Spring

Chapter Nineteen

Sage Gibson

After practice on Friday, I take a longer shower than normal. I took Natalie to the park last night and spent the entire time on the concrete court. My legs feel absolutely dead from how sore they are because of practice and playing yesterday.

I have no regrets.

"You took forever." Aria glares at me as I walk out. She and Marc stand there waiting for me. I just give them a sheepish smile.

"Hey." Jamie runs up, his arms slinging around my shoulders. "Can I join the cool group walk to class?"

I laugh at him. "Don't ask me, I'm not the cool one here."

I look at Marc with a smirk. Jamie looks over at him with a giant smile. "So, cool guy?"

"What?" Marc looks slightly annoyed and majorly confused. "I don't care."

"Yay." Jamie wraps his other arm around me too and taps my shoulders with his hands before letting go. We both laugh, and I still don't know what's funny but it feels good to have friends.

"I don't even want to know." Ethan walks up next to us, giving us both a side eye.

We start walking moments later, Ethan and Marc leading the way. Jamie walks next to Aria and me.

"Since it's a workday, I think I'm gonna ask to just sit in your class," Aria says. "That okay?"

"Of course." I smile.

"Oh, I never thought about doing that. Can I do that?" Jamie looks over too.

"Yeah, you've just got to get a note from Coach B saying it's okay. As long as you're not doing anything in class, they can't really tell you no."

"Oh, sick. I'm totally doing that." Jamie grins.

"Oh boy. Ethan's gonna love this."

"Ethan can suck a dick." Aria's nose crinkles. I snort. Jamie cackles.

"I mean..." He trails off. "I would let him."

"Ew!" Aria's voice goes up several octaves as she visibly cringes at that. Then, in a whisper, she asks, "Ethan?"

"What are you screaming about?" Marc looks over his shoulder at us, slight concern in his expression.

"Nothing." I grin innocently. "Just joking around."

"Okay." He turns back with a shrug. Not even slightly curious as to what we're talking about.

"Seriously though," Her voice is filled with judgment, and even if I'm also surprised, I find this hilarious. "Ethan?"

"What?" He shrugs. "He's hot."

"Weren't you scared of him, like, two weeks ago?" I raise my eyebrows, a teasing smile on my face.

"Not scared, just a little intimidated. He's still kinda an ass, but he's fun to annoy. He's cool, sometimes." He shrugs.

"This is gross." Aria shakes her head.

"What?!" Jamie looks around, just as Marc and Ethan split off from us to go to their lockers. "Sage is allowed to have a major boner for Marc, but I can't find Ethan attractive?"