Myne

thirteen

The four of them had a long and enjoyable day on the road. They were ‘visiting’ teams. Everyone knew what that meant. They certainly weren’t the only ones doing it either. Surely, their own team had enjoyed such ‘visits’. 

Erica Delilah was the striker of the team. She wasn’t the most famous, the most talented, or the most feared. She was good. She was aware of that. Everyone was aware of that. But, with her team, good was enough. Good was so much more than just good when the team was playing together. 

Kim, on the other hand, was famous, bursting with talent, and terrifying. She was the heart of the team. She had also caught the eye of many scouts. Simply put, her future was set in place. Her position was guaranteed on the national team. There were even whispers in all the right places about how she and a few other talents recently discovered could win them the highest honours and the grandest medals on the global stage. That was a future everyone was looking forward to. 

And so, both Kim and Erica were quickly discovered the moment they stepped into any school. And their secret peeking at the other teams’ practice, wasn’t so secret after all. 

Emi and West did enjoy anonymity though. Emi had always been in the background. She had no intention of ever stepping onto the court, or into the light. Not yet, at least. Her dream was to become a sports analyst, at a big tv station. Then, when her analyses and her reports were looked upon and studied by everyone who mattered, she would let herself be known. That was her grand plan for success. For now, no one even associated her with the two stars not too far from her. And West wasn’t only a boy, the wrong gender, he also showed little enthusiasm. If not for the girl, Emi, beside him, he would be called a p*****t, a peeper, a playboy, and all the other fancy words for a boy in a space of girls without permission. Certainly, no one would care enough to ask about his intentions. 

Unfortunately for poor West, neither of his three companions cared much for him, at least not while they were at schools. He was expecting that. Like he said from the very beginning, he was simply their driver today. Nothing more. Nothing less. Plus, he was good at keeping himself busy. He could always think of his research, wherever he was. Even without his books or his laptop. That was exactly what he did. He did take regular breaks from his head though, to look at the serious girls, and admit to himself how pretty they were, all serious. 

Back in the car, Erica sat in the front with West, making no secret of her crushing on him. So much so, that he was blushing. And the other two girls were laughing at the back. All of this when they weren’t discussing the opponents. The teams. And the players to take note of. 

They couldn’t be happier with having burgers and coke for lunch, sandwiches for snacks in between meals, and pizza for a very early dinner, before driving back home. That was the kind of day, at least in terms of food, that they wouldn’t be allowed by anyone else. And that was one more reason to love West. 

While they were driving back to Greenfield, Emi felt the first pangs of guilt. She had completely forgotten about Rain. And it didn’t feel all too bad. Was that even okay? And why hadn’t Rain called her all day? Not even sent her a message. What was going on? Was Rain okay? She couldn’t understand why she was so worried. Whatever the reason, it certainly wasn’t good. 

She was feeling restless, as the anxiousness grew. And it was starting to show. 

“What’s wrong?” Kim asked. It was still the two of them in the back. Erica was too busy staring at West to care. And West was busy driving, looking out and blushing in embarrassment in the face of Erica’s display of affection. And Kim was whispering, so the conversation stayed between the two of them. “What’s got you so agitated?” 

“Nothing,” Emi said, shaking her head. 

“It’s not nothing. I can see that even if I was blind. Talk to me.” 

“Rain. I guess I’m just missing her.” 

“Ha. I should have known. One whole day you two were apart. That’s already something. Now, seeing you so restless, clearly everything is fine. Why didn’t she come along too? Not like we’re short on space. WE can certainly squeeze in the back, the three of us.” 

“I know. I did ask her. She had something to do. Important.” 

“More than you.” 

“Concerns the both of us. If it wasn’t for the tournament, I should be with her. Together all day.” 

“I’m curious now. And jealous. Like all those other times. Why can’t the two of you let me in as well? Into your secrets?” 

Emi didn’t reply. She did give a smile. And that had to do. 

“Alright,” Kim said. “I won’t ask. I’ll just wait, instead. For the day when you’ll let me in.” She grabbed Emi’s hand, and held it. She was hoping it would be calming. And she saw that it was. Emi was much less restless, much calmer. 

They were outside the town when Kim broached the subject once more. “Rain’s a big girl, isn’t she? The same as us. Which is why I’ve wanted to ask, like for a long time. Why are you so worried? Is there something we don’t know? Something we aren’t aware of? Something important?” 

“Yeah,” Emi said in reply. “There was something, long ago.” She said the latter part much softer, as if to herself. 

Kim heard Emi, even if she couldn’t get all of the words. Something long ago. She heard those three words. The blanks weren’t hard to fill. Something had happened a long time ago. To Rain. Or involving Rain. Why couldn’t she remember? Should she ask around? Even if they knew, would she be starting something that she shouldn’t? She couldn’t think straight. Couldn’t figure it out. The only answer she could come up with, was asking her brother later, when they were home. He would certainly come up with an idea. He would know what to do, what to say. Having decided, she fell quiet. 

By the side, Emi was quiet too. She freed her hand from Kim, and had her two hands resting on her legs, pressed together. Even though she was looking out the window, she had one eye on her phone, sitting on the seat between her legs. Waiting for it to light up. Buzz. Something. A call. A message. An email. Anything at all really. She couldn’t understand why she was so worked up. She couldn’t silence the questions. Had something really happened? Was it the book? Was Rain okay? Or, worse still, could it be like that time? Had the book brought it back? Worsened it? Was she terribly wrong in leaving Rain by herself, when clearly the book had affected Rain quite bad? 

She had no answer, to any question. And because she couldn’t bring herself to reach for the phone, message or call Rain herself, all she could do was wait. They weren’t very far from home now. A half hour at most. That long she could wait.