by Bryna Butler
***
The days grew shorter, the air cooler, and soon it was just two weeks before the annual Valley View High Fall Ball. For Colby and Brooke, it would be their fifth date, a double date with Jumper and Ann. Determined not to be outdone by Colby, Keira had decided that it was time to move her relationship with William Swift from imaginary status to real.
After tons of planning for the perfect moment with help from Ann; she threw caution to the wind when she was, only by coincidence, seated next to William at a pep rally in the gymnasium.
Her confidence was flowing and her patience was waning, so she decided to make the first move.
“Hey, good luck at the game tonight,” she said with a flirty toss of her hair.
“Yeah, thanks, Keira,” he said. He knew her name. This was a good sign. He turned to her and smiled as he continued. “Are you gonna be there?”
“Sure, I go to all the games.”
This was mostly true. Jumper played on the freshman team. He was a fanatic for varsity ball and so of course, that meant that Ann had been attending all the games too. She would often take Keira with her. Keira never minded going. She actually enjoyed it. She felt that any place where she could jump, dance, shout, and eat junk food was a good place to be. The football games had all that and more.
“Well, I have to admit that I’ve noticed you in the bleachers,” William said.
She tried to recall the last game. It was a home game. Jumper had gone shirtless, wore a red clown wig, and painted the word “GO” on his chest in school colors. Did she do anything that she might regret now? That is…besides associate with Jump?
“Really?”
“Yeah, and sometimes I go out of my way to pass by your locker.”
“Oh.”
This was unexpected. She had to re-think her whole approach. As she considered her next words carefully, the pep band began to play the school fight song and everyone stood. The crowd began clapping and singing along. Keira looked toward Ann for help and spotted her two rows behind, about six people away. Keira was gesturing wildly to get her attention when she felt a strong hand brush the small of her back. She turned and found herself two inches from William’s nose. She jumped. He laughed and leaned to her ear.
“It’s so loud. I don’t think you heard me,” he yelled.
She shook her head.
“I was just saying that since you’ll be at the game. Do you wanna to do somethin’ after…with me?”
“I guess.”
“Good,” he smiled as he pulled his arm back to join in the applause for the JV squad as they strode to center court.
