Where We Begin

Chapter 32 - What Are You Doing On Friday?

Nov 3rd, 2002 - Taylor

For the first time, the whole crew was able to make it to one of Busta's lacrosse games. It was a make-up game on a Sunday, so there were no conflicts due to football and cheerleading. 

I thought about how funny it was that Busta choose lacrosse instead of football, much to Jake's disbelief. I probably would have picked the sport all my friends were involved in, but Busta had spend a lot of time alone, being independent of anyone. It made sense that he wanted to do something on his own. 

I spotted him walking to the bench and waved. He took off his helmet, revealing fresh magenta streaks in his dark hair. He smiled, and waved, and promptly tripped over an equipment bag, somehow catching himself and springing back up. Kiki, who was sitting to my right on the bleachers, started giggling at him and I had to join in.

Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised about Busta beating to his own drummer. 

"This sport couldn't be stupider," Brent muttered from the row behind us. He looked out of place among our classmates, with his large, muscular frame hunched over and the hint of a five o'clock shadow on his face. He was a couple years older than us, but sometimes I felt like Brent looked old enough to have a 401K.

Brandy, sitting on my other side, turned to make sure her cousin could see her roll her eyes. "You say that about, like, every sport."

"Except football!" Jake interjected. He was next to Brent, letting Kiki lean back against his legs. Jake patted Brent on the back. "Our newest tight end is kicking butt out there. The other teams panic when they see him coming. And it's great for getting out some aggression, right man?"

Brent made some kind of inaudible grunt and stared straight ahead until Jake took his hand off his shoulder, looking uncomfortable. How can someone be so grumpy all the time?

I almost made a comment about his attitude, but Amber returned with stuff from the snack bar. She sat down on Brent's other side, and I swear, just for second, I saw him half smile. Amber passed out the candy and popcorn, then settled up against her new beau, who casually slung one of his massive arms around her. 

I had to remind myself that I once knew a grumpy new guy in town who just needed a little time and a little love to break out of his shell. Amber obviously saw something in Brent, besides the fact that he basically stepped off the pages of a romance novel as the perfect, brooding bad boy your mama doesn't want you to have anything to do with. Amber was probably the most level-headed of us all, and she wouldn't waste her time on someone she didn't see something in. 

* * * * *

Busta played so well. I think. I have to be honest, I had never really watched a whole game of lacrosse before. But he scored once, and didn't fall too much, so I took that as a success.

Jake and Brent got up at halftime to hit the bathrooms, leaving all the girls behind.

"Taylor, Busta is doing great!" Kiki paused. "Right?" 

I laughed. "I'm on the same page. But, yeah, I think he's good." 

"Hey, you know what. This is the first time it's been just the four of us together in a while," Amber pointed out.

Brandy gasped. "Ugh, you're right! That's no bueno." 

Amber nodded. "We need a sleepover, ASAP."

"What about after the game Friday? Who's house? Pizza or chinese? Should I bring Dream Phone?" Brandy was getting excited, her green eyes wide. 

I bit my lip. "We could probably have it at my place, but could we do it on Saturday?" 

"Sounds good to me," Kiki said. "What are you doing on Friday?"