Chapter 19 Cadence
Cadence
Cadence wtf are you doing??
Lol geez calm down. I just got to class. What’s wrong?
Your outfit.
Are you trying to give Brayden a heart attack?
Ummm I’m confused. What’s wrong with my outfit?
Your shirt.
I look down at my shirt, almost forgetting what I’d thrown on this morning. It’s a Timber Wolves football shirt, but more specifically, I got it from Zach.
It’s been two days since we got back from the camping trip. Two days since he asked me to go to homecoming with him and two days of wishing I could go back to that moment. The second we left his Jeep that night, after he had to wake me up, we jumped straight back into reality.
We had to go back to pretending like we didn’t really like each other and now, we have to pretend like we didn’t just have the best weekend together.
I think he could tell that I was a little sad about it, about leaving that moment behind because the next morning, Zach snuck into my tent and left me his football shirt.
It smelled just like him. I stuffed it in my bag before we finished packing up our things and left.
I admittedly didn’t unpack my camping bag until last night, and that’s when I pulled out this shirt and laid it out to wear today. But I don’t know why it’s got Zach freaking out on me right now.
Oh, yeah. You like it?
Why did you wear that to school Cadie?
Why not? It’s just a football shirt. If anyone asks, I’ll just say it’s one of Bray’s.
Oh, little one…
What??
It has my football number on the back.
WHAT NO IT DOES NOT?
I jump up from my desk, the chair scrapes against the floor and everyone pulls their attention to me.
“Cadence?” The teacher raises concern and I panic.
“Umm, can I use the restroom, please?” I turn and rush out of the classroom without even getting a proper approval from the teacher.
I run into the hall and turn down to the bathroom. When I’m inside, I frantically flip my t-shirt around and look in the mirror.
Twenty-nine.
HOW?
How did I miss his giant number on the back of this shirt? And how many people have noticed it?
I pull out my phone as I throw my head back, frustrated with how careless I’ve been.
HOW DID I NOT NOTICE THAT???
It’s okay, relax. Umm, if Bray sees it, we can just tell him that you spilled something on your other shirt and I lent you that one.
I don’t know how I missed that? I just kind of tossed it on and didn’t think anything else about it. I’m sorry.
Don’t be sorry, Cadie. tbh you look way too damn good wearing my shirt right now.
I smile at his message, appreciating how he's trying to help diffuse the anxiety that I just experienced.
Zach?
Yes, sunshine.
I miss you.
I miss you too, Cadence.
Can I tell you something else?
Anything.
I really wanna kiss you again, Zach.
Cadie, please. I can’t fucking take it.
When can I see you again? Like, alone.
Idk, sunshine. You know it’s a busy week this week with the homecoming game and all.
You know this would be easier if we could just tell Bray.
I know. I know. And I know we talked about it a little bit yesterday but I have to be honest, I think we have to at least wait till after the game on Friday.
Why?
There are scouts coming to this week’s game. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize Bray’s game.
He’s right. Dropping news like that could cause Brayden to lose his focus and that might ruin his chances at performing his best. But at the same time, Bray has lots of college offers to choose from, so the scouts don’t really matter to him.
But if his game is off, then so is Zach’s and that’s what’s important.
But there’s something I haven’t told Zach yet.
So I wanted to tell you over the weekend and it just kind of kept slipping my mind but…
I attach the screenshots of mine and Bray’s conversation from last week. The one where I was asking him about Drake and Zach.
I wait patiently for Zach’s reply, hoping that he’s still just reading the messages and that he’s not mad.
I notice the dots start to dance and the anticipation of his response greets me with anxiety, but his text elicits confusion more than anything.
Can you meet me by the fountain after school?
Uhh… sure.
But don’t you have practice?
Exactly. Everyone will be on the other side of the school.
Well, okay then. I guess I’ll meet you over there. But Zach, we have to let Brayden know soon.
We’ll talk more after school.
I heart his message before turning and looking at myself in the mirror. I can’t believe I’ve been flaunting Zach’s football number all day. But also having that knowledge does make me feel kind of special. I wonder just how many people have noticed and who has noticed.
I decide that there could be worse things to have happened, so I fix my shirt, tuck my phone back in my pocket and head back to class. Proudly sporting number twenty-nine.
The bell for the end of last period just rang, and I start to pack up my things as students rush out of the classroom.
I attempt to join them, eager to get to the fountain before student council, wanting to make sure I have enough time to see Zach, but before I can make it out the door, a familiar voice stops me.
“Cade, why are you wearing Zach’s shirt?”
Oh, shit. I mean, I knew this was coming. We share our last class together. I knew I should have just flipped it inside out earlier, but I was stubborn and now, I have to lie to my brother . . . again.
“Oh, umm…” I look down at my shirt and then back up to Brayden who has a very strong puzzled look in his eyes.
Just stick to the plan, Cadence.
“Yeah, so I spilled some juice on my shirt this morning and I was on my way to the bathroom when Zach saw me and offered to just lend me this shirt,” I say as I playfully pull at the seam of the fabric as I plaster a smile on my face.
There. Plain and simple right? No reason to question anything else or ask any more questions.
I stare at him for a second wondering if he's going to say anything and the silence between us grows a tad awkward.
“Oh…” Brayden finally trails off. “Well, that was nice of him I guess.”
I lean up on my toes and rock back, staring at Brayden who seems to be somewhat convinced but not one hundred percent convinced.
“Yep,” I say, trying not to sound too desperate to avoid this conversation because that would be suspicious. But I do really want to get the hell out of here.
“Think you can change back out of it? People are talking.”
“They are?” Curiosity licks at my brain but I don’t really put too much thought into it.
I guess it makes sense. I mean, I had no idea I was showing up to school with Zach’s number plastered on my back.
I'm sure a few people saw it and thought nothing of it while others speculated something wild.
I haven't heard a word one way or the other.
“Umm, yeah. My sweater should be dry by now,” I tell my brother, knowing damn well that I didn’t change out of any clothes this morning.
I look out at the clock behind his head and see that time is ticking and I have to hurry.
“Well, okay then,” I say as I smile awkwardly at him.
“Gotta get to SC now so, talk to you later.” I clutch my books to my chest and turn, not waiting for him to approve or to come up with something else to ask.
I exit the classroom feeling a sense of guilt sink into my gut while simultaneously feeling relief to be out of his presence.
I rush over to Ryen’s locker, since it’s closer to the entry where the fountain is, and stuff all of my things in it. I go to slam the door shut but then I spot something, my purple sweater. Well, if that’s not a sign. I don’t even remember putting this in here.
I decide to discreetly put it on, if only to appease my brother in case I see him again.
I pull it over the football shirt and then removing the shirt out from under my sweater.
Once I get that done, I fold the shirt into the lock and close the door.
I look behind me, making sure that my surely suspicious brother didn’t follow me and isn’t watching me, before dipping down the hall and toward the exit near the school’s water fountain.
I swipe my palms against my leggings, feeling the nerves start to grow the closer I get.
A few kids walk past me but none of them look at me as I keep walking, the fountain finally coming into view.
I look around, making sure no one else is lingering as I round the cement edge of the fountain and see Zach standing on the other side.
He’s dressed fully in his football suit, pads, jersey, cleats and helmet. And I have to admit that as good as he looks in the lights on the field every Friday night, something about seeing him suited in the daylight just does something to me.
He turns to look at me, likely hearing my footsteps and I smile at him, closing the space between us. He holds his helmet in his hand at his side and he immediately pulls me in when I’m close enough. I reach up on my toes and kiss him, reveling in the way it feels to be in his arms again.
“Two days was far too long,” I whisper and he frowns at me as he brushes his thumb against my lip.
“I know, Sunshine.” I smile at him when I recall hearing him tell me why he calls me that nickname.
We hold each other for a few more seconds before I lean back and bring my eyes up to his eager to make the most out of the little time we have. “So, what did you think of the texts between Bray and I.”
“I think I’m proud of you for attempting to talk to him about it. I saw what you were doing there.”
“I just wanted to try and mention it or I don’t know, get him used to it. But at least he did approve of us going to homecoming together.”
“Yeah, I have to say that does kind of shock me a bit.”
“Well, it’s a start. I think we can wait until after the game to tell him since you’re worried about the scouts but Zach, I do think we need to tell him before the dance on Saturday.”