The Ocean (13 page)

“Your mom had no choice in leaving you; she loved you. I see the beautiful person you are; you are kind and gentle. You make me laugh, and you deserve this. Your mother would want you to be happy despite the struggles in life. My mom says that she wouldn’t be the person she is today if the things that happened to her and the decisions she made were different. I never quite understood that before I met you. Your mother raised you to be strong and straightforward. And I have a feeling you don’t take no shit from no one,” he said in a comical gangster tone. I smiled and looked up at him. His eyes were soft, and his smile warmed me inside. “My dad left and didn’t look back, and I’m a better person because of it. I know when the time comes to have a family; I won’t do to them what he did to me. I’l be more than he ever was. He made me who I am today in that regard.” He looked past me now to the white board beside his desk. “My mom is responsible for the rest of me, the best of me.” He squeezed me, his eyes finding mine again without that distant look.

There’s a First Time for Everything

Travis

I’d never felt more in my game as I did during that Friday night’s game. It was the third in our season, and though we were at one and one, I thought we might win this. Mason was on. Alex couldn’t miss the bal or the open holes left by the defense. I had scored two touchdowns, and every time I looked in the stands, there was my girl, my Gia, cheering me on. She wore my number. Out of al the faces, I could always find hers smiling at me.

We huddled up with the bright lights from behind the bleachers shining down on us.

“Chiz, I need better blocking; I almost got sacked on that last one,” Mason was shooting off.

“But you didn’t,” Chiz retorted. Mason gave us the play, and we clapped our hands together, breaking up and running to our positions.

“Hut, hut, hut,” Mason yel ed. I took off running; a linebacker was headed right for me, but so was Chiz to block. I could see the bal coming, and just as it was on the tip of my fingers, the linebacker was plowing into my stomach, rotating it off my finger. I was on the ground flat on my back. The bal was in the other team’s hands. Chiz casual y jogged up to me. I jumped up, a little sore around my ribs, but I was too angry to pay much attention to it. I got right in his face.

“What the hel was that? Where were you?” I yel ed, pushing my helmet against his.

“I got held up.” He pushed back.

“Get it together. You cost us the bal .” I took off my helmet and threw it. I knew he did that on purpose.

“You’re the one who didn’t catch it. YOU cost us the bal .” He took off his helmet and ran toward the bench. I kicked my helmet, then ran and got it and joined the team on the bench. I was tired of the stupid games, of the comments he made to Gia. I’d bet she didn’t ful y get his intention for half of them. I was so sick of Jil ian stil trying to wiggle her way back in with me. I slammed myself down on the bench as Alex handed me a water bottle.

“He should have blocked him,” he said under his breath. He nodded toward Chiz and continued, “He was right there and then just stopped mid-stride.” I shook my head. I knew it. I looked back up at Gia; her brows were furrowed. She was worried. I gave her a little smile trying to tel her it was OK; she relaxed a little but stil looked worried. Chiz sat out the rest of the game. I guess the coach had noticed his stunt, too.

In the locker room Coach began his speech. He seemed pretty riled up considering we won the game.

“I don’t know what you fel as think you’re pul ing out there, but we take care of our own! Any beef you got with anyone on this team is left outside those locker room doors.” He pointed with his clipboard. “Here, we are a family, and we watch out for each other. A guy’s a jerk? Here, he’s your brother. He’s dating the girl you like?” His eyes fixed on Chiz. “You protect him and block for him. I don’t want any more stunts like that in practice or during the games. Do I make myself clear?” His eyes focused on me. We al nodded, groaning our agreement. “Now hit the showers. I can’t be here al night; I got a hot date with the missus.” He turned and went to his office. I began undressing.

“He’s dating the girl you like?” Chiz mocked Coach’s tone while standing around a few guys. “You steal her and then throw it in his face.” He looked over at me. They laughed as he continued. “Who cares who is dating who? I only date cheerleaders and girls from other schools—who are cheerleaders.” Mason stood up from the bench he was sitting on a few lockers from me. My hands bal ed into fists. Chiz went on, “I mean the other girls in this school are so inexperienced, nerdy, and downright artsy freaks. Like there’s something WRONG with them. Listen to me when I say, guys.” He put his hand on Brandon’s shoulder as if he were giving him fatherly advice. “You lose street cred and popular points when you date girls like Gia, Abby, and Kiarah.” Before I could stop him, Alex had him slammed up against the locker with Chiz yelping in pain. Then Alex’s fist came up so fast it met his nose, and we al heard a crunch. The other guys backed up, shocked that anyone would take on Chiz, but Mason and I pul ed Alex off him. Chiz grabbed his nose as blood rushed down his mouth and chin. It was dripping onto his bare chest.

“What is your malfunction, bro?” Chiz yel ed, as he steadied himself, looking at the blood on his hands. “Homecoming is a week away! And you broke my nose! You’re so dead.” Someone handed him some paper towels, and he winced as he wiped the blood away. Alex jerked away from us.

“Don’t you ever talk about my SISTER or my girlfriend like that. Keep their names out of your mouth and don’t come near them.” He pushed him again with both of his hands, slamming him into the lockers again. Chiz groaned. Coach came back out, and said, “Moretti, Chiz, in my office.

NOW!” He turned and left, and they fol owed him. Mason and I looked at each other, not knowing what to do next. After a few minutes, we went ahead and took our showers and dressed. Then we went outside to Abby and Gia waiting for al of us so that we could go to the IHOP.

“Where’s Alex?” Gia asked, looking around us toward the locker room doors for her brother.

“There was a slight altercation in the locker room,” Mason said, as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

“What happened?” she asked.

“He got into a fight with Chiz. I think he broke his nose,” I said, squeezing her hand.

“Chiz broke Alex’s nose?” Her voice rose, and her face began to darken.

“Um, no, Alex punched Chiz,” Mason said.

“No, Alex doesn’t fight,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, I guess if he thinks it’s worth it, he does,” Mason reasoned. She sat down as suddenly the color left her face.

“Alex doesn’t fight; he knows better,” she barely whispered.

“GIANNA!” We heard the strong thick Italian accent of Oliver, and she groaned.

“Over here.” She stood so he could see her.

“Where is your brother?” he demanded, as he approached us.

“Mr. Morretti, he’s in the coach’s office; right through there.” I pointed the way.

“Go home, Gianna. I have to deal with your brother, and it’s late.”

“We were going to go get some food,” she stated.

“Wel , now you’re going home.” He walked past us and was gone.

“Do you want us to go with you? We can order a pizza,” Mason encouraged.

“I have a feeling you guys don’t want to witness their discussion when we get home,” she sighed.

“I’l take you home and wait with you at least,” I said, then turned to Mason and Abby. “You guys go ahead. Don’t let us stop you from having a good night.” They nodded reluctantly as Abby and Gia hugged goodbye. I took her through the drive-through, and we got milkshakes. We stil beat Alex and their dad home. She walked up and sat down on the stairs of her porch.

“What happened?” she asked, looking out at the night sky.

“Chiz was running his mouth, and I guess Alex had enough,” I said, not wanting to tel her what he’d said.

“There’s got to be more to it than that. Alex has never thrown a punch.”

“Wel , for never throwing a punch, he real y clocked him one. He’s going to have black eyes for homecoming.” I chuckled a little, avoiding her statement.

“I’d have liked to seen that,” she giggled, as she leaned into me. I put my arm around her. We sat there quietly slurping our milkshakes. Then we saw the head lights of the big green truck coming down the street. It pul ed into the driveway. They went silently into the house by way of the kitchen.

“Do you want me to stay longer?” I asked, squeezing her closer to me.

“I do. I don’t want to go in yet.” She turned her head to look up at me, and I could feel her warm breath on my neck. I moved her hair and traced the outline of her neck. We both took a deep breath and then began to laugh. That was when we heard the voices.

“I don’t care if you’re getting beat up; you do not fight. You do not throw the first punch especial y.”

“He was running his mouth, talking about our girlfriends, about YOUR daughter. You of ALL people don’t get to lecture me about hitting people!” Alex’s voice boomed. I squeezed her closer to me. They continued arguing.

“What did he say about us?” she whispered.

“He’s jealous. He obviously likes you and is annoyed that we’re together. He just dragged Abby and Kiarah’s names into it to set us off. Mason, Alex, and I spend a lot of time together, and he feels like an outsider. I think he had Alex pegged as one of his entourage. When Alex didn’t play along, it made him mad, too. The bad thing is, he figured out Alex’s button.” She pul ed away from me.

“Kiarah?”

“No, you. He’s very protective of you. Mason and I had to drag him off Chiz.” I pul ed her back to me. She leaned into me again, taking a deep breath. The front door opened as the light came on. Oliver stood in the doorway.

“Gianna, it’s time to come in. It’s getting late.” He didn’t move, and neither did she.

“I’l be in, in a few minutes, OK?”

“Just hurry up.” He shut the door but left the light on.

“I guess that is my cue that it’s time to go. Are you going to be around tomorrow around lunch time?”

“Yes.”

“Good, I’l pick you up for lunch, and we can hang out.” I kissed the top of her head, and she looked up at me with a look that I didn’t recognize in her eyes. It made my pulse sputter, and I took a jagged breath. She shifted herself so that she was on the step below me nestled in between my legs, and she placed her arms around my neck as she did. She pressed herself to me and kissed me. I found my fingers lightly tracing her sides, my other hand moving her hair. I breathed her soft coconut scent. Our kiss was soft at first but grew deeper and almost desperate as our lips didn’t part and her clutch on me grew tighter. Final y, she pul ed away, and she looked at me again with the same expression she had a moment before. I did love this girl. I realized at that moment this was what love felt like. She would always be the first girl I loved. I kissed her again.

Gianna

Travis and Alex were sitting on the couch when I came down from my room. They played video games as Travis waited for me to finish getting ready. He said he’d be picking me up for lunch, but I didn’t expect it to be at eleven-thirty. I was stil finishing my chores; I was on bathroom duty this week. He told me he wanted to check on Alex anyway, so he came on over.

Alex. He’d gotten in trouble with the coach. He and Chiz would have to stay late after practice every night for a week running laps. I guessed that was the coach’s equivalent to detention. At home, he had to attend Oliver’s group therapy for a month. He also wasn’t al owed to go out for a month, with the exception of homecoming. He’d taken his punishment graceful y. Both he and Travis refused to tel me what exactly was said. Alex said his temper had just gotten the better of him, and he was already mad for the stunt Chiz had pul ed during the game.

When I was final y ready, I came down in some cut-off jean shorts and layered tank tops. I’d piled on a few beaded necklaces of different lengths and shapes and sizes. I thought it looked pretty cool. We told Alex “bye” and were on our way to the mal . We got some food at the food court, and as we scanned the place for seats, we saw Hailey and their mom waving to us.

“Hey, look at that. They didn’t say they’d be here.” He smiled innocently as he led me over to where they sat.

“What’s going on here?” I asked, not trusting his innocent act.

“Nothing. Let’s go eat with them.” We joined them.

After the smal talk, Mrs. Nichols turned to me and asked, “Since we’re here together, would you like to go dress shopping?” Ah, the set up, I realized. He’d thrown me under the bus.

“Wel , that would be nice, but I don’t think Hailey would enjoy it much.” Hailey looked at me inquisitively.

“That’s why Hailey and I are going to the Game Emporium; they have laser tag, indoor go carts, and video games.” Travis draped his arm around my chair. Hailey began clapping her hands together and bouncing up and down.

“I love the video games there!” she cheered.

“Then I guess we’re al set,” I smiled weakly.

“What are you looking for in a dress?” Mrs. Nichols sat down and asked me patiently, after the third store and several dresses already.

“I’m not sure—just something that feels right. None of these dresses feel right. They feel like they’re too much, almost too fancy for me. I don’t know real y.” She patted the bench beside her, and I sat down in the fril y green dress that I had just been frowning at in the three-way mirror.

“I don’t know much about your situation with your mother except that she has passed. I know it’s early just to move on. I think that is your conflict,” she paused, and I nodded. “But this is one night that you can just be yourself. Not that you’l forget what’s going on, but you can let it go a little. You are sixteen, beautiful, and ful of life. As a mother myself, I wouldn’t want my daughter to miss out on living life just because I wasn’t there to watch her enjoy it.” She put her hands on mine. “Are you sure that none of these dresses ‘feel right’?” I looked back at the dresses hanging on the hooks and taking up an entire wal of the dressing room.