Finding Your Person

Chapter 2

Walking into my high school on game days was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life, besides stepping onto a field. All the players had on their jerseys, and the hallways were filled with our school colors--red and white. The energy was something that radiated through everyone, regardless of whether you even played sports or liked them for that matter. The atmosphere was so captivating it drew everyone in. It was like for a split second no one cared who you were, we were all a part of something way bigger. Days like this brought everyone together.
"Hey, Mag, wait up!" I heard someone calling from the sea of people. It was Garrett.
Seeing him always put a smile on my face. It was like no matter what, I could never stay mad at him. I think that's why we never really fought, because no matter what, I'd just always forgive him. I was never good with holding grudges, with anyone, let alone Garrett. He had been my best friend for so long, so why would I risk losing that over some fight.
I saw the top of his head make it's way over to me, swerving in and out of the crowd.
"Hey, Babe. You ready for your big game today?" he asked, already knowing what my answer would be.
"Obviously!" I exclaimed. "This day is going to just drag, I know it," I sobbed.
"Oh stop, it'll be 4 o'clock before you know it," Garrett said putting an arm around me.
"Are you excited for the big Homecoming game tonight?" I questioned him with a huge smile on my face, because I already knew the answer.
"Yeah. Everyone's going to be there. It's going to be pretty awesome."
"I'm excited for you! I can't wait to see how many people show up tonight."
"Is your brother coming home for the game?"
"Yeah, he was home when I woke up. I think a lot of his friends that he graduated with are coming home for the game tonight."
"Ohh really, like who?"
"I think Alexa said James was coming home." I paused trying to remember everyone. James was a close friend of Brady's in high school, and it just so happened that his little sister Alexa and I had been friends for awhile now because we played soccer together. I continued, "I think Brett and Ryan are also home. I saw they had posted a picture yesterday while they were over James and Alexa's house. Liam's home too."
Garrett pulled his arm away from where it had been resting around my shoulders. "Of course you'd know that Liam's home," Garrett mumbled under his breath.
"Yeah, well my brother and him are practically attached at the hip. Meaning if Brady's home from college, so is Liam."
He rolled his eyes.
I glared at him. "Okay why are you being like this? You know I've known him since I was basically an infant. Which means I've known him longer than I've known you. And the only reason I know he's home is because Brady said he was coming to my game."
"Why is he going to your game?" He had a smug look on his face.
"The same reason he's been to over half my games, Garrett. He's Brady's best friend, and that means Brady drags him to events that Brady has to attend. And at least someone will be there for me." My temper began to spark.
"Are you serious?" he scowled. I barged past him, because this is not what I needed at 7:30 in the morning. I had a big test and an even bigger game to worry about. He grabbed my arm, jerking me back to him. I hated making scenes when there were people around, so I turned back to face him. Even though all of me had wanted to rip my arm away, turn around and shove him. I hated when he tried to pick fights with me in public places. It made me feel intensely uncomfortable. Especially when I tried to avoid controversy at all cost. It never bothered Garrett though. He constantly got into arguments, even about topics he knew nothing about. I always felt awkward and troubled by the idea of Garrett constantly pushing other people's buttons. I think I worried that one day it'd come back to haunt him. More than anything, however, I was always embarrassed because I wondered what people thought of me dating a guy so belligerent.
"I don't want to fight. I have a lot on my plate and don't feel like having you reprimand me for having one of my brother's best friends at my soccer game." I knew that Liam had also grown to be a good friend of mine as well, but I didn't feel like going into the details of it all, because it didn't matter.
"You're right. I'm sorry. I just feel guilty that I won't be at your game," Garrett spoke up in a calm voice, which frankly had taken me by surprise.
"So, you what? Decide to take it out on me?"
He let out a deep sigh. "I was wrong."
"I need to get to class." Regardless of him apologizing, my patience with Garrett was short.
"Okay, good luck on your test. I love you." He pulled me in, giving me a hug.
"I love you, too," I breathed. I turned away feeling exhausted from our constantly getting into these altercations, and after we fought, he'd always act so sweet. Which I wouldn't mind if he acted that nice to me all the time, but he only was that nice to me when he was trying to make up for something.
I just couldn't understand how about a year ago, and even six months ago, I'd been so in love with him. I mean completely head over heels for the kid. I never thought I could be so happy. Of course there were things in our relationship that I didn't like, but I figured I'd get over them and now everything had turned into a disagreement of sorts.
It was sixth period now, and the day was almost over. I thought I had done pretty well on my test, or so I hoped. Going into Mrs. Huntsman's room I heard a familiar voice that I could recognize anywhere.
"Hi, pretty girl." How could hearing those words and that voice make me feel so calm yet so anxious? I turned around to see Liam with such a huge endearing smile smothered across his face. Before I even had time to think, he had both his arms around me in a huge bear hug, picking me up off the ground, spinning me around.
He set me down. Slowly loosening his grip on me, he leaned back with his arms still around me. "You know you could look a little happier, Mas. It's not like you haven't seen the love of your life in over two months," he said, still managing to hold that charming smile.
I was in such a daze and almost star struck by just hearing his voice, I hadn't realized since I turned around, I hadn't moved. I could feel the smile still lingering on my face from when I first heard his voice calling me pretty girl, like he had done ever since I turned fifteen. I had just frozen when I saw him rushing over towards me; it didn't feel real. Again, I think it had to do with the fact that I hadn't spoken to him or had even seen him in over two months. I couldn't believe he was right in front of me.
"No. Oh my gosh!" Shaking my head, I jumbled around trying to find the right words. "I'm so happy." I quickly threw my arms around his waist, tightly hugging him. "I just didn't think I'd see you until after my game."
We slowly pulled away from each other, and he gave me a little smirk.
"How am I not going to see my love and wish her luck in her big game."
I couldn't stop smiling.
He continued, "Plus Brady and I had to come back and say hi to Mrs. Huntsman. She would kill us if she knew we were home and didn't visit her." He paused, then continued. "But mainly for you," he said with a hint of sarcasm and started to laugh.
"I'm just so excited you'll be at my game." I tried to repress my smile, but I just couldn't. Whenever I was around Liam and Brady, over half the time we spent together involved laughing so hard that after, we'd complain about how sore our faces were from smiling so hard.
"Of course I'd be here. You'd have to be stupid not to. This is the first time our high school girls soccer team has made it to the semi-finals in over fifteen years. That's pretty exciting. Plus if you win today, it'll give me another excuse to come home and see you play in the finals." I was so thrilled to hear him say he'd come back to see me play again, but what he had said about 'you'd have to be stupid not to see the game' just made me think about Garrett missing my game.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked in a hushed voice. I hadn't realized my thoughts were being written all across my face.
Before I even had time to answer, Brady shouted across the class, "Hey, Liam, we better go see Mr. C before school ends! Let's go!" Before running off with my brother, Liam turned back to me with a concerned look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm okay," I replied.
He stared at me. "Fine, you can tell me later."
I smiled. "Just go before Brady leaves," I giggled.
"He would never leave me. He wouldn't last a minute without me," he said all cocky, and it made me laugh.
"Alright. Well, I'll see you after your game, miss." He began to walk away, turning around he smiled at me.
"I LUV YA," he said, tossing his head back.
"I LUV YA, TOO!" I said, tossing my head back laughing. It wasn't weird, our saying we loved each other. We had always jokingly said it. Whenever I went to bed I would always tell Brady goodnight and I love him. I would make such a big deal if he didn't say it back. I would repeat myself over and over again until he said it. God forbid anything happened to me or someone I loved, I'd want our last words to be I love you. Everyone who knew me well enough knew that's how I was. Liam especially, since Brady and I always would bicker about it. Liam would just tell him to say it so he could get some sleep. One night I had said it to Liam to tease Brady, after I had said it to Brady over ten times before he finally responded back. Liam said it right back, and I rolled my eyes over to Brady as if to say 'how hard was that.' I know it was a joke, but I really meant it in a sincere way. At that point in my life I had this 'problem,' some would say, when it came to saying 'I love you.' Most people couldn't say it, where I was told I overly say 'I love you.'
It all started because one of my teachers back when I was in sixth grade had made it a point to share happiness, hope, joy, and above all love. In this crazy horrifying world people don't spread enough love. He said to us, "If you would cry for someone if they died, then you feel love for them." Now, clearly, my teacher didn't know what a cry baby I was. I could cry at practically anything. Someone could kill an ant and I would shed a tear, but that didn't mean I loved that ant.
Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I did have a tendency to cry at practically every movie, TV show, some commercials, and a lot of books I've read. I was a pretty passionate person. However, I knew what he meant when he said that. So I don't care if I overused the words 'I love you.' In this world there is so much hate spread. My thoughts are: if the majority of people don't say 'I love you' enough, then I'll overly say it to make up for their lack of saying it.
I watched as Liam turned and jumped on Brady who was in a conversation with one of their old buddies they had graduated with. I couldn't get over how dorky they were. On the outside if you didn't know what they were like, you'd assume they were the popular jocks who were stuck up and superficial. However, it wouldn't take you long to realize how false that was. They were both the biggest dorks imaginable, especially Liam. He acted almost theatrical. If he was in a movie he would clearly be the dorky, funny, goofball best friend. I'm not going to lie and say he isn't attractive, because he definitely is.
He was a little shorter than Brady, but still at least half a foot taller than me. He had brown curly hair that was shorter on the sides, but kept long at the top. It was always styled away from his face, but from time to time a curl or so would fall down in front of his face. I hated guys that constantly had to push back their hair every five minutes, but Liam did it just enough that it never bothered me. In fact, I would never admit it to anyone but when he did it, it was kind of cute and almost alluring. Liam was also blessed with this beautiful smile, and had the most perfect teeth, unlike me. He had these beautiful eyes that I could never pinpoint the exact color too. I guess I would call them hazel. They were green around the outside, and a light brown in the middle. Usually I feel like the light brown would take over his whole eye and make them appear almost golden. Every once in awhile, however, I swear that those beautiful eyes would go all green. Overall though, the thing that I believed to be his most endearing quality was that he had the best personality. He really did, and thinking all of this, I really wondered what Liam's flaws were.
Brady and his whole group of friends all started to laugh making their way out the door.
Brady peeked his head back in the door, I could tell his eyes were scanning the room looking for me. Once he saw me he whispered," Good luck, Mas, I love you."
"I love you too," I mouthed back with a huge grin on my face.
The bell rang, and my attention was back to being in school for just a little bit longer.