by Mae Reese
“It sucked. She was an amazing person and when she died it truly felt like one of those deaths that devastated everyone who knew her” I close my eyes, trying to pull up some memories I have stored of her but failing. The visions of her faded over time, the sound of her voice dull in my head.
Skylar doesn’t say anything for what feels like an eternity, her voice is small when she finally speaks “It’s not fair that people like that lose their lives and people as vile as my mother get to live and terrorize everyone around them.”
“As much as I dislike your mother, Sky, I am thankful for her because she brought you into the world and we wouldn’t be here right now without her…” I say, kissing the side of her head.
“Okay Polly Positive, let’s go to bed. We have a big day tomorrow and it starts early. Your sister is coming with us” she stands, holding out her hand for me. I take it and pull myself up, pulling her to me when I’m at my full height.
Leaning down I kiss her, her soft lips lightly pressing to mine.
She really would have loved you.
∞∞∞
The next morning Skylar, Breanne, and I load up coolers full of Gatorade we told Coach we were bringing and head over to Sebastian’s to pick him up. During our conversation last night I told him about the game and he wanted to tag along.
When we arrive in Monroe Bash and I unload the coolers and Skylar heads inside with Breanne to get the banners the art class made so she can hang them up.
When we get to the football field, I see Samuel sitting off on the sideline bench talking to Maisie.
Weird.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Sebastian asks when he notices him.
“No clue” I reply. Bash and I drop the cooler off on the sideline just as Breanne and Sky emerge from the center with their hands full of banners and posters.
"Hey Mais. Sam..." I acknowledge them, my tone cautious. Samuel is way too good of friends with Weston which makes me immediately suspicious of him.
They both greet us, Samuel jumping up quickly when he notices the girls who are walking out of the center with their arms loaded full of banners and posters. He grabs the stuff out of Breanne's arms, and she blushes.
What the hell?
Skylar doesn’t look shocked, in fact she looks amused. When she cuts her eyes to mine the look on my face must betray my annoyance because hers turns to one of playful guilt.
I walk over, taking the rest of the stuff from her hands and leaning down to her ear “Want to tell me what that is all about?”
“Can’t. Girl code” she replies, leaning over and giving me a kiss on the cheek before scampering, literally scampering, after my sister and Samuel.
I get back to the bench to find Maisie and Sebastian purposefully and painfully ignoring each other as they occupy themselves with their phones.
"You two suck at this whole crushing thing" I say to them, bemused.
"I have a boyfriend" Maisie says automatically, her eyes not leaving her phone. Bash snorts from beside her, pocketing his phone before mumbling something about helping the girls and wandering off.
She glances over her shoulder and watches as he walks away, her eyes sad.
"Want to talk about it?" I ask.
Startled like she forgot I was standing there, her masks quickly slips back in place. "Nothing to talk about" she says snappily, effectively ending the conversation.
I nod, heading off into the locker room to see Coach and see if there was anything he needed help with before the game.
∞∞∞
Coach asked me to help out on the sidelines with the boys and I happily obliged. The kids seemed to want me there, and I wanted to be there to help them.
Before the game I sat off to the side, watching as Coach huddled his boys. It was so awesome to see the determination in their eyes. It reminded me of myself when I was their age playing peewee ball.
The boys chanted, their normal pregame ritual before running out of the locker room while slapping a picture of a local boy who had made it to the NFL.
When we emerged out of the locker room I looked towards the bleachers. Maisie, Breanne, and Sky sat in front of where the peewee cheer team were set up to cheer... along with Sebastian and Samuel.
Still unsure about what's up with Samuel...
I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but something in my gut didn’t like it. Every time my eyes drifted to the stands I could see my sister and Samuel close together... chatting intimately.
My annoyance dissipated once the game started and I chose to focus on the boys instead of the group from my school cheering in the bleachers. Seeing the boys energy and joy was infectious to not only me, but the crowd in the stands as well.
It was fun to watch the boys play and quickly made me realize why Skylar loved this so much.
I can hear her screams every time the boys score, the sound wafting to me above everyone else’s whoops and hollers.
The score was tied with :43 seconds to go. James, the boy I had been working with, was probably the quickest kid on the team and I knew what he could do. I pulled Coach Craig aside and asked permission to call the play, he agreed. When I huddled up the boys I told James what I wanted from him, everyone else basically had to be a distraction.
The kids broke off and I grabbed the front of James’ helmet, his dark eyes staring at me.
“You got this. I know you can do this, I believe in you” I say.
His face lights up before he runs out on the field to join his teammates and run the play. I watch with bated breath, looking over at Sky who is literally sitting on the edge of the bleacher with her leg bouncing up and down. This is as big for her as it is for me.
The center hikes the ball to James who fake passes and I watch as the opposing team follow the fake pass with their eyes. James takes off, his little legs darting right before running untouched down the sideline and crossing into the end zone. They freaking win.
Holy shit, that worked.
The excitement from them is contagious as the boys from the field all pile on each other in the end zone. I laugh when 6 kids no higher than my hip dump one of the coolers of Gatorade on Coach Craig and he squeals like a girl. My laughter soon dies when I am doused with another cooler of freezing water and ice. The boys laughing as they run away, afraid coach and I will come after them.
My clothes are soaked, the fabric clinging to my skin. I notice Skylar standing off to the side, Breanne next to her. I crook my finger, urging her closer and she shakes her head. The wicked smirk forming on my lips causing her eyes to widen. I take off and she screams, bolting down the sideline.
Little thing is fast.
I reach her about 40 yards down, wrapping my arms around her from behind and lifting her off the ground. She squeals and laughs as my sopping shirt soaks through hers, the cold hitting her skin.
“You don’t get to run from me” I said, the double meaning thick in my voice. I place her down on the ground and she turns in my arms, trying to keep a few inches between us to keep the front of her shirt dry.
“This will be one of the very few times I do” she smirks, standing on her toes for a kiss. I oblige, leaning down and capturing her lips with mine. “Congratulations baby, your team won.” She whispers against my lips.
“Hey lovebirds, break it up. Didn’t you say we had a pizza party to attend?” Sebastian asks from where the group is standing.
Grabbing her hand we make our way over to the group and then over to the pizza party inside, spending the rest of the afternoon hanging out with the boys and the cheerleaders.
Chapter 32
Skylar
“But I don’t wanna” I whine, covering my head with the pillow and blocking out the sun.
“We have to go, Sky” Barron replies, tugging the pillow off my head for the third time “Breanne really wants to see Samuel, who the fuck knows why, and she doesn’t want to go alone. Frankly, I don’t want to have her go alone to a party with that asshole either.
”
“I’m sick… cough” I say even as I am throwing the covers off my legs and shuffling to the bathroom.
“Hey, c’mere” Barron grabs my hand, stopping me. He pulls me to him and wraps his hands around my waist. “What’s really going on in that head of yours? Tell me why you want out of this so badly.”
“I don’t know really, I just feel like something bad is going to happen” I answer quietly, not really knowing how to explain the anxiety I am feeling in my stomach.
“Let’s just go and hang out with B for a little bit, and if you still feel like you want to leave after an hour or so we will go, deal?” He asks me, still searching my eyes for whatever is bothering me.
I nod my head and turn towards the bathroom, laughing when he picks me up and carries me in instead.
∞∞∞
Forty-five minutes later we make our way downstairs to an annoyed Breanne.
“I thought we we’re leaving thirty minutes ago!” She huffs from her spot on the couch. I glance over at Barron and see the smoldering look that reminds me of just why we are so late.
“Sorry” I murmur as I blush, hiking the tote bag onto my shoulder and making my way to the garage.
Barron laughs, slapping my ass as he takes the bag from me and deposits it in the back of the Range Rover with Breanne’s.
Sliding myself into the front seat after Barron opens my door I turn around “Seriously Breanne, I know you’re nervous and I hate we made you wait when you felt like that” I say biting my lip.
“You two could have done the horizontal mambo later” she rolls her eyes playfully.
“Who says shit like that aside from my seventy-eight year old Granny?!” I ask.
“My sister” Barron says, sliding into the drivers seat “My mom always said she had a ‘old soul’” he laughs.
She flicks his ear “Kiss my ass.”
I pull my glasses down as Barron backs out of the garage and turns up the old school MxPx song coming from the bluetooth on his phone.
∞∞∞
When we arrive at the lake house there are already cars and people everywhere. Barron dodges a couple of already drunk guys that I don’t recognize before finding a spot near the wood line.
Laya’s parents were in Hawaii until next week so she had free reign over the lake house until then.
“I’m not drinking so you both can if you want, I will drive us home… and you will be going home with us” Barron says, looking at his sister through the rear-view mirror. She sighs, opening the door and hopping out into the sunny North Carolina morning.
I open my door and slide out, walking to the back to grab my bag. Barron takes it before I have a chance to, shutting the back door as he does.
The party is in full swing, people are on the water in floats and in the pool horsing around. Most of The Academy seems to be in attendance.
“Listen… you know the rules. Don’t take drinks from people and don’t leave yours unattended. If you start feeling weird you find me or one of the guys” he says, leaning down to her level.
“Yes dad” she rolls her eyes and walks ahead of us, obviously on a mission to find Samuel. I still do not understand that relationship, or lack there of. They talk all the time, texting constantly, but he has only kissed her once which is not his normal M.O.
Barron grabs my hand, dragging me towards the shoreline where I can see Bash’s blonde hair standing out above the crowd of football players.
“Elsa!” He yells, obviously already buzzed if not drunk. He grabs my waist and tosses me over his shoulder.
“Put me down you asshole” I squeal as he starts walking into the water. “My phone is in my pocket!”
He turns back around, depositing me next to B who gives him an unreadable look.
“Ugh, turn off the alpha male… she doesn’t want my dick, only yours” he says, taking a sip of his drink.
I can feel my cheeks redden so I busy myself digging my towel out of my bag. I lay it out on the ground, tossing my phone on top of it. I take my glasses off and start to pull off my cover up.
“Fucking hell” I hear Bash mumble, a moment before he grunts. I finish pulling off my cover up and noticed he is rubbing his arm, and the look is back on Barron’s face.
“Dammit dude, it’s like a museum… We can appreciate and look we just can’t touch.”
“Not my girl you can’t” he says, grabbing his towel out of the bag and laying it next to mine.
“You’re going to make him hurt you one day, you know that right?” I ask, sitting down on the towel and kicking my flip-flops off.
“He’s never had an issue with us looking before…” Sebastian grumbles, sitting down on the sand next to Barron.
“Things change” he says simply, shrugging like it’s no big deal.
“Assholes, we’re playing a game. We need a QB” Tanner comes over, standing tall above us and blocking out my sun.
“You good?” Barron asks me and I nod in response. He leans over, giving me the barest kiss before he jogs off with Sebastian and Tanner.
My phone chimes with an incoming text;
Maisie: I’m still at rehearsal. I miss you! Text me any drama
Skylar: Ugh, you need to quit dance. I miss your face and you know I hate braving these things alone.
Maisie: You're not alone, you have the new boyfriend...
Skylar: That I do. Speaking of boyfriends... Want to tell me about that almost kiss with Bash and your current relationship status with Brock?
Maisie: Gotta go dance! Bye!
Skylar: Boo, you whore.
I put my phone down and lean back against the towel, closing my eyes and relaxing against the sounds of blaring music and yelling teens.
I'm not sure how long it is before I feel a body fall on the sand next to me. Turning my head I see a very wet and very shirtless Weston.
"Hey" he says, looking down at me.
"Hey" I reply back lamely like I didn't spend three years dating the guy.
He digs his toes into the sand, obviously nervous "How are things?"
"Good" I reply, feeling my skin prickle and knowing without glancing over that we're being watched.
"Your mom called me last night" he says after taking a deep breath.
Groaning I sit up "What did she want?" I ask.
“She wanted me to try talking you into coming back home and ending things with Barron" he starts fidgeting, picking at the skin around his fingernails.
"Ah. There's more of a chance of me singing at the Grammy's than there is for that to happen" I mumble, the sudden uncomfortable nature of the situation settling in.
"I told her I wasn't going to" he says.
That makes me snap my head back in his direction "Why?"
"Because I was a dick to you for the last three years. I figure it's only fair now to let you go do your thing. That night... the night she slapped you, I was a fucking coward and I owe you an apology" he actually looks sincere as he looks to me.
"You don't" I start to say but he cuts me off.
"Yes, I do. She should never ever have touched you and I should have gotten you out of the there the after the first slap" he scrubs his hand over his face, glancing over my shoulder at something. "I hope he makes you happy Sky, you deserve it."
He stands and brushes the sand off his shorts before heading off in the opposite direction. I can feel warm, sweaty hands wrap around my stomach as I watch Wes walk away.
"What was that about?" his low voice says in my ear before placing a soft kiss just below it.
"He was making amends" I say, turning to face him. The adorably cute confusion on his face makes me grin as I lean towards him, pressing my lips to his.
"Come watch the next game" he whispers against me, his hand sliding up my bare leg. Barron stands, grabbing my hand to help me up. He twines his fingers through mine, dragging me off to where the boys are getting ready to play another game.
Chapter 33
Barron
I can feel the heat from the bonfire licking at my legs as I lean back in a camping chair talking with Sebastian and Tanner. The warmth of the day has turned cooler, signaling that fall is fast approaching.
“If it isn’t Barron Tucker” I hear from behind me. I turn my head and see Jillian with a few of her friends from Mayberry. Her dark hair is straight and hanging over her shoulder, covering her purchased breasts.
What did I ever see in her?
“Hey” is the only response I give, turning back to Tanner and effectively dismissing her. She doesn’t get the hint, taking the empty seat next to me, which Skylar had just vacated, and crossing her long legs. She leans closer as her hair brushes my arm.
“That’s all I get?” She says, biting her bottom lip in a way I am sure she thinks is cute but is anything but. Everything about her is fake and forced, from her fake tits to her completely made up face that has obviously been touched up multiple times today.
“What else do you want?” I say absently, looking around the party to see if Sky has made her way back out yet. When I last saw her she was heading inside to change into something warmer and grab a hoodie out of my car.
“That should be obvious” she says, tracing a long fake nail up my arm. I jerk it away, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Did I make up the conversation we had at my house a few weeks ago or are you simply forgetting it?” I ask her.
She chuckles, her lips poking out in a fake pout “Come on B, I know you didn’t mean that. I miss you.”
I laugh without humor, taking a deep breath “Actually I most definitely meant it.” She opens her mouth again, the sly smile on her lips telling me she thinks she can talk me into bed when I feel Skylar behind me. She wraps her arms around my neck, dropping a second hoodie in my lap before whispering in my ear, her blond head effectively cutting off Jillian from me.