~*~

Ally’s place was trashed. It was the first big party of the almost-summer weather, and apparently people had spent most of the evening in the yard, throwing cans around and leaving plastic forks scattered on the lawn. A fire was sending up a cloud of hazy smoke and about thirty kids were huddled around it, even though the night was super warm for mid March. They were roasting marshmallows and talking. Michael and Richie had their guitars out and were playing some summery sounding music, and the others were singing and laughing rowdily. I stashed my bike next to Denny’s car and walked up across the grass, feeling more guilty with every step. I was ashamed to be a contributor to the sorry state of Mr. Anderson’s once perfect, velvety grass. I swallowed, as my arrival was met with the cheerful calling of my name. I fist-bumped a few of the guys and sat down on the ground next to the fire.

 

 “Hey dude. You made it.” Jesse grinned.

 

 “Capt’n, you were on fire today.” Jackson garbled, his face bulging with marshmallows. At that moment Ally and a trail of whispering girls poured out of the front door like ants. Ally’s face looked pinched, like she was sucking on a lemon wedge, but it changed as soon as she saw me, going from irritated anger to pretended cool indifference. She brushed past me, her blonde curls bouncing against her shoulders, to go sit on the opposite side of the fire next to Jesse.

 Avoiding her eyes, I replied, “Thanks Jack. I’m starting to think that it’s gonna be a pretty good season for use.” His eyes danced and he raised his can to me.

 “I think so too, capt’n. Here’s to a great game next weekend.”

 

  “Aye!” A few other guys from the team joined in the toast. I forced a smile, feeling Denny’s burning gaze pouring into me, hotter than the bonfire. I felt sick, and suddenly ten times worse when I realized that Ally’s parents weren’t around anywhere. I’d told my mom that they’d be there, fully believing it. I glanced around to the side yard, where the motorhome was usually parked. It wasn’t there.

 

Crap. They must be out of town. Another reason to feel guilty. I had no doubts that I’d be grilled when I got home.

 

 “Hey.” Denny’s hand on my shoulder startled me. His eyes were dark and full of Standish anger as he jerked his head towards the side yard. “Come here a minute.” Without another word, he stalked off. Sighing, I eased my sore legs up and went after him. Once out of sight of the bonfire, Denny erupted. “What the heck are you doing here?! Like, what’s this whole deal with you and Ally. She thinks that you two are all like together and stuff. How could you do that behind my back?”

 

 “What?!” My eyes grew double their normal size. He glared at me, his hands clenched at his sides. What the heck is happening? I thought. And girls wonder why we think they're weird.

 “You could’ve at least talked to me.” His dark brows narrowed bitterly. Stammering, I tried to defend myself.

 

 “Dude, I swear I didn’t do anything that could---”

 

 “Oh, save it.” He shoved me backwards, slamming my already stiff back against the Andersons’ tool shed. “I wouldn’t believe anything you said now anyway.” Cussing at me, my best friend stormed off. Breathless, I watched him go, confused and feeling panic rising in my chest. Was this real? This whole crazy day seemed like a dream. I flashed back to my morning English class and Mr. Thorpe’s strange words:   “I want you to do this assignment. Really do it. I think you’ll enjoy it if you let yourself.”

 

After that had been the unexpectedly incredible practice, my mom’s even-more-than-usual overprotectiveness, and now this. Everything was wrong. Everything felt wrong. My mind roiled and flip-flopped as I leaned against Ally Anderson’s tool shed, feeling as if my world had suddenly fallen apart. Anger burned in the pit of my stomach. What had I ever done to Ally that would make her do this to me, this worst possible of crimes, turning a guy against his best friend? I could feel a volcano of hot lava bubbling up inside me, daring me to hate the world. I knew at that moment that I had to leave before all that mass of hot rock came flowing out in the form of infuriated words. A few minutes more and I wouldn’t be able to stop it.

 

~*~

 

 “Nathan! Nathan, where are you going? You just got here!” Ally trotted after me as I stomped across the yard.

 

  “Home.” I said simply, not trusting myself to say more.

 

  “Why?” She sounded so pitiful, so injured and so disappointed that I almost felt sorry for her in spite of myself. My temper cooled. Heaving a sigh, I turned around, fumbling for words.

 

 “Look Ally....I’m just...busy, right now. I gotta go ok?” I mounted my bike and peddled like there was an angry clown with a meat cleaver chasing me. She shouted after me, but I didn’t look back.