Page 116 of The Third Baseman

“What?” I looked in the mirror to find an ice-cold stare belonging to one of the many hordes of girls I’d seen following Jupiter around.

I was a nerd. I wasn’t oblivious to the comments which shot my way on occasion or a little light bullying. But for the most part I avoided it, which was due to me either being locked in the lab with my head down, or tutoring a jock. And I was smart enough to know the jocks bought me some protection.

But Jupiter had propelled me to the front of the crowds. Being seen with him, holding hands, being kissed; I knew we’d been at the top of school gossip since our first lunch together had created a touch of drama, I just hadn’t realized quite how much. Except now, the queen of it was standing right behind me. I wasn’t entirely certain, but I think she belonged in the Laurens group.

“You think you’re so special because you’re the one who finally snagged Jupiter Reeves,” she spat.

I spun slowly, making no sudden movements, like you would if any vicious animal was hissing over your shoulder. This would be easier face to face instead of viewing her in the mirror. “Do I?”

“I can tell you, you’re not. You’re just warming him up for the rest of us,” she snarled.

Ew. I wasn’t even sure what that meant, but it sounded gross. It also sounded like…

“Are you jealous? You’re jealous of me?” I laughed.

She startled, as if the notion was really absurd. “As if! I’m telling you it how it is. The second he gets drafted, you’re getting dumped for someone more his level.”

I stepped to the side and slowly inched toward the door. My fists clenched to hide the shaking as I tried to summon my best Blair Waldorf. At least the hours and hours of watching Gossip Girl wouldn’t go to waste.

“I have to say, green really doesn’t suit your skin tone. It makes you look sallow.”

I flicked my hair to the side as I stormed past her and walked out, but before the door swung closed, I could hear her mutter, “what the fuck is she talking about? I’m wearing pink.”

Blair Waldorf vanished into thin air.

I ran down the hallway, ducking into a side door just before I dissolved into a fit of wrenching sobs I muffled with the neck of my sweater. Hot tears fell down my cheeks while my chest juddered as I silently gasped for air so no one would notice me. It wasn’t even what she said – okay it was a little about what she said – but mostly it was all my fears being voiced aloud by someone wearing Pepto-Bismol pink, which was ironic seeing as she’d made me feel like I needed to run to the nearest drug store to guzzle a bottle as though it were milkshake.

The worst bit? I was crying in a doorway when I should be out watching my boyfriend. Maybe if I dried my eyes and ran fast enough, I’d make it back in time.

I made it back, though I kind of wish I hadn’t. I also wish the girls had seen me coming, but as I snuck along the row behind because it had less people on, they didn’t.

“Oh God, Ainsley, give it up will you?” Emerson huffed, and from her tone it sounded like this conversation had been going on a while.

“Sorry, I just really love him, and Marnie’s our age, the same age as me. Do you think it’ll last?”

“I dunno. Probably not, knowing Jupiter, but it doesn’t mean he’s going to date you either, and he’s happy right now. Can we please stop talking about him?”

My body was slowly going numb, one limb at a time. If Emerson didn’t see us lasting, then what hope did I really have?

“Just one more,” whined Ainsley.

“No, you’re grating on my last nerve, Ains. Watch the game, will you?” snapped Mallory, just as she caught my eye. It was too late though, she knew I’d heard everything. “Hey, Marn, thank God you’re back. Jupiter is at bat next, and he’ll want you watching.”

I knew the last point she added wasn’t for my benefit.

I almost felt sorry for Ainsley as I silently stepped onto our row. I knew full well how intoxicating Jupiter was, and I couldn’t imagine it was easy getting out of his pull once you were in it.

But he was mine, and I wasn’t about to let him go.

“Sorry you heard that, but don’t worry about Ains,” whispered Mallory as I took my seat again. “She’s harmless. Jupiter doesn’t even know who she is.”

I know she was trying to make me feel better, but it didn’t.

Ainsley might have been harmless, but there’d be a hundred girls after her.

I wish I could say I paid attention to the rest of the game, but every time Jupiter was on the field, all I could think about was losing him once school finished. And every time he was off the field, all I could think about was what I was going to do to stop it to make sure I didn’t.

Back and forth, back and forth, until a cheer erupted throughout the stadium.

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