Ringing in the New Year (4)

“Yo, Reed, you back here?” I jerk away from Reed at the sound of Sam’s voice and the moment is broken.

Sam comes strolling around the side of the house and stops when he sees us. I look behind him and see he’s brought Ashley and Claire with him. Ashley is Sam’s sister and Claire is her best friend. The two girls are always together and everyone knows Ashley is in love with Reed. Okay, maybe not everyone, but I notice the way she’s always watching him.

“I told you I had plans today,” Reed snaps, and I’m shocked because he sounded almost exactly like his dad.

“Come on, there’s only a few days left of summer,” Sam says before he runs and does a cannonball into the pool.

“Jesus,” Reed mutters. “I’ll get them to leave.”

“It’s fine,” I tell him as he stands up. I go to try and grab his arm to stop him, but he’s already up.

“It’s not. It’s your birthday and you don’t even like Ashley.”

“I never…” I trail off when he gives me a look.

“I don’t like her either, and I told Sam to stop bringing her over her. I can hang out with him later. Today’s about you.”

I look down at the ring that’s still on my finger and I swear I can hear him say the same thing he said all the years ago.

I’ll always take care of you.





Chapter 4





Reed





Sophomore year of high school…





I slam my locker wondering where Cami is. The bell rang ten minutes ago to dismiss school and she hasn't shown up to get her books. Well, it’s technically mine and Sam’s locker if you ask the school because boys and girls aren’t allowed to share. Cami put up a little bit of a fight because she didn’t want to break the rules, but I got her to agree after some coaxing.

“Yo.” Sam lifts his chin and then leans against the lockers next to me. “Don't you have to get to practice?” he asks.

I do, but Cami was acting weird at lunch and I think something is up. I can’t figure it out so I wanted to check on her. Whatever it is I’ll get to the bottom of it. It’s driving me nuts already and it’s only been a couple of hours. We don’t keep secrets from each other. Unless you count the fact that I’m utterly in love with her. Though, I’m not sure that’s much of a secret around the school, but she’s the only person who hasn't noticed for some reason.

People will outright say we’re a thing and she brushes it off. She says they think it’s true because we’re best friends. But what I feel for her is nothing like what I share with Sam. She can call us best friends all she wants, but we’re something else.

“Yeah, but I’m looking for Cami.”

I glance down the hallway to see if she’s coming and I wonder if maybe she went to the bathroom or had to talk to a teacher or something. When I don’t see her I grab my backpack and slide it on. I don’t even want to go to football practice and I don’t know why I let Sam talk me into trying out. Maybe it had something to do with seeing Cami wear one of my jerseys with my name on her back. It sounded good at the time, but what I didn't plan on was all the time it would keep me away from her.

“You’re always looking for Cami.”

“No I’m not,” I say defensively. “Not when she’s with me.” I smile at my stupid joke, making Sam shake his head.

“Maybe I know where she is,” he says, and I stare at him, waiting for him to tell me. Instead he just stares back at me like a dick.

“Why aren't you at practice?” I throw back. He loves playing football and is never late.

“Because I wanted to see this.” He keeps on smiling and I’m just getting more pissed off.

“Sam!” I bark, and he laughs.

“I might have seen her over at cheerleading tryouts.”

Before he can even finish getting the last word out I’m running. I speed down the long hallway and out the double doors that lead to the football field. The bright sun blinds me for a moment, then my eyes adjust and instantly I see her. Somehow I can always spot her no matter how big the crowd is. I swear there’s an invisible thread that ties the two of us together.

As if she feels my stare on her she turns those blue eyes to me. She raises her hand to give me a small wave but then stops and her eyebrows draw together in confusion.

“Cool it, man,” Sam whispers next to me. “You look like a bull about to charge.”

I take a breath, unsure of what came over me. No, that’s bullshit. I know exactly what came over me. The guys on the team have been talking about cheerleading tryouts happening today and I hadn't given it much thought. I didn’t pay it any attention because I didn't care. I thought the one person I wanted cheering for me would be in the stands and not on the field in one of those tiny outfits.

“How does she already have a uniform?” I ask Sam, who seems to know everything before I do today.

“I don’t know but—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off because I know what he’s going to say.

She looks pretty just like she always does. I take another deep breath before clearing the distance between us. I ignore the other girls along the way with my sights set on Cami.