Zeus grinned. “Whenever you get your balls back Perth.” He challenged. Pierre and him jogged back to the field
“I hope I’ll see you soon Perth….there’s always a spot for you.” He said the latter half in a whisper.
I crossed my arms across my chest and stared at Andy. He ignored my look and started walking back to the car.
“Wait so you’re a soccer player too?” I asked following.
“Don’t.” Andy said quickly before I could say something else.
I shrugged. “Your lost…you looked like you wanted to accept the challenge…guess you’re too chicken.” I said. I walked past him and headed for the car.
Andy followed with his head down.
“Tell me one thing.” I said when we both reached the car. “It’s been nagging me for awhile…I always assumed you never knew each other…but how long have you known Zeus?” I asked. “Because when he first saw you with me, he acted really strange…but he seems to actually know you.”
“7 years.” Andy said leaning against the car.
“Did you two by any chance play soccer together?” I asked calmly even though inside I was fuming.
Andy hesitated a little before answering. “Yeah.”
“Thank you Perth…that’s all the questions I’ll ask you today.” I said annoyed. I jerked my car door open. Andy paused and entered the car.
“Why are you mad?” He asked calmly as he put his seatbelt on.
“I’m not mad.” I said as I sped out of the field.
Andy sighed. “I used to play…I don’t anymore. That’s it.” He said.
I stayed quiet and shrugged. “It’s whatever.”
“I don’t know why you’re mad.” Andy said his voice a little louder. “Do you want me to go back there and challenge your boyfriend?” he asked. “Is that it?”
I didn’t answer. He leaned back in his seat and sighed. Andy ran his hand through his hair.
We drove in silence. I didn’t know why I was mad…I wasn’t really mad, well a little but not much. I was mostly hurt. I couldn’t explain the hurt, but it was there and it was nagging and it was because of Andy.
“Can you please not be mad at me?” Andy asked speaking up. “It would mean a lot.” He added softly.
I pulled over and stopped the car. I laid my head on the steering wheel and took a couple deep breaths. After a minute or so, I sat up straight. “Can I ask you something?” I said fixing my hair.
Andy turned to me.
“Do you consider me as a friend?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He said.
I was surprised at how fast he answered. “Really?” I asked.
“Really.” He answered.
I stared at him in disbelief.
“We’re friends aren’t we…” he shifted in his seat. “I mean that’s what you told me.”
I smiled a little and leaned back in my seat. “Yeah.” I sighed. “So can you try just a little harder to confide in me so I’m not the only one out the loop?” I asked softly.
Andy looked me over and gave me a slow nod.
“Good, that makes me happy.” I said honestly.
“Doesn’t take a lot, does it?” he asked in a calm voice, his blue eyes clouded over as he searched my face.
I shrugged. “Guess I’m not complicated.” I started the car. “I don’t need to take you on my useless errands…I’ll just drop you home.” I said getting back on the road.
“I don’t mind.” Andy said. I looked at him and he held my gaze. This kid hasn’t ceased to surprise me today.
I shrugged and my smile got bigger. “If you insist.”
Andy smiled as he shook his head at me.
*****
I put on my shoes as Brittany sped past me.
“Okay bye.” She said opening the door.
“Hey! Hey!” I said alert. “Where are you going?”
“I have a study group.” She said shrugging.
“But you’re supposed to come to the fair with us tonight.” I said putting my hand on my hips. Jazmine walked out her bedroom and looked up.
“Where are you going?” she asked Brittany as she eyed her book bag and her books.
“She’s going to study.” I said annoyed.
Jazmine turned to me. “Wait if Brittany’s not going then why do I have to go to this stupid fair.” She asked.
“Brittany was supposed to go.” I said accusingly as I eyed her.
“Sorry O.J.…school first.” She said shrugging. She gave an apologetic smile as she closed the door.
“How rude.” I said feeling more than hurt.
“Well then I’m not going.” Jazmine said throwing her hands up.
“Not so fast.” I said grabbing her arms. “Let’s go…they’re probably waiting for us already.” I said referring to Nico and Andy who said they’d meet us over by the school grounds later. Zeus and the other boys had practice unfortunately. It didn’t matter though, the fair was going to be at the east wing of the school for three more days before leaving. I planned on going each time.
“It’s too cold for this stinking fair, carnival whatever the fuck it is.” Jazmine whined, but she let me drag her out the house.
“Jazmine let’s have fun….it’s not every day a fair lands at our school.” I said.
Jazmine rolled her eyes. “They do it twice a year. They’ll be here spring semester.” She said.
“Shut-up.” I said realizing that she was right. “Who cares…let’s enjoy ourselves huh?” I said grinning. “And if you’re a good girl, I might let you sit next to Nico on some rides.” I teased.
Jazmine did a fake laugh and stuck her middle finger up at me as she entered my car. I got in. This was going to be fun.
*****
“See aren’t you having fun?” I said loudly to her over the screams of several kids around.
“It’s okay.” She said shrugging as she tore a piece of my cotton candy.
I grinned. I knew she was enjoying herself, she loved to pretend like she wasn’t.
“Where to next?” Nico asked as he handed Jazmine the diet coke she wanted. He put his arms around both our shoulders as we started walking.
I shrugged as I devoured the cotton candy. “Andy said he’ll be here in 2 minutes.” I said. He was already an hour late. I’d thought he wouldn’t have shown up at all if he hadn’t just called a couple minutes ago.
“That ride over there.” Jazmine said pointing to an egg shape looking object spinning. The people inside we’re screaming as if they were having the time of their lives.
“Definitely.” I told her agreeing as my phone rang. “Hello?” I answered loudly.
“I uh…parked across the street, where do you want to meet?” Andy asked.
I smiled. “Walk over to LePayne, we’re next to the building. I’ll meet you up front.” He agreed and we hung up.
I turned to my friends. “I’ll go get Andy, you two get in line.” I said pointing to the long line that kept getting longer and longer as we stood. They nodded and I left to get my friend.
It was getting darker and the lights from the fair looked so pretty, I wish I’d brought my camera. I got distracted on the walk to LePayne but I made it there nonetheless and there was Andy posted against the wall staring at the screen of his phone. I walked up to him and was happy to be received with a smile.
“Sorry I’m late.” He said opening his arms for a hug. Wow, we are getting somewhere if he’s the one initiating hugs now. I fell into his arms and smiled as he tightened his hold around me.
“It’s your lost…we had tons of fun without you.” I said as I inhaled and enjoyed his fresh scent. I tiptoed up and kissed the side of his mouth. I tugged his black hoodie. “Come on lets go.” It seemed so natural for our hands to drop and our fingers to intertwine together, that I didn’t even think twice of the fact that we were holding hands. On our walk back to join the others, I pointed excitedly at the different rides we’d already done, and the rides I wanted to do. I s
howed him the smelly animals and the infamous Llama that wanted to chew Jazmine’s beautiful long curls. Andy just nodded and listened to me speak, sometimes giving me a small smile and other times just watching me talk.
“I think they’re over there.” I said pointing to a long line. I searched the line and almost gave up hope when Jazmine waved frantically near the front. “There.” I said. We made our way over towards the front of the line.
“Hey Andy!” Jazmine said happily as she moved over to give him a hug. She held his shoulders. “Sorry O.J. had to drag you into this too.” She said sadly.
“Hey!” I said defensively as she laughed.
“What up man?” Nico said shaking Andy’s hand.
“Hey.” Andy said. We got in line with them and as surprising as it sounds Andy and I’s hand found their way back to each other as our finger intertwined. I leaned a little against him.
“Wait so we’re not in front?” I asked as I saw the people in front curve and disappear under a tent.
“No, there’s another line through the tent that curves back and then we’re there.” Nico said.
I gasped and he laughed. He casually put his arm around Jazmine’s shoulder and she put an arm around his waist and held on. I smirked at her when we made eye contact. She grinned and nodded at Andy and I’s hand.
“But that’s not even the longest line…look at the joint over there.” He said pointing to another tent. All three of us turned our head in the direction.
“Oh shit.” Jazmine said as the line to the tent curved and curved and curved some more.
“What’s over there?” I asked excitedly. It must be interesting if people were willing to wait that long for it.
Nico shrugged.
“It’s a Siberian tiger.” Andy said.
We all turned to look at him.
“When I drove in, the sign is pointed over there.” He explained.
“Oh I want to see it.” I said squeezing his hand.
“Oh hell no.” Jazmine said shaking her head frantically. “If that damn goat or Llama or whatever the fuck it is wanted to chew my hair, that tiger’s gonna fucking eat my head.”
We all chuckled even Andy.
“I’m sure he’s not loose and just roaming around.” I told her.
Nico eyed the line. “That line is so long…don’t nobody wanna stand in that long ass line.” He said.
I turned to Andy. “Will you stand in line with me after to see the tiger?”
Andy shrugged. “Sure.”
I smiled.
Nico shook his head. “No Andy…you gotta say no to her or she’ll fucking take advantage.”
“Hey!” I said kicking his leg. Jazmine laughed and I laid my head on Andy’s shoulder.
“I swear dude.” Nico said grinning as he turned his focus back to Andy. “Once she asked us if we could go with her to some like…what was it Jaz?”
“Like some kinda creek or waterfall type place.” Jazmine answered.
I groaned. I knew exactly where this story was going. “Oh come on…that was like ages ago.” I said.
“No it was like 2 months ago.” Nico answered. “But anyways, we didn’t want to go, but she kept insisting and stuff so Jaz, Bri and I are like okay where is it?” he continued.
“Oh my gosh…let bygones be bygones.” I said.
Andy smiled and looked at me.
“I have no idea what they’re talking about.” I said looking up at him.
“This one.” Nico said pointing at me. “She says oh it’s down the street, not that far.”
“SO we’re all like, seriously there’s a waterfall close to here and we didn’t know? No way you’re lying O.J.…it can’t be here.” Jazmine continued.
“It wasn’t that far.” I said whining.
Nico and Jazmine snickered. Andy let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist, so I did the same to him. I leaned against him, as my two best friends recounted a story they’ll never let slide.
“So to make a long story short, she convinces us that it’s not that far, so we’re all like okay let’s go, we’ll be back in like an hour…so she’ll have time to take her pictures and stuff.” Nico said pausing for dramatic purposes. I rolled my eyes. “The waterfall was five hours away.” Nico said.
Andy chuckled and looked down at me.
“She went from 5 minutes to 5 hours.” Nico said. “She takes advantage I tell you…watch out bro.”
“That was one time and I was mistaken about the distance.” I said. Nico and Jazmine groaned.
“Andy there’s more.” Jazmine said.
“Oh look at the time.” I said loudly. Jazmine and Nico laughed. “Not enough time to talk about me, let’s move on.” I joked.
My friends joked about me a couple more times and I was grateful. They were putting Andy at ease. He didn’t talk much, but that wasn’t a problem. With Nico, Jaz and me, there was a lot of talking going around. I was so proud of Nico, I was kind of shocked. He found ways to engage Andy in conversation…I just found out they had Nico’s dreaded accounting class together. Andy was actual speaking more than a couple sentences when Jazmine and I moved closer together.
“You two look good together.” She said eyeing Andy. “And he’s cuter than I thought.” I turned to look at Andy too and smiled.
“He is…isn’t he.” I agreed.
“So.” Jazmine said nudging me. “I see you two holding hands and touching and shit…what’s going on?” she asked smiling.
“It’s casual.” I said calmly.
Jazmine raised her eyebrow.
“It is.” I said laughing. “Seriously, he doesn’t like me like that.” I said.
Jazmine scoffed. “The way he keeps looking at you, he likes you some kind of way.”
I shook my head. “He’s in love with somebody else…she’s a bitch though.” I said.
Jazmine shrugged as she looked at Andy once more. “He might be in love with somebody else…but I’m telling you…he likes you.”
I put my hand on my hips. “I can say the same for you.” I said nodding slyly towards Nico.
Jazmine grinned and put her arm around my shoulder. “That’s why we’re going to turn those likes into love.” She whispered mischievously.
I laughed. “You do that Jaz.”
“What’s so funny?” Nico asked turning towards us.
“Mind your business.” Jazmine said.
I laughed again.
“You see, that’s what I mean.” Nico said to Andy as he pointed at us.
“You guys are up.” The fat guy said. Nico handed him four tickets and we climbed up.
“The green one.” I said excitedly. I walked forward and Andy followed, as did Nico and Jaz.
We got in and I scooted closer to Andy. We buckled ourselves and I grinned at Nico and Jaz across from us. Andy relaxed as he slouched a little in his seat and put his arm behind me and let it rest around my hip. I did a little dance as I watched other people get into their seat. Jaz and I kept grinning while the boys were very chilled. I turned to catch Andy watching me with a slight amused smile on his lips.
“Aren’t you excited?” I asked.
“Thrilled.” He said in the same tone as though he was giving a book report.
Nico snickered.
“Okay, you two keep acting all macho, you’ll be the one screaming at the end.” Jazmine said.
“Yeah maybe they----ahhhh!”
I closed my eyes as the ride gave an unexpected jerk and whirled around. “Whoa!” I said. Jaz and I laughed as it did another swirl. We took turns spinning the wheel in the center, directing its direction. Andy held me the whole time and I was grateful otherwise I would’ve flown to the other side of the seat.
“Wasn’t that fun!” I said excitedly as Andy helped me off the ride.
“Hearing you and Jaz scream like little kids was fun.” Nico joked as he grabbed Jaz’s hand and helped her down.
“Over there.” Jazmine said pointing to a clown
surrounded by little kids.
“You guys go over there.” I said taking Andy’s hand. I hated clowns with a passion. “I want to go hit the cans.” I said sweetly pointing to the big teddy bear hanging over the game. I tugged Andy and we separated.
O.J. Page 29
