Hopeless Romantics

Chapter 8

We walk up to the school with everyone else.  The whole school is electric off the first win of the season, and I am still floating from every interaction I've had this week with Nick.  I still cannot get over how amazing he was on the field.  Every pass Jake threw, he either converted to a first down or scored a touch down.  Jake's performance was also amazing.  I don't know how any school could pass him up after tonight. 

Lily and I have made our way to the school, arms linked, gushing about how great the game was and there is already a mob of students outside.  The underclassman are emerging from the locker room and are taking pictures with all their friends.  Some won't even get to touch the turf this season, but football players are basically royalty at Ridge Way in the fall.  We would have to wait a little longer for the seniors to finally get out of the locker room.  In the group of people ahead of us, I see Tom.  

"Girlfriend, look who is at 10 o'clock," I whisper.  Lily looks up and sees him and immediately starts blushing.  I know Tom, because he is a distance runner on the co-ed track team , and he is a great athlete.  He also is loved by all of our coaches.  

"OMG! He looks so cute," Lily gushes with her hand on her face, like she is feeling the blush rising on her cheeks. 

"Tom is so nice, you have to go talk to him." I say trying to push her towards him with a big grin spreading on my face.

"I can't, I will clam up and not even know what to even say to him." she spits out.

"You are gorgeous and Tom will probably faint when he even gets a sniff of your perfume.  So its time to man-up, go over there, and ask him about literally anything, cross country is a safe bet." I instruct.

"Okay fine, well when I cant get a word out, I am blaming this all on you." she points a finger at me as she walks backward towards him. 

"Get it girl!" I yell and she looks my way and glares as she starts to blush again.

More boys are on their way out and finally I spot a familiar face.  Nick is clean and no longer has any black paint on his face.  He is looking around the mob and people keep running up to him to congratulate him on the win.  He is dressed in jeans and a simple Ridge Way tee, yet he still looks effortless handsome.  He greets everyone with a smile and some ask for pictures or a fist bump and when a small opening appears, he catches my eyes.  I give him a shy smile and he smirks back. He walks up to me not acknowledging another person. 

"So Flash, I have to say you have impressed me tonight." I tease once he is in ear shot. 

"Okay Super Star, that is one I can get behind." he laughs and his eyes sparkle.  I can tell he loves the game and that win put him in an even better mood than usual.  

"Seriously Nick, you were so good. I wish you would've told me that so I wouldn't have had made my comment about running routes around you." I say as I lower my head a little embarrassed. I didn't expect him to be that good.

"Hey, I wouldn't mind teaching you a thing or two sometime." he says in a low voice.  I look up and make eye contact with his sexy gaze and my mouth is actually agape. I am trying to think of a reply when Lily walks up with Tom.

"Hey guys!" she comes over and gives me a sideways glance, "Oh Tom, this is Nick Davis, Nick this is Tom." Lily makes the introductions while I gain my composure back.  I finally snap out of it and see Jake walking out the doors.  He looks more relieved than anything. He also has changed into jeans and his favorite Ridge Way athletics tee.  I know how worried he is about this season, so when he is instantly greeted by even more people than Nick was, I have to smile.  He takes some congratulations from friends and he humbly thanks them.  I know how hard he is on himself, which is just another thing he and I have in common. I know he will have things he wish he would've done better. He has been waiting for this season his whole life.  He has worked harder than anyone I know to get here and when I see the man with the Pittsburgh hat walk up to him and shake his hand I almost cry tears of joy.  Nick touches my shoulder and I return back to the people in front of me.

"So are you ready to go to that party Super Star?" Nick asks me.  I look up at him with a smile and nod my head.