Till We Meet Again

Chapter Three

"What would you like for dinner?" mom asked.  

"Not now," I answered, waving her off without looking up from my book.  

"What book is it today?"  

"Later," I persisted, as I turned the page of Love for Hire by Gabriella Thomas.  

"Okay," she agreed, laughing.

"I am making Shepherd’s Pie for dinner."  

"Fine."  

She laughed her way out of my room, closing the door behind her. 

This book was enthralling, and I didn't want to put it down. We'd originally been assigned to read the first two chapters for homework, but at this rate I was going to finish the entire thing.  What seemed like barely a minute, but multiple pages, later, my phone went off. Collin's ringtone. 

I let out a sigh, debating whether to ignore him or to actually answer it.  But seeing as though he was supposed to be at basketball practice right now, my curiosity got the best of me, and I put my book down and crossed my room to retrieve my phone.

"Aren't you supposed to be at practice?" I asked, taking a seat on the edge of my bed.  

"I am in the bathroom," he informed me.  

"Okay, so what's so important that you had to take a fake bathroom break to call me?"

"They named shooting guard today."  

For a moment I could practically feel my heart stop beating. Was he calling me because they didn't name him?  

"It's me!"  

I could not help but laugh, rolling my eyes.

"You are such a goof Collin Langford."  

"You are coming to the game Friday right?"  

"I wouldn't miss it," I promised.  

"Okay, I have to end my fake bathroom break. But I will see you at dinner."  

"It's Shepherd’s Pie."  I could hear him fake-gagging.  

"Shut up and get back to practice."  

He laughed.

"I love you Aubrey White."  

"And for some reason I happen to love you too."  

And with that I hung up, my drive to read gone.  With a sigh, I headed downstairs to see if my mom needed help with dinner.  

"Is that my daughter?" mom asked, smirking at me.  

"Do you need help?"  

"Don’t you have a book to press your nose into?"  

"Okay," I laughed, hopping up on the counter.

"I am sorry."  

"Of course, I do not care," she said, swatting me with a dish towel.

"I'd much rather have a daughter that reads too much than a daughter that drinks too much."  

As if I have not heard that one before.  

"Got it mom," I promised.  

"But since you offered, you could make the biscuits."  

My mom doesn't buy anything pre-packaged that she could make by hand.  

"Okay," I agreed, heading to the corner of the kitchen where she'd laid out the ingredients for her biscuits.  

"Do you want to check the package?" she called out, holding up the package of Ground Rounds.  

"No, I can see it from here," I said, spotting the Vegetarian stamp on the side. 

We set to making dinner in the kitchen, my mom's classical music flowing in from her station on iTunes Radio.  

"Smells good in here," dad commented, coming in from work.  

"It's Shepherd’s Pie," mom informed him.  

"With meat?" dad asked.  

"Half and half for our Aubrey of course," mom said, reaching over to swat him with a dish towel.

"What kind of mother do you think I am?"  

Dad leaned across the counter and planted a kiss on her lips.  

"Gross," I complained.

"Take that somewhere else would you?"  

"Let me go change and I will help out," dad said, with a laugh.  

"You can't help," I complained.

"You two will just be all romantic and gross."  

"You mean like this?" dad asked, coming around the counter and taking mom in his arms. 

She let out a squeal as he danced with her around the kitchen in tune to her classical music.  I let out a sigh but was unable to keep the smile off my face.  

"And dip!" my dad announced, dipping her back.  My mom kicked her leg up into the air, giggling all the while. 

My dad lifted her back up right to his lips.  

"Okay," I said, covering my eyes.

"Too far!"  

They both laughed, my mom kissing his cheek.

"Go change and I might let you help Aubrey with the biscuits."  

Dad peeked over my shoulder.

"She looks like she might need it."  

"Jerk!" I called out after him.

"So, I got you a present," Collin informed me. 

We were sitting on my bedroom floor, our Chemistry books spread out in front of us.  

"A present?" I asked, my eyebrows shooting up and a smile spreading across my face.  

"Well okay, let me explain," he said, and I could not help but shake my head. 

When a sentence started off like that, it always included the basketball team.  

"The guys with girlfriends on the team got their girls jerseys," he explained.

"But I made yours a little special."  

"You got me a jersey?"  

He reached into his backpack and handed me a wrapped present.  

"You even wrapped it?" I asked, laughing as I tore off the wrapping paper.  

"Of course," he said, indignantly.

"Would you expect anything less?"  

"Of course, not dear."

I shook out the jersey, letting it fall open. It was blue and white striped, the colors of the team's away jerseys.  The front was a button down and had our team name across it, the Panthers. 

On the back was Collin's number, and across the top read Collin's Girl.  

"It's okay if you hate it," Collin added.  

"I do not," I promised, with a smile.

"I think it's cute."  

"Promise?"  

"I promise." I reached over and gave him a quick kiss.

"Although I am not sure I want to match Jasmine and Brooke."

"And Tiffany," he added.  

"Ew, gross, since when was she dating a basketball player?"  

"Since like last week. But anyways, you won't. The tops of their jerseys have the guys' last names."  

"So, you got mine personalized?" I asked, placing a hand over my heart.  

"Just for you."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving him a real kiss this time. He pulled me into his lap, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, my fingers intertwining in his hair. That was, until a knock came on my door. I quickly separated from Collin, avoiding eye contact with him because the two of us would've started laughing. I smoothed out my hair, as did he.

"Come in!" I called, picking up my pencil to look focused on my Chemistry.

My dad poked his head in the door.

"Not to interrupt your studying, but your mother made chocolate soufflé."

"Sounds great," I promised.

"We'll be down in a minute."  

He smiled at the two of us before leaving again. 

Collin and I broke down into laughter, my eyes filling with tears from laughing so hard.

"I can't go down there," he hissed.  

"Why not?"  

"Because..."

His eyes traveled downward.  My eyebrows shot up in understanding, and I could not help but start laughing all over again. 

He shook his head at me.  

"Focus on Chemistry," I said, regaining my composure.

"That'll kill it."  

He let out a groan.

"You are the worst."  

"You want to know how much I am attracted to you?" I whispered.

"Not really helping."  

"I am attracted to you like a proton is attracted to an electron."  

The two of us cracked up again.  

"I am leaving," Collin informed me.  

"Do not leave," I whined.

"Chocolate soufflé is your favorite. They'll definitely know something's up."  

"Something is up!"  

I clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.  

"Okay that one was on me," Collin said, with a chuckle. 

We were both silent for a few moments, and Collin leaned back against my wall.  

"Tired babe?" I asked.  

"Very," he said, with a yawn.  

"I will go downstairs and get us some dessert, tell them that we are super busy," I said, standing up.  

"Sounds good," he agreed. 

I went downstairs, where my parents were cuddling on the couch, watching TV.  

"Where's Collin?" mom asked.

"Still working on Chemistry," I said.

"He is swamped. But he is dying for some chocolate soufflé, so I promised to come and get him some."  

"That's sweet," mom said, handing me two bowls and two spoons.  

"Thanks mom."  

"Of course, dear."  

I headed back upstairs, where Collin was now lying face down on my bedroom floor, half-asleep.

"Well, that was fast," I said, taking a seat next to him.  

"I just feel exhausted," he said, groggily.  

"Here," I said, handing him his dessert bowl.

I ran my fingers lightly over his back.  

"It's probably just basketball," I said, after a few moments.

"You are working hard."  

"Yeah," he said.  

"Why don’t I drive you home?"  

"I can drive," he promised, pushing himself up.

"I just feel bad."  

"What for?"  

"Because your mom made this soufflé for me, and I am not even hungry for it anymore."  

"I will eat it for you," I promised, with a smile. 

He bent down and gave me a quick kiss goodbye.  

"Get a good night's rest before tomorrow's game," I said, as he picked up his Chemistry stuff.  

"Do not remind me."  

"You do not need to be nervous," I said, standing up.

"It's just the Sharks."  

"I know," he said, with a shrug.

"But it's still my first game of the season."  

I opened my bedroom door for him.

"And no matter what, I will still love you."  

He gave me one last kiss.

"I am a pretty lucky guy."  

"That's true," I said, with a smile. 

He chuckled, leaving my house the back way so he wouldn't have to pass my parents and explain why he was taking off early.  They worry about him, and if they thought he was under the weather they wouldn't hesitate to call his mom, which would probably just end up stressing Collin out. So, for now it was probably better this way.  

"Are those new?" Kimberly asked, gesturing towards my white Converse.  

"Yeah," I said, as we moved up in the concession stand line.

"First time out of the box."  

"To a basketball game? You must hate them."  

I laughed, stepping up to make my order.  

"M&M's and a bottle of water please," I ordered, pulling a couple of bucks out of my back pocket. 

I paid for my order and then stepped to the side while Kimberly ordered her Skittles and Powerade.  

"Hey girls," Luca greeted, as we took our seats next to him in the bleachers.  

"Hey babe," Kimberly said, kissing his cheek. 

So today Luca and Kimberly were okay.  I crossed my right leg over my left, watching the opposing team warm up for a few seconds before focusing in on our team.  I spotted Collin almost immediately. He was the i***t trying to climb over the fence to retrieve a lost ball.  As if they didn't have a bucket of basketballs waiting to be used.  Less than two seconds later his coach spotted him too and was quick to snap at him. 

He held up the ball with a triumphant smile at his coach, who just rolled his eyes and snapped some orders at him.  He may be my boyfriend, but sometimes he is the biggest dingus I know. 

After a few more minutes, the Panthers took the field. Apparently the Sharks were up to play the ball first.  Collin took the mound, taking a few warm-up hoops.  The first one was a goal, but the rest were not.  

"Your boy better do us proud," Luca commented, as the first Sharks player stepped up on the court.  

"I have complete faith in him," I said. 

No sooner than the words left my mouth did Collin's first shot came whizzing past the hoop, missing it completely. 

Luca just hmphed.  

"Oh, shut up," I said, casting him a look.

"It's not like you are the one out there."  

Kimberly giggled.

"Lighten up babe, it's only the first shot of the game."  

And then the second shot came across the hoop, missing it completely as well. 

He must be nervous.  I watched him roll his shoulders, taking a deep breath in and letting it out slow. And then he shot the ball for a third time, this time scoring. Goal.  

"That's it!" I called, clapping.  And the next two followed suit, scoring into the hoop.  The coach decided to bench some of their players and as the new players stepped onto the court the crowd cheered loudly, and Collin called for a timeout, motioning for the coach to get closer to him.  After a quick chat, Collin and the coach resumed position. 

Collin scored for the next few shots he made which made the crowd go wild. He is amazing!

I jumped to my feet at the sixth hoop, cheering for Collin. 

I retook my seat as the team regrouped. They all sat on the bench rehydrating themselves. I wanted to make my way to the bench to speak to Collin. Maybe I could cheer him up a little and ease some of his nerves, but unfortunately I knew I would not have been able to do that as it was not allowed for the audience to step onto the court during an ongoing game, unless you were a cheerleader. I felt nervous for this part of the game, though Collin had been scoring a lot for the past few shots, at this point in the game the Sharks could still climb and take the game. There was not much time left and I knew this would mean that Collin would be under a lot of pressure right now which is not good. He tended to freeze up when he is under pressure. I could inly hope that everything would work itself out this time around.

As the team made their way back onto the court and took their positions I cheered as Collin took the ball and got into position, although I was nervous.  And for good reason too because Collin struck out.  I felt my heart go out to him as he made his way back to the bench, knowing that he must be upset.  

"Collin doesn't seem to be on top of his game tonight," Luca commented.  

"He is probably just nervous," I answered, as the other team stole the ball and scored.  Dennis and another guy were currently going head to head but another person on the other team seemed distracted by one of the members on Collin’s team which gave Dennis an open shot to throw the ball for another point. And he did just that, seeing his opportunity and taking it without hesitation, Dennis shoots the ball and scores.

"Six pointer!" the referee announced. 

We all jumped to our feet, cheering as the first point was marked up on the scoreboard.  But that was short lived when the sharks suddenly got the ball and scored.  

"We should be killing them," I commented to Kimberly, as our team retook the court.  

"We will," Kimberly promised.

"They just need time to warm-up."  

The game continued on a slippery slope.  Although Collin was getting the job done on the court, nobody had hit on him yet, we weren't getting the job done within any other position. And then, the Sharks got a point off of Collin as they took the ball from him and scored. 

I could practically read the curse words rolling off of Collin's tongue as the Sharks' batter got a double off of him.  The Panthers were still two points ahead of the sharks but this one score for Collin practically meant the end of the world.  

"Well f*ck," Luca muttered. 

And that seemed to be all the Sharks needed. Right after they made a hoop, they continued to score consistently, gaining points on the Panthers.  And to say Collin was pissed would be an understatement. 

I sat crisscross, waiting for the boys to come out of the bench to play again. I think Collin just about put on his game face because when the team made it back onto the court after a quick intermission, they got the ball and then it began. The race to keep and protect the ball versus the race to get the ball and score against the Panthers. Both teams began running back and forth for the ball. There were a couple times where the Sharks got the ball but then Collin would get it back but every time he would attempt to make a shot, the ball would be taken from him due to poor defense. Eventually, Collin got to the right position on the court while his other team members fended the Sharks away and he made the shot, scoring the ball into the hoop and getting four points.

There's the Collin I know. 

And that attitude carried throughout the rest of the game, the Panthers taking home the win under Collin's leadership. I met Collin down the fence as he came walking out, one of the last players to exit the court of course. 

He smiled when he saw me, and I jumped into his arms, planting a big fat kiss on his lips.  

"How was it?" Collin asked, once I dropped back down the floor.  

"It was not awful."  

He intertwined his fingers with mine.

"That's what I love about you Aubrey White."  

"What's that?"

"You do not try to sugarcoat it."  

"Well you asked," I pointed out.  

"I did," he agreed.

"And I wanted the truth."  

"And the truth is that was not awful."  

"Catch you tonight?" Chris called out to Collin. 

Collin just flashed him a smile.  

"What's up?" I asked. 

It was Friday night bowling night.  

"I do not think I am going out tonight."  

"What's the matter?" I asked, stopping.

"I am just tired."

"I think you are getting sick babe," I said, reaching up to touch his forehead. 

It was sweaty, which I was not expecting, and I could not help but let out a squeal.

"And I am pretty sure you are not a doctor," he said, laughing.  

"Did you talk to your therapist on Tuesday like you said you would?"  

"He was busy."  

I gave him an all-knowing look.  

"I am just going to go home and sleep," he defended.

"I bet I will feel a thousand percent better in the morning."  

"I bet you won't."  

"If I do not then I will talk to my therapist on Tuesday, I promise."  

I raised my eyebrows at him.  

"I promise," he reiterated.  

"Okay," I relented.

"But you go home and go straight to bed."  

"Yes ma'am."

We reached his car, and I gave him one last kiss.  

"Go out and have fun tonight," he encouraged. 

I shrugged.

"It's not much fun without you."  

"Well, I am the life of the party."

I gave him a good shove and he laughed, wrapping his arms around me.  

"You promise you are okay?" I asked, looking up into his eyes.  

"I promise."  I nodded, kissing his cheek before stepping away.

"I will see you tomorrow then."

He wrinkled his eyebrows.

"Tomorrow?"  

"You forgot didn't you?"  

He offered me an apologetic smile.  

"You have a tux fitting for Catherine wedding?"  

"Right," he agreed.

"I will be there."  

"You bet you will."

He offered me one last smile before climbing into his car. 

I watched him drive away before turning to greet Kimberly, who was already gushing about tonight's pre-bowling party at the diner. 

I guess I am going after all.