Chapter Thirty-Six
Jared
As I’m finishing my homework my dad strolls into my room. “This weekend. You and I are going to Virginia Tech.”
He’s joking. He has to be joking. I’m not going to be stuck in a car with him for what, five hours. “That’s awesome Dad really, but I uh … don’t want to go.”
“This is your future. If we visit and show interest in schools, we’ll get more offers. It’s a strategy. It doesn’t hurt to look and get a feel for places.”
I have no intention of going there. In fact, I want to be out west. Not east. Not driving distance so captain ass-clown can criticize my every decision and force me to do everything he wants. “When did my future become only what you want?” I ask.
“What did you say to me boy?”
“I said, when did my future only become what you want? When have you ever asked me what I want to do for the rest of my life?”
He jerks back. “Well, that’s a pointless question because I know you want to be in the NFL.”
“No, Dad. You want me to be in the NFL. You want Justin to be in the NFL. But I want to do other things like be a mechanical engineer and build machines people will use forever.”
“This is that Valentine girl’s fault isn’t it? What she doesn’t think playing football is good enough or something, so she filled your head with other ideas?”
I rub my forehead and glower. “This has nothing to do with her. She doesn’t even talk to me right now. She hates me.”
My dad frowns. “I’m sorry. But she’s just a girl. There will be others and when I say that I mean in college.”
“Dad you don’t get it. I really like her a lot, but she hates me.”
He takes a seat at my desk. “I know I’m hard on you and your brother. I know I push. You’ve got talent, Jared. You’re smart as hell too. If she doesn’t like you then she’s not worth it.” He stands up and walks toward my door. He clears his throat as his hand rests on the knob. “Think about visiting the college a little more. Let me know by Wednesday what you decide.”
“All right.”
He exits, and I glance down at my math homework. I need to convince Juliet that there was never anything between Kimber and me. If I don’t succeed, then I will officially call it quits. I need try though.
I grab my phone and dial a number off my contacts.
“Hello?”
“Chase.”
“Black, what do you want? I’m in the middle of … Juls. What the hell?”
“What?” I ask and pull back my phone and then press it to my ear again.
“Hold on. I need to call you back.”
“No. Chase. I need---” he hangs up. Shit!
I dial Austin’s number. “S’up man?”
“Hey. Do you have Adaline Frost’s number?”
“Why do you need to talk to her?”
“I need to ask her for a favor.”
“Tell me what it is and maybe I’ll give you the number.”
What the hell? “Why are you being so difficult?”
“I’m not! I just don’t want you to talk to her.” he snaps.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t.”
“Whatever man. I just wanted to know if she could help me get into Juliet’s locker. And what her favorite movie was?”
“Why do you need to know what Adaline’s favorite movie is?”
I growl in the receiver. “Not Adaline! Juliet. I want to know what Juliet’s favorite movie is!”
I hear Austin sigh. “Sorry. I was … it’s nothing. I’m texting her number to you now.”
“Thanks. Are you okay?”
“I’ll be okay. Just gotta sort my shit out.”
My phone buzzes letting me know that a text came in. “All right, man.”
“Cool.”
We hang up and I text Adaline.
Me: It’s Jared. Need a favor.
Adaline: Where’d u get my #?
Me: Austin.
Adaline: Gr8 now he’s handing out my #.
Me: I had 2 beg 4 it.
Adaline: Whtevs. Whts the fav?
Me: I really like ur BFF Juliet. What’s her fav movie? Also, can u get me access 2 her locker?
Adaline: R U OUT OF UR MIND? Y the Hell would I help u?
Me: I promise 2 never hurt her. If I do this & she still rejects me fine. At least I tried. I need a chance 2 try.
My phone buzzes in my hand. I swipe the answer icon. “Yeah?”
“Ugh. You answer the phone like an Ape. Before I agree to this you have to tell me something,” Addy says.
“What is it?”
“Are you using her as a side piece?”
“No. I would kill anyone who would do that.”
“Good answer. And you’re lucky I did my research and asked. I need to protect her from jerks. Otherwise, I’d be a shitty friend.”
“I know. I’m not offended. Will you help me out then?”
“If you hurt her I will gladly go to jail for murdering you. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, I got it. Jeez. Why does everyone say that to me?”
“I don’t know who else said it to you but it’s good to know I’ll have a partner in crime. Her favorite movies are Flipped and Love, Rosie.”
“Uh … okay. So those are her two favorite movies?”
“Yep and her favorite books. And you’re in luck she was actually looking to get them both on Blu-ray since her copies got all wrecked from watching them so much.”
“Anything else I should know?”
“She can’t resist Twizzlers. It’s her go to study candy and she basically eats it in stock during exam week. You have a quarter exam coming up, right?”
“We do in Chem and one in History.”
“Cherry. She hates the strawberry kind.”
I pull my notebook to me and start scribbling things down.
“If you really want to win her over, you should think about getting her some books.”
Already done that. I had to strike a deal with my brother to sign the damn cards for me, but he agreed. Only cost me twenty bucks and three trips to the mall. I wanted to be there to see the look on her face when they got delivered but I had to help my mom with grocery shopping. I don’t want to let on to Adaline that I already got her a bunch of books. Not yet at least.
“Oh,” I say.
“I’m not sure how much you want to spend but I do know she has been waiting months for this new video game to come out. I saw a commercial for it yesterday and it should release this week.”
“Are you talking about Rein of Blood?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
Adaline and I talk about other things I could get Juliet, but the last on the list might be my most challenged piece. I can do it. At least I hope I can.