Okay, I told myself. There’s no reason to panic. You don’t have to go hang with Haley. Just chill like your friends haven’t arrived yet. Duh. Why hadn’t I thought of that earlier? So I relaxed and watched the game. They were good, of course. I didn’t really keep track of the score because I mostly watched Jonathan. I could tell from the intensity that he was “in the zone.” He hadn’t even noticed me yet. And he probably wouldn’t for a long time.
My cell rang and I gave silent thanks. MC was finally returning my call. I didn’t bother to greet her. “Thank God, when are you coming?”
“Uh. Ally…”
My stomach clenched. I cupped my hand around the phone so I wouldn’t have to shout to be heard over the noise. “No. Don’t say you aren’t coming.”
“I can’t. I’m at a movie with my sister. Sorry.”
“MC. You have to come.”
“Sorry.”
Before I could read her the riot act, Madison called in. “Okay,” I said. You’re off the hook. Madison’s on the line.”
“But, Ally—.”
“Bye.” I clicked over. “Hi, Madison.”
“Hi, Ally. I just got your message. I’m so glad you got to go!”
“Yeah. Whatever. When are you coming?”
“I can’t, Ally. I promised my mother I’d help her plan this bridal shower for my aunt.”
“Bridal shower? You don’t even know how to plan a wedding shower.”
“Of course I don’t. But Mom’s freaking out about it. She’s supposed to meet with her mother-in-law tomorrow. And she’s terrified. We’re searching the Internet for ideas.”
“She’s a grown up,” I snapped. “She can handle it.”
“Oh come on, Ally. You don’t need me there. Aren’t you hanging with Jonathan?”
“No,” I hissed into the phone with a quick look to make sure people weren’t listening in. “He’s playing basketball. He hasn’t seen me yet.”
“Well, get his attention.”
In this madhouse? “I can’t.”
“Don’t you know anybody?”
“Just Haley, and I’m not hanging out with her. I’d rather go home.”
“For heaven’s sake.”
“If you don’t get here in the next half hour, our friendship is over.” I used my most firm tone.
She laughed. “Yeah, right. And when Jonathan does see you, I’ll be ignored the rest of the night. No. Thank you.”
“Thirty minutes,” I said and disconnected. I didn’t believe for a moment that she’d show up.
In the next ten minutes, some more people came in and sat on the bleachers. I wasn’t so obviously alone anymore. Unfortunately, sitting only inches from a group of people at ease with each other only stressed me more.
I decided to take another bathroom break. Unnecessary, but who would know? I climbed down from the bleachers and started for the door, only to hear my name.
I turned to see who knew me. Haley of course.
“Uh, hi,” I said. “What’s up?”
Haley rolled her eyes. “Caroline called and said for you to come sit with us until Jonathan finishes playing. So what gives? Does he know you’re here?”
I blushed. The last person I wanted to look pathetic in front of was Haley. “Uh. No. I was just about to yell to him.” MC must have called Caro and begged her to help. How pathetic.
“Really,” Haley said, raising an overplucked eyebrow. “Because I can get him for you.”
“No thanks. It’s good to see you, though. Maybe I’ll see you later.”
She stuck two fingers in her mouth like she was going to do one of those loud whistle things.
“No!”
She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Fine.” I glanced nervously at the court. They were headed back to this end. I had noticed that the guys all looked over at the bench on the other side every now and then. The guys were subbing in and out pretty regularly.
“I’m going to go over there where those guys are and have them pull him out on the next sub.” I eyed her. “Is that to your satisfaction?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Lacks drama, but it will do.”
I skirted the court to reach the other side and approached the four guys sitting on the bench.
The guy on the end closest to me smiled. “Hey, Ally.”
He looked kind of familiar. Oh, Dave. His hair was so wet with sweat that it looked brown instead of blonde.
“Hey, Dave,” I said. I sat next to him on the bench.
“Jon said you weren’t coming.”
“I didn’t think I was,” I said.
“Has he seen you yet?”
I shook my head. “I thought he’d look over here eventually.”
Dave grinned. “Yeah.” Then he stood and yelled, “Jonathan,” as the guys ran past.
Jonathan tried to glare at Dave and almost tripped. Then, he saw me and grinned.
Jonathan ran over to the bench and another guy rushed into the game.
“Hi,” he said. “You came!”
“Yeah, Caroline told my mom and she didn’t want me to miss out.”
He glanced at Dave and said, “Let’s walk a little.” I guess he didn’t want Dave listening. We walked to the gym door where the hall was surprisingly quiet.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said, swiping at his brow with his t-shirt. “I’ve been playing for like two hours.”
“You looked great out there,” I said. Then I blushed again.
He grinned. “I’ve got a change of clothes in my locker. I’m going to head to the shower. If no one’s in there making out.”
“Okay. I’ll be on the bleachers.”
“Great,” he said, and he jogged off to the boy’s room.
Now I was grinning like a fool. I went into the restroom to check my hair. Actually got some lip-gloss out of my backpack. I’d never done that before. I’d also packed a toothbrush and toothpaste because I figured by morning, I’d be really desperate for them.
I only had a few moments with the mirror before a group of four girls invaded. They’d come in to badmouth some other girl.
One of them was all whiny. “Who does she think she is, anyway?”
The others assured her that they didn’t know.
“Are you almost done?” One of them asked me. “I’m burning up in there. I need to blot.”
I refrained from commenting on her shiny forehead. “Sure.” I slipped out the door.
Since I didn’t know how long boys took in the shower, I decided to check out the other rooms. The game room was loaded with pinball, foosball, air hockey, and a bunch of guys. The crowd around the pizza had cleared, and only a few kids were in the kitchen grabbing refills on pink lemonade.
I had just finished texting Caroline, MC, and Madison that all was well when Jonathan came up behind me. He smelled like soap and shampoo. “Oh, man. I forgot about the pizza. Is there any left? I’m starved.”
“Yeah,” I gestured to the counter. “Better hurry though.”
He swiped at his damp hair, which had me thinking not so innocent thoughts. It suddenly hit me that he’d really just been in the shower naked. I must be some kind of pervert because that thought sent my pulse racing.
Oblivious to my train of thought, he heaped three pieces on a plate and gave the pink lemonade an uncertain look.
“I’ve got quarters,” I said motioning to the machine in the hall. “Want a coke?”
He set down his plate of pizza and pulled out his wallet. “I’ve got it. Coke sounds good. Do you want one?”
Before I could even answer, he’d inserted a dollar in the machine and handed me an ice cold Coke. “Yes,” I said and waited for him to get another for himself.
He popped his can open, took a long drag, and went back to the kitchen to grab his pizza. “Let’s sit out here,” he said, leading the way.
I opened my Coke and followed.
He’d found a spot right where the wall curved in that was quiet a
nd almost private. He slid down the wall and sat, already taking a bite of his pizza. “Sorry,” he said. “I’ve been playing for like—”
“Two hours,” I finished.
He smiled, fortunately not sharing a full view of the food in his mouth. “So what’s up with your mother?”
I told him about the boxers, the comic books, and the jewelry. By the time I finished, he’d inhaled all of his pizza and washed it down with his Coke. He jumped up. “Wait here.” Then he rejoined me without the plate and empty can. “Your mother promises never to leave town again?”
“Yes. At least until I’m eighteen. Although she did say that she had a free pass if Mel Gibson called her up.” I smirked. “I thought the odds were pretty much in my favor, so I said okay.”
Jonathan laughed and took my hand in his. “With your luck, he’ll call her.”
“Are you saying I have bad luck?”
“Well, you did step in dog doo just the other day. Your dad busted you. And he walked out when I was making fun of our friends, and totally busted us again.”
“You made your point. Anyway, I’m thinking of disabling her Internet connection just in case.”
Jonathan thought for a minute. “You could report her credit card stolen.”
“Or we could hack her profile on the single’s sites to make her sound horrid.”