Me & My Invisible Guy (18 page)

I had to force myself to be peppy and to dance and smile at the rally. Looking out into the stands, I noticed death stares and even a couple of rude hand gestures. I tried to ignore them and just cheer.

Liam sat in the front row and never took his eyes off me. And even though it was a little mean, I purposely draped my arm over Greg’s shoulder and let him pick me up to wave into the crowd.

It worked. Liam looked upset after that. I tried to console myself with the fact that it was his own fault and that I didn’t have any reason to feel guilty. But I did.

After the rally I spotted Lexi as we were filing back into the locker room. She came over and asked if she could talk to me.

“I’m sorry,” she said when we were alone. “I misjudged you.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I was surprised to find out that lady was talking about you. I guess I never thought about what it’s like for you. How the pressure would be totally different. I get it. I get why you lied about it.”

She glanced away; and when I followed her gaze, I saw Liam sitting in the hallway. “Liam really likes you,” she said, her voice wistful.

I liked him, too. I looked back at Lexi, her eyes wet with
tears, and I realized that maybe Liam would be better off with someone like her.
She
probably wouldn’t make a date with a football player just to prove a point. They fit together better. And I knew it.

“It’s okay, Lexi. I forgive you.”

“Thanks.” She gave me a sad smile and walked away toward Liam.

Liam caught my eye long enough for me to see that I had hurt him, again. My regret was starting to outweigh my anger. But I couldn’t make myself go over to him.

Instead, I went back into the locker room to get my stuff and sat down on the bench, exhausted. Tricia, one of the few sophomores on the squad, started pulling her bags out of her locker. She glanced over, then sat down next to me.

“I’m a virgin, too,” she whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear.

She scooted even closer. “I’m glad I’m not the only one,” she said in my ear. She hugged me and then jumped back up with a grin on her face.

Tess came around the corner. “You ready to go?”

I nodded, grabbed my bag, and followed her out.

Tess picked me up later to head to the game, which was at another high school. It was always harder to cheer at away games because the crowds were smaller. But this was a rival team, so I hoped more people would come. I wondered if Liam would be there.

I didn’t want it to be true that Liam would be better off with Lexi or someone like her. I just wanted to forgive him. I didn’t feel so angry anymore.

And Tess was tense and distracted, which made me wonder if things were crazy at her house.

“How’s your mom?” I asked.

“Her hand’s getting better. She hates it when I change the bandage, though.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“The same.”

“Darren?”

“He hasn’t shown up, so that’s good news.”

My phone buzzed. A sudden hope ran through me that maybe it was Liam. But it was just my mom wanting to know where I would be.

I spoke with her, then hung up. “Oh, no. I just remembered I have a date tonight.”

“You made up with Liam? When did that happen?”

“It’s with Greg.”

“Greg Paterson? Are you serious?”

“He asked, I was mad, I said yes.” I rubbed my face with my hands. “What am I gonna do?”

“That was pretty stupid.”

“Thanks.”

“Just break it. Tell him you have other plans.”

“I guess. But what if things don’t work out with Liam?”

“You can do better than Greg. He’s got more muscles than brains. Trust me.”

After we got to the field and set up everything, I sat on the bench, trying to decide what to do. I figured that if there was any chance Darby was right and God did care about the small things, it couldn’t hurt to try.

So I prayed. Kind of. I mean, I still wasn’t sure what it was supposed to sound like, but I knew I needed help. And
right afterward I got this funny feeling that I shouldn’t go out with Greg, no matter what happened with Liam.

Whether the funny feeling was me or God, I wasn’t sure. But I felt good about it. That is, until I spotted Liam walking up the bleachers. With Lexi.

I bumped Tess’s arm. “He’s with Lexi.”

“Just because he’s with her doesn’t mean he’s
with
her.”

Despite getting rid of my Todd delusion, I was still obviously delusional. I couldn’t even trust my own thoughts anymore. An hour ago I was sure they should be together and then I see them together and want to rip them apart.
What’s wrong with me?

And at that moment Greg walked up to the bench and wrapped his arms around me. “Hey, baby, we still on for tonight?” He stuck his face into my neck, and I squirmed out of his arms.

“Watch it,” I warned him.

Greg held up his hands. “Later, then.” He trotted off.

“I told you,” Tess said.

“I’ll tell him.”

And I meant to, but through the whole game I just watched Lexi and Liam. Liam barely looked at me, so why did he drive all the way to the game? I was mad. So mad that when the game ended and Greg was waiting outside the locker room, I waved at Tess and said, “I’ll call you later!”

She looked stunned, and it gave me some measure of satisfaction. After all, it wasn’t very often that Tess was stunned.

Greg never stopped talking. By the time he pulled up to Sonic (not exactly a date place, if you ask me), he had recounted every successful pass he’d made during the game.

I was so bored, but too hungry to complain much. He ordered two meals and then asked me what I wanted. I asked for a wrap. He ordered it, then turned back to me. I really thought he was going to change the subject, but he hadn’t talked about the second half yet.

Once we got the food, he pulled out of the parking lot and parked farther down the road, where they were building a new strip mall. It was dark, but there were streetlights nearby. Greg polished off two burgers, an order of fries and Tator Tots, and chugged down thirty-two ounces of Coke before he ever came up for air.
Gross.

“So where do you want to go?” he asked. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and shoved the last of his trash into a bag.

“Home,” I said.

“It’s early. Come on. Let’s go somewhere private.”

And even naive, fake-boyfriend me could tell exactly what he was talking about. He slipped his hand onto my thigh.

I picked it up and removed it.

He snickered. “So you really are the virgin, huh?”

“What does that matter?”

He moved his hand back, but I blocked him. “It doesn’t. I think it’s kind of sexy.”

“Really? Well, then you should find this super sexy.” I picked up my drink and, in one quick motion, yanked the top off and poured the whole thing into his lap.

Before he could react, I jumped out and slammed the door.

He jammed the car into gear and squealed his tires, kicking up gravel and dust all around me.

That went well.

I pulled my cell phone out of my purse as I headed back toward Sonic. Tess didn’t pick up, but I didn’t want to call home. I tried twice more, then got her on the third try.

“What?” she demanded.

“I’m sorry, Tess, but I need a ride.”

“I told you Greg was a bad idea.”

“You were right. You told me so. Fine. Just come pick me up, please?”

Tess grew quiet, so quiet that I thought I lost the call. “Tess?”

“I can’t leave right now,” she whispered.

“Tess! I’m stranded.”

“I. Can’t.”

“What’s going on?” I stopped underneath a streetlamp close to the Sonic, relieved to be near people again. I felt conspicuous but safe.

“Darren.”

“Take Ashley and get out of the house.”

“If only it were that simple.”

I heard yelling in the background and then Tess’s voice. “I’ve got to go.” The line went dead.

I looked around. I was miles from home. I looked for anybody familiar, but there was no one.

I tried my house but didn’t bother leaving a message. I even tried both of my parents’ cell numbers, and they didn’t pick up. It dawned on me a few minutes later that Mom had said they were going to the movies. Of course their phones
would be off. But it was really strange for them to leave Darby. Maybe she was home, studying.

I tried Darby’s number. She picked up on the second ring.

“Mallory?”

“Hey, Darby.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, but I kind of need a ride home.”

“I’m kind of on a date.”

“A date? Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. Why are you so surprised?”

Um, maybe because Mom hadn’t mentioned it. Actually, we had all wondered if she’d ever date again. I didn’t point out that she hadn’t dated anyone since coming home from college. A date was major progress. I couldn’t ruin it for her. Besides, my mom would kill me.

“Never mind, I’ll figure it out.” I could hear a hushed conversation and then Darby came back on.

“We’ll come get you. Tell me where you are.”

I tried to protest, but since I was desperate, I didn’t try too hard. After saying good-bye, I sat on the curb to wait.

I was still worried about Tess. I couldn’t call her back since she probably wouldn’t answer, anyway. I wanted to go over there, make sure she was okay. She’d be mad, but what else could I do?

I paced, trying to make up my mind while I waited; but by the time a silver sedan pulled up, I was no closer to deciding what to do.

Darby’s window came down, and there in the driver’s seat was Brian.
Darby is on a date with Liam’s brother?

“Hop in,” she said, a smile on her face.

I got in the back.

“Nice to see you again, Mallory. Under better circumstances,”
Brian said. He pulled out and started driving toward my house.

“Yeah. Thanks for your help. And the ride.”

“What happened?” Darby asked.

“It’s no big deal.” I felt like an intruder. “I’m sorry for interrupting your night.”

“It’s no problem,” they both said at the same time. This made them laugh and smile at each other. I slumped in the back.

“Liam didn’t do anything, did he?” Brian asked.

“No.”

“Good, because I can talk some sense into him for you if you’d like.”

“It’s not Liam.”

Darby turned around in her seat. “You sure you’re okay?”

I nodded. Reassuring her was nearly second nature.

Back home, I decided I had to go check on Tess. I so needed a car. I threw my bag on the porch, tucked my cell into my pocket, and started walking.

It was a really nice night, and it felt good to stretch my legs after cheering. I ran through the whole day in my head, trying to figure out if I could salvage anything at all.

Tess’s house came into view, but it looked dark. Her Jeep was in the driveway, though, along with her mom’s hatchback. I walked onto the porch. There were lights on in the house, but the curtains were pulled tight. I couldn’t see anything. I pressed my ear to the door and listened.

Nothing.

I opened the gate and went around back. They were definitely home. Tess’s and Ashley’s rooms were both dark,
but the kitchen area was bright. I hunched down, moved up onto the deck, and hid under the kitchen window. Now I could hear voices. Well, really only one voice. And since it was male, it had to be Darren’s.