Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(40)

"So how are the games, anyway? I'm sorry I haven't been able to make it to any this season."

“It’s okay.” I finally grab a box of Pop-Tarts from the cupboard. “And the games, well, they could be better. We have to win our next two division games to make the playoffs. Not sure if it’s gonna happen.”

"You guys can do it. You were so close last year." I take a bite of the pastry, as I head back to my room. "Don't stay in bed all day," she calls out, and I mumble back to her that I won't. Of course, that's precisely what I do.

Monday rolls around, and I make sure to take a pair of sunglasses with me. I'll hear enough gasps from everyone during class, so I want to limit them as much as possible when I'm outside.

I still haven't texted Emma since Friday night. I don't know what to say to her. I want it to be casual, but how can I just be casual after the last thing I told her. I just want her to see me, Carter, and not start to like Baller again. Which leaves me with another problem. How the hell am I going to try and talk to her when I'm at school? I've already used the homework excuse, so what else can approach her with?

By the time lunch rolls around, I've forgotten about the fight. That is until it smacks me in the face.

"What are you doing, Dixon?" Jeremy says, as he gets to the lunch table I'm sitting at. I look up, see the bruise on his face, and three of our teammates standing with him.

“Eating lunch?”

“This table is reserved.” He folds his arms across his chest.

“By who?”

“Friends who don’t lie to one another.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, I’m serious.” They all just stand there, looking down at me, scowls on each of their faces.

“Forget this.” I get up, grabbing my bag. “You know, you should’ve said this table is reserved for dickheads.”

My words come out louder than I mean for them to, and a hush falls over nearby tables in the cafeteria. Eyes stay on me as I make my way out, Matt and Lucas walking over to me.

“Yo, where you going?” Matt says.

“Evidently, Jeremy got the lunch table in the divorce.”

“What?” Lucas asks.

“I’ll talk to you guys later.” They each give me a confused look, as I turn around and continue walking.

I pass by the quad and look over where I see Emma sitting with her friends. There is a small urge to go over and talk to her, though I have no clue what to say. And since I have no clue, I decide I shouldn’t and just keep walking. The only other place I can think of going is somewhere I know there won’t be many people. And someplace that will still remind me of her.





Chapter 28





Emma





“That’s not how art galleries work,” Micah says to Lana, as she takes a drink of his soda.

They've been going back and forth since the start of lunch about the upcoming art show our class is holding on Friday. I plan on finishing both the waterfall piece and the abstract piece today, so all I need to worry about is finishing Heartbreak by the time the show rolls around.

"But it'd be perfect," Lana continues. "You all put up your pieces and then there's a model, or some hostess or something, and she points out what materials were used and how much the painting costs."

“Emma.” Micah looks to me for help. “Would you please tell her?”

“Hey, maybe the whole traditional art gallery setting needs to be upgraded,” I say, mostly joking, as Jen laughs.

"No,” he groans. "We don't create art to be hocked like a piece of jewelry or a car. It's called art for a reason. It has meaning. And purpose. If people want to buy it fine, but I'm not about to have you," he points a finger at Lana, "showing off my work, trying to be some saleswoman."

For the most part, I agree with Micah, though he is much more of an artist's artist than I am. He loves to create and find the beauty and meaning in the work of others. While I love looking at other people's work, I've never gone in depth in trying to understand their reasons or meaning behind their work. I just know my own. If people want to interpret my work, that's fine. But I don't like to try and decipher others.

“I think you’re just jealous,” Lana says, regaining her playful attitude.

“Of what?”

“You don’t want your beautiful girlfriend to take all the attention away from your paintings.”

"Yep, that's it." He smiles, rolling his eyes, but she plants a kiss on his cheek anyway.

As she pulls away, she nods to something behind us. “Look,” she says in a loud whisper.

We all turn and see Carter walking down the hallway. I notice his sunglasses, something he doesn't usually wear. Jen nudges my side with an elbow, and when I turn to her, she wiggles her eyebrows. Trying to keep my cheeks from becoming red, I flash her a dirty look to stop.

“Did you guys hear?”

“You’re the one who always gets the juicy bits before lunch,” Jen says.

“Oh, my God.” She seems a little flustered, so I know this must be a good rumor. “It’s not just one. It’s, like, multiple things. First off, I guess he and Jeremy got in a fight during practice.” I look over at Jen. I remember Carter falling down, but there wasn’t any pushing or shoving. “I guess their bromance is kaput. But then, everyone’s saying half the team hates Carter now.”