I watched as she walked away, approaching some boy. Someone smashed onto my bench, causing me to jump a little.
"Hey dude!" Daniel grinned as he sat beside me. "You know, you're one of the few people she has talked to? Others? She wouldn't give them the time of day. Just ask Kaden, you're real lucky Mills."
I stared at her and the boy, they both laughed at something he said. My heart shattered in a million pieces. "Yeah, real lucky," I said sarcastically.
"Um...okay? She's pretty, are you gonna ask her?"
"There's nothing to ask her," I snapped. "But there is something to ask you. Can you go away?" His eyes got wide as he backed up, Nikki met up with him halfway, but he stopped her.
"Not a good idea Nikki, he doesn't want to talk," he warned her.
She chuckled as she lightly pat his chest, still walking. "You're forgetting one thing."
"What's that?"
"I'm a girl," she laughed, pecking him on the cheek.
Nikki sat lightly beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. "Wanna talk?" I shook my head. "Okay, we can just sit for a bit. I don't mind." And that's just what we did for about ten minutes.
"Harvey, come on," she said abruptly, smacking her thigh. "Time to talk." I laughed.
"It's nothing. It's just...It's stupid," I shook my head.
"What's stupid?"
"Me. For everthing. For thinking she could like me. For thinking I could make new friends. For thinking I could join a sport I hate with a burning passion. For thinking I could be someone other than Max. For thinking it could be fun moving to another country. For ever existing, just...everything."
"Aww...I'm sorry baby. For everything. Let me see that phone." She pried my phone out of my hand and began typing. She handed it back. "Know that I'm always here for you okay? I know that moving can be hard and sometimes it feels like you're all alone, but you're not. Okay? Understand that, please. You're not alone. Text whenever you need to talk, we gotta stick together if we plan on being happy throughout the year." She nudged my shoulder. "Now come on, up!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me off the bleachers, away from the others.
"Do you really like her?"
"I don't understand your question Nik."
"Do you like her or her face," she asked.
"What," I panicked.
"Harvey! Do you like her for her personality or appearance?"
"I...I don't know," I looked down.
"Okay...well, I need to go. If you truly like her, win her over. Prove you are worth the time of day." She picked up her bag and ran. "Remember to text!" she yelled, turning as she ran.
I sat down and pulled on the protection Coach gave me. "Hey lover boy!" I turned when I heard this cheerful voice. "Whatcha doing?" Jade laughed and laid down beside me.
"Getting ready," I muttered.
"Ooooo, fun," she began to laugh. "Good luck."
"Who was that guy?"
"Oh him?" She shook her head smiling. "That's Ethan."
"So are you guys like I don't know...a thing? What did he want to talk about?" I looked down at my cleats, a bit ashamed.
She laughed. "No, we're just friends. Slow your roll Harv! Haha, no. He's taking me to the movies for my birthday," she played with her bracelet, dividing the charms.
"Oh...that's nice...I guess," my heart stopped, I could hear the break in my voice. "I got to go, I don't feel too great anymore." I sat up, removing my gear. See ya," I murmured when I removed my helmet, not bothering to fix my hair.
"Bye Harv," she whispered, her voice suddenly sad and depressing. "Oh, and Harvey?" I turned. "Nevermind."
I walked over to the group and grabbed my bag. "Where you going Blanco?" Johnny followed me to the gate, grabbing the back of my bag.
"I don't want to do this anymore."
"You quitin' on me already Blanco? Come on! I need you! You didn't even give it a try."
"Johnny, let go," I whispered, my head down.
"No. You can't leave me! We were gonna do great things Blanco. You were our ticket out. We were gonna show those country club boys that we could be something, that we weren't just garbage sitting on the corner, waiting to rot. That we weren't just the scum on the bottom of their mom's fancy as shit mop. But I guess not homes right? Because we're not good enough, am I right? Let the immigrants think you're giving them a chance, just to fuck them over, am I right? Jake? Spanish. Daniel? German. Me? We all know that one. I'm just the stupid Mexican. We know we're trash but guess what? So are you! You think they want you here? Well they don't. Neither do I. So go the fuck away Blanco, I'm done with you." His words were bitter and filled with hatred, and his eyes filled with tears. He released my bag, walking off in the opposite direction.
