"You're going to be at my game tonight, right? It's at 7." Noah stopped us both at the end of the hallway in front of the doors. His hand was holding mine, our fingers intertwined. I looked up at him and tried my best to hide my disdain. Going to his football games was one of my least favorite things to do.
"Noah, I don't know, I-"
"You know how important my games are. I need you there, Adeline." I could feel myself wince and I know that he saw it. He always says he needs me at his games for support or whatever, but I really just think I'm some sort of trophy for him. Like a personal cheerleader and I would be okay with that if he actually paid attention to me when I'm there. Instead, he expects that I cheer for him and take pictures and post them and then he leaves with his friends to celebrate. It's becoming increasingly annoying to keep it up.
"Noah, I know you don't really need me there. You just want me to be your groupie or something and I don't want to." He dropped my hand and scoffed and looked away. "It's true. I'm tired of going just for you to ignore me."
"That's ridiculous. You're my girlfriend, you should be there cheering for me." I rolled my eyes at this and looked down at my shoes, shaking my head. "Well, you should be. You know how much football means to me."
"Sometimes it feels like you care more about it than me. Even when I do go to your games, you don't even come find me when they're over. You leave with your friends and party or whatever it is you do. See? I don't even really know what you do after because I never even see you until the next day."
"Well then come with me! You know how to find me."
"That is NOT the point, Noah. The point is that you need to realize that I'm your girlfriend and I should be one of your top priorities. We've been together since freshman year. That's almost 4 years now." Noah looked away again, out of the doors. Whenever he gets upset, he avoids eye contact with me. "I know it means a lot to you. All I'm saying is that you should at least acknowledge me."
"Whatever, Adeline. Just be at my game tonight. I'll see you later." He shoved his way out of the doors into the parking lot and towards his truck. I hate when he leaves like that, without talking anything through or fixing anything. I'm what most people would describe as temperamental, so I get angry quickly, and he knows this. I can't believe he'd leave like that and still expect me to follow his demands. I can already feel my cheeks burning when I hear a familiar voice behind me.
"Whoa, are you okay?" I turned back towards the hallway and see Riley standing there. Riley is my best guy friend and one of the most important people to me, other than Noah.
"I'm fine," I say shortly. He searches my eyes and I can tell that he doesn't believe me. I sigh and say, "Noah and his damn football game. He wants me there tonight."
"Ah, I see. I know how much you LOVE going." I smile and shove him. "So are you going to go?"
"No. I'm sick of being nothing but a mindless cheerleader for him." A small voice in the back of my mind is telling me that I'm being dramatic, and I know I am but I don't care. I'm angry and my emotions tend to overrule my logic. I look up at Riley and I get an idea. "Riley!"
"Addie!"
"Ew. Don't call me that. You know I hate that." He laughs at this and tells me to go on. "Let's go to the beach tonight! Have a bonfire and bring friends. And sparklers. We have to have sparklers."
"Don't you think Noah is going to hate that?"
"Does it look like I care? He won't even notice, probably. He'll be too busy with his game." Riley looks unsure, but I grab his wrist and pull him outside with me. "It'll be fun. Much more fun than some stupid game."
"Okay, fine. Whatever you say, bossy."
"Hm," I say triumphantly. "That's what I thought. Now, can you give me a ride? Noah seems to have forgotten that he gave me a ride to school today."
"Of course. What are best friends for?" I smile at him and head towards his car. He drives me to my house and pulls into my driveway. "Want me to hang out until you're ready to go to the beach?"
"No, you don't have to do that. But definitely come back later and pick me up! I have a feeling I won't be able to drive later, if you know what I mean."
"So I'm just supposed to be your DD? I can't have any fun?"
"Riley, please. We both know you don't drink."
"Hey, that's because I have enough fun sober."
"Uh huh. Anyway, pick me up later?" He shook his head and laughed.
"Of course. I'll be back around 7."
"Thank you. See ya later!" I hopped out of his car and turned back around to tell him one more thing. "Don't forget to invite all your friends. We need a real party tonight!"
"Mhm. Goodbye, Adeline." I waved and shut the door. I pulled out my phone and began texting all my friends about the beach party. And for good measure, I made a snapchat post about it. Tonight is going to be way better than any football game I've ever been to, I know it.
