Cake Volume 2, Part 5

Sorry about the wait. If you need a refresher, this section and all of the ones prior are here.

Cake V2.5: Plan B

Nick shook his head. Maggie pulled her hand back and licked the whipped cream off her finger. She sniffled. Nick screwed the cap back onto the ketchup bottle and slid it across the table towards the other condiments. He picked up his fork and cut a piece of his omelet. He stabbed it with his fork and raised it to his mouth. He stopped.

“I have no idea what we’re supposed to do,” Nick said.

Maggie had not taken a bite of her waffle yet. She leaned her fork on the side of the plate.

“What can we do, really?” Maggie said.

“They texted the shit out of me after we left,” he said.

“Who did?” she asked.

“A bunch of guys on the team. Brad, too,” he said. He finally took that bite. “They said I was missing out.”

“Well then I guess you’re going to have to deal with it first at practice,” she said. She picked up her fork and cut a triangular piece of waffle out by strictly adhering to the grid on its surface. She dabbed it into the whipped cream atop the waffle and popped it into her mouth.

“I know I’m going to catch shit at practice,” Nick said. He looked across the table at Maggie. She nodded a silent assent. Nick looked at her cheeks swollen with food and smirked. “What should I say?”

Maggie raised her finger. She nodded her head forward and swallowed hard. She took a sip of her water. She cleared her throat.

“I think it depends on what we decide about the fake us,” she said.

“What?” Nick asked.

“We have to decide if the fake us are still together. Because that’s going to pretty much decide what our story is,” she said.

“Like why we left the party, right?” Nick said.

“Yeah,” she said.

Both Nick and Maggie took bites at the same time. Silence hung over the table. Nick looked past Maggie at the counter area. Maggie stared at Nick’s plate. The chewing went slowly. Maggie ran through the three most obvious scenarios she and Nick could claim on Monday: they had broken up, they were still fighting, or they had smoothed it out and were still together. Nick thought about having to deal with the shit talking during practice. He wished he could just do up-downs all day. Nobody ever talked during up-downs.

“The three most obvious options are that we’ve broken up, or we’re fighting, or that we made up and we’re still together,” Maggie said. She took a sip of her coffee. “It’s up to you.”

“What do you think?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know, honestly,” she said.

Path of least resistance?” Nick asked.

Maggie laughed.

“What?” Nick said.

“Is anything going to be easy after this?” she said.

Nick frowned.

“So let’s say we tell people we’ve broken up,” Maggie said.

“Okay, we’ve broken up,” Nick said.

“Then what?” she asked.

“They will want to know why,” he said.

“Wait – why did we fight, then?” Maggie asked.

“Why does it matter?” Nick asked.

“Because those fuckers who were shouting at us,” she said.

“Oh yeah,” Nick said. He let out a small laugh. “I don’t know – whatever – ‘I was spending too much time with the boys.’”

“God, that makes me sound like a stupid bitch,” Maggie said. She cut out another symmetrical piece of waffle.

“Yeah, but still,” Nick said. He picked up his glass of orange juice and swirled it in his hand. He liked the sound of the ice hitting the glass. “Every girl gets mad about that. That’s all I ever hear in the locker room – Oh, so-and-so is all pissed at me because she says I hang out with you guys during practice, and then all I want to do is hang out with you guys after, too…”

“Christ, that’s so cliche,” Maggie said.

“That’s why it’ll work, right?” Nick said.

“Fine,” Maggie said. She leaned back in against the cushion of the booth. “Okay, so to recap: the real us is good, but the fake me is a needy, clingy bitch – what about the fake us?”

“I don’t know,” Nick said.

“I guess it really doesn’t matter until Monday. That’s the first time we’ll actually have to deal with other people,” she said.

“Yeah, unless like five people from school roll up in here right now,” Nick said. He looked at the door.

“Knock on wood,” she said.

Nick pushed his plate away. He had eaten less than half of his omelet.

“Okay, okay,” Maggie said. She shoved her plate into Nick’s. “You still my fake boyfriend?”

“You don’t think that’ll be super-awkward? Like the holding hands and kissing and stuff? After all this?” he said.

“I mean, yeah, but what’s the alternative? We fake fight for a week-and-a-half? I cry in the bathroom and all that?” she said.

Nick groaned.

“Why did we do this again?” Nick asked.

“Because you called Kelli a ‘pretty cool chick,’” Maggie said.

Nick scoffed.

He turned his head to look out of the window. The sky was punctuated with only a few bits of whiteness.

Maggie stared at Nick. She watched his eyes search the horizon. I know him, she thought. It was true. Nick and Maggie had spent nearly a third of their lives together. More importantly, they traversed the rigors of puberty together. There wasn’t a single thing about Maggie that Nick did not know (well, except maybe the part about how she really felt about him, but that didn’t count). They did not keep secrets from each other. This was not their way. Maggie knew that Nick did not truly love football, but that Nick felt that his father did. Maggie knew that if given the choice between Coke and Pepsi, Nick would always go with Pepsi, and on occasion when Pepsi was not available, Nick went with root beer and did not care which brand. Maggie knew that Nick had a thing for Miss Brolyn, the sophomore history teacher, who wasn’t all that attractive . There was “something about the way she said things,” Nick had often said. Maggie knew all of these thing that no one else in the world had a clue about. She felt like she would absolutely destroy any test in any format – including multiple-paragraph essay – if the exam was about Nick. In this moment, however, she had no idea what was happening behind Nick’s roving eyes.

It would be hot at practice, Nick thought. Nick had come to appreciate cloud cover. Unless the weather gods’ mercurial nature made itself known again, the field and its artificial turf would be pre-heated to 375 degrees by practice time. And amidst the green stovetop marked with white lines would be the summary of last night’s events. Some would have vomited on himself (probably Ryan DeCleriq). Some would have played the game tape on the tv (probably Vin Shimizu). Someone would have jumped into the pool fully clothed (probably Ryan DeCleriq before he threw up on himself). Someone would have hooked-up (probably with Sidney Alexander). He would have to listen to all of this over and over. Before practice. During practice. After practice. He knew each of these stories would be followed by questions regarding his absence or statements about how he had missed out on epic epicness. He knew he would have to deal with Brad Slausen.

Nick shut his eyes slowly.

“Nick?” Maggie said.

He slowly turned to face Maggie.

“What’s going on in there?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he said. He looked down at his breakfast. “Football stuff.”

The waitress walked up to the table.

“Still working on those?” she asked.

Maggie looked at Nick who did not look up.

“Yeah, we’re still working on it,” Maggie said.

The waitress made a polite, inquisitive face at Maggie. Maggie smiled faintly. The waitress quickly left the table. Maggie waited for Nick to say something. She knew him well enough to know the silence and the lack of eye contact were signs of deep thought. She thought about taking a sip of coffee, but quickly realized she didn’t want any.

“I think,” Nick said. He did not look up.

Maggie leaned forward.

“I think the easiest thing would be to just say we’re still together,” Nick said.

“You sure?” Maggie asked.

“I mean, if we break-up, we’ll have to answer questions about that, too. It’ll be an even more drama than it is now,” he said.

“If you don’t want to keep, you know, I mean the whole Kelli thing blew over already,” she said.

“No, I know,” he said. He sighed and looked at Maggie. “I just- I just think holding your hand would be easier than pretending I hate you.”

Maggie heart picked up its pace.

“What are you going to do about practice?” she asked.

“Like we said, I’ll tell them you’re a clingy bitch and that’ll be that,” Nick said. He forced a small smile.

“I will fall on my sword,” Maggie said. She smiled back.

Nick took a sip of his watered-down orange juice.

“Hey, Mag?” Nick said.

“Yeah?” she said.

“I don’t want to have to go to a Plan C, okay?” he said.

“Okay, Nick. Again. I’m sorry,” she said.

Nick returned to checking for cloud cover.

Cake Volume 2, Part 4

Cake V.2.4: Nick for Two

Maggie opened the car door and carefully lowered herself into the seat.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey,” Nick said.

Maggie cleared her throat. She busied herself with buckling her seatbelt as Nick pulled away from the curb. The stereo was not on.

“What do you feel like?” Nick asked.

“What?” Maggie said.

“I said ‘what do you feel like?’” Nick repeated.

Maggie did not answer.

“Well?” Nick asked.

Maggie thought Nick must have been able to hear her heart pounding. She swallowed hard.

“Nick, I’m so sorry about last night,” Maggie said. Tears were on their way

Nick laughed.

“No, you clown,” Nick said. He turned to her and smiled.

“What do you feel like eating?” he said.

Maggie exhaled and laughed. She wiped her eyes with her sweater sleeve.

“Holy fuck,” she said.

Nick took his right hand off the steering wheel and gave Maggie a soft punch in left cheek.

“Thanks for not making this awkward or anything,” Nick said. He placed his hand back on the wheel. “We’ll have time to talk about all that stuff later.”

“God, can you please turn on the radio?” Maggie said.

Nick reached for the knob on his deck. He powered it up and pressed play. Bass and rap music poured out of the speakers.

“I was thinking Freeney’s,” Nick said.

“That’s fine,” Maggie said.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’ll find something. It’s hard to screw up breakfast,” Maggie said.

“Okay,” Nick said.

Maggie pulled the visor down from the ceiling. She flipped the flap that covered the mirror and opened her eyes wide. No damage to the make-up. She sniffled and shut the flap but left the visor down. She turned her head to look out of the window. The in-door speaker throbbed against her leg. She watched the cars parked on the side of the street fall past her. She turned to look at Nick. His eyes were focused on the road. Both of his hands gripped the steering wheel. The left at 10, the right at 2.

Green turned to yellow and Nick gently stepped on the brakes. The car slowed to a stop at an intersection. Two parallel streams of cars ran in opposite directions.

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” Nick said. His eyes were still fixed on the road before him.

Maggie turned to look at him.

“Me neither,” she said. She paused. “And then I got up and couldn’t go back to sleep.”

“My mom woke me up,” Nick said. He rubbed his eyes. “I think I got maybe three hours of sleep or something like that. Maybe less.”

“My mom asked me if we’re going out,” Maggie said.

“What?” Nick said. He turned to face her. “Why?”

“Yeah, I don’t know,” Maggie said. She did not smile. “My parents said we’ve been ‘spending a lot of time together.’”

“We’ve been spending time together since the fifth grade!” Nick shouted.

“We’re not eleven, I guess,” she said.

“Christ,” Nick said. He tilted his head back until it collided with the headrest. “This is a fucking mess.”

“Green light,” Maggie said. She nodded towards the traffic light.

Nick faced forward and pulled his foot off the brake. He accelerated through the intersection.

“That’s just the cherry on top of this shit-sundae,” Nick said.

“Please don’t get angry, Nick,” Maggie said. She put her left hand on his shoulder.

“Nah, it’s- I’ll be fine,” he said. He reached for the deck and turned the music up. Neither of them said anything the rest of the way to Freeney’s.

Nick slid the car into a stall perpendicular to the sidewalk fronting Freeney’s. He got out of the car and closed the door. He waited for Maggie to close the door before he armed the alarm. He walked to the front door, opened it, and held it for Maggie. She walked through and nodded. Nick walked up to the hostess.

“For two?” she asked,

“Yeah,” Nick said.

The hostess looked down at a map of circles and rectangles.

“Would you like to sit at the counter?” she asked.

“No, we’ll wait for a booth,” he said.

“Okay, looks like 5-10 minutes, though,” she said.

“That’s fine,” he said.

“Name?” she asked.

“Nick,” he said.

“Alright, we’ll call you when we’ve got a table ready,” she said.

Nick turned and walked back to Maggie who was sitting on a wooden bench near the door. She sat with her right leg crossed over her left.

“Five, ten minutes,” Nick said.

“Ugh!” Maggie said.

“You that hungry? Nick asked. He stood in front of her. “I think we can sit at the counter if you want.”

“No, it’s not that,” she said. She shook her right foot quickly. “God, if we’re eating food at least it won’t be awkward as fuck.”

Nick dropped himself on the bench to Maggie’s left.

“Yeah, really,” he said.

Maggie reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. She opened it and started playing a game. Nick could see bubbles flying around the screen. Nick looked up and to his left. There were several other people in the waiting area. A couple in their 20s sat against the far wall. The guy had his arm around the woman’s shoulders. He was saying something to her. The woman’s head was turned slightly, but she did not face him. She nodded several times before breaking out into laughter. She shoved the guy’s arm off her shoulders. He put his hands up in front of him – palms outward – in some kind of feeble defense.

Nick turned back to Maggie who had put her phone away. He lifted his right arm and rested it on her shoulders. He could feel her body tighten.

“I think we’re going to be alright,” Nick said.

Maggie exhaled. She turned to face him.

“You’re not mad?” she asked.

“I am,” he said. He looked up at the breakfast menu. “But I don’t think I’m mad at you.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Maybe a little,” he said.

“How little?” she asked. She turned her body to face him. Her knees knocked his. “On a scale of one-to-ten?”

“Nick for two?” the hostess said.

“That’s us,” Nick said.

“Come fucking on,” Maggie said. She shot up. “This is killing me. This is literally going to kill me.”

Nick and Maggie followed the hostess through the restaurant.

Nick liked eating at Freeney’s because it was low-maintenance. It was open 24-hours, did breakfast 24-hours, and was pretty cheap. The hostess sat Nick and Maggie at a booth set against a window overlooking a walkway between the restaurant and a nearby building. The hostess handed both of them menus and walked away.

“So for real, Nick, one-to-ten,” Maggie said.

“Hold on, let me figure out what I want first,” Nick said.

“C’mon, Nick, I know you already know what you want. You’ve known since you picked this place. You’re just screwing with me now,” Maggie said. She pressed the menu up against her face. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”

“Relax,” Nick said. He exhaled slowly. “We have plenty of time.”

“This can’t possibly take all day,” Maggie said. She tossed the menu on the table. “I said I’m sorry. Let’s just start all over.”

Nick laughed. He did not look up from his menu.

“Breakfast sandwich or three-egg omelet?” Nick asked. He could feel Maggie burning holes through him on the other side of the menu. “Know what you want already?”

“Waffles. Strawberries,” she said.

“An excellent choice,” Nick said.

“C’mon, Nick, let’s just get this over with already,” Maggie said.

Nick folded his menu and placed it on the table. He looked at Maggie and began to talk. The waitress cut him off.

“Hi, my name is Marnie,” she said. She placed white napkins down on the table in front of Nick and Maggie. Can I start you two off with drinks?”

“Orange juice,” Nick said.

“Coffee,” Maggie said.

“Is that really going to help?” Nick asked.

“Coffee and a water,” Maggie said.

“Are you two ready to order, or do you need more time?” Marnie asked.

“The waffles with the strawberries and whipped cream,” Maggie said.

“Whoa, sticking to your guns,” Nick said. The waitress scribbled on her pad.

“And you?” Marnie asked. She turned to Nick.

“I’ll go with the omelet – mushrooms, ham, onions,” he said.

“I’ll be right back with your drinks,” Marnie said. She took the menus and walked towards the kitchen.

Silence.

Maggie’s head was turned. She looked out the window. Nick traced figure-8s on the table top with his index finger.

“So…” Nick said.

Maggie’s head snapped back to face him.

“Let me start at the end,” Nick said. He picked up his fork with his right hand and began tapping it against the extended index finger of his left hand. “I think I got this thing figured out. Kind of, anyway.”

“Okay,” Maggie said.

“I was in the shower this morning,” he said. The tapping grew faster. “I wasn’t really mad, and I kind of thought that I should have been.”

“At me?” she asked.

“No, in general,” he said.

“So what?” she asked.

“Wait, let me get there,” Nick said. He put the fork down. He looked out the window. “I wasn’t mad, I guess I was more disappointed.”

“In general?” she asked.

“No, in you,” he said.

Maggie closed her eyes. She tilted her head back slightly and shook her head.

“These are the things I know are true,” Nick said. He held up his right hand and extended his index finger. “You’re my best friend.” He extended his middle. “Brad Slausen is an asshole.”

“This isn’t even about Brad!” Maggie shouted.

A couple in the next booth turned to look at them. Maggie’s face grew red.

“Let me finish,” Nick said.

“Fine,” Maggie said.

“He’s an asshole because he just is, but also because he said that shit to you when he knew we were together,” he said.

“But we aren’t!” Maggie said.

“You’re really going to defend him right now?” Nick asked. He fell back into his seat.

“No, no,” she said. She lifted her hands in front of her and waved them from side to side. “I’m sorry.”

“Well, everyone knows we’re fake going out,” he said. He leaned forward and hunched over the table, his arms resting on the table. “He said that shit on purpose.”

“Okay,” Maggie said. Her eyes narrowed. “But what does this have to do with us?”

“Hold on, I’ll get there, I promise,” he said.

Maggie growled.

“How many times has Brad ever tried to talk to you?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” Maggie asked.

“Honestly, how many times did he ever talk to you?  Ever show any interest in you?” he asked.

“Never,” she said. She shook her head. “But he said that was because he never knew what was going on with you and me.”

“Right, so now for the first time that he knows exactly what’s going on with you and me – that we’re “together” – he tells you you’re beautiful?” Nick said.

Maggie’s shoulder sagged.

“Like I said,” Nick continued. He folded his arms across his chest. “Asshole.”

Nick looked out the window. The leaves on the trees moved faintly.

Maggie stared at Nick. She had nothing.

Marnie walked up to the table. She held the round tray of drinks with her right hand.

“Here’s your OJ,” she said. She placed Nick’s glass of orange juice on the napkin laid out before him. “And your coffee, and your water.” She placed both drinks in front of Maggie.

“Your food should be out shortly. Anything else?” Marnie asked.

“A gun,” Maggie said.

“Hmm?” Marnie said. Her brow wrinkled.

“We’re good, thanks,” Nick said.

Marnie’s eyes bulged. She mouthed the word “Okay,” holding out the “O.” She turned and walked away from the table.

Nick took the straw out of the glass, licked the bottom of it, and laid it on his napkin. He took a sip. Maggie ripped open three packets of sugar and poured them into her coffee. She dumped cream into the cup. She fumbled with her butter knife before stirring the coffee into a light brown.

“So what does Brad being an asshole have to do with us?” Maggie asked. She took a small sip from her coffee. “I don’t even care. How the fuck do we fix this?”

“I’m almost there,” Nick said. He took another sip of his juice.

“Please,” Maggie said.

“I’m mad at him. I hate him,” Nick said. He set his glass down on the table.

“So…” Maggie said.

“It drives me fucking insane that you love him so much,” Nick said.

“Why does it matter?” she asked.

“Mag – you’re my best friend,” he said. He paused. He took a deep breath. “Maybe someday you’re going to find another guy who can put up with all your bullshit – I doubt it, but maybe – but fuck if it’s an asshole like Brad Slausen. I can’t – I don’t even – you can do better.”

Maggie closed her eyes. She knew the tears would come. She could not fight them. She leaned her elbows on the table and held her forehead with her hands. Brad’s first instinct was to touch her, to comfort her. But he didn’t.

“I guess I’m just disappointed you can’t see that,” Nick said.

Maggie sniffled. She reached into her purse without looking up. She wiped her eyes with her own tissue. She wiped her nose. She threw the wad of tissue on the table and looked up at Nick with watery eyes.

“I don’t know,” she said. She pushed her hair back with her left hand. “He’s just Brad Slausen. I know I don’t even fucking know him. I know that’s pathetic, okay?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Nick said.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s true,” Maggie said. She wiped her eyes again. “That’s what this is all about?”

“Yeah,” Nick said. He closed his eyes. “I think so. I – look, I just can’t handle that guy. Him saying that stuff to you – he’s a prick.”

“So now what?” she asked.

“Hopefully, we eat,” he said. He turned to look towards the kitchen doors.

“No, with us,” she said.

“We’re cool, right?” he asked.

“Are we?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said. He lifted his glass, but stopped short of his lips. “We’ll be okay.”

“What about the fake us?” she asked.

“Huh?” Nick said. He shook his head.

Maggie rubbed her eyes with the thumb and index finger of her right hand.

“We left the party early. People saw us fighting,” she said.

Nick laughed.

“What?” she asked.

“I hadn’t even thought of that. Christ,” Nick said.

“Don’t you have practice today?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah, at two,” he said.

Maggie laughed.

“What?” he asked.

“That doesn’t give us much time to figure this out, does it?” she said.

The server brought placed their meals on the table. Nick opened the ketchup bottle and held it above his omelet waiting for the redness ooze out. Maggie poured maple syrup on her waffles in parallel lines. She reached down and scooped up whipped cream with her finger tip. She held the finger out to Nick.

“Olive branch?” she said.

Cake Volume 2, Part 3

Cake V.2.3: The Morning After

Maggie rolled onto her side and looked at the clock. 6:38. She reached for her phone and brought it to life. No missed calls. No missed messages. She rolled onto her back and took the phone in both hands, thumbs at the ready. Then she placed it down and shut her eyes. They felt puffy, swollen. She laid there in silence, trying to fall asleep again. She rolled over and looked at the clock. 6:45. She lifted her arms and crossed them over her face, her forearms resting on the bridge of her nose. She sighed.

There was a knock at Nick’s door. His mother slipped her head through the space between the door and the frame.

“Nick?” she said.

He did not answer.

She walked to his bed and put her hand on his shoulder.

“Nick?” she said.

Nick rolled over and opened his eyes.

“Mmm,” he said.

“Your father and I are going to the farmers’ market for breakfast. Did you want to come?” she said.

“Uh-uh,” he said. He closed his eyes.

“Did you want us to pick up something for you?” she asked.

“No, thanks, mom. I’ll be okay,” he said.

“Alright,” she said. She turned to leave the room.

“Hey, mom,” Nick said.

She turned.

“Is it okay with you if I meet Maggie for breakfast a little later?” he said.

“You mean like ‘lunch’ later?” she asked. She smiled. “It’s almost 7 o’clock.”

“Too early,” he said. He sat up. “I mean in an hour or so, I guess.”

“Didn’t you guys hang out last night after the game?” she asked.

“We were supposed to, but the whole thing turned into a football celebration thing,” Nick said. He looked at his right elbow and saw the beginnings of a bruise. “We didn’t really get to talk or anything.”

“Well, okay, but that means you take care of the dogs when you get back,” she said.

“Okay,” he said. He fell back on his bed. “Thanks, mom.”

She closed the door behind her and Nick laid still. He stared at the domed light fixture on the ceiling. He counted three bugs that had become trapped and died within it. He groaned and rolled over to the bedside table. He checked his phone. No missed calls. No missed messages. He let the phone fall to his chest. He wondered how the bugs ever got into the fixture in the first place. He guessed they weren’t smart enough to figure a way back out. There was just light. No food or water or anything, and sometimes there wasn’t even light. Why would they do that? Stupid bugs.

He turned his head to look out of the window. The sun poured into his room and Nick could see blue beyond the green of the tree. He lifted the phone from his chest and called Maggie.

Maggie’s face was buried in her pillow. She had flipped onto her stomach in hopes of finding sleep. Her phone rang, she shot upright and grabbed it. It was Nick. She could feel her heart start to sprint. Her mouth went dry. Her breaths grew short. She answered on the fifth ring.

“Nick?” she said.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” she said.

There was a pause.

“You want to meet for breakfast?” he asked.

“Breakfast?” she said.

“Yeah, in like an hour or so,” he said.

“Uh, yeah – but I have to ask my parents,” she said.

“Like in an hour then?” he said.

“Wait, what do I tell my parents?” she asked.

“I don’t know… we have a project or something?” he said.

“Okay,” she said.

“I’m going to shower and I’ll pick you up at 8-8:15ish. Can you be ready by then?” he said.

“Yeah, I think so,” she said.

“Liar,” he said. He smiled involuntarily.

“I promise I’ll try,” she said.

“Okay,” he said.

Maggie held the phone to her ear for 6 seconds of silence. She slowly set it down on her bed. She looked at the clock. 7:03. She stood and walked to her walk-in closet. She disappeared into sweaters and jeans.

Nick stepped into the shower and closed the thin beige curtain behind him. He turned on the hot water and let the stream run for a few seconds. He lifted his right foot and placed it into the stream. He pulled it out. He stood staring at the water running into the drain. He ran the fingers of his left hand on the shower curtain. He lifted his right foot again and placed it into the gushing water. Satisfied, he pulled the shower lever and closed his eyes. The hot water rushed over him. As the jets of water impacted on his face, he thought of breakfast. He was hungry, but he did not know what to say. The emptiness in his stomach could have been hunger, but he had a suspicion that it was Maggie, too. He turned and let the water hit the back of his head and his shoulders. He opened his eyes and leaned for the shampoo bottle.

Maggie stood next to her bed in her bra and panties. Her toothbrush was wedged in her right cheek. She placed a red v-neck sweater down on the bed over a pair of dark wash jeans. She started brushing again. Her eyes moved from the sweater and jeans to the denim skirt, off-white tank top, and heather gray hoodie next to them. She shoved the toothbrush back into her right cheek and drew a breath to keep the toothpaste from falling from her lips. She pulled the hoodie off the skirt and walked with it back to her closet. She returned to the bed with a navy blue hoodie and placed it in the void left by the gray one. She took the toothbrush from her mouth and wiped her chin. She looked at the clock. 7:27. She had not put on make-up yet.

Nick walked to his closet and pulled out a pair of jeans. There were holes at knees. He had bought them for this specific detail. He put them on and pulled chose a kelly green t-shirt with a white tiger’s head on the front. He pulled it over his head and a few drops of water fell on his cheeks. He lifted a few papers on his computer desk and found his black watch with the rubber wristband. 7:31. He did a quick turn and strode to his dresser. He opened the top drawer and took out a pair of white socks. He threw them over his shoulder, they hit the bed and fell to the floor. He shot his forearm with Lacoste cologne and rubbed his other forearm against it. He sprayed his neck and put the bottle back on the dresser. Nick sat on the edge of the bed, leaned over, scooped up his socks and fell backwards into the bed. He tossed the socks at the ceiling and caught them on the way back down. He threw them again and caught them again. The third time, he threw the socks, but let them hit him in the face. He stretched his arms out in the mode of the crucifix.

Maggie stood at the bathroom sink. She had the skirt on, but that was it. She leaned in towards the mirror to apply “midnight” eye shadow. Her hair was up in a pony tail, but the straightener was already plugged into the wall, warming up. Her eyes were still puffy.

Nick sat up in his bed and leaned over. He put his socks on and stood. He placed his hand on his right jeans pocket, then looked around the room for his wallet. He fished it out of the jeans he wore the night before and dropped it in his pocket. He walked to the bedside table and picked up his phone. 7:44. He walked downstairs to the kitchen, opened the fridge and poured a glass of orange juice.

Maggie zipped the hoodie up halfway and walked out of her room. In her right hand she held her phone, in the left her small black purse. She stopped three steps from the stairs and turned around.

Nick put the glass in the sink. He pulled out his phone and sent Maggie a text message. Leaving in 5 min. He walked through the door into the garage and slid on white Chuck Taylors. He opened the car door and slid in. He put the key in the ignition, but did not turn it. He leaned back, took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Maggie’s phone beeped as she emerged from the closet wearing the heather gray hoodie. She zipped it halfway. She looked at her phone. Shit. Shit. Shit. She walked downstairs. Her parents were in the kitchen eating breakfast.

“Hey, mom,” she said.

“Morning,” her mother replied.

“Hey, Mag-pie,” her father said. He put his fork down. “Where are you going?”

“Um, Nick and I have this project, and he doesn’t have a lot of free time because of football and all that, we kind of have to do it on the weekends, mostly,” she said.

“Did you start last night?” he asked.

“No,” Maggie said. She froze. “Uh, have you guys seen my backpack?”

“It’s by the front door,” her mother said.

“Thanks,” Maggie said. She started walking towards the front door.

“Hold on,” her mother said.

Maggie stopped. She closed her eyes. She turned to face them.

“Yeah?” she said.

“Are you and Nick…” her mother said.

Maggie shook her head.

“Are me and Nick what?” she said.

Maggie’s mother and father looked at each other.

“Are you and Nick going out together?” her mother asked.

Maggie laughed. She could feel the stinging in the corners of her eyes.

“It’s Nick, mom,” Maggie said.

“Well are you?” her father asked.

“No, dad,” Maggie said.

Her mother frowned.

“Well, you two have been spending a lot of time together, and I don’t know,” her mother said. She looked at her husband. “I- we just thought that – Nick’s a nice boy.”

Maggie forced a smile.

“He is,” Maggie said. Her heart pounded in her chest. “He’s going to be here soon, I gotta get going.”

“Okay. Will you be back for lunch?” her mother asked.

“I don’t know,” Maggie said.

“Good luck with that project,” her father said.

“Thanks,” Maggie said.

She walked through the living room to the front door. She leaned over to pick up her child’s backpack and exhaled slowly. She opened the door, walked through, and closed it behind her. She dabbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater just before Nick pulled up to her house.

Cake Volume 2, Part 2

Cake V.2.2: Insomnia

Maggie couldn’t sleep.

She had gone through seven drafts of the same text message. All apologies, all deleted. She was going to have a hard time waiting until morning and an even more difficult time falling asleep. She kicked her legs under her comforter. She picked up her phone again. She opened the picture folder and pulled up a shot of she and Nick at the pep rally. One of the cheerleaders took it. It was a little blurry. Still, Maggie could see the smiles on both faces and those smiles brought her to tears again…

The ride back to Maggie’s house was an awkward one. Nick mostly kept his eyes glued to the road in front of him. He didn’t say anything. Maggie had her eyes glued to Nick. She silently debated the merits of trying to start a conversation and/or attempting to take his hand. This debate lasted a full twenty-five seconds. Maggie decided the best case scenario was only a slightly less tense car ride, but that the best case scenario only had a 4% chance of being realized. So she sat.

When Nick pulled up to the house, Maggie waited a few seconds until it became clear Nick had no intention of walking her to the door. She unbuckled her seatbelt and slowly scooted over towards Nick in her seat.

“Good night, Nick,” she said.

“Night,” he said. He looked at her and nodded.

Maggie leaned in ever so slightly to kiss him on the cheek. Nick leaned away.

“Good night,” he said. He looked away. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Maggie got out of the car and closed it slowly. Nick waited until Maggie made it into the house before pulling away.

Maggie hoped that her parents would already been in bed when she put her key into the knob. When she opened the door and saw the flashes of the light coming off of the television, she knew her prayers had been in vain.

“Mag-pie?” her father called from the living room.

“Yeah, dad,” she said. Maggie walked into the living room. “’Hoarders’ Marathon?”

“We can’t stop watching it!” her mother said. Maggie’s mother tilted her head. “You’re home early.” Her voice trailed off. It was a question.

“Yeah, um, no, we decided to just kind of hang out and talk and stuff,” Maggie said. Ordinarily, Maggie’s skill with bullshit on the fly was unparalleled. Not tonight.

“Are you alright?” her mother asked.

“Yeah, I’m just tired. The game and all that,” she said. She faked a yawn and rubbed her eyes to push her tears back through her eyeballs. “I’m just gonna go to bed, mom.”

She held out just long enough. Tears ran down her cheeks as she ascended the stair way. She opened the door to her room and crumbled into the bed. It would be ten minutes before she began breathing normally again.

*

Nick couldn’t sleep either. He made it to his room without having to deal with either of his parents. He tore off his t-shirt and threw it across the room. He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his cell phone. 7 missed messages.

Where u go?

Use protection!

Dude, WTF?

U OK?

Everybody’s looking 4 u

Ur missing a fkn sick party

Seriously, Nick, WTF?

Nick dropped the phone on his bedside table and sighed. He undid his belt and his jeans fell to the floor without having to be unbuttoned. He stepped out of them and sat on the edge of his bed. He tried to take his socks off without using his hands. He got top of the left one down to the bottom of his calf before bending over to rip them both off. He fell back into his bed.

He couldn’t get the image of Maggie chasing him down out of his head. Closing his eyes only made it clearer. He could see her running. He could see her mascara running. He thought of the way he could feel her eyes on him during the silent car ride to her house. He thought of the way she had tried to kiss him good night.

Nick laid motionless for 10 minutes before concluding he wasn’t going to be able to sleep. He sat up in his bed and looked around the room. He stood and walked to his bookshelf. He looked over his DVD collection. He had no taste for transforming robots or anything to do with anyone falling in love. He walked to his bedside table, picked the remote up and turned on the TV.

He skipped the ESPNs.

He rolled over the cable stations and the sit-coms in syndication.

He plowed through the stations in the 70s and 80s until he reached channel 3 again. He

He turned the TV off.

He laid in the darkness for another ten minutes.  His phone chimed. He reached for it on the bedside table. He picked it up flipped it open. The light made Nick squint his eyes. It was another text. It was Brad Slausen.

Bitch! ur missing a party in your honor. i’ll drink for both of us. GG, bro.

Nick slammed the phone shut and threw it on the table.                                                                              

“Fuck,” he said. He closed his eyes. “Fuck that guy.”

Cake Volume 2, Part 1

No idea if this is going to work out the way I want it to. I just wanted to write. Fingers crossed. Volume 1 here.

Cake Volume 2, Part 1: Angry Words

Maggie watched in silence as Nick made for the front door. She couldn’t hear anything and the time and space between each of Nick’s steps felt like an ice age. She wanted to call out to him, but she had nothing, could say nothing. Nick stopped at the doorway. He wheeled in place and glared at Maggie.

“I fucking…” Nick said. His mouth hung open, but the words didn’t come. He turned on the spot and continued out the door.

“Nick!” Maggie screamed.

Nick disappeared. Maggie crashed though the living room dodging bodies when she could, colliding when she couldn’t. She made it through the through the double doors. Nick was already halfway down Coleman’s long driveway. Maggie raced to catch up with him.

“Nick!” she yelled.

Nick looked over his shoulder without breaking his stride. A few of Nick’s teammates who were hanging out on the front lawn caught sight of Maggie and cheered her on.

“She’s at the 40, the 35, the 30!” Miles Villoria, a senior linebacker shouted.

“She’s got one man to beat!” Royce Daniels, a junior cornerback added.

“She could…go…all… the way!” they yelled together.

“Nick, please!” Maggie screamed.

Nick stopped but did not turn to look at her. His chin sank into his chest. Maggie caught up to him hooked around to face him. She tried to take Nick’s hands in her own. Nick did not let her.

“Nick, I’m sorry,” Maggie said.

“Look, just let me get out of here. I don’t want to talk about it,” Nick said. He sidestepped Maggie and started walking again.

“Please, wait,” she said. Maggie took two quick steps to her left and cut him off. “Please, just stop.”

“Fuck, Maggie!” Nick said. He raised both his arms and put his hands on his head. He balled his right hand into a fist. Maggie flinched.

“I’m fucking angry, Maggie,” Nick said. He slowly lowered his arms.

“I know,” Maggie said.

“No,” Nick said. He closed his eyes. “I think I might say some really terrible shit right now.”

“Then I’ll take it,” she said. “I deserve it.” Her hands took his. They did not fight back. They did not accept hers, either.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

Nick’s eyes were still shut.

“It’s just that Brad said-“ Maggie started.

“Don’t fucking say his name!” Nick shouted.

Maggie took a step back.

“Okay, okay,” she said.

“Nick-and-Mag-gie!” Miles and Royce shouted. They clap-clap clapped-clapped-clapped in unison.

Maggie leaned to her right so that she had a clear view of Miles and Royce.

“Fuck off!” Maggie screamed. The two fell silent.

Nick scoffed.

“That’s a start,” Maggie said.

“You’re a bitch-and-a-half,” Nick said.

“You don’t have to be nice,” Maggie said.

Nick laughed. He took a deep breath.

“I don’t want to lose you,” she said. She took his hands again. “You’re my best friend.”

“You’re not going to lose me,” he said. He turned his head and looked down the street. “But why do you always do this to me? Don’t you ever think about anybody else but yourself?”

“Look, I know that sometimes I” she started.

“No.” Nick still couldn’t look at Maggie. “This shit always happens.”

Maggie clutched Nick’s hands tightly. Nick looked down at her.

“Okay,” she said. She let go of Nick’s right hand so she could wipe the tears from her eyes. “I deserve that. Whatever you have to say, just say it.”

“You can’t hide that fucker from me,” he said. He spun and pointed back towards the house. “I know you’ve been in love with him since the first time he fucking walked past you in the hallway freshman year.”

“I know,” she said. Maggie knew she was walking on eggshells made of glass placed by hand on a tightrope.

“Does it matter to you?” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” he said.

“Yes it does,” Maggie said. She sniffled.

“This whole fucking thing,” he started. He took a deep breath. “This whole thing just got way out of control. It was a bad idea. It was a bad idea meant to cover up an idea that was even worse and fuck if it didn’t just blow up in my face.” He pantomimed a bomb being dropped on a large metropolitan area.

“But Brad…” Maggie said.

“I know I can’t say shit. You’re going to do whatever you want anyway. But the guy’s an asshole,” Nick said. He growled and shook his head.

“Okay,” Maggie said.

“Look, let’s just,” Nick started. He wiped the remnants of her tears off her cheeks and took her hand. “I’ll take you home.”

“What about all this?” Maggie asked.

“Just let me be for tonight,” Nick answered. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

“What do I tell my parents?” Maggie asked.

A beat passed.

“Tell them it was a really sad movie,” Nick said.

Maggie laughed. She buried her face in Nick’s chest and squeezed him tightly. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Cake” (Part 8)

Part 8: Climax/Falling Action

The football team emptied the locker room and spilled out into the parking lot. Nick walked slowly gazing down at his cell phone. His thumbs were at work.

“Ready yet?”

He pressed the “send” button and slid the phone into his jeans pocket. His left hand made the quick exchange: phone for keys. He stopped behind his white Ford Focus and opened the trunk. He took his backpack off and threw it into the trunk next to his school backpack, various articles of clothing, and several pairs of shoes. He closed the trunk and walked over to the driver’s side door. His cell phone beeped.

“10 mins.”

So 20, then.

He lowered himself into his car and shut the door. He stared out through the windshield. He replayed his game winning catch in his head. Coach Harrington called it “the most clutch catch he’d ever seen.” Nick smiled. He caught his own eyes in the rearview mirror. His thumbs ran across the QWERTY keyboard.

“Leaving now.”

He started the car and attached the face of his stereo deck. He flipped through his iPod until he found Wolfmother’s “The Joker and the Thief.” He turned the volume up and pulled out of the stall. He drove past a few of his teammates who congratulated him on the catch.

*

Nick pulled up to the curb in front of Maggie’s house. He called her cell.

“Yeah?” Maggie said.

“I’m here,” Nick said.

“Come in, I’m almost ready,” she said.

“But I don’t-“ Nick started.

“5 minutes- tops,” Maggie said.

“Okay,” Nick said.

Nick got out of the car and walked to Maggie’s front door. He rang the bell. Maggie’s mother opened it.

“Nick!” she shouted.

“Hey, Mrs. Lark,” Nick replied.

“We heard you had a really good game,” Mrs. Lark said.

“Oh, yeah, we won,” Nick said.

“Maggie said you had the game winning catch,” Mrs. Lark continued.

“Yeah, I, uh, I got lucky, I guess,” Nick said.

“Come in- Maggie’s almost ready- would you like something to drink?” she said.

“No thank you,” Nick replied.

Nick walked through the foyer and into the living room. Maggie’s father sat on the recliner in front of the TV. He nodded at Nick and smiled. Nick had been here many times before, but felt strangely nervous this time.

“What else did Maggie tell you?” Nick asked.

“About the game?” She looked over at her husband. Mr. Lark shook his head. “That’s about it.”

“Oh,” Nick said.

There were heavy footsteps overhead. Doors slammed.

“You know, Nick, I think this is the first football game she’s ever gone to,” Mrs. Lark said.

“Yeah, she’s not really the football type,” Nick said.

“Was it some kind of special game or something?” Mrs. Lark asked.

“No, just a regular season game,” Nick answered.

“She was so excited about it, excited for you when she got home,” Mrs. Lark said.

“It was a pretty tight game,” Nick said.

A voice drifted downstairs.

“OK, I’m ready,” Maggie said. She bounced down the stairs and stopped at the third from the bottom. “So?”

Maggie placed her right hand on the railing next to her. She wore a denim skirt, red halter top, and a black button-down sweater.

“Won’t you be cold at the theater?” Mrs. Lark asked.

“That’s why I’m bringing the sweater, Mom,” Maggie said. She looked at Nick and smiled. “We’d better hurry if we’re going to catch the last show, Nick.”

“Yeah,” Nick said.

Maggie kissed her parents and both parents wished them “fun.”

Nick opened the door of his car for Maggie, then walked around and got in behind the wheel.

“The movies, huh?” Nick asked.

“Yeah, because my parents would have been so understanding about a house party where alcohol is readily available,” Maggie said.

Nick left the curb and drove away from Maggie’s house.

*

Dallas Coleman’s home was in a spacious neighborhood. His house was situated behind two others and between them a long driveway led to his front yard. When Nick and Maggie drove down the street past the house. Cars already lined both sides. Nick took a left at the end of the street and parked his car a block up.

Nick and Maggie began walking out back to Coleman’s house.

“Thanks for coming out tonight,” Nick said.

“Anything for you, stud,” Maggie said.

“Really, though, I know football isn’t really your thing,” Nick said.

“Hey- I’ve got to play the part, right?” Maggie said.

Nick laughed.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Nick said.

Nick took Maggie’s hand and they walked through the open front door.

“Niiiiiiiiiiick!” Tyler Morris shouted. He high-fived Nick. “The man with the golden hands!”

This alerted the rest of the living room to Nick’s presence. The players there began an “MVP” chant.

Nick face grew red.

“Looks like you’re a local celebrity, now,” Maggie said.

“Whatever,” Nick said.

Nick and Maggie walked through the living room into the back yard.

Brad Slausen spotted the two.

“There’s my boy!” Brad shouted. He lifted his beer. “Nick Tourin!”

The rest of the students surrounding the pool lifted their drinks. “Nick!”

Nick nodded and mouthed thanks. He and Maggie walked over to Brad.

“That was a fucking unreal catch, man,” Brad said.

“No way,” Nick said. He shook Brad’s hand. “An even better throw.”

“Hey, Maggie,” Brad said.

“Hey, Brad,” Maggie said.

“I think you’re his good luck charm,” Brad said.

“What?” Maggie said.

“Yeah, yeah- you guys finally get together and he has the game of his life,” Brad says.

“Oh, um, that was all him,” Maggie said.

She laughed.

“What do you want to drink?” Nick asked Maggie.

“A Red Bull/Vodka,” Maggie said.

Nick turned to walk to the kitchen, but Maggie grabbed his arm.

“No- a rum and Coke,” she said.

“OK,” Nick said. He walked back into the house.

“So you guys finally got there, huh?” Brad said.

“What? Me and Nick?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah, you guys are like the ‘it’ couple now,” Brad said.

“I don’t know about that,” Maggie said.

“No, really,” Brad said. He placed his left hand on Maggie’s right arm. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but I always thought you were beautiful.”

Maggie blushed.

“Oh, um, I- never really,” Maggie stammered.

“Yeah, none of us ever knew what was going on with you and Nick, so none of us ever made a move,” Brad said.

“Really?” Maggie said.

“I know I would have,” Brad said. He winked at her. Maggie smiled.

Nick returned with a beer in his left hand and Maggie’s mixed drink in his right. He handed it to her.

“Thanks, best friend,” Maggie said.

“Anytime,” Nick said. He held his beer out in her direction, and she tapped it with her red plastic cup.

“Stradlater’s going to be tough next week,” Brad said.

“Fuck, I haven’t even thought that far ahead,” Nick said. He took a sip of his beer. “But you’re right. They’re running pretty hot right now.”

“Hey, Nick,” Maggie said. She took him by the hand. “I have to go to the bathroom. Walk me?”

“Sure,” Nick said. He turned to Brad. “I’ll catch you later.”

“Make sure you guys don’t get too crazy in there,” Brad said.

Nick laughed.

Nick and Maggie walked towards the house. Maggie came to a stop at the sliding glass door and pulled Nick behind it.

“I gotta tell you something,” Maggie said.

“What?” Nick said.

“It’s about Brad,” she said. She nodded towards him through the pane of glass.

“What did he say?” Nick asked.

“He said he would have made a move on me,” Maggie said.

“Right now?” Nick asked.

“No- before- but he didn’t know about you and me,” she said.

“I know,” Nick said. His brow wrinkled. He took a sip of his beer. “I told you that.”

“No, you told me one of them said it and that he was there,” Maggie said.

“What’s the difference?” Nick asked.

“It’s Brad!” Maggie said.

“So what?” Nick said.

“He said he thinks I’m beautiful,” Maggie said.

“What the fuck?” Nick said.

He turned towards to pool. Maggie grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing?” Maggie asked.

“I’m going over there to ask him what the fuck he’s doing,” Nick said.

“What? Why?” Maggie asked.

“You’re fucking here with me, right?” Nick said.

“Of course I am, but-“ Maggie started.

“But what?” Nick asked.

Maggie had nothing.

“It’s Brad fucking Slausen, right?” Nick said. He looked back at Brad. “And you’ve fucking loved him since forever.”

“Why are you so upset, Nick?” Maggie asked. She put her drink down on an end table and took his hands with hers. He broke away.

“Because you always fucking do this to me,” Nick said.

“What?” Maggie said.

“I’m always ‘Plan B,’” he said. He finished his beer in a gulp and put the bottle on the end table. “It’s always him. You wait for him, it never works out, you need me.”

“That’s not true,” Maggie said. Her eyes were beginning to well.

“Yes it fucking is!” Nick said.

By now the people standing nearest to them were watching and listening.

“You’re my best friend!” Maggie said.

“Then why all this?” Nick said. He threw up his hands. “The hands and the kissing- it doesn’t mean anything to you?”

“Of course it does, but-“ Maggie started.

“You can’t have me and have him, too,” Nick said. He pointed in Brad’s direction but never broke eye contact with Maggie. “Well?”

Tears were falling from Maggie’s eyes.

“I-“ she started.

Nick turned to look at Brad. He was still at the pool and had his arm around Sidney Alexander, a cheerleader.

“It’s fucking Brad Slausen,” Nick said. His eyes were wet. “Take a look at your fucking Brad Slausen.”

Nick walked through the living room and out the front door.

“Nick, wait!” Maggie said. He disappeared through the doorway.

Maggie looked back at Brad through blurry eyes. He still had his arm around Sidney. The two of them were laughing.

Brianna Woolridge, Maggie’s classmate, came over to her.

“Are you alright?” Brianna asked.

“I-“ Maggie started.

“What happened?” Brianna continued.

Maggie had nothing.

“Cake” (Part 7)

Part 7: Robins vs. Yellow Jackets

The clock on the scoreboard began counting down from 15 minutes. The manicured grass of Ewing K. Manchester Stadium, the Grayson Robins’ football field, was a brilliant green. The concrete stands on the west sideline were filled Robins fans from the north endzone to the 25-yard line on the other side of the 50. The fans of the Finch High School Yellow Jackets not early enough to secure seating on the bleachers sat in the small wooden ones lining the opposite sideline beyond the chain-link fence.

The red and yellow helmets of both teams glowed with the reflection of the stadium’s lights and were accented with the flashes of cameras in the stands. Maggie sat alone in the student section in the third row up on the 40-yard line. Outside of Nick, she didn’t have very many close friends. She wore jeans, a red sweater over a black t-shirt, and two new strips of eye-black. Both featured the number 17. Her hands rested on a foam poster board in front of her. She made Nick a little sign after the pep rally. It read “Nick #17.” Maggie was trying.

The clock ran to triple zeroes and the horn rang out through the stadium. It prompted a cheer from the fans. Drew Nassing, Tony Montero, Kim O’Neil, and Stuart Rycroft walked towards mid-field for the coin flip. The Robins won the toss and elected to receive the kick-off. Both teams lined up and the crowd roared. The Finch kicker signaled to the rest of his team and began his slow approach to the ball resting on the tee…

*

Coach Harrington called the team’s last timeout and the Robins offense huddled around him. There were 49 seconds left in the game. The score was 17-13 in favor of the Yellow Jackets. The Robins had the ball at the Finch 23-yard line.

“Plenty time,” Coach Harrington said. He waved his arms to pull the offense in tighter. “We’ll play for the 1^st down, then we can take 4 shots at the endzone.”

“They’ll have the short out routes covered,” Brad said. His teammates focused their attention on him. “We can throw it over the middle for the first down.”

The referee blew the whistle to end the timeout. The offense jogged onto the field. The home crowed cheered the stadium into bedlam.

Brad settled under the center and made the play call. The ball was snapped into his hands and he took a 5-step drop. Kim O’Neil, a slotback, ran a slant to the middle of the field. Brad took a step up and fired. The ball came in high and grazed Kim’s fingers. The carom carried the ball to the Finch safety, who managed to get one hand on the ball before it hit the turf. Incomplete pass. The Robins fans gasped and exhaled sharply in the span of a single heartbeat.

41 seconds. Second down and ten.

The line reset. No huddle. Brad got under the center. He went to a hard count in his cadence and a Finch defensive lineman jumped offsides.

41 seconds. Second down and five.

Brad took his spot under the center. He snapped the ball on “one.” Brad dropped back in the pocket and rotated his hips to the left. Nick ran a 5-yard hitch. Brad’s fingertips had already left the ball as Nick stopped and turned on the spot. The cornerback was 3 steps ahead trying to decelerate. The ball hit Nick in the chest and he wrapped it with both hands. He made a move for the sideline, but was cut off by the corner.

35 seconds. First down on the 12. Clock running.

Brad screamed at the offense to get on the line. The chains moved. Once everyone was set, the ball was snapped. Kim ran a route to the back right corner of the end zone, but Brad overthrew him. Kim landed on the turf with a thud and a groan from the stands.

29 seconds. Second and ten on the 12.

Brad called the team for a quick huddle.

“I’m gonna hit Terry on a quick out, but you gotta get out of bounds, Terry,” Brad said.

“I’ll get there,” Terry said.

“If it’s not there, I’ll check down to Kim in the end zone,” Brad said.

“Break!” the offense shouted.

They set on the line.

“Throw it to Nick!” Maggie shouted from the stands. Her plea was swallowed by the sea of red.

Brad took the snap and took a 3-step drop. He eyed Terry. Double-coverage. He checked off to Kim. Not open. Brad sailed the football through the back of the endzone and stopped the clock.

“Fuck!” Brad yelled. He slapped his hands together.

20 seconds. Third and ten on the 12.

“Nick, Terry- run fades to the corners,” Brad shouted.

“Underneath?” Kim asked.

“Yeah,” Brad said.

The Robins set themselves at the line. The ball was snapped. Finch sent the Middle linebacker on a blitz. No one picked him up. He ran untouched into the backfield. Brad saw him at the last minute and hurled the ball out of bounds right before the linebacker put his helmet into his chest and leveled him.

16 seconds. Fourth and ten on the 12.

Brad rolled over slowly. Two linemen helped him up. He stood, bent over with his hands on his knees.

“This is it he said,” Brad said.

“What are we running?” Nick asked.

“Doesn’t matter- just get open,” Brad said.

The offense got on the line. The center snapped the ball into Brad’s hands and he took a 5-step drop. Finch sent the middle linebacker again. Brad saw him early and rolled out to his left. No one was open. All of Finch’s DBs were in the endzone. Brad took a glance back that the middle linebacker. He was coming.

Kim stood in the middle of the endzone. He saw that Brad was in trouble and sprinted back towards the line of scrimmage. Brad saw Kim and threw on the run. Kim caught the ball on the one-yard line and was tackled immediately.

First down. Clock was still running down from 7 seconds.

Bodies in red and white scurried to the line of scrimmage.

Men in zebra outfits waved their arms.

The clock hit 0:03 and the ball hit Brad’s hands. He took a 3-step drop and looked left to right. No. No. No. He was chased to the right by a defensive lineman. Under the goal post a streak of red made its way to the back right corner of the endzone. It was Nick, behind the defenders. Brad closed his front shoulder and whipped the ball to the back pylon. He could not see Nick, he only hoped he would be there.

The ball whizzed past gloved fingertips and outstretched hands. Nick’s hands formed a diamond and picked the ball out of the sky. He managed to drag both feet in the endzone before his momentum took him into the ground out of bounds.

0:00.

19-17 Grayson Robins.

The Robins offense piled on Nick and the rest of the team left the sideline and sprinted into the endzone. The student section followed and rushed the field. Maggie slowly made her way to the epicenter of the celebration.

I’ll never find Nick.

The shouts grew louder as two players were hoisted upon the shoulders of the mob. Brad and Nick- still clutching the football- high-fived the people below.

“Nick!” Maggie shouted.

Nick did not hear her.

She inched closer to the two heroes.

“Nick!” she shouted again.

Nick’s head moved from left to right and back again. He felt a tug on his leg. He looked down to see Maggie smiling up at him.

“Down, down,” he said. He patted the heads of the offensive linemen. Nick slid off the shoulders of his teammates.

“That was amazing!” Maggie said.

“Holy shit! Did that really just happen?” Nick said.

“You smell terrible!” Maggie said.

“Thanks!” Nick said. He wrapped his arms around her- football still in his right hand. “Does that matter?”

“No!” she shouted.

Nick leaned in and kissed Maggie on the lips.

“Let’s go!” a voice shouted.

Nick broke the kiss with Maggie.

“What’s going on?” Maggie asked.

“Talk in the locker room,” Nick said.

“What’s going on later?” Maggie asked.

“Party- Coleman’s house,” Nick said.

“I- I gotta go home and change.” Maggie said. She cupped her mouth and leaned into his ear. “You wait for me?”

“Of course,” Nick said. He squeezed her hand. “Always.”

“Cake” (Part 6)

Part 6: Pep Rally

It took a day-and-a-half to for Maggie to convince Nick to let her wear his jersey to the pep rally. Only a handful of the players allowed their girlfriends to wear their uniform during the pep rallies. Nick had never even considered this as a remote possibility. “You kinda gotta get the girl first,” he explained to Maggie.

There was a buzz in the gymnasium. The football team sat in fold-out chairs parallel to the southern baseline of the basketball court. The rest of the school sat in the bleachers on either side of the court. The cheerleaders and school mascot (a Robin in a red sweater vest) moved around at mid-court shouting words of encouragement to no one in particular.

Maggie sat with the rest of the junior class in the bleachers to the right of the football team. She wore Nick’s 17 and eye-black strips on her cheeks. The strip under her right eye read: “Nick” and the strip under her left read: 17. Maggie wrote them herself, telling Nick, “If you do it, no one will be able to read it.”

Senior team captain Drew Nassing- the starting middle linebacker- strode to the lone microphone set up before the football team. He raised his hands and lowered them a few times to quiet the assembly. He flicked the switch into the on position. A shrill note of feedback rang throughout the gym. The student body groaned.

“We lost a tough game last week against Finch,” Drew said. He took the microphone from the stand and took a few steps to his right. “But we’re still 4-and 1.”

He turned to face his teammates.

“We’ve been working hard all week,” Drew said.

“Yessir!” the team replied.

“We will be better,” he said.

“Yessir!” the team shouted.

“We will beat Vincent Clay!” he said.

“Yessir!” the team yelled.

Drew spun on the spot and pointed a finger at the students in the bleachers.

“But we cannot do it alone,” Drew said. He held the mic in his left hand held out his right arm with the palm open upwards. “We need you.”

“Yessir!” the team shouted.

“You got our backs?” Drew asked.

“Yessir,” the crowd responded.

“I said ‘You got our backs?’” Drew repeated.

“Yessir!” the students shouted.

Maggie and Nick’s eyes met. She mouthed the words “I got your back” to Nick. He nodded his head and mouthed them back.

“Brad Slausen?” Drew said.

“Yessir!” Brad shouted. Brad stood up in his number 12 jersey.

“You’re on,” Drew said.

Brad walked towards Drew and took the mic. Nick saw Maggie’s eyes drift towards Brad. He walked towards center-court.

“Offense?” Brad said.

“Yessir!” the offensive unit said. Nick and the rest of the offense rose from their seats and walked en masse towards center-court and met Brad there.

“Defense?” Drew shouted.

“Yessir!” the defense replied.

The defensive players rose from their seats and gathered around Drew.

“Get out of your seats!” Brad shouted into the mic. “Who’s gonna rock Vincent Clay?”

“Rah-bins, Rah-bins, Rah-bins!” the school shouted.

The rest of the student body filtered down onto the court. Maggie elbowed her way to Nick’s side. She clutched his right arm.

“This is crazy!” she shouted!

“What?” Nick said.

She tip-toed and kissed him on the cheek.

“This is crazy,” she repeated.

Nick could not hear her. Brad and Drew led the school in the “Rah-bins” cheer that drowned out all inter-personal communication.

Nick looked down at Maggie’s light brown eyes, framed by strips of eye-black. Maggie began jumping up and down in time with the rest of the school. She bounced directly in front of him, staring into his eyes, her lips a wry smile. She was swimming in his jersey- even though she had tied it in the front. He black hair leaped from and landed on the 17s on the shoulder of the jersey. She never broke eye contact. Nick smiled.

“This is crazy,” he yelled.

“What?” she shouted.

He reached out in front of him and slid his index fingers into the front two belt loops of her jeans, halting her bouncing. He tugged on them and pulled her in close. Her arms were bent at the elbows and tucked between their bodies. Nick brushed some of her hair out of her eyes. Maggie was frozen. Nick leaned forward, closed his eyes and kissed Maggie. She closed her eyes and her body slowly thawed.

“This is crazy!” Brad Slausen shouted over the microphone. The student body roared. “Tonight! 7:00! You got our backs?”

“Yessir!” the crowd screamed.

“Cake” (Part 5)

Part 5: All Talk

In the two days since their kiss in the hallway, both Maggie and Nick had been besieged by questions about their upgrade in status from “BFFs” to “BF/GF.”

*

Maggie stood in line for lunch that same afternoon. She was flanked by Desi Marinelli and Kristen Lauren.

“Did your really make out with Nick?” Desi asked.

“What?” Maggie said. It didn’t happen often, but she was caught off-guard.

“We heard that you made out with Nick Tourin in the hallway,” Kristen said.

“Yeah,” Maggie said. She fought the smile forming on her lips.

“What happened to the whole Kelli thing?” Kristen asked.

“I don’t know,” Maggie said. She reached up for a bowl of clam chowder. “You have to ask Nick.”

“So are you guys a couple now?” Desi asked. Her tray was empty, yet she still slid it along the counter top.

“I don’t know… I guess,” Maggie said.

“Finally!” Desi shouted.

“What?” Maggie asked. Her eyes narrowed.

“Everyone always said you guys were best friends, but everyone always said you guys were too close to be ‘just friends,’ you know?” Desi said.

“What do you mean? Maggie asked.

“C’mon- you guys feed each other at lunch sometimes!” Kristen shouted.

“Oh, I…” Maggie stammered. She was bright red.

“How long have you two been ‘close’?” Desi asked.

“We never… I mean- we’ve been friends since the 5^th grade,” Maggie said.

“You guys ever hook up?” Desi continued.

“No,” Maggie said.

“Never?” Kristen asked. She was bordering on hysterics.

“No,” Maggie said. Her hands were shaking. “We kissed once when we were kids, but…”

“You’re so lucky,” Desi said.

“What?” Maggie asked.

“We all think Nick is so cute, but no one really did anything about it because we all thought you guys were like secret lovers or something,” Desi said.

“Kelli is miserable,” Kristen said. She turned and nodded her head towards Kelli who sat at a table, her head resting on her left arm propped up by the elbow. She was twirling her spoon in her chowder. “Like, never in a million years did she think Nick would come up to her. She so wasn’t ready.”

“I know,” Desi said. She locked eyes with Maggie. “Nick never says anything to another girl-then he does. Then two periods later, you finally make out with him. What are the odds? ”

“Weird…” Kristen added.

The two girls left Maggie’s side and returned foodless to their table. Maggie turned and spotted Nick sitting at their table. He smiled at her. She forced a smile back.

*

During practice that same day, a group of players including Brad Slausen cornered Nick near the water coolers and began the inquisition:

“You and Maggie, huh?” Tim Gorman, a junior cornerback, asked.

“Yeah,” Nick said.

“How the hell did that happen?” Billy Shutter, a senior safety, asked.

“I don’t know,” Nick said. He took a sip of water. “We’ve known each other forever, and I guess… I guess it just kind of happened.”

“Nice work, dude,” Brad said. He lifted his helmet so that the facemask did not block his face. “Your girl is so underrated.”

“Seriously,” Tim said.

“What?” Nick asked.

“She’s hot,” Billy said.

“But she’s kind of weird,” Tim continued.

“She’s not weird,” He shook his head. “She’s just… Maggie.”

“Well, no one really tried to move in on her because of you, man,” Brad said.

“What are you talking about?” Nick asked.

“Get your asses out here!” a coach yelled.

The players dropped their cups on the sidelines, strapped up their helmets in a single motion, and jogged onto the field.

“No one really knew what was up with you two, so no one went after that,” Brad said.

The players got on the line. Brad shouted out the play call. Nick lined up at wideout to the right. The ball was snapped and Brad took a 3-step drop and fired towards the right sideline. Nick ran a 5-and-out and as he turned, the ball was already on its way. Nick stretched his arms out and caught the ball in the diamond formed by his two thumbs and index fingers. He managed to drag both feet on the grass before his momentum took him out of bounds.

“Nick catch, baby!” Brad shouted.

*

After practice Nick sat on the bench directly in front of his locker. He took off his shoulder pads and tossed them on the floor. He stood and opened his locker. He pulled out his phone and saw that he had missed 3 text messages. All of them were from Maggie.

“Call me after practice. Need to talk.”

“Hurry up.”

“Where are you?”

Nick texted back. “Just finished. Call when I get home.”

Three seconds passed and Nick’s phoned chimed again.

“K. Hurry. Drama.”

Like I said, disaster.

*

Nick walked from his bathroom to his bedroom. He had his towel around his waist. He heard his cell phone beep.

“No time for dinner and shower. Call me.”

“Jesus Christ,” Nick said.

Nick hit 1 on his speed dial.

“Finally!” Maggie said. She was lying on her bed in front of her laptop.

“What the hell is going on?” Nick asked.

“What the hell took you so long?” Maggie asked.

“I just got out of the shower. I’m sitting on my bed in my towel,” Nick said.

“Oooh, sexy!” Maggie said.

“Quit screwing around,” Nick said.

She wasn’t.

“OK, look, there’s some crazy shit happening,” Maggie said.

“I know,” Nick said.

“What?” Maggie asked. She sat upright. “What happened?”

“You first,” Nick said. He fell back into his bed, feet still on the floor. “Apparently whatever you got necessitates 47 text messages.”

“Kelli is devastated,” Maggie said.

There was silence on the other end.

“Nick?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah,” Nick replied.

“Did you hear me?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah,” he said. Nick held the phone to his left ear with his left hand. His fingers of his other hand rubbed his eyes. “How do you know that?”

“Desi and Kristen cornered me in the lunch line, remember?” Maggie said. She scooted back to lean against her headboard. “It was an inquisition.”

“Is that what that was about?” Nick asked.

“Yeah,” Maggie said.

“That sucks,” Nick said. He closed his eyes. “It’s not like she really said anything about it, though.”

Maggie laughed. Kind of.

“Her loss, right?” she said.

“I guess,” Nick said. He sighed.

“You ok?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah,” he said. He threw his right arm over his head. “Just some crazy stuff at practice.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“I feel kind of bad about it,” Nick said.

“About what?” Maggie asked.

“Well, they all think you’re hot,” Nick said.

“Who?” she asked.

“The football team,” he answered.

“What?” she said. She shot upright.

“Yeah, and the only reason that none of them ever did anything about it is because of me,” he said.

“What about Brad?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah, he was there,” Nick said. He sat up slowly. “Tim and Billy, too.”

“You’re fucking with me,” Maggie said.

“No, I’m not,” he said. He fell silent.

“Nick?” Maggie said.

“Yeah?” Nick said.

“Desi and Kristen said the same thing about you,” she said.

“What about?” he asked.

“They said that they all think you’re a cute guy, but they’ve never figured out what exactly we were, so they never bothered,” she said.

“What? We’re friends,” he said.

“Yeah, friends that feed each other during lunch,” Maggie said.

Silence at the other end.

“Nick?” Maggie said.

“I guess you could have any guy you want, but um…” Nick said.

“Don’t say that, Nick,” Maggie said. She leaned forward and rested her chin on her knees. “We’re friends. We’ve always been. I got your back.”

“I know,” Nick said. His voice trailed off.

“Hey,” Maggie said. Her voice rose. “At least the plan is working.”

Nick sighed.

“Maybe a little too well,” he said.

“So… the jersey? Friday?” she asked.

“Let me think about it,” he answered.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, lover,” Maggie said. She laughed.

Nick snickered.

“Ok,” he said.

Nick hung up the phone.

“Nick?” Maggie said.

“Cake” (Part 4)

Part 4: Rising Action

The bell rang and students flooded out of classrooms and into hallways. Nick walked to his locker from chemistry class still clutching the piece of paper with “priticlchick” scrawled on top of it. He opened his locker and tossed the slip of paper into the abyss. He thought of breaking his collarbone so that he could follow the paper into the nothingness.

“Again with the fucking ostrich deal?” Maggie asked.

Nick did not move.

“They know,” Nick said.

“Who knows?” Maggie asked.

“Everyone,” Nick said.

“Knows what?” Maggie asked.

“What I said to Kelli,” Nick answered.

“I know,” Maggie said.

Nick pulled his head out of the locker and spun on the spot to face Maggie.

“What?” he asked.

“I heard Desi and Kristen talking about it in Brit Lit,” she said.

“What? What did they say?” Nick asked.

Maggie opened her backpack and took Nick’s textbook out. She handed it to him.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Yeah,  yeah- what did they say?” Nick asked again.

Maggie put her slender arms through the straps of her backpack then hooked her thumbs in them.

“They knew about the whole ‘pretty cool chick’ thing,” she said.

“Fuck me,” Nick said.

“It’ll be alright, Nick,” Maggie said. She reached out her right hand and took his left in it. “This kind of stuff never lasts.”

Nick pulled his hand away.

“That’s all they said?” Nick asked.

No. They thought it was cute, they think you’re cute, and Kelli thinks you’re cute.

“Yeah- that’s about it,” Maggie said. She put he hand on his shoulder. “Desi heard it firsthand from Kelli, though. I don’t know how everyone else knows. Wait- how do you know everyone knows?”

Nick turned and reached into his locker. He handed Maggie the note. She unfolded the paper and read the short-hand messages.

“Wait- you wrote this,” Maggie said.

“I had to translate it,” Nick said.

“Who’s it from?” Maggie asked.

“Shea Borroughs,” Nick said.

“What the fuck?” Maggie said. She threw up her hands and placed them on her head. “She doesn’t even hang out with Kelli! How does she know?”

“No idea,” Nick said.

“Look, it’s not that bad,” Maggie said. She took his hand again. “It’ll pass by next week.”

“Fuck next week,” Nick said. He shut his eyes and shook his head. “I’m going to catch shit for this all day, then I’m going to get drilled at practice.”

“We’ll do something about it, then,” Maggie said.

“How the hell do you fix this?” Nick asked. He dropped Maggie’s hand and stretched his arms out at his sides. “It’s a fucking- a fucking wildfire-epidemic!”

Maggie grabbed Nick by his shoulders.

“Look at me,” she said.

Nick lowered his head and locked eyes. Maggie pulled him closer so that their faces were inches apart.

“Let me wear your jersey to the pep-rally Friday,” Maggie said.

“What?” Nick asked. His eyebrows tightened.

“Let me wear your jersey to the pep rally,” Maggie repeated.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Nick asked.

“Which girls wear jerseys to pep rallies?” Maggie asked.

There was a slight pause. Nick’s eyes looked past Maggie.

“The girlfriends,” Nick said.

“Exactly,” Maggie said.

“But-“ Nick begain.

“We’re not going out, asshole,” Maggie said.

“So-“ Nick started.

“Because it will give them something else to talk about,” Maggie said.

Nick was still staring past Maggie. She could see the gears slowly moving in his head.

“Nick,” Maggie said.

His eyes found hers again.

“You think it’ll work?” Nick asked.

“What’s the alternative?” Maggie said.

“Fuuuuuuck,” Nick said.

“There’s one more thing, though,” Maggie said. Her hands were still on his shoulders. “You have to kiss me.”

“What?” Nick asked. He tried to back out of her grip, but she held fast.

“Right now,” she said.

“Christ, this is going to be a disaster,” Nick said.

The summer before Nick and Maggie entered the eighth grade, Maggie’s parents took a weekend trip to the coast. Maggie was left in the care of her older sister, Corrine, then a senior in high school. Corrine told Maggie that she had to stay in her room because she had “friends coming over.” Maggie knew that her sister meant “a boy.” So Maggie bartered. She effectively informed Corrine of the terms of the deal: Maggie would not be quarantined to her room, but would have the run of the upstairs level of the house. Also, if Corrine could have company, then Maggie would invite Nick. Corrine agreed to the terms immediately.

Nick told his parents that he had to meet with Maggie to work on a project and that Mr. and Mrs. Lark had approved. He walked over to Maggie’s house. He rang the doorbell. Corrine opened the door and shouted “Hey, sexy” before realizing it was not her date for the night. These words made Nick feel uncomfortable. So did Corrine’s tight v-neck sweater. He went up to Maggie’s room and told her “I think your sister’s going to do it tonight.” Maggie shrugged it off with an emotionless “I know.”

This led to a conversation covering the gamut of Corrine’s past partners, the frequency of her trysts, and of course, sex. In both the abstract and concrete. The talk culminated in Maggie insisting that the two kiss. When Nick kissed Maggie on the lips, she pulled away and shouted, “A French kiss, dummy.” Nick protested on the grounds that they were friends. Maggie’s rebuttal was based on the idea that “that’s what makes it easier- we don’t have to have sex after.” So kiss they did. And neither Nick nor Maggie had ever spoken of it again.

“Whattya say, stud?” Maggie asked. Her right hand slid from his shoulder to the back of his neck. “Am I a pretty cool chick?”

Nick scoffed and smiled.

Their lips met just before their tongues did. Maggie shoved Nick’s back into the lockers to create a scene.

Their lips broke.

“Yikes,” Maggie said.

“What?” Nick asked.

“No- it’s- ” Maggie said.

Someone shouted “Atta boy, Nick!”

“Well, here we go,” Nick said.