Shifted

Chapter 15

The rest of the week Nick went out of his way to hang out with me.  I could tell he was trying to give Jackson a reason to hang out around me in school.  Naomi and Ping were relentless as they interrogated me about my sudden induction into what they called the "Cult of the Soccer Heads."  I kept protesting to them that I was only friends with Jackson and Nick, that I hadn't even met the rest of them, but Naomi and Ping refused to drop the topic. 

I started hanging out with Naomi and Ping after school on the bleachers next to the soccer fields.  We would work on homework and chit chat.  But the best part of our afternoon was watching the soccer boys practice.  Jackson was by far the best player on the team.  He did his best to pretend he didn't notice me on the bleachers every day, but I could tell he knew I was there.  He would watch me when he thought I wasn't paying attention.  He'd crack a smile when I said something funny to Naomi and Ping.  His coach would yell at him for getting distracted.

On Friday, just after Naomi and Ping had left the bleachers, I was packing my bags when suddenly Nick plopped down on the seat next to me. I was a little bit startled, but I gave him a big smile when I saw it was Nick.  As I'd gotten to know him better, I started to realize he is one of the funniest people I'd ever met. 

"So I really need you and Jackson to get together," Nick said bluntly, causing me to choke on the gummy bear I'd just tossed in my mouth.  "I'm tired of him pining over you.  He obviously likes you."

I let out a nervous laugh.  "But he's already with someone."

"You mean Sadie?  She's about as pleasant as getting a prostate exam," Nick replied rolling his eyes.  "I don't know what he sees in her."

"So he does like her?"

Nick tilted his head, pondering the question.  "He definitely did like her at first.  They've been together almost two years, and they've known each other since they were kids.   But ever since you showed up it's as if Sadie doesn't even exist.  It's been hilarious watching her throw herself at him trying to get his attention.  She absolutely loathes you."

I swallowed nervously, feeling bad for stealing this girl's boyfriend away from her.  I hadn't tried to.  It felt like there was a magnetism between us, pulling us together no matter how hard we tried to resist.  I never intended for that to happen.  I hadn't even been looking for a relationship.  I came to Oak Hills just wanting to get through the rest of the year, but then I met Jackson and everything changed.  Now it seemed he'd taken over every thought in my head.

Nick suddenly sat up, a huge grin on his face.  "I've got an idea!"

"Well that doesn't happen often," I said with a roll of my eyes.  "Should we celebrate this rare phenomenon?"

Nick laughed and gave me a playful shove.  "No I'm serious!  You should come hiking with the pack tomorrow.  We're getting up early and heading up the mountain.  There's these cliffs on the north side of the mountain, and a waterfall that goes down like 100 feet to this really deep pool of water."

"Sounds amazing!" I said.  "But won't Sadie be there?"

Nick looked at his shoes and said "No I think she's sick or something."

I raised an eyebrow at him, since at lunch it didn't look like she was sick, but I let it go.  "Where should I meet you guys?"

Nick told me he'd pick me up in the morning at my place, and with that I decided I should head home.  When I got back to the house, I found a note on the fridge in my mom's hurried handwriting.  It said she was working the late shift, and that I was on my own for dinner.  I felt bad thinking of how hard my mom worked to provide for me.  I decided I would pick up some Chinese and bring it to the hospital for her.