Chapter Four Summer #2
“You can do so much better,” Charlotte insists. She never liked him that much anyway. That should have been my first sign.
Jill nods. “She’s right. And the Frost Lake High guys are fiiiine.”
“Oh my god. I can’t believe we didn’t get a chance to talk about it yet, but I saw Rowan Blakenship at the club last night.” Charlotte looks at me with big eyes, waiting for my surprise.
“I know. I saw him too,” I admit. “His table is the one I…”
She sucks in an audible breath. “Nooooo!”
I nod. We didn’t have time to talk about the incident last night because the pool was so busy, so she got the short version: I spilled a drink and Jackie banished me back outside. I fill her in on the details at the same time I tell Jill the whole story.
When I’m done, they’re both giggling hysterically.
“Just one more reason I’m dreading school next week,” I say. Rowan’s smirk flashes in my head.
I was worried I’d run into him at the soccer field again today, but I overheard some other girls saying the boys don’t start their practices until tomorrow.
“I would have died. He’s so hot,” Jill says.
“He really is.” Charlotte nods.
They look at me like they expect me to agree.
“He is good at soccer. I’ll give him that.”
“Oh come on, Sum, you don’t think Rowan Blakenship is hot?”
“He was such an asshole to Silas.” I shake my head. “When I look at him, that’s all I can think about.”
“How is your brother?” Charlotte asks. She tries for casual, but Jill and I see right through her. We burst into laughter. Charlotte has had a crush on my brother for as long as I can remember.
Her cheeks turn pink. “What? I’m only curious.”
“Suuure. I bet you’re curious about all the newly graduated Oakley High alumni.”
She tosses a stuffed bear at me, grinning. “Shut up.”
* * *
“Let’s take five!” Coach Bradley yells.
The team lets out a collective sigh of relief as we jog off the field. We’ve been doing shooting drills for the last hour.
I grab my water bottle and take a seat off to the side. Amanda and Sophie are sitting to my right—not that they’re acknowledging me in any way.
“Hey.” Marta, Frost Lake’s senior goalie, takes a seat beside me. “Nice work out there.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m Marta, but everyone calls me MJ.”
“Summer.”
“You came from Oakley. I remember you. You scored twice on me last year.”
“Sorry?”
She huffs a laugh. “It’s cool. At least now you’ll be on our side.”
“Will she though?” Amanda asks.
My body stiffens. I look over to see her and Sophie watching us intently.
It’s Amanda who speaks first. “If you think you’re going to come in here, steal all our plays and secrets, and hand them over to Oakley, then you have another think coming.”
“I’m not…” I let my voice trail off, confused by the implication. Why the hell would I do that? I can’t seem to form an answer, but it doesn’t matter.
Amanda gets up and walks off to take a seat farther away from me. Sophie flashes a timid smile my way, then follows her. We’ve attracted the attention of most of the team, and my cheeks heat with anger and embarrassment.
“Save your breath,” MJ says. “Amanda’s just cranky because she’s having boy problems.”
“Something we have in common,” I mutter, fiddling with the top of my water bottle while ignoring the stares from everyone around us.
“You got stood up by Rowan Blakenship too?” MJ’s blond eyebrows lift. They’re so light they almost blend into her fair skin.
“No. I…” It takes me a second to process this new information. Of course, Amanda and Rowan are together; that makes perfect sense.
MJ laughs softly. “I was kidding. Relax.”
I nod in understanding. “My boyfriend broke up with me yesterday.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry.”
I shrug, then find myself wondering about Rowan and Amanda. “How do you know he stood her up?”
“The teams had a party after our scrimmage Saturday, and she was waiting on him to show up, but he didn’t, I guess.
I’m not really sure, honestly. They have this dramatic back-and-forth that they play off like neither of them cares.
Only it’s obvious they do, or Amanda wouldn’t be so pissy two days later.
” She stops, seeming to realize she’s told me more than she should about Amanda, or maybe she’s just recognized that not everyone on the team was invited—namely, me.
“It’s okay,” I assure her. “I get it. This whole thing is weird. I’m the enemy, right?”
She shrugs. “Not to me. Whatever your reason for being here, you’re one of us now.”
* * *
The rest of the week, practice goes by much the same way. I don’t have another confrontation with Amanda, but she isn’t acknowledging me either. I have no idea how I’m going to survive the season with her.
As we’re leaving the field on Friday, a few of the guys on the boys’ team are waiting to take the field for their practice, including Rowan.
He stands on the sideline, holding a soccer ball in one hand.
His light-brown hair is pulled back in a stubby ponytail at the nape of his neck and a few long strands hang forward.
When I meet his gaze, he’s looking at me. I break eye contact first and walk over to get my stuff.
“Hey!” I hear Amanda’s voice, far bubblier than it’s been all morning, talking to him. “I haven’t seen you all week. First you stand me up at the twins’ party, and last night you were a no-show at the bonfire.”
Rowan’s voice replies. “I didn’t stand you up. I was at dinner with my parents. I even texted you that I’d be late.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t realize you’d be that late. And what about last night?”
“I didn’t get your text about the bonfire until after I was already at Austin’s house.”
There’s a beat of silence, then Rowan says, “I’m sorry.”
I roll my eyes. Why the hell is he sorry? She’s the one who can’t read and tries to make plans at the last minute.
“You can make it up to me tonight by hanging out with me at Boone’s house. Are you going?” She doesn’t wait for his answer. “You have to come. Everyone is going. The entire team. Tell the boys.”
I usually change my shoes before I leave, but I’m so eager to get away that I grab my bag and start toward the parking lot.
I’m not even mad that no one told me about the party (again). I’m grateful. The last thing I want to do is spend more time with people who can’t stand my presence.
I purposely walk around Amanda and Rowan, but he turns and calls out to me.
“Hey, Summer.”
I glance up, expecting a mocking smirk, but if he’s trying to taunt me, I can’t tell. The only thing I see in his expression is friendliness.
“Hi,” I mutter.
“Are you going to Boone’s party tonight?” he asks me.
I make the mistake of glancing at Amanda. If looks could kill, I’d be very, very dead.
“No.” I clutch the strap of my bag tighter.
“Why not? I thought the entire team was going,” Rowan says.
“Everyone who matters,” Amanda corrects herself.
Rowan’s brows lift, and if I didn’t know any better I’d think he hasn’t seen this side of Amanda before.
He looks to me and says, “You should come. Boone throws the best parties. He lives out in the Sweet Haven area by the lake. You won’t be able to miss it with all the cars.”
I have no idea what game he’s playing, but I’m not interested. “I have plans.”
Those plans mostly include sitting at home, since both Charlotte and Jill will be at the Oakley back-to-school dance.
Mom’s working and Dad’s been poring over the accounting books for his business all week.
Maybe I could help him. Real riveting stuff.
But still better than willingly hanging out with anyone here.
“See? She has plans,” Amanda says. She smiles sweetly. “Too bad. Maybe next time.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, wishing I could kick a soccer ball right at her head. “Next time.”
If I survive at Frost Lake that long.