Page 13 of Drew
7
Abby
Drew wasn’t kiddingwhen he said he was determined to be a good lab partner. We’ve met up a few times and even video chatted while he was in a hotel room outside of Eugene, just to get our assignment completed in a joint effort. He’s adamant about doing his fair share and if it weren’t so damn annoying, it’d almost be admirable.
Two weeks later, as I drag myself into my apartment one evening after working all afternoon at the library, Sydney ambushes me as soon as I enter the door.
“Good, you’re home!” She’s decked out in CRU gear, and even has our school’s logo temporarily tattooed to her cheek.
“What’s going on?” I ask.Crap, have I missed something?Chloe’s nowhere to be seen, but the crazed look in Sydney’s eyes has me on alert.
“Chloe’s working late, and you’re going to the game with me. We have thirty minutes to tip-off, and I didn’t think you’d get here on time.” Sydney takes my hand and drags me into her bedroom. “Here. You can wear this.” She throws me a black basketball jersey with our school logo and the number twenty-four in red across the back. “I have an extra tattoo in my bathroom for your face and some pom-poms you can use.”
I stare at her as if I’ve entered an alternate reality.Since when do I attend basketball games, dressed as a crazed fan, eager to cheer them on?Sure, I’ve gone to a few games in the past, but I’m a come as you are type of fan. No need to get all riled up. “Uh, when did I say I was going to the game?”
As far as I’m concerned, I have a date with my textbook and loads of reading to endure to be ready for class tomorrow. Basketball is the furthest thing from my mind. Syd should know this.
“Come on!” she begs. “It’s one of the biggest games of the season. We’re playing Washington, and we can’t miss this. Chloe had to pull a double shift, and I don’t want to go alone,” Sydney practically pleads at the end and then goes for my Achilles heel. “Abs… If you go, I’ll bake cinnamon rolls tomorrow. I’ll even make a special pan, just for you…” She bats her eyes, then adds her ace in the hole. “With as much glaze as you want.” She waggles an eyebrow in my direction as she eagerly awaits my response.
Shit, she knows I have an affection for her freaking cinnamon rolls. For some reason, I can never make the glaze as perfect as her. It’s almost like she’s beaten down some poor person at Cinnabon for their special ingredients. Unfortunately, that means I typically eat most of the pan when I can get away with it, but let’s be real, her pastries are pure perfection and worth every ounce of extra padding they’ve added to me over the years.
I sigh heavily as I know there’s only one answer I’ll give her. “Just give me a minute, and I’ll be ready.”
Syd squeals loud enough for the neighbors down the street to hear and throws her arms around me. “You’re the best, Abs. Drew’s been on fire these past few weeks, and I’m sure he’ll appreciate you being there to cheer him on.”
“Uh… I hate to point it out to you, Syd, but Drew’s just my lab partner. Besides, there’s no way he’ll know I’m there with an arena full of fans.”
“Oh, Abby.” Sydney shakes her head. “Trust me. He’ll know you’re there.”
“I highly doubt it,” I mumble as I switch out my shirt for the jersey and take the two minutes necessary to run a brush through my hair before declaring I’m ready to leave.
When we get to the arena, it’s packed, and the air buzzes with anticipation for the big game. We each show our sports pass and make our way to find a seat among the cheering crowd. Evidently, we haven’t missed tip-off because the opposing team’s being announced as we walk down the stairs to find our seats. Instead of heading to the student section, as I presumed we’d sit, Sydney takes us closer to the court and shows her phone to the attendant. Before I know it, we’re ushered to seats only three rows up from the center of the court.
“Uh… since when do we no longer sit in the student section?” I ask with the realization that she must’ve done something extra to get these seats.
“Since my boss offered me his season tickets for tonight when he found out I was going. He’s out of town and wasn’t using them. There’s no way I’d pass up a chance to get this close to the action, Abs. I may be a work-a-holic, but even my boss knows I’m a huge basketball fan. Of course, I jumped at the chance.” Sydney’s eyes dance in anticipation as she scopes out the players entering the court. Her love of the game is evident in her appraisal of the players. Knowing Sydney, she’s likely mentally calculating their stats as they’re introduced. She has such a knack at remembering the most trivial things sports related.
We take our seats as the stadium lights dim. The spotlight goes wild, and music blasts to welcome CRU’s team to the arena. Fanatic fans scream as each player’s introduced and their position announced. I’m up on my feet, cheering right along with the crowd, when Drew’s introduced at the end of the lineup. The announcer draws out his name as if Drew Jacobs is the most exciting person in the room. Apparently, Drew’s beaten many school records, and the announcer feels the need to share it with the room. As my eyes dart to Drew, he appears humble in his reaction. His face has a plastered-on smile but when the accolades are announced, his eyes dart to the floor, almost in disbelief.Interesting.He’ssonot the jock I thought I met on our first day of classes. There’s much more to Drew Jacobs than most know. I’m sure.
Once the National Anthem is sung, the ball is brought out to center court to be tipped. Drew’s not in the center of the action for this moment, but once CRU wins the ball, it’s quickly taken by our point guard and dribbled hard for our net. At the last moment, he passes the ball to Drew for an assist, and SWISH! It’s nothing but net. Drew has a bounce in his step as he celebrates the score but is quickly back on defense as a member of Washington’s team returns the ball to their side of the court.
I may not come to many games, but I’ve spent plenty of time on a basketball court watching my older brother Travis play as we grew up. As I watch the ball zoom down the court and baskets be made by both teams, I cheer right along with Sydney and the rest of the crowd.
My heart beats quicker each time CRU takes possession of the ball. When it’s passed to Drew, it nearly rockets out of my chest. A sense of pride soars through me as I watch Drew handle the basketball. As if the ball’s an extension of himself, he maneuvers it through the defense with ease and scores nearly every time he touches the ball. His muscles flex, and his face fills with such intensity, it’s hard not to stare at him in awe. Drew Jacobs is a God on the court. The other players pale in comparison. Though the other team keeps pace with us as far as scoring is concerned, no one on the court handles the ball with such precision as Drew. Other players are rotated in and out of the game as the coach sees fit, but Drew’s like a workhorse, unyielding until he finishes his task.
Just as the buzzer signals for halftime, Drew’s gaze locks onto mine. An involuntary shudder rolls through my body as he looks me over from head to toe. It’s as if there’s an electric current directly connected to my spinal cord, and I feel every spot his eyes roam as they take me in, cheering him on from the stands.What the hell is he doing to me?I’ve never had such an intense reaction to anyone like this.
Drew’s smile spreads wide when his eyes return to mine. He tips his head to the side and nods once with a quick wink before DeShawn Miller claps him on the back, and he’s ushered to the locker room. It happens so fast, I thought I’d imagined it. But when Sydney giggles and brushes her shoulder to mine, I’m not so sure I did.
“What the hell is that?” she teases as she continues watching Drew run off court.
“What do you mean?” I ask in confusion while keeping my eyes on Drew until he and the rest of the team are no longer visible, then turn to face her.
“Uh…” Sydney’s green eyes are wide, and her strawberry-blond ponytail swishes behind her as she whips her head in my direction. “The guy clearly winked at you…” she accuses.
“Are you sure? Sweat was rolling off his forehead. He could’ve had something in his eye…”
“Abby,” she chides, holding my gaze.
