Page 72 of A Game as Old as Time

I can be a friend.

Gunner nodded to himself as the car kicked into drive.

I can be a good friend.

He could be a friend to Hailey. He could be there for her onstage when she needed him, and if she needed to talk, he could listen.

How hard could it be?

**********

“Come on, Hailey!” Juliana shouted as she made her way to the pizza parlor.

Why did I say yes?

She was mumbling under her breath when they opened the door and the noise from inside the restaurant practically knocked them over.

“BAILEY! BAILEY! BAILEY!” The chant got even louder as they stepped inside.

WOW!

Students from every grade were packed into the room, laughing uproariously. Pizza littered the tables. She immediately recognized most of the football team and was shocked to see them all together, holding someone up on a chair.

“My brother is so dumb!” Juliana screamed over the noise.

This is insane.

She tried to play along and laugh. She followed Emilio and the other players holding the chair around the room as the player on top gripped tight with a mix of pure joy and fear.

Absolutely insane.

She had never noticed how large the pizza parlor’s dining area was. The sprawling space was lit by small chandeliers. The booths against the back walls were now filled with laughing students, and a few others danced by the large tables in the middle. In the past, she had been so set on getting out that she had missed just how homey it felt.

“Juelz!” said the owner, sprinting around the counter.

“Tony!” She kissed his cheek and gave him a hug. “Did my brother break anything yet?”

Tony snorted and shook his head. “Tell me again, how are you two twins?”

Juliana flicked her wrist teasingly.

“Remember, Tony, I got all the good qualities.”

The man chuckled. His eyes had now found Hailey, who was trying to shrink down behind her friend.

“Hailey, right?”

He knows my name?

His grin widened, and he extended his pudgy hand.

OK.

She forced a grin and returned the shake. The warm tenderness of his hand helped ease some of her growing angst.

“Sorry about all of this.” He had to lean down so she could hear him. “I normally run a calm and clean establishment. However, Coach Weston always wanted a safe place for the students to go after games, so…” He waved his arms around, his dirty apron flapping against his bulging stomach.

“Well, it seems like everyone is having a good time,” Hailey said as JT and Andy flashed by. Their excited screams brought a genuine smile to her face.

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