Part 6 (1/2)

Luke's gaze didn't leave mine. It didn't slide toward the canvas trying to catch a peek of what I worked on. He just nodded once and stepped back.

My breath rushed out in a huff. ”Thank you.”

He nodded again, as if he got it.

”So, this is what you do? Where you go?”

”If you mean, do I come here to get my painting done, then the answer is yes.”

”No. I meant, this is where you come to hide and work things out? Where even the few people you can't hide from leave you alone?”

I stilled to the point of fearing my heart had stopped.

”How dare you.” I came around the canvas at him. ”How dare you show up a few days ago and provoke and question me about my entire life. You don't know anything.”

”So you aren't here avoiding all those people at the pool? Avoiding watching Kent ooze his way around that cheerleader?”

”Why would I care what a group of people I hardly know does?” I fisted my hands trying to make them stop shaking.

”You don't care that the guy who turns on the charm for you when he thinks no one is looking is doing the same thing for a bikini clad cheer-dealer as we speak? You don't care that every senior on the field today is there but you?”

”I wasn't invited, alright?” My answer echoed off the walls in the sudden silence. ”I wasn't invited,” I repeated more quietly.

Luke stepped toward me. ”Amy...”

I raised my hand again-protecting myself this time, not my painting. ”Don't.”

”Amy, he isn't worth it. I don't know what's going on, but it obviously isn't good for you.” Luke came toward me and didn't stop this time when I waved my hand in front of me. ”He isn't one of the good guys, and you deserve the best. Even I can see that already.”

I had no idea I was crying until his hand came up and brushed a tear away.

”Don't do that,” he said. ”Not for him.”

He looked like he wanted to do more, to say more, but that word-searching look crossed his face again and he just stood there, looking down at me, invading my sanctuary.

The too-much feeling washed over me again, pus.h.i.+ng everything I tried to ignore through my mind.

”I'd really like you to go now.”

After a moment, he nodded and left. The door fell shut. The room fell silent. And my heart fell back out of my throat.

”You've reached the middle of nowhere. Leave a message after the beep.”

BEEP.

”Rachel, it's me. Seriously, call. Life is insane and things with Chris are even weirder and this guy Luke is going to crush him and he's arguing with me and wants Chris's spot on the team and...” I lowered my voice feeling really stupid. ”Rachel, he can see me.”

I waited, wondering how soon she'd get this message. When she'd be able to call me back. A girl needs her best friend in times of absolute emotional chaos. Hopefully, that call would come soon... like, nowish would work.

”Okay then. Call me. K?”

The phone dinged three times in a row. My heart stutter-stepped as I reached for it even though I knew it was probably Rachel this time.

Party was lame Wish we could have hung instead The brownies made me think of you I grinned at the screen, knowing exactly what he meant. Each evening, as the kids headed out, Chris would bring over a loot of caf brownies while we waited for the ”I'm-so-sorry-I-hit-traffic” everyday parents to show up.

I hated missing the party, but part of me loved the idea that he was thinking of me while he was there. While he was with her.

Another ding.

Stay away from Parker, Okay?

And a little jealousy never killed anyone... of course, the fight for the spot on the team might.

Chapter 8.

To say I wasn't looking forward to evening tryouts was an understatement. Between having to watch Chris mastermind this year's power couple and facing Luke after humiliating myself in the art room, I was pretty much done. I contemplated lacing my Nikes and running until exhaustion downed me. I thought I could make it through at least two towns, maybe hit the third before my legs gave out.

My short-term plan would be to then lie in the road until someone ran me over.

Instead, I stacked the binders on the table and waited for the team. Tonight Coach might start giving me notes. I hoped he didn't tell me who he was naming tryout captains so I didn't have to lie to Chris and claim uninformedness.

I'm not sure I had that in me anyway.

”Hey.”

The little hairs under my ponytail leapt like springtime crickets. Only one guy started every conversation like that. As if I had tons of guys seeing me, let alone chatting me up.

Without turning around, I said, ”I don't want to talk about it.”

The breeze ruffled stats pages as I flipped through the binder looking for the session 5-Evening roll call. Already guys had begun dropping out.

”Okay.”

Wow.

Mr. Pushy was backing off? I glanced at him over my shoulder and he gave a small shrug. ”I know when something's none of my business. I'll stop. I've said everything I had to already. So...”

So, what?

”Thanks,” I said, when he didn't finish his thought.

”Parker!” Coach's voice cut across the field to where we stood, argument diverted. ”Are you going to join us or sit on the bench and chatter like an old woman with the stats girl?”

”See ya.” Luke sprinted toward midfield, pulling his socks over his s.h.i.+n guards as he went.