Page 17 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
"And I'll tell everyone you said shit.Literally."He scooped up the contents from the bag, setting them on the bench.Cass stared at the paper bag in her hand and furrowed her brows.Completely dropping the conversation, she held it up to him.He answered by sheepishly handing over a pair of sneakers.They were high tops, cherry red with sharp white laces and intricate trim.Her hands numbly took the shoes, letting the bag topple to the ground, empty.Elliot let out a nervous laugh, "Busted."
"Elliot," she breathed, glancing up from the sneakers."You bought these for me?"
"Well, you pinkie promised to wear them if I found stylish ones and…well…red's your signature color."
Her heart skipped a beat as she hugged the gorgeous shoes to her chest.Redwasher signature color.Cherry red was her favorite color because it popped.Hard to ignore if you're bright as a stop light.When she wasn't wearing something with it in the color, it was her lipstick color.
"I—you didn't have to do this," she blurted out in one breath.
"Just looking out for my girl."
She froze, glancing down to his hands where he held up a collection of socks, a pair of leggings and matching top.He'd just…decided to buy her clothes?Her mouth flapped open over and over until she found the words."Thank you."
"Yeah, no worries, fashion’s like your personal expression.I get it."He set the items into her tote for her before tucking her laptop inside tenderly.Cassiopeia stumbled to the bench, putting the shoes on top.Why is my heart racing?She tucked her notepad into the bag.He's so frustratingly perfect.It was starting to get on her nerves.He seemed to read her mind, chuckling, "What's cooking in that skull of yours?"
"It's not just the fashion, it's not about—well, it is.Uh, I spent most of my childhood living in my sister's hand-me-downs, and so I swore to myself when I got that 'adult money' I would never live in rags again."She offered up a piece of her for the kindness.He'd done nothing but been kind and understanding.When she finally peeked up from her bag, he was studying her face with genuine interest.She groaned, confessing, "We didn't have a lot of money growing up.Five girls, mom and dad were just scraping by, so Andromeda got all the new stuff since she was oldest, then Lyra, then me.However, by the time they went through me, the clothes were ruined and so mom and dad were also forced to get the twins new stuff…so I never, and I meannever, got new clothes.And I went to school every year basically in rags.If the ridicule from my peers wasn't enough, I started to resent it myself."
Elliot made a grunt of acknowledgement."Oh, don't I know it."
"Grew up poor too?"she winced.
"Dirt poor."He shook his head, reaching into his locker.Tossing a zip up hoodie over his arms, he zipped it halfway before throwing the bag over his shoulder.He left the locker completely open."Pops was a baby mechanic, beginner, barely had the licenses to do more than oil changes and Mom babysat neighborhood kids to make change.Then, Rex, my baby-baby brother got sick.Real bad stuff, he was always the smallest and it tore him up.I was pretty sure at one point we ate dinner at a friend’s house for a full month cause Mom and Pops didn't have the money to buy food.So, yeah, I get it.Went to school every day in baggy sweatpants I had to re-wash every night for a while."
Cassiopeia motioned for him to lead the way.She picked up the abandoned paper bag and chucked it into the trash can.Elliot grabbed up his shower flops and tossed them into his bag.Cass waited for him at the end of the lockers."That's kind of why I care about my clothes, how I'm presenting.If I'm not the shabby poor kid no one wants to sit with, I'm the ignored sister, or I'm too cute to take seriously.I just can't catch a break."
"I can show you how to catch," he laughed, tossing her a wink.She glared at him, fighting a light chuckle that shook her shoulders.He wiggled finger guns at her before leading their procession out of the locker room."You hungry?"
"Starving, actually," she confessed.
"On a scale of one to ten, how much do you like pizza?"He raised a brow at her.
"Twenty eight."Cass watched his face brighten as he rattled off the good pizza places around the field.Should she be going to get pizza with the man she was writing an article on?She walked beside him, letting him decide which pizza shop.Her mind was still glued to the strange flutter in her chest.Why is it so easy to talk to him?Despite the childish language that came out of his mouth, Elliot was thoughtful.She shouldn't let the fluttering get too far.That would turn to feelings and feelings got her hurt.What if she actually began to like Elliot and when the season was over, he didn't make an effort anymore?Or what if he retired and settled.A nervous laughter fluttered out of her mouth, "I'm not keeping you from someone, right?There's not secretly a girlfriend you're hiding from the press who is going to come for me online over some sneakers and pizza after practice?Or a boyfriend who will pop my poor, crusty car's tires?Or a partner?"
She'd definitely saw his status as single online.Not that it mattered before.But, suddenly, as the fluttering of a childish crush filled the cavity of her chest, she felt the ache.What if he doesn't feel it?What if he secretly does have someone?What if?What if?What if?Cass tried to toss it out.He'd shown her basic kindness.Basic.Kindness.She couldn't get her feelings crossed and mixed up over a shred of acknowledgement!And yet, she knew she liked the goofy smile he flashed her as he shook his head."Nope, just me, myself, and my shadow.Though, I wouldn't ever date anyone who'd pop your tires or come for your shins, Cassie."
She snorted, nodding as she scolded herself internally."Of course not, you don't seem like that kind of person."
"That's a fun question, what kind of person do I seem like?"He wiggled his shoulders suggestively.
"The kind who never grew up," she retorted, shooting him a warning look.He barked out a laugh, opening his mouth and she jabbed a finger at him, "Don't.Even.Think.About it.Buster!"
Her shoulders trembled as she fought the laugh, but they both ended up snorting and crying tears of joy as they laughed up the hill.Out of the arena, the metal gate clicked closed behind them and the arena's security spell fell over it.Cass hugged her stomach, groaning at the stitch in her side while laughing harder.Elliot giggled evilly.She swatted at him but he danced out of her hands.He winked at her, "Come on, fun hater."
"I don't hate fun!"she roared.
"I never grew up and you grew up too fast," he teased, taking up her bicep that wasn't pining her tote to her side, and eased her away from the arena.Cass's cheeks ached with how wide her smile was on her face.He motioned at a pizza shop not but a block from the arena parking lot."But no, really, how do I seem?You're probably the only one who will give me a brutally honest answer."
Cass walked beside him slowly, chewing on her bottom lip."Well, when I first met you, you seemed like an incredibly goofy, immature man."
"Hmm, and now?"He arched a brow.
"You seem," She gazed up at his striking bones and the mirth in his eyes."Like a very emotionally intelligent, sweet individual who is still very goofy, but…endearing."
Elliot's face lit up with joy and she knew immediately…she was in so much trouble because she had a crush on Elliot Bonesaw…and he was going to break her heart.
Chapter nine
Going the mile or two or three
