Hey You

31

It seemed to take forever for Wednesday night to get here. Roxanne and I were sitting in the stands, both of us dawning jersey’s corresponding to the twins.

Steven had ran up to the rail when we walked onto the bleachers. Climbing up the little railing, he extended his hand holding out the jerseys. I took them, handing Craig’s to Roxanne. I bent down over the railing and kissed him. Pulling away only when his coach yelled his name. He jumped down, shooting me a smile and ran over to the field, scooping up his helmet.

I pulled the jersey over my head, once again my lungs filled with his scent. He had worn it, just for me to be able to smell him. I smiled at him standing on the field, ready for the game to start.

“Look who’s here.” Roxanne said, nodding to the right.

I turned my head and saw Katie walking up the bleachers…alone.

“Where is Matt?” I asked her as she approached.

“Not here, so it doesn’t matter.” She replied. Her eyes going wide staring at Roxanne’s top. “Why are you wearing Craig’ jersey?” She asked, annoyed.

At that moment, I knew exactly why she was there. She was done with Matt. What usually takes a week or two, only took days. That either meant he wasn’t putting up with her s**t or she was unsatisfied.

As if on cue, Matt walked up the bleachers. “Hi Stacey, Hi Roxanne. Katie.” He said her name with daggers. He wasn’t putting up with her s**t I decided.

Katie glared at him. “Why are you here?!”

“Last I checked, not only do I go to this school, but those are my friends out on that field. I understand why Stacey and Roxanne are here; being their girlfriends. But since you were acting like a b***h, I decided to not invite you tonight. So the real question is, why are YOU here?!”

Daammmnn, I thought to myself. She was sitting on the other side of Roxanne, so she didn’t see my smirk. Looking at Roxanne’s face, the jersey, then back to her face “You’re really going out with Craig?!” She asked her snottily.

“Yes.” Short and sweet, the only way Roxanne knew how to act.

“And you, you’re with Steven?” She said to me next.

Following Roxanne, “Yes.” I didn’t need to explain myself or tell her the details.

“Why did you guys leave me out in the dark?!” she asked.

I looked at her, “Katie the minute we saw you on Monday, you were saying how much of a d**k Matt was.” I looked up at Matt, “no offense.” He smiled back.

“I asked you how your Sunday went!”

“Yeah, but did you really care? Do you not remember how you acted in the restaurant bathroom?” Roxanne asked.

Katie blew out air, “You guys can be such bitches. And you know I didn't mean anything by it.”

“Yeah, we can be. Now shut it and watch the game. I’m not here to listen to you b***h. I’ve heard you all week. Right now I’m here for Steven.” I couldn’t believe I was actually saying it out loud and not just in my head like always.

I waited for her to reply. But she said nothing, just turned to the game and shut up. I couldn’t believe that happened and there wasn’t a full out fight going on.

Matt got up, “Sorry girls, I’ll see you later. I’m going to go sit with my other friends.” I felt bad for him, he shouldn’t have to put up with Katie’s s**t. Its obvious she liked him more than she was letting on. Just by the look on her face as he walked away.

I turned to Katie when he was out of eye sight.

“Katie, look I’m sorry.” I started. She didn’t look mad though, she looked sad. I noticed that she kept glancing over at Matt. Not paying attention to the game, and he doing the same in return.

Roxanne had gone to use the bathroom, so I slid closer over to her. “You know we love you. And that we are always there for you.”

She nodded.

“But sometimes, we need to focus on what makes us happy. You can talk to us about anything. You know that, but also know that we are going to have our opinions and you are going to need to act like we matter as well.”

She turned to me, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I was acting like that. I really am a bitch.”

I put my arm around her, “It’s okay. I know you can do better” I gave her a squeeze. “Do you want to be with Matt?”

"Yes, I do want to be with him," Katie said.

"Then be with him and stop the petty drama."

She looked at him, then went to where he was sitting. For the rest of the game she stayed with him.

Roxanne and I screamed and shouted throughout the game. With the final buzzard ringing Steven finally pulled his helmet off. Revealing sweat, mud and a little bit of blood. He looked so damn sexy.

The entire team went into the locker room. We sat there, waiting for them to join us.

Steven was walking slowly, his arm around Craig’s shoulders. He looked up and smiled at me, but I could see there was something off.

“He may or may not have a small concussion.” Craig stated once they reached us.

Steven took my hand in his, “I’m fine Stacey, don’t worry about it. I’m good.”

I could only manage a small smile back, “Well looks like you won’t be going to sleep anytime soon then” I finally replied with a wink.

That made him laugh and give me his ever so sexy half smile, a twinkle shown in his eyes.

“Okay, well we can’t stay out that long” Roxanne said breaking the bubble. 

“It is Wednesday and we all have to be back at our homes by 12.”

My smile faded, “You’re such a buzzkill.”

We started to laugh when the boy’s parents walked up. “Steven, you’re coming home. No going out tonight.”

“Mom, seriously I’m fine. I swear” he took his arm off from around Craig’s shoulders and moved forward to come closer to me, but he stumbled. I reached out and caught him, holding him up.

“I agree with your mom. It’s not going to be much fun anyways, I need to read for a class tomorrow.” I said up to him.

“The only place you’re going is home. To shower and then lay in bed. The doctor said not to let you sleep for at least an hour or two. So Stacey, if you want, you are more than welcome to come over, and read while he does nothing.” His mom said to the both of us.

“Okay, that sounds good.”

“I’m going to take Roxanne out to dinner” Craig chimed in. He turned to Matt “you two want to join us?”

“Yeah, sure” Matt replied.

“Am I at least allowed to ride with my girlfriend in her car?” Steven said to his mother, sounding annoyed that he had to go home.

“Yes, that’s fine.” She smiled at him and put her hand to his face. He smiled back at her.

I followed his parents back to their house. Steven sitting beside me. I refused to play the music, I wanted to make sure he stayed awake and kept talking to him.

“Well, this is going to be fun!” I said to him, “we have a 20 minute ride and I can’t allow you to fall asleep.”

He reached over and took my hand. I turned it so we could link fingers; his thumb stroking my index finger.

“We won’t be able to do anything” he started “She’s going to be on me like a hawk.”

I let out a laugh, “Even if she wasn’t acting like a hawk, nothing would be happening anyways.”

He laughed “What, why?!? I’m not injured, and if I was don’t you want to be the one to take care of me?”

He leaned closer to me, I knew exactly what he was doing. And it was working, my body was warming up.

“Oh, I’m going to take care of you all right” I said to him, trying hard to hide the want in my voice.

“Okay, last question before we get to your house.” We could see his house at the stop light.

“Shoot” he said.

“Your birthday…when is it?”

He laughed, “March 17th…I get to party for my birthday and for St. Patrick’s day!”