Lock-it and Locket

1. I'm Working the Stands

Sara

The Saturday's leading up to lacrosse season are either one of two things: sweltering or freezing. Today it decided to be sweltering. I can feel the sticky substance called sweat dripping down my neck and back as I work furiously to arrange the displays. It's not even nine in the morning and my face is already melting. 

"Sara! Where are the short sticks?" 

I roll my eyes at my friend, Allie, as she tries to locate what's right in front of her. 

"Look down, Al," I respond. 

"Aha!" she squeaks in triumph. "I knew they were around here somewhere!"

"Bring them over here. We'll put them next to the T-shirts."

Allie walks over, the sticks clattering. She sets them down on the grass. "I think that's the last of them."

I nod. "Thanks for helping me today, Al. I know you wanted to go to the beach today."

"Please, and miss out on all the hot guys? The beach is full of them, sure, but I won't have to come up with a cute act to interact with them here."

"Is that all you can think about?" I laugh. 

"Well, that and the fact that I'm practically a snowman in summer."

"We are all feeling like that," a voice says behind us.

I turn to find my mother scanning the work that Allie and I have accomplished. The mini-store set up looks good, since we've been working since six this morning to set up. The lacrosse skirmishes have already started, but the stand still needs work before we can open for business. 

"Hey, mom."

"Hey, Ms. Taylor."

"Hello, girls," my mother kisses my forehead and hugs Allie. "Where are the rest of the T-shirts?" 

"Crap!" I say. "I forgot to unload them. They're still in the back of the truck. I'll fetch them."

I run out of the tent and back towards the parking lot. Buses of boys and girls are still arriving as their game times approach. I see lots of different teams and school teams gearing up. The boys are taunting each other while the girls are giggling and stretching. I take in the scene quickly before moving to the trailer and truck that belongs to my family's small lacrosse store. 

I tug at the truck's handle, but find it locked. "Dang it!"

I turn to go back to the tent. Way to go, Sara. Let's just make yourself have more work. Why didn't you think the car would be unlocked? Did you think that your parents would leave it unlocked? Why would you-

"Oomph!"

"I'm so sorry!" I say on reflex.

I ran into a boy, a lacrosse player at that. He's tall, almost abnormally tall. My height of 5'9” barely puts me at his shoulder. Brown hair, slick with sweat, drops down to partially cover his chocolate eyes. A smirk forms on his lips as he surveys me. I can hear his slight panting before I give him a nod and begin walking away.

“No, I'm sorry,” the boys says, turning towards me. A smirk is still on his face. “Excuse me.”

I give him a nod and keep walking.

“I'm Jay Williams, by the way,” he calls after me, “in case you were wondering.”

“I wasn't,” I call back, “but good luck on your games today.”

“Thank you...”

“Sara. Sara Taylor.”

Jay's eyes light up with satisfaction. “Thank you, Sara Taylor. Nice to meet you.”