Chapter 26 Tabitha
“Come on, I caught you last night,” Freddy says, pestering me to no end. “Let’s just go. You’re obviously crazy about the guy.”
If I could go back and kick past me, I would. Freddy found me after my phone call with Kai last night. With the mix of emotions, I confessed all my feelings for Kai.
“I can’t go,” I protest.
“Whatever is happening between you and him must be a big deal,” Freddy continues. “Heck, Drew showed up to part of my game. He doesn’t do that unless something major happens.”
“He was supporting his brother,” I deflect.
Freddy snorts. “No, he was keeping an eye on his little sister.”
“Ugh. Quit it with the little.”
Mom moves into the hallway, waving her phone at me. “I got a call from Mrs. Fisher. She invited us to join her at the country club.”
“Okay,” I say warily. “Why?”
Mom bats a hand. “For the upcoming society event, silly. She invited us to join the planning committee.”
I look at Freddy and then back at Mom. “I don’t think it’s as fun as you think it’ll be.”
“Don’t be a downer, Tabitha. We’re getting invited to join the most influential ladies of Victoria Falls. Why aren’t you more excited?”
I give in and smile. “I am excited. It’s very cool.”
Mom squeals, shimmying her shoulders. “This is a huge deal!”
Freddy laughs. “It’s good to see you so happy, Mom.”
“Apparently, a few mothers and daughters pulled out,” Mom says. “We’re lucky they thought of us.”
“People have pulled out?” I question.
I’ve heard Mrs. Fisher can be extremely intense. Her husband is part of the Logan’s Point redevelopment initiative with Cammy’s dad. I think they’re both colleagues and rivals. Things could get interesting!
Mom leaves the hall, muttering to herself about outfit selections.
Freddy latches onto my arm. “Come on. Let’s go to Kai’s game.”
I knock him off. “Hang on a sec.”
I pull out my phone and text the girls in our group chat. "Mom just told me about this society planning committee. Are either of you on it?"
Yvie texts back, "Heck no! Mom and I like to attend these things as guests. We’re not organizers."
"Wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole," Cammy texts. "Daddy called Mrs. Fisher to get his new bride and step-daughter on the committee. Mom told Mrs. Fisher we’re boycotting. Daddy is soooooo gonna make it up to me today!
Ouch! Definitely clipped a nerve bringing this one up.
Wow. Cammy’s dad is bringing his new Logan’s Point family into a society committee. These women can be ruthless and highly judgmental. I hope they know what they’re getting themselves into.
When I pocket my phone, Freddy grins at me. “I know you wanna see him.”
“Why do you care? I thought you said I deserved better than a guy like Kai?”
“I can tell you’re into him, but there’s obviously tension because his friend has a problem with you. If you turn up today, maybe it’ll help the friend accept you? She’ll see that you’re putting in an effort to support Kai.”
“You think?”
“I do. He supports you, right?”
I nod.
Freddy turns me around in the hall. “Then get your coat, and your boots, and we’ll head down to the soccer field.”
“And what if they all yell at me to leave the field?”
“Did I not say I’ll be right beside you?”
I splutter a laugh as I pull on my coat and dig my feet into my ankle boots. “Right, I forgot. The haters are no match when Mr. Popularity turns on his charm powers.”
“Tabby, seriously, I just want to see you happy.”
I meet him back in the hall. “I know. That’s all you ever want.”
He grins. “So we can go?”
“Yes, before Corbin overhears and wants to tag-along.”
“Where are you going?” Corbin calls out.
“Nowhere!” I call back, pushing Freddy down the hall.
“Aw, but he’d be cute on the sidelines,” Freddy says, digging his shoes into the floor runner.
“Fred, no! He’s not coming,” I whine.
Freddy stops resisting and paces alongside me. “Fine. Sorry, Corbs.”
Corbin steps into the hall. “Where are you going without me? The toy store?”
Freddy laughs and I poke my tongue out over my shoulder. “Yeah, Corby,” I tease. “We’re buying out all the Ninja Turtles stock so you can’t get any.”
“Mom!” Corbin yells.
Hurrying, Freddy and I race to the garage before Mom starts defending her little baby.
Due to my lack of confidence and digging in my heels with arguments, we left the house when the game was already well underway. We arrive in the parking lot and find a large crowd on the sidelines.
“Shall we find a good spot?” Freddy asks, marching ahead.
“Stop,” I whisper frantically, signaling him to pull back. “I don’t want to draw attention.”
“It’s not the Tabitha show.”
I roll my eyes; that’s rich, coming from him. “I don’t want his friends to see me and make a big deal. I just want to find a space in the back and watch him play.”
Freddy relents and we find a discreet place to watch, sitting against the fence which borders the parking lot. He then points out the scoreboard with the timer and notes they’re already in the second half of the game.
“And our team’s winning,” he remarks.
I grin, lifting on my tippy toes. “Kai’s winning?”
“It’s a landslide at three-nil. Which one is he?”
I spy the field and soon see him receiving the ball and passing it to another player. “There. Number six.”
“Wow,” Freddy breathes as he watches Kai zigzag around the other team and receives the ball again. “Dang, he’s good.”
“I’ve never seen him move this fast.”
“And look at that footwork. The other team can’t touch him.”
I peruse the mass of spectators, and get a little thrill when I spy Kai’s friends, and then his parents, standing in front. I’m about to point them out to Freddy, but instead pretend I was never looking.
“See you guys!” Jamie calls out, moving away from Kai’s family and friends.
“You’re leaving?” someone asks her, but I’m not game to look closely at who it is.
“Yeah, I gotta get to work. Aunt Maddy’s swamped,” Jamie replies, waving her goodbyes. “At least they’re up by three. It’s not like I’m gonna miss much.”
Oh my gosh. Now, standing by the parking lot is the dumbest move I’ve made all day.
Jamie has to walk past us to leave.
I don’t want this to be round two of what happened in the school foyer on Thursday afternoon.
Shaking out my hands, I’m unable to rid the clamminess.
I’ve told Kai I’m not gonna rag on Jamie, and I imagine he wants me and her to become friends.
I mean, it makes sense. With me and Kai getting closer, I should be able to chat with his friends.
As Jamie makes her way toward the parking lot, I shift against the fence and wave at her. “Hi Jamie.”
She stops in place, her eyes circular.
Gosh, so awkward. This isn’t school. Must she be mute everywhere we meet?
I try again with, “Good game, huh?”
Her gaze narrows, her skepticism growing. If her mind is anything like Kai’s, I can only imagine the wacky places it’s going.
“Are you leaving already?” Come on, give me something.
“Wh-wh…” Jamie stutters. “What are you doing here?”
Freddy gives me a look, saying, is this girl for real?
“Hey, did you play today?” I ask as enthusiastically as my anxiety will let me. “I’ve heard you’re a really awesome soccer player.”
Jamie’s nose crinkles and her lip upturns.
My gosh, could she hate me more?
“Hey,” Freddy says, stepping forward. “She’s only trying to be nice.”
Jamie deadpans. “Oh, is she?” It’s the most clear I’ve ever heard her speak. “I don’t even know why the two of you are here. It’s not your kind of football.”
“Geez.” Freddy exhales hard. “You’re a little firecracker, aren’t ya?”
Jamie rolls her eyes and keeps moving past us and into the parking lot.
I watch her over my shoulder as she gets into a beat up, old station wagon. “Okay, I’m still her least favorite person.”
“All she did was stare at you. She didn’t even try to talk.”
“How do Kai and I get a decent shot if she won’t give me a chance?”
Freddy waves it off. “Forget her. If she won't put in any effort, she isn't worth your time.”
“But it’s important to Kai.”
“Is he really gonna pump the brakes because Miss Grumpy back there won’t answer any of your questions?”
“Yes, Fred. I know you’re on my team, but Kai and Jamie are the other team. If she doesn’t like me, it’s a big, fat X over my name.”
Freddy frowns. “Then I’m going back to my previous take. He doesn’t deserve you.”
“I appreciate the brotherly support, but please don’t turn into Dad and not give Kai a second chance. I really like him.”
Freddy nudges me. “Then we should move off this fence and join his friends.”
“I… I can’t. You saw Jamie’s reaction. I can’t handle more of his friends looking at me like that.”
“So you’re letting Miss Grumpy win?”
“No, but…”
“Does Kai even know you’re here? Did you text him?”
“No, what was the point? He’s already in the middle of playing.”
“But you want him to know you’re here, right?”
I shrug, biting my lip. “I just want to see him.”
Freddy stays antsy as we watch the game play on. My breath hitches in my throat and then I nod at him.
He lights up. “Yeah?”
“Not too close. Just closer.”
He grabs my wrist and tugs me forward. “That’s a start, sis.”
When there’s a group of people between us and Kai’s parents, I tug on Freddy’s arm. “Okay, close enough.”
“What are you so afraid of? I won’t let anyone yell at you.”
“I know you, Freddy. You’re not the help you think you are.”
His expressions falls. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Whenever we’re around other people, they fawn all over you,” I say bluntly. “And when everyone surrounds you, I’m left alone, looking like an outsider.”
“How is it my fault what other people do?”
“I dunno, but I don’t want today turning into The Freddy Jones Show.”
Freddy rolls his eyes. “Will there be one day when you don’t act like I ruin your life?”
“Maybe.” I wink. “But not today.”
We watch the game, and I can’t help feeling bad for talking down to Freddy.
It’s not his fault people instantly like him.
I guess it’s just triggering for me. My first interaction on the soccer field is hate stares from my crush’s best friend.
How could someone like Mr. Popularity understand that every interaction isn’t sublimely easy for the rest of the world?
There’s cheers all around us as the gameplay on the field heats up.
Butterflies jitter inside me as Kai zigzags with the ball.
When the other team’s defenders move in on Kai, he passes to a teammate on his left.
In a struggle for possession, Kai’s teammate loses the ball and the other player darts up the field.
Freddy and I both hiss at the missed opportunity, but Kai gets right back into action. His defenders mark up players to protect their goal. I clasp my hands tight, hoping the other team doesn’t score.
In hasty eagerness, a player winds up like he’s taking a shot at the goal.
Like he’s magnetized to the ball, Kai runs up on the player before he and the ball connect.
To steal the ball, Kai turns his shoulder toward the other player.
The two twist around the ball, both determined to take possession.
Smack.
Kai and the other player crash into each other, and the sound makes my insides clench.
“Crap,“ Freddy hisses.
I grab onto Freddy’s bicep. “Is he okay?”
On the other side of the group of people between us, I can’t help noticing Kai’s mom flailing her arms and raising her voice as she speaks to her husband.
The referee blows the whistle, and my fingers claw into Freddy’s hoodie as I watch Kai wince and rub between his shoulder and neck.
“Tab, are you trying to draw blood?”
With my heart in my throat, I release my brother. “Sorry.”
The referee grants a free kick to the other team, resulting in thunderous groans around us. I spy Kai’s parents again and they’re taking out their stress on both themselves and the ref.
Kai paces a few feet, massaging his shoulder, and then cracks his neck from side to side. Even from back here, I can see the discomfort on his face.
There goes another belly flip.
The other player moves about with a limp and is sent off the field. The ref asks Kai if he’s okay to play, and he nods despite the calls from his coach.
One of the other team’s forwards positions himself for the free kick.
“Oof.“ Freddy winces. “Right at the top of the goal circle. Not ideal.”
My belly does backflips. “You think they could score?”
“Well, there’s a lot of players crammed up there. Could go either way.”
I watch Kai, shifting between two opposing players, trying to block both of them from receiving the ball. The player with the free kick opts for kicking to another player outside of the goal circle. Things get less congested as players move about the top end of the field.
There’s an attempt at the goal, and Freddy and I both let out a cheer when our team’s goalie, Tyler, dives on the ball. Kai moves out of the goal circle like he and Tyler share a telepathic language.
Holding the ball, Tyler runs from the goal. The rest of the team makes a run for it, and my heart tugs as I watch Tyler search for Kai. With sheer force, Tyler kicks the ball half the length of the field. Jumping into the air, Kai headbutts the ball, sending it towards another teammate.
Kai builds speed, racing down the dead center of the field.
His teammates pass the ball, and soon it scuttles toward the goal circle.
Skidding into its path, Kai connects with the ball and winds his leg back.
The cracking sound shockwaves toward us, and the ball ricochets off the backing of the goal.
The buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the match, and Kai leaps into the air. Pulling his shirt halfway up his torso in triumph, his cheering teammates encircle him.
As I watch the scoreboard change to four-nil, I clasp Freddy’s wrist. “He won!”