Crushing on the Enemy (11 page)

“Actually, I don't read girly magazines, but that doesn't matter,” Jake said shaking his head, “It doesn't matter what they say, if it comes down to it, we'll make it work.”

Alyssa nodded and gave him a half smile. She wasn't sure she believed him, but she wanted it to work. Her mother said that she had fallen so hard, because he was her first love, but the reason didn't matter to her. She loved Jake, more than she ever thought she could love anyone.

“I love you, Jake,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” he said gently touching her face.

They met in a brief kiss and then Jake smiled at her. He took his class ring off his finger and slid it onto hers.

“I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to make it work,” he said holding her hand in his.

A smile spread across Alyssa's tear stained face and Jake sighed in relief. Alyssa's hands were still trembling, but somewhere deep inside of her a small spark of hope was burning bright. She rested her head against Jake's chest and just enjoyed the moment.

She had watched girls on the squad breakup with their boyfriends for silly things and she didn't want to be one of those girls. Her smile broadened as a vague plan began to form in her mind. Her mother wouldn't like it and Mattie might never forgive her, but she knew she had to live her life for herself and her happiness. She hoped that they would eventually understand.

If she had been asked to define happiness at that moment she would have simply answered: Jake. Luckily, no one asked her.

The sun began to set and Jake headed home. Mattie came and sat on the porch with her, but they didn't talk much. Alyssa could already feel a new separation beginning between her and her best friend. She didn't like it, but thought that it was a normal part of growing up.

“So what happened?” Mattie asked.

Alyssa could tell she had been holding in the question since Jake left and could no longer contain her curiosity. She held up her hand showing Mattie Jake's class ring.

“What about college and his football?” Mattie asked.

“We'll work it out,” Alyssa shrugged.

“How?” Mattie asked.

“I have a plan,” Alyssa smiled.

“A plan, you're not going to share?” she asked, looking hurt.

“I'll let you know it soon, but not until I get the courage up to follow through on it,” Alyssa laughed.

“If it takes gathering courage maybe we better discuss it first,” Mattie said, trying to obtain more information from her.

“I'm going to head home, Mattie,” she said as she got to her feet, “all that crying has made me hungry.”

“We could go get Chinese and you could tell me about your plan,” Mattie suggested.

“And I'm exhausted,” she smiled, “I'll see you at school on Monday, Mattie.”

“Kay, bye,” Mattie sighed and flopped down on the porch swing.

Alyssa arrived home to an empty house and was instantly relieved. She wasn't sure how she would explain things to her mother, and now that Cody was gone, she was asking more questions than ever.

She didn't want to lie to her mom, so she just wouldn't mention their fight. Outside of Mattie no one would ever know, and she knew Mattie knew how to keep her lips zipped. At least, Alyssa hoped that was a skill Mattie still possessed.

Jake spent the remainder of the weekend working at Dave's, but his mind was on more serious matters than which knee guards were best for little league players. He had never been to a meeting with a scout and wasn't sure what to expect. He wished he had been able to talk to the coach the night he called.

Jake's hands trembled just thinking about the meeting. He wasn't even sure what he hoped the outcome would be. For his career it would be better if the scout wanted to recruit him, but despite what he had told Alyssa, that outcome might mean the end of their relationship. It wasn't like he wanted to breakup with if he went to Georgia, but he too had heard stories of how badly long distance relationships could go.

Part of him was angry at her for not wanting to go with him. He knew they hadn't been dating long, but somewhere along the way he had began to see his future as their future. He wasn't sure such a thing could exist if they spent the next few years in different states.

“Get your head in the game,” Dave laughed.

“Sorry,” Jake sighed.

“Not a problem, this time of day is always slow,” Dave said, “but what's on your mind, kiddo?”

Jake told him about the meeting with the scouts on Monday, but not about the fight with Alyssa. He didn't want his boss to think that he was letting their relationship distract him from his work, even if it was.

“That's great news!” Dave grinned, his loud voice booming around the store and startling two older men looking at golf clubs, “It's because you're going to state! See they recognize talent, and to take the Snakes there after such a long losing streak means something to them.”

“It was a team effort,” Jake chuckled, not wanting to sound too full of himself.

“Be sure to tell the scouts that, they'll love the team spirit,” Dave laughed, “They always eat that stuff up.”

“I'll have to remember that,” Jake nodded.

“Tell you what, kiddo, why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off. Maybe take your girlfriend out somewhere nice,” Dave said.

“Thank you, sir,” Jake said and clocked out of the register.

“My name's Dave, not sir,” Dave laughed.

“Thanks, Dave,” Jake said and headed out of the store.

Even before he left Jake knew he wasn't going to call Alyssa to hangout with him. He was too nervous about the meeting and didn't want to seem like a wimp. Jake also worried if they talked about the scouts, they might get into another fight.

For a moment he considered calling Craig or one of the other guys. Time had worked out their issues and they hadn't attempted any more crimes, so they were getting along again, but Jake wasn't sure how they would react to his good news.

The message hadn't given him enough information. The coach didn't say if the scouts were talking to any of the other guys, or if he had told any of his teammates about the scouts at all. He didn't want to do anything that might damage any of the team's morale. They were too close to holding that state championship title to let anything screw it up now.

He sank into an empty table at the food court to try to calm his nerves before he drove home. Jake looked around at the food stands, but nothing looked appetizing.

“Has Alyssa told you her plan?” Mattie asked appearing out of nowhere and sitting across from him.

Jake startled and then sighed in frustration. He had watched things like this play out several times. Jake rolled his eyes. He hadn't thought Mattie would be the sort of person who would try to sabotage her friend's relationship, but maybe he had read her wrong.

“What?” Jake asked.

“Has Alyssa told you her plan?” Mattie asked again.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Jake sighed.

“I don't either, that's why I'm asking you,” Mattie said.

“What are you attempting to obtain from this conversation?” he asked.

“I'm just trying to figure out what Alyssa's not telling me,” Mattie sighed.

“Well, if she didn't tell you, it's none of your business, is it?” Jake asked, arching a blonde brow.

“She didn't tell you either, then?” Mattie asked, “Doesn't that bother you?”

“It's not like we're married,” Jake said.

“Not yet,” Mattie said, “but if she keeps secrets now, don't you think she'll keep them then too?”

“I'm through with this conversation,” Jake sighed, “I'll let Alyssa know what you had to say.”

“Now, come on,” Mattie whined, “you don't have to tell her. I just want to know what she's up to.”

Jake shook his head and walked away. Why were girls so nosy?

“Looks like I'm calling Alyssa, after all,” he sighed as he climbed into his truck.

“Hey babe,” Alyssa said.

Jake smiled at the sound of her voice. She sounded much more cheerful than she had when he last talked to her. He almost changed his mind and didn't tell her about his conversation with Mattie, but he didn't want that nosy girl to turn things around on him.

“Oh, Jake,” Alyssa sighed, “I'm so sorry. She's just being weird.”

“So you don't have some top secret plan, then?” Jake laughed.

“Not exactly,” Alyssa said, “When she asked how we planned to make it work, I told her that so she'd shut up about it.”

“Well, she's turned into a one woman interrogation squad,” he teased.

“I'll talk to her,” Alyssa said, “She shouldn't be bothering you at work.”

“I was on my lunch break,” Jake lied.

“Well, at least she didn't march into your store and start asking,” Alyssa sighed in relief.

“Too bad, that might have amused my boss,” Jake laughed.

“I'll let you get back to work,” Alyssa said, “I don't want you to get into trouble.”

“Yea,” Jake said, remembering she thought he was still at work.

“Thanks for letting me know, babe,” Alyssa said.

“Not a problem,” Jake smiled and hung up the phone.

Alyssa had just finished her admissions essay that she had to attach to her application to the Georgia U. She slammed her notebook closed and sighed. What the hell was Mattie thinking?

“She has no right,” Alyssa said out loud.

“Who has no right, honey?” her mother asked.

“No one,” Alyssa said, “I was just thinking out loud. I'll go out and finish carrying in the groceries.”

“Thanks, hon,” her mother said and sat down at the kitchen table.

Alyssa tucked her notebook under her arm and ran out to get the groceries. She loaded her arms and hands down with all the remaining bags so she wouldn't have to make several trips. The weight pulled her towards the ground, but with a little effort she managed to get them inside.

After Alyssa put them away she sprinted upstairs to her bedroom and fell onto her bed. Why was Mattie acting like one of the squad girls? Why the hell did she have to get involved in her relationship? Was she trying to get Jake to breakup with her?

“Oh my!” Alyssa said, “Mattie is jealous of me! She's a jealous little witch!”

She thought about calling Mattie to confront her, but decided that it was something best handled face to face. That night Alyssa didn't sleep well. She tossed and turned, knocking the pillows and blankets out of the bed.

When the alarm went off Alyssa hit snooze three times before her mother stuck her head in to tell her she was going to be late. Alyssa swung her legs off the bed with a sigh. Today she was on her own, because even Mattie had turned against her.

She dressed quickly and brushed her teeth. Her mom had breakfast waiting for her, but she wasn't hungry. Anger was churning in her stomach and all she wanted to do was to confront Mattie on her outrageous behavior.

Alyssa pulled into her parking spot and killed the engine. Not too far away she could see the girls from her squad gathered around Katie's car. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes went wide when she realized standing in the middle of the group was Mattie. She was smiling and talking animatedly with her hands.

“That little traitor!” she mumbled under her breath and stalked over to where the group was standing.

“So I think she's going to break up with him and that's why she wouldn't tell me what her 'plan' was,” Mattie said.

She made little air quotes motions with her hands as she said the word plan.

“After she accepted his class ring?” Katie said in mock shock.

“Yep,” Mattie nodded.

“What the hell is going on here?” Alyssa demanded as she pushed her way through the girls to Mattie.

“I'm just telling your friends about your fight with Jake,” she smiled.

“Why are you doing this, Mattie?” Alyssa asked.