OFF TRACK

15

SUMMER
JANUARY

Classes and practice are back in full swing. Since football season is over we're prepping for our own competition season. Which means longer practices and even less free time.

Ellie's talking my ear off as we leave practice, while I'm busy texting Trevor, only half paying attention to whatever she's ranting about.

I haven't gotten to see him since that night before winter break. He went home to New York for break. I went home for a few miserable days then came back here and worked non-stop. I miss him, especially a certain part of him.

me : what time are you done with practice?

trevor : 9:30, can you wait until then?

me : i'll try but no promises ;) i'll probably get a bit bored while i wait

trevor : it'll be more fun if you wait

me : but i don't wanna wait

trevor : if you think of me i guess it's okay

me : nah i'm gonna be thinking of chris evans and his big muscles

trevor : mine are bigger

me : keep telling yourself that bby

"Summer?"

"Sorry," I shake my head, and look over at Ellie, we're sitting in the car now, "I was seeing if there were any classes tonight."

"We just left practice and you wanna dance more?" Ellie looks at me like I'm crazy. And honestly the distraction does sound kinda good, and it's only five pm. I can push off a few homework assignments.

"Yeah, I just have a lot of pent of energy," I shrug. It's not a lie. I turn back to my phone where I am now actually loading up my favorite dance studio's webpage for a class.

It's not unusual for me to take extra classes. I love dancing, and I love learning from other people. I love seeing how other people's brains work when it comes to choreography. But taking extra classes is also one of my favorite ways to distract my brain and I know Ellie knows that.

"There's a modern class at 6:45, would you mind dropping me at Playhouse?" I ask her.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Ellie asks. She still hasn't moved the car from it's parked position.

"Yeah," I smile over at her, "I'm good."

"You've been acting weird since you came back from visiting your mom," Ellie's looking at me like she's trying to read my mind.

"I'm fine, El."

She finally starts to back the car up.

"I promise."

I'm not fine. My mom introduced me to her new boyfriend when I was home for Christmas. And he seems like a douche, and now I can't stop thinking of how much things will change if they stay together. And he has a son who's a total creep.

I love my mom but it's been just the two of us and her rotation of boyfriends for as long as I can remember.

My dad left randomly, in the middle of the night when I was about six. I don't have many memories of him besides things my mother has said over the years. Like the time I snuck a boy into my room freshman year of high school. After kicking the poor kid out, she looked me right in the eyes and said "just like your daddy, a sneaky liar." Because that's what every fourteen year old girl wants to hear from her mother. She's always had a short tempter with me, I think it's because I remind her of my father.