Save Me -Lex, Crash course in Roller Derby
1181 Words
He smiles at me. “You’re a big softy.”
“Bryan, once you are in my life, you’re always in my life. I love my friends and I will do anything for any of them. But the man I love will always come first.”
I break our connection by looking down at my page, “Or maybe that’s just me.”
After a few moments of silence he says so softly that I almost don’t hear it, “No, I would do that to.”
But I don’t look back up.
~~~
I stretch my arms over my head and looked at my watch, “Damn, it’s way past lunchtime.” I look over to find Bryan, asleep on my comfy chair with my iPad in his lap.
I stand up and walk over to him, his neck is bent in an awkward position and it will probably hurt later if I don’t get him out of it. I brush the bangs off of his forehead and touch his cheek. He opens his eyes slowly and gives me a little, sleepy smile.
“You didn’t have to sleep in the chair,” I say softly.
“I must’ve fallen asleep watching you work,” he says, stretching his neck.
“You were watching me?” I say with frown.
“You are very intense when you work. You rub your forehead, drum your fingers, and look out the window. I counted twenty-two times.”
“Twenty-two times for what?”
“Twenty-two is the number of times that you lifted your head to look outside,” he smiles.
I shake my head and smile and I look down at my iPad.
“You like angry birds?”
“I’ve never played it before. It’s really addictive,” he smiles and restarts the game. He fails the level.
“Do you want me to show you how to beat it?”
He nods.
“Move over.”
I gently move his legs so that I can sit on the chair with him.
I look up at his face, “Ok, now watch.” I smile as he’s blushing again because we’re in close proximity.
He looks down at the screen. “Watch,” I repeat and then feel him shift in the chair so that he can lean in closer; his chin is almost resting on my shoulder.
I minimize the screen and pull bird back. When it’s flying, I tap the screen so that it splits apart into three birds.
“That’s so cool,” he says.
I pull the next bird back and tap the screen; a bomb dropped out and makes the impact that I need.
“Last one. Are you still with me?”
He nods, hitting his chin on my shoulder.
“You ok?” I ask.
“Yeah, it didn’t hurt,” he smiles into my eyes.
“This one explodes.”
I release the bird and makes impact, losing the first layer and blowing apart the rest of the pigs. “Ta-da!”
“Can I try?” he asks.
I hand over the pad and he starts the game over so I shift so that I’m leaning over his shoulder now. He releases the bird and tap to screen, making a better impact than what mine did. He gives a laugh and says, “I got more points than you.” He turns his head to smile at me and our faces are mere inches apart. His gaze flickers to my lips. I lick them and he watches the movement.
‘Your bird is ready for you,” I whisper. He looks up into my eyes and I know now that he does want to kiss me but I also know that he won’t. He turns his head back to the game and I lean away from him to let him concentrate. He nails the level.
“I did it!”
“Good job. Are you hungry? It’s like 1:30 now,” I ask him.
“Yeah, I could eat.”
I stand up and leave the room.
I make a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches and we sit down to eat. “So what are your plans now for this weekend?”
He frowns, “I’m not sure.”
“You can hang out with me. Although, I do have a game on Saturday.”
“Game. What sport?”
“Roller Derby.”
“Isn’t that with like roller skates or something?” He looks puzzled.
“Yeah,” I smiled hugely. “Ever been to a bout?”
“A what?”
“Bout. That’s really what they’re called.”
He shakes his head no.
“Finish eating, you are getting a crash course in roller derby.”
We finish eating and I boot up my Mac. I go to the Danger Darlings website and pull up a video. He watches it with rapt attention. He points to someone, “Who is that? She’s fast.”
“Who?”
“Number twelve. Lexus Plexus.”
I smile at him. “That’s me, Bry. I’m a jammer.”
“A what?”
“I score the points. Watch.”
He does. I pass by the group twice and signal that the game is over by patting my stomach with both hands and raising them over my head. I roll off the track and remove my helmet.
“That’s you,” he says incredulously. “And you have a whatever-you-call-it tomorrow?” He hits play again on the video.
“Do you want to come and see me in action?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Hey, Micah is here to,” I point to another girl, number seven. “Remember her from the other night?”
“She was at the show, right?”
“Yeah, she’s got a thing for Lee, the bassist.”
“The quiet one.”
“Yeah. He’s a real good guy.”
“Wait, are all of those real?”
“What?” I look at the screen where he’s pointing at my tattoos.
“Yeah. Didn’t you notice them before?”
“No, not really,” he blushes.
Aww…so cute!
“How many do you have?” He asks.
“Over ten, I think…” I start counting on my fingers.
“Are you getting anymore?”
“Probably.” I lift up my yoga pant leg, “Check out this one.”
I smile revealing “Chuck’s Luck” with the logoed cat.
“Did that hurt? Can I touch it?”
“No and yes.”
He tentatively touches my leg.
“It won’t break Avery.” I roll my eyes at him.
He runs two fingers over my tattoo and then traces it. His touch is giving me goose bumps. I begin pulling my pant leg down again.
“Can I see the rest?”
“Maybe some other time?”
He nods, but looks a little disappointed.
“So what do you want to do tonight?”
He shrugs.
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