“God, I’d love to show you.” I move closer, wrapping my arms around her waist. My lips are only a few centimeters from her neck, and I know she can feel my breath on her skin when I inhale the sweet smell of her hair. “You smell like coconuts. It makes me want to go to the beach instead of algebra.”
“You and me both.”
I would be content holding her in my arms for the rest of the afternoon, but the bell ending our lunch period ruins our cozy moment. This has been the closest I’ve been to her since we shared our first kiss. I want nothing more than to kiss her again, but I get the impression she’s not quite ready for that yet. I’m hoping she tells me why after school when I have her all to myself.
“You okay?”
“She cried. Becca doesn’t cry much—she’s usually tough as nails.”
“Mandi’s jealous—that’s why she’s acting the way she is.”
Kinsley turns around in my arms, giving me a sad smile. “It’s not easy being replaced. I get it, but I don’t want to fight with her every day. It’s not worth it.”
“I’ll talk to her again. I don’t want to lose you, Sunny.”
“It’s been a crazy couple of days, but I don’t want to lose you either.”
“No matter what, that’s your spot next to me. Becca, too. Okay? And if you ever need anything and I’m not around, you can trust Jake. He’s loud and a little bit over the top, but he’s a good person.”
“I like him—he’s good for Becca.”
“Even though Wyatt could be, too?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I can’t get involved in that saga. Whether they end up together or not, it’s their call. I just want them both to be happy.”
I tap the tip of her nose with my finger. “And I just want you to be happy. I’ll see you in a bit, my Sunny-girl.”
“See ya.”
I turn around one last time, tossing the black marker I still have in my pocket from art class at her. I point to my name and number on the wall. “Scratch that out before you go. This good time is reserved for you.”
THE LAST HALF hour before the bell rings, every Friday afternoon, the pep band walks every inch of the hallways, pounding out their school spirit in the form of music. The starters from the team join the band as they run through a medley of upbeat songs sure to put the entire student body in the mood for a big win.
Most of the time, I block out all the noise when I’m on the field, focusing solely on the play calls and nothing else. But this is what gets me in the right mindset to kick some ass on the field. I could go out there right now and run a mile without getting winded—that’s how amped up I already am. There’s always something a little extra special about the home opener—especially considering this is the last one I’ll have at Central.
Led by the cheerleaders, students from every classroom clog the doorways, cheering as we walk by. I spot Kinsley in her study hall, waving to me. I’m able to cut around a few of the guys to grab her hand, and pull her out of her room toward the center of the pack.
“Rhett!” She yells over the sound of the drums pounding wildly in front of us. “I have to go back. I’ll get in trouble.”
I don’t let go of her. I simply smile, and spin her around in a circle while we dance to the beat of the music. “Don’t worry so much, Sunny. Just live it up. You feel that?”
She shakes her head. “Feel what?”
“We’re going to kill them tonight, and my girl’s going to see every second of it. Doesn’t get much better than that.”
“You’re crazy!” she says, with wild eyes, but she feels it too. I know she does.
These are the moments I never want to forget. When we’re in our fifties, working the daily grind, day in and day out, I want to look back on high school with a smile knowing these years were as good as it gets. That I didn’t waste a single second of the best years of my life.
Hoisting Kinsley on my shoulders, she yelps in surprise, but squeezes her thighs around my neck. I can feel her laughter as she bounces on top of me, enjoying being on top of the world.
It’s only after the final song ends that I lower her to the ground. “What’d you think?”
“That was incredible!”
My smile stretches wild from her excitement. “I gotta get you back to class before your teacher figures out you’re missing. Come on.”
“I’m going to get a detention, aren’t I?”
“No, I’ll make sure it’s cool. Mr. Thomas is a huge sports fan. He’ll understand.” We have to fight against the flow of traffic the entire way back to her study hall, but I don’t even have to bargain with the teacher considering Mr. Thomas is so busy explaining the answer to a problem, he doesn’t even see Kinsley slip back into the room. I can thank Shannon for being one of the few students to care about calculus on a Friday afternoon.
Since I don’t have to get back to my own study hall, I sit on the floor next to Kinsley’s locker. I’m flicking through my texts when Becca nudges me with her foot. “You again,” she says with a smile on her face. “You’re really doing this, aren’t you?”
“Why does everyone keep doubting me? She’s an awesome girl. I can’t be the only one to notice.”
“Honestly, I’m glad it’s you, Rhett. I trust you. We haven’t been friends for a really long time, but you’ll take care of her. That much I’m sure of.”
I pull Becca into a hug, making sure to mess up her hair, and piss her off. “I knew you didn’t still hate me. I promise I’ll never make you eat another stitch of dirt as long as I live.”
Becca gives me the stink eye, pulling away from me as she fixes her messed up curls.
Kinsley pauses before sliding in between the two of us to get to her locker. “What was that all about?” she asks, curiously.
Becca gives me an evil grin. “Rhett was just telling me how hard he cried while watching The Notebook last night.”
I give her credit, she’s quick on her feet. Between her comeback at lunch, and this one, I realize how much I’m going to enjoy getting to know Becca again. In only two days I’ve managed to repair a friendship and gain the girl I’ve always wanted. I’d say week one was a success.
Becca’s finished at her locker, but Kinsley’s still struggling to get into hers. “Let me help, what’s the combination?”
She looks up at me with her big brown eyes, thankful for the help, though a little embarrassed she couldn’t get it open on her own. “Um, it’s four, twenty-two, nine, eleven.”
I twist the lock back and forth as she rattles off each number, popping it open on the first try. “There you go, Sunny.”
“Thanks.”
“Sunny?” Becca asks. “Where’d that one come from?”
“Rhett’s picture of me.”
I wrap her in another hug. “And she smells like coconut and sunshine”.
Becca snickers. “You two have it so much worse than I thought.”
Kinsley finishes with her locker, and shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t mind the nickname. I spent a year of my life being called much worse.”
“What did they call you?”
Kinsley glares at Becca before she has a chance to open her mouth. “Don’t you even tell him, Becca,” she warns with a stern look. She’s pissed and it’s kinda cute.
“Now I have to know,” I tell them. “Who do I have to beat up for picking on you.”
My girl remains silent, so I look to Becca for an answer. “They called her flash,” she tells me, as she breaks out into a fit of hysterics.
“Why?”
Kinsley storms off. “Thanks a lot, Becca,” she murmurs.
Becca throws her hands in the air. “Oh, come on, Kinsley. It’s been like four years. Nobody even remembers anymore.”
“What does flash even mean?”
“She’s going to kill me anyway, so I might as well just tell you. On second thought, I’ll let her decide how much she tells you. To make a long story short, she forgot her underwear this one time and flashed a bunch of people.”