I quickly say, “Thanks, JJ. See you at the game.” I head out the door and make my way to the field. What was that? I stop in the parking lot. She kissed me!Oh, Jake, calm down. It’s just a friendly good-luck kiss on the cheek.But it came out of nowhere!You’re making more out of this than it is. Remember Randy Jackson?Stupid subconscious thoughts. I shake my head and continue walking. I’ve got to get my head straight and think about this game.
When I get down to the field, I go into the locker room to change and then make my way to the field to stretch. Our game starts at four, so we roughly have about forty-five minutes. Springfield arrived, but they have not come out onto the field yet. The stands are filling up. At a quick glance, I see my parents as well as JJ’s mom and dad sitting together in the stands. They’ve gotten to be pretty good friends too. I look at the cheerleaders and see my girl. Her honey-blonde ponytail bounces behind her. She’s so excited to be doing something she loves.
Yeah, Jake, keep telling yourself that.What?She’s excited because of her date tonight. It has nothing to do with cheerleading.“Oh, screw yourself,”I say under my breath. I look up at the bleachers in front of the cheerleaders, and sitting in the first row, right in front, is Randy Jackson and a few of his friends. Oh, screw it. I grab a football and my pal Ted. “Come on, let’s pass the ball a bit.” Ted is one of my receivers, so it helps to practice with him.
The game is about to start, and although I want nothing more than to look over at where Randy is sitting, I force myself not to. We have to win this game, so it has to be my priority right now.
After a long four quarters, the Ridgefield Wolf Pack walks away with their first win. Springfield didn’t stand a chance. We started out shaky in the first quarter but then exploded for five touchdowns in the second. We held the lead for the remainder of the game, and our defense was impenetrable. I was twelve out of fifteen, passing for a total of 210 yards and one touchdown in the third quarter. Bo White led in rushing with seventy-two yards on eight carries, and he scored a touchdown. And my buddy, Ted Pickens, had his best game ever, with four catches for seventy-eight yards and a touchdown.
The locker room is crazy, and everyone is pumped.
“Hey, Jake, we’re all going to DeeDee’s to get some food. You in?” Ted asks.
My first thought is to say no. I want to find out where Jayden is going, but then I think again and decide I need to step away. She’s got the guy she wants, and she is still my best friend. Plus, DeeDee’s Diner has the best burgers in town.
“Yeah, sounds great,” I reply as I head for the shower.
Ted calls after me, “We’re all meeting at the field gate. Coach is arranging for rides.”
I nod and keep walking.
After my shower, I get dressed and step out of the locker room to find my mom and dad. They are standing with Jayden’s parents. I walk up to them, say hi to Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie, and turn to my parents. “Coach is arranging for us all to go to DeeDee’s. I won’t be late.”
Mom replies, “Okay, hon. Since you have plans, I think the McKenzies are gonna join us for dinner.” She winks and says, “Don’t worry, we’ll stay away from DeeDee’s.”
“Ha ha, Mom, wasn’t even thinking that.”
Mrs. McKenzie says, “You’ll see Jayden there. I think she and that boy are going.” She turns toward her husband. “What was his name again?”
Barely loud enough to be heard, I say, “Randy.”
“Yes, that’s it,” she says. “Seems like a nice enough fella.”
I want to protest, but other than my unexpected jealously, I don’t have anything bad to say about Randy. He’s a great guy. I’ve known him most of my life. I mean, if I could pick any guy other than myself for Jayden, it would be him.
When nobody responds to her comment, she says, “But it’s not like they are really dating at this age.”
Oh, lady, if you only knew. Yeah, we’re only thirteen, and yeah, our parents need to take us, but once we’re alone… You can be sure we are testing the waters.
A few minutes later, I head back to where the team is supposed to meet. Coach is there, with several of the guys and two vans. Coach hollers, “Everyone pile in!” As the guys start to claim a spot in the vans, he says, “We’ll be bringing you all home tonight too.”
I get into one of the vans and wait until we are ready to leave. A few more guys trickle in, and we’re off. I’m starved. Playing football takes a lot out of me. Of course, it doesn’t help when I am so nervous about the game, I forget to eat all day.
We arrive at DeeDee’s, and the van drivers pull up in front to let us all out. There’s eight of us, plus Coach and his son, who drove the other van. Not too big of a crowd. As I get out of Coach’s van, he grabs my arm. “Jake, can you get us a table? I want us all together so if they have to move tables around, we can wait.”
“Sure thing, Coach,” I reply and head inside.
The hostess approaches me. “How many?”
“Ten.”
She makes a funny face and turns to look around the restaurant. Turning back toward me, she says, “Give me a few minutes. We’ll have to move some tables together.”
“Great.”
She walks away and talks to a guy I assume is her manager. He goes into the dining room, and they move tables together. And then I see her. Oh crap, our table is right next to Jayden and Randy’s table. When Ted asked me to go to DeeDee’s, I had no idea Jayden and Randy would be here too. I didn’t find out until I had already accepted, and now, I wish I had said no. I cringe.Buck up, buddy, you can do this.
I position myself where I can see them without turning my head and making it obvious. For some reason, I feel the need to keep an eye on her.Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
