Page 31 of Taking Care of You
Snatching off the jersey, I stuff it in my bag in case she’s awake when I leave. I don’t want her to ask any questions. I’m not in the mood to be sad today.
I drop on my bed and pull out my phone and see that I have a text from Ethan.
Smiling despite myself, I open the message and have to fight to keep my laughter in. It’s a picture message of him and Ryder, with their faces painted red and black, and the caption saying, ‘Our war paint matches our war faces.’ They have these angry looks on their faces that look more comical than scary. It makes me happy that he and Ryder took the picture together.
At five forty-three, I hop off my bed, grab my bag and inch out the door. No one comes out of my parents’ room, so I lock up and dart down the street. At least I won’t be bothered this weekend.
Crystal is ready when I get to her place. The drive back to school is spent in silence—between the two of us, not her loud-ass car.
I’m surprised when she finds parking directly across from the football field.
Before my last class, Ethan gave me enough money to pay for my and Crystal’s ticket, even though I pretty much begged him not to. He told me if I didn’t take it, he would give it to Crystal. I begrudgingly took it, promising to pay him back, but all he did was kiss my forehead and push me to my classroom.
Jerk.
I feel a bit out of place since I haven’t been to a football game in years. I’m sure people are still looking at me weird, since I slid Ethan’s jersey back on when I got in Crystal’s car. But, come on, they’ve had all day to get used to it.
We sit down in the bottom row of the bleachers and Elle bounds over to us. The cheerleaders are down on the track, even though the game hasn’t started yet.
“Hey!” she exclaims way louder than necessary. “Glad y’all could make it. I mean, I knew you would, Jakoby. Kinda had to since you’re dating a player.”
A screeching, grating voice sounds behind Elle, cutting off our conversation, and making me want to crawl into a hole and hide.
Elle turns around and faces Dawn, who has her face twisted as she looks at my jersey. “Elle, your captain needs you to stop socializing and get to the routine. You can chat with the lower class after the game.” She spins around, flipping her curly hair, and stomps off.
My cheeks flame and I rub my forehead. Why can’t she just be like everyone else and ignore me? None of this is real, so she doesn’t have to worry about me trying to be with Ethan for real. He’s straight and I’m me.
Her words hurt almost as much as my mother’s, her reminding me of how Ethan and I are from two different worlds. That we really have nothing in common, and there’s no real reason for us to be together. He should be with someone like her. Rich, beautiful, a cheerleader. Someone who belongs in his world, not an outlier pretending. Not me. Not…a nobody.
Crystal rubs my back, an angry look aimed at Dawn. Elle leans in and tells me fiercely, “Do not listen to that bitch. She’s jealous that you’re with Ethan and he’s happy. She fucked up and she’s mad he won’t take her back. That’s not on you, that’s on her.” She gives me one last look, then walks to her squad.
Wow. Elle really is turning into a friend.
From the rumors that everyone heard our first week back at school, Dawn cheated on Ethan with one of the other football players, and he broke up with her. They had been dating for close to six months, a relationship that surprisingly lasted over the summer, but not too long after. She’s been trying to get back with him ever since, though I don’t think it’s because she likes him. I think it’s so she can break up with him, and not the other way around. She strikes me as a person that doesn’t like to lose.
The game starts a few minutes later, and I focus on Ethan the entire time. In between screaming at the other team and rooting for ours, Crystal tells me what’s going on.
She’s a diehard football fan that can recite stats to you all day about any team in the league, so I trust her commentary. From what she’s told me so far, Ethan has run for about thirty yards and he’s made three first downs. I know what the words mean, I just can’t keep up while the game is actually in play.
At halftime, we’re up by ten, thanks to a touchdown from Ethan and a field goal from Tim. Fuck that guy, though.
It’s customary to announce the homecoming king and queen during halftime. Since nothing is going on, I stand to go get a snack from the concession stand, but Crystal grabs my hand.“I think Ethan is going to win. You have to cheer for your boyfriend.” I give her a flat look that makes her laugh. She’s right, though. To keep up the façade, I have to be here to cheer for him.
As everyone has been saying, Ethan wins. Who wouldn’t vote for him? He’s such an amazing person that everyone wants to see him win. He jogs over to the area where the principal is standing, and the sash is draped over his uniform and the crown placed on his head.
Then the name of the queen is read.
It’s Dawn.
She squeals like she just won a beauty pageant and primly jogs over to get her sash and crown. She stands next to Ethan and threads her arm through his. She’s gazing up at him, practically begging for attention, but he’s paying her no mind. His eyes are bouncing up and down the bleachers as if he’s looking for someone.
Taking a chance, I raise my hand and signal to him, something completely out of character for me. When his eyes find mine, a slow smile spreads across his face and he waves back. I have to take a deep breath to try to calm my racing heart.
Why is he so happy to see me? I mean, that wasn’t a normal smile, right? He lookedhappythat I’m here. Is it because he’s giving me another first? A first homecoming game? That could be it. Or, as my friend, he’s just glad I’m here.
I don’t know what to believe.
The game resumes and I’m more focused on what’s going on. The whole time, when she’s not cheering, I feel Dawn glaring at me. I don’t pay her any mind. I’m here for Ethan. The last time she glares at me, though, she trips over her own feet and everyone sees. A few people point and laugh, and I have the pleasure of watching her face turn red from embarrassment. It's petty, but it makes my night.
