I blew my whistle to call him over.
“You’re hitting your laces again.”
“Am I?” He looked like he had no idea he’d made any kind ofmistake.
How many times had we talked about this? This kid was goingto be the death of me. “Take a deep breath for me.” I’d read that meditationcould really help with focus.
Jefferson breathed in for a second and then sneezed. “Sorry,Coach Caldwell. I have really bad fall allergies.”
Of course you do. “That’s okay. Don’t worry aboutbreathing deeply. What I want you to do is go out there. And instead offocusing on kicking the ball, focus on the sound of your breath. In and out.”
“So don’t kick the ball?” he asked.
“No, kick the ball. Just don’t think about it.”
Jefferson shrugged. “It’ll try.” He jogged back out onto thefield. He stared at the ball like he was concentrating on it even more thanusual.
“Sorry I’m late,” Kennedy said. “My client was beingexcruciatingly…specific.”
I laughed and pulled her into a hug. My first thought hadbeen to kiss her. But I didn’t want to overwhelm her. Being here was a lot. Iknew that. I pulled back, but kept my arm draped over her shoulders. She didn’tmove away.
We both watched as Jefferson studied the football like he hadnever seen one before. Seriously, what was he doing? That was the exactopposite of what I’d asked him to do.
“Breathe, Jefferson!” I shouted, my arm slipping from Kennedy’sshoulders.
He proceeded to sneeze as he kicked the ball. It went way leftand into the stands.
At least he had some power behind it that time.
Jefferson ran after the ball to retrieve it.
“Wow, you found someone as bad as Prescott to be your kicker?”Kennedy whispered. “Is it like a nostalgia thing…or…”
I laughed. “No. It’s a popularity thing.” I watched as Jeffersonleaned over, out of breath from running up the bleachers.
“Really? He’s part of a new group of young Untouchables,huh?” She tilted her head as she looked at him. “Times really do change.”
I lightly jabbed her with my elbow. “No, I’m trying to makehim popular.”
She raised her eyebrows at me.
“I figured if I could teach him how to be an amazing kickerhe’d win some points with the other guys. Maybe get a girlfriend or something. Orjust a few friends in general.”
“And he usually kicks the way I just witnessed?”
“It’s a work in progress.”
Kennedy shook her head. “Wait, so let me get this straight. Youthink that having him on the team missing extra points and field goals…”
“I rarely let him attempt a field goal.”
“Matt. How is that supposed to help him? You’re making itworse. Can’t you see that?”
I’d had a sinking feeling that was true as the weeks had progressed.
“You wouldn’t understand because you were born popular,” shesaid.
“That’s not true.”
“Mason was a golden boy before you even stepped foot in theschool. You were a god immediately because of association. And then you topped itall off by being a star wide receiver. Abs of steel. A perfect smile. You hadit easy. Don’t pretend you didn’t.”
She thought I had a perfect smile? I couldn’t help but flashher one. “Just for the record, I’ve worked really hard on my abs of steel.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Tell me about your kicker.”
“He’s a freshman. He walked onto the field all on his own. Ididn’t scout him or anything. But I heard the other kids making fun of him forbeing a scholarship student. And I didn’t want to turn him away.”
Kennedy’s eyes softened. “He’s a scholarship student?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I know that’s no fun.” She pressed her lips togetherand fidgeted with a strand of loose hair hanging from her bun. “I’ll fix this. Iused to think of how I could help Prescott back in the day in case he’d everthought I was cool enough to talk to.”
I laughed. “So what’s your grand plan?”
“Watch and learn, Coach Caldwell.” She patted my chest asJefferson walked up to us.
“Hey,” Kennedy said. “I’m Kennedy, a friend of Coach Caldwell’s.What’s your name?” She put her hand out for him to shake.
“Henry Jefferson.” He shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Henry. What’s your favorite subject inschool?”
“I like English.”
Kennedy nodded and seemed to think for a moment. “Anythingelse? Coach mentioned that you’re a scholarship student here. When I went toEmpire High, I was one too.”
“You were?”
“Mhm. And as a fellow scholarship student, I know for a factthat you must be good at a lot of subjects. Better than any of these guys.” Shegestured behind her at the field. “Right?”
Jefferson laughed.
“Tell me, what’s another class you’re really great in? A starstudent?”
“Umm…” Jefferson looked at me and then back at Kennedy. “I’mreally good at geometry.”
Kennedy smiled. “Perfect. Matt, do you mind if I help Henrystudy some geometry?”
What? That was surprisingly unhelpful of her. But honestlywhat did it matter if he spent the rest of practice doing geometry instead ofpracticing? He wasn’t getting any better. And I was running out of ideas. Besides,I hadn’t seen Jefferson smile at practice in a while. And he was smiling now. Thatwas a win in my book. “Sure.”
I watched Kennedy and Jefferson sit down on one of thebenches. They were talking animatedly as Jefferson pulled out a textbook.
I’d planned to hang out with Kennedy during practice. Showher how normal it was to be here. How the ghosts were at bay. Except when I’dsee Brooklyn’s face during a crowded game. Or if I went into the school. Iwouldn’t be going back in there any time soon.
I watched Kennedy laughing with Jefferson. But she seemedokay. Actually, she seemed more than okay. She looked genuinely happy. Afeeling I’d been chasing for a while. She looked up at me watching her andsmiled.
My eyes flitted between her and the field throughout the restof practice. It was hard not to watch her. She was so full of life. Andwatching how she made Jefferson laugh made my chest feel a little lighter. Maybeshe was right. Maybe I didn’t really understand him like she could.
Right before practice ended, Jefferson ran back out onto thefield. Kennedy joined me by my
