Blue Love : Blue Valley High — Senior Year

by Mj Fields

  She laughs.

  Before popping the cheese in my mouth, I whisper, “Now let’s see your moves.”

  “Sorry about that.” She smiles big and beautifully as she … looks him over.

  I hate it. But that doesn’t matter, One-Wing reminds me.

  “Only thing I’ve seen you in is a football uniform and orange or camo. Oh, and no bloodstains today, either. You look good, Ben.”

  “Didn’t notice that a few days ago?” he says, amused as fuck.

  “My bad.” She shrugs.

  “Much better,” I say louder than I realized, and everyone looks at me. I shove a carrot into one of the dips she made earlier and shrug. “Needed a little something more.”

  She looks down, trying to hide her smirk.

  “I brought my bow,” Ben says, pulling off the stupid knit cap he has on then rubbing his saggy-ass hair. “Want to take a walk?”

  “It’s kind of dark out, don’t you think?”

  “Uh-huh.” He smiles.

  Fucker.

  “You want to shoot in the dark?” Tessa asks, confused, which is adorable unless you’re the one in love with the lamb you are basically tossing into the lion’s den. Well, in the case of Benji, I suppose it’s more a lion cub.

  “Not really.” He laughs. “But I do need to grab some more stuff out of my truck. Walk with me?” He grabs her hand and pulls her out the door.

  I stand at the sink, getting a front row seat as I wash the dishes.

  “He’s cute,” Phoebe says, but it’s more a question.

  “You think?” Alex asks.

  “I mean, not like you, but—”

  Alex chuckles as he walks toward me. “You’re good, Phoebe.”

  Standing beside me, he grips my shoulder. “What do you think?”

  “I think all right looking. But he’s a cocky little sh—”

  “Pot meet kettle.” Jade snickers.

  I look back at her and throw some eye darts. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

  She smirks. “Working.”

  I roll my eyes and look back out the window as Ben pulls a bunch of shit from his ride. “Anyone tell him there’s no room at the inn until I get the judge to change his mind?”

  “He’s here for the weekends until the season is over,” Alex says, turning and leaning against the counter.

  I glance at him. “What?”

  He nods to the sink. “You’ve washed that same plate three times. So, right now, you’re basically rubbing your own nose in shit by looking out the window. If you want her, then—”

  “She deserves more than I have to offer.”

  Alex lifts a shoulder. “Who says?”

  “Me. I’m going to college and will use my savings from busting my ass for Dad this summer to pay for childcare. Weekends, I’m not playing. I’ll have my kid in a house where I will be making sure my mom’s not hitting the pipe or getting wasted. I won’t have time for anything more than that. And if I dared to have a relationship, Sadi would make damn sure that the girl would get so sick of her shit that—”

  “That’s up to the girl,” Phoebe interrupts me.

  “No, Pheebs, that’s up to me.” I turn and poke myself in the chest. “Never in a million years would I want that for her.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder. “She gets better, and if dipshit’s a steppingstone to better, then I’ll deal.”

  “Aw … man,” Phoebe whispers. “I wanted to hate you.”

  “She may need you to, so don’t stop.”

  When Tessa walks in, followed by Ben and half his belongings, I walk into the living room and see Kendall sitting alone.

  I nod to Jake. “He sleeps sounder than you.”

  She smiles at me, and I notice something different.

  “You got braces?”

  “Yeah, yesterday.” Her smile falls, and she looks down. “Tess didn’t notice.”

  I sit on the other side of her and throw an arm around her shoulders. “That would be my fault, Kendall. I’ve caused some problems, and I’m sorry.”

  She looks up at me. “Does she like Ben?”

  “Do you?”

  Her face legit catches fire.

  “Kendall …” I sigh.

  “No.” she scowls. “I don’t like him.”

  I would call bullshit if she wasn’t a middle school girl who just got braces and thinks her sister doesn’t notice her anymore, but even I’m not that much of a dick.

  I squeeze her shoulder. “Me either.”

  She looks up at me and smiles.

  “I’m gonna wake up Jake, and we’re going to bed. You should go back out with Blue Valley’s senior class and enjoy all the senioritis going on around here.” She pops a kiss to my cheek then whispers, “I’m Team Lucas.”

  A little shocked at the show of affection, although I shouldn’t be—she is a Ross, after all—I still manage to tell her, “And Team Lucas is Team Tessa, even if it means he’s not good enough for her.” I return the cheek kiss then stand up. “Night, Kendall.”

  “Night, Lucas.”

  When I walk out to the kitchen, Tess asks Ben, “Do you play pitch?”

  “Sounds super fun, Tessa. Can I play?” I ask, grinning obnoxiously.

  “Of course.” She smiles.

  We all sit down at the table. Dipshit sits next to Tessa, and I sit across from her.

  “So, Ben,” I ask, “do you have a girlfriend?”

  “No.” Ben smiles at Tessa, seemingly oblivious to the fact that everyone can basically see him drooling.

  “Okay, so we all know how to play, right?” Tessa asks.

  “Nicely.” Ben smiles at her then looks at me and chuckles.

  “Of course. Lucas will be my partner, and Becca will be yours, got it?” Tessa asks as she shuffles the cards.

  “Ben, have you ever had a girlfriend?” I ask, making sure I hide every bit of sarcasm from my voice.

  “A few. How about you?” Ben leans forward and pretends to be excited about sharing. Fucker.

  Tessa laughs as she deals the cards. “A few, as well, huh, Lucas?”

  “Not really. Only dated two, just fucked the others.” I pick up my cards. “Two to you, Ben. And tell me, how long did you date your girlfriends?”

  Ben laughs. “Um … Let’s see … one for a year, and the others for about six months.”

  “Did you have sex with them?”

  Tessa covers her face. “Oh. My. God.”

  Ben laughs as he winks at her. “Yes, actually. Sorry, no pictures or videos to share.”

  Tessa gives me a what-the-hell-are-you-doing look.

  I look back at Ben. “You play basketball?”

  “Yep, love the game. You?”

  “Football is my thing.” I lay down the king of clubs. “But I think you already know that.”

  “I do.” He looks back at Tessa. “You playing any winter sports?”

  “Nope, I’m up to my elbows in Evita.” She smiles.

  “Come again?” Ben laughs.

  “It’s our school musical.”

  “Tessa has the lead,” Becca explains as she lays down the Jack of clubs.

  “You sing?” Ben asks.

  Tessa nods. “I do.”

  “Awesome. I play guitar.” He lays down the queen.

  I give Tessa’s foot a shove under the table, and she looks at her cards.

  “Do you go to church, Ben?” Becca asks.

  “Yep, not as much as I should, but I do.” Ben smiles politely at Becca.

  I throw down the opposite Jack and the ace. Then I push back in my seat and stand. “We’re done now.”

  “No, man, we play to fifteen.” Ben points at my seat. “I’m not done with you yet.”

  I grumble, and Tessa laughs.

  “Hey, Lucas, can we do this?”

  I look at her and nod. “Absolutely.”

  “Good.” she says. “I like this game. So, Ben, do you dance?”

  “A little.” He smirks. “I bid three.”

  �
��I go four,” I immediately outbid him.

  Tessa and Becca laugh.

  I lead with the queen of hearts and smile at Tessa, who looks terrified. She throws the two, Ben has a seven, and Becca cannot follow suit. Next, I throw the king of hearts, Tessa the ten, and Ben the eight. Tessa looks at me and giggles. I throw six, Ben throws a Jack and smirks, Tessa throws the ace.

  “Good play, Tessa.”

  When the game is over, I excuse myself to use the bathroom.

  As soon as I leave the room, I hear Ben ask, “So, Tess, how long did you two date?”

  “Not long.”

  “Long enough? I mean, are you done with it?” Ben asks.

  “Yes, but we’re still friends.”

  “That’s what all the rabid bitch shit was about?” Ben asks, and I immediately stop and continue listening.

  “Yep.”

  “So, he fucked you up.”

  “Long story, but it’s over.”

  “Good. He’s not going to get all crazy on me, is he? I would hate to have to kick his ass in front of you.” Ben chuckles, and I want to walk right the hell back out there and let him try.

  She laughs. “No, he’s a good guy.”

  Liar.

  “Go for a walk with me?”

  “Sure.”

  I hurry to the bathroom and crack the window so I can hear the shit. And yes, that’s fucked up, but I never once said I wasn’t.

  “I have to tell you, Tessa; I have been crushing on you since I was about five.”

  “Oh yeah?” she asks. “So, where were you three months ago?”

  Ouch.

  “Last time I was here, you said you and he weren’t a thing.”

  “We weren’t.”

  “Guess I shouldn’t have assumed you hadn’t ever been.”

  She doesn’t say anything.

  “Let me know when you’re available, and if you’re interested.”

  “I’ll definitely keep that in mind,” she says, voice shaking a bit. “In the meantime, tell me about yourself, Ben.”

  “Let’s sit on the deck and chat. Then you can ask me anything you want. I’m an open book.”

  Good. If they sit there, I’ll still hear them.

  “Okay, favorite subject?” Tessa asks.

  While being a fucking creeper, I find out that Ben’s favorite subject is science, his favorite color is green, his favorite sport to play is basketball, he loves water sports, music, racing dirt bike, hanging out with his boys, he went to church camp every summer until his sophomore year, his parents are still together, none of his relationships ended badly; all were, in fact, because the girls moved. He didn’t feel the need to keep in contact with them but was always friendly when he saw them. I’m surprised the dipshit didn’t say he liked long walks on the beach and quiet, romantic candlelit dinners.

  “Your turn, Tessa. I want to know everything.”

  She feels comfortable enough with him to tell him pretty much everything.

  When they walk inside, I hurry to beat them to the kitchen where Alex invites him to stay at the house and join them in the hot tub.

  I feel a large furry ass on my feet and look down as Chewy looks at me, then at Ben and back at me, as if to ask if I’m gonna let this happen. I scratch behind his ear, and he lets out a sigh.

  “If Tess doesn’t mind, I would love to.”

  “Sounds like fun.” Tessa smiles at him.

  “Let’s go get changed,” Ben says, and he and everyone else hurries to get changed.

  “We’ll meet you guys there.”

  “How’s it going?” I ask, starting to clear the table.

  “All right,” Tessa says quietly.

  “Cool.”

  She moves in front of me. “I’m in no hurry, Lucas. I’m still not over my ex.”

  “I’m all right, Tessa, okay?”

  She stomps her foot. “Then go get ready for the hot tub.”

  “Okay.”

  When Tessa walks down the stairs, I can’t help but laugh.

  “What?” she asks.

  “That’s a lot of clothes for a hot tub. Let me grab you something more appropriate.” I bound up the stairs, and she follows me.

  “Fine, but I really feel like you’re trying to whore me out.”

  Already rummaging in her drawer, I toss some more appropriate swim wear. “You’re going to a hot tub, not scuba diving.”

  When I turn, her naked back is to me, and I watch as she pulls the bikini top over her head. She stomps her foot when she can’t get it tied, and I step up to her.

  “Let me get that.”

  “Jesus, Lucas, you’re really—”

  “I just want you to be happy.” I tie it then kiss the top of her head. “Perfect.”

  She turns and looks up at me.

  “Go, Tessa. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  After I change and grab some drinks, I head out. Before handing her the can of diet Pepsi, I open it, then hand out the others.

  When I step in, Tessa puts a towel over her face, sinks down, and leans her head back against the padding.

  “So, you guys hunting all week?” Ben asks.

  “I’ll go out before school and after practice,” Alex answers.

  “How about you, Lucas?” Ben asks.

  “I’m not sure yet. This is my first year. Gotta see how I like it.”

  “You’ll like shotgun better than bow hunting.”

  Ben looks at Tessa. “You still cry if someone shoots a doe with a bullet, or just get bent with arrows?”

  “Yes.” She smiles. “Actually, no.”

  “Yes, she does.” Alex laughs. “She just doesn’t try to beat us up anymore.”

  She takes the towel off her face and splashes Alex. Then she looks at me, then my chest, and promptly puts the towel back over her face. “Tunes, please.”

  The song “Two Princes” by The Black Crowes starts playing.

  When Ben laughs, Tessa’s foot comes out of the water and she kicks, splashing him.

  Being ever the attention whore I am with her, I ask, “Tessa, why aren’t you singing tonight? You always sing.”

  “Come on, Tess. Let’s hear you sing,” Dipshit chimes in.

  “Seriously? Is this eighth grade? I’m good with just relaxing.”

  When the song ends, she takes the towel off her head, sits up, and then takes a sip of her soda. “You boys need to be up early; don’t stay out here too late.” She then stands up and climbs out, tiny round and rock-hard little ass on display.

  “Do you know how disturbing it is to watch you two checking her out like that?” Alex asks.

  “If she wasn’t your sister, you’d be doing it, too.” Ben chuckles.

  “All right, that’s my cue. Lucas, you can close this up, right?” Alex asks.

  “Yep, see you inside.”

  “Well, this is uncomfortable.” Ben rolls his neck.

  “I don’t think so.” I rest my head back.

  “As soon as you left the game, I asked Tessa how long you two dated. Then that shit with Sadi at your school happened. I should have caught on, but didn’t.”

  “She and I are friends. As long as you’re a good guy, I’m cool with that. I just want her to be happy, man. She’s special.”

  “What happened with you two?” Ben asks.

  “She didn’t tell you?”

  “No.”

  I open my eyes and tell him, “She deserves better.”

  “Says you or her?”

  “Me,” I say curtly.

  “All right. Then no rush here.”

  “Good. She deserves the best, Ben.”

  “Agreed.” He sticks out his hand, and I cave by shaking it. “You sure you’re done?”

  “Yes.” As if I have a choice.

  “Okay, I don’t want to be the rebound. I can wait.” He leans back. “You live here, man?”

  “Only until after the holidays.”

  When we walk inside, Tessa is sitting in the living room, l
ooking through an album.

  “Sure, go ahead, check it out.” Ben chuckles.

  What kind of douche brings a photo album to hunting camp?

  “Mom wanted me to show Maggie.” He sits next to her, and I want to call bullshit.

  “You have a band?”

  Ben chuckles. “Sure do.”

  “You sing?”

  “Some of the songs, but I also play the guitar. You’ll have to come see us sometime.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Ben shows her his mother, his ex-girlfriends, and some pictures of him being crowned homecoming king. She laughs and looks back at me as I rinse off the same fucking plate.

  “Hey, Lucas, Ben was homecoming king, too.” She laughs.

  “Cool. Three for three, Tessa.” I mess up her hair as I walk by.

  “What’s that about?” Ben asks.

  “He’s talking about Toby, possibly my future husband.” She laughs. Ouch. “He was my date to homecoming. He was homecoming king three years ago.”

  “Nice, Tess, you deserve royalty.”

  Dipshit thinks he’s Mr. Romance.

  She wakes up, like always, at two thirty in the morning.

  I head in, and as I promised her, I try to wake her.

  “Tessa, you’re okay. Wake up.”

  “Everything okay?” Dipshit says from behind me.

  “Yep. She does this every night. She has for a few weeks.

  “Tessa, wake up. You’re okay. Everyone is fine.”

  She starts crying, and my instinct is to pick her up.

  I look back at Ben. “You wanna take care of this?”

  “Sure, I guess.” I know Ben already has experienced in this, since he’s the boy she talked about in the message she left.

  “Works best if you pick her up.”

  He does, and she grabs the back of his head and starts crying into his shirt.

  “You may want to talk to her and try to calm her down.”

  Ben sits down. “Tess, wake up, girl.”

  She opens her eyes, and he says, “She’s awake.”

  “No, she’s not. She’ll probably kiss you,” I warn him, and probably say my name.

  She does, and it feels like a gut punch.

  He slowly pulls away. “Dude, this is odd.”

  “I can leave.” Then I decide, Fuck that. I reach over and shake her. “Tessa, wake up. Tessa, wake up!”