“Bullshit. It was probably one of the girls from Triple Threat talking about you and he got intrigued. And honestly, it’s not hard to figure out who you are, Amber. You’re the only black girl on the track team. All people need to say is, ‘Amber Lakes? The black girl that runs track? Oh yeah, I know who she is!’” She rolls her eyes.
It is true. I am the only black girl on the women’s track and field team and Mama wasn’t happy about that. When she’d looked online and saw that Bennett University was a predominately white school, she was not pleased.
“Are you sure you want to pick this school, Amby?” Mama asked while looking over my shoulder as I scanned the page dedicated to the BU track team. “I know it’s close to home, but…I mean, do you think you’ll fit in there?”
Bennett University had given me a full-ride scholarship. They didn’t care about the color of my skin. They cared about my skill, same as Harvard and Princeton…at least, I think so.
“Harvard just sounds better.” Mama was always thinking about what was best for her, which was typical of Mrs. Paula Lakes.
“Well, it’s not like I’m that into him,” I say to Kendall. “He just seemed nice, is all.”
There’s a knock at the door and I head over to get it, knowing it’s Janine. I swing it open and she trots right in with a notebook and textbook, a black pen tucked behind her right ear.
“Rose, tell Amber all about the quarterback,” Kendall demands.
Janine’s notebook makes a slapping noise on the coffee table as she looks between us. “You mean Stephen Hunt or Joshua Bigly?”
“Joshua doesn’t even get to play! I’m talking about Hunt!”
“Oh…yeah, don’t even bother. Last thing I heard was he took Claire from band out to dinner and didn’t even pay.”
Kendall snorts. “And Amber thinks he’s soooo nice.”
“He’s hot and all, but he’s super cocky, Amber. Don’t waste your time. Did he flirt with you?”
“He’s in my psychology class and I saw him at the café. He talked to me, said he knew who I was and couldn’t wait to see me on the track.”
Janine sits in the recliner. “And let me guess. He shook your hand and then winked at you when he left?”
I hesitate. How does she know that?
“He does that to every girl he finds out a fact about. If you’re attractive, that’s just a bonus. He’s full of shit. Don’t take the bait.”
I sit on the loveseat. “I wasn’t going to talk to him, guys. I just thought he was cute and wanted to mention it.”
“Good. Track and the books. Boys—especially the athletic ones—are just assholes here.” Janine pops a piece of gum into her mouth, then turns the pack toward me. I take a piece and unwrap it, tossing it into my mouth.
“So…you ready for the relay?” she asks.
The relay is in two hours. “It’ll be pretty easy.”
“Well, that all depends on who you get assigned to relay with. Last year I had to team up with Christa and Katie. They’re the slowest bitches on the team! I’m convinced at this point that their parents paid a good penny to get them on the team. Christa’s dad is a mayor of some shitty city close by and Katie’s dad partly owns a knock-off cereal company. I think it’s supposed to be similar to Honey Combs or Honey Bunches of Oats…one of those. Anyway, their parents know people.”
“We don’t get to choose who we want to run with?” Suddenly, I’m hating the idea of this race.
“No…that’s why I think Torres is the one who sets this whole relay thing up. It’s a way to test your skills, your patience, and so you can figure out where your teams weaknesses and strengths are. It’s almost embarrassing for Katie and Christa, honestly. Just you wait.”
NINE
And, oh my goodness. Janine was not kidding about Katie and Christa.
The relay race was horrible. I was on a losing team and I had Katie, Christa, and a girl named Blaire on my team. Blaire was pretty quick. Katie and Blaire started the race. Blaire ended up being able to catch up. But then she handed the baton to Christa and Christa was like a snail in comparison to everyone else.
I was trying to stay patient and cheer Christa on. Get her to hurry, get her motivated. But she was just so damn slow, and I had to stay on my line and bounce on my toes with my hand stuck out, waving it frantically, while everyone else grabbed their batons and took off.
I was last place on the final lap of the relay, though I’d cut it close. But it irritates me because I’ve never been last place. Ever. Second and third? Yes. But not last.
I chug down water from the green paper cup. When I lower it, and look over my shoulder, I notice Christa laughing with Melanie and Katie. How can she laugh when she’s the reason our team lost?