Sasha
Colin waited for me after school, saying he had another practice and asked me to come, so Karen and I said we would watch. We take a seat on the bleachers and I cheer whenever his side makes a goal. Seeing him in action is amazing. Football I always found boring. Men running up and down the field over a ball is not interesting, but watching Colin do it sure is.
It’s hot.
“Now that you tamed Colin, do you think I have any chance getting with Aaron?.” I roll my eyes that she is still going on about him.
“I can’t believe you still want to lose your virginity with that ass.”
“He has a very hot ass.” Her eyes go to him.
“I just think you can do better.”
“At least I could say I slept with a hot footballer.”
“It’s up to you. You can make your move at the party tonight.” She squeals.
“I can’t believe I forgot about the house party. I can get all sexed up, he isn’t going to know what hit him.”
“I was joking. You want to lose it at some house party? That’s not really special.”
“First times hurt, it's messy, it sucks. I think I’d rather say I lost it to a footballer than an awkward scene. It’s a memory I can hold on to when I’m old and gray.” I shake my head, nothing I say will change her mind. “What about you? Now that you’re in a relationship, with the star footballer, when are you going to give up your V-card?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m in a relationship.”
“What has he classified it as?”
“That I’m his and he’s mine.”
“That’s him saying you’re in a relationship. I swear, girl, you can be so smart and yet so stupid.”
I scoff. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiles innocently at me and I nudge her arm.
We’re still watching practice when a few of the cheerleaders walk towards us. Seeing them in their tiny uniform, their glossy hair perfect, makes me cringe. Why do cheerleaders always look amazing? You see it in movies, in books, and in real life.
It’s just not fair.
“I heard you and Colin are a thing,” Nicole says, looking at me like I’m beneath her. I realize then that this is the girl I overheard talking about sleeping with Colin and my stomach starts to turn.
“What’s it to you?” Karen answers her.
“Just giving you some friendly advice. It won’t last. Colin is a player. I would hate if he broke your heart after he gets what he wants. He sees you as a challenge, something he can’t have. You should end it before you get in too deep.” She places a hand over her heart. I know she will say anything to break me and Colin up, but a part of me is thinking about what she said.
What if he is only with me because he sees me as a challenge? He may think it could be something when it’s really not. What if we sleep together and then realize the spark is gone?
“You need to get lost. Spew your poison somewhere else.” Karen stands up.
“Nicole didn’t have to come over here. She was actually doing a nice thing. You do know Colin fucked her just a few days ago?” Sissy, Nicole’s best friend, adds in.
Yeah, I do know.
“You mustn’t be that good if he went elsewhere.” Nicole glares at her.
“It’s up to you, but he’ll get what he wants and go to the next girl or get bored of waiting around and leave, or worse, cheat. We are only in high school, he isn’t going to want to settle down now, he’s going to the pros and where does that leave you?” I look to the ground and Karen stands in front of me, blocking me from the girls.
“Fuck off or I will break that perfect nose of yours,” Karen growls at them.
“Fine, we are going. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you were really her friend, you would know everything I am saying is true and change her mind.” They walk away and tears start to form.
“Don’t listen to those jealous bitches.” She hugs me.
“They are right though, aren’t they? What if he leaves me? I’m already falling for him and its only been a couple of days. What will it be like in a month?” A tear falls.
“We can’t live on what ifs. Remember what your dad said to you. Follow your heart. Your heart will always lead you in the right direction.” Karen was like a second daughter to my parents. She was always at my house growing up. She was just as devastated when he passed. “What is your heart telling you now?”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath and all I see is Colin smiling at me. I open my eyes again and look to Karen. “I really like him.” She nods.
“Then be with him. He is head over heels, any fool can see that. You watched all those chick flicks with me, bitchy girls will say and do anything to try and get the guy. But, the guy always goes for the good girl, the leading lady, and in this story, you are the leading lady.”
“This isn’t a story.” I laugh.
“You watched Never-ending Story, everything is a story.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I know. It’s what makes me special.” We both laugh.
We watch the rest of the game and when they are finished, just like yesterday, Colin jogs over to us. With him is Aaron and I see Karen standing up straighter; it’s almost funny.
“You guys played well,” Karen says sweetly.
“This guy would be shit without me.” Aaron claps Colin on the shoulder and he just rolls his eyes. He smiles at me and I smile back.
“You do look like you’re in control on the field.” We can’t see their faces from here, but Aaron seems to be eating up every word.
“Yeah, you have to. Don’t want our star to get hurt. I have to keep my eyes open and know my surrounding.” Aaron winks at her and she giggles. Oh, God.
“That is amazing. You’ll have to tell me more at the party. Tell me everything you do on the field.” She takes a step forward and he smirks at her, which she returns.
“You’re on. See you at the party.”
“Yes, you will,” she purrs and he gives her a nod and starts to walk backward.
“You coming, man?” he asks Colin. Colin was watching the whole thing as well. He leans forward and pecks my lips.
“I’ll see you later?” I nod.
“Yes, you will,” I repeat Karen’s words and he laughs. Karen and I watch them head to the locker rooms.
“I would love to have sex in the locker room,” Karen says as we head to her car. Colin and I decided that Karen will take me home so we can get ready, and I think we both know that we won’t be getting ready if he was there.
“Colin liked me before the other day,” I blurt out once we leave the school parking lot.
“He liked you longer?”
“Yeah. He saw me getting dressed once in the girls locker room and he said ever since then, he hasn’t been able to get me out of his head.”
“Aww, that is so… wait, what was he doing in the girls locker room?” I give her a look and her mouth goes in an O shape. “At least he liked you before you went all crazy on his ass for helping out in the talent show.” She laughs.
“I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
“No, no, of course not. You were just like a five-year-old stomping her foot because someone was touching her toy.” I groan. “Like I said, good thing he liked you before then.”
“You really know how to make me feel better about stuff.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
“Thanks for earlier by the way. For dealing with the cheer squad.” She waves me off.
“No one messes with my best friend. I would cut a bitch if I had to.” I burst out laughing.
“You watch too much TV.”
“Hey, Orange is The New Black is amazeballs.” I will admit, I’m just as obsessed with the show as she is.
* * *
We made sure to eat and then Karen got ready at my place. We showered and she went with a tight, black dress. She said it will be easy access for Aaron later. I went with a red, halter neck dress that is backless. I made my hair wavy, giving it that sex hair look. Karen’s words, not mine. I did smoky eyes and natural lips. If I’m going to be kissing, like hell I’m wearing lipstick.
We call a cab to take us there as neither of us wants to drive. I’m hoping Colin and I can walk home so that we can talk and get to know each other better without the kissing part that we can’t seem to stop.
Pulling up to the address we were given, it looks like the party is already in full swing. People are standing outside with red cups, talking. When I step out of the cab, everyone’s eyes land on mine. I freeze and Karen notices it as she leans into my side a little.
“I guess this is practice.” I look at her, confused.
“What?”
“For when you're famous. Everyone is always going to be looking at you.” I link my arm with hers and we start heading inside and just like outside, everyone is watching me. “There’s Brady and Leo.” Karen points to the far end of the room and we head that way.
They see us and wave us over and not long after, Phillip arrives with a few red cups and passes the guys one. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were here.” His face blushes when he checks Karen out.
“It's fine. We’ll get ours. Be right back.” Karen takes hold of my hand and we head to the kitchen. We stop suddenly when we hear Colin talking with his friends.
“She invited the whole nerd crew,” a guy says. I think it was Danny.
“They’re her friends, stop calling them that. If you want them to leave, I’ll leave with them.” I feel proud he is sticking up for my friends.
“You being serious?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m with Sasha, which means that includes her friends. Just like she has to accept you assholes.” Aaron and another guy there, Nathan I think, both laugh.
“We’re popular, of course she is going to like us,” Nathan says. I walk in and their eyes bug out as I step into Colin’s side. He wraps his arm around my waist like it was a natural thing to do.
“I think you’re pigs. I don’t care if you are a part of the ‘popular’ crew.” I raise my fingers, doing air quotes. “If you’re a dick, you’re a dick. But I will deal, like Colin said, you are his friends and while I’m with him I have to like you.”
“We didn’t mean any offense,” Nathan says sheepishly.
“Us music nerds are happy in our skin, we don’t care what you think of us, even if you think we do. If you want us to go, just say.” I look at Danny and he looks to me and to Colin.
“It's fine,” Danny says with gritted teeth before grabbing a beer and leaving.
“You are so hot.” Colin kisses my neck. “I’m not just talking about that killer dress.” His hand glides down my back, causing goosebumps in its wake.
“I do try.” He chuckles.
“You do have some balls. No wonder why our boy here likes you.” Nathan laughs. “I’m Nathan by the way.” I shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you. You played well today.” He beams. Karen does have the right way of doing things. Just compliment a guy and they are in the palm of your hand. I do want his friends to like me. Danny seems like an ass but Aaron and Nathan aren’t that bad.
“Thanks.”
“Karen thought I was amazing on the field today.” He puts his arm around her shoulders, passing her a beer in a red cup. She winks at me and holds his hand.
“You were, couldn’t take my eyes off you, you were that mesmerizing on the field.” He looks so proud of himself it's almost funny.
“Everyone only ever sees Colin since he’s the quarterback, but we’re all just as good.” Aaron nods in agreement.
“I know what you mean, you were really good. In the band, everyone only ever notices Sasha as she can sing the shit out of anything, but I can play the guitar like a devil possessed.”
“You’ll have to play for me sometime.” Aaron winks at her.
“You’ll have to give me a personal show in your uniform.” He gives her a smoldering look.
“I think that can be arranged.”
“Good.” She smiles at him and takes a sip of her drink.
“They’re just as bad as each other,” I tell Colin.
“Yeah, they are. Hope she knows what she’s in for. He can be a dick.” I squeeze into him tighter. I like that he’s warning me even though it’s his friend.
“I already warned her. She just wants to lose her virginity and, in her eyes, she thinks losing it to a football player is a memorable thing.” He stands in front of me and before I have time to react, he lifts me up so my legs wrap around him and he places me on a counter, moving to stand between my legs.
“Does the same go for you?” I shake my head slowly.
“Yeah, I would love to lose it before I go to college but I want a connection. I want feelings involved. I don’t want any regrets.” His eyes bore into mine, soaking up every word I’m saying.
“I’ll prove to you that, whenever you’re ready, you will never regret being with me.” He takes hold of my wrists, placing my arms around his neck, then puts his hands on my hips. “You will never regret me.”
“I hope you’re right.” He leans down and kisses my nose, causing me to giggle.
“I will prove it.”