chapter nine.
On the ride back home, I was on Joey's lap again. He didn't wait for an excuse to be my personal seatbelt again, his arms just snaked around my waist instantly. I turned to the side so that I could somewhat face him and whispered, "If we crash, you better not get me killed."
He laughed quietly and tightened his arms slightly, saying, "I'll protect you."
I smiled coyly as Pete said my name urgently. "Yes?" I asked.
"My mom isn't feeling well either. We're on drop-off duty tomorrow." He said. I narrowed my eyes. There is no way that that was that important to use that tone of voice.
"Not a problem." I said, resting my hand on Joey's clasped ones around my stomach. Pete pursed his lips and looked away. Cody caught my eye in the side view mirror and smiled, shaking his head. I bit my lip to restrain a laugh and looked out the window to have the car swing up into the driveway quickly. I walked inside the house and flopped down on the couch, stretching out.
"We're going to finish the last 10 minutes of Rudy." Pete announced, letting me know subtley to get the heck off of the couch.
"I think I'm going to go outside." I said and checked my phone. It was already 11:45. The one upside to having sick mothers and Pete having a girlfriend was that I didn't have a bedtime. I was allowed to be around whenever. My mom knew that I valued my sleep and would go to bed when I needed to. I texted Sasha, seriously jonesing for her. ily babyy and i miss you so muchh. you wouldn't believe some of this stufff:/ goodnighttt(: Sasha always went to bed at 11, it was like her nightly ritual almost. I missed her so much. We were really close and she was one of those people that never bullshit me, because she cared. I got the truth, no matter how bare and painful it was. And I loved her for that. I grabbed my soccer ball from the side of the yard and started bouncing it around, doing tricks. I was never one for good tricks, like rainbows and such, but the more I had my foot on the ball, the better I figured I'd become. I kicked it up to my head and flicked it to my side, so that it shot at the door that was just opening.
"Whoa there Beckham." Tim swat the ball at me and I smiled, tapping it between my feet and pulling it into triangles. The rest of the boys followed and I kicked the ball up at Pete, aiming for his head, who caught it and rolled it back against the side of the house. Suddenly my phone vibrated and I smiled, thinking that Sasha replied. I opened the message and it read, hey beautiful but it wasn't from Sasha. It was from Joey. I looked up at him quizzically and he smiled slightly. I typed back quickly, not quite but thanks(: and tossed my phone on the ground, lying down.
"I love looking at the stars." I said out loud, not directing the thought towards anyone.
"There's Venus." A boy I knew they called Mark pointed and I smiled.
"The Goddess of Love." I said wistfully.
"You know mythology?" Another boy asked.
"I'm sorry, who are you? And yeah, I absolutely love it." I said, and a couple more guys joined me on the ground.
"Reed." The boy answered.
"Pleasure." I said and squinted my eyes, raising my thumb to cover the moon.
"Hot damn, you are one of the chillest chicks I've ever met." Another boy said and I sat up to look at him.
"What makes you say that?" I laughed.
"You have not once complained about your hair, your nails, or your needy-ass boyfriend!" He chortled.
"She doesn't have a boyfriend, Tommy." Pete cut in.
I cut him an icy look. "I don't want one. They're overrated."
"Shit! Can I have her?" Tommy laughed throatily, a big black kid.
"No." Pete and Joey said synonymously and glanced at each other, taken aback.
"I'm going to go get some water." I nodded and stood up quickly, shutting myself into the house. I downed the entire glass in a matter of seconds and instantly wished it was alcohol. I rolled my eyes, set the cup in the sink, and walked out of the side door instead of the back door. I crept along the side of the house quietly, and suddenly I could hear their voices as if someone had turned off "mute" on a TV.
"Pete, how can you live with the girl and not get with her?" A voice I didn't recognize asked.
"Seriously. She's got fine written all over her!" Tommy added.
"It's not like that, I'm with Jenna now." Pete said casually.
"I wouldn't stay with Jenna when Taylor's around." Reed laughed and another guy, "Yeah!"ed in the background.
"They just don't compare, okay?" Pete said firmly.
Not wanting to listen any more, I stepped out from the shadows. "You're damn right we don't compare." I glared at a flustered Pete, to many boys' laughter. I was really wanting a shot of vodka right now. Don't get me wrong, I definitely do not drink hardly at all. It's just something to lose your mind in. So was soccer, but that wasn't exactly an option in a crowded backyard at midnight.
"I didn't mean that." Pete said, trying to save face.
"Save that for Jenna, honey." I smirked and sat down, leaning back on my hands and crossing my ankles.
"Ohhhh daaayummmm." Tommy laughed and I winked at him.
"Aren't you a little tired?" Pete said, gritting his teeth.
"Not really." I grinned. What I really wanted to add was, 'I could really use a pick me up right now, if you catch my drift.' but Pete didn't seem like the drinking type and I didn't want to be ostracized or even worse, babysat. So I kept my mouth shut. Joey smiled at me appraisingly. Damn, he was cute. My phone vibrated again. don't let what pete said bother you. you don't compare to anyone Joey sent. I smiled and stood up.
"Well, have fun bonding as a team!" I said, getting up.
Cody stood up and gave me a hug goodnight, which made Pete and Tim stand up for one, resulting in the rest of the team wanting one too. I saved Joey for last, who brushed his lips on my cheek, and I walked inside happily. I crawled into bed, despite not being very tired, and fell asleep instantly.