"Hooking up?"
"Nope."
"Damn." Travis laughs again.
After shaking my head to get some of the extra water off, I say, "Still don't know what I'm doing tonight, though. Mom really might want me home." Translation, she might need me home. "I need to talk to her and Kira too."
"Okay. Text me if you come out. A few guys are hanging out tonight, so I'll be with them. We're looking for a place to party." The urge to ask him about the partying climbs up my throat, but I shove it down, not wanting to look like the guy who's giving him shit when he's having fun after a break up. Travis doesn't give me time anyway, sliding his hat on backward and saying, "And, dude? You so want Kira. You should go for it. I'm pretty sure she's feelin' you too."
I don't have time to think about what he said, because I'm still worried about going out there and talking to Mom. She showed up a little into the third quarter. Being a coward, I came straight to the locker room after our win, not ready to talk to her yet. Afraid of what I don't want to hear in her voice or see in her eyes.
Now...now I have to face it.
Before the locker room door has a chance to close behind me, two small, manicured hands slam into my chest, throwing me off balance. What the hell?
"I can't believe you're going out with her, Carter. Did you even wait until we broke up? How do I know you weren't with her when we were still together?" If this was a cartoon, I can guarantee steam would be coming out of Mel's ears. She's still in her cheer uniform. A blue ribbon that matches our team colors ties up her hair and she has a scowl on her face. She's like Pissed off Cheerleader Barbie.
It's apparent that the universe hates me. I can't seem to catch a break anywhere. "You're the one who was screwing around. Not me. And I'm not even with Kira." Unfortunately.
She crosses her arms. "Funny you know exactly who I'm talking about! She's wearing a jersey with your name on it. Are you trying to embarrass me?" Mel's chin starts to quiver. No. No, no, no. I do not want to deal with a crying Melanie.
But I have to get this over with. "I'm a little lost on how it would embarrass you when you're the one who I caught in the bushes with Devin and you happened to be the one who dumped me, but whatever." Before I say anything that might get me in trouble, I try to walk past her. She reaches out and grabs my arm, stopping me.
Her voice is softer now and she moves closer. "I'm sorry, Carter. It's my fault. Devin's a jerk. You and I belong together. I want you back."
Shock freezes me. Did I just hear what I thought I heard? Have Mel back? A part of my normal? But I don't want it. It's done. We're done. "Mel..."
"Carter, I miss you. Your hairs still too messy, but I miss you." I actually think she does. Mel isn't a bad person, she's just spoiled. She wants it all. And regardless of how things went, we used to get along.
"It wouldn't have worked out. You know that. We were starting to fight all the time. You started hanging out with another guy."
"Devin was a mistake."
"It'd be a mistake for us to get back together. You know that as well as I do."
She reaches up and touches my hair. Even if part of me wants it to, the touch doesn't feel the same. She's not even looking at me the same. Mel doesn't want me back for me, she wants me back because she's starting to realize she can't have me.
I start to pull away just as another voice comes from down the hall.
"Carter! Carter! We won!" Sara, Mom, and Kira are standing by the door that leads to the gym. You've heard that saying time stopped? Yeah, I always thought it was dumb until now. It really feels like time stops. Like I'm doing something really bad and I just got caught and there's nothing I can do about it. Sara looks at Mel and then at me. "Ew. She's yucky."
"Sara!" Mom gasps.
Mel huffs. "Whatever."
I finish pulling away from her.
Kira is standing with my family. She crosses her arms and shakes her head. It's almost a mad gesture, but she doesn't look mad. Disappointed, maybe? Jealous?
A woman stands behind her, touching Kira's shoulder. Comfort? Wishful thinking on my part? Probably.
"I'm sorry, Mel, I gotta go." The words haven't finished leaving my mouth before I start jogging away. "Hey," I say to Kira when I get up to them. I look back to make sure Mel is gone, which she is.
"Hey, Coach. Good game."
For the first time in my life, I try to study a girl's voice besides my mom. Is there something hidden in there? Is she really telling me I had a good game or pretending she thinks that when really she's wishing I fell and busted my head open on the court.
"Thanks..."
The woman behind her reaches out her hand to me. "Hi. I'm Lana. I've heard so much about you."
Those words, hearing that she's heard about me, make me feel better than winning the game did. "Carter. It's good to meet you." I'm talking to Lana, but looking at Kira. I'm pretty sure this ranks me up there with her on the crazy factor, but I'm looking for some sign that she's mad. Almost wanting her to be mad at seeing me with Mel, because that will mean Travis was right and she likes me.
"Sorry I missed most of it. The store was crazy. Since Kira took my car, I rode out with Lana." Mom's voice is the only thing that pulls me away from Kira. It sounds right. Normal. Sober, but I need to look at her too. See her eyes, feel the way she hugs me. See if any hint of that tangy scent clings to her.
"It's cool." I reach out and hug her, which I'm sure she thinks is strange. But it's her and she's sober so everything's okay. My lungs stop hurting when I let the air out of them. I hadn't even realized they hurt until they didn't.
"Wow. That was nice." Mom smiles. "Sara's tired though. We're going to head home."
My little sister's arms wrap around my waist and I squeeze her shoulders. "I like it when you win for me."
"Always."
"Be home by curfew." Mom winks and glances at Kira, throwing me off a bit. She's never winked at me like that. Sara pries her arms away. "Thanks for the ride, Lana. Are you guys leaving too?"
The other woman nods and I feel like hyperventilating.
"See ya later, Coach."
There's no way I can let Kira walk away. On instinct, I reach out and grab her hand. "Wait... Let me take you home. I mean," I turn to Lana. "Can I take her home?"
She laughs. She has dark skin too, but I don't think she has African American in her like I think Kira does. Lana looks like she's Hawaiian. Kira a mix of black and something else. "You don't know her very well if you're asking me that question."
My heart starts racing. I need Kira to say yes. I also need to talk to Mom. "Wanna go with me? I mean, ride with me. Hang out or something?" Wow...I'm smooth.
She sighs, but it's not an annoyed kind of sigh. "I guess."
I smile at her, but it's Lana who replies. "Curfew for you, too."
Mom, Lana, and Sara start to walk out the door. Panic swells inside me. I need to catch Mom but away from Lana. "Wait! Mom. I..."
When she looks at me, I see the hurt in her eyes. It beats down on me, burying me in guilt. She knows what I think. What I want to say. What I can't find a way to say in front of everyone else.
"I know, Carter. I know. Sara and I will be okay. I'm thinking popcorn, hot chocolate, and a Barney marathon. How does that sound to you?" Her voice fakes the lightness that doesn't reach her eyes.