The In Between

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

 

Justin

I sit in the middle of the field, stunned for a second before Luke puts his hand out to help me up. I shake my head and jump to my cleats. That’s the third time I’ve been checked today. Pre-season practice is usually pretty relaxed. When I get to the locker room, Pete’s glaring at me from three lockers down.

“What’s his problem?” I ask Luke who’s packing up and heading out.

“You missed it.”

Pete’s 16th birthday. My jaw drops. “I completely forgot.”

We’d had it planned for a while: when each of us finally turned sixteen we’d go on a mini road trip to celebrate getting our licenses. On my birthday, we went to ride the Cyclone three towns over and on Luke’s we hiked to Heron’s highest point. And we were supposed to go to Ohio’s largest miniature golf course for Pete.

I walk over to Pete. “Sorry, man. I completely spaced,” I offer lamely.

He shrugs and shuts his locker.

“Sally’s parents are out of town,” he says. “A bunch of us are going to—”

“Tonight?” I ask.

Pete looks at me, narrowing his eyes slightly. “Yeah.”

I sigh. “Tara and I have plans…”

“Of course you do,” he says with an unapologetic smirk.

“I’m sorry, bro. I—”

“No worries,” he cuts me off, slamming out of the locker room.

I look to Luke, who’s already packed up.

“He’ll get over it,” Luke offers with a shrug.

“It’s just that Tara and I finally…got together…”

“Good for you,” he says, making his way out of the locker room. When he reaches the door, he turns back. “We’re all happy for you, man, seriously.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, except Amanda. But dude. Don’t go MIA on us. Missing Pete’s birthday was kind of a big deal, and even at practice today you seemed someplace else.”

“I know. Sorry. It’s not personal, it’s—”

“Just make an effort,” Luke says, holding a hand up. I nod, looking to my feet as he heads out the door.

I want them to understand. Everything in my life has always been laid out for me. My dad signed me up for the Kickers when I was seven. Then Amanda screamed through my life like a storm. She called all the shots; nothing in our relationship ever seemed up to me. Tara is the first thing in my life that I have chosen. And I want the time I spend with her to stretch out for as long as possible. Forever.

But I can’t tell them that…