I frown up at him. “I’m so tired of this game. You and me. I’m over it.”
“This is no game. You don’t belong here.” His jaw clenches and he steps back.
I hold up my fingers. “Toodles. You don’t get to decide where I belong.”
Luci and I make eye contact and giggle, the high from our car ride barely diminished. I loop my arm through hers, glad to have a friend by my side.
“Ignore him. We won’t let him ruin our fun,” she says. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat right away and find our seats.”
I feel Raf’s eyes on me and give my hair an extra toss. “Done. Raf, who?”
We laugh again and I feel a hand on my elbow, turning me around. Whatever was contained in him a minute before is gone.
“Are you drunk?” he spits.
My brows join in the center, everything in me scowling at him. “No, I am not drunk. What is your fucking problem? Let me go.”
He drops his hand and shoves it through his hair. In the next second, he leans in and studies my eyes, as if he doesn’t believe me. He actually sniffs me and I want to hit him.
“I am not drunk,” I repeat, my voice quiet this time.
Does he know about my stint in rehab? He’s acting like it. What else does he know?
He turns without another glance and stalks away, his shoulders tense.
“He just gets crazier,” Luci says. “You’re not drunk, right? Because I should’ve driven if you are.”
“Don’t you start too.” I walk away, moving toward the concession stand.
“Hold up, I was teasing. I know you’re not. I haven’t heard you laugh like that ever, but I know you’re not drunk.” She bumps my elbow and I reluctantly grin back at her.
We get our drinks and sit as close to the field as we can. When the game starts, I do my best to follow, but it’s a struggle. Ashton plays well, and he makes it easy to focus on him…until the fourth quarter. A group of girls moves behind Luci and me and it only takes a second to hear those whiny voices to know that it’s the lame squad led by none other than Heidi. The smell of weed becomes overpowering and I turn around, frowning when a long stream of smoke is blown my way.
Heidi lifts both shoulders. “You looked like you could loosen up.” She leans forward and whisper-shouts, “Found any coke in your locker lately? I heard porn stars are quite the cokeheads. Is that where you adopted the habit? Your mom?”
I stand up and pour my drink in her face. She sputters and I grin.
“That’s better. Keep the drugs to yourself. I don’t want it.” I take off down the bleachers with Luci on my heels.
A deafening cheer sweeps over the field and I see Ashton do yet another amazing play. The time runs out and we’ve won. The team crowds around him, lifting him up. I hang around a little while, unsure of what to do now. I want Ashton to know we came, but I don’t want to bother him. When the team runs off of the field, he sees me standing on the sidelines and jogs over.
“You came!” He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, jogging around in circles.
I smack his butt and laugh. “Put me down, you stinky boy!”
He laughs and acts like he’s going to drop me just to hear me squeal. He sets me down and holds onto me as I try to stand up straight. “Wait for me? I’ll shower and then we can go to the party at Henry’s house. You in?”
One glance at Luci’s hopeful face and I know we’re going to the party. At least it’s not at Raf’s house.
“You think it’s a good idea for me to go? I threw my drink in Heidi’s face earlier.”
“Oh shit.” He laughs. “Can’t stay out of trouble for even one game, can you?”
“Hey, it’s been a decent week. We were due a little scuffle, I guess.”
Raf won’t be happy if I come to the party, which makes me want to go more than ever. His words echo in my head: You don’t belong here. But Ashton and Luci are smiling, anxious to hang out and it makes me feel better. I shouldn’t need Raf’s approval, but it will take effort not to care.
“You need a ride?” I ask.
“Yeah. Give me ten minutes.”
I tell him where we’re parked and Luci and I walk to the car and wait for him inside. The parking lot slowly clears out and it’s fun to people-watch from the safety of the car. I check the time and tap on the steering wheel, antsy. It’s been more than ten minutes.
A car pulls in and stops a couple of rows from me. I can tell it’s a guy in the driver’s seat, but it’s too dark to see who it is. I see Jen and Amber walk over there first and then Melanie and Heidi follow. Heidi sticks around longer than Melanie and something is exchanged Heidi and the driver. She glances around to see if anyone is watching. I should duck, but I don’t. Hopefully she didn’t notice us.
“Do you recognize that guy?” I ask Luci.
“No. I don’t remember ever seeing the car either.”
The car peels out and Heidi saunters over to Jen’s car. She gets inside and they leave. I don’t want to be at a party with her, but I don’t want to let Ashton down.
He climbs in the backseat and pounds the back of our seats. “Let’s go. Henry lives one street over from me.”
The music is pounding when we step out of the car. The houses are spread out, so maybe no one will complain about the noise.
“What’s the story on Henry’s parents?” I ask Ashton on our way inside.
“They’re nice. Still married to each other, seem to like
