"If we win," Graham says, motioning to him and Landon, "then you won't tell Mom and Dad about me forgetting your showcase."
"And if we win," Emma motions to her and I, "then.." she struggles, looking at me like I know what would be a good punishment but I come up empty handed. Then with a maniacal grin on her face, she says, "You have to go up to Darcy and tell her you had a dream about her where she was NAKED. And you LIKED IT!" She screams, and then erupts into a sea of giggles.
"Wow, you pervy little freak." I stare at her. "I like you! We're taking them down."
She raises her hand up to my level and I give her a high five. She faces the boys with a serious look, then says, "and Landon will film it so I know Graham didn't cheat."
"What are you trying to do, Emma? Make Darcy think I'm president of her fan club full of weirdos who jack off--" Graham stops himself, quickly clearing his throat because he's realized for the millionth time his sister is a fifth grader. "Sorry. Just a little.. flemmy.. It's allergy season."
"Okay. Gross." I widen my eyes.
Graham acts like this Darcy girl (who I still have yet to meet) would be completely mortified at the idea of him fantasizing about her. The truth is, I've seen the girls at Radley. Graham Bryant is Graham Bryant. He could be a necrophiliac and they'd still want to do the unspeakable to him. No matter how revolting the thought was, it was true, and he had nothing to be worried about.
Either way, those were the terms of our girl vs. boy soccer game. How that came about? Well, the four of us were sitting in the Bryant's kitchen and Graham and Emma started arguing. Emma being the iniquitous little 10 year old she is, said she was still going to tell their parents, and somehow this was a logical solution. Except it wasn't because...
"WAIT." Emma yells and we all look at her. "Landon and Graham, you have to split up. You're both soccer players and we're dancers. How is this fair?" She asks, or rather demands.
I want to tell her I'm really not a dancer anymore, but I like the way it sounds, so I hold my tongue.
"Those were the conditions." Graham shrugs with the soccer ball cradled in his arms. Landon agrees. And me? I let out the loudest scoff known to mankind. "What's up your ass.. BUTT. What's up your butt now?"
I grab the ball from him in one swift movement.
"We are not doing captain of the soccer team and... whatever you are," I point to Landon, "versus two scrawny girls whose feet have never even touched a soccer field. And I don't think arguing with her is a good idea considering your fate does lay in her hands after all..." I smile.
"ONE." Graham starts. He hits Landon in the chest without breaking my eye contact. "The beautiful Landon Curtis is actually co-captain of Radley's prestigious varsity soccer team, I'll have you know."
"How is that helping your argument exactly?" I raise an eyebrow.
"TWO." He continues right along. "We aren't even playing on a soccer field, just my front yard. Surely you've stepped on grass before, so I can't see the problem." He pauses and waits for me to interject, but I don't. "Three. Don't belittle yourself, Dempsey. I wouldn't say you're scrawny, just...."
"SPLIT UP OR I'M TELLING MOM." Emma cries, which makes Graham groan. Landon gives him a half-smile and walks over to the opposing side in surrender. I stay put.
"What are you waiting for?" Graham asks. "Come on, Dempsey. Give me my ball back."
"What happened to the other one?" I ask and he covers his mouth. I can't tell if he finds it funny or if he's angry or if he's gone back to the whole "she's 10" thing, but I don't care. "Oh, never mind. Clearly you lost it. Especially if we're still dealing with this Darcy chick."
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The Art of Balancing » work in progress
Teen FictionI suck at summaries but: "Trying to start over, especially when you don't want to, can be rather hard. Violet Dempsey would know. All she's known is dance, and a fast paced NYC life.. That is, until she's forced to move across the country to th...
