The Crossover

emory

My stomach stirred. It has been stirring since the buzzer went off, deafening our ears for a second. The stirring never stopped even after Jameson scored the winning point. Despite jumping up from our seats and cheering in the air for our school’s five-peat championship, the stirring just won’t stop. It may not have been about the Basketball game, but I just knew that something was going to happen. I just didn’t know what that something was yet.

Livvie, Cam, Daze, Holly, and I have been to enough games to think better than to leave the stadium right after the game. The floor was going to be flooded with a sea of people if we were to go out the second it ended.

“Oh my God, that was one of the best games we’ve ever watched.” Daze leaned back on her seat, staring at the now-empty court.

Beside her, Cam chuckles. “You’re just saying that because of Logan.”

“Obviously,” Daze said. Even if she didn’t outright admit it, the hearts in her eyes were a clear sign that she was smitten with the new transferee of Astor U. “How about you Em? How was your search?”

I promise you, hunting for tall, hot, backwards-wearing-cap, jersey shirt men wasn’t the only reason why we watched these games. Okay, well, maybe in the start that was what drew us to the ticket booth at the center hall during our Freshman Year. But, as the year passed it became tradition for us to watch at least one of the Grizzly’s basketball games. Aside from the sight-seeing, it was the crowd that brought us back here each year. There was something about wearing your school’s color – maroon for us, and screaming your lungs. Singing along to the cheers knowing that half of the stadium was on your side…It was a different type of energy, one that made you feel alive. I loved every second of it.

“Your boyfriend was here tonight. He said hi to me.” Holly chipped into the conversation, her lips curled in disgust. By “boyfriend,” they meant my ex, ex something. I didn’t even know how to explain whatever it is we were. Ex-best friend, ex-crush, ex-crush. Whatever he was, it didn’t matter. “I was in-line for the bathroom and he was too.”

“I saw him earlier too,” although I didn’t want to ruin the night by talking about him. God knows I’ve made my friends’ ears bleed for years over the same topic: Julian.

It was towards the end of my Junior Year when I met Julian Fuller. We were introduced to each other through a mutual friend, Allie (remember her name she’s one of the main character’s in our story). Allie and I were classmates and when I had found out that she was going to the same concert as me, I asked if I could hitch a ride with her. Only, I didn’t know that it wasn’t just going to be me. That’s when Julian enters. Everything had been fine throughout the night, I was in my own world dancing to the bass and singing along to my favorite song. The night ended with a failed promposal between Julian and Allie, and a very awkward car ride home with my dad behind the wheel. However even after that night, it wasn’t until my Senior Year where Julian and I got close.

“What? Really? Why didn’t you say anything?” Daze scowls at me, shaking her head. “You know what, this is starting to get annoying already. He keeps acting like we’re friends.”

After a soap opera’s worth of drama and lots of ghosting incidents, Julian and I’s friendship had come to an end before graduation. Ever since then, we haven’t exchanged a single word with each other. Our ignorance is actually really impressive if I’m being honest. The Universe disliked me enough to put Julian in the same University as me. As much as I wanted to escape him, it was impossible. Astor was a huge school, but somehow I would see him at every crook and cranny of the red-bricked buildings. He was like a cockroach, kept coming back and was impossible to get rid of.

“I’m sorry, but he’s not even handsome. And let’s not forget the beer. The nerve of that guy.”

Holly’s commentary makes my head throw back in laughter. If there was one thing I can count on my friends for it was adding humor to any situation or conversation we were in.

“Never forget the beer.” Cam raises her fist in the air, and the rest of us follow after her.

Standing up from her seat, Daze stretches her arms over head looking at the now-empty arena. “It’s good to go now.”

While Livvie makes sure that she left nothing behind, I stand behind her waiting for her to finish like some kind of bodyguard. Whenever we were out, it was a habit of mine to walk behind everybody. Before they used to force me to stand next to them, but the forcing stopped when they realized that sooner or later I’ll be gravitating behind them. I just liked to see where everybody was, it made me worry less.

By the time we arrived in the parking lot, no more cars were lined up at the exit sign. In events like these, patience was the only answer to your problems.

“God I’m starving!” Cam exclaimed, unlocking her car. Holly gets into the front seat and Livvie in the back. “Where are we meeting?”

I shrug my shoulders letting them decide. Out of the five of us, I was the least picky when it came to food. As long as it was edible, it was going down my stomach.

“I want sushi,” Daze said. “Can we sushi, please?”

Nobody rejects the offer. With that we get into our car- oh my god. Before we go, I get my purse and dig through it. “Hey guys, have you seen my phone?” Each of them open their bags and shake their heads. Tracing back to where I put it, I’m about to bang my head on the car when I remember that I left it in the cupholder of our seats. “Daze, just ride with Cam. I’m going to go and look for my phone inside.”

“It’s fine, I can help you look.” She offered.

“No it’s okay, you guys go ahead and get a table,” Shogun was always full, especially now that there was a game just ten minutes away. No doubt, other Astor U student’s were already parking their cars. “Daze, I know you’re three minutes away from killing somebody,” my best friend’s hangriness was not for the weak. “You guys go, I’ll follow. Order me my usual, please.”

After a few more “no’s,” they eventually give in and they are pulling out of the parking lot. Hungry and annoyed, I make my way back into the arena. As I walked through the halls, my footsteps echoed around its eerie halls and I suddenly regret sending Daze away. Sure she got scared easily, but at least if we were here together we would have been scared together. Wanting to get out of here in the fastest way possible, I quicken my steps to the fourth fall.

Just as I remembered, my bright pink case was in the cupholder. Tucking it into my pocket, I’m about to leave when I notice a shadowed figure down by the court. From where I was standing, he was a bit of a blur but even if I were far away I could still make out the broadness of his shoulders. The figure was hunched, head in his hands. Was he okay? Before I could realize what I was doing, my feet made their way down the steps until they touched the shiny court floor.

“Hey,” I heard myself say. What was I doing? The figure doesn’t look up nor does he move an inch. He was wearing the Astor U varsity uniform. As I got closer, my entire body froze as the number 8 behind his back came into view. No way. In a panic, I begin to step back and am about to hightail it out of there, but my feet are pinned to the ground when a pair of dark eyes are staring right back at me.

“I’m not taking any pictures with fans right now.”

My lips pressed together before a surprised chuckle escaped me. Eyes widening, I slap a hand over my mouth. I didn’t mean to laugh in his face, but how could I not after what he had just said. “What?”

“The meet and greet happened earlier. I would appreciate it if you left.” Carrington Montgomery glared. Oh my god, The Grizzly’s pride-and-joy, Astor’s Golden boy had just glared at me. In my almost two years of being here, this was the first time this has happened to me. Actually, thinking about it now, this was the first conversation I have ever had with THE Carrington Montgomery. Ugh, I really should have let Daze come with me. If she were here right now, she’d be bouncing on her toes and holding back squeals.

The urge to laugh became more apparent as he continued to glare at me, waiting for a response. The way his first assumption was about me wanting to take a picture with him was funny. I suppose he did have a lot of fans, the hundreds of girls wearing jerseys with the letter 8 and Montgomery written at the back was evidence enough.

An irritated sigh leaves him which brings me back to the present. My gaze goes back to him and I do my best to keep my face straight. However, it was hard not to let my eyes wander. It was no secret that Carrington Montgomery had the face that very girl dreamed of. Clear, unblemished skin. Perfectly, symmetrical features. Dark, brown eyes that made you melt into chocolate. Messy, but not messy hair. Don’t even get me started on his arms- oh my god, focus Em. Shutting my eyes for a brief second, I bring my gaze back up to him. All this time he has been staring at me, not once changing his line of vision. “If I take a picture with you, will you leave?”

I raise a brow at him. “You know, you keep insisting on that picture. I’m starting to think that it’s you who wants a picture with me.”

His lip curls in confusion. “What?”

“I was kidding,” I shake my head, then wave my phone in the air. “I left my phone. I just came back to get it.” Not to take a picture with you, I add in my head.

The scowl he had on drops. “Oh.” Running a hand through his hair, he looks away. “I’m sorry.” He apologizes. “For acting like a dick.”

His shoulders were tense, just like his voice. Something was wrong. Not with me, but with him. I should just walk away, get into the car, and inhale every piece of the Spicy Salmon Sushi that’s waiting for me. Although my mind and body seemed to not be in sync as I found myself sitting next to Carrington on the bench. His gaze was kept straight, seemingly distant. If he had a problem with me sitting next to him, he wouldn’t say anything about it. I really should leave.

“It’s fine.” I wave it off.

Silence falls between the two of us.

“Is everything alright?” Of course, I’m the first to break it. Quietness and stillness made knots tie into my stomach. There was just something so unnerving about it. I suppose it was because chaos was what I was used to. Him not answering was my first warning to leave, however my mouth had other plans. I don’t know, leaving him here just felt wrong. “You guys just won the championship, shouldn’t you be out celebrating?” Win or lose, after every game without fail there would always be a party around the block. I bet you one hundred dollars that by tomorrow morning, Frat row would be lined with red plastic cups and half-naked men.

Facing me, he cocks his head to the side. “Why are you still here?”

Oooookay. Was this the guy that all of Astor U was in love with? Really. Despite my gut telling me to stay, for once I don’t listen to it. Carrington and I, we weren’t friends and if he wanted me to leave then I was going to leave. Standing, I give him a small, genuine smile. “Sorry for bothering you. Whatever it is that’s bothering you, I hope it’ll get better soon. Good night.”

With one last wave, I head out.