Did He Say He Likes Me

“I…,” he paused for a second, “it’s nothing kiddo. Focus on this year and what you want. Keep those grades up and keep working towards being a Varsity letter sophomore,” he said more seriously.

I nodded. We pulled into the Huffington parking lot in the junior section.

When I got out of the car, a boy walked over to us and asked Baylen, “Who is this hottie you are rolling with Baylen?”

Bay punched him in the arm, playfully, but hard enough to know he was serious when he said, “This is my baby sister you douche.”

The boy backed away with his hands in the air as if to say he surrendered. “Got it dude. I remember what you told us all this summer at training camp. I’ll see you after school for practice right?”

Baylen nodded and made a gesture towards him as if he were throwing him a pass. The boy ran deep as if to catch it.

“Aren’t you a left tackle dweeb?” I teased poking him in the chest with my pointer finger.

“Brees, you are such a brat,” he said, stopping himself again before messing up my hair.

I think he is realizing I’m not this little tomboy that they all want me to be anymore. I’m maturing and becoming a woman.

I couldn’t stop wondering what that boy meant by, “I remember what you told us this summer…”

Did my brother say something about me to the football team? Did he warn them to stay away from me? Keegan would have heard this as well. But then again Keegan has had a lifetime to make his move and still hasn’t, so that definitely isn’t the reason we aren’t hand-in-hand this school year. I had to get that thought out of my head.

My morning classes flew by and it was time for lunch. Casey wasn’t on the same lunch period as I was, so I grabbed my salad from my backpack and went on a mission to find Jeff. I know the people that he sits with are not my cup of tea, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I spotted him across the cafeteria near the back doors and headed his way. He was captivating the crowd with some story he was telling about this summer. Look at him. He is so cool and collected. His vibes just drew people towards him. He greeted me with a warm smile and took me by the hand.

“Guys I want you all to meet my homecoming date and new friend, Brees,” he said half spilling his drink on the floor.

They all looked up and some waved. A few said bleak hellos and went back to what they were doing, but one girl stood and reached out her hand.

“Glad you are joining us, Brees. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, shaking my hand softly as she looked me up and down as if to see if I fit in.

These kids were rich. They had all the money, even if I didn’t know where it came from. I knew it was there. I felt uneasy, but tried not to show it. I listened to them talk back and forth and ate my salad in small bites with my fingers. Dipping the finger-fulls in dressing. I had forgotten my fork, but didn’t want to mention it and be “seen”. Jeff kept me in the conversation and even put his arm around me at one point. It felt nice to feel wanted. Is this what it would be like to be a girlfriend? Jeff’s brother came over to say hello with a few of the other guys from the football team.

“Jeff, is this little Baylen? Nice to meet you,” one of them said.

“I thought she was Keegan’s girl? Or is that someone else,” another chimed in.

“No, that's the girl from that fancy school across the river,” another corrected him.

“Guys, she is right here. Can we not talk about her like she isn’t?” Jeff scolded.

They all apologized and kept moving through the cafeteria to make their rounds. Occasionally snatching fries from their unsuspecting victims.

Keegan’s girl…it just sounded so good when he said it. I have said it in my head a million times, but to hear someone else say it was so fascinating. However, it looks like I may be Jeff’s girl if all goes right. He smells really good, dresses so well and he stood up for me today. That has to count for something. His light brown hair and bright green eyes made him look so dreamy in this light. I think I could get used to this. Jeff Chandler’s girl… Yeah that sounds so much better.