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Guess I’m going to the snack bar.
I take Iris’s hand, snatch the cash from Dad’s fingers and head up the stairs toward the snack bar at the top of the stands, just beneath the game announcers’ box. I say hi to a few familiar faces as we walk past, and once we’re in line, I breathe a sigh of relief.
I’m worried we’ll run into Silas or Alana or the two of them together, and I really don’t want to deal. They’ll only make me more anxious and I’m dealing with enough.
“Your dad eats hot dogs?” Iris sounds surprised.
“He likes them.” I shrug. “Not like he gets them much.”
“True.” Iris nods. “The pizza here is good. They bring it in from that one Italian restaurant in town.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had their pizza before, though their food is always good.”
“You’ll love it. Get pepperoni though. The cheese slices are a little bland.”
I’m about to answer when I see them. Silas and Alana. Together.
Ugh.
My stomach sinks and I turn to the side, hoping they don’t see me. I don’t want to get pulled back into their drama yet again.
“What’s going on?” Iris asks. “You’re getting all weird.”
“Alana and Silas,” I say out of the side of my mouth. “They’re right over there.”
“Together?” Iris glances around me, making a face when she spots them. “I guess that little fight was no big deal, huh?”
“Looked like a big deal to me.” I scoot closer to Iris and keep my back to the line, and hopefully to Alana and Silas if they happen to pass by. Which they do.
Only to get in line directly behind us.
I share a look with Iris, unsure of how to go about this. Talk about awkward. But then Iris gets this determined look on her face and I know she’s going to open her mouth and say something. I brace myself, waiting for the damage.
“Hey, Silas.” Oh, Iris’s voice is so so cold. “Alana.”
“Hey, Iris.” This comes from Alana, her voice just as cool. “Hi, Willow.”
She greets me deliberately and extra loud and I barely look in their direction. “Hi.”
We all four go silent and I pray the parents working the snack bar are as quick as Iris promised they would be. I heard the people who work the snack bars during games are parents. I wonder if my parents did that last year, and would they do it again next year? I can only imagine Dad plating pizza while Mom collects the money. It would probably be funny to watch them.
Iris nudges me and I send a glare in her direction, scowling when she has the nerve to look like she’s about to burst out laughing. The tension among us is ridiculous. I just want them gone.
“If you want to leave, I’ve got this,” Iris whispers in my ear. “I know they’re torturing you.”
Sending her a grateful look, I grab her hand and squeeze it. “Thank you. I do need to use the bathroom real quick.”
I take off, not saying a word to Alana or Silas, desperate to get away from them. I only breathe easier when they’re out of the vicinity and I slip into the bathroom to use it, relieved to find it’s mostly empty. But when I’m in a stall, a bunch of giggling girls enter the restroom, talking so loudly I can’t help but overhear their conversation.
“Did you see him? My God, he’s so hot. You think he’ll notice me?”
“Maybe if you flash him your tits, he’ll notice you.”
They all burst into laughter.
“I’m not wearing a bra. Hopefully that’ll catch his eye.”
Oh God. Who are they talking about?
