Crash Course

Chapter 17

Aimee and I stood away from the crowds at the tailgate. "He'll be here Aimee. The opportunity is too perfect." I said, smoothing out my uniform for the tenth time.

"Yeah, he probably will." She agreed. "Which is why you, Drew, and I should leave."

"There is no way Drew will agree to go." I said. "Plus how will it look if we just disappear?"

"We'll come up with an excuse. Something to do with your mom? I don't know." Aimee tried.

"You need to leave. Drew and I should stay. It's a power play." I said. Aimee rolled her eyes. Suddenly I spotted Luke heading our way. "Aimee you can't be here. He can't see you." I said. Luke stopped next to me and handed me a small plate of food.

"You haven't eaten yet, the two of you have been over here whispering for 30 minutes." He laughed. I fake smiled and took the plate from him.

"Thank you babe." I kissed him quickly. "Annabeth was just getting ready to leave. She doesn't feel well, I was just making sure she knew the way back from here." I handed her the key to the house. She faked feeling sick.

"I'm sorry I'm going to miss my first game, but I'm sure you'll do great L!" She said.

"Thanks Anna. Get home safe, okay? And feel better!" I didn't like that they had nicknames for each other, but I let it slide. Luke wrapped his arm around my waist as we watched Aimee head for the car. I leaned against his shoulder.  "Are you gunna tell me what's really going on inside that pretty little head?" He asked.

"I'm just nervous. I didn't think I was going to have to cheer against all my old friends so soon." I said. Luke seemed to buy this excuse, maybe because it was more realistic.

"It's just a game. They'll forgive you after we crush them." He said. I laughed, kissing him again. "Let's go join the group!" He laced his fingers with mine and tugged me towards the team. They all sat around a fire pit, other students sat mixed in, or playing lawn games, wandering around through different club tables and eating food. Luke sat down and I perched myself on his left leg, turned towards Andrew.

"You ready?" I asked skeptically. Andrew nodded, as if trying to convince himself. I looked past the fire and made eye contact with Mr. Redding, who turned and walked into the distance as our eyes met. Luke suddenly shifted, forcing me to fall backwards across his lap.

"Stop staring at the hot English teacher." He said as I squealed.

"Get a room already!" James yelled from across the circle. I stood, not feeling like associating with James.

"Warm ups will be starting soon." I said, "I need to go talk to Mr. Redding but I'll be back before everything begins!" Before Luke could protest I was out of hearing range. I wandered through the parking lot, it was slowly getting dark and I felt silly chasing after the weird teacher. What would I even ask? I found him leaning against a car with his back to me. I stood, for who knows how long, just observing him. He was staring off past the school, looking at nothing in particular.

"It's rude to stare." His voice floated toward me, snapping me out of my trance.

"I'm sorry... I..." I didn't have an excuse. He turned around, pushing his glasses up the brim of his nose and studying me with piercing eyes.

"What can I help you with Ms.?" He asked, shoving his hands in the pockets of his trousers and approaching me.

"Can I be candid with you, sir?" I don't know where my ability to speak came from, but it was like I needed to impress him with my words. He smiled, nodding. "I get a strange feeling around you."

"What do you mean?" He kept his distance from me, enough for anyone watching to think it was a harmless conversation between a teacher and a student.

"What happened to Mrs. Carter?" No one had ever explained why our sweet old teacher disappeared suddenly.

"Early retirement, I believe." He said. "Do you not like my style of teaching?"

"It's not that, it's-" I began.

"Well Arabella, if you have any specific complaints, you can bring them up to Principal Shetland. Otherwise, I'll see you in class on Monday. Better hurry along, they need their star cheerleader." He cut me off and walked towards the stadium. Leaving me more confused than before. I waited until he was far enough away to start my own trek back. Something about Mr. Redding was off. He looked at me like he knew me, like he knew I was hiding secrets. I didn't need anymore surprises. Lost in thought, it was a short walk before I was back at the tailgate. Everyone was starting to head their separate ways. The boys were gathering together to do the final chant before starting warm ups, and the squad was walking towards the field. I quickly ran to Luke, hugging him.

"Good luck stud." I said, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"Cheer hard for me." He said with a smirk. James and my brother pretended to gag. I quickly hugged Drew, whispering in his ear.

"Be safe. Matt plays dirty." Andrew nodded in understanding. I rushed off after the rest of the team, quickly reaching Misty's side.

"Alright girl, time to get your head in the game. You've been a space cadet since the locker room pow wow. I need  you to be present. College recruiters are coming tonight." She said, fixing the bow in my hair. "A-game." I nodded.

"Yeah, I guess I just wasn't paying attention the first time you said we were playing Manmonth. I want to show them what we've got though!" Misty liked this response. We walked onto the track, so far only the cheerleaders were on the field. We took our place in front of the home team bleachers and I looked over my shoulder at my old squad across the field. A pang of pain settled in but I pushed it aside.

"Alright, tumblers, practice your passes then we will warm up basket tosses." Gemma and I lined up to run through our tumbling passes. Students were starting to fill into the stands again, flags and streamers and noise makers galore. It looked like both teams had decided to warm up off field. Kristy and Nate stood in front of the banister, waving me over. I broke away from the squad to talk to them.

"You doing okay?" Nate asked. "Manmonth won't be an easy game." I nodded.

"I know. I'm good." Nate and Kristy studied me.

"Well I have exciting news for you." Kristy said. I smiled, waiting to hear it. "Nate's boo thing is coming to the drive-in tonight! And he wants to come to the cabin with us!" My love for mindless high school gossip came back. Any distraction was a good distraction.

"Oh Nate! I'm so excited to meet him!" Nate blushed.

"You'll love him!" He said. Misty called to me.

"Shit, game is starting, I'll see you guys after!" I said, rejoining the group. We lined up and waited for the teams to come out. My breath hitched as the familiar black and gold uniforms of the Manmonth Mammoths rushed the field. I thought I might throw up when I saw his jersey. Number 14. He picked it because I was 14 when we started dating. I recognized him instantly. Don't faint, don't faint. His eyes met mine and all the feelings I had spent the recent weeks repressing broke through the flood gates. He smiled, and lightly nodded his head toward me. Urg, Matt.