The Football Player's Parallel Obsession

Their history

Chemistry Lab Freshman Year

Webb

Clint and I sit glad we were able to schedule this class together. College is definitely different. We wait for the TA to start talking. Two tall girls in tight short dresses walk past us slowly giving us big grins. “Hi guys!” one calls out in a flirtatious tone. “Ready for the big game soon?” I swallow nervously and avoid looking at them. Clint just nods his head then starts digging in his backpack for his notebook. I watch as a few other people I’ve seen in my classes file in. I see the door about to close and a petite raven haired girl rush through it before she takes a seat. The TA begins to talk letting us know we are paired up already and he says “I will call your name and then your station. You can meet your lab partner there.”

“Webb Jameson Station 7” I trudge that way hoping Clint is my partner.

“Clint Mitchell Station 9” Damn! So much for that.

“Sofie Riles Station 7” I look and see the petite girl heading my way. She sets her backpack down and sits on the stool next to me.

“Ryan Tanner Station 9” The assistant coach’s son? I see him walking toward Clint who rolls his eyes at me. He looks at my partner and grins. I give him a terrified look.

The TA gives off instructions and tells us to start our first lab. I decide to face my partner. She looks up at me. Wow she’s short.

She chuckles lowly “maybe I should stand on the stool to work with you.” She’s gorgeous. Lightly tanned skin and that dark straight thick hair pulled back in a low messy bun. Some tendrils have escaped and curl up around her face. She has a little button nose and wears green glasses. When I catch her eyes, I freeze mesmerized. Her eyes are like golden pools of honey. I can literally hear my internal voice squawking like a parrot “pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl” over and over.

“I’m Sofie.” She says softly and I manage to croak out “Webb.”

“Hi Webb. I guess we should get started.” She pulls the instruction sheet closer to us and starts working on our first assignment. I watch her quick little fingers move as I begin to work beside her.

She doesn’t say much which I’m glad for. My brain has gone to mush.

The next week she sits down next to me and I look at her nervously. She gives me a friendly smile “So I guess you play football.”

I nod unable to speak.

“What position?”

“Tight…tight end.”

“Ready for your first game this weekend?”

“I guess.”

“You don’t talk much, do you?”

I shake my head. I wish I could talk to you, I think. She’s so pretty. And seems smart. Not trying to flirt with me like the two girls from last week. Speaking of them they decide to loudly pass by us. “Hey Webb baby.” One says and I glance at her briefly. She’d told us her name, Laken or Blakely. Something like that. I’d already forgotten because I didn’t care.

“Looks like you have fans.” Sofie says dryly.

“Dance team.” I mumble and she nods rolling her eyes.

“Yeah they don’t let anyone forget who they are. All you’d have to do is crook your finger and they’d be all over you. You know that right?” I look at her in alarm. I definitely don’t want that.

“Not for me.” I mumble and she raises an eyebrow.

“You’re different, aren’t you? Not the egotistical college football persona…” She says studying me.

“Maybe.”

She smiles widely now. “Different is ok you know. It’s a nice change from the conceited jock stereotype. I don’t bite Webb. And if I did, I’ve had all my shots.” She’s teasing now and I look at her to give her a small smile. Damn she’s beautiful when she smiles like that. I wonder if I could ask her out. No, I can’t do that. She has to have a boyfriend somewhere. No way she’s single. Not like I can talk to her anyway.

The TA begins talking and I pay attention. After class I watch her meet up with a tall brunette who is just as pretty. They are laughing and talking. I see two guys approach them and one slings his arm around her shoulders. I turn away. I knew she had a boyfriend.

The next week an idea strikes. I want to see my lab partner but at the same time I don’t. She’s so beautiful and I am going to embarrass myself.

“Hey Ryan.” I call out to Clint’s partner as he is walking in.

“Hey, Webb right?”

“Yeah. Would you like to switch lab partners for this class? The TA doesn’t care.”

He thinks for a minute. “Guess I could. You have a girl right?”

“Yeah, Sofie is her name.”

He nods. “I can. Easier for me to have a girl. They like to talk and then I can just answer while thinking about other things like my next wizard quest.”

He grins and I think about taking it back. Maybe I shouldn’t stick her with him. But he’s already walking over to my station. I go sit by Clint who gives me a questioning look. I explain it to him and he shakes his head at me. “You stuck her with him?”

I watch as she walks in looking cuter than last week. She stops short seeing Ryan in my spot and looks around finding me. I can’t meet her gaze and look at my feet. I see Ryan a few minutes later talking to her and he jerks his thumb in my direction. I see her frown and look at me confused but then her expression closes off and she sits down. She barely speaks to him and just works. Her face every week after that is a blank expressionless mask and I don’t hear any joking or teasing with Ryan ever.

Webb-present day

I watch her stomp well not really stomp more like race away from me causing me to cringe a bit. Me and my big mouth. Colby glares at me and I realize he heard my conversation with her. I haul ass realizing I need to explain and definitely apologize. I call her name but she darts between people even faster. I don’t want to follow her into her class so I stop outside the door. Colby passes me “f**k is your problem with her Webb?!” Without waiting for my answer, he walks inside. I clench my jaw and wait for Clint and Manny so we can join our class across the hall. I see Delaney race in looking worried. Clint frowns at me “do you like hurting her feelings Webb? Because I was hoping she’d slap you back there for what you said.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. I meant she was stuck with me not the other way around.” I tell them wanting to beat my head on the wall.

Manny shakes his head “you need to tell her that Webb. I’m sure that hurt her.”

I just nod wishing she’d come out for a minute so I could explain. I get tongue tied around girls especially nice ones that have pretty eyes. Then I blurt out something stupid. I follow them to our classroom resolving to apologize as soon as her class is over. But she slips through and darts down the hall before I can even get within an arm’s length of her.

“s**t I don’t even have her phone number or email address.” I groan as we walk.

Clint gives me a look before sighing. “Lucky for your awkward ass that I know Delaney drove them here today and they park in Lot C behind this building. You can probably catch her there in an hour, hour and a half. Get your s**t together Webb.” I nod. I can hopefully make part of this right.

Feeling like a damn creep I wait in the parking lot after I escaped from class a little early. Students start walking to cars and I see Delaney first. I swallow my nerves and hurry toward her. Sofie stands right behind her looking at the ground as she walks. I put a hand on her arm “Sofie, umm can I talk to you?” I cringe internally hearing the quiver in my voice. She whirls around to face me. “Why?” She asks quietly.

“I owe you an apology and an explanation.” I tell her as I shove my hands in my pockets so she doesn’t see them shaking.

She sighs “alright fine.”

“Umm could we go somewhere else to talk?” The parking lot is getting loud and I’d rather not shout at her.

“Where do you have in mind?” She asks.

“Coffee shop down the street. I can drive you home afterwards.” I watch her weighing the idea.

“Ok let’s go. Delaney if I’m not back in two hours call the cops and tell them Webb Jameson did it.” I can’t hold back the smile at her declaration and she gives me a weird look. “Uh my truck is right over there.” I point to the large white truck and watch as she walks to the passenger side. I unlock it and open her door. I realize she’s going to have to jump in because she’s too short. “Sofie, can I…can I help you?” She turns and nods slowly. I grip both sides of her waist and gently lift her onto the seat. “Thanks.” She mumbles.

We don’t speak on the ten minute ride there. She jumps down before I can help her out. Standing behind her in line, I try to swallow down my nerves. My hands are still shaking and I see the guy behind the computer look at me worriedly. "Are you ok?" He asks quietly as I struggle to insert my card. "Yeah I'll be ok. Old nerves." I turn and see Sofie watching me also looking a bit worried even if her expression is closed off. I shove my hands back in my pockets quickly and see her eyes follow the motion. After that she looks away while we stand at the end waiting for our drinks.