Chapter Eleven. CHA-CHA-CHANGES

Chapter Eleven

CHA-CHA-CHANGES

It’s an hour before I’m supposed to meet Tegan at the gym for our workout when I get a text. I’ll never get used to seeing his name pop up on my screen. It’s so

crazy, the thought that he’s texted me a few times lately.

Bad news. Had something to take care of. Had to get someone to cover my shift. You’re working out with Brian today.

No. No, no, no, no. I don’t like this. Not at all. I’m totally a creature of habit. I’m used to working out with Tegan and I don’t want to work out with anyone else.

Maybe I can reschedule?

What? No. It’s not a big deal. Brian’s cool. You’l be fine. Gotta go.

I’ll be fine? That just shows how little he knows about me. Not that he really should know anything about me, but still. My stomach is already upset at the thought of working out with someone else.

My phone beeps one more time.

We’l jog tonight too, k? Real y going now.

I take a couple deep breaths. I can do this. I’m going to do this. What’s the big deal, right? My jog tonight with Tegan will be my reward, if I can make it through my hour with Brian. Still, I wish he would have at least gotten me a girl.

There’s no one waiting for me by the door when I get there. The girl at the front desk tells me where to find Brian. When I do, he’s playing on his phone.

“Hi. I’m Annabel. Tegan said to meet you today? ”

He’s probably mid-twenties. A nice smile, but it still feels weird. Yes, I know I’m a dork. This shouldn’t be as big a deal as it is.

“Hi. Nice to meet you. ” He holds out his hand and I shake it.

Brian leads me upstairs and I do my cardio. Alone. Twenty minutes later he comes up to get me and then we go into my work out. He’s nice and all. Answers my

questions. Gives me direction, but it’s not the same. He doesn’t cheer me on the same way. Doesn’t interact. Well, unless you count with his phone.

I’m not sure I could have stuck with this if Brian was my trainer. With him I feel like what I am—just a client, not a person. It makes me so thankful for what I have. Somehow, even though I know Tegan doesn’t jog with everyone, I know he doesn’t treat them the way Brian does.

“Five more, ” Brian tells me.

“I can’t…” The words make me mad. I should be able to do this. I have done it, but right now, I just don’t feel like I can.

“Just try. ”

Not, you can do it. Try. It shouldn’t matter. The logical part of me knows I shouldn’t need that—I should be able to do it on my own.

I let the weights clank down. I’m done.

***

It’s strange meeting Tegan tonight for some reason. Maybe it’s because it’s the first time we’ve met in the evening or because it’s the first time I’ve worked out

and gone jogging in the same day. Or maybe it’s because it felt so weird to work out with someone who wasn’t him. Whatever the reason is, I almost feel like this is the first time we’ve hung out. It’s more than just butterflies in my belly: fireflies and lightening bugs join the swarm.

This time we meet at the park. It’s slightly busier in the evening than the morning, but still not overwhelmingly so. He’s in basketball shorts like he always wears when we jog and a Celtic jersey. I know enough to know there aren’t many Celtics fans in California.

“Hey you, ” he says when I get out of the car. Ever since our day at the court with his family, he’s been light like this. More open. It makes me all warm and gooey inside. Dangerous for my heart, but true.

“Hey. ”

We stretch a little and then fall into our familiar jog.

“How’d your work out go today, Annabel Lee? ” It still gets to me how he’s never breathless when we run. I’m not an idiot. I know he could go much faster than

he does with me, but still I wish it affected him a little more than it does.

“Okay, I guess. ” I fight to keep my voice steady. Thinking about Mom and how much I disappoint her. Then working out with someone else at the gym. It hasn’t

been the best day.

“Just okay? Did ya miss me? ” he laughs like it’s a joke, but I did. I missed him. When I don’t reply he speaks again. “I’d have much rather been there, too. It was a court thing we had to go to…don’t really feel like talking about it though. ”

As much as I want to know, I’m thankful for what he gave me. We jog in silence a little longer. No noise but the sound of steps mixing together again. “So… is

something else up? You’re quiet tonight. ”

I want to talk about it. It’s unreal how badly. It’s different talking to Em who knows Mom and will just blast her. Or Dad who will come up with a way to defend

her while still trying to build me up too. Running? Somehow it helps. Maybe because I won’t have to look at him. I concentrate on my steps, my breathing. “It’s my mom. We got into it today. She just… I’m not who she wants. As a daughter I mean. She wants perfect and I’m not that. ” Exhale breath. I can’t believe I did it.

“No one is perfect, Annabel Lee. ”

“She is. ”

“Nope. Maybe she’s just better at hiding it. There’s nothing wrong with who you are and it sucks she makes you think there is. ”

“Yeah it does suck. Can I ask you something? ” My words come out much choppier than they should.

“You wanna know how Timmy got hurt. ”

I don’t reply because I don’t have to.

“Freak sporting accident. Can you believe that shit? Who expects that? For an eleven year old boy who looks up to his brother, to head out of the house with a

football under his arm and end up in the hospital because he’ll never walk again? ”

Football… Oh, God. And was Tegan playing with him?

It’s on the tip of my tongue to apologize, but I don’t. Somehow, I know he wouldn’t want it. “Sucks. ”

“Sure as hell does. ” He picks up speed. “Come on. I’ll race you the final stretch. ”

“You cheat! ” I call after him as I push my legs harder, faster. Of course I don’t beat him, but I don’t end up too far behind so for me, it’s a win. I’m gasping for breath as he’s handing me a water bottle. I suck half the thing down. “You totally didn’t win. ”

“Yeah, I totally did. ” He mocks.

Feigning anger I cross my arms a little too hard. It squeezes my water bottle which then squirts water at my face.

Holy. Freaking. Embarrassing.

Laugher bursts out of Tegan’s mouth. I want to be mad, but I can’t. I start laughing too. “AHHH. I hate you! ” I point my bottle at him and squeeze. He doesn’t

move as the rest of my water sprays at him. He’s too busy laughing. Our giggling mingles together the way our footsteps did not along ago.

When we finally stop, we’re both breathing hard. Standing close. In this moment, I know my life is about to change.

“Go out with me, ” Rushes out of his mouth so quickly, I’m not sure I heard him right.

“Huh? ” Please, God. Don’t let me have been hearing things. Don’t let me die of shock before I can say yes. No! I mean before I get to go.

“Go out with me. This weekend. ” I’m sure I look like one of those wrinkle dogs with the really big eyes, because they’re wide and staring and I can’t help it.

“Like a date. ”

“A date? ”

“A date. ” Snicker. “I can’t seem to get enough of you. ”

“Why? ” Is it the coolest question to ask in this situation? Nope, but it’s what I need to know.

“Say yes. ” He’s smirking.

There was never a chance at me answering any differently. “Yes. ”

“I’ll text you. We’ll see each other before that, but I’ll text you anyway. ”

I can’t stop smiling.

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