21. Foster
21
FOSTER
T hings changed after my big confession. Raina now knew one of the most humiliating things I d ever done, and she was still looking me in the eye as if I weren t completely abhorrent.
I felt raw and exposed, and yet, also relieved. Her acceptance seemed to heal something in me that I didn t even know was festering. And when I glanced at her now, I saw someone understanding and kind.
I saw someone important.
So it s photo shoot time? she asked, rubbing her hands together in glee as she walked along next to me toward Hill Hall. This is so exciting.
I chuckled and shook my head, happier than I could express that she d moved past my indiscretions so easily.
They re not going to ask me to pose shirtless, I assured her.
Hey, psst. Shut your mouth. You never know. My dreams could still come true.
When I barked out another laugh, some guy I was crossing paths with on the sidewalk glanced at me in confusion. I pointed at my ear as if I had an earbud in and was talking on a phone. Then I glanced over at Raina after he moved past. Remind me to wear earbuds from here on out.
She rolled her eyes. I bet you could go stark, raving mad and talk to trees, and everyone on this campus would still worship you.
I snorted and shook my head, arguing, As if, just as a couple of guys rushed over to ask if they could take a picture with me.
Mm-hmm, Raina countered, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched. You were saying?
I sent her an eye roll before turning my attention to the pair, smiling and giving them the football quarterback they d come over to meet.
As soon as they were gone, Raina and I started back on our way again, and she sent me a speculative glance. Honestly, why aren t you a cocky, self-involved asshole after getting this kind of fame?
Hey, I argued as I opened the door to the journalism department. The request for pictures doesn t happen that often.
It happens enough , she argued as she followed me down a hallway toward the press release room. I ve certainly never had random strangers ask to take pictures with me .
Whatever. I shook my head as we reached the door. Then I glanced at her silently one last time to let her know I had to pretend she didn t exist from here on out. She nodded and ran an imaginary zipper across her mouth.
Inside, the half a dozen other players who d been invited to the photo shoot were present, along with a handful of coaches, photographers, and journalism students.
When I spotted Connor Resson across the room with a laptop bag hanging from his side, I tipped my face to the side and murmured from the corner of my mouth, Oh look. It s Lover Boy.
She groaned and rolled her eyes. God. He s even wearing his shades inside. Now there s a cocky, self-involved asshole for you.
I shrugged. Maybe he just had eye surgery. When Raina sent me a dry frown, I chuckled. Or maybe not.
Foster! a familiar voice called from across the room, interrupting us.
Tearing my attention from Raina, I turned to find Oaklynn hurrying over.
Hey, hey. I opened my arms for a hug, even as I asked, What re you doing here?
I m a journalism major. Hello, she reminded me. I m here to interview you, of course.
Really? I cocked up one eyebrow in question. This is newsworthy enough to rate the broadcasting station s interest?
She sighed. Things are slow right now. It was either this or interviewing some science professor about some new microbe he thinks he discovered.
I straightened with interest. Was it Professor Minton?
Oaklynn blinked at me as if I d lost my mind. I have no idea.
Beside me, Raina demanded, Tell her I say hi.
Raina says hi, by the way, I dutifully reported.
Oh! Oaklynn glanced around in surprise. Is she here?
To my left, I told her, only to huff out a long breath. We re basically connected at the hip now.
Hey, Raina scolded, slapping at my arm but only swinging her hand right through it. You don t have to say that as if it s such a terrible thing.
I didn t say it was terrible, I argued, glancing at her. Then, turning back to Oaklynn, I lifted my eyebrows. It s been great .
And I m still detecting sarcasm, Raina sang.
There was no sarcasm, I insisted, only to crack a grin to let her know I d been teasing her the entire time.
Oaklynn laughed and bumped her arm into mine. Sounds like you two are getting along just fine.
It s actually not too bad, I admitted with a half-shrug. I m thinking you really should ve pushed harder to set us up.
Oh, don t even get me started about that, Oaklynn warned, narrowing her eyes and lifting a stern finger since no one had tried as hard as she had.
I laughed just as the director of the photo shoot clapped his hands to gain our attention and start the session.
After greeting everyone and explaining how he wanted the process to go, he called for the players he actually wanted pictures of to come forward to sign our press releases.
When my name was listed, I glanced to either side of me. I m up. Catch you ladies later.
But Raina walked over with me while Oaklynn remained behind with the other reporters.
You should at least ask if going shirtless is an option, she insisted, making me tighten my lips to keep from smiling.
Clearing my throat as I reached the table after waiting for a couple of my teammates to sign before me, I asked the photographer, This isn t going to go on another billboard, is it?
He merely lifted his eyebrows and answered, Depends on how well you pose, I guess.
I paused and lowered my pen. I m not really a billboard kind of person.
Oh, come on, man, one of my linebackers encouraged, jostling my arm in encouragement. You gotta be up there. You re the team captain.
When the others chipped in, telling me to just sign the release, Raina nodded along with them. I wouldn t even know you existed right now if I hadn t first seen your face on that billboard.
I glanced at her and then sighed. Fine.
My boys cheered as I scratched my name on the line. Rolling my eyes, I straightened and turned to them to join their discussion of what kind of poses we were going to have to make.
So you think we ll have helmets off or on? one asked right before another spoke up, Man, I think we d look sharp in three-piece suits .
Javonte blew into the room, late as usual, just as the last person signed, and when I got a look at him, I cried, Holy shit! You took everything off, didn t you? His head was as bald as a baby s butt.
The guys and I crowded around him as he signed his own release.
Did you not see the finished result the other night? he asked me as I cradled his head in my hands so I could check it out.
No. I got distracted by something else. Just look at this, though. Damn. You look good bald. Can I rub your noggin for good luck now before every game?
We were still laughing and joking around when we got our instructions on what to wear. The manager already had our uniforms on hand, so we just had to go back and change.
I glanced around for Raina before following the others into the changing room, and when I found her beside Oaklynn, both girls waved, smiling in encouragement.
Whoa! Was that what distracted you at my party? Javonte asked, nudging me in the back as he followed my glance and saw Oaklynn. The hot chick with the dimples? Because damn, Eighteen, she is fine.
What? No. That s just Oaklynn, I argued, shaking my head. She s dating one of my buddies.
Okay. Alright. He nodded as if he wasn t sure if he was going to believe me or not. So who distracted you, then?
I opened my mouth to tell him no one had, but one of the receivers teased, Don t even try to crack Union open, Witt. He s so private with the girls he screws you never know when he gets laid.
As the others laughed and joined in, I cringed lightly. They honestly thought I scored as much off the field as I did on it. I could only imagine how disappointed they d be if they knew my dating life wasn t so much private as it was nonexistent.
Come on, Javonte wheedled as we finished changing. Give me something here, man. Name. Bra size. Hair color. She was a blondie like you, wasn t she?
I shook my head and laughed, only to blurt, Think auburn.
Auburn? he cried in confusion. What is that? Some kind of fancy term for brown?
I shrugged, then nodded. With a little red tossed in.
A redhead? He whistled and lifted his eyebrows as if impressed. I never would ve taken you for the type.
Me neither, I murmured as I grabbed my helmet and followed the others out the door. But I think I definitely was now.
From there, the rest of the hour was filled with a lot of smiles, flashing lights, and questions.
Are you ready for next year, Foster?
Excited for signing day to see who you re getting to play with in the upcoming season?
Do you foresee three state championships in a row?
I laughed good-naturedly and shook my head. Coach gave us a month off before we start training for next season again in February, so right now, I m just enjoying a little R only a couple of coaches and the photography staff remained, clearing away the set.
So I started toward Raina with my backpack slopped over one shoulder, ready to bounce, only for Connor Resson to break away from the photographers and wave me down.
Hey, Foster. Wait up.
I groaned under my breath as he jogged over, then winced at Raina before turning back to him. Yo.
I have some questions for you. Slightly out of breath as he reached me, he took a recorder from his pocket and lifted his eyebrows in warning as he pressed record .
Okay, I answered uneasily, already not liking the look in his eyes. What s up?
It s about this deadly drunk-driving car accident that happened over the weekend.
I pulled back in surprise and blinked at him, not at all sure why he d want to talk about that .
Raina squinted at him with a similar look of confusion before she looked at me. Is he talking about my car accident?
I shook my head to answer her and to show Connor my utter confusion. What about it?
Did you know the driver had come from the very party you were at?
I straightened. Really? This was news to me. No, I had no idea. But holy shit. I wondered if I knew him.
Connor sent me a suspicious glance. So you didn t see him there?
I don t even know who he was, I admitted.
His name was Tack Martin. Are you sure you didn t know him? Connor pulled up his phone and showed me the screen, displaying this Tack guy s social media page where I was posing in a picture with him.
I pointed. This was taken at a signing. Do you know how many people I took pictures with that day?
That seemed to release some of the wind from Connor s sails, and his shoulders slumped briefly. But then he narrowed his eyes a moment later and pressed, So he doesn t look familiar at all?
No.
Not sure what the hell he was getting at, I glanced at Raina who shrugged. I don t know what he s talking about.
How do you even know I was at the same party as him? I wondered, returning my gaze to Connor.
You mean, Javonte Witt s party? Connor countered smugly. Your face is only plastered across dozens of posts about it… And don t forget about the drink that was in your hand. So what do you have to say about underage drinking, Foster? Or better yet, what are your thoughts on drunk driving?
I opened my mouth, not sure what to say. I knew people had taken pictures of me that night. Videos, too. And yes, there would ve been a beer in my hand through all of it. Shit.
Whoa, whoa, whoa... Javonte called, hurrying over. Tack Martin wasn t underage. He was twenty-five and had graduated from Haverick three years ago.
But Foster s underage, Connor argued with Javonte as he kept his gaze on me. Aren t you?
I shook my head, not understanding why he thought I had anything to do with the drunk driver. You know I am.
And so were a lot of people that night, Javonte added with a scoff.
But a lot of people weren t driving. Tearing his gaze from Javonte, he smirked at me. Were they?
Why don t you just say what you re getting at? I asked bluntly. Because I m not following your point. And his runaround was starting to irritate me.
Fine. Connor cleared his throat and flushed as if embarrassed for being called out. I know you drove to Witt s house that night. And I know you drank while you were there. There s social media all over the place, proving it. So I want to know what makes you any different from that drunk driver?
What makes me different? I repeated slowly, feeling my collar start to steam with the incensed heat rolling off me. Well, I guess it s the fact that I didn t drive home that night. If you d taken a picture of Javonte s front drive the next morning any time before eight, you would ve found my truck still sitting there.
Oh. Connor s gleeful smirk faltered, and he sank a step back. I didn t realize that.
Yeah, I said dryly. Any other questions? Or do you want to keep trying to shove me into the same box as someone who killed three people?
For real, Javonte scoffed. What re you trying to do; make Eighteen out to be some kind of murderer?
I—no! Connor cried in dismay. Then he waved a hand as if he couldn t handle our idiocy. Yeah, I m done asking questions, he mumbled before hurrying away, only to mutter, Jackass, under his breath.
Dude, was he talking to you or me? Javonte wondered, pointing between the two of us.
You, definitely, I said, and we broke out laughing.
When we spotted two more players exiting the changing room, Javonte hurried their way, calling, Yo, you guys will never believe the shit that Resson just tried to pull.
I swallowed as he told them about Connor s accusation, and they all laughed as if they thought it was the funniest thing ever. But my head was starting to ache.
I gotta get out of here, I told Raina under my breath, rubbing at my brow as I hurried from the building.
As soon as I was outside, I gulped in some much-needed fresh air.
You okay? Raina asked, keeping pace with me as I put space between me and the journalism building.
I m just great, I muttered, dropping my hand from my face. Freaking dandy.
Well, I d be pissed, she told me as if she hadn t realized I was being sarcastic. I still can t believe Connor tried to blame my accident on you. And then he called you the jackass.
When she snorted, I lifted one shoulder. I embarrassed him.
I don t care. He was totally out of line. He needed to be embarrassed.
I mean, I get his point, I went on. I shouldn t have been carrying around a cup of beer and getting photographed. I was basically promoting underage drinking and drunk driving. I shouldn t have done that.
You didn t do anything different than what probably hundreds of other college kids were doing that night.
But I m a public figure, I told her. People watch me. They judge me differently. I m supposed to model good behavior.
Ugh. She glanced at me in worry. I m sorry, Foster. I never realized being you would have so many drawbacks.
Not that many. I do have a good life, I argued, running a weary hand over my face. It s just sometimes, after shit like that, I need a minute of quiet peace to recharge.
She nodded sympathetically before suggesting, What about the library?
I winced. It s always packed.
Not in the basement, Raina said.
Dropping my hand, I glanced at her in surprise. There s a basement? This was news to me.
She laughed. Yes. Come on. I ll show you this perfect spot where no one ever goes. It s the quietest place on campus.