Love in a Touchdown

Part 7

BACK TO ANDY'S P.O.V.- To think this day couldn't get any worse. Well, it did, I thought. Here I was, minding my own business, trying to cry in peace while I waited for my mom to call me back. That is when he showed up. The friend of the jerk that got me into the mess, was standing in front of me. Probably to gloat, or rub it in my face that I was crying. To make fun of me as a "tough football player," that can't even keep her emotions in check. I cursed myself for showing weakness, again. Why did it have to be the one time I actually express myself. Flying flippers, I would never hear the end of this. He would tell that jack butt Josh, Josh would tell his team. His team would tell every football team in the district if not the state. And then, to make things even worse, my team would find out and I would be just another "hormonal teenage girl," to them. After all the crap I had to fight to get the guys to treat me like... well, one of the guys. All of it would be wasted in one measly situation where I was vulnerable.

I was so caught up in the scenario in my head of my world ending that I didn't realize he was staring at me, awestruck. I rolled my eyes, great he was going to make this even more excruciating for me instead of letting me die in peace of my own humility. That is when he spoke, and by George did he have a smooth voice. It was deep, but not too Morgan Freeman like. Wow, he had such a great voice, it was oddly calming. I felt like I was getting lost in his words, except was pulled out of it within the first sentence. Was that a stutter? OMG, was he nervous to be around me? No, he probably just didn't know how to deal with an emotional wreck like myself. That wouldn't necessarily make sense though. He obviously had girls waiting at his beck and call; don't they get choleric too?

I barely caught any of his speech, still dazed by my luck and his voice. I only noticed he had started sitting next to me because his shoulder barely brushed mine before he uncomfortably slid to give us a few more inches of space. I then realized that I hadn't said anything and was not okay with unbearable silence. Did he ask me a question? Was I supposed to answer that question? How could I answer a question, when I didn't actually know what the question was. Nevertheless, I had to say something. So, me being the socially awkward teen that I was, decided to ask him a stupid and probably really abrasive question.

"What are you doing in our town?" I cringed after I said it. Heck, I cringed before I said it. I need to work on my whole -good sportsman like conduct- or whatever they call it. Granted him and his "posse" didn't deserve any grace from someone, let alone me. I sighed, probably for the millionth time in this one conversation. Why did he have to be the one to find me sitting by myself, bawling my eyes out. Some higher force obviously had a death wish for me, and I was fed up with it.

I took a deep breath, and luckily I was saved by the bell, or more like the ring. I pulled out my phone and more relief came with the caller ID. My mom had finally called me back and saved me. I held up a finger to the guy who I still didn't know his name, mouthing 'one second.' He just nodded back with a curious gleam in his eyes.
I answered the phone praying my voice wouldn't give out on me. "Hello?" My voice was as shaky as the IPhone 7 in my hand.

My mom's calm voice echoed through the speaker. "Honey, it's okay, he headed over to Rowan's house, I'll pick him up later. He sounded like he wasn't upset this time, I explained to him how the trial was different for you and he seemed to understand where you were coming from. The important thing is he's safe and you and him can talk it out when you both get home. He'll be there around four so take all the time you need to stop crying please." She paused for a moment; it must have been her mom instinct to know I was crying... "Take care of yourself, and I will see you when you get home. Call me if you need anything. And Andy?" Another pause, this time the words came out a little guilty, "None of this is your fault... I love you so much sweetheart."

"Love you too mom." I mumbled. With those few words out of my mouth the phone line went dead. 

I placed my phone back in my back pocket and then realized I had forgotten about him. I wasn't sitting alone like I was thinking when my mom was chatting away. I had a brief moment of absentmindedness about the boy sitting next to me, on a bench in the middle of town. My cheeks flushed when I thought about him eavesdropping on our conversation. Then I remembered that you can't hear through someone else's phone so I relaxed a little. After that I realized what people would think if they saw me, the starting quarterback, "conspiring with the enemy." As a precaution I pulled my beanie closer to my face; it was a good thing I wasn't wearing my varsity jacket right now. Granted, if I had known I would be chilling outside, literally, for an entire afternoon I would probably have been smart and worn a coat. I shivered thinking about it, and wrapped my arms around myself.

There was a lasting stillness between us, and surprisingly it wasn't as awkward as you'd think.

He was the one who broke the silence first. "Look, I don't know what you are going through, and I know you don't know me, but if you need someone to talk to I'm here. Sometimes, the best person to confide in is a stranger because they won't judge you for your opinions. Just a thought..." He trailed off, with a thinking expression on his face. "Oh, and for the record, my name is Collin. Thought you'd like to know the name of the guy who randomly sat by you on a city bench in the middle of a Saturday. And to answer your first question, I had to get new football gloves cause mine have become trash."

 He gave me a quirky smile, and all I could think about was how much I misjudged him based on his stupid friend. Actually, I lied. I was also thinking about how good he smelled sitting next to me, it was the subtle smell of the cologne ICE BLACK and degree deodorant (and I know that cause I'm around the guys 24/7.) Plus, I use guy's deodorant, because literally girl's deodorant DOES NOT LAST, not to mention the smell is gag worthy. I was also thinking about the way a few of his curls landed into his eyes. Or the way his brown hair complimented his eyes. What the heck was happening to me? How did a guy I've met twice make me feel different then any of the other football players I have ever been around? Ugh, life is so confusing sometimes. Say something, I told myself.

I cleared my throat, trying to give myself time to think of what I was going to say. Do I tell Collin, who is practically a stranger, my life story? Nah, then he'd tell people. How could you not, when you get dirt on a rival? What was I going to do?