Page 2

“Happy Friday to all, and I hope you are staying cool during this hot Eastern Pennsylvania summer day! This is Johnny May with another edition of Pioneer Football Live. We had a great conversation yesterday about expectations for this season, but I want to start today with breaking news that has just come to us at WRXT. The School Board and the Pioneer Football Boosters have officially voted to have a new scoreboard added this year in honor of Coach Weston and his contributions to the Pioneer program. The vote was contested by a few within the district, as it will pull funds from other after-school activities. But after a vote last night, it passed 9 to 1. In other news, the school has announced that tickets are still available for the first game next week against Neversink High…”

**********

“Dad! Turn off that dumb station!” Hailey yelled.

I feel stupid.

The pink skater skirt looked great with her white halter top. Yet, as she rocked back and forth, she could hardly recognize the girl staring back from the mirror.

This is not me .

She adjusted the skirt again as she tried to make herself feel more comfortable.

At least I can wear sneakers.

“I think you look great.” The voice startled Hailey, who twirled toward it.

“Melissa!” she shrieked, trying to cover herself up. “I am so sorry! I should have asked to borrow this, but I…”

A small smirk brightened Melissa’s face as she walked into the room.

She smiled.

“You don’t have to ask, Hails.”

Melissa picked up the comb by the sink and began to stroke it through her hair.

Just like when we were young.

Hailey’s eyes remained on the mirror as she admired just how beautiful her sister was. Even now, in an old tee shirt and shorts, she looked like she could step onto a runway.

She had shorter, light brown hair, notably different from Hailey’s longer and darker brunette. However, as Hailey continued to gaze at them together, she could see why so many thought they were twins.

“You look beautiful, and it fits you perfectly.” The two posed beside each other for a few moments as Melissa finished with her hair. Her sister turned and brought them face to face. “You look like Mom.”

No way!

The words made Hailey’s heart jump, and she wrapped her arms tightly around the girl, now almost a grown woman, she had grown up with.

“I feel stupid!” Hailey chuckled as she pulled at the skirt again, trying to get it down past her knees.

“Stop it!” Melissa said, laughing. “I told you, it fits perfectly!”

The two fell into silence, their eyes having a conversation of their own.

This was the first time in the weeks since they had moved into this house that Hailey’s sister had been upstairs. Normally, she spent the night on the couch with the TV on low. While this particular moment had calmed Hailey’s typically swirling stomach, she could not help but notice the pain in her sister’s caring brown eyes.

I am so sorry, Melissa.

She once more wished she could find the right words to help. She wanted so much for the light to return that, in the past, had shown so bright. She wanted to see the carefree older sister, the cheerleading captain, that she had always looked up to.

“Wow,” said her father, breaking the sisters’ gaze. His hand was propped against the bathroom door. “What are you getting all dressed up for tonight?”

Stop it, Daddy.

Melissa rolled her eyes and pushed him out.

“Daddy,” Hailey said, following the two down the hall, “I told you. Juliana is picking me up to go to a small get-together at her house.”

Melissa was still ushering her father down the hallway as he tried to interject.

“What party? What type of party is it?”

He was now backpedaling down the steps, and Hailey giggled as her sister continued to corral him.

“Just relax, Dad!” Melissa was still grinning as she forced him into the living room. “You told her to make some friends, and she is. ”

Hailey made her way to the middle of the room and placed her hand on her hip.

“Daddy.” Her voice was soft as she narrowed her eyes at him. “I know you’re worried, but I promise this is just something small with the girls. Juliana wants to introduce me to a few students who are involved in the music department. I figured I would go before school starts.”

He studied her as Melissa rubbed his shoulders.

“Music department?” He perked up, but his face still wreaked of concern. “Are you thinking of joining the music department?”

Oh no.

“Well, I guess everyone has to do an after-school activity at South Mountain. It sounds like the Theatre Club was the only one that had an opening for a new student.”

How ironic.

She knew her voice sounded annoyed, but she refused to hide it. She had asked to join every other club, but from what the principal had told her, she had no choice.

“OK,” he said, still unconvinced. “But you need to be home by ten. I mean, nine! Be home by nine!”

Melissa shook her head as Ellie started barking at a knock on the door.

“Just have fun, Hails!” Her sister winked before going to answer.

I love it when she is happy.

“Hailey!” A young girl sprinted into the room with energy Hailey only wished she could match. “You look so pretty!”

She thanked Juliana and complimented the high-waisted jean shorts and strapless shirt she was wearing. Her new friend’s glossy black hair was the perfect complement to her rich tan skin .

“I cannot wait for you to meet everyone!”

Her father quickly stood back up as Juliana pulled Hailey to the door.

“Remember!” He was practically chasing after her as they left. “Be home by 10---I mean 9!”

She turned and waved.

“I will, Daddy!”

No need to worry.

Juliana was grinning ear to ear as they moved out of sight and toward her car at the end of the driveway.

“You have no idea how excited I am for you to meet everyone!” Hailey smiled nervously as she got in. “They are going to be so excited to meet someone who is coming from a California performing arts school!”

She started the car, hitting the gas and peeling into the street before Hailey could fully buckle herself in.

“Are we in a hurry?” Hailey laughed as she grabbed the dashboard.

“Just a little---we’re late!”

Hailey’s shoulders stiffened as she tilted her head.

“Late to your own house?”

Juliana snickered as she took a sharp left turn.

“Well, you see…” Hailey could tell something was up. “I knew you wouldn’t come out if I told you what was going on.”

What is going on!?

They continued down a back road for a few minutes before pulling into the large driveway of the Cortez house, which she had visited once before .

Oh my!

Unlike when she first met Juliana, cars were parked all over the grass and driveway. The sheer volume of vehicles immediately signaled to Hailey that this was no small get-together.

“I know---please, don’t be mad! It’s just, my brother and I are having a big party for all the seniors, and I thought you should meet everyone before classes start.”

Party!?

The young woman had a slightly embarrassed smirk on her face as she snapped the car into park.

“Juliana.” Hailey gripped the door handle as her eyes went wide. “My dad will kill me if he finds out I am at a house party!”

Juliana waved her hands impatiently, her straight black hair dancing in the wind blowing through the open window.

“I know, I know! Listen, all my friends are coming too, so this is half my party. One of the nice things about being twins! My parents are traveling, and we have the pool and a giant fire out back!” Hailey watched as a few kids who seemed about her age walked by the car. “No one comes back this way. We are in the middle of nowhere. Please, please!”

Hailey felt her shoulders sag in the face of such genuine pleading. Juliana was the first, and only, friend that she had made since she arrived. Classes were about to start, and the whole reason she had come out tonight was to avoid being completely surrounded by a bunch of people she had never met on her first day of school.

Daddy said to make friends.

The thought of meeting so many new people made her hesitate, but she finally built up the strength to nod and shifted her clammy hand to the handle .

Try and make friends.

**********

“You need another one?” Gunner squinted up to JT, who smiled and reached down toward him.

“Yeah, sure,” Gunner said, clearing his throat and handing his friend the empty cup.

Why the hell not?

JT simply nodded and began to make his way over to the keg. His long legs were a spectacle as he glided across the concrete around the pool. Like always, JT had dressed to impress, wearing a light blue button-down that complemented his white Nike swim trunks. While he may not have been the most vocal, he was a fantastic listener and exactly what Gunner had needed for the last few hours.

I hate parties.

Gunner eased out of the lawn chair he had dropped onto when he arrived. He gave the backyard a long, hard scan as he moved across it, admiring just how spacious and secluded the Cortez’s house was. The fact that the family traveled so much made it the prime spot to throw a party for a large group. Although, typically, Gunner much preferred the quiet movie nights to something like this.

“Cannonball!” He had to shield himself as Emilio’s body hit the water.

The splash scattered a few of the girls who had gathered around the edge of the pool, and he could hear laughter nearby.

“Crazy ass!” Ty chuckled, taking a sip from his plastic cup. “See!” He punched Gunner’s arm. “You just needed a night out!”

Right, Ty.

Gunner adopted the forced smile he had been working on and tried to clear his mind. The alcohol, which had helped relax his shoulders, at least a little bit, was now becoming a hindrance as he tried to count off everyone from the senior class who had shown up.

Shit.

“Look, G! Charlotte made it to the party!” Andy was laughing as he pulled up a chair next to him.

Not what I need.

Emilio emerged from the water. His massive arms and chest practically launched him out of the pool.

“You aren’t going to say hi?” Emilio mumbled as he shook himself off, spraying a group of girls who had ducked away from the initial splash.

Not a chance.

Gunner sheepishly turned away. The thought of even acknowledging Charlotte, who was the captain of the cheerleading squad and someone he knew all too well, was nowhere close to the top of tonight’s to-do list.

Of course.

It was clear that she had worn a short skirt and a tight top for him. Her quick peeks over at him were so obvious that even the soccer players she was flirting with saw them.

“I would rather not,” he said softly, making Ty shoot up and slap him in the chest.

“Emilio! Can you please get our boy a shot so he can smile!?”

No way!

Emilio pointed to him questioningly as he made his way over to the outside tiki bar. He struggled to fit his wide shoulders through a gap in the crowd before he moved in behind his friends and threw off his backward Phillies hat.

“No shots. Please, no shots.” Gunner shook him off as Charlotte caught his gaze. The flip of her blonde hair was followed by a quick bat of her eyes.

Screw this.

Gunner was scrambling up from the chair, trying to move away before Charlotte could make her way over.

“Here, maybe this will help.” JT handed him his cup, now full of beer from the keg.

“Thank you, Jefferson Taylor!” Ty yelled as he threw his shirt off.

“Do you really have to walk around half-naked?” Andy relaxed against the chair, flexing his biceps sarcastically at Ty.

“Just trying to show you boys what to strive for in the weightroom. If we all looked like this, we would have no problem winning state!” he shouted. Then he winked and jumped off the diving board.

Whatever you say, Ty.

Emilio slapped Gunner on the back. The force of the impact practically knocked him over. “How’s my captain doing?”

Just great.

Gunner held the fake smile, but he could tell his long-term friend was not buying it.

Emilio was much more vocal than JT; at times, his fiery personality was known to get him into trouble. However, on that fateful night in April, Emilio and his sister, Juelz, had been among the first to his house, and they had refused to leave until his mother returned from the hospital with the news.

“I’m OK, man,” Gunner sighed. Emilio’s large hand didn’t move from his shoulder.

Seconds ticked past as they stood in silence. It was not until two cheerleaders sauntered by and flashed them a flirtatious grin that one of them spoke.

“What do you think?” Emilio said, raising his eyebrow. “Your father always said life is made of moments.”

Not what he meant.

Gunner hesitated and peered down at his feet. The Nike sandals he wore hid the fresh scars he had already accumulated during practice.

Hearing the words come out of Emilio’s mouth had officially killed any desire Gunner had to drink. And the thought of hooking up with someone just did not feel right. Would it piss off Charlotte? Maybe, but Gunner had things on his mind besides his ex-girlfriend.

“Jesus Christ! Emilio!!!” The scream erupted from the house.

Shit! Juelz!

They both turned and took off at a full sprint across the patio, exploding through a door into the large, expansive kitchen.

“Juelz! What the hell is going on?” Emilio shrieked as he slid across the granite floor with his wet feet.

“Emilio, one of your damn friends threw up in my bathroom!”

Oh boy.

Gunner could not hold in the laugh as he helped Emilio get his balance. The small group immediately shuffled into the massive living room, where a large crowd had gathered.

“I told you to keep your damn football friends out of my room and away from my bathroom! ”

Emilio rolled his eyes. “Who is it?”

Unfortunately, this was not the first time this had happened at one of these parties.

“I don’t know! Just get him the hell out!”

Emilio’s fiery twin sister continued to yell as she chased him up the stairs. Her intense personality, which was the only thing she had in common with her twin brother, appeared to be in full force tonight. However, she was at least six inches shorter than Emilio and at least half his weight. Gunner considered her stunningly beautiful, even though she never tried to dress up, and her close relationship with him always brought questions from his ex-girlfriends.

Where’s Andy when you need him?

“You would think you football players would know how to hold your liquor, with as much as you drink,” said a girl sitting on the couch.

“You know, Bridgette,” Gunner responded, moving closer and taking a sip of his beer. “I thought that you Glee Club people would listen to better music than this shit.”

He pointed to the speakers, which were playing some pop song from the radio.

Bridgette was one of Juelz’s close friends from the Theatre Club, and she always found a way to draw Gunner’s attention. Her snarky personality, however, constantly led to confrontation when the two groups were together at the house.

“Well, not like you would know anything about good music.” She leaned forward with a flirtatious smile. A flick of her short black hair was a clear invitation for him to come closer.

Well, well...

She had been drinking, and he could see that the solo cup in her hand was only half full. Their eyes locked for a brief, awkward moment before Juelz came sprinting back down the stairs.

“Gunner!” she yelled, grabbing him from behind.

“Juelz!” he said, winking at Bridgette and hugging her back.

“Is Bridgette giving you problems again?” She moved in between them like a protective sister, causing Bridgette to roll her eyes.

“Nah, just friendly banter, right Bridgette?” He smiled at her as she turned her head, a smirk also visible on her face.

Not tonight, though. I’m not drunk enough.

“Hi, Gunner!” A tall, lanky boy sat down on the couch, waving frenetically.

“Hey, Brad! You guys enjoying the party?”

“Of course!” The young man answered immediately, but Bridgette merely rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink.

“Woah!” A yank by Juelz had Gunner’s body lurching the other way. “What are you doing?” he said, laughing as he sarcastically waved goodbye to the other two.

“I am not starting this tonight with Bridgette.” Juelz seemed fed up with this party already. “You’ve messed around with enough of my friends, and you hate her, even if you are drunk!”

True.

Gunner followed her around to the sunroom, where a few of her other theatre friends had gathered.

“Hold up, Juelz. I’m not that drunk, and you really think I would do something with Bridgette?” His voice rose, and all the eyes in the sunroom turned toward them .

“Not now!” Juelz fought to stay quiet and pushed him forward. “You guys all know Gunner.” She had tried to play it off, but the awkwardness that followed had him yearning for the crazy eyes of his ex-girlfriend outside.

These people hate me.

He recognized some of the kids from school but was struggling to remember any of their names.

“Gunner, I wanted to introduce you to a new senior who just moved here from California.”

Gunner’s eyes fell on the girl who had been walking the dog.

“Gunner, this is Hailey.” He could tell she recognized him right away, as she smiled slightly and nodded.

No way she’s in theatre.

He wanted to say something, but his eyes were stuck to her pink skirt. He swallowed hard and tried to prevent himself from staring too much at her white top, in which she fit so perfectly. Unlike Charlotte, she was dressed comfortably and looked relaxed. Hailey stood with a confidence that Gunner was unable to match and that had him struggling to catch his breath.

She’s not hot, she’s beautiful.

“Hailey, this is Gunner. He plays football with my brother but is one of only a few that I like!”

He smirked and nodded.

“You are too nice, Juelz. But I think we---I think we ran into each other once already. Your dog really liked the smell of my football bag.”

Her eyes shifted to the floor.

“Yeah, sorry about that. My dog is always getting into trouble. ”

That voice…

Gunner was still struggling to regain his composure, and he could now feel his face getting warm.

Pull yourself together.

She anxiously took a drink of the soda in her hand, bringing his attention back to her perfectly toned legs.

Damnit, Gunner! Don’t be weird!

She seemed uncomfortable as he continued to stare, but his mind was wandering uncontrollably.

“G!” He heard Emilio call from behind. “It’s Bailey! The little shit could not hang with the big boys, and it’s ugly. I need el capitan right now!”

Gunner put his finger up, trying to wave off Emilio, but he just kept yelling, now in Spanish.

“I thought you only invited seniors?” Gunner asked, shooting an annoyed glare at Juelz. The fact that he had to leave Hailey’s gorgeous hazel eyes for a drunk underclassman made him clench his jaw.

“You know my brother. He invites the whole damn team.”

Gunner forced a laugh and then hugged her. The gesture was mainly to play off the awkwardness and the annoyance he was trying to hide.

“I should probably go help. I guess I’ll see you all Monday.” The group nodded forcefully, clearly ready for him to leave.

“Hailey,” he said, stumbling over his words. “It was, um, it was great seeing you again. Welcome to town.”

Welcome to town? What the hell was that?

He made his way toward Emilio, whose voice was now echoing against the high ceilings of the house.

She’s different.

Turning back, he smiled at Hailey, who avoided his gaze and instead turned her attention to Juelz, who was whispering in her ear.

She’s so different.