Chapter 17
Summer
The following Friday, classes end at lunch for the homecoming pep rally.
Seb and E are tied up with the team, but the rest of us decide to get lunch at the diner, and we all pile into Alex’s SUV for the drive.
The diner is busy, but we don’t have to wait long before being seated.
“So, who are the guys playing today?” I ask everyone.
“We play the same team each year from Charleston because it’s their homecoming, too. We switch schools every year. This year it’s here,” Bay tells me.
“Oh nice. And where is the party tonight?”
“One of the other seniors on the team. It is not far from where E is staying,” Alex responds.
We chat about the carnival and dance throughout lunch.
I’m going with Seb and E to the dance tomorrow night.
Holly, Gabby, and I went shopping on Sunday evening and bought dresses.
It’s only semi-formal this time, so I had more to choose from.
Nick volunteered to go to the dance with me if I wanted him to, but I knew it wasn’t something he enjoyed, so I told him to stay home.
It was sweet of him to offer, but I reminded him I don’t want him to change for me.
Once we’re back at school, I follow the guys into the gym.
It’s my first time inside the building since last year, but I hold my head up and look around despite the uncomfortable feeling in my gut.
Nick walks beside me, and Alex and Bay are in front.
The inside is identical to my memory—unblemished, a stark contrast to the atrocities it witnessed.
My eyes meet Nick's, who raises an eyebrow at me, a silent question hanging in the air, before I give a subtle nod.
It’s crowded once we get inside the gym, so Nick moves in front of me and I hold the back of his shirt.
People move out of his way when they see him coming, so I’m guessing his typical scowl is on his face.
Alex steps behind me to prevent anyone from bumping me while Bay says he’ll return in a few minutes.
We climb to the top row and sit down. I notice Reesa heading up to us, but don’t see Bay anywhere.
Looking around, I finally see him climbing the bleachers with a pretty girl following.
My heart lurches in my chest, but I tell it to settle down.
After Reesa takes a seat beside Alex, Bay and the girl sit in the row in front of us.
“Guys, this is Penny. Penny, everyone,” Bay says.
Penny smiles and waves at us. “It’s nice to meet y’all.” She’s super cute, with wavy brown hair falling just below her shoulders. A slim nose with freckles sprinkled over the bridge and across her cheeks. Blue eyes, arched brows, high cheekbones, and a beautiful smile.
Alex says hello while Nick grunts and Reesa nods. “Nice to meet you too, Penny,” I smile. “Are you a sports fan?”
“I am, but I don’t play. My extracurricular is piano.”
“Oh nice. Is that for fun or something you want to study?”
“I want to be a music teacher one day,” she says, taking a seat beside Bay. “You’re on the track team, right?”
“Yeah. It’s just for fun, though,” I reply as the principal calls for quiet.
Penny and Bay turn forward with the rest of the crowd to watch.
I take a deep breath and hold it in for a few seconds before letting it out slowly.
That was a struggle, and I want to cry, but she seems nice.
Nick squeezes my thigh quickly in support.
It’s your typical welcome speech, touting our championship win last year and welcoming back alumni. Since the school is fairly new, we don’t have many alumni, but Seb told me the school welcomes people from the previous high schools to join.
After his speech, the coach takes the microphone as music starts up and the cheerleaders form a corridor from the side door.
He announces the starting lineup first. In typical fashion, Seb dances himself out to centre court as the crowd claps and cheers.
He stops to twirl Gabby before stopping behind his coach.
Next, they announce E, and he jogs over to stand beside Seb with a blush on his cheeks.
I recognize several other players from last year as well, with freshmen coming out last. The music stops as the coach begins his speech, thanking the crowd for its support.
Coach presents Seb and E with their new “C” jerseys, to the cheers of their teammates, officially making them co-captains for the year.
The guys and I are standing and yelling for them, too.
Seb and E find us in the crowd with smiles on their faces, and Seb gives me a wink after making eye contact.
The cheerleaders perform two routines after the coach finishes. Gabby is amazing, as always. The squad has several new members this year, and the routines are less complicated than last year’s. Despite Cara and Ana being bitches, they were good cheerleaders.
After the pep rally, we have another hour before the game starts, so Nick walks outside with me so I can call Jake. We get into the Jeep, and Nick puts earbuds in while I talk.
As I’m finishing up, Nick taps my leg. I turn towards him as he points out his window. Beth is standing nearby, watching the Jeep. I hang up and get out of the Jeep, with Nick following. “Beth?” I call.
She looks up at me and steps back, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “Seb is playing basketball today. I’m Summer, his friend. Do you remember me?” She nods, fidgeting. “Can I help you?”
“I need Seb,” she says. “When will he be done?”
“It’ll be several hours at least.”
Beth nods and starts backing up, eyes still jumping across her surroundings. I notice her hands are trembling, so I step forward. “Can I help you?” I ask again. She shakes her head and hurries away.
I step ahead, but Nick grabs my hand. “No, Shortie,” he says. “Leave her. She’s high.”
“But it’s Seb’s mom.”
Nick nods, grabbing my hand. “Come on.” I follow him back to the gym, worried about Beth. Addiction is a tough disease to conquer, from what I understand. Hopefully, Beth gets the help she needs.
We rejoin Alex, Bay, and Penny at the top of the bleachers for the first game of the season.
Our cheerleaders are just taking positions on the court for a routine when I take my seat.
The basketball team takes the floor after they’re done, and we cheer for our guys.
The game is good, but we have the stronger team.
Penny and Bay are chatting in front of me as the game plays.
I can honestly say they're cute together. She’s very talkative and keeps bumping into him or touching his arm and smiling.
It’s difficult to be happy and sad for someone at the same time, but this was my choice.
I’m trying to focus on the court, but with them sitting directly in front of me, I’m easily distracted.
I do my best not to look directly at them, though.
When the game ends, Penny says goodbye to us as we wait for Seb and E, and I fill Bay and Alex in on seeing Beth outside.
They’re concerned too, but we don’t actually know where she’s staying.
When Seb and E return, we leave. We’re staying at Alex’s house tonight, so I hop in the truck with E to drive over there.
“Congrats on the win and the captain position,” I say as we pull out of the parking lot.
“Thanks. I figured Seb would get it, but I didn’t know I would, too. How are you feeling about the party tonight?”
“Okay, I think. I’ll stick close, and if I need to pee, you’re all coming with me,” I tell him firmly.
Chuckling, E responds, “can’t blame you for that. How was Bay’s date?”
Well, wasn’t that a loaded question. “She’s really nice, and they’re cute together.”
“And?”
“And it broke my heart a little, but I’ll be fine. It’s a weird sensation being happy and heartbroken at the same time.” I shrug. Bay deserves to be happy, and I’m determined not to stand in his way.
We drive in silence the rest of the way, with only soft music playing on the radio.
We follow the line of cars into the driveway and park beside the Jeep.
I go over and grab my bags from the SUV and follow everybody upstairs.
Alex is having pizza delivered for us, so we hang out in front of the tv until it arrives.
I remember to fill E and Seb in on Beth.
Seb’s really worried about her, and I can’t blame him.
After I finish my pizza, I go to my room to change for the party.
I’m not wearing anything too fancy. Just dressier shorts and a nice tank top.
I pull my hair into a high ponytail, wash my face, and add mascara and tinted lip gloss.
With Gabby’s help, I can at least do those two things now.
My summer tan is still holding, so my skin looks good.
Seb and E come in as I’m leaving the bathroom.
“Looking hot, Sunshine,” Seb smiles, pulling me into a hug.
“Thanks Hurry. Are you guys drinking tonight?”
“Nope. Not the first party we go to. Maybe the next one. We’ll see. Nick will be the only one, I think.”
“Okay. I’ll be in the living room,” I say, going up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
Nick is relaxing on the couch watching tv so I take a seat beside him. “Hey Grumpy.”
“Shortie.”
A few minutes later, Alex and Bay join us with clean clothes on, followed by Seb and E.
When everyone is ready, we head out, and I choose to ride with Alex and Bay while the rest get into the Jeep.
Twenty minutes later, a gate, but no guard, greets us at the end of a long driveway.
A lovely two-story brick home is situated close to the water.
Looks like this guy has money, although not as much as Alex and E.
We park on the lawn, and I follow Alex as he leads us left around the side into the backyard.