Starstruck

Chapter 12b: Axial tilt (part 2)

CHAPTER 12

Axial tilt (part 2)

"You did it!" I cried as we met on the track. "You won!"

Before I had time to think, he grabbed me and swung me around in a tight bear hug. "I couldn't have done it without you," he murmured in my ear as he set me back down.

I wasn't sure I believed that, but it was still wonderful to hear. Almost as wonderful as that unexpected hug had been. Belatedly, I became aware of the crowd around us, all eager to congratulate Rigel on the amazing game he'd played.

And then I remembered Bri.

Reluctantly, I let some of the other Jewel fans have their chance to talk to Rigel and turned to look for her--only to see her staring at me from several yards away. I smiled and waved as I started toward her, but before I'd taken three steps, she suddenly whirled around and headed for the parking lot.

I stopped, hurt all over again. She'd definitely seen me, and just as clearly didn't want to talk to me. It looked like I was going to have to chase her down and force her to listen, even though I didn't know what I'd say.

"Where are you going?" Rigel asked from behind me. "Mom and Dad are over here." He draped an arm over my shoulders as he gestured to where they stood with the coaches and some other parents.

At his touch, nearly every other thought left my head--as always. But I managed to focus long enough to say, "It's Bri. She's mad at me and I thought I should try--"

"What's she mad about?"

I shrugged, since there was no way I was telling him the truth. "Just girl stuff."

He gave my shoulders a little squeeze. "You can call her tomorrow. Come on." He led me back to his admiring throng.

Normally I would have felt hugely out of place surrounded by cheerleaders and football players and other super-cool types, but with Rigel's arm still around me, I felt only the tiniest bit awkward. Everyone was raving about him, patting him on the back, saying it was the best quarterbacking they'd ever seen. A couple of the players smiled at me, but none of the cheerleaders did. Not that that surprised me.

"C'mon, Rige, you gotta ride the bus home," David Jaworski yelled over to him. "It's gonna be a party all the way!"

"Yeah," said Michael Best, another sophomore player. "It won't be half as fun without our star QB. We need our miracle man to help us celebrate."

Heather, the head cheerleader--a gorgeous brunette senior--joined in. "He's right, Rigel. We'll be on the bus, too, and you know cheerleaders know how to party."

There was a shrill chorus of agreement from the rest of the squad. Trina gave me a mean smile, then whispered something to Bryce Farmer, making him laugh. It made me wonder again what she'd said to Bri earlier.

But Rigel shook his head. "Sorry, guys, can't, but you all have fun. You all did a great job out there. And so did you," he added to the cheerleaders. "You kept us motivated."

There was a flurry of protests, but he just smiled and steered me back toward his parents.

"You can take the bus if you want to," I told him with what I thought was admirable selflessness. "You deserve to celebrate with the team after that game."

He grinned down at me. "You really wouldn't mind me partying with the cheerleaders all the way back to Jewel?"

"Okay, I might mind a little," I admitted. "But it's not like I have any right to--"