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“Hey, Dylan!” Three more of Dylan’s teammates had come into Esso’s and stopped by the booth. “Want to shoot some pool? John’s girlfriend is coming and she’s bringing a few of the other girls.”
I could feel my lower jaw jut out as I stared Dylan down, waiting for his response.
“In a bit. Give me a couple of minutes, guys.”
There it was. He was once again choosing them over me. Even in this; maybe our last moment. I wasn’t sure what I expected. Did I think he would express his undying love and beg me to stay at Clemson? Dylan was proud. Too proud to ever grovel, and my childhood delusion that he felt the same way had dissipated months ago.
I waited until his friends left us. “So, we went from dinner to a couple of minutes, huh?” Pain I couldn’t hide crept into my voice. “And you want to know why I’m leaving…” I shook my head in disgust. “I’m leaving for me. This isn’t just about you and your soccer career. We enrolled together to support each other, but it’s not working out that way. You’ve got plenty of fans…” I used both hands to make air quotes around a word that had become vile to me. “Clearly, you don’t need me.” I grabbed my backpack and started to slide from the booth, pulling it with me.
“Remi, I didn’t mean for you to think we aren’t friends anymore.” His hand reached out and then dropped onto the tabletop.
I paused and met his eyes. “I know, but we are getting pulled in different directions right now. I have to do what’s best for me and going to Tennessee, is it.”
“Remi…” he said again, but I had to get out of there or I was going to break down. “Can’t we at least talk about it? Maybe when we’re at the ranch this summer?”
I cleared my throat as I prepared to rush away. “I’m not going this year. I’m volunteering at St. Jude. I’m not even going home first. I’m going straight to Memphis and then Knoxville in the fall.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. It was way more than I had planned to say.
“Just like that, you’re gone?” Dylan said as I got up and hoisted the book bag over my shoulder.
I stopped. My throat hurt and I knew that when I got into my car, I would start crying full force. I only hoped I could make it that long. I blinked fast and swallowed hard. “My best friend would already know the answer without asking.” I was screwed in either scenario. It hurt either way.
With that, I started moving toward the entrance, praying I’d have a clear path. Thankfully, he didn’t come after me as the tears started to roll down my face.
Dylan
My breath left me as I pushed out of the booth.
Watching Remi walk away it was as if my feet were bolted to the floor. I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest, and yet, my heart was about to fly out of it. I tried to inhale but couldn’t. What could I say to her to make her change her mind? I knew I had been swallowed up in the team and my social scene. My ego had pushed away my better judgement and I was paying for it now. I always thought she’d be there; always thought it would be me and Remi, no matter what. I was just then realizing what a selfish asshole I’d been.
The hand of my buddy landed on my chest as he suddenly appeared at my side. “What’d you do to scare her away, man?” Mark asked. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to talk to her all semester. Damn it!”
I tried to speak but struggled. Remi pushed open the door of the restaurant and disappeared. I coughed.
“So, pool?” my friend asked. Anger reared inside me. So much for his undying admiration for the woman I revered.
My hand closed around his wrist to remove it as I started to walk toward the exit. “I gotta go,” I mumbled. Mark was my roommate and a good guy, but I had to finish the conversation with Remi.
“I thought we were gonna—”
“Man, I said I gotta go! I’ll see ya back at the dorm.” By now I was halfway across the busy room, and it was unlikely that he even heard me.
“D!” he called after me, but I ignored him.
I hit the door with the flats of both hands and it swung open following the loud bang. My eyes scanned the parking lot for Remi and her car. It was a large lot and full of vehicles. I started jogging between the rows, still searching.
“Dylan! Where are you going?” I recognized the voice of Sally Borsey behind me. She was one of the cheerleaders and we’d hung out at one or two of the campus parties. “I wanted to see you before I left town! I swear its fate that you’re here!”
No, it wasn’t fate; it was Remi asking me to be here,I thought.
I acted like I didn’t hear her and continued weaving between the cars. I spotted Remi’s white Nissan four rows away just as the taillights indicated she’d started the engine and put it in reverse. I got to the car just as she started to back out, my hands banging down on the trunk. She stomped on the breaks just as the bumper contacted the muscles of my upper thighs.
“Fuck, that was close,” I mumbled to myself. I was sure I’d have bruises later.
Remi flew out of the car and railed at me. “Dylan Jeffers! What the hell were you thinking? I could have killed you!” Her eyes were wild and glassy with mascara smudges beneath, the skin of her face blotchy. She walked up to me and punched me as hard as she could, square in the gut. Her fist was small, but she hit me right in the diaphragm and it knocked the wind out of me. “Are you crazy?” she yelled.
I gasped, my hand coming to rest on the hard muscles of my stomach. The truth was, it wasn’t that painful, but it was unexpected. “Remi, that hurt! And after you hit me with the car?”
“Whatever,” she huffed angrily, giving me a shove by putting her hands on my chest. I planted my feet, and she didn’t move me. “My hand hurts worse. Get out of the way!”
