Part 2 (1/2)

”You've reached the middle of nowhere. Leave a message after the beep.”

BEEP.

”Hey, Rachel. It's me. Haven't talked to you in days and I'm hoping your day off is coming up. Only another week of being a camp counselor and then you come home. Yay for me! Things are a little crazy right now. I really wish you were here. Everything with Chris is weird and... and... crazy. Yeah, babbling. Sorry. Stay safe. See ya soon.”

I am a horrible friend. I am a super-amazing-life-alteringly horrible best friend for being annoyed she was where she needed to be instead of with me. If I weren't, I'd totally get that this summer working at the wilderness camp was the best thing Rachel could do for her college apps.

I did get that. Really. But I'd never been in this situation before... in this boy situation. Even if Rachel couldn't stand Chris-or Ego Boy, as she called him-and didn't get my six-year-invisible-loyalty thing, I could have used her advice. Rachel was a pro at handling social things. She could blow off drama like a starlet breezing past the paparazzi.

I was even jealous of Rachel's tightness with her mom and how she could discuss anything with her.

One week. I only needed to last one more week on my own and she could return to being my life-organizing whirlwind of a best friend.

The phone rang at 1:09 am, the light from its screen lighting up my bedside table.

Took her long enough.

”Where have you been? I called you three times this week.” I know, a little pushy, but I was tired-it was the middle of the night-and anxious since I hadn't heard from her.

”Babe, you saw me today at practice.”

I practically fell out of bed as I shot up and pulled my phone away to check the caller ID.

”Chris. Sorry. I thought you were Rachel.”

He kind of chuckled on the other end. Any time I brought up Rachel he evaded. I think that heat-of-a-thousand-suns thing was a little obvious.

”I just wanted to call to say good night and tell you how much tonight sucked.” He breathed out, the quiet behind him letting me know he was finally alone. ”I could have used the downtime with you.”

”Oh.” I grinned to myself. Good. Let it be not-easy being with her. Let her be a pain in the b.u.t.t.

”So, I was just calling to say good night.”

I wasn't really sure what the right answer was. Was I supposed to tell him how much I'd missed him tonight or just say good night back? When I opened my mouth, my polite gene took over.

”Thanks.”

Chris chuckled again. I wish he did that more often. ”You're welcome.”

Before I could say anything else, the line went dead. I held the phone a second longer until the screen light flicked off and rolled over to try to fall back asleep.

Try being the operative word.

Chapter 4.

Second session tryouts were not my friend. It had already been a long day and the bike ride back to school was grueling in the early evening heat. I locked up my bike and headed into the building, breathing in the cool air of the darkened hallway. My keys landed with a heavy thud at the bottom of my official stats girl locker. I could hardly wait to get to the restroom to wash and put on a clean tank top. Basically, girlify myself in my standard fas.h.i.+on.

”Babe.”

I tried not to spin around, but as the boy who went with that voice leaned past my locker door, my heart sped faster than when I'd hit the third hill on the way there.

”Hi, Chris.”

He bent down to pick up my backpack and surveyed both ends of the hall. With a grin, he leaned in and brushed my hair behind my ear. His warm hand cupped my cheek and I thought, Kiss me. Kiss me, already!

”Did you see that attack I made this morning? I was really on my game.”

What was I supposed to say? It was true. It was always true.

”Coach kept a couple seniors after practice to let us know he'd be watching this evening to name the tryout captains.” He braced his arm against the locker and peered down at me. I dropped my head to hide how big my smile grew at the whole thing-the whole Chris-is-so-close-I-can-smell-the-soap-he-used thing.

”Well, of course he'll name you. You've been on the varsity team since freshman year. You're the best. The guys already consider you their leader.”

His smile widened. ”Did he say anything to you about it?”

I shook my head. I did that a lot around Chris. It was easier than trying to make sense and gave me a second to pull my thoughts off his general hotness. ”I didn't even know you guys did tryout captains.”

That blinding smile came back and I felt like I'd won some type of lottery. I wasn't even sure what type, just something really good.

”Let me know if he does, alright, babe?”

I nodded, grinning at him again. Man, I needed to get Botox in my lip muscles to stop the stupid expressions that popped up around him.

”You know, this is easier.” He c.o.c.ked his head to the side, looking at me like he hadn't seen me before. Like I was new, brand new. ”You being here. Knowing you've got my back. Just having you here makes me feel... I don't know... calmer.”

I grinned again, or maybe just bigger. He made me feel anything but calm.

”What is it about you?” His voice had dropped and he looked, if not serious, more serious than I'd seen.

The doors behind Chris opened and he peered over his shoulder at new-kid-Luke coming in. The Look evaporated and he stepped away, distancing himself in more ways than one.

”I have to go. I'll talk to you later.”

More nodding on my part. ”Okay. Talk to you later.” Parroting was almost as bad as nodding. Doing both had to look twice as inane.

I leaned against the cool metal lockers to watch him walk away, bag slung over his shoulder, hitching up his T-s.h.i.+rt to show the tan line around the top edge of his shorts.

”Hey.”

For a new kid, this guy was everywhere.

”Hey.” I settled my backpack over my shoulder and started down the hall.

He fell in step with me and motioned toward Chris, as present as ever a few yards ahead of us.