The Girl Next Door

15. Touch Down Promises

Astrid kept her promise. She showed up to school, her usual calm and collected self, like she hadn't missed a single day. It was oddly reassuring to see her, even if she didn't make a big deal about her return. She walked into English Lit wearing a red hoodie, her ever-present headphones hanging around her neck. The color suited her—bright but understated, bold yet effortless. Classic Astrid.

I tried to focus during class, but every time I glanced her way, she seemed completely engrossed in whatever our teacher was saying about The Great Gatsby. She had this way of looking interested without looking too interested, like she wasn't trying but still cared just enough. Meanwhile, I was silently rehearsing what I was going to say to her after class.

When the bell rang, Astrid slung her bag over her shoulder and strolled out like she had all the time in the world. I followed her into the hallway, where Matt leaned casually against a locker, clearly waiting for me to make my move. He gave me a quick thumbs-up as I walked past, which, honestly, didn't help my nerves at all.

"Astrid!" I called, jogging a little to catch up to her.

She turned, her expression neutral but not unfriendly. "Oh, hey, Alex."

"Hey," I said, falling into step beside her. "Glad to see you back. School's been kind of boring without you."

She smirked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Boring, huh? Didn't know I had that much of an effect."

"Are you kidding? Without you, who else would roast Mr. Bruno when he gets Shakespeare quotes wrong?"

That earned me a laugh—a real one—and it felt like a win. "Fair point," she said. "So, what's up?"

I took a deep breath, trying to channel just the right mix of confidence and casualness. "Well, I wanted to ask you something."

"Okay..." She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"So, this Friday, we've got a football game. Big rivalry, under the lights—classic high school drama. I'm playing, obviously, and I thought..." I paused, then smiled. "It'd be cool if you came to watch."

She blinked, and for a second, I worried I'd overstepped. But then she tilted her head, her lips curving into a half-smile. "You're inviting me to a football game?"

"Yeah," I said, feeling bolder now. "You might not know this, but I'm kind of a big deal on the field. Star receiver, team MVP, future legend—you know, the usual."

She laughed again, shaking her head. "Humble much?"

"I try," I said with a grin. "But seriously, it'd mean a lot if you came. And who knows? You might even have fun."

"Hmm," she said, pretending to think it over. "Do I get free snacks out of this deal?"

"Of course," I said quickly. "Popcorn, candy, nachos—you name it, it's on me."

"Tempting," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Alright, Alex. I'll think about it."

"That's all I ask," I said, stepping back as she adjusted her bag. "But just so you know, I plan on scoring a touchdown specifically for you."

"Oh, really?" she said, her tone light and teasing. "Guess I'll have to show up to make sure you keep that promise."

"Exactly," I said, giving her a playful wink before turning to head back to Matt.

As I walked away, my heart was racing, but in a good way. Matt gave me a smirk as I approached. "Look at you, Mr. Smooth. That went better than expected."

"Yeah," I said, unable to stop smiling. "It really did."

*****

The locker room smelled like a mix of sweat, cheap deodorant, and excitement. We were gearing up for football practice, and as usual, the guys were in full-on roasting mode. I was sitting on the bench, tying my cleats, when Geoff dropped down next to me with that trademark grin of his.

"I'm proud of you, man," he said, clapping me on the back. "Talking to Astrid and inviting her to the game? That's big."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, trying not to let my face heat up. "It's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Blaine called out from the other side of the room, his laugh echoing off the lockers. "Dude, it's you. Mr. 'I-don't-need-anyone-because-football-is-my-one-true-love.' This is groundbreaking."

Matt, leaning against the lockers like he owned the place, chimed in, "Next thing you know, Alex will be writing her love poems and serenading her at halftime."

"Don't give him ideas," Geoff added with a smirk. "He might actually try it."

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck. "You guys are ridiculous. I was just being kind, alright? It's not like I asked her to marry me."

"Kind?" Blaine echoed, pretending to look shocked. "Oh, so that's what we're calling it now?"

"Yeah," Matt said, crossing his arms. "Because 'kindness' definitely involves offering free nachos, popcorn, and a touchdown dedication."

The entire room burst into laughter, and I groaned, leaning back against the bench. "You guys are the worst."

"No, we're the best," Geoff corrected, throwing a towel at me. "The best at spotting your lies. Admit it, Alex—you like her."

"I don't," I said, maybe a little too quickly. "I was just being polite."

"Sure," Matt said, grinning like a shark. "Because when I'm polite, I totally invite girls to watch me do cool things and promise to perform amazing feats just for them."

"Exactly!" Blaine said, laughing so hard he nearly fell over. "Alex is just a natural gentleman. Totally normal behavior."

"Alright, fine!" I said, throwing my hands up. "Maybe I think she's cool. Maybe I wanted her to come to the game because—because she's interesting, okay?"

"Interesting," Geoff repeated, making air quotes. "That's one way to put it."

"Alright, alright, lay off the guy," Matt said, though his smirk gave away that he was loving this. "At least Alex is finally doing something about it instead of just pining away silently like he usually does."

"I do not pine," I said, standing up and slinging my helmet over my shoulder. "I'm focused. On football. And winning. Not on—"

"—Astrid?" Blaine interjected, grinning wide. "Don't worry, dude. We'll make sure to dedicate the victory to her when she shows up."

More laughter erupted, and I shook my head, fighting a smile. These idiots. Sure, they were relentless, but they were my guys. And deep down, I knew they were just happy to see me step out of my comfort zone.

As we headed out to the field, Blaine jogged up beside me, still smirking. "Just one question, though. When you score that touchdown for her, are you gonna blow her a kiss?"

I shoved him lightly, unable to stop myself from laughing. "Shut up, Blaine."

"Hey, man, it's a valid question!" he shouted, running ahead with a laugh.

Matt caught up to me, patting my shoulder. "For real, though, Alex? You've got guts. And we're all rooting for you."

"Thanks," I said, my smile widening. "But don't think for a second I'm letting you guys embarrass me in front of her on Friday."

"No promises," Matt said, jogging off to join the others.

And just like that, practice began.