11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Sloane
November 1992
I t feels like school just started and already the halls are being decorated for Homecoming. While I knew Maggie and I would go to the game together, I assumed I wouldn't be going to the dance, but I held out hope that I might get invited. Even if it wasn't Tyler but someone who just wanted to go as friends, it would be cool since this is my senior year and all. I get to marine bio early, as usual, and Billy is just sitting down.
"Sloaner, what's up?" He greets me with the irritating, yet funny term of endearment derived from his earlier, "Sloaner-loner" nickname.
I've come up with a nickname of my own for my country-loving classmate and can’t wait to use it. "Hill-Billy!" I say as I set my backpack on the lab table and pull out my chair to sit. "You know, if you're not careful, I'm gonna start calling you Billy the Kid." I smile at him as his eyes light up.
"I'd take that as a compliment," Billy says while taking his seat next to me.
I laugh. "Of course, you would." I lean forward to look at his black T-shirt. "Who are you wearing today?"
He turns toward me in his seat and pulls at his shirt so I can see it. "George Strait."
"It's funny," I tell him, "On my right side is a guy whose music I've never listened to, and on my left is a guy who shares the same taste in music as me. It's kind of crazy when you think about it."
Billy says, "Well, you know Judas sat on Jesus' left, so…"
I laugh. "You think Tyler is going to betray me on our next lab or something?"
"You never know with Tyler," Billy jokes.
"Never know what?" Tyler's voice sounds behind me.
I turn to see Tyler standing by his chair, grinning that Sloane-melting grin and the butterflies awaken in my belly. Feeling playful, I say, "Oh, Billy was just comparing you to Judas, that's all."
Tyler cocks his head and gives Billy a questioning glance. Billy explains our conversation, and Tyler walks next to me, leans down, and puts his arm around my shoulders so we are both facing Billy. Our heads separated by mere inches and his touch sets my shoulders on fire. Man, he smells so good, and the butterflies in my stomach are practically moshing in there now. "I would never betray Sloane," he says, then gives my shoulders a squeeze and stands up straight. Tyler walks back to his seat and sits while I try to catch my breath. My face grows hot, and I can tell Billy notices my current state of discombobulation by his raised eyebrows and amused appearance.
Just then, Lori Tanner strides up and stands in front of our table. "Hey, Tyler!" Her smile is so huge it makes her eyes squinty. I look down and inhale to settle myself, then busy myself with getting my book and notebook out of my backpack.
"Hey, what's up?" Tyler holds his book in one hand and drops his backpack on the floor to his left.
"I was just wondering who you're taking to Homecoming," she asks, and my heart speeds up.
I'd like to know, too, I think to myself as I look up. Lori catches my eye and glares at me like I'm a cockroach on her kitchen floor before returning her attention to Tyler.
"Oh, um, I'm not. My cousin is getting married in Tennessee, so we're leaving early Saturday morning."
While that confirmed I had no shot at him asking me, it wouldn't be because he was taking someone else. It would also mean he wasn't going with Lori, either, and that's great news. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I dislike Lori. She seems to dislike me, and I have no idea why. Honestly, there aren't many people I dislike in my grade, with the exception of Amber, and this guy who wrote racist stuff in my yearbook in ninth grade. Yeah, he literally wrote it right next to where one of my black classmates had signed it. He wrote it in pencil, and I was going to erase it because I was so disgusted, but I decided to leave it there so I could remember how awful some people are. Anyway, with Lori, she acts like I'm lame, and she's so much better than me. I’ve honestly never even had much contact with her, so I don’t know what her issue with me is.
"Oh, cool," Lori says, her voice no longer chipper and bubbly. "It's a shame you'll miss the Homecoming dance, though.”
Tyler lets out a puff of air through his nose. "Yeah, I think I'll survive." Sarcasm coats his words making Lori's smile disappear. "I'm psyched for my cousin's wedding. We're super close. I'm not gonna miss being here."
Lori tries to play it off and forces a tight smile. "Yeah, I bet that will be way more fun." She's literally saved by the bell. "Gotta go!" She glares at me and tosses her long hair over her shoulder and turns her chin up before quickly returning to the other side of the room and takes her seat facing us.
Tyler looks at me. "Are you going to Homecoming?"
I tuck my hair behind my right ear. "Uh, no. Just the game, probably."
"Oh." Tyler's face shows an expression I can't quite decipher. "Do you watch the games or just go for the social aspect?"
I cock my head and feel my eyes narrow. "I go to watch the games. I love football. And baseball," I add for good measure.
"Rad," Tyler's eyes shine as if he's pleased to hear this. "I think we have a strong team this year."
"I do, too," I say as I feel excitement course through my veins. "Our defense is amazing and as they say, defenses win championships. I think we could make a run at the state title."
"As a linebacker, I can't argue with that." Tyler smiles proudly. "You really do like football, huh?"
"Oh yeah, we're huge football fans in my household. My mom may even be the biggest fan I know." I smile proudly because I think I've pleasantly surprised Tyler. It always seems to surprise guys when a girl actually knows football.
"Why aren't you going to the dance?" Tyler asks as his face grows serious.
I shrug. "Because no one asked me." I state plainly.
Tyler nods as Coach walks in from the hallway having closed both doors and starts our lesson. I knew I didn't have a shot with Tyler, but at least I could still hope he might have asked me if he didn't have that wedding to attend. A girl can dream, right? I'm pretty good at dreaming. It's the dream turning into reality that I'm waiting for.