There are enough people here and I know some of them may be watching me. The cheerleaders are gone and that was my main concern. I also don’t have to look back to know Ali is close to me. Some things you just feel and I know when she’s near.
I get to my BMW and hit the unlock button. I get in the driver’s seat and a few moments later the door opens and Ali slides in.
The car was a gift from my parents on my eighteenth birthday. I wasn’t expecting it, but they went on and on about how good of a kid I am and how proud they are. The entire conversation made me uncomfortable. If they knew everything they probably wouldn’t have let me look at this car, let alone drive it. But I wasn’t about to turn down a free set of wheels. I should be working hard to earn their pride and making good decisions, but I keep stumbling and fucking up and my head isn’t in the game. Just like Coach said today.
“Can you turn on the heat? I’m cold,” Ali whispers.
I clench my jaw as I turn it on for her and back out of the spot. Why does she have to talk so softly like she’s going to break glass if she raises her voice? I hate it but we’ve gotten in fights before about how she won’t stand up for herself or use her words.
What the hell is she going to do if she goes off to college and I’m not there to stand up for her? The thought makes me even angrier and I grip the steering wheel tight enough to turn my knuckles white.
“Who are you going to Homecoming with?” I manage to sound somewhat relaxed and I’m pretty proud of my effort.
“What does it matter?” She looks over at me for a second before she looks out the window.
I sigh and shake my head. “Just making conversation.”
Why do we have to do this back and forth every time? What happened to us?
“Court seemed eager for a date.”
I’m shocked to hear her say that, but not surprised. Court makes it known to everyone listening that she’s after the quarterback. She was all over Kira’s boyfriend Josh last year until I got promoted to his position.
“Court is an airhead,” I say as I pull onto the freeway.
“Guys like that.” She lets out a bitter laugh and it’s too dark to see her face.
“Not all guys.”
Silence falls between us and it’s becoming strained. We can’t keep having these clipped conversations or one of us is going to snap. I won’t be shocked if it’s me.
“But you’re going to Homecoming?” I hedge, and she nods. “Did Mom and Dad say it was okay?”
She snaps her eyes over to me and I can just make out the tight set of her lips. “Do I need to ask permission?” She waits and then cocks her head to the side. “Did you?”
“I’m eighteen.”
“Drake, you’re exactly twelve weeks older than me.”
I hate how pissed she sounds when she says my name. When I don’t say anything she crosses her arms over her chest.
We ride the rest of the way in absolute silence and I feel like shit. I don’t know what we’re doing wrong, but there are things between us not getting said and it’s making our time together miserable. We’re about to graduate and head off to college. We’ve both been accepted to a couple but plans aren’t set. I’m still trying to get a football scholarship and colleges are practically beating down our door to take Ali.
We can’t go on like this.
When I pull up to the house I put the car into park and turn it off. Just as she makes a grab for the handle I reach out and take her wrist.
“Ali,” I say softly but she doesn’t look at me right away. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” she snaps and the look in her eyes is a mixture of anger and sadness.
“For whatever it is I did to piss you off.”
“You’re sorry I’m mad? That’s a half-assed apology even for you, Drake.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” I sigh and let go of her. She’s so soft and my hands are beat up from practice.
She takes a breath and then turns to me. Even in the dark I can see how blue her eyes are. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Thanks for giving me a lift.”
“We should just go together,” I blurt out, and the second the words leave my mouth I want to stuff them back in.
“What?” Her eyebrows pull together as she looks up at me.
“Um, I mean Homecoming.” I stumble for a moment and then realize she’s already heard me so I might as well go all the way over the edge of the cliff. “We should just go together. So you’ve got a ride.”