Chapter Three #2
She stayed. She listened. And she fell deeper.
After the final song was played, an acoustic rendition of Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” Daisy’s mother called into the garage and announced that dinner would be ready soon.
Also code for, “End practice before your father gets home.”
The boys packed up their gear and headed inside the house.
Their eyes grew like saucers when they saw the dinner Daisy’s mother had prepared.
It was traditional Indian cuisine, vibrant flavors spread across the dinner table: butter chicken simmered in a tomato sauce, basmati rice steaming in a bowl, and warm naan wrapped in a towel to keep it soft and warm.
The feast was nothing new to Sean and Daisy.
Their mother was, after all, part Indian.
“Wow, Mrs. Daniels, this looks amazing,” Lenny said, his eyes still wide.
Jameson chimed in, “Thank you for having us, ma’am.”
“My pleasure. You boys are more than welcome to join us anytime.”
Daisy liked the sound of that; she could get used to seeing more of Jameson.
“Yes, as long as they’re keeping that ruckus down, they can stay,” her father joked as he walked into the dining room.
Everyone sat down, adults at the head of the table and Daisy directly next to Jameson.
Out of habit, Sean, Daisy, and their parents joined hands. Daisy held out her other hand to Jameson and whispered, “Prayer.”
“Oh, right,” he said in understanding and took her hand.
Much like the first time they shook hands, Daisy felt the shocks of his touch as her dad began to bless the food.
Once he concluded with “Amen,” hands slipped apart, except Jameson kept hers for a beat longer, gently squeezing it before letting go.
They both grinned sheepishly at one another and then looked away, Jameson at the food being passed to him and Daisy into the angry eyes of her brother.
Had he seen the moment they had just shared?
Her brother’s glare across the table nearly undid her, but she forced her face to stay calm. She took the food that was passed to her and hoped to God she was just overreacting.
Conversation at the table was light and funny; even Daisy was surprised by how easygoing her father was being toward anything band-related. He seemed genuinely curious.
“I’m working on booking the guys a show at Bullets.”
“The bar?” Daisy’s mother, Dena, inquired.
“It’s a restaurant, too. They are only twenty-one and up after eleven p.m. But Frankie, the owner, is cool with us playing whenever, as long as we are bringing in the money.”
Daisy’s parents gave each other contemplative looks from across the table.
“I’m not sure how comfortable we are with that, Sean. Of course, we can’t speak for the boys’ parents, but…”
“Oh, our parents are just fine with it, and Jameson’s mum is chill,” Kyler said.
Daisy’s parents didn’t look convinced. Lenny tried to clarify. “You see, it’s different in England, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels. Pubs are similar to playgrounds for lads our age.”
“Well, this is America, so we will still have to think about it. We can discuss it later, Sean,” Philip said.
An uncomfortable silence unfolded before Daisy’s mother changed the subject. “Anyway, are you all excited for the Homecoming dance? It’s just a few weeks away.”
Daisy’s belly filled with butterflies. She would be lying if she hadn’t thought about the dance or about a certain someone who she hoped would ask her.
Sean glared over at Jameson and Daisy before saying, “Lenny and Kyler are probably going to ask the Peterson twins, right?”
They both nodded in unison.
“I’m still weighing my multiple options.”
Daisy rolled her eyes at Sean’s cockiness.
Then Sean dropped the bomb. “Jameson, aren’t you asking Rochelle Higgins?”
Daisy’s heart splintered.
She looked at her brother and had half the nerve to smack the derisive smirk off his face.
Jameson deflected smoothly, “I don’t know who I’m asking.”
“Rumor is floating around that she’s into you, dude, and let me tell you, when Rochelle Higgins throws her bait your way, you bite.”
The boys, sans Jameson, high-fived on the other side of the table.
Daisy wanted to excuse herself from dinner. The struggle raging inside of her was about to ignite. “Okay, settle down,” Philip said.
A number of “sorrys” were muttered as they calmed themselves.
Nervous that the same question would be asked of Daisy, she quickly made an excuse about having to finish her homework—completed earlier in the day—and hastily made her way back to her studio. Painting was the only thing that could steady her hands when her chest felt broken.
Daisy had seen an instant change in Jameson in the days following the dinner at her home. Not once was she invited to come out to the garage and watch them practice again.
That was the first sign.
The second was the flirtation. Or lack thereof. It had completely ceased since that night at her house. Long gone were the playful jokes or the teasing back and forth. The only words he had spoken to her were “Hello, Daisy, and Goodbye, Daisy.”
Short and formal. And still, every so often, she caught him watching her like he was thinking something he refused to say.
She wasn’t sure what had changed other than the heart-wrenching conversation regarding his potential Homecoming date.
At first, Daisy was seemingly optimistic that he wouldn’t ask Rochelle Higgins to the dance. She had rarely seen them interact, and while the flirtation had ceased with Daisy, it didn’t seem like it had started up with Rochelle.
But optimism, ultimately, was Daisy’s demise. Her hopeful nature had failed her. Because sure enough, Friday night, under the lights, her worst fear unfolded.
Jameson asked Rochelle Higgins to the Homecoming dance.
Daisy had no interest in football. For starters, she didn’t really understand the concept of the sport, and second, she didn’t particularly like freezing her butt off in the frigid fall air.
While football was not quite her cup of tea, she had to admit there was something about the Friday night lights that excited her, made her revel in her youth.
That particular Friday, Anna had dragged her to a home game.
Ryan, the potential fifth-year senior, was waiting for them just outside the field.
Anna had been spending most of her time with Ryan, and while Daisy didn’t particularly like his study habits, she concluded that he was a nice enough guy for her friend to date.
“Hey, cutie,” Ryan said as he brought Anna in for a kiss. Daisy looked away from their public display.
“Hi, are you Daisy?”
Her head snapped up.
“Uh, yes.”
“I’m Andre,” he said, offering his hand. “Ryan’s friend. I’m at SF State. I came down for the weekend.”
Anna bounced beside her. “I forgot to tell you. Andre’s staying with Ryan, and I thought it’d be fun if we all hung out tonight.”
Daisy inwardly groaned.
A setup. With a college guy.
“I see,” she muttered. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Andre.”
He gave her a glance up and down and smiled before following their friends into the stadium.
The bleachers were packed with people, which gave her no other choice but to snuggle up close to Andre.
At least he smells good.
Daisy thought Andre was a nice guy whom she would’ve likely been excited to hang out with if it weren’t for the fact that a certain raven-haired boy was still consuming her thoughts.
“Do you play any sports?” Andre asked, smiling her way.
“Uhh, no, I’m not super coordinated.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed that. You look so fit and athletic.”
Daisy bubbled out a laugh.
“No, not me. I am more of the artistic type.”
“Cool, so you like to draw and stuff?”
She looked up at his face, which was mere inches away from hers. “Sure, you could say that.”
Daisy would have backed away if there were more room, but the tight space was not forgiving. To anyone looking in, it would appear that they were snuggling up, perhaps even about to share a kiss.
Which was extremely unfortunate, especially when Jameson’s eyes found hers across the bleachers. His jaw was tight, and his glare sharp enough to cut glass. She almost believed it meant something.
He was with his typical crew. His cousins, her brother, and Sean’s friend, Connor.
They were only a few feet away from them. She immediately turned her head away from Andre and tried to scoot closer to Anna.
But as luck would have it, he moved even closer to Daisy and slowly put his arm around her.
Worried, she looked again at Jameson.
He was still glaring at her, but his face was now red and angrier than it had been before.
Daisy almost rolled her eyes at him. After days of dismissal, she was annoyed that now he wanted to acknowledge that she existed.
Forcibly positioning her body away from Jameson and Andre, she loudly whispered in Anna’s ear, “Why didn’t you tell me about this Andre guy?”
“Are you mad?”
“I don’t know. I’m just annoyed, I guess. I mean, he’s in college. He’s old.”
“He’s only eighteen. I am looking out for you. This will help you get over you know who.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Daisy, I’m your best friend. I know you’re crushing hard.”
Daisy wasn’t very open about her personal feelings. Sure, she had mentioned Jameson a few times but never in great detail.
“I thought this would be good for you, considering the rumor.”
“What rumor?”
Anna whispered into her ear, “About Rochelle Higgins.”
Daisy huffed. If she had to hear about Jameson and Rochelle one more time, she was going to lose it.
“I don’t think it’s true.”
Anna gave her a sympathetic look. “For your sake, I hope not.”
The first two quarters of the game went by without much action. Daisy stood when the crowd stood, and she clapped when others clapped.
Not a minute after the team was off the field, the cheerleaders began their halftime performance. Rochelle Higgins, of course, was front and center.
Halfway through the routine, the music cut out so abruptly the whole stadium went quiet.
The cheerleaders jogged off the field like something had gone wrong, leaving only Rochelle Higgins and Clarissa Johnson standing at the fifty-yard line, confused and blinking under the lights.
Then Bruno Mars blasted through the speakers.
The cheerleaders rushed back out, grinning now, and Jameson and Sean followed behind them, each carrying an armful of red roses.
Daisy’s stomach dropped.
This wasn’t a performance. This was a question.
Her world spun.
A never-ending sea of red.
Anna squeezed Daisy’s hand, trying to console her friend. But when Jameson and Sean made their way to the two girls, holding a plethora of red roses, Daisy thought she might hurl.
She had been so wrong.
Ignorance at its finest.
Not wanting to continue the horror show that was occurring right before her eyes, she slipped away into the dark parking lot before the final rose fell into Rochelle’s arms. Anna caught up, worried, but Daisy waved her off.
She wasn’t broken. Not yet. Just stupid for hoping.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Daisy answered, harsher than she had intended. “I feel a little stupid, that’s all, but I’ll be fine. I just needed some air. Go back in with Ryan. I’m going to call my mom to pick me up.”
Anna bit her lip, uncertain about leaving her friend.
“I promise. Go.” Daisy faked a smile.
“Okay, but what should I tell Andre?”
“Tell him I wasn’t feeling well.”
Satisfied with her answer, Anna quickly hugged Daisy and headed back toward the field.
By Monday, the school buzzed with Sean and Jameson’s grand gesture. Daisy couldn’t escape it. Not in class, not in the halls, and especially not in the girls’ locker room.
For the first time since school had begun, she was dreading biology class.
Sitting in her usual spot, Daisy pretended to read her textbook and waited to see if Jameson would take his normal seat.
When he did, she instantly felt angry, an emotion she had never felt toward him before. This surprised her; she was much more hurt than she realized.
Feeling him inch closer, she heard him whisper, “Have fun on your date last Friday?”
Her anger flared hot. “I did, actually. College guys… they’re something else.”
“Whatever,” he replied in a low, angry voice.
“He was really amazing. We had the best time—”
Jameson cut her short. “Is this because of the dance?”
“The what?” She feigned ignorance.
He rolled his eyes, obviously annoyed at her lack of concern.
“If you only knew,” he muttered.
Their teacher walked in, cutting off the war of words, but Daisy felt the distance cement between them. For the first time since they’d met, Jameson stopped teasing her. Stopped noticing her.
And Daisy, who had once found so much joy in the simple sound of his voice, now only heard silence.