by Erin Danzer
* * *
The afternoon passed much like the morning for Ronnie, the only difference being Shawn showing up to walk her to most of her classes. Shawn’s sudden change of heart confused her and she decided to ask him about it when he took her home. She looked forward to football practice; she and Andi used to sit in the bleachers last year and watch him after school almost every day. It would almost be like old times, only this time she suspected Shawn knew exactly how she felt about him.
Ronnie went to her locker at the end of the day and was proud of herself when she managed to open it without Gavin’s help. He also seemed impressed as he shoved most of his books into his locker and was waiting for her when she was done at hers.
“You don’t have to hang around today; Shawn’s taking me home after practice,” she told Gavin as Andi walked up to them.
“Well, I might need someone to hang out with since you two will be wrapped up in each other, so he can stay,” Andi spoke up and wound her arm through Gavin’s as she started down the hall. Ronnie watched them go, wondering what Andi was up to as she slowly followed them. They walked outside together and found about half the seats in the bleachers full. They sat in the middle of the fifth row, Ronnie between Andi and Gavin. Ronnie gave Andi a questioning look that her friend ignored as she turned to watch the action on the football field. Gavin got Ronnie’s attention by tugging on her braid and she turned towards him.
“Nice braid, by the way,” he said. She smiled.
“Thanks. I overslept this morning.”
“Dreaming about someone?” The knowing look was back in his eyes as he gave her a cocky grin. Ronnie blushed as she looked out at the field and spotted Shawn.
“I was dreaming about someone,” she replied unable to look at Gavin. Did he know she was lying; could he know she dreamed about him? To distract herself, she pulled her braid over her shoulder, pulled out the rubber band and began running her fingers through her hair to take out the braid.
“You should let me redo that,” Gavin spoke up.
“How do you know how to braid hair? That’s not exactly something guys learn around here.” She wrinkled her nose as she tried to picture Shawn braiding her hair. It just wasn’t happening. He had played with her hair before and only managed to knot it up. Gavin really knew what he was doing.
He shrugged one shoulder. “I was raised by my mom and two older sisters. Sometimes we didn’t have the money to get their hair done, so it was something I learned.” He glanced at the field and then leaned towards her as a slow smile spread across his face. “You know, that’s not the only thing my hands are good at.”
Ronnie’s eyes widened and she heard Andi gasp behind her. Did he really just say that? Her disbelief was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a football coming straight for Gavin’s head. She noticed it a moment before he did and opened her mouth to say something, but he had already turned and caught the ball. She gaped at him, her mouth hanging open, as he stood up and threw the ball back to the field. He sat down again and smirked as he reached out to gently close her mouth.
“I think your boyfriend is jealous,” he commented. Ronnie blushed as she looked out at the field. Sure enough, Shawn was watching them. She managed to smile and wave at him before the coach called him back into the huddle. She was about to say something to Gavin about Shawn not being her boyfriend yet when Andi suddenly grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her away. She stumbled and caught herself as she stood up to walk with her best friend.
“Did you hear what he said to you? He was totally hitting on you,” Andi hissed, her eyes darting towards Gavin as she spoke.
“Yeah, Andi, I was there, too; I know what he said,” Ronnie replied. “I can’t believe it either.”
Andi’s brow creased as she gave Ronnie an assessing look, complete with a hand on her hip. “Can’t believe it because you don’t expect him to flirt with you or can’t believe it because you want him to?”
Ronnie’s mouth fell open for the second time in as many minutes. She shook her head as she stared at her best friend. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“He’s always around and today he has been exceptionally nice to you. After he walked you home last night and you woke up talking about him, I just wonder how you really feel about him. I mean, you have to admit, he’s a gorgeous guy and he can be charming when he isn’t a jerk. It might be natural if you liked him.”
Ronnie stared at Andi as she finally realized what was going on. She couldn’t believe this—or wait to see how it would turn out. “If you like him so much, you go out with him. I have Shawn and Shawn finally likes me,” she told Andi. Andi’s cheeks pinked and her hand fell away from her hip.
“And next time you like a guy, please don’t accuse me of liking him; just say it,” she added. Andi nodded. Her eyes darted to where Gavin sat and she blushed when she saw him watching them—or rather, watching Ronnie. Andi sighed and sat down on the bleacher behind her, her head propped up on one hand.
“What; what happened?” Ronnie asked as she sat down, too. She glanced at Gavin and saw him watching them. “He’s looking at us.”
“No, he’s looking at you. He likes you,” Andi replied sullenly. Ronnie’s stomach knotted with guilt.
“Well, he can’t have me. I have Shawn,” she insisted. Andi shook her head.
“And what if that falls through? He’s always going to be there. He’s around you every second of the day. And if he keeps up this nice act, you could like him, too. There’s no chance for me.”
Ronnie wrapped an arm around Andi’s shoulders and wondered if she could talk to Gavin about this. Maybe she could get him to see what a great girl Andi was. Maybe he would fall in love with Andi and leave her alone to pursue Shawn. She sighed and leaned her head against Andi’s.
“Boys are stupid sometimes,” she declared.
