Chapter 12 Focus on Being Her Friend
-Drew-
The Monday after the party, everything returns to normal.
The school is gearing up for the next football game versus the Tigers, which is already being hyped by Annie on the Visual News clip during first period.
She still draws my attention, I can’t help it, but after the party, I am definitely not going to make a move.
I do have some sense of pride, and I don’t want to hear her tell me that she is picking my brother over me or that she thinks of me as her “friend.” I’ve decided that I’ll push my crush to the back burner, refocusing my attention elsewhere.
I can be friends with Annie. I do enjoy the fact that she knows her stuff when it comes to most sports.
I learned the other day that basketball isn’t her thing, which makes me want to learn some random facts over the winter to throw out at lunch just to see if she’ll take the bait.
Until then, I’ll enjoy the fact that we can spar over football and the postseason baseball still being played.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that lunch is the best hour of the day.
Since the day I followed Annie to the lunchroom, we have formed our little group.
I love that they took me into what is their very small but fun group.
Today, when I get to the table, Craig is giving Annie crap about her loyalty to the Griffons.
“There is no way in Hell the Griffons are going to win their division, much less the Series.” “Well, I think you're wrong, Craig—at least they made the postseason, unlike the Sheriffs,” Annie jabs. I’ve learned he is a big Sheriffs fan.
“Oh, Annie, you’ve done it now,” pipes in Luke in his dramatic fashion, and Craig starts on this next statement against the Griffons.
I look at Meg and she tells me, “They have been doing this for years, you’ll get used to it.
” I focus on her, replying, “Well, that makes me feel better. I thought I was going to have to get involved, but if this is normal, I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show. ” It earns me a little smile from Meg.
***
Today, the conversation is flowing around the usual topics, but unlike last week, I do find I’m glancing more and more in Meg’s direction.
She is sitting across from me, and I take a moment to really look at her, not comparing her to anyone else.
Meg’s beautiful with her long black hair and tan skin.
I can also appreciate all the curves that she takes care to show off.
Meg may not talk sports, but she will give out random gossip facts that make me wonder who her inside sources are.
I have enjoyed texting with her, and I think I’m going to double down on my efforts with her as my new target.
The thought gives me a new focus, and I look into Meg's brown eyes and think, let’s go.
The rest of the day is pretty uneventful; class is class after all, and it can only get so interesting. That is until I check my phone after sixth period and see that I have a few unread messages from “Meg with the Nice Ass.”
Meg with the Nice Ass
So you owe me a favor, right?
I was supposed to give Annie a ride home and I totally
forgot I have first shift at work tonight
I texted her, but she says her brother already left
She said she can run home, but I feel awful
Are you still at school?
Can you all give her a ride?
I check the time, realizing Meg sent this message in the last few minutes. So, I open the keyboard and reply.
Drew
Well if you say I owe you a favor…
Let Annie know she is more than welcome to join us
We are parked by the football field
We will wait for her at the car
Meg with the Nice Ass
My Hero I’ll text Annie
She said thanks and she’s on her way
Who knew you could have killer abs and be a knight in shining armor
Drew
Don’t you know its a rule….
Knights always have killer abs
I look up from the text to see Daniel coming out of the football facility.
I speed up and join him in walking towards the car.
“We are going to have to wait a minute. I offered a friend a ride home—she’ll be here in just a minute,” I let Daniel know.
“Ok, cool, no problem,” he replies. Look at me go, I decided today we would be friends, and I’m already putting it into action.
I give myself a mental pat on the back. True to my word, I see Annie come around the end of the building by the football parking lot.
She looks more like the first day I met her, hair up, minimal makeup, and her legs on full display in her shorts.
Ok, so I may have to take back that pat on the back I just earned because, I can’t help it, my body responds to her.
I take a deep breath and get Daniel’s attention.
“My friend’s here.” He looks up and gives me a surprised look, which quickly turns into his sly smile as he looks Annie up and down.
Annie stops next to me and offers us a thank you for the ride.
I don’t wait for Daniel to speak, and I respond, “No problem, Annie, it’s not like we are going out of our way to get you home,” giving her a little shoulder bump.
She smiles at me but turns to Daniel after he says, “I don’t mind waiting when you look like that.
” I roll my eyes, I know I do, and then I push off the car and climb into the front.
The ride home is short. Annie really could have run home with no problem, but it wasn’t hard to wait for her either.
Daniel and I get started on our normal, how was practice routine, trying to one-up each other with the weights and reps we do.
Daniel is a tank, where I’m a little more lean muscle, so he loves that he can always get a higher weight number than me.
As the younger brother, I have accepted my lot in life, at least for now.
***
When we get to the house, I turn to open the door, but before I can, Annie is talking.
I can tell that she is nervous as she is talking in one long, sentence.
She eventually gets to the part that is probably what made her nervous in the first place as she asks for our numbers.
I’m kinda surprised that we haven’t exchanged numbers already at lunch, so I don’t have any problems telling her my number.
I look at my brother; she doesn’t have his number.
Then I register his smile, and I know that he is playing a game with Annie.
Should I warn her, or would she think I’m overstepping?
We just met. I decide to leave it alone: I’m trying to be Annie’s friend.
I’m not going to be the guy friend who tells her who she should or shouldn’t date.
“Sure,” I respond and give her my number. My phone pings with a message.
Annie
This is Annie Campbell
Thanks again for the ride
I save her number in my phone as Annie Campbell.
As I am editing my phone, Daniel turns and replies, “Well played, Annie” confirming my earlier thoughts about this being a game to him.
He does give her his number, and before Daniel or I can exit the car, Annie has jumped from the backseat, making it to her door in a half-run half-jog, never looking back.
I have to agree with Daniel… Annie played that pretty well.