Page 5 of Anytime I Want

Nailed it.

I smile, pretending that I need to be convinced. I know I’ll say yes. What can I say? I love a bet too. “Hmm. Maybe. What are the terms?”

“If Sun Hills wins, then I’ll do your homework for a week. If Desert Valley wins, you do mine.” Nathan holds out his hand.

“What? That’s a sucker’s bet. Sun Hills never wins. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen them score a touchdown,” I say, not moving to shake his hand.

“You want Graham to do your homework?” Chloe asks, clearly confused. “No offense.”

I put my hand to my chest. “A little taken. I’m very smart, just unmotivated. Ask my parents or my counselor. I could crush Nathan’s homework.”

“Okaaay.” Chloe draws out the word before going back to her phone. I never know what she’s doing on there. Does she really have that many people to text?

“Yeah, they suck.” Julia says, bringing the conversation back. “Their kicker can only kick onside. Between that and a QB that can throw maybe 3 yards, it’ll be a bloodbath.”

Chloe claps her hands. “Ooh! Really? Then we are in. I want Nathan to do my homework! Final terms: if Desert Valley wins, we all split Nathan’s homework for the next week. If Sun Hills wins, Nathan does all of ours.” Chloe grabs Nathan’s arm, making it look like he wants to shake my hand.

I grab Nathan’s hand and shake it hard. “Deal. Only, if Sun Hills wins, I don’t want Nathan to do my homework. I want Julia to go out with me. No take backs.”

“What? No! That’s not the deal,” Julia stammers.

“Deal,” Nathan and Chloe say in unison, exchanging a smile, finally finding something they can agree on. I glance between all of them, a smile growing on my face. I love my friends so much.

“Don’t worry, Julia. You said it yourself. There is no chance Sun Hills will take this game,” Chloe says with the confidence that only comes with not understanding football.

***

Julia

The final score is 18–14, Sun Hills Scorpions. I stare at the scoreboard in total shock.

“Well, you were right about one thing,” Nathan says. “They missed all their PATs. That kicker is terrible.” He nudges my shoulder. “You okay?”

I swallow hard. “Where did that new quarterback come from?” I don’t really have to do this, right? I mean, maybe one date won’t be so bad? Wait, yes. Yes, it will. I’ve made very little progress convincing myself over the past eleven years, and going out with him would absolutely put me back to square one. I need to consider my brother, my parents,hisparents. Besides, Chloe and Nathan are the ones who agreed. One of them should have to go out with him, and I tell them as much.

“Ha. No. Hard pass,” Nathan says immediately.

“Uhm, yeah, I don’t think so,” Chloe says, her eyes darting between me and Graham.

“A bet’s a bet, Jules. You wouldn’t want to make a liar out of our friends, would you?” Graham says.

“No one asked me. I didn’t agree.” I stare at the field in dismay. The conversation continues around me, but I don’t engage.What do I do? If I give Graham an inch, I’m pretty sure I’ll end up giving him everything. I can’t do that. What if I end up being responsible for those friendships ruined? How can I trust thatI’ll be the thing, the person, he doesn’t change his mind about?I shake my head, trying to calm my thoughts.

“Julia? Hello?” Chloe waves her hand in front of my face, trying to get any kind of reaction.

“Well, either way! Go Scorpions!” Graham yells, picking me up and spinning me around on the bleachers. I shiver, and goosebumps pop up on my arms, and I pray that Graham won’t notice them. It’s eighty-five degrees; he knows I’m not cold. His eyes track down my arms, and his lips twitch. “Tomorrow night, right? It’s a date?”Well, at least he didn’t mention them.

“Uhm, no. What is it they always say on TV? I am not a prize to be won. Put me down. No date or anything tomorrow night.” I struggle to get out of Graham’s arms. Although, truthfully, I could’ve struggled a lot more. Sue me. I like his arms, and what girl doesn’t like a good hug? He realizes I’m trying to get free and lets me go. I start running before I’m completely stable and stumble on the bleachers. I let the momentum fuel me, and I come out of it like a champ. Not exactly. More like I come out of it without falling but I’m counting it.

“Julia!” Nathan and Chloe yell. I keep going, in no mood to talk to any of them. I rush across the field and through the SHHS fans celebrating their big win. I bump into a group of cheerleaders, screaming and cheering.

“Sorry,” I mumble, as a hand grabs my arm, stopping my progress. I look over my shoulder, right into the gorgeous brown eyes that I really didn’t want to see.

“Julia. Wait. What’s going on? I won’t make you go out with me.” Graham's eyes are wide with panic. “I hate that you think I am that kind of guy. Truthfully, I was hoping that maybe you just needed a good excuse. But clearly I was wrong. I… like you. A lot. Are you really not interested in me?” He runs his fingers through his hair before putting his hat on backwards.Ugh. Backwards hats. Why are they so attractive?

“I don’t know what you want to hear, Graham. Please don’t make me say it again. Look around. There are a ton of girls that would jump at the chance to go out with you. Ask one of them.” I gesture toward the cheerleaders I ran into, all of them glancing at Graham in a way that is supposed to be subtle but isn’t at all.

“What? No, I don’t want to go out with anyone else. Please, I am begging you. What can I do to prove I am serious about you? About us, dating, being together.”

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