The Perfect Couple

2

"Why you and Tom?" I countered, although I knew the comparison was ridiculous. She and Tom were both popular, great looking people, like Alan. But me I'd never even had a date.

Kim ignored my question. "When did it start, Kelly?" She spoke gently as if she were asking when I'd first learned that I wasn't long for this world.

I hated her sympathy, but I'd kept my secret for three whole weeks and I just had to share it with someone. Kim was my best friend and when the chips were down I knew I could count on her. I had to count on her, it suddenly struck me, because I had a plan to attract Alan's attention and I'd need her help to make it work.

"It started," I began. Then before I could go on, the first half ended. The cougars headed for the locker room. Alan whipped off his helmet and his shining, dark head towered above the other team members as he strode off the field.

Kim nudged me to finish what I'd started to say, but I was too breathless to speak. When Alan disappeared from sight I felt as if my heart had left my body and gone with him. My chest was hollow. I hardly even noticed my good friend Marcus Lopez who was trotting off with the substitute players.

Kim thumped me again, putting something into it this time. "Hey, you were going to tell me how long you've had this thing for Alan."

This thing was only the greatest love any woman had ever felt for a man, but it was no use telling Kim that. She thought it was some silly crush like I'd gotten on a rock star once. I drew a tentative breath and when I found my lungs were working okay again I told her about the day, three weeks ago, when I was standing at the curb in front of the school, waiting to cross the street.

"This red Camaro came roaring up and slammed to a stop right in front of me. I recognized it as belonging to Alan's brother, Neil and when Alan jumped out, I had the crazy idea he'd stopped for me. All of a sudden I just knew I was in love with him. I've always noticed him who hasn't but I'd thought . . . well, I'd never dared to really think about him at all. Then, there he was, just as if he'd come to claim me and I could admit to myself I'd loved him since eighth grade."

Kim gave the mournful kind of sigh I'd only heard from her before when she'd broken a fingernail, or decided she had nothing in her closet fit to wear.

I heaved a small sigh of my own, then finally went on. "Alan hadn't stopped for me, as it turned out, but for Miriam Sloan, who happened to be standing beside me. He gave her a dazzling smile, took her arm and then they both got into the backseat of the Camaro. When the car zoomed off he had his arm around her shoulders."