Page 61 of The Fadeaway
25
Joel
December, Senior Year of High School
The pep band is playing,and my team is already out on the floor warming up.
“Listen, Polly, I gotta get out there, but we’ll talk about it after the game.”
It’s the final night of the Valley High winter basketball tournament. Winning this tournament is all that should be on my mind, but my girlfriend has other priorities.
“But the formal is next Friday, and wehaveto get a limo.”
“We can talk about it—”
Two steps toward the court and she cuts me off, crossing her arms as her green eyes take on a golden tint. “Do you not care about formal? Or me?”
Polly is beautiful and outspoken and used to getting her way. I admired those qualities in her a year ago, but lately, it feels like it’s at the expense of me and my goals. Or maybe she’s right and I’ve just stopped caring. I’m five months away from graduation and with the colleges scouting me I’m guaranteed to end up playing somewhere awesome. It’s hard to care about formals and limos when I’m about to be a college ball player. One step closer to my dreams of the NBA.
But I do care about Polly.
“I love you and I will make sure it’s everything you want, but right now I gotta win a championship game, babydoll.” I brush a kiss on her pouty lips and haul ass to the court.
We win the game and the mood in the locker room is light. Guys joking around, dancing, and enjoying this moment with the team. Someone has turned on an old school Jock Jams playlist and I sing along to “Crazy Train,” air guitaring when appropriate.
I’m walking on cloud fucking nine until I step out of the locker room. Polly waits for me and the pinched expression tells me that she’s not impressed by the thirty points I racked up on the court. Still, I go for playful when I fall in beside her and drape an arm around stiff shoulders.
“Hey, beautiful. The team is heading for pizza to celebrate. You wanna ride over with me?”
“Ugh. Not pizza again. I thought we could go somewhere nice. Just the two of us. Didn’t your cousins just open a nice restaurant? Let’s go there.”
Her sentiments aren’t totally unjustified. Pizza is the go-to after a win, but even with four years of post-victory pizza binges, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
“Come on.” I link our hands together and try to do my best to look charming. Normally an easy feat, but Polly’s hard features don’t soften under my puppy dog eyes. “We can make winter formal plans after we eat.”
The tiniest crack of a smile pulls her full lips apart and tip upward.
Valley High basketball players, their families, and girlfriends take up most of the small pizza joint. My parents and sisters are here and that’s where I lead Polly.
“Congratulations,” my mother says when we approach.
I barely manage to thank her before Michelle jumps up and throws her arms around my neck. Polly drops my hand and steps aside while my youngest sister squeezes in excitement. “You were amazing!”
“Thanks, Smelly.” I use her nickname and tug on the end of her ponytail. She pulls back and retreats to her seat and I turn to Polly who’s vanished. I spot her with some of the other basketball guys’ girlfriends, huddled around talking about who knows what.
I go ahead and take a seat with my family. The pepperoni pizza in the middle of the table is nearly gone so I know they’ll be heading out soon. Grab a slice and take a huge bite while simultaneously listening to my sister fill me in on the game like I wasn’t there. She’s almost as big a ball fan as I am. Though, she prefers the sidelines to playing. Something about too much running and sweat for her liking.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and when I pull it out and read the screen I stand, still chewing.
Polly: I thought we were going to talk about winter formal. I saved you a seat.
She’s made no attempt to get to know my family in the time we’ve been dating. I guess that’s normal, but my family is so much a part of me and my life it feels weird to keep the two separate. But I did promise her we’d talk about formal.
“See you guys at home later. Gonna celebrate with the guys.”
My family doesn’t put up a fight. I know my parents understand, but Michelle’s smile dims and I hate that.
“Smelly, wanna binge watchTeen Wolftomorrow? I’m like five episodes behind.” Because I only watch it when she forces me. She knows that, but it doesn’t stop her eyes from lighting up and she can’t nod fast enough. That’s one woman in my life appeased.
