He chuckled. “What are you really doing out here?”
I swiped a strand of hair from my face. “I figured I’d try to get some more practice time in before dark.”
“Didn’t you just get home from soccer practice?”
“Yes. But if I want to be good, I gotta put in the extra time.” More like, if I didn’t kick the ball around, I’d go up to my room and bawl my eyes out.
“You’re more dedicated than I am, that’s for sure.” He leaned against the post opposite of mine. “So, I actually came over to see if you could help me with some more Portia stuff.”
My chest tightened like someone took a pair of vice-grips to it. “Sure.”
“We had our first kiss during lunch, which went better than I thought it would.”
“That’s awesome.” If by awesome I meant terrible. God, I didn’t want to hear about it. But how could I tell him no? He was my friend.
“And it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you.”
“I’m sure it would’ve still happened.” I gave a forced laugh.
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “The thing is I want to get her flowers. But I’m not sure what color or kind she might like.”
What the hell? Here he kissed me the other night. I mean, it wasn’t some small peck either. It was a real kiss. Like the type you only saw in movies. And today he didn’t acknowledge any of it. Now he wanted me to help him “date” some other girl.
A part of me wanted to tell him to figure it out on his own. Irritation rolled off me like tsunami-sized waves. My fingers wrapped around the metal bar of the goal post.
“I can help you. Why don’t you let me go in and get cleaned up then I’ll give you a call or something.”
“You’re the best,” he said.
He had no idea.
After I picked up my stuff from the yard, I trudged inside and went up to my room. I flung my bag to the floor and it skidded across the hard wood, until it hit the side of my dresser, knocking a stuffed animal to the floor. My shoulder’s sagged with defeat as I plopped down at my desk.
Javier Decorum’s poster stared at me from the wall. “What’re you looking at?” I said aloud. Too bad he wasn’t really here, then I could just kiss him and forget all about Trey. Not that Javier would give me the time of day, but a girl could dream.
At last, I flipped open my notebook with Portia’s info in it. Her favorite color’s pink. Of course it is. She was all frills and lace and girly crap. According to Kenadi’s notes she also loved tulips and carnations.
“I’m sort of a mess right now,” I said. “I broke up with Rex this afternoon, then Trey has the balls to show up and ask if I’ll help him pick out flowers for Portia. I swear I’m gonna have a break down.” My voice cracked as I attempted to keep it together. “The thing is, I can’t tell Trey no. But it’s so hard to help him when I’ve got all these feelings.”
“Well girl, I’ll tell you what I’d do in your situation,” Kenadi said.
“I’m listening.” I leaned back in my chair and put my feet up on the corner of my bed.
“Tell him how you feel.”
“I can’t. If he doesn’t feel the same, then I’ll ruin everything.”
“But what if he does?”
“I can’t chance it.” I picked at the arm of my chair. There had to be something else I could do.
“Then what are you gonna do?”
“I-I … ” My feet slid to the floor. There was only one thing I could do. “Sabotage.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m gonna sabotage them.”
“Okay, you’re not serious.”
“Oh, yes I am. I like Trey and as you said, he liked me enough to return the kiss. So I just need to get him to see how perfect we are for each other.”
“And how’s sabotaging his dates with Portia gonna do that?”
“I’ll give him some bad advice—she’ll ditch him in no time.”
“Oh. My. God. You’re devious.” Kenadi’s gum snapped on the other end.
“At this point, it’s better than me blurting out that I love him. I mean, Rex and I just broke up.”
“Does Trey know about Rex?”
“I didn’t exactly get a chance to tell him over the recount of his and Portia’s suck-face-a-thon.”
“Geez, do I have to do everything?”
“No.”
“Okay, not that I think this is the best idea ever, but I’ll go along with it for you sake. One way or another you’re going to win Trey from the Dancing Queen.”
