Tomboys Don't Wear Pink: How To Date A Tomboy

by Benjamin, Christina

  I nodded. “Honestly? I have no idea.”

  I’d been dragging out my decision. I needed more time to figure out how to get my head and heart to line up. I hadn’t spoken to Casey in weeks and though I was still pissed about how things had ended, I couldn’t quite convince my heart to move on.

  It didn’t help that every time I thought I might have been overreacting about the whole Archer thing, I’d catch him and Casey whispering conspiratorially in the halls, causing a fresh wave of pain and jealousy.

  But even after all of that, I still couldn’t seem to make myself give up on the idea of us. And saying no to Columbia would be the nail in the coffin to any chance we’d have.

  I realized choosing a college based on the slim chance things might work out with a girl I’d only been on two dates with was a bit of a leap. But every time I started to draft an email declining Columbia’s offer, the bitter taste of regret stopped me.

  What if she was the one?

  And what if my jealousy and pride let her get away?

  “Hey man,” Grant said, drawing me from my inner turmoil. “I can text Alex and tell her we’re gonna skip lunch and hang in the athletic wing if you can’t handle this today.”

  I looked up to see we were standing in front of the doors to the cafeteria. Even from this distance, my eyes were drawn to her.

  Casey sat at the homecoming court table, merrily chatting to students who stopped by to cast their votes. She didn’t look like she had a care in the world.

  Jealousy snared my heart.

  Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe Casey hadn’t felt any of the electricity I had when we kissed. For me, being with her had been like a blind man finally being gifted sight. And now that I’d lost that precious gift, I didn’t think I’d ever recover.

  I watched the fluorescent lights illuminate her radiant beauty and felt my heart sink further into the abyss. Maybe those who always lived in the light didn’t falter under a few clouds. But losing Casey, or even just the hope of her, had hit me like a hurricane. And now, I was left in the dark shambles of despair, wondering if picking up the pieces was even worth it.

  Grant nudged me. “Or we could go off campus? Grab something from Burger Boss?”

  “Nah, you go ahead. I need some time to think about what I’m going to say to Columbia.”

  “You sure?”

  I nodded, giving Grant my best reassuring smile. “Yeah. I’m good. See you at practice.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Casey

  “So, your dad really hit a homerun with the new softball coach,” Alex said stretching out her tight muscles in the locker room.

  We’d just had our first practice with our official softball coach and our team was really starting to come together. Uniforms were ordered, equipment was in, everything I’d ever hoped for was starting to take shape. Everything but my relationship with Lucas.

  But I did my best to push that thought from my head.

  My softball squad had assured me that time heals all things. I knew they were just trying to help, so I did my best to keep my head up and stay positive when I was around them. But it was a ruse. I knew that some things left scars that no amount of time could erase. But that wasn’t the kind of team leadership I wanted to exude.

  So as Marissa said, it was time I put on my big girl panties.

  Though I wished I could change things with Lucas, I was determined not to let my lack of love-life dampen my spirits. Besides, it was hard to feel down when surrounded by my teammates. The group of softball girls were quickly becoming my close friends. They were all so supportive and I began to wonder how I’d ever survived this long without more girlfriends.

  Bolstered by their support, I began to feel confident that the dust had settled. So far, I hadn’t been targeted by the Tattler since the infamous love triangle in my front yard. And I was even making a real run at homecoming queen.

  At first, I hadn’t been crazy about the idea, but the girls helped me see how having a female athlete claim the crown could be a win for tomboys everywhere. Even Alex seemed to like the idea of having a female athlete represented on the homecoming court. She had her Tomboys & Tiaras fan club campaigning for me. The rumor was, I was actually giving Lexy a run for her money.

  I tried not to let that make me too happy.

  I reminded myself I was doing this for girl power, not revenge.

  If I knew karma, Lexy would get what was coming to her without any help from me.

  Reading my mind, Marissa sidled up to me and gave me her daily update on my bid for the crown. “So, according to my intel, the committee’s last tally shows your only competition is Lexy.”

  “We already knew that,” Alex muttered.

  “I wasn’t finished,” Marissa drawled. “Golly, don’t get your britches in a bunch.”

  Alex rolled her eyes, but even she had trouble holding back a smile when it came to Marissa’s Texan flair for the dramatics. We all did, actually.

  The little drama diva was really holding her own on and off the field. She’d somehow managed to befriend everyone in the short time she’d been at Northwood and had an in with one of the girls on the homecoming committee who was leaking preliminary numbers to her in exchange for a part in the next play Marissa was lobbying for.

  “As I was saying,” Marissa continued once she had the floor again. “Lexy’s in the lead, but only by a slim margin. I’m talking less than four percent, y’all!”

  Alex whooped! “You got this, Casey!”

  Jessie and Jamie, the twins, both looked positively dreamy.

  “There’s a week left till the dance,” Jessie said.

  “That’s plenty of time to get the votes,” Jamie added completing her sister’s sentence.

  “Who are you going to go with?” Veronica asked as she casually shrugged into her sweatshirt.

  Lucas’s face popped into my mind, followed by instant heartache. “I don’t know. Probably no one.”

  Marissa gasped. “The junior class homecoming queen cannot go stag!”

  I shrugged off her dramatics. “Why not?” I was supposed to be doing this for girl power, right? What better way to prove a point?

  Marissa crossed her arms. “I know at least four guys who’ve asked you.”

  “Tyler doesn’t count,” I replied. “He’s asked every girl at Northwood.”

  Everyone laughed, but Miss Texas couldn’t be swayed. “Okay fine, Tyler Bishop is a scoundrel, but what’s wrong with your other offers?”

  They’re not Lucas. “Nothing, I just don’t want to go with any of them.”

  “You can’t go alone,” Jessie whined.

  “Yeah, it’ll make us look bad,” Jamie added. “Like tomboys can win but we can’t get dates.”

  Veronica snorted. “You guys, it’s just homecoming, not the Oscars! Just pick a date, Casey, before they’re all snatched up.”

  Alex laughed. “There’s twice as many boys as there are girls at Northwood. I don’t think there’s going to be a shortage of dates for Casey to choose from.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure with the way girls are locking down backup dates,” Veronica argued.

  Everyone was suddenly staring at her.

  Alex cocked an eyebrow. “Backup dates?”

  Veronica shrugged. “You know, like in case you change your mind and want to go with someone more popular by the time the dance gets here.”

  Marissa’s hand flew to her heart. “Who would do a thing like that?”

  Veronica’s dark eyes roved over the locker room looking for someone who understood. “Lexy made it sound like it was sort of the norm around here.”

  Alex crossed her arms. “It’s definitely not.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Lexy has a backup date to homecoming?”

  Veronica shrugged. “That’s what she said.”

  “But she’s dating Archer!” I practically yelled.

  “Whoa, don’t shoot the messenger,” Veronica huffed.
/>   “Sorry,” I managed as I tried to rein in my temper.

  I didn’t know why I was so shocked. I already knew Lexy was a despicable human being and it’s not like Archer was without his faults. Plus, he didn’t need me to fight his battles.

  The guy was self-absorbed, vain and oblivious. Not to mention he was mostly to blame for screwing up my chances with Lucas. But over the past few weeks of helping him with his math homework, I’d sort of developed a soft spot for the guy.

  He was like a golden retriever that way—hard to hate.

  Despite all his annoying qualities, he was also kind, funny, dedicated and deeply in love with his girlfriend. He didn’t deserve to be played.

  I was still stewing over what to do with this information while the rest of my teammates finished changing and headed for home.

  “I’ll meet you in the car,” Alex said shutting her locker and jolting me out of my sour thoughts.

  “Right,” I said hurrying to finish packing up my things.

  “You know,” Veronica said making me jump. I hadn’t realized anyone was still in the locker room. “That little tidbit about backup dates could cost Lexy the crown if it got out.”

  “It could also hurt a lot of people,” I said, wondering what kind of game Veronica was playing.

  She shrugged. “Just saying.” Veronica tossed her long brown ponytail. “See ya tomorrow.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Lucas

  I took a deep breath, saying a silent prayer.

  No big deal, Lucas. You’re just making a major life decision that will alter your entire future.

  But I had to quit stalling. I was tired of living in limbo. With one final exhale, I clicked accept on the email that had been staring back at me from my computer screen for the last three hours.

  See, that wasn’t so hard.

  Standing, I felt queasy and lightheaded.

  I still didn’t know if I’d made the right decision, but at least I’d finally made one.

  Now all that was left to do was talk to my parents.

  I smoothed my shirt and gave my mop of brown hair a once-over with a comb before walking out into the living room to find my parents.

  * * *

  “I’m proud of you,” Grant said. “You made a decision. And honestly, it’s not like you could’ve made a bad choice. Both Harvard and Columbia are unbelievable. They both have killer ball clubs, too. If I wasn’t so bent on going to Arizona with Alex, I’d be trying to get the spot you just gave up.”

  I laughed. “I think both schools were more impressed by my GPA than my batting average.”

  “Lucky for me both of mine are good,” he teased, elbowing me.

  I had to admit, it did feel like a weight had been lifted now that I didn’t have the pressing decision of which college to attend hanging over my head.

  “Still,” Grant said as we walked into school Monday morning. “I can’t believe your parents took it so well. They’ve been telling everyone who would listen that their Wittle Wucas was going to be a Pilgrim just like them.”

  “I guess I’m more of a Lion,” I said, grinning as I proudly reflected on standing up to my parents’ scrutiny.

  They’d been disappointed, but ultimately, they’d said it was my life to live and they’d support me in my decisions as long as I made them with conviction.

  Which was why there was a little extra pep in my step this morning.

  Conquering my fears and telling my parents that Harvard was their dream, gave me the confidence to go after my own dreams. And that meant giving it one last go with Casey.

  After all, Columbia would be a whole lot better knowing I had Casey to come home to.

  As we passed under the pep rally decorations painting our school green and yellow, I searched out my wallet in my back pocket for the hundredth time.

  Today was the last day to buy tickets to the homecoming dance. And in case anyone wasn’t already aware of the impending date, the cheerleaders and homecoming committee had made sure there was no way to miss it by hanging glittering banners announcing the theme—Wishing on a Star.

  It instantly brought me back to my first date with Casey, lying in the back of my truck staring up at the stars with her in my arms. It had been perfection.

  Maybe this was a sign. A way back to that exceptional moment before it slipped through my fingers.

  I let my hopes run away with me as I was lured in by the white lights and shimmering stars that hung from every available surface, turning the halls of Northwood High into a twinkling galaxy of teenage romance.

  My anticipation accelerated as I spotted the ticket table.

  Grant nudged me. “Good luck, man.”

  “You’re sure she hasn’t already agreed to go with someone?”

  “I asked Alex twice. You’re in the clear.”

  “Maybe you could ask one more time just to be sure.”

  “Lucas, if I ask my girlfriend if her bestie has a date to homecoming one more time, she’s gonna think I want to go with her instead.” He gave me a solid pat on the back. “Stop stalling.”

  Grant was right, but I’d just gotten my courage back. The last thing I needed was to face rejection because Casey had already said yes to someone else.

  She was on the homecoming court now and was quickly drawing the eye of some of the most popular guys at school. Of course, I’d seen her true beauty long ago. But that didn’t matter considering I’d behaved like a jealous jerk.

  Even if she’s still available, she could still say no to you, my self-doubt chided.

  I shoved the thought away. I was done doubting. There was nothing I could do about the past. This was about the future. It was time to lay my cards on the table.

  I wanted another chance with Casey, and I was going to make sure she knew it, no matter the outcome.

  What was it Coach Beeler always said? No risk, no reward!

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Casey

  “Four more days!” Jessie squealed as she squeezed into the lunch table next to me.

  I grinned and gave her a fist bump as I scooted over to make room for her sister. The softball team had taken to sitting together at lunch and even with spilling over to a second table there didn’t seem to be enough room. Especially on the days when Alex sat with us instead of her boyfriend and the baseball team. Veronica still sat with Lexy and the rest of the lipstick mafia at lunch, leaving me to wonder where her allegiance lay. But we were short on space as it was. So as long as she showed up on the softball field, I didn’t worry myself over her lunch arrangements.

  Today our table was tighter than usual with Alex joining us. She crowded against my right side as she shoveled spaghetti into her mouth. “Any new date prospects today?” she asked between mouthfuls.

  There was a glint in my best friend’s eye that made me pause. “No. Why?”

  Alex shrugged. “No reason,” she replied, still looking a bit too mischievous for my liking.

  I was about to press her for more details when Marissa drew my attention. “Hold onto your britches gals, ‘cause I’ve got some news that just might knock your knickers off,” she announced, pushing her way into a spot across from me at the crowded table. “I just heard a rumor that Casey took the lead for homecoming queen!”

  Cheers erupted from both softball tables as the news spread, but I wasn’t so quick to celebrate. I knew how untrustworthy rumors at Northwood could be. “Who’d you hear that from?” I asked. “Your girl on the committee?”

  “No, from Lexy Bale herself,” Marissa replied.

  Alex scrunched up her face. “Why would Lexy tell you that?”

  “She didn’t, but I couldn’t help overhearing her meltdown over the news as I happened to be walking by her table.”

  My eyes swiveled to Lexy’s table. Sure enough she was dabbing streaks of mascara from her makeup-caked face as she scowled at her minions. She seemed to be barking orders, but the lunchroom racket masked her words. For a fleeting second, I l
et my excitement take hold.

  I might be the homecoming queen!

  That could be the biggest win for our softball team all year! It would give us acceptance in the Northwood social scene and that was huge. More than anything I wanted to shatter the stereotypes that had defined so much of my youth. I wanted everyone to feel free to be who they were. To wear a dress and play sports. To be homecoming queen and be a nerd.

  No more labels. Just liberty!

  “Incoming,” Alex muttered pulling me from my thoughts.

  I looked up afraid I was going to see Lexy ready to go all Carrie on me with a bucket of marinara or something. But to my surprise it was Archer coming my way.

  That was strange.

  Even though I’d still been tutoring him, he was always careful to keep his distance at school so no one would know he was secretly hanging out with the nerdy tomboy.

  I wished he’d been as discreet when he’d dropped by my house. Maybe then it wouldn’t have cost me a boyfriend. But since that ship had sailed, my soft-hearted conscience forced me to take pity on Archer and help him get his grades up so he could continue leading our football team to victory.

  Archer called my name again, grinning from ear-to-ear. At least it seemed whatever was causing this out of character acknowledgement was good news. Hoping to avoid having my softball team overhear our conversation, I slipped out of my seat and walked over to meet him. But before I could get a word out, Archer swept me up in a bone-crushing hug.

  “Beeler! We did it!” he exclaimed. “And I owe it all to you.”

  “Put me down,” I hissed, holding my skirt as he swung me around. “What are you talking about?” I asked when I was firmly back on my own two feet.

  “I got into Rutgers! I just got the acceptance letter today. They want me to play football for them!”

  “Wow! Congratulations, Archer. That’s seriously awesome.”