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“Thanks,” she said, her smile directed only at him.
“Yeah, good g—” I started to say, but Taylor had skipped up the stand toward her father. It was like someone had covered me in Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak. I carried Phoenix’s backpack as we headed to the school pickup zone.
“Her serve is so good,” Phoenix said.
“She served two double faults,” I felt the need to point out.
“That’s not a bad stat,” Phoenix said dismissively. “I like her backhand down the line. That’s a great shot.”
“She hit one into the net. She should’ve gone crosscourt,” I said.
Phoenix stopped with his walker, I guessed his legs were tired, or sore and he was having a break, but he turned to me, his voice laced with frustration, “I still don’t understand why you haven’t hit with her.”
“You know why,” I mumbled through gritted teeth. “Phoe, if I hadn’t been running late, you would have ridden with us—”
“You’re an idiot,” Phoenix said bluntly, but his words weren’t malicious, rather straightforward and...true. “This isn’t on you, Max. Don’t for one second lay the blame on yourself. I swear, I’ll, I’ll...kill you myself if you think that. I mean it.”
I blocked out his words and started walking. “Anyway, I’m busy. I’ve got no time. I’ve got lawns to mow and Adventure Club tomorrow, and now I’ve gotta help with some Homecoming thing next week.”
Phoenix caught up to me, sighing in exasperation, “Max, you—”
“Drop it,” I snapped, but I knew I’d been too brusque and I hated having this thing between us. Phoenix was going through a whole process of healing and recovery, not only physical, but mentally too. And when it hit him, when he finally grasped that he wouldn’t be playing the game we loved anytime soon, then he’d understand why I had no intention of playing again.
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School was abuzz withthe first football game of the season coming up. Everyone was encouraged to show school spirit and be present. Add to that the excitement over Homecoming Week, and kids were basically manic.
I had enough on my plate, with assignments and Adventure Club’s upcoming tree planting, and now I had been coerced into helping with the trivia quiz night for Homecoming Week. It was to be held at the Country Club and was under the guise of raising money for the children’s wing at the River Valley Hospital. Miles’ mother was a paediatrician there, and I thought I’d signed up in support of him, but I learned too late that the team was spearheaded by Bianca.
I grudgingly sat around the lunch table in the cafeteria, listening to Bianca drone on about the Glam Movie Quiz Night. No doubt organized so that all the girls would have a reason to dress up in fancy gowns and get their hair and makeup done. Phoenix had gone home early, which meant he’d overdone it yesterday, but I could have used him as a crutch about right now. Could have said he needed help with his locker, with his lunch tray, heck I would have helped him to the bathroom!
I yawned, bored by the talk, only taking notice when Miles and I were assigned the job of designing flyers, an easy enough task considering others had to come up with quiz questions and help with decorating.
“Has everyone got their tickets for the Homecoming Dance?” Bianca scanned the table, smiling at those who were nodding. Her eyes stopped on me. “Max? Have you?”
“Not yet,” I mumbled.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” she demanded to know. I flinched at her aggression.
“Who are you asking?” Addison asked. Addison O’Day had always annoyed me, even back when I dated Bianca, but since the skirt issue with Taylor, I could barely look at her, let alone be civil. I pretended not to hear.
“Are you asking anyone?” Bianca reverted to a sweet, lilting voice. “Is there someone you’re going to ask?”
I pretended not to hear that either, and I was ready to stand and walk away when Addison spoke in a dramatic hush—in other words loud enough for everyone at our table and the surrounding ones to hear.
“Did you read about our tennis team in The Times? There’s a new article about how well we’re doing. Undefeated so far. Check it out online.” Her upper lip curled cruelly and her voice exaggerated disbelief. “And can you believe? Our amazing number one player lives over inRiver Valley...in the slums.”The words were hissed out as if anyone who lived over the bridge was akin to living under a bridge.
My heart pitter pattered, a sudden rush of pity for Taylor. Unfortunately, it was a common inference that if you didn’t live in Covington Heights you were poor, but that wasn’t necessarily true. River Valley had plenty of nice suburbs, and there were kids who lived in River Valley but went to Covington Prep. I mean, not many, but there were a few, like Ryan, an amazing violinist, and Yasmin, who played on the chess team. Okay, so they might’ve been scholarship kids, but there were also some kids who lived in Covington Heights and chose to attend River Valley High.
I pulled out my phone and clicked on the school paper, my heart rate continuing to accelerate. To hear Addison make fun of Taylor for living in River Valley was plain mean. But before I could speak up and blast her, Jorja chimed in, “I know, how pathetically sad is it!”
I scrolled through to the tennis article, titled:Serving up tennis. It was credited to Millie Conway, Reporter, and Addison O’Day, Web Editor. Millie was a quiet bookworm type, never one to be involved in drama, and Taylor had said she’d met her for ice cream. But as I scanned the article, the flow changed severely at the end, something not quite making sense. Millie Conway didn’t play tennis, or any sport for that matter, but she was a top student and she’d worked on the school paper for years, often seen at events with a camera around her neck and a notepad in her hand.
If Taylor Frank, Covington Maroons number one player, could have her way she would play tennis all day, everyday. Taylor’s love for tennis began at the age of six when her mother, a former college player, began coaching her. Playing in her first tournament at the age of nine, Taylor enjoys the physical and mental aspects of the sport. Tennis requires problem solving on court, Taylor says, and likens it to a game of chess. Working out how to neutralize her opponent’s game, when to defend and when to attack is all part of the challenge. Taylor trains daily and has found the school’s hard courts, newly installed last year, are well suited to her game which includes an accurate serve and a polished double handed backhand. Over summer, Taylor won the girls singles title at the Bloomingfield Open and made it to the semi final of the Junior Mid West.
Already she has proven to be an asset to the Maroons, winning her first three singles matches easily, and partnering with junior, Grace Lee, she has recorded three doubles wins. Taylor is well on her way to achieving her goal of getting the Maroons to Number One in their division, and to play State.
Taylor got the tennis scholarship to attend Covington Prep because she lives over in River Valley. She comes from River Valley over to Covington Heights every day for school and tennis training.
