Page 9 of Game Changer
Five
Ethan
Four years earlier
It’s getting pathetic how obsessed I am with Maya. You’d think after knowing her for two years, I’d find a way to shake my interest in her, yet I’m downstairs watching television at midnight, wondering if she’ll wait until Maddie goes to sleep and come join me for a bowl of ice cream.
I have no clue when this tradition started. She was up late during one of their movie nights and I guess she got hungry. Maddie was asleep already, and we ended up in the kitchen at the same time. I got out the cookies and cream from the freezer, and Maya said it was her favorite flavor. Before I knew it, I’d grabbed two spoons from the silverware drawer, passed one to her, and we’d shared a bowl of ice cream.
Now it’s become a recurring thing. I stay up watching whatever is on television, and eventually Maya makes her way downstairs. I haven’t told her this is something I look forward to on the nights she sleeps over, and she hasn’t said anything, either, but I also feel like Ican’tsay something. It doesn’t feel right. She’s a sophomore, and I’m a senior. This attraction I’ve developed for her and whatever these ice-cream nights mean is scary as hell. Granted, we’re only two years apart, but that feels like a lifetime when I’ll be going to college next year and will be on a different journey than her.
I keep telling myself she’s like this with every guy, but lately I’ve been wondering if maybe she thinks of me as something more than her best friend’s older brother. I wonder if shewantsme to become something more than that.
But it isn’t the right time. Maybe in a few years I can make a move. When we’re both older, Maddie might be more understanding. Until then, I plan on suffering through this fucking infatuation with her and everything she does.
As expected, the bottom step creaks before Maya tiptoes into the kitchen, smiling softly when she sees me watching a random sitcom. All the lights are off, so it’s just the faint glow of the freezer when she pulls out the ice cream and waves it at me. “Hungry?”
I shrug as if I haven’t been waiting for the past hour and a half. “I could go for some ice cream.”
Joining her in the kitchen, I inwardly groan at the skimpy silk set she calls pajamas. I’ve noticed she’s a fan of neon colors because they emphasize her tan, so I’m unsurprised at the vibrant green material. “You seemed off tonight,” I say. “Earlier at dinner.”
She pauses with the ice-cream scoop in her hand. “Why do you think that?”
“You weren’t as talkative.” I’m more of an observer and a listener, which is why I could tell by Maya’s demeanor at dinner with my family that something was wrong. I watch everything she does, though, so my observations could be because I’m a stalker who can’t seem to take his eyes off her.
“Maybe I don’t always want to talk,” she replies.
“That’s not true, and you know it. If anyone loves talking, it’s you. What gives?”
With a defeated sigh, she passes me a spoon and sets the bowl between us on the island. “It’s stupid, but you know how Maddie was talking about going on the class trip to Disneyland? I lied and said I hated amusement parks when, truthfully, it’s the one place I’ve always wanted to go. I didn’t bother asking my parents because I know they can’t afford it.”
I nod thoughtfully while attempting not to be distracted when she swipes a cookie chunk from her bottom lip with her tongue. From what Maddie’s told me, Maya’s parents aren’t wealthy. She lives in a trailer park that she’s embarrassed about, so Maddie doesn’t go over to her house much. It’s easier if Maya comes here.
“I don’t know,” she continues while I process her confession. “It makes me feel guilty for being jealous, you know? My parents bust their asses to make ends meet, and I want to complain about going to Disneyland?” She shakes her head in frustration. “God, even saying it out loud sounds—”
I cut her off before she can finish. “You shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to go somewhere fun. It’s okay to be upset, and I’m sure your parents would understand if you told them, and who knows? Maybe they’d find a way—”
“You don’t get it.” Tears form in her eyes, and the sight nearly brings me to my knees. “The trip is five hundred dollars, Ethan. That kind of money could pay for our groceries for an entire month. Even if my parents did find a way to pay for it, I wouldn’t want them to. That’s why this year I’m going to get a job and help them out. I’m sixteen now, and although it won’t bring in a lot of money, it’ll be something to help, you know?”
Right now, staring at Maya stealing another bite of ice cream from the bowl, I’m seeing her in an entirely new light. Yeah, she’s outgoing and the life of the party, but she’s got the biggest heart, one I already admire, and she deserves to go to Disneyland, dammit. No one deserves it more.
“What?” she asks, breaking me out of my trance. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m not looking at you like anything,” I lie, as I go in for another scoop. “I just hope you make it to Disneyland one day.”
~
Two weeks later, Maddie is chattering away at dinner about how thrilled she is that Maya can go on the class trip to Disneyland with her. Apparently, the teachers picked oneexemplarystudent in the class to go on the trip for free, and they nominated Maya.
I eat my spaghetti in silence while Maddie explains that Maya was so happy she cried. It’s an effort to hide my smile, but when I get back to my room, it takes up my entire face.
Working at Perry’s ice-cream shop during the summer came in handy, and when I found out Coach was one of the chaperones on the trip, it didn’t take much convincing to get him to help, since I had the cash. I don’t know how he came up with the whole nomination thing, or how he convinced the staff to vote for Maya.
All I care about is she’s going on a trip she wholeheartedly deserves.
~
Happy Endings is the closest bar to campus, and it lives up to its name. Rumor has it that any person who walks into Happy Endings looking to get lucky will, indeed, find their match—whether for a lifetime or just a night. You wouldn’t think that after setting foot in the place. The music is really loud, and the entire place looks like it’s in serious need of a deep cleaning, but I guess superstitions exist for a reason.
