He paused, standing face-to-face with her.
“You’re really good.”
She frowned, not understanding.
“Soooo, you’re laughing at me because I’m good?”
He nodded. “Why aren’t you playing on the guys’ team?”
Her lips spread into a knowing smile.
“Oh, I see. You were laughing because you just couldn’t understand how a girl could be so much better at soccer than your lame ass friends.”
He burst out laughing.
“News flash, buddy. I’m taking this skill to college—” She tossed the hacky sack to Brandon, and he punched it back. “—on a full scholarship. Girl power. Holla.”
They volleyed while they chatted.
“I know you will, Regan. You’re cocky as hell, so I know you’ll get what you want,” Brandon said.
“I’m not cocky. I’m confident,” she countered.
“I thought that was the same thing,” he replied.
“Not even close.”
“So where did this skill come from, anyway? Why didn’t I see it in middle school?”
“I hid it. Plus, I wasn’t interested in organized sports. For a while I felt they were too fascist.”
“Is that right? You felt they were too fascist?” Brandon teased. “Pretty intense for a seventh grader.”
“I’m highly intelligent,” Regan replied.
“Oh, that’s right. You were too busy with your dork club,” Brandon said.
“Shut up. Our club was awesome.”
Regan caught the sack on her toe and punched it over Brandon’s head. Somehow, despite his mediocre skills, he was able to catch it in time to pop it back to her.
“I’m just jealous because you never invited me,” he confessed.
“It was a club for smart people,” she reminded him.
He roared with laughter, dropping the footbag.
“Start over,” she said, and he took it as a good sign. She didn’t want him to leave quite yet.
“You notice anything different about me?” he asked, tossing her the hacky sack once more.
She hesitated, and he knew she was debating if she should say it out loud.
“It’s okay. You can say it,” he encouraged.
“You lost a ton of weight,” she said, looking him up and down.
“I grew six inches over the summer,” he replied. “And decided to start getting in shape.”
She whistled low. “That’s a decent way to start high school.”
“I think so,” he said.
“Did you work on anything else over the summer?”
He furrowed his brows. “Like what?”
“Like your asshole personality?”
He chuckled. “Gosh, you just say it, huh?”
“No point in beating around the bush.”
He dropped the footbag again. This time he didn’t retrieve it. He let it lay on the grass—take a much-needed break.
“I picked on people because I was insecure,” he said softly. “You know, with my weight and stuff.”
Regan listened.
“I’m not that guy anymore,” he went on. “I’ve grown up.”
“There’s not that much difference between thirteen and fourteen,” she said, unconvinced.
“There is for me,” he insisted. He looked straight at her face.
“Okay, Brandon. I sort of believe you,” she replied, picking up her hacky sack and gym bag. She slung the bag over her shoulder, signaling the end of their conversation.
But he wasn’t ready to end it, and she sensed that. He gave her a really good once-over, taking in her fourteen-year-old hair, lips, breasts, legs. Cleats. He smiled.
“Wanna know what I was laughing about?”
“Please share,” she said.
“I was looking at your cleats,” he said, pointing to her feet.
“Oh, whoops,” she replied, looking down.
She plopped on the ground and switched out her shoes.
“Thanks. These are brand new. If Mom saw me walking in with them on, she’d have a fit.”
He nodded. “So anyway, I was looking at your cleats, and I thought, wow, I’m a cleat chaser.” He paused, waiting for her reaction to his not-so-subtle proclamation of love. Or lust. Perhaps lust right now.
“Girls are cleat chasers,” Regan said, distracted, lacing her shoe.
Brandon sighed. “I know. That’s what made it funny. That I thought to myself, hey, I’m a guy, but I’m a cleat chaser.”
“Who are you chasing after?” she asked, looking up.
He shook his head. “God, Regan! You’re so oblivious! You! I’m chasing you!”
She froze, flushed with flattery.
“Like role reversal over here. You’re the athlete, and I’m going after you. See why that’s funny?”
She hopped up. “You’re so sexist.”
“I’m not. I swear. But come on. Can’t you see the humor in it?”
She considered him. “I guess.”
“Well, is that all you’re gonna say? I just confessed to liking you.”
“But why? You never showed interest before,” she said.
“Because before, I was an idiot.”
She smirked.
“Don’t say it,” he warned playfully.
They stood avoiding each other’s eyes, waiting for the other to speak.
“You were a really cruel kid,” she said softly.
“I know. But I’m not that guy anymore, Regan. I swear. How about this: Let me show you that I’m not that guy,” he offered.
“How?”
“Hang out with me.”
“Hang out with you?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Umm . . .”
He waited.
“Well, I guess so,” she said finally.
He lit up. “You won’t regret it. I swear . . .”
“Regan!” the secretary shouted.
She jerked her face up, and in an instant, the memory faded. “Huh? Wha—?”
“You’ve been standing there staring at me for ten minutes! What do you need?” Pam demanded.
Regan clutched the red notebook against her chest. She was all ready to turn it in, report what she’d learned from those dark pages, but then her mind yanked her back to the summer before ninth grade.