perfectly wrong | ethma

eleven

another friday. another football game. another party.

"i'm not going," i tell riley for the tenth time. i lean over to the other side to stretch. "i just have some homework that's all."

riley rolls her eyes as she stretches her arms. "that's a lie," she says. "you just don't want to see him."

i sigh as i look behind me where i can see the football field where ethan is doing his warm ups. he turns his head and we make eye contact. i immediately look away and back at riley.

"see, you've seen him. was it that bad to where you can't go to the party?" she asks.

"i just don't want to go, okay?" i raise my voice slightly.

"but-"

"drop it." i snap. "please."

"sorry," she mumbles. she raises her hands in defense and turns away.

"hey," i hear his voice. shivers are sent up and down my spine. it's like i'm frozen in my spot purely because of his voice.

i turn around slowly and my eyes meet his. i force a smile on my face.

"ethan!" i hear his coach yell from the field.

he's supposed to be warming up, of course he's getting yelled at.

"how are you?" he asks me.

he ignores his coach to ask me such a simple question. well, it's a simple question to everyone but us.

i nod my head. "i'm fine. i think coach is yelling at you," i tell him.

"that's good," he ignores the last part i said. "i'm pretty nervous."

i tilt my head. "why?"

he nods up towards the stands. "see that official looking guy?" he asks.

i turn my head and see a man there with a baseball cap and clipboard.

"yeah, who's that?"

"a college recruiter," he says. "he's here to watch me."

my eyes immediately widen. "e,"

"hey, you two!" riley interrupts. the one moment i wouldn't want her to destroy, she does. "emma, lets continue to warm up, okay?" she eyed me as if she's doing me a favor.

i understand why she thinks so. but now is not a good moment to "save me" from.

"that's amazing, e. i'm so happy for you," i genuinely say to him, ignoring riley.

he smiles as i'm being pulled away. his coach pats his back as he jogs past him with an angry look on his face.

"happy for what?" riley asks.

i shake my head at her and continue warming up.

suddenly, all the cheers tonight were for him.

—

they were down 42-40. this is the last play. if ethan pulls this off, the game is theirs. he's calling out the play and the team gets into the position.

he can either run the ball or throw.

the play starts and ethan backs up to look at his options as the team blocks out others. no one seems to be open and he's forced to run the ball. he takes off and dodges one player. another runs towards him and grayson blocks the player out. ethan is less than 5 yards away and a player is trailing closely behind him, but he speeds ahead into the end zone.

HE DID IT. HE WON THE GAME.

i jump up, not following the cheers. i look at the stands and i see the man from before standing up as he cheers.

i look out at the field to see the one person i wanted to see and he's looking back at me, a smile on his face.

he begins a light jog off the field. i turn back around to do one final cheer. i feel a hand touch my arm and i turn around instantly.

"i did it," he said with a smile on his face. sweat is dripping down his face.

"you did it!" i say as i involuntarily wrap my arms around his neck. he wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me off the ground slightly.

it feels so good being in this moment. everything felt right.

second choice. rebound girl.

i remove my arms from his neck and he sets me down. the smile he had fades away.

i clear my throat. "so um," i mumble. "congrats on a good game."

he nods. "yeah, um, thanks." he says. "good job cheering tonight. i'll see you at the party?"

"you won't," i shake my head.

i can tell he wants to ask why i won't be there so badly, but he holds back. i think he knows that the hug was too much.

"oh," he mumbles. "i'll see you monday then, i guess."

i don't say much else and i walk towards my stuff.

i'm glad i'm not going to the party. tonight will be so simple. tonight is the night for me, popcorn, and the lion king movie.