The Clique (8 page)

              No one speaks for a few minutes, but then Kate breaks the silence. “Good call breaking up with Devon, Hannah. I heard that he’s like, seriously creeping on some girl.”

              “Yeah, I know.” Hannah shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Why do you think I broke up with him?”

              “Uh, Nate?”

              “Oh, right. That too. But yeah, he’s kind of obsessed.”

              Kate’s eyes open wide. “Wait, do you know who it is?”

              Hannah glances sideways, at Aude. “Well, uh, it’s you.”

              “What?” Aude jerks, stunned by the words. The thought of someone, especially Devon, being obsessed with her makes her shiver. All attention focuses on Hannah.

              “I didn’t wanna tell you, ‘cause I thought you might worry.”

              “Damn right!” Audrey puts her hand to her mouth. “Darn right. What do you mean, he’s obsessed?”

              “Dom said he printed out one of your yearbook photos and put it on the wall,” Kate says.

              “Yeah. Right by his bed. I asked him about it, and he just made some creepy like, masturbation joke.”

              Aude feels her face flush. The whole scenario feels like a violation, even though yearbook photos are public.

              “It’s just a picture.” Audrey can tell Kate’s just trying to make her feel better. “Just try not to think about it.”

              But it’s
all
Aude can think about. Maddie winning class president hardly seems to matter, in comparison. “Why would he do that?”

              “Dom said he had a crush on you,” Kate says. “That’s all. Just an innocent crush.”

              “No, an innocent crush is like, being unable to talk around someone and every time you see them you smile.
This doesn’t sound—innocent.”

              Hannah frowns. “Yeah, but what can you do? That’s why I wasn’t gonna tell you. You really can’t make him take it down or anything.”

              All the girls agree. “He’ll probably take it down in a week anyway,” Kate speculates, in the exact tone Aude used to assure Maddie.

              “Sure…” The friends talk until it’s time to go; after a half-hour, Maddie stumbles out of the recording room and returns to the group.

              “Hey!” Aude smiles. “How did it go?”

              Maddie just shakes her head.

              “I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Kate says. She turns to Aude. “You wanna go watch the soccer game?”

              “Yeah.” Aude nods. “You wanna come, Hannah?”

              “No thanks. I’ve got Cross Country.”

              Maddie doesn’t wait for them to ask her. “I just wanna go home and call it a night. And pray for a miracle on Monday.” She gives a weak laugh. “I could hang out tomorrow, though.”

              “Okay, tomorrow.” Aude takes Kate by the arm, and they walk out to the soccer field. Unlike football, which attracts hundreds of students to the opening game, the first soccer game of the season brings only a few dozen spectators, mostly parents. Kate and Audrey find a seat near some other students their age, sporting green blazers.

              “Hey, I can see Gabe!” Aude waves excitedly. “And Sean.”

              “Where?” Kate looks at her. Aude points to the opposite end of the field, where a few of the players are warming up.

              A loud commentator’s voice fills the stands. “Hello, and welcome to the first game of the season, between the George Washington Patriots and the Resolution Christian High Rams!” The green-jacketed boys hoot loudly. “The game starts in just fifteen short minutes, and I’d like to remind all spectators to please clean up after themselves. If you’re feeling thirsty, why not head to the refreshments stand? Proceeds from all sales benefit the Patriot Boosters. Support your team, and quench your thirst.”

              Gabe spots Aude and jogs over to a fence separating the field and spectators. “Hey, you made it!”

              “Of course!” Aude threads her fingers through the chain-link. “I’ve never missed one of your games.”

              “Well, there was that one time. But you had the flu, so I guess that doesn’t count.” Gabe frowns, glancing over Audrey’s right shoulder. “You look a little cold. You want my jacket?”

              “Uh, yeah, sure.”

              Gabe takes off his red Patriots jacket and lowers it over the fence. Aude catches it by a sleeve and slips the jacket on; it looks ridiculously big on her, like an XXL hoodie.

              “I’m gonna score a hat trick for you,” he promises, with one last glance over her shoulder. “Hey, be careful of those Resolution kids. They’re eyeing you pretty hard.”

              “Huh?”

              “Never mind, just stick with Kate. I’ll see you after the game, babe.”

              “Ok.” Aude returns to the bleachers, rubbing the leather sleeves of Gabe’s jacket together. It really isn’t that cold.

             
Kate’s mouth is set in a half-scowl. “Do you know why Sean didn’t come over?”

              “Nope. I think I saw him, though—oh, there, he’s talking to the coach. See?”

              “Oh, alright.” The game begins. Aude and Kate cheer as loud as they can without going hoarse. The Patriots score a goal, then the Rams equalize, but the next thirty minutes are scoreless. Five minutes before the end of the half, the Rams get another goal, bringing the score to two-one.

              “Aaaaand it’s half time!” the announcer says. “Everyone feel free to get up and move around. We’ll resume play in ten minutes.”

              Aude stands. “I think I’m gonna get a water. You want anything?”

              Kate shakes her head. “No thanks.”

              The refreshments stand is below the announcer’s booth, about thirty feet away from the bleachers. Aude makes the trek alone, passes through a small river of green, and joins a short line. Someone taps her on the shoulder.

              “Hey,” the boy—who looks at least college-age—says. “Did you get a sunburn, or were you always this hot?”

             
Um, what?
Audrey only needs a second to realize that he’s trying to use a pick-up line.
I’m wearing my boyfriend’s letter jacket, how much more obvious do I have to be?
She smiles. There’s a perfect solution to this. “Arrf arrf arrf!” she claps the extra-long sleeves together like a seal.

              The boy looks seriously weirded out. “What the fuck?”

              “Arrf! Arrf arrf!”

              “Uh, okay.” He walks away, muttering something about “fucking crazy”.

              Aude gets her water and sits back down next to Kate. “I have the best story to tell you! This guy just tried to hit on me in line and I—well, I sorta chased him away by making seal noises. It was awesome!” she chortles.

              Kate laughs. “You can be so weird sometimes.”

              “I know, but I have fun with it. Like if I were in an asylum, I wouldn’t be one of those creepy people who just stares at everyone. I’d be the woman laughing maniacally in the corner. Besides, I’m not
that
—“

              “Oh, hey, you speak human!” Aude groans; the college boy works his way out of a group of green-jackets. “So, did you get a sunburn or—“

              “I’m not interested,” Aude says flatly.
I already have a boyfriend, and a creepy stalker. We don’t have any openings at this time, thank you. Please reapply next fall.

             
“Yeah, but what I’m asking is—“

              “Jesus!” Kate exclaims. “Sorry, Aude. Take a freaking hint, dude. She doesn’t want you.”

              “Well, what about you?”

              “No thank you.”

              The boy’s grin falls; he marches back to his friends.

              “See?” Kate says, in a joking tone. “This is why we use people words to chase away boys we don’t like.”

              “Yeah, but the seal thing was funnier.”

              Kate giggles. “Yes, the seal thing was funnier.”

              Aude watches the boy, noting his dejected expression. “I think we hurt his feelings.”

              “Not our fault. He shouldn’t have hit on us. I mean, you’re wearing Gabe’s jacket...”

              “Yeah, but—“ Aude glances at the boy, frowning at how lonely he looks
“
—I dunno, whatever. What’s the score?”

              “Um, three to one.”

              “Whoa, when did that happen?”

              “Right after half time.”

              The Rams slowly pull away, decimating the Patriots five to two. “Well, that could’ve been better,” Aude says.

              “Yeah.”

              “Gabe’s not gonna be happy. He was talking all about how they were gonna win in Advisory yesterday, and how winning was a sign that they were going to make it to state.”

              Kate rubs her eye. “Yeah, Sean’s probably gonna be the same way.”

              “He didn’t talk it up the way Gabe did, though. He was like super invested in this.”

             
“I know, Aude.”

              “Hey, I have an idea! Let’s take them out for ice cream, to cheer them up!”

              Kate laughs, shaking her head. “Alright. You wanna wait for them in the parking lot?” They shuffle out with the other spectators. After a half-hour, the soccer team walks out to the emptying lot.

              “Catch you on Monday, guys!” Gabe doesn’t look angry or depressed at all as he walks up to the two girls. “Hey, babe. Sorry I didn’t score that hat trick.”

              “It’s okay.” Audrey runs a hand along his cheek. “I’m sorry you didn’t win.”

              “It’s—whatever. I’m cool with it. Resolution’s the second best team in the state. We just couldn’t compete.”

              “You did so well, though. You were even winning, for a while.”

              Gabe snorts. “Yeah, for an entire ten minutes.” Audrey’s known him long enough to recognize that he’s putting up a façade.

              “So, listen, Kate and I had this great idea. Do you wanna go get ice cream?”

              “Why would I wanna get ice cream?”

              “To help cheer you up.” Audrey gives a cautious smile.

              Gabe sighs. “Fine. But let’s go in separate cars.”

              “Okay. Kate, you can go with Sean, right?”

              “Yeah. I just have to find him first.”

              Gabe jerks his head toward the field. “He’s back there. Coach wanted to talk to him, about his free-kicking.”

              Kate starts walking. “See you there, Aude.”

              “See you.” Aude watches Gabe’s expression fall as her friend strides farther and farther away.

              “We—lost,” he whispers. “I thought we were gonna win, and we lost.”

              “Aw, it’s okay.” Aude puts both arms around him. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll get some ice cream, and then I can give you a backrub, or you know, whatever.”

              “Okay.” Gabe pulls out the key to his car and presses the button to unlock the doors. Audrey climbs into the passenger seat.

              For a few moments, Gabe just stares at the wheel in silence. “I don’t want ice cream.”

              “You don’t?”

              “No.” He shakes his head. “It was a childish idea. I don’t want ice cream.”

              Audrey swallows back her emotions. “But it was my idea. I thought that—“

              “Well you thought wrong!”

              “Please don’t yell at me.”

              Gabe takes a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry, babe. I’m just so passionate right now.”

              Yeah, passionate. “I know, I know. It’s ok to cry, if you want.”

              “Why would I cry? I’m not some—some—pussy!”

              “Gabe, it’s just me. You don’t need to act tough for me. I know that game meant a lot to you. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I’m right here.”

              “You’d like that, wouldn’t you! You’re so into that touchy-feely shit, Aude.”

             
Don’t get mad. He’s already mad. Don’t let this turn into a fight.
Aude takes a deep breath.
“Alright, you don’t feel like crying. And you don’t feel like ice cream. What
do
you feel like?”

              “I don’t know. Can I just go home?”

              Although Aude doesn’t let it show, it hurts that Gabe won’t let her in; that when he’s feeling down, his pillow sounds like a better consolation than her. Even after two years.
“Okay. Go home. I’ll see you on Monday.”