Chapter 11
It was after-school the next day when I heard what people were thinking through a first hand experience. Shelly Harris ambushed me and besides listening to the many theories people had of why I was dating Paul Spinella. Jess-ee-cah had told me some of them. They involved things like tequila and Bennett Williams telling me to stay out of his life.
Both of which were far from the truth.
I was just walking down the hallway. Meeting Jessicah to meet the baseball team under the bleachers which Paul hadn't asked anything about which meant I wasn't lying. But I felt guilty about it. I heard my name called. Her annoying high sing-song voice calling me like it was her show-tune debut in the Coolen hallway. I winced.
"Hi," I said turning and seeing her.
"So I heard you and Bennett broke up." She said. "I'm sorry."
I smiled shaking my head. "We never dated." I said. "Those were all rumors." The rumors that go around about Bennett and I are so random. Things like seeing us canoodling at parties and getting drunk together which happens when we're in different rooms. Things I don't even want to hear anymore.
She nods. "I also heard you and Paul Spinella are dating now."
I nodded. "We are." A few people who are friends with Paul have asked us. It was subtle and calm. Girls like Shelly go right to Jessicah or something. Paul's not so open and in your face about it. I'm glad he isn't awkward about it or cocky. I don't like feeling like a trophy around guys. Paul just said "Yes, we are." Which is the same thing I did to the rare person asking me if I was in fact dating the jock-like emo kid who's in a band.
Shelly did this sigh. I could hear it over the bustle of the hallway. "You could do so much better, Rainie." She said touching my arm. "I'm not sure how many people have been saying this, but you deserve more than him."
That really pisses me off. It happened to me with Kenny. Although I did deserve better then. Now it was just bitchy to say that to me. So I just made a face at her and rolled my eyes. "Thanks Shelly." And I started walking away.
I almost went right to my car and drove home. But Jessicah was waiting for me in case I backed out. "Rain!" She called.
I've hung out with the various sports teams with Jess-ee-cah under the bleachers. There are times when it's been the two of us with about seven other guys. And sometimes there are more girls than guys. But they are all usually the same. We walked under.
The pitcher- Spencer jumps off of a support beam he was sitting on. "Hey," He said to Jessicah. There were a few girls around. Dyed hair and big boobs. Jessicah smiled and said hello to Spencer.
There were about five guys. Three were talking to the other girls. There was one who had been talking to Spencer. "This is Rainie." Jess-ee-cah finally introduces me. I lift my hand in a wave.
"Hey."
"I'm Patrick." The kid who had been talking to Spencer said.
"Hi," I said smiling at him. A few of them had been looking over.
A girl came over towards us. "Aren't you dating that emo kid...?" She snapped her fingers searching for his name in her mind. She looked sort of dumb. In the nicest way possible.
I smiled politely. "Paul Spinella." I said.
"That's it!" She said pointing at me. She turned to another girl. "See I told you."
The awkwardness level went up. I kept smiling though. "Yeah, I am." I said.
Patrick looked at me. "Really?" He said his eyes widened. "Dude, that kid was so good on offense. I used to play football with him."
I smiled. Jessicah walking over to the kid Spencer and starting conversation. "When did you play with him?" I asked. I was always curious about the whole sports thing. He didn't tell me much about it. He held back when it came to that. I never teased him about it. But he must think I might if he told me too much.
"Up until last year," He said. "He quit the middle of the season. His dad was such a dick about sports though; nobody was surprised when he stopped showing up and got into all that emo crap."
I laughed a little. "Yeah," I said. "I didn't know why he quit. It was because of his dad?" I also heard nothing of his parents. He didn't like them. I knew that. And the only reason he worked was so he could have as little to do with them as possible.
Patrick nodded. "He was one of those obnoxious ones," Patrick said. "Screamed at him all game and after."
I couldn't picture that happening. I could barely see Paul in a football uniform. I kept talking to Patrick about Paul. He asked me to ask Paul if he remembered him. They used to be friends in middle school. Patrick had a girlfriend too, which made me feel better about this.
The rules we came up with were ones I wasn't planning on breaking. I liked Paul. And here talking to Patrick who was taken also made this seem less like lying. I made up my mind to tell Paul if he asked me about this afternoon. My cell phone was in my car so I didn't even know if he was trying to text me or call me.
While Jessicah flirted Spencer I talked to Patrick. We talked about Paul for the most part. But he was hilarious. I thought some of the things he said were hysterical. But I never thought about it in any other way.
I was thankful Patrick wasn't the horny type of boy I usually get stuck with when we hang out under the bleachers. We don't do this often but the past times I've always been stuck with a guy who doesn't care whether or not I'm seeing someone. They just care that I'm female.
I left before Jess. Going out to my car and finding '1 New Message' from Paul on my phone. He just asked me what I was doing. I he might be working. But I wasn't sure. I called him. Counting the rings as I started my car and started leaving the parking lot.
"Hello?" We've talked on the phone once before. He had called me yesterday to see what I was doing. We hung out. I loved how his voice sounded on the phone.
"Hi," I said smiling. "What's new?"
"Nothing," He said. "I'm at work." He didn't sound like he was folding sweaters.
"Oh, sorry," I said quickly. I checked to see if any cars were coming. "Do you want me to call you back later?"
"No," He said. "Please. I hate this job."
I laughed. "You're being negative. What will Steve say?" I've learned that his manager- Steve, is not only extremely hardcore about his job but he pushes Paul more than anything. And even though he wins employee of the month at the Gap every month he said that Paul has "potential."
One of the reasons why Paul is hoping for another job to come along so he can quit. He sighed. "What were you doing today?" He asked casually.
I took in a breathe. I didn't know how this was going to go over. "I promised Jess to meet her and some kids under the bleachers to hang out." I paused for a quick second hearing no reply. He would have cut in if he was mad. I knew that by now. "I met this kid who used to play football with you. Patrick something."
"Oh, cool." He said quickly. "Yeah, I used to hang out with that kid."
His voice sounded different. A little squeakier. If you could put it that way. I'm not sure if his voice could get squeakier. "Are you mad?" I asked stopping at a Stop sign.
"No," He said. His voice didn't crack this time. "That's fine."
I paused. "When are you getting off of work?" I asked. I took a left. I felt awful right them. Ready to shoot myself in the foot. I didn't do anything wrong, but it felt like I did.
"Half hour," He said.
"We could hang out," I said.
"Yeah, yeah." He said. "If you're heading to your house I could pick you up when I get out."
"Perfect," I said.
We went to our place. I really liked there. Even in the daylight. It wasn't some shitty place to go and get a quick hookup and leave. It was nice. You couldn't see it from the road but you could see his car. And it was quiet.
I sat across from him really close. "I'm sorry about this afternoon." I said softly before he could say anything.
"You don't need to apologize." He said. I looked at him. And he kissed me really softly. It was the different kind of kiss than I was used to one. It was really soft. And it made my heart start pounding really hard so it echoed in my ears.
I tried my best to kiss him back the same way but I felt like I was lagging behind a little. I never feel that way.
He took my hand and wove his fingers into it. It was the rough hand. The one with the callused fingertips. I was used to the other hand holding mine. The soft one. This was sort of new. But I liked the feeling of his palm against mine.
Even though the differences were painted clear in front of up half of the time, it was good to see that we fit in a more visible way than the way I could never describe or make sure it was real.
I kissed him again. And smiled. "You look awkward in a polo," I said smiling. Before he could react I popped half of his collar up.
His hand took my other. "Stop," He said. "Don't give me a hard time about my job."
"I think your job is very noble," I said. He leaned in and kissed me a little more naturally and normally. And pulled me down onto the ground with him. It was all he could do to fight me. Get me to stop talking. Rainie: 8. Paul: 0.
