CHAPTER ONE #2
Loren followed her down the steps, still laughing. Theresa hesitated. For one brief moment, her eyes met Amanda’s. There was something almost apologetic in her expression. Then Maria called her name, and Theresa hurried after them. Melissa watched the three cheerleaders disappear toward the school.
“God, she’s such a bitch.”
Amanda glanced at her.
“You’re just now realizing that?”
“No.”
Melissa exhaled sharply “I’m reminding myself.”
Amanda turned back toward the football field. The team was leaving now. Michael pulled his helmet off as he walked beside John, laughing at something one of their teammates had said. Amanda’s shoulders dropped.
“Oh no.”
Melissa looked at her.
“What?”
“They’re leaving.”
Melissa followed her gaze. For a moment, neither of them moved. John disappeared into the field house first. Michael followed seconds later. Their perfect morning ritual had ended without either boy looking in their direction. Melissa sighed.
“I guess we should head to class too.”
Amanda forced a smile.
“Yeah.”
She looked at the empty field one last time.
“I guess so.” They walked toward the school together, neither of them mentioning how deeply Maria’s words had gotten under their skin.
By the time first period began, Melissa’s bad mood had settled over her like a storm cloud.
She dropped into the desk beside Amanda and folded her arms tightly across her chest.
“I swear they do this every single day.”
Amanda set her phone face down on her desk.
“Maria and her minions?” “Who else?”
Melissa stared toward the front of the classroom, where their teacher was still organizing a stack of papers.
“They wake up, put on three pounds of makeup, and dedicate the rest of their day to making everyone miserable.”
Amanda leaned closer.
“At least we stood up for ourselves.”
“And yet we’re still sitting here feeling like garbage.”
“That is because you’re choosing to focus on the negative.”
Melissa looked at her.
“Amanda, we were publicly humiliated before eight in the morning.”
“Exactly. The day can only improve from here.”
Melissa gave her a look. Amanda smiled brightly.
“One day, we’ll be successful, happy, and completely out of their league.”
She lifted one fist triumphantly.
“And they’ll be pumping our gas.” Melissa stared at her. Amanda waited. Nothing.
She cleared her throat.
“Get it?”
Melissa continued staring.
“Cheerleader joke?”
Silence.
Amanda lowered her hand.
“Just me?”
“Just you, Amanda.”
“Tough crowd.”
Melissa looked down at her desk. The humor faded from Amanda’s expression when she noticed the sudden sadness in her best friend’s face. Melissa traced one finger along the edge of her notebook.
“Let’s face it.”
Amanda waited.
“Michael and John are never going to notice us.”
“They might.”
“How?”
Amanda leaned back in her chair.
“We just aren’t trying hard enough.”
“We aren’t trying at all,” Melissa said. “That’s the problem.”
Amanda frowned.
“You’re letting Maria get into your head.”
“Maybe she’s right.”
Amanda sat forward.
“She is never right.”
“We’re cowards, Amanda.”
Melissa’s voice had lowered, but the words still carried between them.
“We sit in those bleachers every morning and pretend staring at them counts as progress. We can’t even say hello without getting tongue-tied.”
Amanda opened her mouth.
“Well—”
“Stop making excuses.”
Melissa looked toward the window. Sunlight stretched across the football field outside, illuminating the empty bleachers where they had been sitting only minutes earlier.
“I’m done wasting my time.”
Amanda studied her profile. There was something different about Melissa that morning.
Something heavier than embarrassment. Amanda had noticed it in the way she’d barely spoken during practice and in the way her smile had vanished the second John left the field.
She had assumed Maria was the problem. Now she wasn’t so sure.
Before Amanda could ask, their teacher slammed a textbook onto the desk at the front of the room. The entire class fell silent. “Quiet down, you abominations,” he said, looking as tired as every student felt. “Let’s get this day over with.”
A few students laughed. Melissa opened her book without another word. Amanda watched her for a moment longer before doing the same. But as the teacher began the lesson, Amanda couldn’t stop thinking about what Melissa had said.
I’m done wasting my time.
She had no idea how quickly those words were about to change both of their lives.
Later that afternoon, Amanda discovered that watching Michael Johnson run from the safety of the bleachers was very different from running beside him.
Not technically beside him. He was several yards ahead of her.
But close enough. Far too close, if the way Amanda kept staring at him instead of the track was any indication.
Their gym teacher blew his whistle from the sidelines.
“Keep moving!”
Amanda forced her attention forward. For approximately three seconds.
Then Michael passed through her line of sight again.
His hair was damp with sweat, his uniform clinging slightly to his shoulders as he rounded the curve of the track.
He moved effortlessly, as though the mile run were nothing more than a casual warm-up. Amanda nearly sighed.
Jesus, he looks good when he runs.
She immediately scolded herself.
Focus.
A male student rushed past her from behind, clipping her shoulder hard enough to knock her off balance.
Amanda stumbled. Her sneaker caught against the edge of the track.
Then the entire world tilted. She hit the ground face-first.
Pain shot through her palms and knees. For one horrible second, the track went silent.
Then someone laughed farther down the field. Amanda stayed exactly where she was. Maybe no one had noticed. Maybe she could remain there until graduation.
Footsteps approached.
“Are you okay?”
Amanda’s eyes flew open. She knew that voice. She had listened to it carry across the football field almost every morning for years. Michael. Of course Michael Johnson had witnessed the most humiliating moment of her natural life. Amanda pressed her forehead more firmly against the track.
Maybe if I pretend I’m dead, he’ll leave.
The footsteps stopped beside her.
“Do you… need a hand?”
She considered continuing the act. Unfortunately, being declared legally deceased seemed like an extreme way to avoid one conversation. Amanda slowly pushed herself upright.
“Ow.”
Michael stood over her, concern creasing his forehead. Up close, he was somehow even more attractive. That felt deeply unfair.
“You sure you’re alright?”
Amanda stared at him. His mouth moved again, but she heard nothing.
Oh my God. He’s talking to me.
Michael waved one hand slightly in front of her face.
“Hello?”
“Yes!” The answer came out much louder than Amanda intended. Michael blinked. Amanda scrambled to her feet.
“I mean, yes. I’m okay.”
She brushed at the dirt on her gym clothes, desperately trying to recover whatever dignity she had left.
“Thank you for checking on me. It means a lot.”
Michael glanced toward the student who had knocked her over.
“That guy’s a jerk. He didn’t even stop to apologize.”
Amanda followed his gaze.
“I know.”
She dusted off one knee.
“Talk about rude.”
Michael laughed. The sound loosened something inside her chest.
“I’m Michael,” he said.
“I know!”
His eyebrows rose.
“You do?”
Amanda froze.
“Yeah. Of course.”
She laughed nervously.
“I mean, everybody knows you.” Michael’s expression softened with amusement. Amanda kept talking, which was almost always the beginning of a disaster.
“Not because I stalk you or anything.”
His smile widened.
“You’re the quarterback,” she added quickly.
“So naturally, people know your name.”
“That makes sense.”
Michael squinted at her playfully.
“I was starting to worry.”
Amanda laughed, relieved.
“No need.”
She should have stopped there. She knew she should have stopped there. Instead, excitement overpowered common sense.
“I only watch you every morning from the bleachers.”
The smile fell from her face. Michael’s eyebrows lifted. Amanda’s soul left her body.
“That sounded terrible.”
Michael laughed.
“A little.”
“Please forget I said that.”
“I’ll try.” Amanda covered her face briefly with one hand. When she looked up again, Michael was still smiling at her.
“I’ve seen you around too,” he said.
Amanda lowered her hand.
“You have?”
“A few times.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Sorry I never said anything before.”
“Better late than never.”
Michael’s eyes met hers.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
The bell rang from inside the school, signaling the end of gym. Students began making their way toward the locker rooms. Michael glanced toward the building.
“I should probably go.”
Amanda nodded, trying not to look disappointed.
“But I’ll see you around?” he asked.
Her heart performed something violent inside her chest.
“I hope so.”
Too eager. She corrected herself.
“I mean, sure.”
Too casual. “Whatever.”
Michael laughed again.
“You’re funny.”
Amanda smiled despite herself.
“That’s me.”
He gave her a small wave and started toward the boys’ locker room. Amanda stood completely still until he disappeared through the door. Only then did she allow herself to breathe.
“Amazing.”
She looked toward the girls’ locker room.
“I have to tell Melissa.”
Amanda took off running, temporarily forgetting the fresh pain in both knees. For the first time since she had met him, Michael Johnson knew she existed. Amanda couldn't stop smiling. She practically skipped toward the girls' locker room, replaying every second of the conversation in her head.
"I'll see you around?"
He hadn't just been polite. He'd smiled. He'd laughed. He'd introduced himself. Amanda reached for the locker room door, her heart still fluttering wildly. Maybe this morning hadn't been such a disaster after all.
She pushed the door open. The familiar hum of conversation filled the room.
Lockers slammed shut as girls changed out of their gym uniforms, laughter bouncing off the tiled walls.
Someone had connected their phone to a speaker, filling the room with low music that was barely audible over the chatter.