Page 50 of Steeling Her
“Come, sit down. I’ll make food.” I point to a seat in the kitchen. Kevin sits in one and Haley joins him then the two boys. I place two pizzas in the oven and place some fries along with it. I tell everyone that I’m going to change as I direct my way to my room.
“Hopefully, Nick remembers to knock once the food is ready,” TJ teases his best friend and Nick smacks him on the back of the head. I shut my door immediately, feeling my cheeks heat up. I was so embarrassed when he walked in on me. Thank God I was in my underwear. Plus, I’m not in shape right now, so everything is jiggly. I groan at the memory, I can’t believe he saw me half naked.
He was so in shape and fit when I saw him in his underwear. He plays football, I know, but I felt so self-conscious, especially now. I hide my figure all the time nowadays. I wear jeans and jumpers to hide it. I don’t have a great body. I never did. There were times when I would absolutely avoid mirrors because I hated looking at myself. I feel myself going back to that stage and avoiding my own reflection.
I slip my hoody over a pair of leggings and walk back out to see the two boys quizzing Kevin, but Kevin stands up and slides the chair back in. “Hey, I’m sorry but I just got a message from my roommate to come and do an assignment that I completely forgot about. I need to do it tonight. I’m sorry, I know you were making me food, and I wish I could stay . . .” He sends me an apologetic smile.
“It’s okay, don’t worry about it. We always have leftovers anyway. Thanks for walking me here, though. I’ll see you tomorrow?” I see the smile fall off his face and I don’t know why? Did I say something?
“Can we reschedule for lunchtime instead? I’ll be up all night doing this assignment. Plus, I’d really want Rachel to not come with us . . .” He bites the inside of his cheek and I nod, surprised by what he said.
“I thought you wanted her there? That’s why I asked her to come? I’m sorry if I put you in an awkward position. I just th—”
“No, no! It’s fine. It’s just . . . we um . . . We dated in high school . . . so she likes to meddle and make her claim. I’m not interested though,” he adds that last part in. I’m not really sure why.
“Okay . . . well . . . lunchtime then? It gives me more time to sleep,” I joke with him and he smiles across the way. I walk over to the door and open it for him.
“I’ll text you when I’m leaving so we can meet up. I know a quiet place where we can get stuff done. I’ll tell Rachel we cancelled.” Seeing him beam a smile at me, I wave him off as he leaves down the corridor. I close the door and walk back to check on the food.
“You guys still want some?” I ask those sitting around the table. Seeing them nod and smile, I turn back to take out the plates because it’s nearly ready.
“You have a date tomorrow?” I freeze after hearing that word. “When were you going to tell me?” Haley whines again.
“I don’t have a date tomorrow.”I reply back to her in a skeptical tone. She sends me that look that just screams “are you kidding me?” Kevin and I are just doing an assignment, it doesn’t classify as a date.
“Carter, come on, Kevin clearly likes you! It was written all over his face!” I widen my eyes as I look at her and shake my head.
“N-No he doesn’t? He just . . . he’s like that with everyone. He’s a nice guy.” I hear her snort and an “OW” leave her mouth. I whip my head up to see she’s glaring at Nick.
“Sorry, my foot slipped.” Now it was TJ’s turn to snort. What is going on between those boys? I’m so lost right now. But I don’t want to draw any attention to it, I don’t have the energy to sit and listen. I just want some food and then crawl into bed.
I serve up the food and place it in the center for everyone. The guys take a mountain, as expected, while Haley and I take little bites here and there.
“You both eat like birds.” TJ laughs at our plate, not even being half of what they have on theirs.
“Well, at least we don’t eat like wild beasts that haven’t been fed for a week!” she snaps back at him, making him grin in response. She is not in a good mood, and TJ loves pushing her buttons. If he wants that date, he better not go any further.
After a while, I kept yawning and widening my eyes to keep them open. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I needed to sleep. I push the chair back and place my plate in the sink, reminding myself to wash it tomorrow morning before my lecture. I get funny stares from all three of them and I wave them good night.
“I’m sorry, you guys, I’m exhausted right now. I’m going to go to sleep. ’Night.” They all wish me good night as I shut my door and climb under the sheets. I hear the muffled sound of the TV outside my door and I relax my head into my cold pillow. I sigh at the feeling of it on my skin. I feel something buzz in my pocket. I shuffle in my bed to retrieve the phone from inside my pants.
Kevin: I’ll come get you at 12 tomorrow to do the assignment! Hopefully you’ll feel better and sorry for rushing off.
Me: Perfect! I’ll see you then, no need it’s understandable.
I place my phone back down on the bedside table and shuffle into a comfy position. I need to warm up my body, the cold sheets is too much for me now. I place my hoody over me and feel much better. I drift off unknowingly.
Sleep.
Just what I needed.
***
Nick
“Aaaaand release!” Bulldog bellows over me. On cue, the ball cuts through the air and lands right in his hands. “Perfect, Jackson! You do that today, you’ll be unstoppable! Keep your eyes on your men! No room for mistakes today, you got that?” I nod with a smile on my face. The smile for one reason and one reason only.
She’s here.
