When you complain incessantly to your guy friends about being
cheated on and how you might not be a good kisser, they’ll give you crap, change the subject, or even smack you.
But when you’re best friends with a girl and you blather on and on, she kisses you to make you shut up.
When it first happened, I was shocked and confused for the first 1.3 seconds. Then I decided to go with it. Macal an was an excellent kisser. I was a little disappointed when she pul ed away and acted like nothing had happened.
And people think guys don’t get attached when things get
physical.
Of course, I tried to get her to kiss me again. But she didn’t fall for it. Anytime I’d be purposely annoying to her, I’d say, “Uh-oh, somebody better get me to shut up,” and then pucker my lips. Macal an would ignore me and go back to whatever she was doing.
That was annoying.
131
Spring final y arrived, and with it came the warmer weather and track.
Even though we were already in the middle of the season, I still got nervous for every race. It mattered too much to me. I had to keep tel ing myself to remember to breathe. Then I shook my legs out. I could hear the introductions and the crowd. But I looked straight ahead. The only thing that mattered was the 400 meters in front of me.
I heard the call to line up. I positioned myself at the start, ready to bound forward at the sound of the shot.
I went into this zone right before a race. Everything else faded away; I gained tunnel vision. A calmness overcame me as my body readied itself to pounce, to run.
The shot rang and I blasted out. My muscles automatical y
responded from all the training I’d done. I breathed in short bursts, propel ing my body faster and faster. I rounded the first bend of the track and could sense that we were in a tight group. By the halfway mark, I knew there were only a couple other runners left. I used every ounce of energy for the remaining course, not wanting to leave anything behind.
I knew it must’ve been close because the only voice I could hear was Macal an’s, and she was being more intense than usual. When I crossed the finish line, it took me several yards to get down to a jog.
I looked next to me and Ian was right by my side.
“It’s gonna be a tight one, man.” He gasped, clearly out of breath.
I could only nod. I hadn’t yet ful y recovered.
He patted me on my back.
Ian and I had formed a sort of truce after the near-cheating inci-dent. I was more upset with him for what he’d done to Macal an, 132
though she didn’t seem as bothered by it as I would’ve been. But I guessed that when you’ve been through everything she had,
breaking up with a boyfriend in high school wasn’t the worst loss.
“Branigan, Rodgers, good job!” Coach Scharfenberg cal ed to us
as we slowly made our way back to the team.
The coaches and officials spent a few minutes going over the
official times.
“Hey, you coming out after?” Ian asked me.
“Yeah.” The guys on the varsity team always went out after the
meets. It usual y involved a lot of food and Gatorade.
“Awesome job!” Andy handed me some water.
“Thanks, you kil ed it in the two hundred.”
“Total y.” Tim came up and patted Andy on the back. “Although
let’s face it, I smoked the relay. As I do.”
I actual y had guy friends. Like, real guy friends. Once I’d made varsity (the only sophomore to do so), I’d started hanging out with Tim and Andy, both juniors. They were these cool guys who were
real y supportive. I would just relax and try not to get too giddy whenever they’d ask me to do stuff.
I did have to break plans with Macal an a few times, but I knew she was happy for me. Plus, she always planned everything way in advance, which these guys didn’t.
I stared at the scoreboard, wil ing the times to be posted. And it was close.
Ian had beaten me by one-tenth of a second.
One-tenth.
In some ways, I would rather have lost by a second. Races this
close always haunted me. I didn’t think I had anything left in me, but 133
I couldn’t help but think if I’d only pushed myself a little faster, only two-tenths faster, I would’ve won.
“Good job, man!” Ian patted me on the back.
“Congrats — you earned it.”
I went over to the side where Macal an and Daniel e were waiting.
“Hey.” I tried to smile.
“You were great!” Macal an exclaimed, and gave me a big hug. I
felt so embarrassed because not only had I lost, but I was covered in sweat.
I shrugged, not wil ing to accept the compliment. Especial y when it wasn’t warranted.
“Come on — you’re a sophomore,” she reminded me. “Second
place is amazing. You’ll total y get it next time.”
Yeah, when Ian was no longer on the team.
Macal an grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me. “Earth
to Levi! You were incredible. We’re going to Culver’s — frozen custard on me!”