Measuring Up

saying goes. The whole time I’m slipping on my jeans and purple button-up shirt I’m wondering what the heck is going on. He touched me. Like, in a different way

than usual. Or maybe I’m imagining things, but it definitely felt different.

I slide some lip gloss over my lips, a little mascara and I’m done.

Without my direction, my eyes scan the gym for Tegan, but I don’t see him. When I step outside, he’s there in a pair of white shorts. They’re long like guys wear them, resting mid knee, and a black t-shirt. It must have taken me longer to get ready than I thought if he’s gotten off and changed in that amount of time.

Before he sees me, his mom’s van pulls up in front of him. The side door opens and Tim is sitting there. A second later his mom walks around the vehicle.

“A

Tegan whips around, gives me a quick nod of his head and then turns back to his brother. “What’s up, kid?” he playfully pushes Tim’s arm. “Oh, and hi to you

too Mom.”

I smile at them, but have yet to get a word in.

“Dude, I’m not five. Stop calling me kid,” Tim says. And when Tegan ruffles his hair, “You suck.”

“Alright, stop it you two.” Dana waves me over so I join them. I can’t keep my eyes off them and the way they interact together. I’ve seen Dana and Tim, but it’s even different adding Tegan to the mix.

“You suck,” Tegan throws back at his brother like he’s the one who’s five. This is going to sound stupid, but if I didn’t get the warm and tinglies from him before, I’m definitely getting a case of them now. No matter what, it’s obvious how much he loves his brother.

“I knew Timmy had his practice and I wanted to go.” He shrugs like it’s not a big deal, but by the way his mom’s eyes are wide, I’m pretty sure it is a big deal.

“Wow… my responsibility straddled son took extra time off? It’s a miracle, but well deserved.” She looks at me and then back to him.

“Drop it, Mom.”

“My names, Tim. How many times do I have to tell you to call me, Tim?”

I’m getting whiplash trying to keep up with them and I love it.

And then, like she just realized she hadn’t and that it’s a rule she needs to, Dana gives me a quick hug. Her nails are short, unpolished and her cast is gone. Mom would never be caught dead with nails like hers.

“What time’s practice, Timmy?” Tegan asks. He still hasn’t acknowledged me. It makes me feel stupid for standing here.

“Tim,” his brother counters.

“No, I’m Tegan. You’re Timmy.”

“Ha ha. So fu

Again, they’re making me dizzy with all this back and forth, but I’m smiling. It’s so fun to watch.

“Focus boys. It’s in ten minutes, as if you didn’t know that. We’re going to be late if we don’t hurry.”

“Okay. We can come back for my car later.” Tegan gives me a quick smile. “See ya later, A

gone and it’s distant Tegan. I don’t get it. Why he’s different with me around his family—unless…unless he’s embarrassed of me.

“Oh!” Dana jumps like she just had the best idea in the world. “Do you want to come with us, sweetie?” She looks at me. “I know Tim would love it. This kid

will look for any reason to show off. Cards, basketball.”

I open my mouth to say no, but Tegan beats me to it. “I’m sure she has better things to do than tag along with us.” Even though I pla

fact that he did it for me hurts.

“Come on, A

“Am not.”

“Are so.” The two of them go at it again.

Finally I jump in. “Thanks a ton for asking, Tim, but I have a few errands to run. How about you keep track of how many baskets you make and tell me later? I

bet you get a bunch.” My voice is sad because I suddenly really want to go watch him.

Tim nods and then looks down like he’s disappointed. My eyes leave him and find Tegan’s which are pi

he’s seeing more than I’m trying to show. Maybe even more than I know.

“Screw the errands. You should come,” the words rush out of his mouth like if he doesn’t get them out quickly, he’ll explode.

Now, I’m suffering a massive coronary. Does he want me to come or is he sacrificing something else for his brother? “I…”

Tim, Dana, they disappear behind an imaginary curtain. It’s only Tegan and I standing there.

Do you really want me to come? I try to make my look say.

A half-smile curls his lips and he kind of shrugs. Not a whatever shrug, but a I’m-at-a-loss shrug. I’m not sure either of us know what we want to do or why.

“Come on. You never know, you might have fun.” Tegan’s still staring at me.

“I…” How many times have I started a sentence with I and never made it past the word?

“Yes,” he says.

“Yes,” I confirm. What in the world is going on here?

Chapter Ten

164.9 TOTALLY HANGING OUT WITH TEGAN’S FAMILY

We all climb out of Dana’s van, Tegan going straight for the back to get the wheelchair. I’m a big ball of nerves as I step out of the car, still shocked that I’m even here with him. After he pulls the chair out, Tegan tries to help Timmy get out, but he pushes his hand away.

“I can do it.”

“I know.” Tegan steps back, holding the chair and letting his brother pull himself into it. It’s amazing to watch him. How well he can get around. His mom

reaches in and pulls out a basketball before closing up. It’s an old, rundown basketball court on the same side of town as the gym. Metal bleachers are next to it. There are other people in wheelchairs already on the court. Tegan holds out his hand, and Dana passes him the ball. He dribbles over to the court with Tim, as we walk to the bleachers.

A minute later, Tegan’s passing Tim the ball and joining us.

I can’t take my eyes off them. They’re all teenagers except for the coach who is in a wheelchair himself. They’re not playing a game or anything, but ru

drills like they would at any other basketball game: shooting, passing, stuff like that.

“Pretty cool, huh?” I’m in the middle of Tegan and his mom, but I notice him much more.

“Yeah. It’s incredible.”

“They haven’t played games or anything yet. Ed, the coach, he does this on his own. It’s not a real league or anything, but he’s working on it, trying to find people for them to play.

I’m in awe. How did I not know this went on? I can’t take my eyes off Tim and the guys, passing the ball around and shooting. They’re good. Better than I could

ever hope to be. “I think this is probably the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” I’m envious. That they’re out there, no fear, and going for it. I could never do that. It’s inspiring.

I manage to tear my eyes from the court to look at Tegan. He’s studying me so intensely that I know he’s discovered something. Some deep, dark secret to me that

I never knew was there.

“We can thank Tegan for finding it for him. We never would have known about it otherwise.” Dana smiles at her son.

“You found this for Tim?” My insides turn into mush. Not the blubbery kind either. This is dangerous territory, but I’m feeling like a rebel. “That’s…sweet.”

He doesn’t reply, only turns to look at his brother again so I do the same. We don’t talk any more. Their practice only lasts about forty-five minutes and afterward everyone else packs up and takes off except for Tim. He waves his brother over.

“I’ll be right back.”

He traipses down the bleachers. A minute later he’s dribbling the ball around his brother. You can see the concentration on Tim’s face, waiting for the perfect

time. Then he strikes, stealing the ball from Tegan. He doesn’t dribble it, but holds it on his lap as he wheels toward the basket and shoots.

“Lucky shot!” Tegan harasses him.