Page 35 of The Perfect Play

“We don’t need to go to the dance to still be a couple. It’s just a dumb high school ritual. I’d rather we just hang out that night.”

She nodded, looking like she’d just been slapped. “You’re embarrassed of me, aren’t you? The great Jake White can’t be seen with his so-called girlfriend in public. It’s like the only time you want to claim me as your girlfriend is when we’re here at home and when no one is watching at school.” She turned on her heel, heading for the door with long strides.

I caught her arm just as she opened the door wider than before. “Penny, are you really going to get mad over something ridiculous like this? Why are you so angry?”

When she turned, there were tears in her eyes. “Because I wanted to go with you, Jake. But if you don’t want to go, I’ll tell Nate yes. Then you and I can do something after.”

“You’ll tell him yes? Why would you do that?” The stability I usually felt around her seemed to be shifting, and betrayal sliced through me.

“Because I made a promise that I would always give people a chance, even when they’ve let me down.” She glared at me for a few long seconds and said, “It’s just a dance, like you said. Let me know if you change your mind before tomorrow.”

She pulled her arm from my grasp and disappeared down the stairs. I heard her say something to my mother and then the door open and close, the force of it softer than I’d imagined.

I sat at my desk, unable to concentrate on the book in front of me. Why was she so adamant about going to a dumb dance? And was I being stubborn for not wanting to take her?

Closing my textbook, I changed into some gym shorts and a t-shirt. I fell onto my bed as I tried to work out what I needed to do. We’d agreed we were together. Didn’t that merit taking into account my feelings as well? I knew how much girls obsessed over going to formal dances, but I hadn’t pictured Penny as being just like them. Why couldn’t she understand where I was coming from?

After trudging down the stairs, I opened a cabinet and pulled out a large glass. My mom had bought some whole chocolate milk that day, and I was ready to drown my worries in its rich taste. Sitting at the table, I turned the glass around and around between sips, studying the simple decorations on the outside.

“Jake, are you all right?” my mother’s voice called from behind me.

I glanced back and then turned to my milk. “Nothing. Just taking a break from studying.”

I heard a few chopping sounds, and soon my mom took the seat next to me, placing a cut apple in front of me. She took a bite of the apple in front of her, and I tried to focus on what I was going to do about the Penny situation.

“You look like you’ve just had your heart broken, son. Is it Penny?”

Blowing out a breath, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to tell her everything. But at this point, talking it out to someone might be better than holding it all in.

“I didn’t ask her to prom, and one of my teammates did. She’s mad that I won’t take her.”

My dad’s voice from behind startled me. “Plenty of girls in the world, Jake. Believe me. Us Whites don’t need to settle down too soon. Don’t get serious. Just make this time about you.”

“Dave,” my mom said, a warning in her voice. It was the first time I’d even seen her look him in the face in months. “Penny is amazing, and look how far Jake has come this year since hanging out with her again. He doesn’t need to be as selfish as you.”

The fridge opened, and I heard the sound of a can being opened. I hoped it was the first beer of the night, or I’d have to prepare to be the punching bag once more. But with the conviction in my mother’s face, I would gladly protect her. I was usually bitter and angry about my dad’s vices, one of which was periodically stepping out on my mother, but his statement caught me off guard. They’d been high school sweethearts, and curiosity burned in me to know if that’s the reason he’d started all the troubles in the first place.

It took a few moments for him to answer, and when he looked at me, he said, “I know there are a lot of things I’ve done that haven’t been all that great. I haven’t always been the best role model, but I do think being young is a privilege. It’s a time when you can figure out who you are, as long as you don’t restrict yourself. You have your whole life to settle down and work on a marriage together. Why put yourself through that this early?”

“Penny has always been important to me, Dad. I’m just getting back into her good graces now, and I don’t want to screw it up.”

“If you don’t want to go to the dance, don’t go. It’s not the end of the world; trust me. Enjoy being a teenager before you have to grow up and be responsible.” With that, he walked out of the room and settled in his recliner in front of the TV.

My mother reached her hand over and placed it on top of mine, her words soft. “I think that’s something you need to figure out for yourself. And then talk to Penny. If there’s anything I’ve learned over nineteen years of marriage is that without communication, this is what a relationship becomes.” She pointed between herself and Dad before standing and rinsing the dishes in the sink.

I twisted my glass again and then picked it up to take a sip. My parents had been high school sweethearts and had married young, from what my grandparents had always said. My mother’s sad expression seemed burned into my mind, and I didn’t want to end up like my father in ten or twenty years, with an unhappy wife and kids who avoided his angry outbursts. But she’d said that communication would help. I just needed to find a way to work things out with Penny before I hurt her worse than the last time I’d left.

After returning to my room, it was all I could do to pull the covers over me before my eyes closed, bringing back the moments of the accident and the panic I felt every day.

Chapter 28

Penny

Icould practically feel the heat coming from my ears, like those old cartoons where fire spews from the sides of their head. Why did Jake have to be so difficult? And why couldn’t I be attracted to and like someone with fewer issues? I’d seen him going to dances the year before, seen girls coming to pick him up while watching out my window.

Was it because I didn’t get all dolled up every time we went out?

I entered through the front door and I jumped a bit, not realizing I’d shut it so hard.

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