Heartstrings

Chapter 15: On Fire

Emma's Perspective

I sat in the parking lot staring at my dashboard - for some reason I'd left the picture Jake had given me there and I couldn't peel my eyes from it. The game was about to start, and I knew eventually I'd have to go into the stadium, but something about sitting in my car with the engine turned off felt like purgatory.

A single chime from my phone interrupted my sepulchral state. I looked down to see a message from Sam and my heart sank - it wasn't who I was hoping it would be.

You coming to the game?

Yeah, about to walk in.

I set my phone down and gathered the energy to get through two to three hours of watching Jake Healy run around a football field. As I unbuckled, though, my phone was graced with a double chime - intrigued, I glanced back at my phone to see a message from Sam and one from Jake. I quickly opened it -

Yes. Let's talk at home when this is all over.

A breath of relief escaped my lips as his words soaked in - the fact that he'd called my house "home" made me smile.

I collected my things and mustered up the courage to get out of the car. As I stood in line for the ticket box at the entrance to the stadium, someone tapped me lightly on the shoulder. I turned around swiftly and found Lucía smiling at me graciously.

- Hi, Emma. How are you?

The lilt of her voice combined with her accent was so lovely - it was impossible not to feel instantly relaxed around her.

- Hey, Lucía. How are you?

- Good! This is my first American football game. I came to see Sam play.

- Oh how nice. Do you want to sit with me?

- Would you mind? I feel a little lost.

- No worries. I sit on the visitor's side where it's less crowded.

Lucía and I made our way over to my usual spot where Sam (and Jake) would be able to easily pick us out. Normally, I preferred to sit alone and listen to some music while I watched, but I didn't mind sitting and talking to Lucía. After kick-off, I began to explain some of the plays and rules to her.

- If they win this game, they will go to the semifinals to compete for the state championship.

- Oh wow. So... is Sam's position very good?

- Yeah, Sam is a wide receiver - his position is really important. He has to be very fast and nimble so that he can catch the ball and make a touchdown over there.

I pointed to the endzone.

- Ah I see.

Just then, Jake looked up at me and nodded before getting in position to start the play. It had become an unspoken ritual between the two of us since about a month ago when he first noticed how closely I watched him.

Lucía gently nudged me -

- Who is the guy that throws the ball?

She raised her eyebrows at me teasingly and I blushed.

- Um... it's Sam's friend, Jake.

- Ohhh... I remember him from homecoming.

She gave me a knowing look and I smiled guiltily, cursing myself for not having more control over my facial expressions.

- Don't worry, Emma - I didn't see a thing.

I smiled at her, relieved, and we continued to talk through the game. She told me about Spain and the small, coastal town in Catalonia, where she grew up. As she described her family and the traveling she'd done, a part of me was jealous... I wanted nothing more than to escape and see the world like she had. But my envy was overshadowed quickly by an admiration for her courage to travel and live across the world from her family.