Real Deal” Dale towering over everyone. A smile immediately splits my lips apart, and I move forward, stepping around people who are going to slow. “Da—”
My words die on my lips. He’s standing next to Ryan, his huge hand on his shoulder. They both turn my way, but the looks on their faces can’t be more different. My dad comes toward me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Hey, Pumpkin.”
Embarrassing nickname aside, it’s good to see him. I miss seeing him every day. Since the separation, I don’t see him nearly as much as I used to. I didn’t realize until this moment how much that sucks. I mean, I’m seventeen. My parents getting a divorce shouldn
’t be that big of a deal. I’ll be going off to college soon, anyway. It’s hard to explain, but it is that big of a deal, like everything is slowly ripping to shreds around me and I can’t stop it.
Dad steps back. Ryan is still staring daggers at me, but I don’t care. He won’t do anything in front of my dad. He may not hand things to me like the others think, but I’m still his little girl. “You look beautiful,” my dad says.
I smile up at him. “Look at you, old man.” I tug on the sides of his suit coat. “Looking dapper.”
My dad does a little strut. He’s always been quite the showoff. Even Ryan smiles at that. Then, Dad puts his hand around my shoulder again. “I thought we could talk.”
“Oh,” I say. “I have gym right now.”
He looks down his nose at me. “I don’t think they’ll mind. Just for a few minutes.”
I shrug. “Okay, I guess.”
Ryan takes that as his cue to leave. He holds out his hand to shake my dad’s, not sparing me a glance as he walks away. “The rivalry still strong, huh?” Dad asks. He’s got a look on his face I can’t place.
“You could say that,” I mutter.
He pulls me just inside the gym where he walks off to talk to Miss Lyons, the girls’ gym teacher. When he comes back, he leads me into her office. He sits in Miss Lyons’ seat, and I sit across from him. It feels like I’m in trouble, asked into the teacher’s office for a punishment. “Quintessa,” Dad starts. He just loves using my full name. “I wish you told me about moving schools. What’s going on? Why Rockport?”
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that, I’d be able to take Dawn for ice cream again. “I thought you’d be happy, Dad. Me, going to your alma mater.”
I thought what I said would make him smile, but it doesn’t. “Is it money? Does your mom not want to pay for the tuition?”
I shake my head. “No, Dad, that’s not it.”
“I’ll pay for your tuition, Pumpkin. You know I will, if that’s what it comes down to.”
I lean forward. “It’s really not that.” I don’t want to get dragged into their arguments, but I also don’t want to tell him my plans just yet if I can help it.
“Is it the donation to the school’s sports association? I had no idea they wouldn’t fund the girls’ basketball team.”
“I know,” I tell him. My cheeks are burning, and my throat feels raw even though I haven’t told him anything yet. Maybe part of me is scared. I don’t know. My dad always said I could be just as good as any of the boys, but does he really mean that? He also didn’t realize I’d go to the lengths I am just to play basketball no matter how many times I told him I wanted to play professionally. There’s a disconnection there between what I’m saying and what he’s hearing—or understanding.
“I’ll call Broadwell right now. They’ll take you back. I’ll pay up the tuition, and I’ll make the donation. Just say the word.”
I shake my head silently. “It’s really not that.”
He rubs his hand over his head. “Then I just don’t get it, Pumpkin. Why Rockport?”
“It’s not like it’s bad, right?” I ask, chuckling a little. “You went here. I’ve made a friend already.” I won’t tell him about the enemies I’ve made. Let the Ballers’ actions come out to him when they trip up. I certainly don’t need my ‘Daddy’ to save me.
“No, I love Rockport. You know that.” He steeples his hands in front of him. “It’s not because you’re trying to get my attention, is it? I know I haven’t seen you in a week. I’ll try to be better, I’ve just been busy getting Sign-Ups ready. Don’t screw up your future because you’re mad at me.”
He looks so lost it hurts my heart. “Dad, I’m absolutely not mad at you. This really doesn’t have anything to do with you, or Mom. It has everything to do with me.” He gazes straight into me, and I can tell by the look there that he doesn’t believe me one bit. My palms start to sweat. I rub them together and then squeeze them between my knees as I look up at him again. I have to tell him. “Dad, I transferred here because I’m going to play ball for the Rockport Warriors.”
Dad’s brows pull together. “There’s no girls’ team here.”
I nod. “I’m going to play ball for the Rockport Warriors boys’ basketball team.” His eyes widen, and his mouth drops a little. “You know how important basketball is to me,” I tack on. “I’ve planned it all out. I was never going to get that good of a look playing for Broadwell, but Rockport’s one of the best in the state. I’ve looked it up, they can’t keep me from playing. Well, they can’t keep me from trying out at least. Then all I have to do is prove that I’m good enough to make the team.”
I’ve stunned him into silence. He’s just staring at me, his eyes moving over my face. “Wow.” He takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “I don’t know what to say.”
My gut twists at that. It wasn’t exactly the reaction I was hoping for. I swallow. “It’s what I want.” I’m too scared to ask him what he thought I actually meant all those times I told him I wanted to play professionally. Did he think I was joking? Does he think I’m not good enough? “I don’t want you to think me going here has anything to do with you or Mom because it doesn’t. I’m doing this for me.”
He nods slowly. “I get that. I’m still shocked, but I get that. I take it you’re doing this at Sign-Ups tonight then?”
“Please don’t tell anyone beforehand,” I beg. I honestly just don’t want the Ballers to have a chance to sabotage me. They would if they could.
“It’s certainly going to make a splash,” he says, his eyebrows raising again. I wonder if the girl wrestler’s father reacted like this when she told him she wanted to try out for the wrestling team. If he did, I pity her.
“Are you…happy?” I ask because I just can’t help it. I need to know where his head’s at.
He swings his gaze toward me. “Of course I am, Pumpkin.” He runs his hands over his head again. “It’s just none of this is what your mother and I had planned for you. Everything’s changing, and it’s just hard to take in right now, you know?”
I stand. “Well, I should head back out for class.” I had no intention of changing for gym actually. Sign-Ups is less than an hour away. There’s no way I’m going to get sweaty beforehand.
He follows me to my feet, then comes over and kisses the top of my head. He hugs my shoulders to him. “I’m proud of you, Quintessa. You’ve always gone after exactly what you want.”
I don’t look in his eyes when he says it. I just want to pretend that’s what he means instead of possibly seeing a lie on his face.
10
After gym, Dawn and I make a pit stop to the girls’ bathroom to freshen up our makeup. Then, we put our bags away and walk down to Timothy Dale Court. Dawn saw my dad when he stepped into the gym to talk with me, but when we get right next to him, she looks straight up, her head at an awkward angle, and says, “You’re tall.”
I laugh, then push her shoulder. “Dad, this is my new friend, Dawn.”
My dad pats her head. It’s what he usually does when people comment about how tall he is. “Nice to meet you, Dawn.”
“You too, Sir.”
I look over at her and find her shrugging while her eyes practically bug out of her head. “I have no idea,” she whispers. “All of a sudden I got starstruck and I have no idea who he is. I think it’s because he’s so damn tall.”
“He is intimidating,” I whisper back to her. My dad has to tone down his temper or else he looks like a big, roaring giant.
The court is decked out in blue and gold. Right now, the RHS marching band is setting up in one corner. There’s a DJ in the other corner tapping away at his laptop and holding a pair of bright red headphones to his ears. Between them, there’s a row of tables lined with snacks and drinks. Just to the other side of my father, there’s a small table decked out with a fine linen tablecloth. On that tablecloth is the sign-up sheet. In a half hour or so, my name will be on that list. My stomach
is in knots just thinking about it. In the middle of the court, there’s a podium my dad will say a few words at to start the evening. After that, Coach Bradley will make a speech too. Other than that, the Ballers and the rest of the current basketball team will be around to sign autographs, talk to reporters, and welcome the new recruits to tryout.
I told you it’s crazy.
The Ballers come in next. Each one of them shuffles by and shakes hands with my father. Dawn has gone over to sit on the bottom row of the stands, but I’m right next to my dad like I usually am. With me so close, they have no choice but to acknowledge me. Each and every one of them gives me a short nod. Sloan even gives me a halfway decent smile. Lake, though, gives me a wide grin, asking me how I’m doing. He makes a point to look at my cheek. I really want to knee him in the junk at that moment, but instead, I just smile and turn to my dad. “Did Lake tell you how well he’s behaving this year?” Lake’s face goes ashen. He’s known for being a troublemaker. He’s even been suspended for a couple games in the past, so this won’t seem out-of-the-blue to bring up to my dad. But I’m also hoping it gets the point across to Lake that I’m not backing down.
“That’s excellent, O’Brien. Good to hear it.” He claps him on the back and ushers him on.
Lake looks back at me, and I just smile and wink. I’ll probably pay for that later, but it’s not as if I have a dick still drawn on my cheek right now. Being next to my dad is also making me bolder. They won’t touch me here. They can’t. It would mean an end to them and maybe that makes me want to push it. To see if they will actually bite, to try to destroy me in front of my dad, too.
Dad shakes hands with Coach next, and they start talking shop as usual. Before too long, though, the marching band starts up with the fight song. The gaggle of butterflies that have suddenly come out of their cocoon are flying in my stomach. I already see two freshman I’m sure will sign up. I forgot to even ask Dad how many hopefuls there were. No one else is staring at the sign-up sheet like me and those two though.