Page 2 of Bending Under Pressure

“Are you excited about school starting soon?”

“I guess,” I answer.

“I can show you around and introduce you to people. How long ago did you move here?”

“A month ago.”

She nods and doesn’t say anything for two laps. I should probably be friendlier. These are my teammates and future classmates. I should accept any friend I can get and Jess is obviously trying to be nice to me.

“Is Cameron your boyfriend?” I ask as we pass the guys, who have reclaimed their spot on the bench.

Jess smiles. “Yep, and that’s his brother, Keelan.” Brothers? Interesting. “They play on the football team. Cam likes to watch me practice, and he drags Keelan with him. What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.” I pause before adding, “Do you like your school?”

“I love it. But then, I’ve lived here all my life. I think you’ll like it.”

We run the last of the laps with Jess explaining how practices normally go. Eventually, I zone out and focus on the game and my ever-stewing anger toward my family. Coach Spell watches us attentively throughout. Jess told me that he hasn’t seeded anyone yet, which is why he’s watching us. According to her, he’s going to pair us up and have us play one another later this week. She earned the number one seed last season and is hoping to reclaim it this year.

Everyone clears out once practice is over, but I stay. I really don’t want to go home. Sighing, I take a seat on the bench where Cameron and Keelan were sitting. At least I know this town has cute boys and at least one friendly girl. The others seemed nice, but didn’t go out of their way to speak to me, but I didn’t speak to them either.

I wasn’t popular at my old school; I didn’t care to be, but I had a good group of friends. Based on today, I’m not sure I can make that happen here. No one but Jess really spoke to me. Am I an outcast on day one? I didn’t do anything to cause that to happen. When I learned we were moving, despite not wanting to, my gut told me it would be good. Apparently, my gut was drunk. I’m not off to a good start.

Bending to rest my head in my hands, I notice a brown wallet underneath the bench and I pick it up. When I open it, I see Keelan’s driver’s license. It must have fallen out of his pocket. I wonder if he knows he’s lost it yet or not. I take advantage of the opportunity and look at the few details I can.

His last name is Moore. He’s five-foot-eleven and apparently lives on the same road I do. Maybe I should find his house and give it back to him. The thought makes me nervous. Can I go to someone’s house unannounced? I don’t even know him. But he could be frantically scouring his house for the wallet I have in my possession. With a sigh, I walk to my car and head home since his house is somewhere down the road from me.

All houses around here are secluded from their neighbors with large yards, and some are way off the road. I drive slowly, pissing off the driver behind me, and watch as the numbers on the mailboxes rise until I reach 962. I turn in, looking at the property as I drive up the gravel drive. There are only two cars visible outside the attached two-car garage. The house is a beautiful two-story brick home. There’s a jacked-up red truck and what looks like an old, black Mustang that has been kept in good condition. Someone should be home.

Gulping, I park behind the Mustang and walk up the small rock walkway to the house. This porch is what southern dreams are made of. It covers the entire front of the house and is complete with a swing and rocking chairs. Why couldn’t our new house have this? Maybe then I’d like it better. I push away those thoughts and press the doorbell beside the screen door. The front door is open and I already know their house is lovely and cozy with a homey feel.

After a moment, I hear a female call, “Coming!” from inside. An older black woman answers the door with a smile. “Hello. Can I help you?”

“I found this at the tennis courts.” I hold up the wallet. “It belongs to Keelan.”

“Oh, you’re a lifesaver!” A beeping sounds from the kitchen. “Come in, come in.” She turns and disappears down the hallway. Crap. I quickly open the screen door and follow her so I don’t get lost. “Keelan!” she yells as she takes a batch of cookies out of the oven. “I found your wallet!” She glances over at me, standing nervously in the middle of the room. “Have a seat. What’s your name?”

“Haley Summers.” I do as I’m told, taking a seat at her table.

Hurried footsteps sound and then Keelan appears in the kitchen. He stops short when he sees me clutching his wallet in my lap.

“Haley Summers found your wallet at the tennis courts. She came to return it. Isn’t that so sweet of her?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Haley.”

“I was going to wait to see if you came back, but then I figured you were probably frantic, so I looked at the address on your license and brought it to you,” I babble. He glances down at my lap, and I follow his gaze. “Oh! Here you go.” I hold out his wallet, and he takes it from me. “I should head home. My mom is probably wondering where I am.”

“Are you sure you can’t stay for a cookie or two? You did bring his wallet back after all,” his mom says.

“No, that’s okay. Thank you though.”

When I stand, Keelan offers to walk me out, but I decline. Today has been long enough and I’m ready to get home. The drive only takes two minutes or so. Mom bombards me the moment I walk in the door. At least, Walter isn’t around.

“How was it?”

I take a seat at the island, fiddling with my empty water bottle. “Okay.”

Mom doesn’t ask any more questions. It wouldn’t piss me off so much if not for the words that come out of her mouth next. “Walter wants—”

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