This Could Be Us

Chapter Three - The Jersey

For the first time in months, time seemed to be flying by. Before I knew it, almost two whole weeks had flown by. I wasn't complaining though. Within these past couple weeks since school had started, I had made two new friends and I was the happiest I had been in over a year. It seemed things were finally looking up for me.

Today was the day before the first football game of the season and the school was buzzing with commotion and excitement. This year was supposed to be the year that the Wildcats made it all the way to state. Carter and the rest of the team have been practicing twice a day for the past couple of weeks, preparing for this game. Tomorrow the Wildcats took on their biggest rivals in the conference, the Mintego Timberwolves.

I could feel the anxiousness flooding over Carter as we were walking into the school. He was unusually quiet this morning. I assumed he was just nervous about tomorrow's game, so I didn't bother asking him about it.

"Why can't today just be Friday already?" Anna whined as she caught up to us in the hallway.

"I know! I'm pretty stoked about the pep rally tomorrow and the big game!" I answered cheerfully.

Carter smiled, but continued walking towards his locker without responding.

"What's up with you today?" Anna asked Carter, clearly noticing his unusual silence too.

"Oh, uh nothing. Just didn't get much sleep last night." Carter shrugged.

Anna and I exchanged a look of disbelief, but silently agreed that we weren't going to push the subject further.

Carter and I continued down the hallway towards our lockers, but Anna fell behind after being stopped by one of her freshman friends. We reached Carter's locker first, and I continued walking towards mine.

"Wait," I heard Carter call out to me. I turned around to see Carter standing next to his open locker. He was holding something in his hands. As I walked back toward him I saw that it was his away football jersey.

"Will you wear my jersey tomorrow?" He asked, nervously.

I blushed at the gesture. At our school, usually only the girlfriends get to wear a jersey. Carter and I had only stepped outside the path of friendship when we kissed on my birthday, but since then neither of us have strayed far from the path again.

"O-oh, s-sure," I said hesitantly. A concerned look began to grow on his face, and I realized I needed to reassure him. I smiled and accepted the jersey from him. His face instantly brightened.

Once Carter turned back to his locker, I quickly walked to my own locker and pulled out my cellphone.

Omg. Carter just gave me his jersey to wear tomorrow. I texted Anna. 

I received a reply almost instantly.

Of course he did. It's pretty obvious he likes you.

I looked at my phone in disbelief. What does she mean it's obvious? I never even told her about the birthday kiss, so what evidence does she have that he likes me?

What do you mean it's obvious? I replied.

Again, she responded immediately. LOL! 

That's it? Annoyed by her response, I shoved my phone in my pocket, grabbed my books from my locker, and slammed it shut.

Carter was already in the AP Chemistry classroom when I arrived. He had saved me a seat and was smiling at me as I made my way down the row.

"You seem to be in a better mood," I pointed out.