by Jacob Chance
I’m pretty sure my mother’s greatest fear isn’t something terrible happening to me, it’s that I’ll get pregnant before I get my college education.
“I’ll talk to you when I can, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you too. I—”
I hang up before she can finish. I love you is a great way to end the conversation. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t going to like what was about to come next nearly as much.
Entering my room, I shut the door and turn to find Rachel staring at me. It feels a little like being caught in a car’s headlights. I move forward and slip my sneakers off, pushing them under my bed with one of my feet. I sink down on my mattress and glance at Rachel. I can tell she wants to talk to me, and I might as well get the awkward conversation over with.
Lying on her bed, she pages through a magazine and then meets my eyes. “I know we don’t know each other well, but you seem off today. Want to talk about whatever’s on your mind?”
Because I appreciate the directness of her approach, I’ll answer honestly. “I didn’t want to see Donovan.”
Rachel frowns, immediately sitting up in a cross-legged position. “Why?”
Sighing, I lie back on the mattress, my feet still braced on the floor and my hands folded on my stomach. Staring up at the ceiling, I formulate my reply. “He and I came to an agreement that we’d stay away from one another.”
“What does that mean?” Rachel asks.
“It’s just best if we don’t mix much.”
“Did you guys have a fight last night?” she presses.
Should I tell her what happened inside these four walls? I don’t know her well, but she seems nice enough. It’s not like I’m going to stay friends with anyone I meet this week. And even if I do, we’ll all be returning to our own lives. If she tells anyone, it will be people I’ve never met.
“Donovan walked me back here and came in. We ended up fooling around a little and he asked me if I was a virgin. Once I confirmed I was, he made it clear he wasn’t looking for a girlfriend and left.”
Rachel gasps. “What a dick.”
I shift until I’m sitting on the bed with my back against the cool wall. “Yes and no. I think he’s an asshole for feeling that way, but I can’t say what’s right for someone else. I’m not going to judge him for his behavior. Well, maybe I will judge him a little.” I laugh. “But at least he was up front about everything. I do appreciate that.”
Rachel nods. “You’re right. He didn’t lie to you. It sucks that he just wants to get laid, but what guy our age doesn’t want that? At least he clued you in.”
“And since the situation is so damn awkward, I figured I’d just stay out of his way as much as possible.”
“The hell with that. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Let him stay out of your way,” Rachel huffs indignantly.
I see her point, but I don’t want to be uncomfortable either. Maybe I’ll go about my day as usual and not try to outright avoid him. While I’m here, I’d like to have fun too. I don’t have much of a social life with the mom I have. She’s uber involved in what I can and can’t do. I might as well make the most of my freedom while I’m here. I shouldn’t isolate myself or hole up in this room trying to stay away from Donovan.
“Yeah, you might be right. I’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
“Good, I missed having you around with me,” Rachel says.
“Aww, that’s sweet. I missed you too. I ate my dinner alone on the bench by the pond.”
“If it’s any consolation, Donovan wasn’t at dinner either.”
I tilt my head. “Really?” I can’t believe he was absent too. I let out a loud snort.
“What?” Rachel asks.
“I never realized how scary I am.” A quick laugh slips free.
“He must really want to avoid you.” Rachel snickers and we both fall into laughter.
I’m glad I confided in her. She’s helped me gain a better perspective on the situation.
Chapter Six
Donovan
I spent most of yesterday avoiding situations that would put me in contact with Piper, and I had a shit day as a result. I ate my dinner alone and spent the night hanging out in my room.
Jeremy asked me why I was hiding out and I denied that I was. What guy keeps their distance from a girl they find attractive? I’ve never done that before and I’m questioning why I am now.
The problem is, I’m not only infatuated with how Piper looks. In all my experiences with the opposite sex, most of the girls have made the initial effort to start something with me. Maybe that’s why I find Piper’s shyness to be endearing. The way she lowers her eyes and ducks her chin when she’s feeling self-conscious is adorable. When she tucks her red hair behind her ear with the tip of her finger, it brings a strange warmth to my chest.
I admire her athletic ability. Strong and fit, she could probably outrun me. I haven’t heard her complain once about the aches or pains we typically incur while here. In fact, she doesn’t complain at all.
Quietly and efficiently, she goes about her business, like she’d be perfectly content blending into the background. But that’s not even a remote possibility. She doesn’t understand how much she stands out amongst a crowd. It’s like trying to diminish how brightly a star shines—it can’t be done.
Jeremy lowers to the grass next to me. “What do you think they’re going to make us do?”
Continuing with my stretching routine, I reply, “They told us to wear our running shoes and bring water, so I imagine we’re about to either go for a long run or do sprints.”
Jeremy groans and falls to his back. “Fuck. I don’t know which one sounds worse. They both suck in their own ways.”
He’s right, but this is what we came here for. “Dude, what do you expect? It’s an exclusive hockey camp.”
“I know that. I can still despise running, though,” he grumbles.
“You need to make yourself run three times a week, no matter how miserable it is for you. After a while you’ll start to enjoy it. There’s a feeling of accomplishment you’ll get after every run.”
“I think you mean a feeling of extreme pain,” he quips.
My lips arc into a small smile. “The pain is only temporary. You’ll move past that quickly once you get on a set schedule.”
Stretching, Jeremy pulls his knee to his chest “I know you’re right, but I’m not ready to say so. That would mean I’ve already accepted that I need to start running regularly. Every atom in my body rebels at that idea.”
“If you want to play hockey in college, you’ll accept it as gospel. And the sooner you do that, the better.” My reply is matter-of-fact.
“Hey, boys,” Rachel calls out as she approaches. My heart trips on the next beat when I spot Piper beside her.
“Hi,” I reply. My eyes stay on Piper, willing her to look at me, but she won’t.
“Rachel, did you happen to bring me a snack?” Jeremy asks.
“I did.” She tosses a protein bar in his direction and he snatches it out of mid-air like a well trained dog.
He grins. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Rachel smirks. “I know I am.” She lowers to the grass next to Jeremy with Piper beside her. Opening my bottle, I drink some water but not too much. I don’t want to get cramps when I’m running. My gaze wanders over to Piper. I watch as she goes through a series of stretches that’s similar to my own routine. I can’t see her face from where I am, but her lean legs are encased in running shorts that come to mid-thigh, more than making up for that. Her well-developed quads show how much work she puts in at the gym.
A whistle blows, calling our attention to Doug, one of the trainers we’ve been working with in the gym. He waves everyone over and we merge into the small crowd.
“You guys are going to be doing some running. I’ve clearly marked out the path you’ll be following around the edge of campus. The entire trail is one point five miles and you’ll be doing two laps around.” A chorus
of groans erupts with Jeremy’s being the loudest. “Yeah, yeah, I know, you hate running. You better get over your dislike fast if you want to play hockey in college. Running is a major component of improving your endurance. It’s also been proven to help with reducing stress and depression. It’s a win-win all around. If running isn’t part of your training routine at this point, you need to change that immediately. There are some free apps you can download to guide you through how to start a running regimen. If you need to hydrate before we begin, now’s the time to do so.” Doug finishes his speech.
“Can we bring our water with us?” Jeremy asks.
“If you don’t mind holding on to it for three miles,” Doug answers.
“I think I might pass out if I don’t,” Jeremy grumbles.
“You won’t pass out. Three miles isn’t much,” I tell him.
“Not for you maybe.” He opens up his small bottle of water and guzzles down the entire contents. “There. Now I won’t have to worry about being dehydrated or carrying it with me.”
I catch sight of Piper grimacing and I know there’s a matching expression on my face. After drinking a full bottle of water, Jeremy will be lucky if he isn’t throwing up halfway through the run. I rub a hand over my suddenly nauseous stomach. I’m having sympathy pains for the misery I know he’s going to endure.
“Let’s get going,” Doug shouts and claps his hands. The camp attendees wander over to him. Somehow, I end up at the front of the group next to Piper. Our eyes meet for a split second before hers cut away. I don’t blame her for not wanting anything to do with me. I know what I did two nights ago was harsh.
Doug blows his whistle and we’re off. I start out at a steady pace, one that’s on the slower side for me. After the first thirty seconds or so, Piper is running next to me and we’ve left all the others behind. Our feet pounding the path in sync, we remain side by side.
Glancing sideways at Piper, I notice her focus is on the path in front of us. I don’t want to distract her, but I also don’t want to waste this time we have alone. If I wait for the perfect moment to apologize, I may never get the chance.
“Piper, I owe you an apology for my behavior the other night. I’m sorry for leaving your room and not taking the time to talk with you about what I was thinking and feeling.”
She remains quiet, and I let the lack of conversation stretch between us. But after a couple of minutes when she still hasn’t acknowledged my apology, I start to get a little annoyed.
“Did you not hear my apology?” I ask.
“I heard it just fine,” she says.
“Are you going to accept it?”
“I haven’t made my mind up yet,” she replies, barely sounding winded.
“Well, it would mean a lot to me if you would. I don’t make a habit of treating girls poorly. Especially ones I like.”
“If I accept, will it get you to stop talking to me?” she asks.
I grunt with displeasure. “For now.”
“Okay, then your apology is accepted.”
She hasn’t looked at me once since we’ve been talking. I’m a little annoyed at how she’s freezing me out. I apologized and I didn’t have to. What more does she want?
Maybe her expectations for how an eighteen-year-old guy should act are unreasonable. I treat girls better than most of the guys I know. I’m not saying I’m worthy of being placed on a pedestal, but I’m not an asshole either. At least, I don’t think I am.
I allow the silence for the rest of the three miles. The two of us are so far ahead of the crowd that we haven’t seen or heard them behind us at any point along the way.
Doug is sitting on the grass waiting for us when we finish. “Great job, guys.”
Both of us keep walking around to cool down. Grabbing my water bottle, I take a long sip while still taking steps. I notice Piper scouring the ground. “What are you looking for?” I ask.
“My water’s missing. I put it down over here and it’s gone.”
I can’t help but wonder if Jeremy drank her water. I don’t remember him having anything in his hands when he arrived and he sure as hell swallowed a whole bottle’s worth before our run.
“Here, I’ve got plenty. Have some of mine.” I hold out the stainless steel cylinder. She hesitates. “Take it,” I urge.
Although her reluctance to accept my offer is obvious, common sense wins out. Tipping the bottle back, she takes a deep pull of the ice-cold liquid and swallows with a hum of pleasure. “God, that was good.”
Watching her pure enjoyment makes me smile. “You can have more.”
She shakes her head and hands me the bottle. “Thanks. I’m all set for now.”
Our eyes connect for the first time since I walked out of her room two days ago. Her dark chocolate orbs hit me like an emotion-packed jab to my stomach. Unexpected and powerful.
Doug stands. “Since you two finished ahead of the others, you can head back to your rooms. You have free time until dinner.”
Piper’s eyes light with excitement. “For real?”
Doug chuckles. “Yes, for real.”
“Whoo hoo,” I shout. “Come on.” Catching hold of Piper’s hand, I tug her along with me. “Let’s get the fuck away from here before he changes his mind.”
Piper laughs. “I can’t believe we finished so far ahead of everyone else. Did they get lost?”
“I think we might be the only ones who run regularly,” I explain.
We reach the back entrance of the school and slip inside. Piper’s head drops as she looks at our joined hands. She tugs hers free as if she just realized we were connected. I guess it was nice while it lasted. But I’m not ready to go back to ignoring each other. I’m enjoying her company too much.
“I guess I’ll head back to my room,” she says.
“Or you could come to the rec room with me and I can kick your butt at air hockey,” I suggest.
Rolling her lips inward, she studies me before she nods. “You’re on.”
I flash a grin at her and catch hold of her hand once more. “Do you think they all made it back to Doug yet?” I ask.
“I hope so. If not, Doug will ruin their night by punishing them. He might make them run the whole thing over again.”
“Oh, Jesus. I don’t think Jeremy can handle that,” I say. “But it’s not our problem either. Let’s have some fun while we can.” Releasing her hand, I hold the door open. “After you.”
Chapter Seven
Piper
We face off on opposite sides of the air hockey table. I’m conflicted about being here with him right now. When he grabbed my hand as we left the path, I didn’t even notice. I kind of lost myself in our shared moment of triumph. It’s pretty awesome to be one of the two top runners out of all the kids attending this camp. I may not be the best hockey player, but no one aside from Donovan can give me a run for my money when it comes to conditioning.
Picking up my paddle, I wait for Donovan to make a play. I know he’s going to be aggressive because he likes to win. But so do I. I bet he doesn’t expect me to come at him hard. Pinning my bottom lip between my teeth keeps me from smiling. I can’t tip him off.
The puck flies across the surface so fast, I almost miss the block. I get my paddle in the way at the last second and he swears. Pushing the puck forcefully away from my end, I silently plead for a goal, but it doesn’t come to fruition. I know it’s not going to be easy to beat him, but I’m determined.
Donovan snickers when he blocks my shot. “Nice try, Piper.” His cocky tone irks me.
My lips curl. “So it’s like that, is it?”
“Did you think it would go any other way? We’re two competitors. I don’t think either of us will be happy without a crushing victory.”
“Good point.” He does realize how competitive I am. He’s more observant than I gave him credit for.
The puck flies toward my goal and my block is awkward but effective. I send the black disc sailing back to his side of the table. The longer
our game continues, the more we trash talk. When we get to the point where the game is tied at six all, my heart starts to race. Whoever scores the next goal will be the winner.
That person has to be me.
Come on, universe, work with me. Give me an extra shot of girl power to knock this arrogant boy down a peg or two. It’s the least he deserves for being such a dick to me the other night.
Donovan fires the puck across the table and I reflexively strike out, sending it screaming toward his goal. He hesitates on the block, waffling on which way to go. The small pause is enough to let the puck slip right into his goal. I won.
Throwing my arms up in the air, I jump up and down, shouting. You’d think I just won something substantial and not a game of air hockey.
Donovan comes over to my side of the table and pulls me in for a hug. “Congratulations, hotshot.”
“Thanks.” I try to keep my smile to a minimum, but I’m full-blown beaming at him.
“I want a rematch,” he says.
“I don’t know if I’m up for another game,” I joke.
“For real?” he asks, frowning. Does he want a rematch that badly? Or is he having as much fun as I am?
“Nah, I’m messing with you. I’m not afraid to kick your butt again,” I boast, heading to the other side of the table.
Unfortunately, my boasting is premature. Donovan wins the second game by one point.
“We need a tie breaker,” I spit out, shifting my weight from side to side.
“What, no hug?” he asks, extending both arms outward. He walks toward me.
I hold my middle finger up. “There’s your hug.”
He laughs and stops in front of me. “Fuck me? Okay. But a hug would have sufficed.”
“My virginity is still intact, so we both know you don’t mean that.”
His intense blue gaze pins me in place. “Don’t be so sure about that.” He takes my place and I trek around to the side he had last game. I won the first game from this side, so maybe this is my lucky side.