Linc: LOL! Guilty as charged. I am a jock.
Elizabeth: So I know all the worst parts of you already.
Linc: And you think seeing what you look like will be the ‘worst part’ of you?
She didn’t answer once again. She was probably staring at the screen figuring out how to get herself out of the situation she’d landed herself in. Answering yes would mean she’d open herself up to him giving her a talking to about her self-perception. Answering no meant she had no reason left to decline meeting him face to face.
Elizabeth: I’m not fishing for compliments.
Linc: I didn’t think you were. I think you have a deeply skewed opinion of yourself and it has you scared and ready to run. We’re all self-conscious about our bodies, Elizabeth. Even jocks. Obviously I’m not going to push you or try to force you into doing something you aren’t ready for but I really do want to meet you.
Linc: Look. I’m throwing down where I’m at, okay? If it freaks you out, I’m sorry, but I can’t keep it to myself anymore. I can’t stop thinking about you, Lizzy. I enjoy ‘talking’ to you. I want to spend time with you ‘IRL’ so we can see where this goes. I know we started out by accident, but my days don’t feel complete unless I’ve at least checked in with you to see how you’re doing. I know I probably wasn’t supposed to, but I care and I feel like if I don’t tell you that I care, you’re going to remain oblivious and whatever this is, whatever this could be, will end up passing us by.
Elizabeth: You’re just saying that because it’s mysterious and exciting.
Linc: I’m saying this because I enjoy your company and I really want to kiss you.
Elizabeth: Mr. Darcy…
Linc: Shhhh. Don’t say anything tonight. Think about it, okay?
Linc: But it’s good to know you think I’m mysterious and exciting! ;)
He reached onto the floor and picked up his sketchpad. He flicked it to the vibrant, colorful, almost cartoon-esque self-portrait he’d drawn in chalk and snapped a photo. It wasn’t an accurate likeness, in fairness it could have been anyone, but he wasn’t ready to out himself to someone who might as easily walk away knowing so much about him. He pressed send.
He silenced his phone, turned off the lamp next to his bed and turned onto his side, pulling the blanket up to his chin. When he woke up in the morning, he’d either be met with deafening silence, or she’d answer, maybe even with a picture of her own. He could only hope.
***
“You see who’s in the stands with Will’s lil sister again?” Russ skated up behind him as the clock on the big screen counted the final few seconds to zero then reset to twenty to count down to the start of the game.
Linc had in fact seen who was in the stands, but he wasn’t going to give Russ any additional ammunition. “Huh? Who?” He forced his face to stay impassive and his voice to stay level and cool.
“Nice try, asshole. You missed two easy shots on an empty net during warm up because you were… let’s just call it distracted.” Russ led the way to the tunnel and extended his stick for Linc to go first. “We both know you clocked her. We both know you wanna make sweet, sweet love to that woman, Linc. What’s stopping you? Is it what Johnny said about her weight? Because—”
“Easy there, tiger.” Linc patted his chest with a gloved palm. “That’s not the why. She despises me and everything I stand for. I’m trying to convince her I’m not a no-brain jock by pulling my weight on this project, but she’s not giving me an inch, man. She’s just…” They trudged through the corridor toward the locker room. “Cautious, I guess. I can’t blame her really. Not after that shit Johnny pulled.”
“Rumor has it that asshole is bound for ‘Bama.”
“No shit?”
“Truth. We’ll see if anything comes of it though. Also, you missed a reason. We both know that girl on your phone has you in your feels so you’re not entertaining anyone in-the-real-world, not even our sassy Ms. Martinez in the stands. What is it about a beautiful woman enjoying sport that’s hot as fuck?”
Linc erupted into boisterous laughter. “Dude. I think you’re overstating it, just a little. Did you see her face? She’d rather be having a colonoscopy right now than be at this game. Molly must have something on her to convince her to come back here.”
“What’s that about Molly?” Will shuffled his way over to sit between them on the bench.
“Scotty here was just commenting on how your sister had brought her brunette friend with her to the game again.”
“Cleo?” Will’s accusatory stare fell to Linc. “What about it? Are you…? Do you…? Lincoln Scott you surely don’t…” Realization dawned on his face as hit eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Ooooooh boy.”
“You did a thing all by yourself there, man. You didn’t finish a single sentence.”
Will dropped his voice to a quiet murmur. “No, no, no. Stick with the phantom girl on the phone, man. Cleo Martinez is not the girl for you. Nuh uh. She’d chew you up, spit you out, and not even break a sweat.”
“Plus, it seems her heart doesn’t belong to a Snow Pirate anymore. She’s not wearing that sweater tonight. Or even our colors for that matter. Guess the pirate lost her heart…”
Linc groaned. “You’re both shitheads, you know that, right?”
