Page 142 of We Shouldn't Be Together
I spy the field and soon see him receiving the ball and passing it to another player. “There. Number six.”
“Wow,” Freddy breathes as he watches Kai zigzag around the other team and receives the ball again. “Dang, he’s good.”
“I’ve never seen him move this fast.”
“And look at that footwork. The other team can’t touch him.”
I peruse the mass of spectators, and get a little thrill when I spy Kai’s friends, and then his parents, standing in front. I’m about to point them out to Freddy, but instead pretend I was never looking.
“See you guys!” Jamie calls out, moving away from Kai’s family and friends.
“You’re leaving?” someone asks her, but I’m not game to look closely at who it is.
“Yeah, I gotta get to work. Aunt Maddy’s swamped,” Jamie replies, waving her goodbyes. “At least they’re up by three. It’s not like I’m gonna miss much.”
Oh my gosh. Now, standing by the parking lot is the dumbest move I’ve made all day.
Jamie has to walk past us to leave.
I don’t want this to be round two of what happened in the school foyer on Thursday afternoon. Shaking out my hands, I’m unable to rid the clamminess. I’ve told Kai I’m not gonna rag on Jamie, and I imagine he wants me and her to become friends. I mean, it makes sense. With me and Kai getting closer, I should be able to chat with his friends.
As Jamie makes her way toward the parking lot, I shift against the fence and wave at her. “Hi Jamie.”
She stops in place, her eyes circular.
Gosh, so awkward. This isn’t school. Must she be mute everywhere we meet?
I try again with, “Good game, huh?”
Her gaze narrows, her skepticism growing. If her mind is anything like Kai’s, I can only imagine the wacky places it’s going.
“Are you leaving already?” Come on, give me something.
“Wh-wh…” Jamie stutters. “What are you doing here?”
Freddy gives me a look, saying, is this girl for real?
“Hey, did you play today?” I ask as enthusiastically as my anxiety will let me. “I’ve heard you’re a really awesome soccer player.”
Jamie’s nose crinkles and her lip upturns.
My gosh, could she hate me more?
“Hey,” Freddy says, stepping forward. “She’s only trying to be nice.”
Jamie deadpans. “Oh, is she?” It’s the most clear I’ve ever heard her speak. “I don’t even know why the two of you are here. It’s not your kind of football.”
“Geez.” Freddy exhales hard. “You’re a little firecracker, aren’t ya?”
Jamie rolls her eyes and keeps moving past us and into the parking lot.
I watch her over my shoulder as she gets into a beat up, old station wagon. “Okay, I’m still her least favorite person.”
“All she did was stare at you. She didn’t even try to talk.”
“How do Kai and I get a decent shot if she won’t give me a chance?”
Freddy waves it off. “Forget her. If she won't put in any effort, she isn't worth your time.”
