Chapter Ten
Jared
What the hell? She just threw my love-grams in the trash.
Not to be cocky, but I’ve never had to try this hard to win over a girl. Most of the girls in this school have a flirty vibe whenever I’m around them. They always find ways to touch me including giving out random hugs. Not that I mind any of this, but Juliet has never acted this way.
I figured my love-gram would move things in the right direction since everything else I’ve done has completely failed. I’ve got to step up my game or I’m going to lose the only thing I ever truly wanted.
Maybe she’s allergic to chocolate and flowers. Maybe she hates suckers. I don’t really know. I do know if I’m going to win her over, I’m going to need help.
There are a few people I could ask but I don’t want to seem desperate, like I can’t get a girl. Besides, what if she really is into Chase? If they are a thing, I can’t ask him what Juliet likes. I certainly can’t ask Layla what sort of things her sister likes because knowing Layla, she’ll tell Juliet or worse, Rachel.
I should be able to do this on my own. If Mark could get her to go out with him, I can too. He’s definitely not that smart; he’s in regular classes, and barely passes them. I know because my dad’s always on his case about eligibility for the games.
I pop open my locker and put the books I no longer need away. This task only takes a few seconds, but I wait it out as long as possible in order to catch a glimpse of Juliet leaving school. I spot her and Chase coming straight toward me. They’re strides almost match. Rage seeps through my veins as I watch them practically in their own world. I want to march over there and knock Chase the f out.
Something rams into my side, stealing my attention from Juliet. “Hey man,” Tyler says. “What are you staring at?”
I point my head in Juliet’s direction. “You swear they aren’t hooking up?” I ask.
Tyler moves his locker door and stares at me for a second. “I swear, man. Juliet and Chase aren’t a thing.”
“If you’re bullshitting me about this, I’ll kill you, Tyler.”
He puts his hands up. “I swear man it’s the truth. Chase is into Addy. You’re in the clear. Are you thinking about making a move?”
My nerves ease a bit when he mentions that Chase is into Adaline Frost. I don’t feel like telling him that I tried to make a move but failed big time. He’ll laugh at me. I know I would if the roles were reversed. I’d also tease him about his game being out of whack. I’m not in the mood for that. I’m saved from answering him as Mark pops open his locker which is next to mine and gives me a singular nod.
I clench my fists at my sides. I want to punch him in his jaw. “You’re something else, man. You’ve been begging her to come back for weeks and you’re still hanging around Selena. Do you even really care about Juliet or did you only date her to piss me off?”
Tyler coughs behind me but I ignore him. Mark turns his eyes toward me and shrugs. “Worried I’m competition?”
I jab a finger into his chest. “I warned you not to screw her over. Not to even think about hurting her and you did. You used her to piss me off admit it.”
He smirks. “I’m not saying shit. You’re just mad that I got her first. That eats you up doesn’t it?”
I shove him. “Don’t go near her again.”
“Or what?”
I draw back my fist and arms wrap around me and I’m instantly tugged back. “Dude, settle down. You can’t go whopping his ass in the hall. Different time, different place,” Tyler says.
Juliet and Chase stride past us. She looks over in our direction with a glare. The vise on my heart tightens as I watch her wrap her arm around Chase’s. That’s it. I’m upping my game. I have to if I want her body next to me. If I want her looking at me. And I do want it. I want it so much it makes my insides pulse with need.
I slam my locker shut and make my way to the weight room. It’s the offseason for football but my dad schedules lift times for the players not participating in other sports. Since I’m not allowed to play other sports, not with my Dad overseeing every stupid thing I do, that’s where I am after school every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
I change into my lifting clothes and enter the weight room. There are a couple of guys already hitting the benches. I walk over to the sled and decide to work on my legs.
After putting on equal amounts of weights on each side, I get into position on the floor mat. I put my feet on the markers and gradually push up, releasing the pins. I do about ten reps before a thunderous voice fills the weight room. “What the hell are you doing, Jared?”
I stick the pins in and then step away from the machine. My dad scowls. “Are you the coach now? Hmmm. Did you put a rigorous workout schedule together to get you in top shape for this next season? Which by the way could be your last if you don’t start paying attention to whatever damn thing I say! Do you understand?”
All I want to do is scream back “Screw your program!” I can’t. Call it weird. Call it whatever. I want my dad’s respect. If that means doing something I no longer have love for to get it then I’m going to do it. “Sorry, sir,” I say. Yeah, I know this makes me seem totally ball-less.
“Today is cardio and arms. Go,” he snaps.
I nod.
Tyler calls me over to his bench. “Spot me.”
“Sure thing.”
“You seem off,” he says as he pushes the bar up and brings it down. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” I say. “That’s two.”
He pushes the bar back up again. “Really?”
“Yeah, I know how to count.”
“No idiot, talking about nothing being wrong.” He pumps the bar with easy. “If I didn’t stop you would you have knocked Mark out?”
I don’t need to answer this. He already knows I would have. “That’s seven.”
“Look, all I’m saying is she’s not taking him back. That’s your in.”
“Ten.”
He places the bar on the holder and rolls off the bench. He stands beside me slaps a palm on my shoulder and says, “You got this. You’re Jared Black.”
I roll my eyes. “I sent Juliet a few love-grams and they all ended up in the trash. So really I don’t have shit.”
He laughs. “Sorry man,” he says. “Did she know it was from you?”
“No. I was going for the secret admirer type thing. Like every boring chick flick I was forced to watch on every bad double date I went on implied girls like that mushy stuff.” I slide on the bench getting center with the bar and lift.
“Dude, I don’t think all girls are into that shit. She probably thinks the anonymous love-grams are from some creepy loser. Like Zach Lewis. No girl wants him. Also, I think anonymous things freak her out. Juliet apparently went postal on Layla when Layla didn’t know the texts she was getting were from me.”
Well yeah. I told him that catfishing was no joke, and thought Layla was some old lady pretending to be a teen.
If remaining anonymous really does freak Juliet out, I’m screwed. The lashing in first period then the after-school incident, yeah, I got a clear idea of where I stand. Hell is most likely to freeze before she gives me a chance.
As I’m on my fifth rep a voice bellows pulling me from my thoughts. “How’s it coming over here?” My dad asks.
“Good,” I say. I push the bar up.
He grunts and moves away from us. Yeah, I slipped and said the one word that guys striving to be professionals shouldn’t say. Good. Good doesn’t equal greatness or excellence. Not to my dad. Good is like the same as saying bad or just average.
This day needs to come to end soon otherwise I might be running laps before dinner.
I should finish up my paper in history. Instead, I’m looking at Juliet’s picture from last year’s yearbook. Underneath her photo has favorite quotes and activities. Know what Juliet’s says? For favorite quote: Live without regrets. Activities: Junior Elites, Book Club, Video Games and Mudding in her Jeep.
I slam the book shut.
“Jared, dinner!” my mom calls.
“Coming,” I yell back.
Sliding off my bed, I head out of the room and down the hall into the dining room. My mom is setting a huge roast down. It looks like it could feed a family of ten but between my dad, brother, and me yeah there won’t be any leftovers. Mom smacks my brother’s hand away as he tries to go in for his portion. “Not yet.”
“Ah, mom … if I don’t get what I want first he’ll eat it all,” Justin complains as he points his fork at me.
“Elders first,” I say.
Just as Justin is about to pop off, Dad clears his throat. “Did you do your drills today, Justin?”
“Yes, sir,” he mumbles.
“And?”
Justin looks at me for an answer. I tap my wrist to indicate times. Dad always wants to know our times if he’s not here to watch us because he’s too busy drawing up new programs or plays to chart our results. Justin swallows. “Uh … I forgot.”
Bad move bro. He didn’t do them.
“Forgot your times?” My dad looks like he’s about to explode.
Justin has an expression as if he’s about to wet his pants. I’ve been there before but I can’t help him get out of this.
“I didn’t write them down. I’m sorry,” Justin says.
“We’re going to do double tomorrow after I come home from work,” my dad states.
Justin nods. That’s what we do. Comply.
Between the two of us, we barely eat. Mom doesn’t say a word. She just pretends like this is normal and goes about her meal in silence. This is what I hate. This is why my love for the game has turned into just liking it. It’s no longer fun. It hasn’t been fun since pee-wees.
Once I hit sixth grade Dad started his mandatory shakes for breakfast. Then it escalated to running, push-ups, and throwing every day. Hanging out with my friends on the weekends was my only escape even if it was for a few hours.
College, it’s going to be different. At least this is what I keep telling myself.