All About Him

Chapter 3: Shirtless Ego

 Against my better judgement, I went to the basketball game. I told the guy at the door the "password" and got in free. Adri had to pay her way in because I wouldn't tell her what to say to the guard. She grouchily pulled out her wallet and handed the guy a five.

"It wouldn't have hurt to get me in free, too," Adri grumbled, pushing past the guy. She followed me up into the bleachers inside the smelly gym. She tugged on my shirt. I ignored her. "Why are we going up so high? Eli won't be able to see that you're here."

I sighed, "That's the point, Adri."

"Then why did you come?" Adri asked. She sat beside me and shivered. The bench was cold and hard, making us both shift our weight uncomfortably.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. To tell the truth (which is what I wouldn't do), I didn't know why I came. It wasn't because he begged. I really don't care if he kissed my shoes or coated his please's with sugar. I wasn't there because my friends were going to be there. Adri just tagged along... I don't know how long the silence was, but it was long enough for Adri to notice.

"You like him, don't you?" Adri said, her big, blue eyes growing wider. A smile too big for her face blinded my eyes. "I knew you'd fall for him eventually! No one can resist his charm!"

"I don't like him. He's an arrogant fool who only cares about himself," I glared at her and folded my arms across my chest. Eli had done nothing to charm me. Adri was jumping to conclusions... as always.

Adri shook her head, "No, no... you like him. There's nothing NOT too like about Mr. Benson. He's got those biceps! They're huge! And his abs, don't even get me started! He's soooo defined! How many guys do you know with a body like his? A face like his? Hair like his? And what about the..."

I ignored the rest of Adri's ranting. The game was starting anyway. Eli came onto the court with a smirk as he looked into the crowd. He didn't see me at first and I breathed a sigh of relief. He passed the ball to a teammate and it went around like that for a while. I wasn't really too into the game. Surprisingly, I thought Eli was actually quite good. He caught every pass, everyone caught the passes he made to them, every time he aimed for the basket, he'd made it. There was not a moment in the game where he'd looked stupid or inexperienced. He did have bragging rights. Eli just didn't have to go around, well, bragging. It got annoying.

At half-time, Eli spotted me and smiled. I crossed my arms and glared at him, trying to look like I really didn't want to be there. He just slowly shook his head and jumped into the audience. Some girls were in awe and watching every single muscle ripple beneath his skin. Eli sat by me and a few of the girls narrowed their eyes in jealousy.

"So I see you came. I knew you couldn't stay away from me," he panted. "Am I great or what?"

"You were... good," I said through clenched teeth. I hated it when he was right. He'd always continue to gloat about it. That was one of the things I disliked about him!

Eli chuckled, "You just don't want to admit it."

He was right. I didn't. Instead, I clasped my hands together and said, "Alright, so I'm allowed to leave now?"

His eyebrows pulled slightly together and the corners of his lips dropped a bit. Eli's dark blue eyes were shiny and cartoon-like, "You don't want to see the rest of the game?"

"I... I... I, well..." my words stumbled. I really didn't want to hurt his feelings this time. He wasn't being cocky at this fraction of a moment and he really made it hard to leave him with that puppy dog face. It really didn't help my hating policy. I bit my tongue before answering quietly, "I'll stay the rest of the game."

"Yes!" Eli said and put his hand on my shoulder for support as he stood up. He ran down the bleachers.

"Eli is so winning you over!" Adri bounced.

I was wiping my shoulder off. How dare that sweaty ball of ego use me as a balance object. He could have just stood up and run away. Now I probably had cooties festering away on my blue sleeve. I continued to pull and rub at my shoulder.

"...and you and Eli will fall madly in love and live happily ever after," Adri finished dreamily. Hm. I didn't notice that she was still talking. "I mean, if I can't have him, I'm glad that you will. If anyone else does, then I'd kill her!"

"Adri, calm down. I wouldn't go out with that guy even if he asked me," I said, disgusted she would even think that.

My strange friend rose an eyebrow, "You wouldn't?" she asked in total disbelief.

"I wouldn't."

Adri still didn't believe me, but she didn't say anything as the buzzer went off and the second half of the game began.

Eli was the same as he was in the first half. He made every move so effortlessly and with a smile taped to his face. He didn't even treat it as a real sport. He treated it as a child's game. I crinkled my nose. Basketball players were supposed to be more serious. Our team was winning 34 to 6. Eli, of course scored the last basket, bringing it up to 36. Poor Mendocino High. They never had a chance. The boys ran into the locker room to change. I saw this as my window of opportunity.

Happy it was over, I ran down the bleachers to avoid running into Eli. I had just seen him go in to change with the other boys. I zipped past the locker room with speed I didn't know I had.

"Libi!" I heard my name behind me. It definitely didn't sound like Adri. I whirled around. Eli ran out of the locker room. I stared at him like he was crazy. It wasn't because he was running after me. It was because he was running after me without a shirt on! I tried not to stare, but it was hard. Adri was right about his abs. They were perfect. Everything about his body seemed perfect. His muscles moved as he did, and every single muscle was outlined and defined. I blinked and put on my tough face. No time for distractions.

"What do you want... uh... Eli?" I asked. My voice didn't stay as strong as I would have liked. If he noticed, he didn't show it.

"I forgot to give you this," Eli handed me a piece of paper.

"What the heck is this?" I asked and turned it around. "Oh." It was a basketball schedule. I huffed and stared him in the eyes. There was only innocence. He still had no idea how obnoxious he was.

"My phone number's on there. Next time, you can call me," Eli winked and ran the other way towards the locker room.

I looked at the paper again. Sure enough, there was his phone number right at the top. A smiley face was drawn right beside the seven digits. I groaned. this boy just wouldn't give up until I liked him. He couldn't just get it through his head that not everyone had to be in love with him. I could be different.

"Did you see that?" Adri squealed loudly in my ear. I winced. "He remembered while he was getting undressed and had to run after you before you left without having any time to put back on his shirt! You should run away from him more often! It gives me more eye candy! Eeeep!"

I rolled my eyes. Adri just wouldn't learn. I didn't like him and I never would. On my way home, I found a trashcan and threw the piece of paper away.