“Max is absent today.”
“So?”
“So, it’s athlete skip day and most of the athletes won’t be here today.
“But you’re an athlete.”
“I am.” He moves closer to me. “The only reason I came is because today’s the day we pick partners for the semester project.”
Butterflies immediately flutter in my stomach, and I don’t get a chance to respond to that before the teacher starts class. I keep my focus straight ahead, refusing to believe that Dean is clearly staring at me for the entire period. That he writes his name down next to mine when the teacher asks us who we would prefer to work with for our upcoming assignment.
When the bell rings, I jump out of my chair and nearly run out of the room, but he grabs my hand and forces me to look at him.
“Yes?” I try to ignore the way his simple touch is making me feel.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Are you coming to the pep rally tonight?” he asks.
“Probably not.”
“Why?”
“School spirit isn’t really my thing. No offense, but...football isn’t either.”
He laughs, and I suddenly realize that the two of us have never talked about football during our sessions together. In fact, whenever I’ve brought it up, he’s changed the subject to something else.
“Well,” he says, letting my hand go. “You should come for me instead.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I mean, since you’re not into school spirit or football, but you’re clearly into me, you can make an exception and come tonight.”
“You’re getting quite presumptuous lately.” I put on my best poker face. “Do I need to help you with that definition?”
“Not when I know the true word you’re looking for is cognizant.” He grins, stepping back. “I hope to see you tonight.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“I’m sure you always do.” He gives me a look so sexy that I almost melt into the floor.
Goddamn, Dean Collins...
***
Later that night, I grab a stack of graham crackers from the cheer station and hand them to Autumn.
“Do they really have to dye all of the marshmallows blue?” I ask. “Do you think they know that too much artificial food dye can be poisonous? Do you trust this?”
“Oh, god...” She laughs. “You’ve really got to get out more. And what the hell have you done to your top?” She adjusts my shirt, pulling the left sleeve down so my shoulder is exposed.
“That’s how the shirt is supposed to look, Mia,” she says. “All the girls wear it like that. See?”
I look all around us, at the field of fans, at the sea of royal blue and silver shirts that are surrounding the bonfire. As Autumn said, all of the girls have cut their shirts to hang off their shoulders. I decide not to ask any more questions, to just accept the blue food dye, awkwardly cut shirts, and the incessant, loud cheering.
As the football coach tests the mic, the two of us move closer to the bonfire.
“Alright, everyone!” He bellows. “Alright, everyone! Before we start the bonfire, let’s introduce your two-time State Champion Bulldogs!”
The crowd’s screams reach a fever pitch and the coach has an immediate change of heart. He doesn’t bother waiting for everyone to calm down, he simply goes right into the roll call. First, he calls out the names of the defense, and with each name he says, the crowd claps a little more excitedly. A little louder.
When the last defensive player’s name has been called, he moves on to the offense, and the crowd loses its mind. In between him calling out the other players, everyone is screaming for Dean.
The coach purposely saves him for last, but the second he says his name, the crowd manages to get even louder and crazier. They’re so loud and jumping up and down so much, that I don’t get a chance to see him come out of the huddle.
I step back away from the screams, covering my ears and mouthing “I’ll be right back” to Autumn. I head toward the bleachers, hoping I’ll be able to see everything from there and the sounds will be a lot more bearable.
As I’m taking my seat, our band begins to march onto the field, touting chants in between a slightly remixed version of “We Are the Champions.” They’re encouraging everyone to stand up and sing along.
Feeling everyone’s enthusiasm, I clap along and give add to the loud applause when the song comes to an end.
The crowd however, doesn’t accept the final note. They scream “Encore!” “One more time” and “More! More” and the band gives in and does a repeat.
In the middle of the second verse, I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket.
DEAN: Are you here tonight?
MIA: Nope...I told you pep rallies and football aren’t really my thing. That third option you listed wasn’t good enough either.
DEAN: Liar. I’m looking at you right now.
I hesitate before texting back. I look around, but I don’t see him.
MIA: Shouldn’t you be focusing on your teammates or something?
DEAN: I’d rather focus on something that’s had my attention for quite some time...
MIA: Are you referring to that term paper you need to finish this weekend? I would get on that tonight if I were you.
DEAN: I’m referring to the girl I’ve had a crush on since sophomore year.
My jaw drops.
DEAN: The girl whose notebook I had to steal to finally make her notice me.
MIA: Are you secretly drunk right now? Is that why you’re saying this?
DEAN: Completely sober, and I mean every word.
MIA: Um...
DEAN: I see you’ve switched from red to purple...I approve :-)
MIA: I didn’t switch my bra color for you.
DEAN: So it’s just a coincidence that the day after I asked you if you had any purple bras, that you’re wearing one tonight?
MIA: Absolutely.
DEAN: LOL. How did you get here?
MIA: Autumn drove...Why?
DEAN: Wait for me after this is over. I’ll take you home.
As I’m about to reply “No, you don’t have to” he sends another text: I’m not taking no for an answer. Let me take you.
I don’t text back.
I look up and see him standing by the bonfire. Our eyes meet and he gives me a short wave. Then he types something into his phone.
DEAN: You think you can come to the first game next week, too?
MIA: Now you’re pushing it...I don’t even know how to watch football.
DEAN: You don’t have to. Just focus on me :-). I parked behind the end-zone to your left. See you soon.
I watch as he puts his phone in his pocket. He looks up and his eyes meet mine one last time before he turns away and joins his teammates in a series of chants.
The crowd is now intoxicatingly electric—even from the bleachers—they’re on their feet, erupting with praise. I stand, clapping as well, feeling happy that, for the first time, I don’t feel like an outsider, I feel like I fit right in with everyone else at Central High...
***
When the rally is over, I find Autumn and tell her that Dean will be taking me home tonight.
“Really?” She smiles. “Oh my god! I told you that he likes you! He really likes you!”
“It’s just a ride home, Autumn.”
“Um hmmm.” She opens her purse and pulls out a condom, slipping it into the front pocket of my jeans. “Make sure you tell me all about that ‘ride’ tomorrow.”
“What the—I don’t need this!”
“You’ll always need this.” She nods. “Safety first, Mia. Didn’t you learn anything is Sex-Ed?”
“Do you hear yourself right now?”
“I should’ve known,” she says, tapping her lip. “I was wondering how he always managed to get in all of your classes for two years straight—even after you switched.”
“What?”
“Hmmm. Interesting, isn’t it?” She gives me a hug. “Me and Jacob just made up, so he’s meeting me at the drive-in-diner to treat me to ice-cream. I would ask you if you wanted to come join us but...” She points to where she placed the condom in my pants and starts walking backwards—throwing me a thumbs up sign.