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"You guys are forgetting one thing," Trey says, the only one of us not winded and tired in this crazy heat. He's a freak of nature.
We all look at him as Dieter blows the whistle for us to stop.
My best friend pats me on the back, his hand connecting with a thump on my pads. "We need to find a date for Vic, because I'm not going if he's not going."
I don't answer.
The only girl I want is the only girl I can't have. His girl.
It's a good thing he's clueless about who I have a crush on.
The rest of practice is one big blur. On the way home, Trey talks about colleges and applications. I haven't even thought about applying.
Trey pulls up my driveway. When I step out of the car, a sign saying FREMONT FOOTBALL #56 VICTOR SALAZAR is on my front lawn and the door to my house has inspirational and corny quotes written on it, like YOU CAN DO IT! and WE HEART VIC! and BEST LINEBACKER IN ILLINOIS!
Gotta love the cheerleaders, who decorate our lockers at school and the doors of our houses. Every cheerleader writes a personal note and tapes it on our front doors. My eyes scan the one from Monika.
To my friend Vic,
Please help Trey win his first game so he can get into Harvard.
No pressure lol.
Your friend, Monika
Damn. Ashtyn's right. I need to move on.
The problem is, I don't know how.
Chapter Six
MONIKA
The best part about having a boyfriend who your parents like is that they don't mind when he comes over. The worst part about having a boyfriend who your parents like is that they treat him like he's their BFF.
Two times since Trey came over after practice, my dad interrupted us. The first time, he came in the kitchen when I was making popcorn before we were going to watch a movie. He asked Trey about how football practice was going and if he thought Fremont had a shot at winning the state championship.
The second time, Dad came up to us right when we were about to turn on the movie. He asked Trey his opinion about whether or not he should buy an electric screwdriver with torque or not. I don't even know what torque is, so I sat there and played a game on my phone until they were done talking.
Trey takes my hand in his as we cuddle on the couch. "Love ya."
I look up at his beautiful dark, chiseled face, then sink into the warmth of his chest. "I love you too."
I want to bring up that I've felt distant from him. Even now, as he has his arm around me, I feel like there's a wall between us.
He used to be the perfect guy. Now it seems like whenever he gets a chance to leave me, he's gone without a backward glance.
My dad suddenly appears in the room once again. "Trey, can I bother you for a few minutes?" he asks. "I'm trying to replace a sprinkler head, and I'm having a helluva time."
"Sure, Dr. Fox," Trey says without hesitation.
"Dad, we were just about to put in a movie," I say, my voice sounding whiny. "Can't he help you later?"
Trey pats my knee, then practically jumps up. "Don't be contemptuous. I'll be right back."
Contemptuous?
I used to think the way Trey sprinkled what my second-grade teacher would call "five-dollar words" into his sentences was cute. It made Trey unique and reminded me of how smart he was. But today I just find it condescending.
Trey exits the room with my dad, leaving me alone to fast-forward the beginning credits and pause it right where the movie starts.
I know that helping my dad won't take a few minutes. I check my phone as the time clicks by. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes.
Trey's phone buzzes. It must've fallen out of his pocket when he was sitting on the couch. I figure it's one of our friends, but it's not.
ZARA: Hey, baby! I miss u, Einstein! Call when you're alone. xoxoxo
The text has a bunch of hearts after it.
My breathing slows as the reality of it all sinks in. My boyfriend is cheating on me. Even though I'm not shocked, I feel sick and numb.
Don't come to conclusions, I tell myself.
I read the text ten more times and contemptuous doesn't even begin to describe my mood.
Not wanting to freak myself out further, I walk outside and find my dad proudly showing Trey the new lawn mower he got a few weeks ago. Trey is kneeling down, examining the machine as my dad excitedly explains the features. I watch them work together to figure out some problem. They're bonding like father and son.
Trey finally notices me watching them.
"Trey, you got a text," I say, holding out his cell. "You left your phone on the couch."
He takes the phone from me and shoves it in his pocket. "Thanks."
"Aren't you gonna read it?" I ask, gauging his reaction.
He makes no eye contact with me. "Later."
"Go inside with Monika," Dad says to Trey. "I don't want to interrupt your date."
"It's fine, Dr. Fox. Right, Monika?" my boyfriend says before winking at me and flashing me a smile that's uniquely him.
I remember the first time Trey smiled at me. It was right after cheerleading practice the summer before freshman year. The football team was passing us as they went into the locker room. Trey and Vic were walking together as they passed me. Vic just nodded to me while Trey smiled. He has a smile that screams confidence and sincerity at the same time. While I was interested in getting to know Vic better, he didn't pay me any attention and Trey did. The next day Trey found me by my locker and asked me out--and smiled again. We've been dating ever since.
"Trey," I tell him. "We need to talk."
"Sounds serious," Dad says. "You want an old man's piece of advice, Trey? When a woman says they need to talk, brace yourself," he jokes as the wrinkles around his eyes bunch up in amusement.
Trey chuckles. "Thanks for the warning, Dr. Fox," he says as he follows me into the den. "What's up, baby?"
I swallow, hard. "Who's Zara?"
A look of confusion crosses Trey's face. "Zara?" he asks as if he's never heard that name before.
"Yeah. You know who she is because she's a c
ontact in your phone."
"You were looking at my contacts?"
"No, I didn't look at your contacts," I say defensively. "A text came up on the screen from a girl named Zara. Read it."
He pulls his phone out. After reading the text, he shoves it back in his pocket. "It was obviously meant for someone else." He raises a brow. "You don't think for one second that text was meant for me, do you?"
Now I'm confused.
My mind is a blur.
"I don't know what to think, Trey. It's kinda shady."
"Seriously, that's ludicrous. It's kinda dumb for you to think it's shady." He shakes his head in frustration. "Don't you believe me?"
I used to hang onto every word Trey said. He was always so smart and I looked to him for guidance and friendship. Today, though, the words coming out of his mouth seem forced and hollow.
"I don't know," I say. "She called you Einstein, Trey. That's so you." I want to believe him, but I'm having a hard time.
"I don't feel like watching the movie now," he says. "I'm gonna go. I mean, if you can't believe your boyfriend of over three years, just forget it."
"Forget what?" I ask. "Don't you want to talk about it? I mean, you haven't even told me who this girl is. She's programmed in your phone, so you know her."
"Excuse me if I don't want to be around my girlfriend who refuses to trust me." He starts walking out of the room. "I guess I'll call you later."
My heart is beating fast, and I don't know what to say to fix this. "Trey..."
He turns around.
"I want to trust you," I tell him.
"But you don't."
"I don't know. With the pills and now this..."
"Now you're bringing that up, too? I can't deal with this right now," he says. "I've got too much on my plate already, Monika. Thanks for stressing me out."
His words make my body tense. "You say it like I just sit at home and do nothing all day. I have college apps too, Trey. I have school. I have cheerleading. I'm stressed."
"You don't have a job or have to worry about how you're going to pay for college." He gestures to the artwork and surround-sound system in our den. "You have parents who can afford to pay for your college and those manicures you get all the time. I don't. You wouldn't even know what it'd be like to have a job and go to school at the same time."
