20. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Sloane
B y the end of the day, I am absolutely exhausted, but told myself I would find Tyler before football practice and ask him to the dance. This is getting ridiculous. Kurt is right, I have to be bold and honestly, I don't want to wait another day. The dance is still a month away, but I don't want to miss my opportunity. I didn't tell Maggie or my lunch crew that I was going to ask Tyler to Snowball, because let's face it, I could still chicken out. The day is still young.
Normally, Maggie and I leave Trig together, but I make up an excuse that I have to go see my French teacher. Obviously, I know where Tyler's locker is, and I have to get there before he goes to practice. My stomach is in knots as I pass kids at their lockers preparing to head home for the day. I'm practicing what I'm going to say in my head as I walk.
I get to Tyler's locker, but there's no sign of him. Luckily, Billy has a locker nearby so I go say hi. "Hey Billy!"
"Sloaner! What brings you to these parts?" Billy asks as he stuffs books into his backpack. His belly strains against his Johnny Cash T-shirt.
"Oh, um, I had to go see my French teacher," I lie and immediately feel bad about it. "That was awful what happened in marine bio, huh?"
Billy winces. "Yeah, I've never seen Coach so upset."
I nod, scanning the area. Tyler is nowhere to be seen. "I know, I felt so bad for him because he seemed so sad but couldn't really show it in front of all of us."
With every second that passes, I worry that I've already missed Tyler. Billy notices me looking around. "Looking for someone?" he asks as he slams his locker shut.
"Yeah," I say as I keep scanning the area and fidget with my backpack strap. "Have you seen Tyler? I wanted to ask him about this band." Why am I continuing to lie to poor Billy? It's like someone else has taken over my brain.
Billy smirks. "I think he's at practice. He grabbed his stuff and took off when I got here."
My eyes go wide. "Oh, okay, thanks!" I hurry off, then turn. "Thanks, Billy, see you tomorrow."
I walk so quickly down the hall, I must look like one of those stupid speed-walkers. I look at my watch and groan. I'm pretty sure football practice starts at 3:30, and it's already 3:21. I run down the staircase leading to the gym, and when I open the door, I see a few of the younger players milling about.
"Hey," I ask as I'm trying to catch my breath, "have you seen Tyler Finlay?"
A boy who I recognize as being a junior says, "Yeah, he just went out that way." He points to the doors leading to the parking lot.
I smile. "Thanks!" I head out the doors hopeful Tyler has gone to his car and not down to the practice field yet.
I search in front of the doors and scan the parking lot, but don't see any sign of him. I take the path that goes around the back of the school where stairs lead down to the field. As I walk briskly, I scan the parking lot over my right shoulder to see if Tyler might be at his car. As I'm walking, I collide with something. "Oof!" I say as my shoulder takes the brunt of it.
"Careful!" I hear as a hand grabs my shoulder.
I look up and see Tyler and that darn grin that melts me. Plus, he's in his practice uniform- pads and all. "Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry." I feel hot all of a sudden, even though we're well into Fall. Again, my hand reflexively braces his chest, and again I snatch it away as if I just touched something hot. Well, I kind of did. I step back and notice how good he looks in his uniform up close. Good lord. His helmet hangs in his right hand by his side.
"Being chased by a big hairy spider?" He jokes.
I laugh, grateful that he's so nice and has a good sense of humor. I huff out a laugh and smile. "Yeah, didn't you see it?" I joke as I motion behind me. "It's like we're in a horror movie around here."
I make Tyler laugh and that sends warmth through my belly. "Are you looking for someone?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say a little breathless from racing down here and being in Tyler's presence. "I was looking for-"
"SLOOOOOANE!" a male voice bellows from behind me.
Oh, for crying out loud! I whip around to find its source and see Kurt jogging toward me with Shelly trailing behind him. I feel my eyebrows move together. How many times have I been on the verge of asking Tyler to go to this stupid dance and been interrupted? This time, by the one and only friend who suggested I do this no less.
"Sloane!" He hollers again as he picks up his pace and closes in on us.
As he reaches us, I say, "Is everything okay?"
He's panting hard and is bent forward with his hands on his knees. "Yeah-" he gasps for air. "I just-" Still trying to catch his breath. "Really need to-" More gasping. "Talk to you."
"Okaaay," I say as I tilt my head at my wheezing friend. Tyler and I are looking at him, waiting to hear what he has to say.
Kurt is still panting, leaning forward, and holds up a finger. I cross my arms over my chest and Tyler's cleats scrape on the cement as he adjusts his weight to one side.
"Forty-four!" calls a voice from the field below. "Stop flirting and get your pretty face down here!"
Tyler and I turn toward the source and see Coach Harbin on the field with his hands on his hips. Tyler looks at me and Kurt. "Sorry, gotta go!" He turns and dashes down the cement stairs toward his teammates, and I can't believe I missed yet another opportunity to be bold and ask Tyler to the dance.
Kurt comes to my side and puts a hand on my left shoulder. "Sloane, I'm so sorry," he says still panting, but not as bad and by now, Shelly has joined us. "Did you ask him yet?"
I turn to look at my friend, his eyes eager for the answer. I shake my head, "No. Every time I've had an opportunity, I've been interrupted." I give him an accusatory glare then smile. "Why?"
Relief floods Kurt's eyes, and his shoulders noticeably relax. "Good." He wipes his brow. "Because Sara asked him at lunch today." He pants. "I found out this afternoon and wanted to find you as soon as I could."
And just like that, my smile fades, and my heart breaks into a million pieces.