Page 143 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“But it’s important to Kai.”
“Is he really gonna pump the brakes because Miss Grumpy back there won’t answer any of your questions?”
“Yes, Fred. I know you’re on my team, but Kai and Jamie are the other team. If she doesn’t like me, it’s a big, fat X over my name.”
Freddy frowns. “Then I’m going back to my previous take. He doesn’t deserve you.”
“I appreciate the brotherly support, but please don’t turn into Dad and not give Kai a second chance. I really like him.”
Freddy nudges me. “Then we should move off this fence and join his friends.”
“I… I can’t. You saw Jamie’s reaction. I can’t handle more of his friends looking at me like that.”
“So you’re letting Miss Grumpy win?”
“No, but…”
“Does Kai even know you’re here? Did you text him?”
“No, what was the point? He’s already in the middle of playing.”
“But you want him to know you’re here, right?”
I shrug, biting my lip. “I just want to see him.”
Freddy stays antsy as we watch the game play on. My breath hitches in my throat and then I nod at him.
He lights up. “Yeah?”
“Not too close. Just closer.”
He grabs my wrist and tugs me forward. “That’s a start, sis.”
When there’s a group of people between us and Kai’s parents, I tug on Freddy’s arm. “Okay, close enough.”
“What are you so afraid of? I won’t let anyone yell at you.”
“I know you, Freddy. You’re not the help you think you are.”
His expressions falls. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Whenever we’re around other people, they fawn all over you,” I say bluntly. “And when everyone surrounds you, I’m left alone, looking like an outsider.”
“How is it my fault what other people do?”
“I dunno, but I don’t want today turning into The Freddy Jones Show.”
Freddy rolls his eyes. “Will there be one day when you don’t act like I ruin your life?”
“Maybe.” I wink. “But not today.”
We watch the game, and I can’t help feeling bad for talking down to Freddy. It’s not his fault people instantly like him. I guess it’s just triggering for me. My first interaction on the soccer field is hate stares from my crush’s best friend. How could someone like Mr. Popularity understand that every interaction isn’t sublimely easy for the rest of the world?
There’s cheers all around us as the gameplay on the field heats up. Butterflies jitter inside me as Kai zigzags with the ball. When the other team’s defenders move in on Kai, he passes to a teammate on his left. In a struggle for possession, Kai’s teammate loses the ball and the other player darts up the field.
Freddy and I both hiss at the missed opportunity, but Kai gets right back into action. His defenders mark up players to protect their goal. I clasp my hands tight, hoping the other team doesn’t score.
In hasty eagerness, a player winds up like he’s taking a shot at the goal. Like he’s magnetized to the ball, Kai runs up on the player before he and the ball connect. To steal the ball, Kai turns his shoulder toward the other player. The two twist around the ball, both determined to take possession.
