In Pieces

by Gia Riley

  “Yeah, just one more thing. Will you go to homecoming with me, Sunny?”

  I cover my face with my hands, shocked stupid for the second time today. He can’t keep doing this to me. My heart is thumping so wildly, I can’t focus. All I can do is watch as he hops off the table, hands his picture to Mr. Jasper, and takes his seat next to me—still waiting for an answer.

  I blink slowly, my expression blank. “Is that a yes?” he questions.

  “You are absolutely crazy, Rhett.”

  “That’s a yes, isn’t it?”

  I want to smack him, but I can’t. His presentation was intense, and I’m quickly learning that’s how he rolls with most everything he does. Rhett doesn’t do anything halfway—he’s all in, all the time.

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “You hear that guys? She said yes!”

  I drop my head to the table. “Ohmigod,” I whisper.

  Luckily, Mr. Jasper continues class, ending my embarrassment when everyone turns around to face the front of the room again. Rhett leans in, pulling my stool toward him so I’m sitting sideways in between his legs. His hand reaches for mine, and he links our fingers together before resting them on my thigh.

  “You’re cute when you’re nervous,” he whispers, only loud enough for me to hear.

  I raise my head to watch the rest of the presentations, not once chancing a glance in Rhett’s direction. I’m afraid what’d I find if I looked at him. Even my own presentation is a blur, as I stumble through every one of my explanations. All I feel is Rhett’s energy—his eyes holding me when his body can’t.

  It stays that way for the rest of the class as Rhett’s fingers rub light trails up and down my back. We’re in the back, and nobody else can see, which only makes it that much better. He’s not doing this for attention. He’s doing it because he wants to touch me, and so I know I’m his.

  The only thing that makes him stop touching me, is the sound of the bell, ending first period. “I’m glad you said yes to the dance. It would have really sucked if you didn’t.”

  “I almost threw up,” I admit with a laugh. “I had no idea what you were going to say today.”

  “I meant every word I said.”

  “I feel like I’m dreaming, Rhett. Like this is one big joke and tomorrow I’ll wake up and go back to being the nobody I was.”

  He tips my chin up. “This is real, I promise.”

  “My brother knows.”

  “Really? How bad does he want to beat my face in?”

  I smile. “Pretty bad, I think. That’s part of the reason I was late. He sent me a text. I have no idea who told him, but there must be a snitch around here somewhere.”

  “We’ll figure it out. I hate that he’s mad at you because of me though.” Rhett looks a little angry, but I get where he’s coming from. It would be so much easier if people would mind their own business and leave us alone.

  “It doesn’t matter. I was planning on telling Wyatt myself. I love him, but he doesn’t get to decide who I go out with.”

  “You mean that?”

  I nod my head. “It might take a while, but he’ll have to get used to it. I’m not giving you up.”

  He leans in and kisses my forehead. “You have no idea how happy that makes me, Sunny. Now, get your cute butt to class before you’re late. I’ll see you at lunch.”

  “I like when you call me that.”

  He smirks. “Good, because I wasn’t planning on stopping anytime soon.”

  The sunshine brought us together—a simple picture with a bright halo surrounding me. I’ll never forget how one frame changed my entire world. The day Rhett saw me for me and captured it forever.

  “DUDE, KINSLEY’S FRIEND is smokin’ hot. Think she has a date for the dance yet?”

  I already know who he’s talking about before I even look toward the entrance where my Sunny- girl is walking into the cafeteria with Becca. They’re deep in conversation, and after the morning I put Kinsley through, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were talking about me.

  “Becca’s a cool girl. You interested?”

  “I might be. I need a date and I sure as hell don’t want to get stuck with Mandi. It’s bad enough I had to give her my jersey this morning when she was crying on my shoulder about not having yours.”

  My best friend can be a complete and total pain in the ass, but he’s also had my back for as long as I can remember. It the reason why I can overlook most of the stupid stuff he does on a daily basis—including giving his jersey to Mandi. “You didn’t have to give it to her, you know.

  “I know, I was going to give it to Becca the same time I asked her to the dance, but then Mandi came along and she scares me, man. She jacked up my plans.”

  I can’t help but laugh at him, mostly because he’s right. Saying no to Mandi is like risking getting your balls permanently shoved down your throat for the rest of senior year. “You still have time to ask her¸ and you better. I already asked Kinsley.”

  “It’s not weird? Best friends with best friends?”

  “Na, fair warning though. Wyatt had a thing for Becca. Rumor has it he almost failed his math class just so she’d keep tutoring him.”

  Jake looks impressed, if not slightly annoyed. “Got to give him credit, I was never his biggest fan on the field, but it takes guts to jeopardize your GPA and your football career for a girl. Doesn’t change what I’m about to do though.”

  If there’s someone who could compete with Wyatt for the jackass of the year award, it would be Jake. “Didn’t think it would.”

  “I’m just sayin’, if you can get the girl, I can get the girl. I don’t even need you to wish me luck, that’s how confident I am. I’ll be back.”

  I laugh at him mostly because Becca’s going to say, yes. It’s not like he even has to worry, but I still like putting the fear of Wyatt in him. He doesn’t seem worried as he runs across the cafeteria, cocky as he accused Wyatt of being, and slides on his knees until he comes to a screeching halt right in front of Becca. He stays on bended knee, taking her hand in his until she’s nodding her head that she’ll go to the dance with him. He stands up, swings her around in a circle, and then jogs back to the table leaving her completely dazed. It’s typical Jake behavior.

  “Talk about a grand gesture,” I tell him when he gets back to the table.

  “Nailed it didn’t I? Wyatt can suck it.”

  “It was pretty badass.”

  Kinsley scans the room, searching for me, but doesn’t spot me right away. I wave my hand in the air, whistling for her attention. She ducks her head and shuffles over to me, not wanting the spotlight that’s currently shining on her. I’m trying to work on a softer approach, but sometimes I forget. The girls I’ve dated in the past never cared. They’re usually louder than I am. Then again, they aren’t Kinsley. That’s why I like her so much—because she isn’t like them at all.

  “Guys move your asses in a little. Let my girl through.”

  “Thank you,” she says, when she finally gets to the seat I saved her. Once she’s settled, she barely looks at me, instead pushing her lettuce around on her plate the same way she did yesterday. Something’s bothering her.

  Trying to take my own advice, I lean close to her, so nobody else hears me talking. “What happened?”

  “I snagged your jersey on my locker. It’s not a big tear, and I can fix it up to look like new. I’m really sorry.”

  She’s so nervous about jacking up my jersey, but I couldn’t care less. There’s a chance I’ll do worse to it before she wears it again, anyway. Her rambling’s cute though. She treats it like her prized possession. “I’d still like you if you ripped it to shreds, don’t worry about it.”

  That earns me a glare from Mandi. She got her red lipstick on one of my jerseys last year. I remember yelling at her for it.

  “Is she going to sit here every day?” Mandi asks. “I didn’t realize this table was accepting the needy.” She then glances at Becca and adds, “Or the de
sperate.” For added effect, she makes sure to fiddle with Jake’s jersey, rubbing it under Becca’s nose.

  Becca’s mouth drops open in shock. It’s bad enough Mandi’s flaunting Jake’s jersey in front of her, and now she’s insulting the both of them, publically. I almost jump in, but when Becca’s fired up, there’s no stopping her. She’s the same firecracker she was back when we were ten.

  She slams her fork down on her tray. “I don’t know who you think you are, but I’d rather be known as anything other than the bitch you are. And for the record, Jake gave you that jersey today because he felt sorry for you.”

  Mandi scoffs. “Why would he feel sorry for me? He practically begged me to wear it. It happens all the time though.”

  “You’re so full of it. He wanted me to wear it, but you were too busy acting like a two-year-old over Rhett giving his to Kinsley. So, if there are any charity cases or desperate people at this table, it would be you.” Becca stands up with her half eaten lunch still on her tray, her mouth set in a firm line, and storms out of the cafeteria.

  Jake stays in his seat, but gives a big, “hoorah,” to Becca’s work. He even points at her as she walks away and says, “That chick is badass.”

  I can’t argue with him there. Although my girl doesn’t look as amused as Jake and I do. I can tell she’s worried for her friend on top of her own disappointment. Mandi knows how to ruin a lunch period.

  “I should go make sure she’s okay,” Kinsley says, not even waiting for me to respond before she gets up and leaves.

  I’m pissed Mandi ruined the little bit of time we have together, but confronting her again won’t do any good. It will only piss her off more and the last thing I want to do is make Kinsley’s life any harder than it already is.

  Neither Becca or Kinsley are in the hallway outside the cafeteria, so I peek my head around the corner of the girls’ bathroom, and I can hear them talking.

  “I don’t know how you deal with this stuff every day of your life, Kinsley. It sucks and it hurts.”

  “After a while you start to get used to it. Eventually, it hurts less and you become numb.”

  “I don’t want Jake to know I was crying.”

  “I won’t tell anyone. Go find him. You’ll feel better after you talk to him.”

  “He’s really hot and he might even like me, but Kin, I don’t want you to think I’m disrespecting Wyatt’s feelings for me by talking to Jake. I know Wyatt likes me, and I don’t want to put you in a bad place with your brother.”

  “I get it. Wyatt’s long distance. It would make being together hard. You don’t have to explain it to me.”

  “Thanks. Oh, and Kin. I’m happy for you. If anyone deserves Rhett, it’s you.”

  Becca almost runs into me on her way out, the glassiness of her eyes still noticeable from her tears. Jake will know she was crying even if she doesn’t want him to. I stop her before she leaves, hoping to ease some of her worries. “Your comeback was killer, Becca. Don’t sweat it.”

  She gives me a warm smile—the first one I’ve gotten since we were ten. “Thanks. Kinsley’s inside. It’s empty.”

  I never doubted her support, but I’m glad I have it. Unfortunately, Kinsley isn’t as nonchalant about me being where I’m not supposed to, gasping the farther I walk inside the girls’ bathroom. “What are you doing? You can’t be in in here.”

  I point to the wall, shaking my head in disgust. “This says to call me for a good time. That’s not even my number. It’s false advertising.”

  She rewards me with her gorgeous smile, forgetting about the added stress I’m giving her. “I’m glad it’s the wrong number.”

  “You mean that?”

  “Yes. I don’t want other girls finding out how good a time you are, or even calling you.”

  I take her heavy bag off her shoulder, holding it for her while we talk. “I’m a really good time, ya know.”

  She rolls her eyes at my cheesy flirtation, but she’s not really mad. Not at all. She even looks a little curious when she says, “I can only imagine.”

  “God, I’d love to show you.” I move closer, wrapping my arms around her waist. My lips are only a few centimeters from her neck, and I know she can feel my breath on her skin when I inhale the sweet smell of her hair. “You smell like coconuts. It makes me want to go to the beach instead of algebra.”

  “You and me both.”

  I would be content holding her in my arms for the rest of the afternoon, but the bell ending our lunch period ruins our cozy moment. This has been the closest I’ve been to her since we shared our first kiss. I want nothing more than to kiss her again, but I get the impression she’s not quite ready for that yet. I’m hoping she tells me why after school when I have her all to myself.

  “You okay?”

  “She cried. Becca doesn’t cry much—she’s usually tough as nails.”

  “Mandi’s jealous—that’s why she’s acting the way she is.”

  Kinsley turns around in my arms, giving me a sad smile. “It’s not easy being replaced. I get it, but I don’t want to fight with her every day. It’s not worth it.”

  “I’ll talk to her again. I don’t want to lose you, Sunny.”

  “It’s been a crazy couple of days, but I don’t want to lose you either.”

  “No matter what, that’s your spot next to me. Becca, too. Okay? And if you ever need anything and I’m not around, you can trust Jake. He’s loud and a little bit over the top, but he’s a good person.”

  “I like him—he’s good for Becca.”

  “Even though Wyatt could be, too?”

  She shrugs her shoulders. “I can’t get involved in that saga. Whether they end up together or not, it’s their call. I just want them both to be happy.”

  I tap the tip of her nose with my finger. “And I just want you to be happy. I’ll see you in a bit, my Sunny-girl.”

  “See ya.”

  I turn around one last time, tossing the black marker I still have in my pocket from art class at her. I point to my name and number on the wall. “Scratch that out before you go. This good time is reserved for you.”

  THE LAST HALF hour before the bell rings, every Friday afternoon, the pep band walks every inch of the hallways, pounding out their school spirit in the form of music. The starters from the team join the band as they run through a medley of upbeat songs sure to put the entire student body in the mood for a big win.

  Most of the time, I block out all the noise when I’m on the field, focusing solely on the play calls and nothing else. But this is what gets me in the right mindset to kick some ass on the field. I could go out there right now and run a mile without getting winded—that’s how amped up I already am. There’s always something a little extra special about the home opener—especially considering this is the last one I’ll have at Central.

  Led by the cheerleaders, students from every classroom clog the doorways, cheering as we walk by. I spot Kinsley in her study hall, waving to me. I’m able to cut around a few of the guys to grab her hand, and pull her out of her room toward the center of the pack.

  “Rhett!” She yells over the sound of the drums pounding wildly in front of us. “I have to go back. I’ll get in trouble.”

  I don’t let go of her. I simply smile, and spin her around in a circle while we dance to the beat of the music. “Don’t worry so much, Sunny. Just live it up. You feel that?”

  She shakes her head. “Feel what?”

  “We’re going to kill them tonight, and my girl’s going to see every second of it. Doesn’t get much better than that.”

  “You’re crazy!” she says, with wild eyes, but she feels it too. I know she does.

  These are the moments I never want to forget. When we’re in our fifties, working the daily grind, day in and day out, I want to look back on high school with a smile knowing these years were as good as it gets. That I didn’t waste a single second of the best years of my life.

  Hoisting Kinsley on my shoulders, she ye
lps in surprise, but squeezes her thighs around my neck. I can feel her laughter as she bounces on top of me, enjoying being on top of the world.

  It’s only after the final song ends that I lower her to the ground. “What’d you think?”

  “That was incredible!”

  My smile stretches wild from her excitement. “I gotta get you back to class before your teacher figures out you’re missing. Come on.”

  “I’m going to get a detention, aren’t I?”

  “No, I’ll make sure it’s cool. Mr. Thomas is a huge sports fan. He’ll understand.” We have to fight against the flow of traffic the entire way back to her study hall, but I don’t even have to bargain with the teacher considering Mr. Thomas is so busy explaining the answer to a problem, he doesn’t even see Kinsley slip back into the room. I can thank Shannon for being one of the few students to care about calculus on a Friday afternoon.

  Since I don’t have to get back to my own study hall, I sit on the floor next to Kinsley’s locker. I’m flicking through my texts when Becca nudges me with her foot. “You again,” she says with a smile on her face. “You’re really doing this, aren’t you?”

  “Why does everyone keep doubting me? She’s an awesome girl. I can’t be the only one to notice.”

  “Honestly, I’m glad it’s you, Rhett. I trust you. We haven’t been friends for a really long time, but you’ll take care of her. That much I’m sure of.”

  I pull Becca into a hug, making sure to mess up her hair, and piss her off. “I knew you didn’t still hate me. I promise I’ll never make you eat another stitch of dirt as long as I live.”

  Becca gives me the stink eye, pulling away from me as she fixes her messed up curls.

  Kinsley pauses before sliding in between the two of us to get to her locker. “What was that all about?” she asks, curiously.

  Becca gives me an evil grin. “Rhett was just telling me how hard he cried while watching The Notebook last night.”

  I give her credit, she’s quick on her feet. Between her comeback at lunch, and this one, I realize how much I’m going to enjoy getting to know Becca again. In only two days I’ve managed to repair a friendship and gain the girl I’ve always wanted. I’d say week one was a success.