Joanna sighed. Everything Lydia had said was true. She had been in the excelled programs and advanced classes since she was a freshman. She was determined to be one of the best brain doctors on the East Coast, if not the whole country. She always got the best grades, and that was because she had studied and absorbed as much information as possible.
Thinking about it, that had probably contributed a lot to the fact that she hadn’t had time for a boyfriend.
“I know but…well, Mark is really nice. I liked talking to him. Maybe…maybe I’m a little lonely.”
“Hah!” Lydia sniffed loudly. “I don’t believe you, Joanna. You are too dedicated. You go messing around with a boy, and that’s gonna ruin your entire plan for life.”
“It won’t ruin it. It would only change things. I’d adapt.”
“Yeah, but will he? I mean, you’ve already got your scholarship in place. And I don’t know where he’s going, but he’s got that football stuff going on. He’ll be sure to get one and go somewhere. Probably not UVA.”
“Yeah, he probably will get a scholarship somewhere,” Joanna admitted. “But that doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean that he won’t be going to UVA. And it doesn’t mean…that we can’t maybe have some kind of long-distance thing or something.”
Lydia stared at her with wide eyes. “Are you serious? You are actually thinking about dating him? It’s that serious already?”
“I wouldn’t say it’s serious when we aren’t even dating yet.”
“Yet!” Lydia laughed. “Did he come and talk to you first or did you go talk to him?”
“He came into my room and asked me to go for a quick walk with him outside church last night.”
“Really?” Lydia sounded delighted. “That is so cool! So he’s into you!”
“Yeah, I guess he is,” Joanna grinned, feeling her face flush. She giggled.
“Oh, you’ve got it bad already. I can’t believe you’re thinking of putting off the career you’ve been trying to work toward for so many years. I really can’t.”
“I might not,” Joanna said. “I might not. It just depends. We’ll see.”
“Yeah, we’ll see.” Lydia giggled, shoving the last of her sandwich in her mouth and reaching for her bottle of water. She almost choked when taking a drink and pressed the back of one hand against her lips. Joanna looked at her sharply.
“Are you all right?”
Lydia turned her eyes to her, grinned and gestured with her head to the Joanna’s other side. Joanna turned her head and spotted Mark. He was coming over to their table. She felt a tingle run through her, and she pressed her lips together to hold back a grin. She didn’t want to look too anxious.
“Hello, ladies,” Mark said, dropping into an empty chair on the other side of the table.
“Hello, Mark.” Lydia managed to squeak out. She looked at Joanna. “I have to do something…over there…” She slid out of her chair and hurried off toward the counter, where she would spend a few minutes looking at salt and pepper packets for no reason before a classmate started talking to her.
Mark beamed at Joanna. “It’s a nice day today.” He said.
She nodded. “It sure is.”
“You, uh, you want to come out to the bleachers after school and, uh, hang out while I practice?”
Joanna nodded. “Yeah, I think I can do that.”
“No study group today, right?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“You think Teresa is going to be there? I’m not much one for confrontation. I like to keep things drama-free as much as I can.”
Mark nodded. “I know. I understand. I’m kind of glad about that.” He shook his head. “Scratch that, I am glad about it. I don’t know if Teresa will be there. I hope not.”
“I hope you’ll understand that if I see her there, I won’t be sticking around.”
He leaned forward, clasping his hands together in front of him on the tabletop. “If you do, maybe we can go out for a burger afterward?”
“I’d like that.” Joanna hoped she wasn’t blushing. She wouldn’t just like that, she would love it. She tried not to think about what Lydia had said, reminding her that she already had a set plan for her life. She really didn’t want to alter it.
But when Mark looked at her, she couldn’t think about anything other than spending more time with him. She wanted to get to know him. Completely. She wanted to know if he snored at night and whether or not he had allergies in the springtime and what his favorite food and color were.
Mark could see that she was happy he had come over. It irritated him that Teresa probably would be at the bleachers after school. All he wanted to do was break off with her, separate himself from her and her negativity. She had spent the last four months bringing him down when he already had enough pressure going on at home to perform and be the best he could be.
“How’s things at home?” When Joanna asked the question, he stared at her, wondering if she could possibly read his mind. He licked his lips.
“Not bad. Not good but not bad, you know.”
“Your little brothers doing okay?” Mark had told Joanna about his twin younger brothers, who both shared a heart condition that made it difficult for them to act like normal ten-year-olds. It didn’t help that Mark’s mother had run off with another man shortly after they had been diagnosed with the disease five years previous.
He shrugged. “As well as can be expected. The doctors changed their diets, now they aren’t eating the same things and…well, it’s a lot of stress on my dad.”
“I know. He’s already got so much to deal with at the VA.”
Mark nodded. “He’s under a lot of pressure all the time.”
Joanna regretted bringing up the serious subject but didn’t want to act like she didn’t care about his situation.
“Well, I will really try to be there this afternoon.” She said to change the subject. “I mean, I will be there. But like I said…”
He nodded. “I know. If Teresa is there, you won’t be staying.”
She nodded. “I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t want to be there, Mark. I’ve never actually been to a football practice before, and I’d like to see you play. But you know she will say something. I mean, she couldn’t even be polite at church last night. And you’d think she’d at least be nice there, even if she’s faking it.”
“Yeah, she’s not a fake-it-till-you-make-it kind of girl.” His voice dropped an octave in disdain. Joanna wondered if they would be able to talk about anything without it moving into a negative area.
“You know,” She pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It’s hard to stay positive sometimes. It’s hard to keep pushing for the life you want when there always seems to be so much in the way.”
Mark nodded. “I agree. And just think, we’re not even out of high school yet. What’s it going to be like after we get out of here? I mean, sure, I’m going to be playing football at some college somewhere, but I’ve still got to find time to have a job so I can make my way and all that. And…I want a relationship…with someone, you know…” His long pauses and his direct gaze at her helped her understand what he was talking about. He was talking about a relationship with her.
“I know. I’ve got plans, too. I’ve got a scholarship lined up and everything. I don’t know what’s…”
The bell rang, and the two of them looked up. They were practically alone in the lunch room, with only five minutes to get to their next classes. Both immediately started packing their things up and scooping their books up into their arms.
“I didn’t know it was almost time to go.” Joanna murmured. She wished she had a class with Mark. At least one class.
“I know. Me neither.” He reached out and put one large hand on her arm to stop her from rushing off. “Please be at the bleachers today, Joanna. I’d really like to see you there.”
She nodded. “I will be, Mark. I’ll be there.”
Chapter
Three
Joanna slipped on her sunglasses when she came out of the school building that afternoon. The sun was burning bright. She could even feel its warmth on her shoulders. She was glad she had chosen to wear a tank top instead of a t-shirt. She was also glad that no one had complained and made her wear a sweater or something. They were too strict about the dress code, as far as she was concerned. Kids should be allowed to wear whatever they want as long as they had clothes on and weren’t exposing their private bits.
She looked through the crowd for Lydia. She’d asked her in fifth period if she would accompany Joanna to the bleachers. She would feel better if she had a friend there, in case Teresa was there. For some reason, people with nasty attitudes like Teresa’s always seemed to attract at least a few friends. Or minions, depending. She couldn’t imagine the relationship was much like friendship. More like a boss and a slave. And she didn’t want them to gang up on her. She didn’t like confrontation and drama.
Finally, she saw Lydia across the path and waved to her.
“Lydia! Over here!”
When her friend saw her, she picked up her step and they met halfway.
“Hey, girl. You ready to go see that cute boy you’ve got your eye on?”
Joanna laughed, her cheeks darkening. “Oh Lydia, cut it out. You’re embarrassing me.”
“You know it. What are BFFs for?” Lydia linked arms with her friend and tugged on her a little. They began to walk to the football field, crossing over the grass in between the concrete sidewalks. “I’m anxious. I’ve never been to a football practice, and now I’ve been invited! Well, kind of semi-invited. Invited by a friend who was invited by a player. That’s good enough for me!”
Joanna laughed again.
“Did you see the way Jennifer was dressed today?” Lydia asked. “I can’t even believe they let her come to school like that. I mean, do her parents even look at her before she leaves the house?” Lydia rolled her eyes and shook her head. “What a travesty! Somebody’s gotta do a makeover on that girl!”
Joanna shrugged. “Most parents aren’t paying attention these days.”
“Oh, you’re one of the lucky ones,” Lydia said. “Your mom is more like your friend.”
“She keeps me in line, don’t worry.”
“I’m not saying she never disciplines you. I imagine she has disciplined you once or twice in your lifetime.”
“It’s kind of different when you don’t really do anything wrong.”
Lydia laughed. “Boy, you should trade places with me! I’m always getting in trouble at home.”
Joanna joined her in her laughter. “I don’t want to trade places with you, Lydia. Sorry but there’s just too many people in your house with your four brothers and your sister. Your parents were working overtime on having kids!”
Still laughing, Lydia acknowledged that her friend was correct. “Yep! It’s so funny that it took six kids before mom was like, no more! She finally got her tubes tied. She didn’t want any more kids! And I don’t blame her!”
Joanna shook her head. “Me neither. I can see having one or two but, man, six is just way too many. It’s a good thing you all get along well.”
Lydia shrugged. “Fairly well. My oldest brother, you know, he’s gone from the house now, but when he lived there, it was like Hell.”
“Surely not.” Joanna tilted her head. “That would be horrible.”
Lydia gave her a narrow look. “Not the literal Hell, Joanna, sheesh. I mean, like, it was bad, you know. He is a big strong boy, and he didn’t have that great of an attitude. He thought he was man of the house from the time he was about ten.”
“You weren’t alive when he was ten.”
“No, but I’ve heard the stories, trust me.”
Joanna chuckled.
“Plus, he was bullied in school, so that made him have an even worse attitude. It got to the point where he didn’t care about anybody else. He just did whatever he wanted. Didn’t even care about our parents or what they thought.”
“What’s he doing now? He’s like 20? He’s two years older than us, right?”
“Yeah, after graduating last year, he went to work for Sawyer’s Construction. They’ve got him out there putting out tar on the streets, asphalt, you know.”
“That doesn’t sound like very fun job.”
Lydia shook her head. “It isn’t. He doesn’t like it. But they pay him really well, and that’s something he does like.”
They had reached the bleachers and took a few steps up so that they could slide into the third row. They moved to sit in the very middle of the bleachers. Joanna looked out across the field. She spotted Mark almost right away. He was stretching. He’d changed from his school clothes into a pair of sweatpants and was not wearing a shirt. Her heart jumped up into her throat, and she swallowed hard.
“Oh, wow.” Lydia breathed when she caught sight of him. She looked at Joanna as they sat down. “You are so lucky even I’m jealous of you. And I’m never jealous of anybody.”
Joanna grinned at her.
“Did you guys have a nice talk after I left today?” Lydia asked.
Joanna nodded, reaching up to pull a strand of her long hair and twist it around her finger a few times. “Yeah, we did. Well, sort of.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, we kind of started talking about his family. He’s got two little brothers with health problems, you know.”
“He does? I didn’t know that.” Lydia frowned in concern. “What’s wrong with them? Autism?”
“I don’t know if they are autistic. I know they have heart defects.”
“Both of them?”
“Yeah. They require extensive care, as far as I can tell. They only come to the Wednesday youth groups sometimes.”
“I ought to join that youth group and be a counselor or something. Play with the kids. Make ‘em laugh.”
Joanna nodded. “Yeah, you would be good at that.”
“So is Mark required to help care for his brothers?” Lydia asked, looking back across the field at the handsome young man.
“I don’t think it as much of a responsibility as it is him feeling obligated. He loves them, you know.”
“His mom doesn’t take care of them?”
“His mom left years ago. She ran off with some other man.”
Lydia shook her head, clicking her tongue in disgust. “I’m never going to do that. I swear when I have a family, I’m going to stick to it. I’m going to be faithful and loyal, and my husband will never get rid of me unless he’s the one who messes up. You won’t see me running off and cheating and stuff.”
Joanna looked at her, frowning slightly. “Me neither. I’m going to be faithful, too. It’s amazing how many people just don’t care these days.”
“I know. It makes me wonder what kind of world my parents brought me into. And if I want to bring any into it. It better start getting better, or I’m not having any kids.”
“That would be a shame, Lydia. You’d be a great mom.”
Lydia smiled. “Well, I am experienced, what with taking care of my younger brothers and sisters.” Lydia was the second oldest after her older brother. “And I don’t mind taking care of them. Like I said, we all get along fairly well.”
“I don’t know how your parents can handle it.” Joanna laughed. “I really don’t.”
“Well, look who decided to show up uninvited.”
Joanna and Lydia turned to see Teresa standing behind them, her arms crossed over her chest. Joanna’s heart sank. She’d been having a good time watching Mark and his team throwing the ball around. She didn’t want to leave but didn’t want to be involved in an argument either. She was immediately glad she’d brought Lydia with her. Lydia could do the drama stuff for her. She was used to it, with the drama that was always going on at home.
Lydia and Joanna both stood up, turning to face Teresa, who was standing on the next row up. Her eyes were narrow and angry. Her jealousy made her ugly
in Joanna’s mind.
“We’ll have you know that we were invited!” Lydia said, placing her hands firmly on her hips. “Mark invited Joanna and Joanna invited me! And we don’t need an invitation either way! It’s still a free country, and we go to this school.”
“Sure Mark invited you.” Teresa sneered, looking at Joanna instead of Lydia. “You wish he did. He’s not interested in anybody but me.”
Joanna felt herself getting hot. She clenched her jaw together. “Actually, Teresa,” she said in a low voice. “You saw us talking last night at the youth group. You know we are talking.”
“And if you can’t see how interested he is in her after going out with him for six months, you don’t know him very well at all!” Lydia added in a loud voice.
“It was eight months!” Teresa huffed. “And I do know him! Like the back of my hand.”
“Is that because you keep slapping yourself with it? Duh. Duh.” Lydia lifted her hand and knocked the back against her head in a mocking fashion. “You don’t know him, at all. And you sure don’t care about him!”
“Who are you to say I don’t care about him? What do you know?”
“I know that when you go out with somebody for a long time, you get to know their facial expressions, and you can tell whether they are happy or not! I know that when someone isn’t happy, and the other person just keeps forcing it, they don’t really love that person or they’d back off like they are told to!” Lydia’s voice was rising with every other word.
“You don’t know anything!” Teresa shouted.
“Apparently you don’t know how to say anything else!” Lydia retorted. “What are you, a third grader? Back off or you’ll have me to deal with! And you don’t want that, little girl. You really don’t!”
“I am not a little girl!” As if to prove Lydia’s point, Teresa stomped one foot. The two girls that had been flanking her looked embarrassed and stepped away from her a few steps.
“You’re throwing a tantrum like one!” Lydia continued. “You need your pacifier, baby? You need to have your diaper changed?”
Joanna fully expected to see the two girls in a fist fight within seconds when an adult voice behind them made them freeze.
Romance: Teen Romance: Follow Your Dreams (A Nerd and a Bad Boy Romance) (New Adult High School Sports Romance) Page 2
