in
the shoulder and they both blushed.
“It’s cool. She is.” Brent
sounded like he might be smiling.
That was all Alyssa could hear
before someone handed her a box of decorations to carry out to her car. She couldn’t
help wondering which statement Brent had been agreeing with.
The next day was Friday—the day of
the homecoming game. There would also be a parade featuring floats from all
the school’s clubs. Alyssa was dressed in her full cheerleading regalia for
school. Her only concession to the weather was the leggings she wore beneath her
short skirt.
“You gonna wear that all day? Like
to classes?” Brent was carrying two plates from the stove to her kitchen table
when she came downstairs. They looked like omelets. Her mouth watered.
“It’s a tradition on game day.”
Alyssa replied. “What are you doing here?”
“Making breakfast. We need to
talk.”
“Oh.” Alyssa had purposely slipped
away from the hospital the night before, without talking privately with him.
She’d decided not to ruin their perfect afternoon.
“I mailed your application.”
That was so not what she was
expecting him to say. “What?! How?”
“Your mom let me in yesterday
afternoon, and I found it still in the envelope in your desk upstairs. So I
mailed it on my way to the hospital.” Brent shrugged and then shoveled several
bites into his mouth.
Alyssa was speechless, so she ate
too.
“I thought I’d drive you to school
today. We can talk in the car.” Brent finally spoke again after they’d rinsed
their, now empty, plates. Taking her backpack from her, he headed out the door
not waiting for an answer.
“When you get your acceptance
letter—you can always turn it down if you decide you don’t want to go.” Brent
started when they were on the road. “This way you have options.”
“ If I get in.” She
corrected him.
“Okay, if you get in.”
Brent chuckled at her. “If you decide to stay here—I’ll still be you friend
Lyssa. I feel ridiculous even saying that since it is a given, but… Well the
other night you seemed like you needed to hear it.” He waited for a response.
Nothing came. “Things don’t have to get weird—just so you know.” This time
Alyssa at least smiled. “What time is the parade thing?”
“5:15. I wasn’t sure you were still
planning on coming.”
Brent rolled his eyes at her. “I
said I would. Prince Charming will report for duty at 5:15 on the dot—as
promised.”
“Thanks.” Alyssa moved to step out
of the car.
Brent stopped her with a hand on
her arm. “Have a good day, Chere.” He grinned at her when she laughed out
loud before heading towards the school doors.
Every year a lot of people turned
out for the parade. It was a small town, and even the high school’s homecoming
game counted as big time entertainment. All the school organizations and clubs
built floats. The cheerleaders had a very simple flat bed float decorated in
blue and gold. Alyssa would be leading cheers from the center of the float.
She didn’t have time to find, or even look for, Brent before they lined up.
The parade route circled two blocks, and ended up back in front of the school.
It wasn’t until after the parade floats were parked and the crowd was headed
toward the football stadium that she found him. Actually he found her.
Alyssa and Beth were chatting with
a couple of little girls dressed like cheerleaders. They were so adorable
Alyssa and Beth couldn’t resist lending them their blue and gold pompoms and teaching
them a few simple cheers.
“You’ll be cheering in a parade
like this in no time at all.” Alyssa was saying as she pulled out a little
tube of glitter make up to make stars on each of their faces. Behind her she
heard the familiar snapping of a camera shutter. Brent. “Enjoy the game guys!”
Alyssa waved as the little girls danced
the shoulder and they both blushed.
“It’s cool. She is.” Brent
sounded like he might be smiling.
That was all Alyssa could hear
before someone handed her a box of decorations to carry out to her car. She couldn’t
help wondering which statement Brent had been agreeing with.
The next day was Friday—the day of
the homecoming game. There would also be a parade featuring floats from all
the school’s clubs. Alyssa was dressed in her full cheerleading regalia for
school. Her only concession to the weather was the leggings she wore beneath her
short skirt.
“You gonna wear that all day? Like
to classes?” Brent was carrying two plates from the stove to her kitchen table
when she came downstairs. They looked like omelets. Her mouth watered.
“It’s a tradition on game day.”
Alyssa replied. “What are you doing here?”
“Making breakfast. We need to
talk.”
“Oh.” Alyssa had purposely slipped
away from the hospital the night before, without talking privately with him.
She’d decided not to ruin their perfect afternoon.
“I mailed your application.”
That was so not what she was
expecting him to say. “What?! How?”
“Your mom let me in yesterday
afternoon, and I found it still in the envelope in your desk upstairs. So I
mailed it on my way to the hospital.” Brent shrugged and then shoveled several
bites into his mouth.
Alyssa was speechless, so she ate
too.
“I thought I’d drive you to school
today. We can talk in the car.” Brent finally spoke again after they’d rinsed
their, now empty, plates. Taking her backpack from her, he headed out the door
not waiting for an answer.
“When you get your acceptance
letter—you can always turn it down if you decide you don’t want to go.” Brent
started when they were on the road. “This way you have options.”
“ If I get in.” She
corrected him.
“Okay, if you get in.”
Brent chuckled at her. “If you decide to stay here—I’ll still be you friend
Lyssa. I feel ridiculous even saying that since it is a given, but… Well the
other night you seemed like you needed to hear it.” He waited for a response.
Nothing came. “Things don’t have to get weird—just so you know.” This time
Alyssa at least smiled. “What time is the parade thing?”
“5:15. I wasn’t sure you were still
planning on coming.”
Brent rolled his eyes at her. “I
said I would. Prince Charming will report for duty at 5:15 on the dot—as
promised.”
“Thanks.” Alyssa moved to step out
of the car.
Brent stopped her with a hand on
her arm. “Have a good day, Chere.” He grinned at her when she laughed out
loud before heading towards the school doors.
Every year a lot of people turned
out for the parade. It was a small town, and even the high school’s homecoming
game counted as big time entertainment. All the school organizations and clubs
built floats. The cheerleaders had a very simple flat bed float decorated in
blue and gold. Alyssa would be leading cheers from the center of the float.
She didn’t have time to find, or even look for, Brent before they lined up.
The parade route circled two blocks, and ended up back in front of the school.
It wasn’t until after the parade floats were parked and the crowd was headed
toward the football stadium that she found him. Actually he found her.
Alyssa and Beth were chatting with
a couple of little girls dressed like cheerleaders. They were so adorable
Alyssa and Beth couldn’t resist lending them their blue and gold pompoms and teaching
them a few simple cheers.
“You’ll be cheering in a parade
like this in no time at all.” Alyssa was saying as she pulled out a little
tube of glitter make up to make stars on each of their faces. Behind her she
heard the familiar snapping of a camera shutter. Brent. “Enjoy the game guys!”
Alyssa waved as the little girls danced
Similar Books
