The guy in front of us turns in his seat and glares right at Will. Poor guy starts shaking but before Brent or Brian says anything I speak up. “Sorry about that.” I smile sweetly hoping to distract him.
He nods once, “No problem.” He hands me the pen then turns around.
I reach over and slide the pen across to Will. “Thanks.” He mutters under his breath.
Our fingers graze each other’s and Will quickly pulls away like I’ve burned him. I tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear and look away to the professor standing at the front of the room. What the hell was that?
The rest of the class passes in a blur. Will and I keep exchanging glances but not saying anything else to each other. When class is over we walk out together. We’re walking down the stairs and he trips over his shoe laces but thankfully catches himself before falling over face first. I’m not sure I can hold back the laugh if he does something else because I’m barely containing it now.
Will looks up at me and I lose it. Like stomach clutching, bent over belly laughs. His glasses are sitting crooked on his nose and his hair seems more of a mess now than before class started.
“Are you alright?” I ask between laughs.
He adjusts his glasses and wipes his hands down his jeans. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”
We walk out of class and down the hall but Will’s steps falter. I glance back, “What’s the matter?”
Will looks past me and I follow his direction. Landon is walking down the hall towards us. When I turn back to Will he’s gone. He’s nowhere in sight. What. The. Fuck?
Sighing, I continue walking. As cute as Will may be he’s a little weird. The closer I get to Landon my palms start to sweat and my heart sinks into my stomach. I’m not sure if I should stop and talk to Landon or keep walking and act like he’s not there.
Landon stops in my path.
Thankfully, I don’t have to make that decision.
I don’t look up at first and he doesn’t talk until I do.
“You coming to my game Saturday?”
I shrug, “Do you want me to?”
Landon studies me for a second, “Yeah, I guess.”
I roll my eyes, “You guess? No I’m not coming.”
Landon raises an eyebrow.
I sigh. Of course his mind would go there.
Landon shifts his weight to his other foot, “I want you there.”
“Okay.” I answer simply. It’s all I needed to hear.
He tips his head to the side, “Okay, you’ll go?”
“Yes, Landon, I’ll be there.”
And I mentally curse myself. Why can’t I be strong enough and not cave into him. He hasn’t spoken to me in weeks and the first thing he asks of me I practically fall to his feet in obedience.
Landon tilts my chin up and places a lingering kiss on my lips that make my knees go weak.
“I’ll see you Saturday.”
I blink and try to settle my heartbeat. When I open my eyes he’s walking away with yet another piece of my heart. One I most assuredly just handed to him on a silver fucking platter yet again.
October 19, 2013
Heather and I go to Landon’s game against the Washington State Cougars. It’s perfect football weather, the sky is clear and it’s around sixty degrees or so. The football players are wearing their pink helmets, cleats and socks for Breast Cancer Awareness month. After tonight’s game they are planning on donating some of the equipment to help raise funds for a basketball coach who passed away a few years ago that used to coach at the University of Oregon.
The stadium is packed tonight. Sitting in the stands you can’t help but get caught up in the excitement of the game. I’m dressed in jeans, sneakers, a hoodie and my number ten jersey on top to show my support for Landon. My hair is swept up to keep it out of my face since it’s a little breezy.
“What changed your mind about coming to Landon’s game?” Heather asks taking a sip of her drink.
I shrug, “He asked.”
She gives me those ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ eyes. “Really?”
I nod, “Yeah. He stopped me in the hall after class and asked if I was going to his game.”
Heather shakes her head and looks around the stadium.
The Ducks aren’t having a great first half. They fumble the ball three times but manage to score twenty points in the first quarter and another fourteen in the second. They’re winning thirty-four to twenty-four.
Holden is playing his ass off tonight. He’s kind of pulling this team along for the first half.
“Jesus,” Heather says. “Is it always this intense?”
I laugh because it is. “Most of the time. They’re not playing a hundred percent just yet. They’re more of a second half team so just wait.”