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“You want to do something tonight?” I ask Be
“You bet. Let’s meet up at Murphy’s Hill. Maybe eight o’clock? I’ll swing by Russ’s first and see if I can get us some beer.”
“Sounds good. See ya then.”
I take my time walking to my truck. It feels like someone’s chewed up my legs and spit them back out. A white Kia pulls into the lot and parks next to my truck.
When Meghan gets out, her long, beautiful legs are what I notice first. Damn. I try to remember how long it’s been since I’ve even seen the girl. A month? Two?
“Hey there,” she says when I approach her. “Dang, you don’t look too good.”
“Wish I could say the same about you,” I reply.
She laughs as she flips her blond hair. “I’ve missed you too. Want to get a bite to eat or something? Catch up?”
I drop my bag of gear on the ground. “Thanks for the offer, but I just made plans with Be
“Oh, come on. He’d understand.”
“What are you doing, Meghan? It’s Friday night. Is your boyfriend out of town or something?”
She walks closer to me. “There is no boyfriend, Colby. And like I said, I’ve missed you.”
We went out for a few months last fall. Went to the Homecoming dance together and everything. But it wasn’t long after football season was over that she told me she needed space. A few weeks later, I heard she was going out with some guy in Lansford. Star of the basketball team or something.
Fu
I don’t want that again. I’m tired of doing things simply because other people think it makes sense. You know — because in Small Town, USA, that’s what football players do; they go out with cheerleaders. Honestly, the last thing I want right now is someone worshipping me, up close and personal.
“Sorry,” I tell her, “but if you need a shoulder to cry on because your heart is broken, mine is too damn sore right now.”
“Well, here’s a little secret. I’m your guardian angel this year.”
I shake my head. “Wait. What? Meghan, you aren’t supposed to tell me that. What are you doing?”
Every year, each football player is assigned a guardian angel from the cheerleading team. She bakes him goodies, gives him a gift bag with fu
But for some crazy reason, Meghan has decided she wants me to know now. Great.
She reaches up and touches my face for a second, before she says, “Look, let’s not dance around, Colby. I basically came here to tell you, I’m here for you. If you need me, I’m here.”
Dance around what?
And then I get it. Holy shit. I get what she’s trying to say. And honestly, I’m speechless. Maybe some guys would be all over this. Maybe some guys would say, “Awesome, great, throw yourself at my feet because I’m one of the star players, and when I want a booty call, I damn well deserve a booty call.”
But oh my God. What is she doing?
I pick up my bag and step away from her. “Meghan, thanks, um, for the offer, or whatever, but can we go back to the way it’s supposed to be? You know, do the whole guardian angel thing anonymously? I bet you can switch with someone, right? Since school hasn’t started yet?”
“Are you serious?” she asks.
“Yeah. I am.”
“But I requested you specifically.” She gives me a sad smile. “I know you aren’t seeing anyone, and . . . you know. We were good together.”
I can’t even believe how messed up this whole thing is right now. Doesn’t she know how pathetic this makes her look?
“Look, I’m sorry. Don’t take it the wrong way, okay? You’re a beautiful girl. But of all the things I need right now, this isn’t one of them.”
“Something’s changed,” she says. “You’re different.”
“Actually, Meghan,” I say as I open the door to my truck, “I just don’t think you, like most of the people in this freaking town, ever really knew me in the first place.”
23
Lauren
24
Colby
After i shower and eat di
There’s an old lumber road, nice and wide, off West Valley Road and it leads to a small hill with a clearing among all the trees. There’s lots of space for cars to park along the road and there aren’t any houses nearby. I didn’t learn about the place until I got into high school, and that’s the way it’s always been, I think. It’s become kind of this sacred place for students of Willow High.
When I pull onto the road, I make my way up toward the top. Since it’s pretty early, there aren’t any cars to greet me, though Be