Stage Kissed

by Cassie Mae

  My jaw grinds as I hold in everything I want to say. That was low. She might have had me saying “yes” if she hadn’t brought up that I sat on the sidelines the past two games.

  “Look, Nancy, if this was planned earlier, you know I’d be the first in line. But I already made plans. I’m sorry.”

  I shouldn’t feel guilty. I just agreed to do yearbook work for people whose excuses were worse than mine. But the way Nancy is glaring at me, it’s as if her last year on the Varsity team depends on it. And I’m sure, in her mind, she believes it does.

  What’s even worse is that Nancy has a way with letting things get to her, taking them personally. If she carries this with her into the tournament tomorrow, she could royally suck. And that doesn’t even begin to consider what she’s going to tell the rest of the team. I can imagine the whispers. Kate doesn’t want to hang out with us tonight. She’s going home to hang out with her other friends.

  “I’ll talk to Brit. I’ll see what I can do,” I find myself saying even though there’s no way Brit’s moving the date. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with my team, it’s just…urgh.

  With a nod at Nancy, I turn on my heel and head to the parking lot. Better get out of here before I get triple-booked for Saturday night. Before I get outside, my feet force me into the bathroom. A quick check under the stalls shows I’m alone.

  “AH!” I scream at myself in the mirror.

  My chest heaves, I clench my fists. I have half a mind to punch the wall, but that would hurt.

  “Why can’t you say ‘no’?” I ask, forcing myself to look me in the eye. “You’re not frickin’ Ado Annie! There’s only so much time in a day.” I jab a finger at the mirror. “And you’re booked!”

  Something’s gotta change. I can’t keep doing this.

  My pocket vibrates, ending my rant. I pull out the cell and see a text from Dad. Guess he’s ready to go, and yup…waiting for me. With a grunt I throw my bag over my shoulder and push open the bathroom door. With the looks some people give me, part of my argument with myself was heard in the halls. I don’t really care.

  I take a deep breath as I step into the student parking lot, and on the exhale I force myself to take a chill pill. Just get home and get on the road for the tournament. Everything will figure itself out.

  When I get to my car I look up at the sea of students. A few cars down from mine is a Corolla with a brown-haired boy wearing a navy blue hoodie jacket reaching into the backseat.

  “Hey, Seth!”

  He spots me through the back window and gives a little wave. When he gets out of his car he again gives a cute half-wave as he walks over.

  “Did you get my text?” I say as he stops in front of my car.

  “Yup.”

  “You don’t have to come, remember. It’s like a four to five-hour drive, and your family would probably like you to make it with them Sunday morning.”

  Seth shrugs and runs his hand through his hair, even though the wind is doing a fine job of tossing it around. “I know, but I’m going to be there.”

  “Cool. Well I don’t expect you to make the first game at nine. But we should win that one and then play at noon. If we win that, the championship is at three.”

  “I’m sure you guys will go all the way.”

  I laugh, really loud, causing a bunch of other students to look over at us and wave. A number say hi to Seth as they make their way to their cars. It’s crazy how popular he is after his Oklahoma! performance. I’d love to talk to him about how he’s doing with all this attention. Too bad we can’t drive together to Naperville. Dang his busy schedule. And mine.

  “You got stuff to do now?” I ask, noticing the way his eyes are shifting to the phone that’s on top of the stack of stuff in his arms.

  He grins and nods. “Yeah, I should probably get going.”

  “Okay, see you tomorrow.”

  Seth walks toward school, and I can’t help but notice how quiet he was. I mean, he’s usually quiet around most people, but not me. Maybe he’s just having an “off” day. I haven’t gotten to talk to him since the basketball trig lesson.

  “Hey, Seth!” I yell and he turns around in the doorway. “I got an A on my trig exam. Thanks for your help!”

  “Anytime.” He gives me one last smile and disappears into the school.

  “I think it’s something on the left rotor. Let’s take off the wheels and make sure.”

  Our group of four MESA members crowd around the robot, ready to dissect. I’m pretty sure I’m moving in slow motion.

  “Maybe we should save this for the next meeting,” I suggest, pressing my fingers to my eyes. “Robot Wars aren’t for a couple weeks. We’ve still got time.”

  Every face turns toward me, giving me the same are-you-crazy expression.

  Tammy tucks a piece of loose red hair behind her ear. “You’re the reason we had to start so late.” Her eyes go up and down my Jamba Juice uniform. “We have to find out what’s making the mechanism stick. I know I’m willing to stay until it’s fixed, even if it takes all night.”

  The other two boys nod, raising their eyebrows at me, challenging my dedication to the project.

  I let out a sigh. “Okay, but all the wheels don’t have to come off. Just take off the left one and I’ll check out the rotor.”

  Four hours. Four hours of dismantling and reattaching parts on that stupid robot. If they hadn’t given me the guilt trip, I’d have chucked it in the trash on my way out. But nope, it’s sitting in the trunk of my car, no closer to being done than it was four hours ago.

  I pull into my driveway and settle my head on the steering wheel. I could sleep right here. May as well because I’ll be back in my car on my way to Naperville in about six hours. But I reek of smoothie, sweat, and metal. And my hair’s so damp my fingers get stuck when I run my hand through it.

  My fingers fumble around the door handle and when I finally slouch out of the car, I can already hear Shelby crying at the top of her little lungs.

  “Hey,” I say as I step through the door, but it’s drowned out by the noise coming from my little sister.

  Dad gives me a look that clearly says, “Help me!” as he bobs Shelby up and down near his shoulder, patting her back.

  “Where’s Mom?” I ask, throwing my Jamba hat on the coat rack and kicking off my shoes.

  “She’s sick,” Dad tries to whisper, but his deep and frantic voice won’t go very soft. “Can’t move from the bed without puking. She thinks it’s food poisoning, but obviously in case it isn’t…” He nods over to Shelby and I finish his sentence.

  “Yeah. We don’t want her sick, too.” I reach out and rub my sister’s back. “When was the last time she ate?”

  Dad shakes his head. “She won’t eat the milk in the fridge.”

  “Probably ‘cause Mom put it in there when she was sick,” I say, reaching in the fridge and dumping out the milk from today. “There’s some in the freezer, I think.”

  Dad looks as if I’ve saved his night and his sanity as I warm up the milk and get it in a bottle for him. Within seconds, Shelby stops crying and downs her food.

  “Thanks, son,” he says, relaxing into the couch cushions. “It’s been sixteen years since I’ve had to deal with this, you know?”

  I’d laugh if I had the energy. All I manage is a smile and a yawn.

  He nods at the stairs. “Better get in bed. Don’t you have a long drive in the morning to see that girl of yours?”

  There’s no energy to argue about Kate being only a friend, so I just nod and drag my feet along the steps to the bathroom.

  I keep my shower to five minutes, though it may have been longer because I think I dozed off between shampooing and washing. But I make it to my room and change into pajamas on autopilot. Just as I’m about to flop down on my bed, a wail screeches through the hallway.

  I could close my door—ignore it and probably sleep right through it with how tired I am. But I know Mom. And even though she’s sick,
she’ll be peeking her head out of her bedroom and trying to take Shelby from Dad.

  I snag my phone and set an alarm, then trudge downstairs just as I hear Mom’s bedroom door open.

  Dad’s standing in the living room, rocking and shh-ing, his eyes begging my sister to stop crying.

  “Hey, you want me to take her?” I offer, making him jump a bit. Guess he couldn’t hear me coming downstairs. “Mom’s trying to break out.”

  He sighs, this big breath of relieved air, and doesn’t hesitate to put Shelby in my arms.

  “I’ll go put that sicky back in bed,” he tries to joke, but we’re both too tired to even smile. As he passes me, he settles his hand on my shoulder. He doesn’t say a word, but I know he’s grateful.

  I nod at him and sit on the couch, propping Shelby on my shoulder and giving her a few good pats. A burp eventually punctures through all the crying, then nothing. She passes out on my shoulder, snoring softly.

  Not able to keep my eyes open any longer, I fall asleep right there on the couch with her on my shoulder, not a single thought going through my brain.

  It’s not my alarm that wakes me up. It’s a soft whine that quickly turns into another cryfest as soon as I move an inch. Shelby’s small wails drift away from my ear as Dad picks her up off my chest.

  He gives me a tired smile as he sits in the recliner with a bottle in hand. My eyes drift closed as Shelby’s volume creeps to silence.

  Then my alarm goes off.

  The trip to the gas station almost puts me out. I need energy drinks stat. It’s a good thing Dad was asleep when I walked out the door, because he would’ve made me stay. But I can do the drive. Just need a little caffeine.

  Besides, I can’t miss Kate’s game. Yeah, there are three of them…possibly. But what if she loses game one? And I miss it because I didn’t know how to manage my time well enough? I know she said it’s not a big deal, but it is to me. I never see her. I don’t get to be with her as much as I want—and quite possibly need. She’s pretty much the only person outside of my family I care so much about.

  I said I’d be there.

  I’m going to be there.

  I buy a six-pack of energy drinks and a bag of sunflower seeds to keep myself awake. Hopefully the action of spitting those out will be enough for the drive. I also get a big jug of purple Gatorade for Kate, since she’s helped me get through all the ones she gave me.

  Chugging my first can, I sit in the parking lot till the caffeine kicks in. In about five minutes, my stomach starts to churn and prickle with nerves and anticipation. I get to see Kate today. Maybe she’ll have some time between games to hang out. Or her family will let me tag along with whatever they’re doing. We’ll be away from school and work…this’ll be something we just do as friends. Not work friends or study friends, but normal run-of-the-mill friends.

  Maybe if we’re alone, I can count it as a date? I don’t know if that’s pushing it…but I have the energy to smile about it now.

  Looks like my brain is functioning, going into overdrive like it frequently does. Satisfied that my eyes will stay open for the rest of the drive, I start the car and head out to the freeway.

  I wonder how Kate looks when she’s playing soccer. I’ve seen her play basketball, and I have to admit, it’s you know—really attractive. She’s just so focused and passionate. A lot like how she was in the play. She almost had me believing I was Will Parker. Maybe that’s why it was easier than I thought it’d be.

  Although, if I’m going to have to deal with all the attention next year during musical season, she may have to beg and plead for me to get out of the AV room again.

  Then I think about how much fun we had rehearsing, and well, maybe she won’t have to try so hard.

  My phone buzzes, shaking me out of my train of thought. Whoa, have I really driven twenty miles? I don’t even remember them.

  “Hello?”

  “You are in trouble,” Mom croaks. “Walking out and not saying goodbye? You had me worried to death.”

  She coughs and I hear her take a drink of something.

  “Sorry, Mom. I didn’t want to wake you guys up.”

  “Well, I want you to drive safe, which is why I’m keeping this short. But next time, you say goodbye when you’re about to leave the city.”

  A smile perks at the corner of my lips. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Love you. Drive safe, and call when you get there.”

  “I will. Love you, too. Feel better.”

  I hang up and let out a yawn. Ugh, guess it’s time to crack open another can. I wonder if Kate’s driving right now, too. Oh, no wait. She headed there yesterday. Probably getting a lot of sleep in a big hotel bed, preserving her energy for running across the field. Maybe she practiced her pep talk for the team last night before crashing. Or knowing her, she was working on something—homework, yearbook, or running through the playbook. Because she’s dedicated.

  But she’s sleeping now, for sure. Resting her head on a pillow, and maybe with her hair out of its ponytail, cascading down her shoulders and over her chest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kate sleep. I’ve seen her wish she was asleep, but never thought about her actually closing her eyes and letting all the stress slip away…

  A flash of light streams through my windshield and I swerve back to my lane. My heart pings through my body, playing pinball with my organs. That was close. Was I asleep? I don’t think I was. But as I look at the sign I’m about to pass, I’ve made it another twenty miles and I don’t remember any of them.

  I pull to the side of the road and finish my energy drink, although I feel pretty awake now. Nothing like almost getting plowed over by oncoming traffic to keep my eyes open.

  Okay, no more thoughts of Kate in bed. No more thoughts of Kate at all. Not if I’m going to make this trip.

  Cranking up the music and keeping the window rolled down, I pull back into traffic, willing my eyes to not even blink.

  I can make this game. I promised her I’d be there. And I’m not going to miss my shot at being with her when I never get to see her.

  I’ll get there.

  Even though my lids are heavy, the energy drink feels like it’s seeping out of my body instead of pulsing through it, and the loud music is starting to fade out.

  I’ll get there.

  Even though I’m tired.

  So…so…tired.

  “Well this doesn’t happen very often, does it?” Sandy, the senior captain, plops down next to me and squirts some water in her mouth.

  “Nope.” I laugh and shake my head. We’re winning seven to nothing, so a few starters are on the bench for the second half of the game. After all, if we win, we’ll have two more games to play today.

  Sandy mimics my laughter. “It’s totally weird to watch.”

  “Not for some of us.” Crissy, one of our few freshmen, leans between our heads and taps us both on the back.

  “Girls,” Coach Randolph says in her “I’m warning you or you’ll do laps when we get to practice” voice. “Please watch the game and cheer your teammates on.”

  “Go Cougars!” Sandy shouts, using her “captain” voice, and the left midfielder and left defender almost jump out of their shorts.

  A few minutes go by and Judy scores our eighth goal. Is there a goal rule for this poor other team? I’m getting to the point where I feel kinda bad for them.

  “Good job, girls! Keep up the defense!” I yell and lean back on my hands. As the other team kicks off, my gaze shifts to the sidelines. Dad gets me this weekend, since Mom took me to my last away tournament for basketball. He’s standing on the sidelines with a number of the other dads–because the guy could never sit during a game. At least he’s not like Jamie’s dad, who literally runs up and down the sideline when his daughter gets a breakaway.

  Another check up and down the sidelines reveals Seth isn’t here yet. Not that I’d expect him to be. I told him this first game would be a snoozer. And I wasn’t lying. I would feel so horrible i
f he got up early and drove all this way to watch me pick grass on the sidelines.

  Sandy nudges my shoulder. “You looking for someone special?”

  “What? Why would you say that?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t know. I can’t imagine you would look that hard for your dad, that’s all.” I kind of want to punch that smirk off her face. Not really. But theoretically.

  “Someone is coming to watch. Okay?” I stretch out the last word.

  Sandy’s mouth drops. “No way. Does Kate Ryan have a ‘special someone’?” Her voice gets real high.

  “What?” Crissy screeches.

  “No. No.” I shake my head. “He’s just a friend. And he’s visiting family here tomorrow, so he thought he’d stop up early.” Now it’s my turn to shrug.

  “Ooh, it is a he.” Crissy claps, which gets her a big grin from Coach Randolph. Yay team spirit.

  “Yes, it’s a he,” I say. “You guys know him, I’m sure. Seth McPherson.”

  “Oh! He played Will in the musical!” Sandy again nudges my shoulder.

  “Yes. And we worked together.”

  “This is so sweet.” Crissy sighs in a dreamy sort of way.

  I roll my eyes. These girls can think whatever they want. It’s not worth the breath to correct them.

  Finally the game is done and the team walks over to our tents to wait for our next game.

  “Girls,” Coach Randolph rolls the soccer ball between her feet as she talks. “Make sure you get up every so often and take a little jog. We don’t need anyone pulling a muscle.”

  May as well listen. I grab my cell and take a jog to the far end of the field. No text or call from Seth yet, but again, I don’t blame him. I should let the guy be, but I’m totally curious if he’ll actually come. He promised, but I told him he didn’t have to. But I don’t want him to feel bad.

  A text should be just fine.

  Hey buddy! U better not b reading this when driving. ☺ Just seein if u were still coming to the game.

  I stand like an idiot for at least fifteen minutes, holding the phone in my hand and hoping it will vibrate. But it doesn’t. He’s probably driving. I sigh loudly. I’m being so silly. Whatever he decides, he decides. Leave the poor guy alone.