Page 3 of Trash Talk

“Still mad about that twenty bucks, huh? It’s your own fault you misjudged me. I mean, I guess if you want, I could give you another go. But you’re only headed for more disappointment.” Giggles from my girls sound off behind me. I almost giggle too, I’m so giddy. I don’t know what it is about this boy that makes me rise to the occasion. Maybe it’s because he’s so cocky; I want to knock him down a peg. Maybe it’s because he underestimates me, and I just want to prove him wrong. Whatever it is, I’m seriously thinking about a rematch.

He’s smirking again, which I take as a sign that, yet again, I’ll have to show him anything he can do, I can do better. “Double or nothin’.” And he took the bait.

“I’m not sure that’s the way it works, but if you want to lose twenty more, you’re on.”

“Okay, my house. 4:00. One on one.”

“The bet was HORSE, not one on one.” I try to hide the panic in my voice, but I don’t think I do a very good job. He’s a good six, seven, maybe eight inches taller than me. Not exactly fair.

“Well, I’m changing the stakes. Figure we can play to my advantage. And this time, I won’t underestimate you.” He holds his hand out to Em, “Knox Teller.”

“Emma Alexander,” she says and shakes his hand. He shakes Poppy and HK’s hands as well as they introduce themselves. It would seem someone at least taught him some manners, more than I can say for his friend.

“Pleasure ladies. This is my friend, Graham.” He gives a head nod, and we wave back. “Y’all can all ref the game. Make sure we both play fair.”

Just then Mrs. Monroe pulls up. “I wish we could, but we’ve got to get going. Sorry.” Poppy leans in to give me a hug bye and whispers, “give him hell.” HK leans in next, “Crush him. Shorty.” She rolls her eyes and laughs at the ridiculous nickname. God, I love them. Em and I wave from the curb. The two boys at our back almost completely forgotten.

“I’m getting my money back, Shorty,” his deep voice swings my attention back to him. I don’t miss the twinkle in his eye as he steps down from the curb, takes a few long strides and hops into the passenger side of the jacked-up truck parked a few feet away.

“Do you even have twenty bucks?” Em asks me under her breath as we get on our bikes. Ugh, me and my big mouth.

“Nope, I just spent all my money in there,” I hitch my thumb toward the theater behind us. “Well, all his money.”

“I can spot you.”

“Oh, ye of little faith. You don’t think I can beat him?”

“Well, I know you’re great. I’d pick you against any girl at our school. Even Julia Schnortser, and she’s built like a brick-you-know-what-house. But he’s a boy. He’s built like a tank. He’s older and like a foot taller than you.” Umm, exaggeration much? “You’re gonna have to cheat to win.”

“Hey, now. I never cheat.” She eyeballs me hard. “Okay, so I bend the rules in Monopoly a little, but if I didn’t the game would last for-ev-er. Besides board games don’t count. Today, I am going to beat that giant vlákas fair and square. Again. Even if it kills me.”

“It just might,” Em says as we pedal toward my house, laughing. I’ve got two hours to come up with a game plan. Piece of cake.

First to twenty-one didn’t sound so bad when we’d started, but now I’m soaked with sweat and bone tired from chasing Knox around the court. He’s a lot quicker than a giant should be. And graceful too. Oh, and he's only missed two shots. Then again, so have I. Which means we’re tied at twenty and that jerk has the ball. He’s smirking. I don’t have twenty freakin’ dollars, and I won’t have it ‘til I get my allowance next week. I can hear Em praying on the side of the court. I’ll take all the help I can get. I literally can’t afford to lose. Focus Rubes. There’s no way you’re letting this punk win. Be quick, play smart, he’s bound to make a mistake.

He’s dribbling high, and grinning—so much for not underestimating me. I dive in and steal the ball, racing toward the basket for a layup. She shoots. She scores! I turn and victory dance the entire way back to the top of the key where my overconfident adversary is still standing. With his mouth hanging wide open. I’ve never seen anyone so shocked.

Graham is in danger of dying from laughter. “I can’t wait to tell the guys a little girl beat you one on one, fair and square.” He’s rolling on the ground now, and I almost feel bad for Knox. Almost.

Em gives Graham a hand to help him up and giggles at something he says. She’s not really into boys, she’s more into books. It’s the first time I’ve seen her do anything in the neighborhood of flirting. As looks go, she could’ve picked a worse test subject.

“Time to pay up, Teller.” I hold my hand out to him, palm up.

“I can’t believe you just did that. I’ll never use ‘you play like a girl’ as an insult again.” Serves him right.

“Well, it sounds like you’ve learned your lesson,” I smile up at him.

He’s smiling back, which is pretty gracious, seeing as how I just beat the pants off of him. Gah, he’s kind of gorgeous when he smiles. “Nope.” Huh? He just keeps smiling. “Double or nothin’.” Is he crazy? My face must speak volumes. “Putt Putt at Wild Creek Adventures, next Friday. High noon.”

I laugh and shake my head, “I almost feel bad about taking your money, but you’ll eventually learn there’s not a lot you can do, that I can’t do better.” Shaking his head, he laughs, but it would take Knox Teller years to prove me wrong. And that’s how we began our unlikely friendship.

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