I’m jealous of what they have. I had a couple of girlfriends in high school, and I’ve hung out with a few girls since being at Middle Penn, but most of them didn’t like coming second to soccer, so no one stuck around long. Now that I don’t play anymore, my dating life could look a little different, but I don’t see a lot of girls being as interested when they realize they’ll be second to studying.
Except maybe someone like Jessie.
“What about you? What happened to that girl you were talking to this summer?”
“Back at home? The one who worked at the ice cream shop on Main?”
“Yeah, the brunette. She, uh… What was her name?”
“Candice.”
“Yes! What happened there?”
“Just fizzled out,” I say.
“I saw you talking to a chick when I walked up—who was she?”
“Jessie Matthews. We…”How do I describe Jessie?“We have a few classes together.”
“That it? You had puppy eyes, bro.”
“It’s complicated.”
“I got time.”
We don’t waste any time getting into the game, and I explain, as best I can while playing, about the Halloween party and the way Jessie acted the next day in class, like she had no idea it was me. Like the previous night didn’t happen at all. I give him the rundown of the conversation with her and Jade.
“I don’t know,” I say. “We’ve always been competitive with our grades, we always had banter, but tonight, the way she acted…I can’t tell if she’s just messing with me or not.”
“One hundred percent, dude. She is playing the GAME.”
“You think she knew it was me and is just…doing a bit?”
“Yes, one hundred percent. This is how girls are. They play the game.”
Thinking it in my head is one thing, but now that I’ve said it out loud and heard Brody agreeing with me…I’m not so sure anymore.
“Why would she do that?” I ask. I’m processing it more than asking, but Brody sees it as an invitation.
“Because she likes you. She likes your dynamic. She thinks it’s a game and she’s playing.”
Brody doesn’t know Jessie, and what he’s saying doesn’t settle right with me. But truthfully, I don’t know Jessie that well either. Definitely not well enough to know if she’s playing The Game and we’re just doing a bit or if she truly doesn’t know it’s me.
“What if…?” I pause, propping my hands on my knees, the ball bouncing behind me, ignored. “What if she didn’t know it was me?”
It wasn’t that dark and my mask and wig weren’t THAT good. She looked into my eyes. She’s looked into my eyes hundreds of times, so she would have recognized me. She’s seen my face a billion times over the past two years. She would have recognized me. I’m usually really sure of myself, but the way Jessie is acting has me questioning everything.
Brody pauses too, hands on his head, breathing heavily. “Listen, I have two sisters.”
“I know, dude.”
“I know a thing or two about girls. They are complex. Nothing is straightforward with them. My sister Lily once pretended she was into emo music for a guy.”
“Okay…?” I bounce the ball a few times, catching my breath.
“She didn’t just pretend to be into the music. She got into that emo-punk culture. Dressed the part, got a couple piercings, dyed her hair, changed her makeup.”
“Did it work?”
