“No worries. I figured it was time I showed some school spirit."
"Well, the one thing I learned from this day is hoop skirts are a major pain. I'm now grateful for leggings and oversized shirts."
"Amen." Sid says as she comes up to join us in the hall. We have to stand at least five feet apart due to the oversized hoops we’re both wearing.
***
Thursday is Pajama Day. Every class went all out with this one. Who wouldn’t want to come to school in PJ’s? I'll tell you who, Shane. Sid and I bet each other five bucks; I think he will break down and dress up now that he has a taste of spirit week and Sid is positive he won't. As we stand at Sid’s locker—I'm not sure why I don't just get a mirror for my locker, but it is more fun to share hers—Shane comes up from behind us.
"Good morning." We hear his voice and we know this is the moment of truth. We both look at each other and then quickly turn around.
"HA! You owe me five bucks," Sid says as she puts her hand out to collect.
"Oh, man! What happened?" I ask Shane.
"You guys bet?" he asks, completely ignoring my question.
“Yup and now I'm five dollars richer. Thanks, Shane." Sid throws her arms around him and hugs him.
"Sorry, Ash." Shane looks at me and smiles. "I was going to, I even put them on this morning, but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't walk out the door like that." He looks up and realizes we are dressed exactly like that. “I mean, you guys look great." He quickly tries to backtrack.
"You can stop. We look ridiculous, but we've got school spirit!" Sid and I look at each other and laugh knowing how stupid that sounds yet really not caring.
Brian, Todd and Ryan found footie PJ's in adult sizes somewhere online. It's frightening that these exist, but hilarious to see the three of them walking down the hallway in them. Sid and I are dressed in big, fluffy slippers and flannel PJ's. It sounds really cute, but actually walking around in oversized fuzzy slippers all day is a major pain; not to mention it is an unseasonably hot eighty degrees, so flannels are not the best idea. By second period, I am done with Pajama day.
***
The Thursday night before the homecoming game is the annual bonfire. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to officially take part in the bonfire. For the last two years, I’ve watched Ryan leave the house to go while I had to stay home with my parents and watch Thursday night TV. Now, I am finally here, experiencing it firsthand, and it is mind-blowing.
Tradition is to burn the Hornet’s mascot, a giant bee. Smoke wafts through the air and burning embers fill the black sky with red and orange. There is nothing like seeing a big, paper mache bee burn while the cheerleaders cheer on the crowd. “Beat the Bee,” they chant over and over, and before you know it, everyone is shouting, “Beat the Bee," as loud as they can.
Something about yelling into a large, burning fire is really freeing. You can feel the intense heat on your entire body. It’s so hot the little hairs on my face feel like they are being singed. I’m screaming into the flames as they disintegrate the competition’s mascot; it is truly exhilarating. You can scream anything and no one can hear you. It’s like the world’s best confessional. I love every second of it. I think about screaming, “I Love Todd,” into the fire, but quickly come to my senses. I mean someone might be able to hear me!
Most of the classes stick together, so all the freshman gather across the fire from the juniors. As luck would have it, I can see Todd perfectly from where I am standing. Even through the haze of the fire I can see his crystal blue eyes. Wait is he looking at me? I quickly turn to look behind me, but there is no one there, maybe he’s looking at Sid?
I look back in his direction and he’s still looking over here, so instinct takes over and I smile. He smiles back and does a subtle chin raise in my direction as if to say, “Isn’t this awesome?”
Shane notices the moment I’m having with Todd from across the blazing fire. He leans in and whispers, “Where art thou Romeo?”
This pulls me right out of my bliss. I look at him, appalled, and punch him as hard as I can on the arm, but inside I am freaking out. How could he know? He must be kidding? “Yeah, right!” I quickly respond, hoping it’s soon enough to be believable.
Principal Marks starts shouting from a bullhorn, which thankfully cuts my conversation with Shane short. "Tomorrow is our big homecoming game and this year we will beat the bee! Last year, the hornets won the battle, but this year, we're going to show them just who will win the war!” With that, the entire crowd starts chanting, “Go Trojans!”
Principal Marks continues, “I want to thank you all for coming out and showing such wonderful school spirit. We are all excited for the homecoming dance. Again, let me remind you there is zero tolerance for breaking school rules. Please continue to be safe and act responsibly. Go Trojans!”
The rest of the bonfire lives up to everything I’ve always imagined it would until I get stuck waiting for Ryan to finish making out with Gretchen. I guess the heat from the bonfire has really heated things up because I am surrounded by couples who are doing everything except talking, and here I am standing all by myself in the middle of the field with the dying fire as a great metaphor for my own love life. Sid has already left with Todd and I have no idea where Shane went. The only thing that would make this worse is if Todd was making out with RTS, so I guess it's better that Sid isn't here.
I try to keep my eyes focused on the dirt floor of the field, but you can only count how many rocks there are within a twenty-foot radius for so long. Right now, I really hate my brother; this is so incredibly rude. I mean he knows I'm standing here, waiting for him to stop making out with Gretchen so we can go home. Why is he taking so long?
If I would have known this is how my night would end, I would have gone home with Todd and Sid. At least that would have been the perfect ending to a perfect night. Instead, I'm stuck in the middle of make out village.
I accidentally look up for a second and notice Brian making out with some girl. Surprise, surprise. Wait, is that Blythe? She definitely has awesome red hair. Maybe, if Brian wasn't attached to her face, I'd be able to tell. She’s wearing black tights with a cool sweater that's cut off right below her mid-drift and it’s layered with a longer tank top. Man, she always looks like she just walked out of an Urban Outfitters catalogue. That has to be her; no one else at this school can pull off that outfit.
My eyes can't help wandering back over toward the make out fence. She is leaning up against the fence and Brian is pushing into her with his body. They are seriously getting into it and I almost feel guilty watching, even though they are out in the open. I can’t bring myself to look away, though. Suddenly, I feel a warm hand on my shoulder and I involuntarily scream so loud a few people turn to look.
“It’s me,” Shane whispers and my racing heart starts to relax.
"You scared me to death." I am so relieved it’s only Shane.
"Sorry, Ash."
"No worries. I'm glad it's you. You saved me from the middle of make out hell.”
"Yeah, it looks like Brian and Ryan are busy." He squints his eyes, trying to improve his vision. "Who is Brian trying to resuscitate?"
I laugh a little too loud which makes one couple stop just long enough to give me a dirty look. "I think it’s Blythe, but who knows? So many girls are dying their hair red since Blythe came to school; it could be anyone." At this point we are both staring a little too closely when the girl puts her arms around Brian's neck and there it is—the cross tattoo! Shane and I both look at one another in shock "It is her!" we say at the same time.
"Hmmm, didn't see that one coming." Shane says.
"Yeah, I thought she was above all of this homecoming popularity stuff."
"Guess everyone gets sucked in eventually." He pauses and then looks at me, our eyes connecting. It’s the first time he’s really looked at me that intently. "Speaking of, what was that with Todd tonight?"
Talk about not seeing that one coming.
"Um, I don't know what you're talking about?"
"Come on, Ash, we've been best friends since first grade. I know you and I know when something is going on with you."
"I can say, with all honesty, nothing is ‘going on’," I say with air quotes. "Todd has no idea I exist. Plus, I think he might be into RT—um... Rebecca?"
Deep down, I’m hoping Shane has some insight into the Todd-Rebecca situation and I’m hoping he didn’t notice my ‘RT’ slip?
"I don't think so. I mean, they're just going to the dance as friends."
WHAT! They are going to the dance? Together? I am trying to pull it together to respond without looking obvious, but luckily, Shane starts talking first.
"I thought you didn't care?" he says, eyeing me.
"I don't," I quickly retort.
Shane’s expression says he isn't going anywhere until he gets the truth. I look back down at the dirt field because I can’t bear to look at him when I say it out loud for the first time. I still haven't really admitted it to myself and, maybe, if I don’t tell anyone, then it isn’t real. Part of me is relieved to finally be able to tell someone and part of me isn't ready to fully admit it. I trust Shane more than anyone, but do I trust myself? Do I trust my feelings?
After a long, internal battle, the truth finally wins. "Okay, you're right. I do care. I don't know exactly when it happened, but I can’t stop thinking about him. My stomach starts doing flips whenever I see him and it really bothers me that RTS is always grabbing his hand."
"RTS?" Shane asks, confused.
Shoot, I was so caught up in the moment I didn't realize I said that out loud. “Um, it’s just a little nickname that I have for her.”
“Ashley?" he says, the same way my dad always does when I’m in trouble. The I’m-not-sure-what-you-are-going-to-say-but-I-already-disapprove tone.
“Okay, it’s… Rebecca. The. Slut."
Shane lets out a burst of laughter that is so loud the same couple I annoyed earlier actually gets up and moves. Maybe that’s how we can finally clear the field and go home. “I love that,” he says in short spurts through breaks of laughter.
Phew! That could have gone either way. He is laughing so hard, I start laughing, too. It’s so great to see Shane happy, I haven’t seen him laugh this hard in a long time and it makes me happy. So happy, I almost forget that I just admitted out loud that I like Todd. ALMOST.
“Shane, you can’t tell anyone. ANYONE. I mean it, especially not Sid.”
He looks at me, still smiling, but his eyes tell me he is completely serious. “I know, Ash; don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Okay, because, if people find out, I’ll know who told.” He laughs, remembering where he heard that last.
Then he stops laughing and looks at me. “Hey, Ash, I think you have a shot. Todd is a really great guy. He deserves a girl like you." I am so shocked, I can’t even ask a follow up question. I don’t know why, but it gives me a new sense of confidence.
“Thanks, Shane. You’re the best!” I say, finally looking him completely in the eye. It is so great to spend time with him, even if we are surrounded by a love fest.
Ryan finally comes over and he looks at us like he’s interrupting something. He is way off. I can’t help showing him just how annoyed I am for making me wait. “Well, well, well… look who came up for air.”
“Very funny, Ash. Come on, let’s go.” He’s smart enough to know there is nothing he can say so he doesn’t even try.
I lean over and give Shane a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks! Good luck tomorrow,” I whisper.
“Bye, Shane,” Ryan says as he gives me a look like he is still trying to figure out what’s going on between us. Then he almost instantly shrugs it off as we walk to his classic, red Mustang to go home, finally. The only thing I think my brother loves more than football or making out with Gretchen is his car. When he was fifteen my Dad and Ryan started rebuilding it and it took them over a year to finish. I have to admit it’s a pretty sweet ride.
“Man, you owe me big time.” I say, knocking the side of my hip into his. He laughs, but he knows I’m right. It is so nice to finally have something to hold over my brother’s head!
***
Friday is Spirit Day, which means each class has to dress up in Black and Gold. The problem is we are the Easthaven High Trojans and our mascot is a big Trojan—like the warrior, not the condom—but of course this lends itself to really good props for spirit day.
On game night, when I was a kid, I learned pretty quickly that those were not balloons being blown up. I vividly remember asking my dad for one of those pretty balloons to which he quickly turned fifty shades of red and started stuttering. I had no idea why until a few years later when it all clicked.
Almost everyone participates in this dress up day, although some people get a little more into it than others. A few even take the Trojan thing too far. Barry Richards actually came to school dressed as a giant condom; his response was, "What? I'm a Trojan." He has balls—no pun intended—and at least he’s smart enough to wear clothes underneath. I can’t say the same for a few other kids who were sent home. I guess this is some kind of a school tradition. If you get sent home then you have the ultimate school spirit, but unfortunately, you don’t get any extra points for your class so I’m not sure what the ”ultimate school spirit” gets for anyone other than huge trouble with their parents. I honestly can’t think of a worse phone call for your parents to get from Principal Marks.
Ryan, Todd and Brian literally painted themselves gold from head to toe. I know Ryan didn’t leave the house like that, so somewhere between home and school he spray-painted himself gold. As soon as I see them, I quickly have visions of all of them spray-painting each other. There is school spirit and then there is stupidity; I’d vote this one on the side of stupidity, but amazingly enough, everyone loves it.
All day I hear, “Did you see the Three Musketeers? They look incredible." Even Blythe laughs when she sees them. I’ve been keeping an extra close watch to see if last night was just a hookup or if there really is something going on with her and Brian. By lunch, Gretchen has gold paint smeared all over her—I guess that paint didn't really stay on very well—but both Blythe and RTS are paint free. I immediately start to have a new love for this gold paint; it makes figuring out who's doing what with who pretty easy!
Sid, Shane and I take the more human approach and just wear school colors with normal, everyday clothing. Sid and I paint EHS on our cheek, but that’s as close as we get to body paint.
Today is also the day of the big pep rally. I am beyond excited to see what Principal Marks has planned. Of course, I’m picturing a full concert and I have to keep reminding myself that there’s only so much you can do in a school gym. I’m desperately waiting for classes to be dismissed at one forty-five, but it is taking FOREVER. It’s as if time is standing still.
I look over at Sid as Senora Gonzales drones on and on in Spanish, she literally has no idea what is about to happen. How is that possible? I mean she lives with Todd; hasn’t he said anything? She is also completely convinced that Shane has joined the school band since he gets to miss Spanish today. I look over at Shane’s empty desk and can't help feeling jealous. Not only is this performance going to catapult him into a new level of notoriety, but he’s been spending so much time with Todd and he gets to miss Spanish.
Finally the bell rings and we are dismissed from Spanish hell. Everyone is moving at a snail’s pace walking to the gym and it’s driving me crazy. My heart is pounding with excitement, but I have to pretend I’m just as bored as everyone else so Sid won’t catch on.
Oh, forget it, we’re on our way there. I can tell her now, right? “Sid,” I say, super excited. She turns to look at me with a questioning look but then I think about it. If she finds out I’ve known the entire time, she will not be happy. “You ready for our first Homecoming Pep Rally?” I quickly try to cover so she doesn’t think I’m insane.
“Uh, yeah
. I guess?” Her tone tells me she isn’t buying my sudden enthusiasm. “Do you know something, Ash?” She eyes me up and down as though she is trying to read my mind.
“NO!” I answer too quickly, which only piques her suspicion. Luckily, we are being ushered into the gym at that moment and her own excitement interrupts her questioning. All of the bleachers are pulled out from the wall and the wooden floors are glistening as if even they know they are about to hear something special. A makeshift stage with microphones, drums and a keyboard is set up in the middle of the floor.
Principal Marks kicks off the pep rally by shouting into a microphone causing loud reverb to resonate through the gym. Everyone immediately grabs their ears and groans but he continues unflustered. “Thanks to the entire student body for making this the best Homecoming Week in the history of Easthaven High.”
Then, from all sides, we are inundated with back flipping cheerleaders who promptly go into a cheer about Trojans being the “B-E-S-T”. As the spectacle continues, I feel the butterflies in my stomach start to flutter. I’m not sure if it’s excitement to see what I know is coming or if it is nerves for Shane and Todd. If I’m feeling this way, they must be going crazy.
Sid turns to me and yells over the cheers, “Where is Shane? I knew it. I knew he joined the band." As if on cue the marching band comes out playing, We will Rock You and everyone is on their feet. I look at Sid as she is frantically searching the band to find Shane. She looks back at me with utter confusion when she doesn’t see him. I just do my usual I-have-no-idea-what’s-going-on shrug. As the band plays, Principal Marks announces the varsity Football team and the entire team comes running out all dressed in their jerseys. Coach must have made Todd, Ryan and Brian shower because they are no longer gold. I kind of miss it!
Principal Marks continues, “And to really rock this homecoming, I’ve asked some of our students to do a special performance. Go Trojans!"
Accidental Crush Page 5