Infatuation

~ Chapter 4 ~ (a.k.a. The Game)

I kind of floated through the day, high on a fit of ecstacy from that amazing moment. Wow, me? Me-
"You going to the game later?"
Lola is hanging onto her boyfriend Biggie's arm as he talks to some people next to us.
"What game?"
"The beginning of the year game," Lola says. "Every year they have the people in that one club play flag football to bring in the new year. It's just like a football game, too. You should come!"
"Oh, I don't know..."
"Come on, Lee! You know it wouldn't even be half as fun without you."
"Oh okay, okay."

♡♡♡

I get to the game 15 minutes before it starts with the school colors (maroon and yellow) represented in colorful freckles on my face, and a maroon Vans hoodie to match. I buy my ticket and go in as my phone buzzes.

Loper
Sorry, we're gonna be a lil late.

I sigh and think fantastic as I look around. I see Parker with some people, his back facing me, and decide to walk towards him. The conversation he's having becomes more and more clear as I get closer, his erratic hand gestures looking especially hilarious.
"I'm telling you, it was the funniest thing ever! I was sitting on the swing, and he out of nowhere flew over his handlebars into a puddle of mud!"
"Sounds hilarious," I say as he swings around.
"Oh hey there, Lacharie," he says as he puts his arm around my shoulders. "Guys, this is Charlie." Curly is there, along with a few other guys I don't recognize. "Charlie, you know Curly. This is Dom," he gestures to a taller guy with super wide shoulders. " And this is Renzi," A short, long-haired girl about my height smiled and waved.
"Nice to meet you guys."
Renzi speaks first," We've heard so much about you. He can't stop mentioning how you two met."
I look over at Parker as he blushes and ruffles his hair, looking down at the ground and mumbling. Noticing hisembarrassment, I hug him around his waist. An eruption of awws from his friends then makes us both flustered and makes me blush even more, and our embrace ends.
Parker then turns away from me, and I say," What are you doing?"
He squats down and flings his arms back," Get on."
"You can't be serious," I giggle.
"Before I change my mind..." he teases.
I jump on and accept his piggy-back ride and he hoists me up, then stands back in the group circle and kicks up the conversation like nothing happened.

♡♡♡

     It stayed like that the rest of the night, him throwing his arm around me and holding my hand like it was daily routine. At one point, he even draped his jacket around my shoulders because I was cold, and proceeded to practically cuddle me on the bleachers "for warmth." At the end of the night, we conversed after the final play.
" Oh, how our parting is such sweet sorrow," I say jokingly.
" Until we meet again, Lacharie."
Our hands drift apart as we walk away, making every touch they can until our steps were too far apart as we walked to our cars.
On the ride home, my mother says," Who was that? Ooh, boy, that was one handsome man."
"Oh, that was Parker Davis, he's just a friend."
"Just a friend like Biz Markie? Or..." she raises an eyebrow.
"Oh my gosh," I laugh. " You are so crazy."
We arrive home to my dog, who answers the door with a big smile and a tail that wags so fast it makes her walk all wiggly. I sit down at a chair in the living room and pet her face as she smiles her big smile that makes me so happy.
"Hello, Bubbi," I say as I kiss my grandmother's forehead.
My bubbi usually is sitting in her rocking chair in the living room, wrapped in blankets and singing. She's been like this since I was a little kid, senile. She's got what my mon calls Old-Timers, and usually mistakes me for an alien or someone from the future. Once, she thought my sister was my mom and kept calling her her "sweet little Rosalie." We made no comment.
"There's pizza on the stove, Hawaiian style," my mom says as she turns on one of our favorite sob stories, Someone Great.
I grab a paper plate and plop two slices on top of it before walking over and throwing myself on the couch. Brynn, my sister, suddenly popped up out of nowhere wearing a floppy colorful dress that was 5 sizes too big for her.
"What are you wearing?" I say, gesturing my pizza towards the dress.
"I have a party to go to next week, and the theme is colorful. I spent so much time organizing how much time I have to space out between my friends, I completely forgot a dress!"
"My own little sister, going to more parties than me. Isn't it only the first day of school?"
"Yes, and I'm so distressed because I don't have enough space for everyone to sit next to me at lunch!"
I breathe a heavy sigh as Brynn walks away. I take out my phone and take another bite of pizza, which I choke on as I see what my latest notification is.

Parker: You wanna hang out tomorrow?

I smile lightning bolts and kick my feet as I let out a squeal of celebration. I can't suppress my giant smile torn across my face as my hands tremble to answer back.

Me: What time?
Parker: Noon, Alan's Café

Since my school is stupid, and we start class on a Friday, we would have a lot of time to sit and just talk.

Parker: Bring a bag with a swimsuit and flip flops.

Hm. What are you up to, Parker Dennis?

Me: Why?
Parker: You'll see soon enough.

♡♡♡

S

o it's Saturday morning, and I'm rummaging through every swimsuit I have. There's the black and blue top with black bottoms that have strings, or the neon yellow two-piece that covers my stomach, the bruise-blue bikini that only a model could make work, and then there's the super-complicated red top that has a million strings but acts as a push-up. I disregard the other ones and just grab the black swimsuit, and toss it on as I stuff a towel into my smiley face mini-backpack. Now, what to actually wear..?
I open my drawers and see my Bob Marley crop top, a shirt I love but never wear because I never really show off my body. Well, such it baby belly because today's your day to shine. I throw on some textured black leggings and a red flannel on my waist before getting ready to hit the road with my black ankle-high Vans.
"Hey, Mom, can I go to Alan's?"
"Sure honey, but you're driving there. Brynn has her party soon."
"Okay, see you soon. Love you guys! I love you, grandma," I say as I give her a kiss on the cheek and squeeze her hand.

Well, as I step out this door I realize now how hot it is. Should've opted for shorts. Run back in the house and change? Sure, as I run light speed into the house and throw on some comfy fabric high-waisted shorts. Then, after going back outside and wrestling my blue bike out of the shed, I'm off.