“Well thankfully you’re okay.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I can tell.”
“How so?”
“Because if something bad had actually happened, you would’ve called me to tell me instead of waiting for me to check in with you.” This is true. When my world came crashing down, she was the first person I went to. It was the first time I had ever skipped class. The first time I had broken the rules, but there was no way I was going to stay in school that day after what I’d just learned. It was the last day of class, so it’s not like it mattered.
“This is true.”
“I know you so well,” Emely says triumphantly.
Turning right, I immediately spot Bragan Elementary. It’s in the same strip as the high school, only that’s a ways down the road.
“How are you? I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. I stayed in Mexico this week. The client wanted me to get more exposure to his business.”
“And is that the real business or are you trying to tell me something?” I ask, laughing.
“Eww. No. The real business. His nightclubs. He’s tried to hit on me, but he’s like twenty years my senior, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but he’s also definitely not my type.”
“He hits on you?”
“Yeah…” she says, sounding a little frustrated. Emely is gorgeous and single but not for lack of men lining up at her door. Her relationship status is a personal choice.
Pulling into the parking lot of the school, I transfer the call from the speaker system in the car to my phone.
“What’d you do?”
“Ignore it, like I always do. Anyway,” she says, changing the topic, “we sealed the deal, so I’m officially handling his account. Work gave me a pretty nice bonus for landing them, so what do you think about getting away this coming weekend?”
I shut the car off and mull over her offer. “I don’t think I can head out for a weekend just yet.”
“Why not?”
“What if they need something at the school?” I tell her.
“You’re an elementary school principal not a first responder. They’ll survive.” Even if they would, it just feels too rushed to take a weekend trip when I’m still trying to figure out what I’m doing. I don’t think I bought enough groceries to last me the week. There are a few things to repair around the house. I need to buy more clothes. There’s just too much going on to take a break.
“This is true, but I have a lot of school events coming up, so I just want to settle in properly before leaving again.”
“Wow. At first you didn’t want to go there and now you don’t want to leave,” she says, reminding me of my hesitance to come here.
Exiting the car, I lock it and start walking toward the front door. “I really like my job.”
“That’s good to hear,” she replies and I can sense the relief in her voice. “Here’s what I’ll do. Instead of us going elsewhere for a weekend, I’ll come to you.” That’s a much better idea.
“I’d love that! I miss you so much and I can’t wait to see you.” I enter the school and wave at a few of the teachers I see making their way to their respective classrooms.
“You better miss me, I’m your best freaking friend after all. Let me confirm with my boss that I actually have this weekend off and then I’ll let you know.”
“Awesome, I can’t wait to see you. Anyway, I’ve gotta—”
“You’ve gotta go,” she says, finishing my sentence.
“Duty calls.”
“You’re taking this waaaay too seriously,” she jokes.
“It’s an important job.”
“Educating our future,” she replies, quoting a phrase I’d tell her whenever we talked about why I was majoring in education.
“Alright. Go make sure our future is in good hands. I’ll call you later.”
I go for one last dig because I can’t help it. It’s fun poking my best friend. “And by later you mean a whole other week!”
“Stop it!” she retorts.
“Bye,” I say, hanging up the call.
When I get to the office, I notice that Hannah isn’t at her desk yet. Heading straight into my office, I take off my coat and hang it on the rack then I take a seat at my desk. A few minutes later, I fish my phone out of my pocket when it vibrates with an incoming text.
Emely: Drama queen. Maybe you should’ve gone into acting.
Me: I’ll consider that for when I retire.
Emely: **Rolls Eyes** Bye.
Me: Love you too.
Emely: Always.
I love my best friend. I can’t stress that enough. She’s been in my life for ten years now. She knows my every fear, my every dream and wish. She knows when I’m angry or happy. When I need her to just listen or when I need her to talk me out of doing something stupid.
She knows me so well that she didn’t bother to ask about him and I appreciate her so much more for it than she will ever realize.
8
CHRISTIAN
I arrive at my new job feeling more refreshed and energized than I’ve felt in years. Even though it’s only been one week, the team is doing better and so am I. I haven’t been the miserable asshole I typically am, even Nigel told me this over drinks Saturday night. It’s crazy what getting back to the football field, the place where I excelled in high school, does to a person’s mood.
I’m not playing professional football, but at least I’m not painting other people’s houses for a living. That’s not a knock on people who do, it’s a profitable profession that some enjoy, but it wasn’t what I wanted.
I’ve always wanted a football in my hand. I wanted to call the plays. To execute the game. To be on the field. I wanted the rush of winning. I always felt invincible when I was there. Felt like I was on top of the world. While I don’t have that exact feeling yet, it’s pretty damn close.
Coach Cole is not a title I envisioned myself having, at least not this early in my career, but I will embrace the crap out of it. This team hasn’t won a championship in a long time and I’m trying to figure out how to change that. I’ve got something to prove and all these kids do too. I can tell they want to win. They’re thirsty for a championship trophy. They want to end the drought.
Many of them expressed to me their desire to make a splash so that colleges look at them. I’ll try my hardest to give them the opportunity that I ruined for myself, the chance to play at a higher level. To play professional football. To follow their dreams.
I had to abandon mine.
I don’t regret it, though, because I have Ari and she’s my world.
I just wish I hadn’t lost someone else in the process. If there’s one thing I wish I didn’t have it would be memories. As I walk by the halls, I can’t help but remember the past. Remember every kiss stolen from her lips. Every hello and goodbye. Walking by her locker, I’m reminded of the first day I felt her staring at me as I walked by. The words she shared with her best friend that she thought I couldn’t hear.