Homecoming - Chapter 37
Saturday
Matt
Kennedy started screaming at the top of her lungs when Jefferson made his second field goal.
And I cheered too. But I was a little distracted. Something felt off as soon as I’d walked onto the field. I looked back in the crowd for what felt like the hundredth time.
“That was amazing!” Kennedy said and hugged Jefferson as he ran onto the sidelines.
He tore off his helmet and beamed at her.
I looked back at the stands. It was packed today. And those were the worst days. Where I’d see a flash of blonde hair and think I’d seen Brooklyn. I wasn’t sure her ghost would ever stop haunting me.
I loved Kennedy. I knew I did. I knew it was okay to move on. But Tanner’s stupid words were in my head. And talking about Brooklyn more openly recently…it was like she was becoming less of a ghost.
It didn’t make any sense.
I was probably losing my mind.
But whenever I turned back to the field, I felt the little hairs on the back of my neck rise. It was like I could feel her. Like she was up there cheering for me.
And if I closed my eyes, I could picture our homecoming. When I made a fool of myself during the parade and sung to her. I could feel her all around me.
“Did you see that?” Kennedy asked.
I opened my eyes. “Sorry, see what?”
“That epic field goal! It was like 50 yards. I think that’s a school record!”
I smiled. “It was pretty epic.” We were freaking killing the other team. And normally I’d be excited. But again…I just felt…off.
“Eyes on the ball!” Nigel yelled from his spot next to the water cooler. “Defense! That’ll move the chains!”
None of it made any sense, but I knew he’d been studying the game. And the players seemed to be very entertained by him.
“Blitz!” Nigel screamed. “Hut, hut, hut!”
Jefferson laughed.
I wished I found Nigel as distracting as everyone else. But all I could think about was what Kennedy needed to tell me.
“Do you know if Felix came?” I asked. Seriously…why had I just mentioned him?
“Um…no, I haven’t heard from him since dinner on Thursday. I told you that on the way over.”
“Right.”
“Are you feeling okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just…need to use the bathroom I think.”
“You think? Do you need to go now? It’s almost halftime. I can handle things.”
“No, it’s not like an emergency or anything.”
She laughed. “I never said it was.”
I looked back at the stands. Maybe someone was watching me?
I knew Mr. Pruitt claimed there were no hitmen or hitwomen.
But Poppy said the opposite. I continued to stare into the stands.
It didn’t feel like someone watching me though.
I closed my eyes for a second. It felt like it had the night I went to Kennedy’s and she wouldn’t let me up to her apartment.
Like something had shifted around me. And standing here was giving me major déjà vu again.
When I opened my eyes, I almost expected to see Brooklyn staring back at me. I felt her more than ever. I knew it was just the fall air and the game messing with my head. I tried to dismiss the thought, but I couldn’t shake it.
“Tight end! Lateral!” Nigel screamed.
I ignored him as my eyes scanned the crowd.
“Touchback! Ice the kicker!”
“You always do that,” Kennedy said.
“We rarely ice the other team’s kicker,” I said.
Kennedy laughed. “I’m talking about staring at the stands. Are you looking for someone?”
“No.” I wasn’t. I just liked seeing Brooklyn’s ghost sometimes. I think I liked that thoughts of her still haunted me. As much as I wanted to move on. I felt closest to her here. “I was looking for Tanner. He usually stops by before the game.”
“All your friends were coming, right?” She looked behind her.
“Yeah, they’re near the top left.” But that wasn’t why I’d been looking in the stands. I think homecoming would always be the hardest game for me.
“Oh, well, Tanner is sitting with them,” Kennedy said. “So you don’t have anything to worry about…” her voice trailed off and then she immediately turned back around. Her face had grown pale.
“What’s wrong?”
She covered her mouth like something was about to spill out. And then she shook her head. “Um…nothing. I…think I have whatever you have. I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Can it wait?”
She looked back at the stands and then covered her mouth.
“Kennedy, is your stomach alright?”
“Yeah. I just…”
“Is this about what you want to tell me after the game? Just tell me now.”
“I…I…” there were tears in her eyes.
“Just tell me.” I grabbed both her shoulders so that she’d really look at me.
“Please, Kennedy. Just tell me the truth.” I knew she liked Felix.
I could tell. And I’d survive if she chose to be with him.
I was used to being alone for the past sixteen years.
I just wanted her to fucking tell me the truth.
“Fumble!” Nigel yelled. “Muff!”
I looked over at him. He was staring right at me. Yeah, I’d felt like I’d muffed all this up too.