12 - Samantha
Cynthia tops the stairs, heading straight for my room as I’m securing my hair and taking one last look in the mirror. We’re about to head to the game when I look at the reflection to see her behind me holding something.
“What is that?” I turn, pointing.
Cyn looks great. Her hair is done 50’s pin-up girl style, blood red lipstick and she’s wearing Knox’s letterman jacket. But she’s carrying something.
“Here, put this on.”
“Is that Phillip’s?”
“Duh.” She tilts her head and eyes go wide to emphasize her point.
“Did you take it from his closet? I don’t want to show up in it if—”
“Dad went raging-Coach and made him leave early, he couldn’t run it over himself. Check the pocket. There’s a note. Somehow, he knew you’d say that. He wants you to wear it.”
Butterflies jump in my stomach, excited to put it on. I reach out in a gimme-gimme fashion, wiggling my fingers. She hands it over and when I slip it on, it smells like Phillip. I’m in heaven.
“Now you look like you’re dating the quarterback. Let’s go.”
Hurricane football games are much more exciting now. The bright lights on Friday nights shine down on the emerald field. All eyes are on the yard lines and end zones while the players crash together. Their uniforms, full of padding, clack together as loud as thunder in our stadium while the crowd cheers. It’s nice sitting in the stands with Cynthia. She’s far more knowledgeable about football than I ever realized. I should have guessed she would understand the plays since her dad’s the coach. I’m relieved when she explains some of the calls the referee makes. I’ve been to games with her before, but I never paid attention to the rules like I do now. Maybe that’s why we never really discussed it.
*
One Friday night, wewatch the Hurricanes win and expect it to be a great night. Cynthia and I wait outside the locker room for the guys to get done showering after the game. A few girls hover outside the locker room like we do, waiting to see the players as they leave. We hear a few comments to each other as they walk away. “Why her?”
Cyn tells them to scram, losing her temper a little before she snaps her fingers getting my attention. “Hey, she’s just jealous.” She shakes her head. “Don’t listen to her.”
“I know,” I say, even though I still wonder sometimes what her brother does see in me. I’m not that special. Yet maybe I am, to him.
Knox finishes up before Phillip does, so he comes out and joins Cynthia and me. They start making out and kissing like crazy. I try to ignore them but it’s becoming impossible.
“Why don’t you guys get a room?” I laugh. “I’ll be fine here. Phillip will be out any minute.” I have to wait a few seconds for them to come up for air to answer me, but eventually they agree and Knox leaves with Cynthia.
It’s shortly after they leave that I hear some yelling from inside. It’s a deep husky voice. Coach, probably. I edge closer, trying to listen. I hear something about a missed pass and the wrong play. One last player leaves the locker room, and when he does, the door is open momentarily, long enough for me hear Phillip yell back that the play he ran worked and Coach shouldn’t be angry over it. The door closes, and Coach’s voice is loud but muffled. I know Phillip’s getting chewed out again.
About a minute later, Phillip comes out. He shoves the door open, and his face is bright red. I know he can’t be in the best mood, despite their win tonight.
“Good game.” I congratulate him, deciding to smile and act like I didn’t hear too much.
“It was ok.” He opens his arm for half a hug. He’s carrying a bag in the other hand. Probably with his uniform and stuff in it.
“You guys won.” I try to sound encouraging, although there is a distinct reason I never became a cheerleader. “Zack’s having a party. Cyn told me about it. You wanna go?” I don’t really want to go, but if it helps his mood, I am willing to put myself through it.
“I’m not one for crowds, unless you would like me to take you.”
We slowly walk toward the parking lot. “No, I’m good. I was secretly hoping to avoid it but would go if you wanted to. I’m kind of hungry actually.” I look up to see if any of the red in Phillip’s face has begun to fade yet.
“Me too. Let’s drop your car off at home so we can take my truck and we’ll go somewhere.”
“Or, we can take the car home and stay and order pizza.” I know Phillip likes hanging out at my house, but somehow, I get the sense he just doesn’t want to be anywhere near his house.
“Hmm...” Phillip hesitates, planting his feet in one spot. “How about we drop off a vehicle, grab a pizza and go hang out in Fairlawn Park. I’m not going home till Coach is asleep,” he says. His truck is a few spaces away. We’re one of the last few vehicles left in the parking lot.
Stepping up onto my tip toes, I slide my arms around him and manage to rub my nose to his. “Ok, I like the park idea.”
He gives me a quick kiss and opens my car door. I don’t ask for a smile. Even though he’s having a crummy night, I still want to spend time with him, and he seems like he wants to salvage the rest of the evening. When we drop my car off, I grab a blanket out of the trunk and bring it with us. Roxy makes me keep an emergency kit in the car because you never know what you might run into. I’m not broke down anywhere, but I think the blanket will help for our picnic in the park.
We pick up our pizza and choose a place near some trees. It’s somewhat secluded, even though it’s an open area. We’re on the west side across from where they sometimes show movies. I’ve been to a movie in the park before, with Cyn, but it was research for her Drama club. Despite Phillip’s mood, I deem this night better.
Even though the crickets are singing and cicadas clicking, we share a few quiet pieces of pizza. I can only enjoy the sounds of nature so long before I have to break the ice.
“I’ll understand if you’d rather go driving or something. You know, let off some steam.”
Phillip stops chewing and looks at me abruptly. “Why would I want to do that?”
I don’t want to admit to it, but I tell him anyway. “I heard Coach yelling and you don’t want to go home. I just figure you’re upset.” I shrug my shoulders then quickly add, “I couldn’t make out many words, I promise. I didn’t exactly hear, I just, well, oh never mind. I’m making it worse,” I admit, feeling defeated.
Witnessing my frustration, Phillip closes his eyes briefly, his icy exterior melting a bit. “I’m sorry, Samantha,” he apologizes, finally relaxing. He closes the pizza box and slides it off to the side. I stopped eating two slices ago. Phillip waves his hand toward himself. “Come closer.”
I scoot over and he wraps his arms around me. “Damn you smell good.”
“It’s just lotion.” I duck my head, shy of his comment, but smiling absurdly anyway. I’m wearing my favorite, wild orchid. “Thank you.”
Many seconds later, he sighs. “I’m truly sorry. I’m not going to let Coach ruin one more minute. He just gets under my skin so bad sometimes, especially when he rags me about making wrong decisions or going against his plans. Whatever.” He’s gritting his teeth by the end of his explanation, and I feel the tension return to his arms.
“Well, I know you make good decisions. You’re a good person, Phillip. Don’t let him drag you down.”
“I’m not a hero, Samantha,” he says looking down at me. I’m leaning my back against him, but I can tilt my head back and meet his gaze.
“You are to the fourth grader who lost her hair ribbon on the playground.”
Phillip stares at me for a long time before speaking. “All I did was return it to her, and this isn’t the playground anymore.”
I keep looking up at him. “No, but you returned a ribbon that her mother had given her. She cried all the way home on the bus that day because she thought it was lost forever. That’s what you gave back and that makes you a good person.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so.”
Grinning now, Phillip asks, “And how do you know so?”
“Because thanks to you, I still have my ribbon.” I smile up at Phillip and he smiles back. Quietly, I sit up and turn to face him. He weaves his fingers into my hair at the base of my neck and leans in close. “How did you remember that?”
“I told you, silly. Because of you, I still have my ribbon. I always knew you were a good guy.”
In a low sultry voice, not quite the hum of a whisper, Phillip leans in closer still and says, “And I always knew you were worth it.”
That does it. His satiny smooth lips ravish my own and all I can think about is that I don’t want him to stop. All thoughts cease to exist except for Phillip in this moment. His hands don’t wander beyond my lower back and hips, being the gentleman I’ve always known him to be. But his mouth makes up for his manners, taking my breath away. Literally. Eventually, we do take a break from kissing. Phillip holds me, cradled in his arms until it’s time to go home.