Last Player Standing

Chapter Three

"I thought I couldn't hate him anymore than I already did. I guess I was wrong," I dig into a tub of cookie dough ice cream. The creamy goodness melts on my tongue, and I lay back against the headboard. I was decked out in my older brother's white Yale sweatshirt and gray sweatpants.

Ning emerges from the bathroom pulling a t-shirt over her abs. We had come to her house straight from practice, and I was now complaining to her about the evil eyes Lucas and I had been giving each other across the field. This was our after-cheer practice routine, Ning would drive us home, we would take showers and then work on homework together and gossip until one of us went home, depending on which house we went to. I practically lived at her house, and she lived at mine. I had spare products and clothes in the second half of her dresser, and Ning had an entire closet to herself in my room.

Ning puts on socks and I throw her a hairband. She ties her bob up. "He's not that bad. I mean, he could have just let you get in more trouble with Mrs Carmichael."

"He's the one that got me in trouble in the first place!" I whine. Ning rolls her eyes.

"You can't lie, it was really nice of him to defend you at practice too. He didn't have to bench the kid and yet he did. Perhaps he's not as evil as you think, babe."

I stare at her in disbelief. "This is LUCAS we're talking about. He's evil. A demon. No, wait, he's the devil."

"Oh come on, now you're exaggerating."

"No, I'm really not. And since when did you like Lucas? Come on. Spill."

"It's not that I like him persay..."

"Spill, Ning."

"Maybe since I started dating his best friend" she rushes out in one breath.

"Now, you see that makes no sense because he- Wait a minute. Since you what?"

"Started dating his best friend?". She was staring above my head now.

A minute passed. Then two. The biggest smile crossed my face.

"I knew it! I knew it! I knew you were lying when you said you didn't like him! Those dates we got you ready for this summer! It was him!"

Ning and I had spent the summer together but very differently. While I was practicing gymnastics, clearing my reading and netflix lists, and going to the occassional party, Ning was going on secret dates. Her family was muslim, and didn't really approve of her dating. She was usually a goody two shoes, but there had been this one guy she was willing to break the rules for. She would call me and rant about how amazing he was, how he didn't mind chastity till marriage if he truly loved someone, how hot he sounded when he spoke in Spanish. I'd wanted to help her out, so she could finally go on a date with him. For the entire summer, I would have her come over to my house, do her make up and dress her up for the date. Then we would head out together, her to her date, and me to the library, or a cafe. I had begged her to tell me who she was meeting, but she always said she wasn't sure if it was serious yet. I decided I would be patient. She would tell me when she wanted to. I had been a bit worried though. What if he wasn't a good guy? Or simply, not good enough for her? Hearing the name Mateo was possibly the biggest blessing I could have expected.

Mateo Ramos was one of the few people I considered a close friend. He was a striker on the football team, and a Catholic. Mateo and Lucas were best friends, but I couldn't even hate him for that. He was incredibly funny, smart and kind to everyone. During our first year of high school, Lucas had introduced him to Ning and I and the four of us instantly became friends. I pretended not to notice the glances he would throw Ning's way when he thought no one could see, but always encouraged him to ask her out. It was hard to find people not intimidated by Ning's looks and smarts, but Mateo matched her perfectly. He was tanned, built and 4 inches taller than her, with the cutest smile you ever saw. If my best friend was dating anyone, I was glad it was Mateo.