Summer's Winter

Chapter 20 - Tucker

Math Counts is today. Scott isn't going because he is on vacation and will be too busy to attend the Math Counts. I wanted to go anyway, I will get to see Anise on stage. I got nervous. What if she runs away from me again? I fixed my shirt. Mom is yelling downstairs for me to hurry the fuck up. I ran downstairs put on my shoes and headed to the car. 

I stand awkwardly as I see Anise sitting on the stage. She is on stage and she is in the front row. She can't hide from me. I want to apologize to her. I want to apologize for the times I made fun of her and her mom. I look at her cheek and her jaw is taking shape because of the braces. 

I watch her get nervous. I want to call out her name. God dammit, I miss her coming over to my house with flowers. Every time I look at the white tulips before I go somewhere, her face haunts me. At first, I wanted her to burn in hell, but now I miss her. I don't want her to go through hell.

She stood up as her name was called by one of the teachers. She stood behind the podium and the microphone stabbed her lips. She moved it out of the way. She stands there nervously. She looks into the crowd. I was watching her.  I needed to show her I was very sorry and I wanted to apologize for my past actions.

"If a fair coin is tossed four times, what is the probability of it landing heads up at least three times? Express your answer as a common fraction." The math teacher said.

"5/16," she said quickly.

"Correct," the teacher said with a smile.

I smiled when she got correct. She deserved it. 

She did it. The first round is done. Two more rounds to go.

I watch other students do their questions.

Buzz, corrects, and can you repeat that was filling up the auditorium? Teachers got ready for the target round. I got nervous for her. 

She got up as her name was called.

"Two parallel planes a distance of 8 meters apart intersect a sphere. Each of the circles where the planes intersect the sphere has an area of 128π m2. What is the surface area of the sphere? Express your answer in terms of π." The teacher said while projecting the question on the board.

She is trembling. She is struggling. Well, I was struggling with that math question as well. 

"576π m^2," she said.

"Correct," The teacher said. 

My eyes widened when she got the question correct. I got nothing near that. I got China. 

There's more buzz at the moment. They got ready for team rounds.

I watched as Anise partnered up with Kate and the teacher handed her a packet. I look at how Anise flipped her hair to one side. 

She looked at Kate and Kate looked back. 

I look at their mouths moving. I can't hear what they are saying. 

Anise and Kate opened to the first page. They started. 

I look at Anise, and her eyes widen. 

They flipped to the next page.

Their facial expression was worse than 10 seconds ago.

We flipped to the last page.

I feel like Anise is going to die on that last page. 

Kate and Anise punched in numbers into their calculators.

After they were done, they aggressively stood up and raised the paper in the air. The teachers grabbed the paper and reviewed their answers with the answer key. They high-fived.

She sees me looking at her from the stage. I now hold that flame for her, I want to look at her more. I was a dumb teen, I hated her. I can't believe that I hated her. I don't deserve her time.  I feel guilty when she is right there in front of me. The teachers are finally done with reviewing the answers.

"We have concluded the podiums for the students." The teacher said.

"Third place, Robbie Kent. Second, Kate Blowy." The teacher said.

The tension was high. I wanted to hear her name on that first-place podium. I look at her and then the teachers.

"THE WINNER IS ANISE MAI," The teacher said.

Oh, she won. The camera flashed at her and her trophy. She got down from the stage and ran toward Amelia without making eye contact with me. I felt guilty still I needed to do something.

"Oh my sweetie, you won!"  Amelia said.

"Congrats Anise!" Mom said.

I looked at her. I looked at her. Me, Tucker Falter, looking at Anise who stalked me. I can't believe it. I like her. Anise Mai, who liked me first. The signs make sense now. I chased her down the hallways, I wanted to talk to Anise just once, and I couldn't stop looking at her empty chair in seminar. 

"Can we talk in private this once, please?" I plead. 

"All alright," she said.

Finally. I wanted to always tell her I was sorry. I pulled Anise aside. When Anise was in front of me the light suddenly became brighter. I feel less guilty. I still miss her smile. Those summertime smiles. 

"Look, I am still very sorry about that moment when I made fun of you and your mom," I said sincerely. 

I wanted to get it off my chest.

"I forgive you, but talking shit about my family is crossing the line," she said.

She's right. 

"I promise," I said.

"Pinky promise," she said pulling out her pinky.

I paused for a minute. I look at her eyes. Her brown eyes that I used to hate. 

I wrapped my pinky around hers.  I think it's the start of a new friendship.