and I’m still exhausted from whatever it is that Raine did to me in the woods. But I drink lots of coffee and put a smile on my face, pretend to laugh at Aiden’s crazy jokes, even work with Brody on some new plays for the team.
Somehow I make it through the week, and when Friday afternoon rolls around I’m looking forward to going home and crashing. The thought of filling all those empty hours on Saturday and Sunday is intimidating, and I wonder if there’s any way I can just sleep through the whole damn weekend. That way I won’t have to wonder what Natalia’s doing, won’t have to drive myself crazy imagining her with Brody.
“You coming to my place tonight?” Lancaster asks as practice ends.
I pull off my helmet, shaking the sweat out of my hair. Today was a light day because there’s no game this weekend. Still, I’m tired. “Nah, man. I can’t make it.”
“Dude,” Lancaster says. “It’s going to be fucking epic.”
He loves saying that. Everything is epic with him. Eating a burger is epic.
Drinking a glass of water is epic. It makes it less believable when he tries to pump up his party.
“I’m sure it’s going to be great,” I say, “but tonight’s no good for me.”
He stares at me. “Is it because of what happened with me and your boy Aiden?
Because that shit’s over.”
“I know.”
“So what’s the problem?”
I just want to get out of here. “Maybe I’ll swing by.” Not.
He grins. “Sweet.”
I change into my street clothes and give Brody a nod when he says goodbye to me as I leave. Inside, my hate and jealousy burns white hot but I’m being a good little soldier.
When I get home, the house is quiet and I settle into the couch. The TV is on some stupid cooking show but I don’t even care because I’m not really watching it. I start to drift off, but I’m still thinking about Natalia.
Why don’t I just call her? Text her?
She told you it’s over and you need to respect that.
Somehow I start to fall asleep. The darkness comes, and with it, the dreams.
Natalia’s in trouble. She’s in that field again. The one with all the butterflies.
Only now it’s turning to night and the butterflies are turning black. She’s scared. She’s calling out to me, screaming my name. But I can’t speak. I can only watch as she wanders through the field.
And then there’s a phone ringing.
I realize I’m dreaming and startle awake. My new cell phone is buzzing and I see Aiden’s number.
The house is dark and it’s night outside. I’ve been asleep for a few hours, apparently.
“Hey,” I say blearily into the phone.
Aiden’s voice is full of hyper energy. “Cam, bro--you should come down here.”
“Where are you?”
“Lancaster’s party.” He lowers his voice. “Natalia’s here.”
I sit up. “She is?”
“She’s with Brody.”
I slump, remembering my pledge to respect her wishes. “Yeah, well. That’s her choice.”
“Okay. Just thought I’d let you know, man.”
We get off the phone and I sit there, thinking that I have to find some way to let it go. I’ve been doing okay so far. Actually, that’s not true. I’m doing fucking terrible. I can’t get her out of my mind.
My mom’s words keep echo in my head. Fight for her.
I can’t give up yet. She needs me and I need her and I’ll do whatever it takes to win her back. I head upstairs to change. I’m going to Lancaster’s party.
Chapter Five
Natalia
If it weren’t for the plan to get Raine’s necklace, I would never have come to this party in the first place. I hate parties, especially parties like this one, which are thrown for no reason other than to give everyone a chance to get drunk and act like idiots.
“You ready?” Brody asks as he parks his car on the street in front of Lancaster’s house.
“You’re sure she’s here?” I ask. Now that we’re here, that this is really happening, I’m hoping maybe Raine didn’t show up. That way I can just go home, get into
Somehow I make it through the week, and when Friday afternoon rolls around I’m looking forward to going home and crashing. The thought of filling all those empty hours on Saturday and Sunday is intimidating, and I wonder if there’s any way I can just sleep through the whole damn weekend. That way I won’t have to wonder what Natalia’s doing, won’t have to drive myself crazy imagining her with Brody.
“You coming to my place tonight?” Lancaster asks as practice ends.
I pull off my helmet, shaking the sweat out of my hair. Today was a light day because there’s no game this weekend. Still, I’m tired. “Nah, man. I can’t make it.”
“Dude,” Lancaster says. “It’s going to be fucking epic.”
He loves saying that. Everything is epic with him. Eating a burger is epic.
Drinking a glass of water is epic. It makes it less believable when he tries to pump up his party.
“I’m sure it’s going to be great,” I say, “but tonight’s no good for me.”
He stares at me. “Is it because of what happened with me and your boy Aiden?
Because that shit’s over.”
“I know.”
“So what’s the problem?”
I just want to get out of here. “Maybe I’ll swing by.” Not.
He grins. “Sweet.”
I change into my street clothes and give Brody a nod when he says goodbye to me as I leave. Inside, my hate and jealousy burns white hot but I’m being a good little soldier.
When I get home, the house is quiet and I settle into the couch. The TV is on some stupid cooking show but I don’t even care because I’m not really watching it. I start to drift off, but I’m still thinking about Natalia.
Why don’t I just call her? Text her?
She told you it’s over and you need to respect that.
Somehow I start to fall asleep. The darkness comes, and with it, the dreams.
Natalia’s in trouble. She’s in that field again. The one with all the butterflies.
Only now it’s turning to night and the butterflies are turning black. She’s scared. She’s calling out to me, screaming my name. But I can’t speak. I can only watch as she wanders through the field.
And then there’s a phone ringing.
I realize I’m dreaming and startle awake. My new cell phone is buzzing and I see Aiden’s number.
The house is dark and it’s night outside. I’ve been asleep for a few hours, apparently.
“Hey,” I say blearily into the phone.
Aiden’s voice is full of hyper energy. “Cam, bro--you should come down here.”
“Where are you?”
“Lancaster’s party.” He lowers his voice. “Natalia’s here.”
I sit up. “She is?”
“She’s with Brody.”
I slump, remembering my pledge to respect her wishes. “Yeah, well. That’s her choice.”
“Okay. Just thought I’d let you know, man.”
We get off the phone and I sit there, thinking that I have to find some way to let it go. I’ve been doing okay so far. Actually, that’s not true. I’m doing fucking terrible. I can’t get her out of my mind.
My mom’s words keep echo in my head. Fight for her.
I can’t give up yet. She needs me and I need her and I’ll do whatever it takes to win her back. I head upstairs to change. I’m going to Lancaster’s party.
Chapter Five
Natalia
If it weren’t for the plan to get Raine’s necklace, I would never have come to this party in the first place. I hate parties, especially parties like this one, which are thrown for no reason other than to give everyone a chance to get drunk and act like idiots.
“You ready?” Brody asks as he parks his car on the street in front of Lancaster’s house.
“You’re sure she’s here?” I ask. Now that we’re here, that this is really happening, I’m hoping maybe Raine didn’t show up. That way I can just go home, get into
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