A/N: Hi! Just a word to everyone out there reading this story! My apologies
because it took me so long to get this one up! And another thing is I'm
finding it hard to work every main character I have in this story, Adam,
Julie, Luis, Guy, Connie, etc in every chapter just simply because there's
too many of them. However, I'll try my best to keep them all balanced
throughout the whole story. Meanwhile, thanks to all the reviewers! Enjoy
and keep reading! Cheers! =)
My First Date
Adam's POV
I pulled at my shirt making it wrinkle up. Then of course I started spending the next few minutes trying to make the creases straight. As you can tell, I'm nervous. Very nervous. Throughout the entire game I had Julie in my mind. Of course, having her in the goal didn't help much either. Everytime I was on the bench my eyes traced her immediately. Instant magnetism. She was so graceful even under all that bulk. The way her face scrunched into a cute frown as she concentrated on the incoming attacks and the way her long braid whipped in the air as she raised her gloved hand in the air to capture the puck in a graceful arch. The body movements were just sheer poetry. When Luis threw in that goal at the last minute everyone scrambled into the rink celebrating. Someone threw himself onto me and gave me a big hug. I was still registering the shock when Julie smiled and let go of me. "Great game," she said softly. I blinked stupidly at her. She laughed lightly and said, "See ya later." Then she took off into the locker rooms.
I jumped in surprise as someone tapped me on the back. "How long have you been waiting here?"
I turned around with a big smile at the voice. For the 100th time I found myself speechless because she was just radiating. She was dressed simple in low cut jeans and a ribbed top that complimented her curves. She let her long blonde hair flow freely behind her creating a soft glow for her sharp features. I just didn't know what to say. "Is something wrong?" she asked. I realized I was staring at her for the past minute. Embarrassed I tried to put together a sentence.
"Nothing.. uh.. you look great," I managed to say. I could see a blush creeping up her face but it didn't matter, I knew I was blushing too. Why couldn't we just stop blushing for a minute??
"So do you," she replied. I looked down at my wrinkled shirt. Yeah right, I thought wryly. I looked at her pointedly. I could see a smile playing by her lips. Before we knew it, we were both laughing out loud in the middle of the lawn. I think she recovered first because she then said, "Boy, that feels good."
I stopped laughing and tried to catch a few breaths. "Yeah. It was kinda awkward before huh? Let's keep it this way," I replied.
She nodded in agreement, "So where are we going?" She clasped her hands in front of her as we started walking out of the school gates.
"You hungry?" I asked. I wanted to make sure we did something that she wanted.
"Starving. I could eat a horse. That's what good games do to me," she said, "oh my gosh.. I sound like a total pig." She laughed, a little embarrassed.
"Nahh.. it's good to see that you're not obsess about all that diet stuff. Then I'd feel really guilty pigging out in front of you," I told her. I was seriously glad. I just couldn't understand how girls could just go on and on about that. It always made me feel bad eating lots when they felt like they couldn't. Don't ask me why, I'm just weird that way.
"Yeah.. I get all the exercise I need I guess.. but I kinda understand what some of them are going through. How bout that old diner after the park? They serve unlimited pasta and pizza," she suggested.
"Sounds good to me." We walked the few blocks to the diner. I held the door open for her, earning a smile. I walked in after her. "Do you always do that?" she asked with an amused smile.
"It's just how I've been brought up I guess. 'Our little Adam is going to grow up to be a gentleman'," I said mimicking my mom's voice. She clamped her hands over her mouth in laughter. I smiled at her as we slide into a booth by the window. I loved making her laugh. A waiter came over and we placed our orders for the unlimited serving.
"Don't get me wrong. I love my mom. But sometimes the etiquette lessons get a little annoying," I explained, "she even tried to get us to learn stuff like which forks go best with which kind of dishes."
"Once a prep always a prep cake-eater," she teased, calling me by my nickname. But somehow, she made it sound funny instead of like an insult. Then her face grew serious and she added quietly, "I wished I knew my mom though." She looked so sad I wanted to hug her and comfort her but that was impossible given that she was sitting on the other side of the booth. So I just settled with patting her on the hand.
"What happened?" I asked her. I thought she was going to burst into tears then but she replied, "She died just after I was born." Now that really surprised me. All this while I'd always imagine her coming from the perfect family, loving mom and dad and all but I was obviously wrong.
"It's ok," I told her and brushed the single tear that was trickling down her face, "you still have your dad. Right?" When that came out of my mouth I wanted to kick myself for being so careless.. what if her dad..? No, it couldn't be.
"Yes, I still have him," she said and I gave a sigh of relief. But the next words she said made me feel like an idiot all over again, "But he's never really been interested in me. I don't mean that he's been abusive or anything because he hasn't. It's just that.. sometimes I think he blames me for my mom's death. That she died because of me."
"Julie.. it's not your fault," I told her, "you know that, right?" I asked just to make sure. Somehow, I had a feeling that she also blamed herself for it.
"But I just feel that.. if it wasn't because of me she'd still be alive. And dad.. he wouldn't have to be so sad all the time. He's always given me everything I needed until now but the one thing I wanted most from him he was never able to," she said regretfully.
"What's that?" I asked fearfully. I felt really sorry for her, I couldn't imagine what could be worse than not having her mom around.
"Love," she told me. "He provides me with everything just because he has to but he doesn't love me."
She went on, "Everytime I see Charlie quarreling with Casey it makes me want to yell at him and tell him how lucky he is. I understand how you feel about your father sometimes but I can't help feel that the way he does all that for you because he just wants the best for you. Because he loves you. And my father will never do that for me."
I didn't know how to answer to that. Simply because I was feeling very very awful and really selfish. To think the way that I wished my father didn't care about me that much to make me do the things he wants me to when deep down inside I knew he loved me. It troubled me to think about how I've acted like total jerk and feeling sorry for myself though I was and will still be far luckier than Julie ever will be to have parents that were always there for me despite the many times I told myself how much I hated them.
************************************************************************ Julie's POV
I was at the verge of tears when I caught sight of Adam's face. He looked really pain-stricken and then I realized how uncomfortable he must be. I thought about how I must've sounded when I said all those things about his family. It was like a slap in his face. I quickly said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. It's just that.. sometimes.." But I never finished that sentence because just then, he leaned in and brushed his lips softly against mine. I closed my eyes and let myself get lost in the moment. When he pulled away I felt like the sadness that had been weighing me down disappear as I stared into his soulful eyes.
"It's ok. I understand. You don't have to say anything," he whispered just loud enough for me to hear him. Then I thought about how lucky I was to have him. Most guys would've just got up and go away without truly understand what I've just said. I'd just totally insulted Adam and here he was, holding my hands and telling me it was ok because he would always be there for me. And I realized then, I believed him.
Just then the waiter placed two pans of steaming pasta and pizza in front of us. "Come on, let's dig in. Try to think of happier things," he said and squeezed my hands comfortingly for the last time before reaching for a fork. I smiled at him. He was right. This was our first date. It was supposed to be fun not filled with sad stories from the past. He deserved to have some fun after what I'd just told him. I owed him that at least.
"Did I tell you? This is my first date," I informed him. That was the ultimate embarrassing fact but it lightened the mood because he suddenly perked up.
"First date? Like, with a guy?" he asked. I could tell he was really surprised. I suppose I just didn't have that written on my face. Wasn't anything about me obvious?
"Yeah, like, with a guy," I mimicked him. He looked embarrassed, "Sorry, you just didn't seem like the type." 'What type?' I thought, so I asked him.
"Well," he started hesitantly, "you're beautiful and you've got a great personality and everything. I just thought.. you know, guys would be lining up and all that," he finished with a blush.
I was quite flattered at what he said. It was true that a few guys had asked me out, but I didn't want to go out with just any guy. "Well.. I just never accepted," I told him simply.
"Why?" he asked curiously. "Because they weren't you," I said. And he smiled that cute smile I loved to see. I knew I was probably embarrassing us both but I didn't care. I was smiling too.
************************************************************************
After dinner we took a stroll in the park and sat underneath an old oak tree beside the pond. We didn't say anything for a while. Then she started singing.
Sometimes the snow comes down in June, Sometimes the sun goes round the moon, I see the passion in your eyes, Sometimes it's all a big surprise. Coz there was a time when all I did was wish, You tell me this was love, It's not the way I hoped or how I planned, But somehow it's enough.
And now we're standing face to face, Isn't this world a crazy place, Just when I thought a chance had past, You go and save the best for last.
All of the nights you came to me, Some silly girl had set you free, You wonder how you'll make it though, I wonder what was wrong with you.
Coz how could you give you love to someone else, And share your dreams with me, Sometimes the very thing you're looking for, Is the one thing you can't see.
But now we're standing face to face, Isn't this world a crazy place, Just when I thought a chance had passed, You go and save the best for last.
Sometimes the very thing you're looking for, Is the one thing you can't see.
But now we're standing face to face, Isn't this world a crazy place, Just when I thought a chance had passed, You go and save the best for last.. You went and save the best for last.. ..
I stared at her in awe, lost for words. She grinned at me, "What?"
"That was great! I didn't know you could sing!" I told her. I was really amazed. How could none of us ever skipped out on that fact? She was fantastic! "Sensational" I cried out. And truly, it was. I'd never heard anyone sing like that.
"Yeah well.. there are many things you don't know about me," she said, staring at the ripples that were forming on the pond. I thought about that for a moment. I realized that it must be true. I believed that she knew me much better than I ever knew her.
"What's the name?" I asked her. She looked at me, confused. "The song," I indicated, "what's the name of the song you just sang?"
"Oh. Save the best for last. Vanessa Williams," she replied. "Great song," I told her, "first time I've heard it."
"Really? It's one of my favourites," she said. "You know..," she added slowly, "I used to sing that song whenever I think of you."
She turned to look at me. I stared back into her eyes. "So.. the part.. about me loving someone else.. and sharing my dreams with you?" I recited, "was that when I was.. umm.. going out with Jade?" I finished nervously. I knew I had to be right.
"Yeah.. when you would always come up to me with all these problems in your relationship. I have to admit.. that was.. hard for me to swallow sometimes," she said wryly, "Not exactly the easiest job in the word."
"Oh," I didn't know what else to say. And all this while I never knew how much it hurt her. How cruel I was being because I couldn't see that she liked me. "I thought you and Scoo –.. nevermind," I trailed off. That wasn't an excuse. Not even close.
"I see what you mean. But I never went out with him Adam. I have to admit it almost seemed like a possibility at the time. No boy has ever looked at me that way before. All my life I've been hidden behind that tough goalie image. He was the first guy that saw me differently. But I couldn't.. because.. well.. because I liked you," she said without even flinching. At that point I could feel my hand reaching out and brushing a stray lock away from her face.
"I think you're beautiful," I told her. She leaned her head against my shoulder and I kissed her forehead. Then there was comfortable silence as we sat there, probably thinking about how lucky we were finally together. After all the confusion and shyness, just saving the best for last made all of that worth it. At least I knew that's how I felt.
************************************************************************ Julie's POV
"And this one here, I got during fifth grade playing dodge ball," I explained pointing at the 2 inch scar I had on my left knee. Adam and I had sat under the tree for almost an hour now. We starting talking after a while and everything from family, best friend quarrels, pets and most embarrassing moments just popped up easily. Now we were onto injuries and well, in some cases, remnants of injuries. He'd always shown be about 5 and I was still uncovering more and more.
"What's this one here?" I gestured at a spotted patch of skin just below his right knee cap. "This?" he rolled up his pants to see better. "Fourth grade, tag," he said simply.
"Really? Tag?" I asked surprised. How could such a harmless game cause something like that? I swear the patch was at least 5 centimeters long and 3 by width.
"Yeah. Some girl from the sixth came from behind and wham! The next moment I was eating my school yard's sand," he said. "What did you do?" I wondered.
He laughed casually, "I bawled like a baby. Dad was really angry though. He thought it'd give me a bad knee and stop me from playing well." He rolled his eyes at that thought.
"I can't believe it. Adam Banks, star player cried after some girl knocked him down? You've come a long way.." I said jokingly.
"Hey! It hurt!" he protested.
"Baby!" I teased him.
He opened his mouth in mock horror. "Am not!" he gave me a push.
"Baby!" I said again and shoved him. He fell over, his head gently making contact with the tree trunk.
"Ow!" he said and rubbed his head. "Oh, you better run! I'm gonna pay you back for that one!" he warned. I quickly got up and he chased me around the hedges. I was laughing uncontrollably and quickly became out of breath as he caught up with me. It was a long time since I'd laughed so much. He grabbed me by the waist and started tickling me. In attempt to return that, I totally messed up his shirt. Midway through the rough and tumble I caught sight of something that made me stop. His shirt had ridden up a way above his stomach, and on the far right corner I could see a purplish bruise. It looked fresh and I began to wonder if I'd caused that.
"What?" he asked when he noticed me staring quietly. I touched the bruise gently. He didn't flinch or move my fingers away. "What's this?" I asked almost nervously.
He moved my hand away from the spot and grasped it tightly, leading me towards the park entrance. I was beginning to think that I'd touched on a sore subject. Something bad that was related to the bruise. Something he didn't want to talk about.
Then he asked me, "Remember the JV Varsity showdown?" Whatever he was getting at, I certainly wasn't expecting this. I nodded.
"During the last period. I took the block –" he started and I finished, "for me. You took the block for me. Did it hurt?" I asked concernedly.
"Yeah, kinda," he said. I knew it must have hurt more than he let on but he just didn't want me to feel guilty about it. And then he added, "But for you, it was worth it." I felt all warm inside. What he said really touched me.
He smiled at me, "Well, here we are." Without realizing, we were in front of the dorms. He opened the door for me and we stopped in front of my room. "I had a great time," I told him. And I really meant it.
"Not as much as I did," he said huskily. Then I felt his lips brush against mine for the second time that night. I sank myself into that moment. When it was over, I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want the night to end. But when I did he smiled at me, "Goodnight."
"Night," I said to his retreating back. I told myself, if that was all a dream then it's one heck of a dream.
************************************************************************
My First Date
Adam's POV
I pulled at my shirt making it wrinkle up. Then of course I started spending the next few minutes trying to make the creases straight. As you can tell, I'm nervous. Very nervous. Throughout the entire game I had Julie in my mind. Of course, having her in the goal didn't help much either. Everytime I was on the bench my eyes traced her immediately. Instant magnetism. She was so graceful even under all that bulk. The way her face scrunched into a cute frown as she concentrated on the incoming attacks and the way her long braid whipped in the air as she raised her gloved hand in the air to capture the puck in a graceful arch. The body movements were just sheer poetry. When Luis threw in that goal at the last minute everyone scrambled into the rink celebrating. Someone threw himself onto me and gave me a big hug. I was still registering the shock when Julie smiled and let go of me. "Great game," she said softly. I blinked stupidly at her. She laughed lightly and said, "See ya later." Then she took off into the locker rooms.
I jumped in surprise as someone tapped me on the back. "How long have you been waiting here?"
I turned around with a big smile at the voice. For the 100th time I found myself speechless because she was just radiating. She was dressed simple in low cut jeans and a ribbed top that complimented her curves. She let her long blonde hair flow freely behind her creating a soft glow for her sharp features. I just didn't know what to say. "Is something wrong?" she asked. I realized I was staring at her for the past minute. Embarrassed I tried to put together a sentence.
"Nothing.. uh.. you look great," I managed to say. I could see a blush creeping up her face but it didn't matter, I knew I was blushing too. Why couldn't we just stop blushing for a minute??
"So do you," she replied. I looked down at my wrinkled shirt. Yeah right, I thought wryly. I looked at her pointedly. I could see a smile playing by her lips. Before we knew it, we were both laughing out loud in the middle of the lawn. I think she recovered first because she then said, "Boy, that feels good."
I stopped laughing and tried to catch a few breaths. "Yeah. It was kinda awkward before huh? Let's keep it this way," I replied.
She nodded in agreement, "So where are we going?" She clasped her hands in front of her as we started walking out of the school gates.
"You hungry?" I asked. I wanted to make sure we did something that she wanted.
"Starving. I could eat a horse. That's what good games do to me," she said, "oh my gosh.. I sound like a total pig." She laughed, a little embarrassed.
"Nahh.. it's good to see that you're not obsess about all that diet stuff. Then I'd feel really guilty pigging out in front of you," I told her. I was seriously glad. I just couldn't understand how girls could just go on and on about that. It always made me feel bad eating lots when they felt like they couldn't. Don't ask me why, I'm just weird that way.
"Yeah.. I get all the exercise I need I guess.. but I kinda understand what some of them are going through. How bout that old diner after the park? They serve unlimited pasta and pizza," she suggested.
"Sounds good to me." We walked the few blocks to the diner. I held the door open for her, earning a smile. I walked in after her. "Do you always do that?" she asked with an amused smile.
"It's just how I've been brought up I guess. 'Our little Adam is going to grow up to be a gentleman'," I said mimicking my mom's voice. She clamped her hands over her mouth in laughter. I smiled at her as we slide into a booth by the window. I loved making her laugh. A waiter came over and we placed our orders for the unlimited serving.
"Don't get me wrong. I love my mom. But sometimes the etiquette lessons get a little annoying," I explained, "she even tried to get us to learn stuff like which forks go best with which kind of dishes."
"Once a prep always a prep cake-eater," she teased, calling me by my nickname. But somehow, she made it sound funny instead of like an insult. Then her face grew serious and she added quietly, "I wished I knew my mom though." She looked so sad I wanted to hug her and comfort her but that was impossible given that she was sitting on the other side of the booth. So I just settled with patting her on the hand.
"What happened?" I asked her. I thought she was going to burst into tears then but she replied, "She died just after I was born." Now that really surprised me. All this while I'd always imagine her coming from the perfect family, loving mom and dad and all but I was obviously wrong.
"It's ok," I told her and brushed the single tear that was trickling down her face, "you still have your dad. Right?" When that came out of my mouth I wanted to kick myself for being so careless.. what if her dad..? No, it couldn't be.
"Yes, I still have him," she said and I gave a sigh of relief. But the next words she said made me feel like an idiot all over again, "But he's never really been interested in me. I don't mean that he's been abusive or anything because he hasn't. It's just that.. sometimes I think he blames me for my mom's death. That she died because of me."
"Julie.. it's not your fault," I told her, "you know that, right?" I asked just to make sure. Somehow, I had a feeling that she also blamed herself for it.
"But I just feel that.. if it wasn't because of me she'd still be alive. And dad.. he wouldn't have to be so sad all the time. He's always given me everything I needed until now but the one thing I wanted most from him he was never able to," she said regretfully.
"What's that?" I asked fearfully. I felt really sorry for her, I couldn't imagine what could be worse than not having her mom around.
"Love," she told me. "He provides me with everything just because he has to but he doesn't love me."
She went on, "Everytime I see Charlie quarreling with Casey it makes me want to yell at him and tell him how lucky he is. I understand how you feel about your father sometimes but I can't help feel that the way he does all that for you because he just wants the best for you. Because he loves you. And my father will never do that for me."
I didn't know how to answer to that. Simply because I was feeling very very awful and really selfish. To think the way that I wished my father didn't care about me that much to make me do the things he wants me to when deep down inside I knew he loved me. It troubled me to think about how I've acted like total jerk and feeling sorry for myself though I was and will still be far luckier than Julie ever will be to have parents that were always there for me despite the many times I told myself how much I hated them.
************************************************************************ Julie's POV
I was at the verge of tears when I caught sight of Adam's face. He looked really pain-stricken and then I realized how uncomfortable he must be. I thought about how I must've sounded when I said all those things about his family. It was like a slap in his face. I quickly said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. It's just that.. sometimes.." But I never finished that sentence because just then, he leaned in and brushed his lips softly against mine. I closed my eyes and let myself get lost in the moment. When he pulled away I felt like the sadness that had been weighing me down disappear as I stared into his soulful eyes.
"It's ok. I understand. You don't have to say anything," he whispered just loud enough for me to hear him. Then I thought about how lucky I was to have him. Most guys would've just got up and go away without truly understand what I've just said. I'd just totally insulted Adam and here he was, holding my hands and telling me it was ok because he would always be there for me. And I realized then, I believed him.
Just then the waiter placed two pans of steaming pasta and pizza in front of us. "Come on, let's dig in. Try to think of happier things," he said and squeezed my hands comfortingly for the last time before reaching for a fork. I smiled at him. He was right. This was our first date. It was supposed to be fun not filled with sad stories from the past. He deserved to have some fun after what I'd just told him. I owed him that at least.
"Did I tell you? This is my first date," I informed him. That was the ultimate embarrassing fact but it lightened the mood because he suddenly perked up.
"First date? Like, with a guy?" he asked. I could tell he was really surprised. I suppose I just didn't have that written on my face. Wasn't anything about me obvious?
"Yeah, like, with a guy," I mimicked him. He looked embarrassed, "Sorry, you just didn't seem like the type." 'What type?' I thought, so I asked him.
"Well," he started hesitantly, "you're beautiful and you've got a great personality and everything. I just thought.. you know, guys would be lining up and all that," he finished with a blush.
I was quite flattered at what he said. It was true that a few guys had asked me out, but I didn't want to go out with just any guy. "Well.. I just never accepted," I told him simply.
"Why?" he asked curiously. "Because they weren't you," I said. And he smiled that cute smile I loved to see. I knew I was probably embarrassing us both but I didn't care. I was smiling too.
************************************************************************
After dinner we took a stroll in the park and sat underneath an old oak tree beside the pond. We didn't say anything for a while. Then she started singing.
Sometimes the snow comes down in June, Sometimes the sun goes round the moon, I see the passion in your eyes, Sometimes it's all a big surprise. Coz there was a time when all I did was wish, You tell me this was love, It's not the way I hoped or how I planned, But somehow it's enough.
And now we're standing face to face, Isn't this world a crazy place, Just when I thought a chance had past, You go and save the best for last.
All of the nights you came to me, Some silly girl had set you free, You wonder how you'll make it though, I wonder what was wrong with you.
Coz how could you give you love to someone else, And share your dreams with me, Sometimes the very thing you're looking for, Is the one thing you can't see.
But now we're standing face to face, Isn't this world a crazy place, Just when I thought a chance had passed, You go and save the best for last.
Sometimes the very thing you're looking for, Is the one thing you can't see.
But now we're standing face to face, Isn't this world a crazy place, Just when I thought a chance had passed, You go and save the best for last.. You went and save the best for last.. ..
I stared at her in awe, lost for words. She grinned at me, "What?"
"That was great! I didn't know you could sing!" I told her. I was really amazed. How could none of us ever skipped out on that fact? She was fantastic! "Sensational" I cried out. And truly, it was. I'd never heard anyone sing like that.
"Yeah well.. there are many things you don't know about me," she said, staring at the ripples that were forming on the pond. I thought about that for a moment. I realized that it must be true. I believed that she knew me much better than I ever knew her.
"What's the name?" I asked her. She looked at me, confused. "The song," I indicated, "what's the name of the song you just sang?"
"Oh. Save the best for last. Vanessa Williams," she replied. "Great song," I told her, "first time I've heard it."
"Really? It's one of my favourites," she said. "You know..," she added slowly, "I used to sing that song whenever I think of you."
She turned to look at me. I stared back into her eyes. "So.. the part.. about me loving someone else.. and sharing my dreams with you?" I recited, "was that when I was.. umm.. going out with Jade?" I finished nervously. I knew I had to be right.
"Yeah.. when you would always come up to me with all these problems in your relationship. I have to admit.. that was.. hard for me to swallow sometimes," she said wryly, "Not exactly the easiest job in the word."
"Oh," I didn't know what else to say. And all this while I never knew how much it hurt her. How cruel I was being because I couldn't see that she liked me. "I thought you and Scoo –.. nevermind," I trailed off. That wasn't an excuse. Not even close.
"I see what you mean. But I never went out with him Adam. I have to admit it almost seemed like a possibility at the time. No boy has ever looked at me that way before. All my life I've been hidden behind that tough goalie image. He was the first guy that saw me differently. But I couldn't.. because.. well.. because I liked you," she said without even flinching. At that point I could feel my hand reaching out and brushing a stray lock away from her face.
"I think you're beautiful," I told her. She leaned her head against my shoulder and I kissed her forehead. Then there was comfortable silence as we sat there, probably thinking about how lucky we were finally together. After all the confusion and shyness, just saving the best for last made all of that worth it. At least I knew that's how I felt.
************************************************************************ Julie's POV
"And this one here, I got during fifth grade playing dodge ball," I explained pointing at the 2 inch scar I had on my left knee. Adam and I had sat under the tree for almost an hour now. We starting talking after a while and everything from family, best friend quarrels, pets and most embarrassing moments just popped up easily. Now we were onto injuries and well, in some cases, remnants of injuries. He'd always shown be about 5 and I was still uncovering more and more.
"What's this one here?" I gestured at a spotted patch of skin just below his right knee cap. "This?" he rolled up his pants to see better. "Fourth grade, tag," he said simply.
"Really? Tag?" I asked surprised. How could such a harmless game cause something like that? I swear the patch was at least 5 centimeters long and 3 by width.
"Yeah. Some girl from the sixth came from behind and wham! The next moment I was eating my school yard's sand," he said. "What did you do?" I wondered.
He laughed casually, "I bawled like a baby. Dad was really angry though. He thought it'd give me a bad knee and stop me from playing well." He rolled his eyes at that thought.
"I can't believe it. Adam Banks, star player cried after some girl knocked him down? You've come a long way.." I said jokingly.
"Hey! It hurt!" he protested.
"Baby!" I teased him.
He opened his mouth in mock horror. "Am not!" he gave me a push.
"Baby!" I said again and shoved him. He fell over, his head gently making contact with the tree trunk.
"Ow!" he said and rubbed his head. "Oh, you better run! I'm gonna pay you back for that one!" he warned. I quickly got up and he chased me around the hedges. I was laughing uncontrollably and quickly became out of breath as he caught up with me. It was a long time since I'd laughed so much. He grabbed me by the waist and started tickling me. In attempt to return that, I totally messed up his shirt. Midway through the rough and tumble I caught sight of something that made me stop. His shirt had ridden up a way above his stomach, and on the far right corner I could see a purplish bruise. It looked fresh and I began to wonder if I'd caused that.
"What?" he asked when he noticed me staring quietly. I touched the bruise gently. He didn't flinch or move my fingers away. "What's this?" I asked almost nervously.
He moved my hand away from the spot and grasped it tightly, leading me towards the park entrance. I was beginning to think that I'd touched on a sore subject. Something bad that was related to the bruise. Something he didn't want to talk about.
Then he asked me, "Remember the JV Varsity showdown?" Whatever he was getting at, I certainly wasn't expecting this. I nodded.
"During the last period. I took the block –" he started and I finished, "for me. You took the block for me. Did it hurt?" I asked concernedly.
"Yeah, kinda," he said. I knew it must have hurt more than he let on but he just didn't want me to feel guilty about it. And then he added, "But for you, it was worth it." I felt all warm inside. What he said really touched me.
He smiled at me, "Well, here we are." Without realizing, we were in front of the dorms. He opened the door for me and we stopped in front of my room. "I had a great time," I told him. And I really meant it.
"Not as much as I did," he said huskily. Then I felt his lips brush against mine for the second time that night. I sank myself into that moment. When it was over, I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want the night to end. But when I did he smiled at me, "Goodnight."
"Night," I said to his retreating back. I told myself, if that was all a dream then it's one heck of a dream.
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