page14 (1/2)

“We’re on the field?”

Thanks, Mr Brando

Josie purses her lips “How are your little ‘getting acquainted’ sessions going, De you the best he can?”

“Sure is, Josie Is he still walking away from you in the halls?” I snap back but don’t stand there to catch her response

She told o, and I’m not interested in her drama

I quicken oal post and drop beside him

“Sorry,” I rush out, but when he doesn’t so e my arrival, I don’t explain further

We sit there in annoying silence for a few minutes, and in that tiaze continues to roath of the turf

Heplays in his mind like I was hten, then snap to another area, like he’s playing it all out, visualizing everyearlier

The utility bin beside the teae of the sidelines catches my attention

Oh, screw it It’s worth a shot

I push off the grass to stand

That has Nico’s eyes snapping toa football from the container

I’ on his level

It just so happens I’ my Nike’s with a pair of shorts today, so I throw the ball up and try to kick it but of course it bounces off the side ofa sad foot away

I pick it up, noticing a few of the other groups cutting glances at oes a solid five feet, sideways and wobbly, but still

I look to Nico

While his focus is lasered in on me, his expression remains bare

I pick it up again, tossing it in the air a few ti to try and catch it, but it falls to the grass

Before I can rab for it, Nico’s swift hand flies in to snatch it first, and our eyes meet, both of us still bent over