You Don't Know..What you Don't Know

Chapter Twenty-Four: Winter

"Jim, let's go!" Mom shouted from downstairs.

"Sorry, Ma! I had to find my lucky socks."

I wrinkled my nose as he bounded down the steps.

"Oh my God, Jim. Those things smell."

"They're lucky."

"They're toxic."

Mom rolled her eyes and hurried us both toward the car before another argument could begin.

We loaded onto the buses by team. The varsity boys had their own bus.

Unfortunately, ours was shared with the cheerleaders.

The girls on my team quietly left an empty seat beside me. Whether it was out of kindness or because they knew I wanted to be alone, I didn't ask. I rested my head against the cold window and closed my eyes.

Phillip sat directly across in the other bus.

Every so often I could feel him looking at me.

He was probably just waiting for the right moment to tell me exactly what he thought of me.

I checked my phone one last time.

Nothing.

No apology.

No explanation.

No text from Randy telling me he'd overreacted.

What did you expect, Tia?

That yesterday was all a nightmare?

That he'd be standing outside the school waving goodbye like nothing happened?

I let out a silent laugh.

You're an idiot.

I shut my eyes tighter, wishing I had remembered my headphones.

A few rows behind me, the cheerleaders began talking loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"I'm getting him this weekend," one declared.

"No way," another shot back. "It's my turn. You've already struck out."

Someone laughed.

"Maybe we should ask Athena how she managed to hook him... and lose him."

Wonderful.

They were talking about Phillip.

One of them leaned over the back of my seat, waiting for a reaction.

Without opening my eyes, I answered calmly.

"Not a chance."

Silence.

"Have fun trying."

She huffed and disappeared back into her seat while the rest of them started plotting their grand strategy for the weekend.

Good luck with that.

We were all wearing our warm-up uniforms, but I slipped a tank top underneath mine and tied my favorite blue bandana around my head.

The makeup stayed.

Not because I cared how I looked.

Because I didn't want the entire school seeing the swollen eyes Randy had left me with.

My backpack held a pair of jeans, a Tucker sweatshirt, and my favorite blanket.

If we won...

Maybe I'd spend a little time by the ocean.