Chapter 8 - Wait for You

I was pretty peppy at pregame. Peppy enough Tonya came up to me and said, “That’s the Kate from Saturday.” I just smiled thinking about last night. He was powering over me. He was only 5-11, but at 5-7, he seemed like a giant to me. His body covered mine easily, and he just had a way to where I felt like I could surrender to him. I had come to realize that feeling bad about how I felt about Sidney put me in a pissy mood. After last night, I had learned to accept it, embrace it and not shy away from it. Of course, that was all in my head. He and I still needed to have “the talk”. I still had concerns, but it did me no good to occupy my thoughts with them right now. I just needed to enjoy the fact I had someone there who knew what I was going through on the mound.

There was something in the air that evening. It was like you knew you were destined for great things. We won 8-0 in five innings (there’s an eight-run rule in softball after five). We came out hitting the ball and I pitched a no-hitter, striking out 13. It felt good. I felt good. I just hoped we could keep it up and not let our guard down tomorrow night. One more win and we were national champions!!

My parents were beaming, as were Jen, Colby and Sidney. I was beaming! I was so happy! I hugged Daddy, Jen, Mom, Colby and Sidney. Colby and Sidney both gave me pecks on the cheek. I imagine Sidney talked him in to so it didn’t look so suspicious. I blushed as his lips touched my cheek. They were soft against my skin, the complete opposite of how they’d been the night before.

I kept it brief with them. Hopefully, after tomorrow night, I would have all day Wednesday to spend with them. In keeping my routine, I said my goodbyes and put my bag under the bus. As I expected, I got a text message just as we were leaving the lot. “Call me l8r. Sid.” was all it said. That was enough to make me smile.

I took my usual postgame shower and picked up the phone to call Jen.

“Can you come down here for a bit. I need to talk to you.”

“Yeah, sure, I’ll see you in five.”

Five minutes later there was a knock on my door. I was glad to see her. I needed to convey to her what I was feeling.

“He’s driving me crazy, Jen.”

“Well, I see the feeling is mutual then because you’re driving him crazy.”

“This is insane! How can he just show up here and make me feel this way? How am I letting myself act like this? You know he came down here last night! If my coaches knew I had a guy in my room, my ass would have been on the bench today.”

“Kate, it’s an attraction. I know you’re not that experienced with guys, but when I first met Colby, it was the same way. We’d been around each other for five days and we were smitten with each other – and that was a year ago.”

“Jen, this just isn’t me.”

“Kate, let yourself go. You are too conservative for your own good. Too independent for your own good. You’ve spent the last four years building a wall around yourself and now someone has come along that wants to get to know you. Open a door and let him in. Give him a chance. You gave me one. Hell, the housing department put us together now look at us. Colby told me what Sidney said about seeing underneath you and how you wanted to be. He’s right. You’re fighting an internal battle of whether or not to be the good girl you’re perceived to be or the sexy, hot – head-on-her-shoulders – young female looking to have a good time.”

“Jen, I so want to ‘let myself go’ but I’m so afraid I’ll let people down.”

“Kate, just by letting yourself go doesn’t mean you have to give up your virginity. I know that’s something important to you, and you’re strong-willed enough to hold on to that. No one is going to be let down if you go on a date or kiss a guy. In fact, I know your mother would love it.”

“Do you honestly think he likes me or is he just using me?”

“Well, I’ve seen Sid pick up one-night stands before and even the occasional puck that hangs around, and he’s never called them the next day. He’s never pursued them. He’s never sent them flowers. So, I honestly think he likes you. Plus, he and I had a little talk the other day. And if he’s still pursuing you after that, then it’s because he likes you.”

“Oh dear, Jen. What’d you tell him?” I asked rolling my eyes. “You probably scared him away by telling him I was going to a convent or something.”

“Kate, I told him what any best friend would say to the guy pursuing the other best friend. I told him that if he hurt you, I would kick his ass. But I also told him why you’re still a virgin, and he respects that about you. My words were basically, this is who she is and she’s not going to change – take it or leave it.”

“Why does he act the way he does around his teammates then? He doesn’t seem like that kind of guy in the media.”

“The boy has had too much media training for his own good. But, it’s his personal life and he does what he wants to with it. Pittsburgh is great for them because they can do that kind of stuff and you don’t read about it because people respect that part of their lives. I can go shopping in Pittsburgh or go out on a date with Colby and not have to worry about 20 cameras in my face. Sidney’s at that age where he wants to have fun and the hormones are raging, but with all of his new responsibility, he’s changed some. In the past couple of months, he’s mellowed out – not completely – but some. You could be the next change for him, Kate. Just give him a chance.”

I gave her a hug. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. That’s what friends are for.”

“I know. Remind me to e-mail Mrs. Burnside in the housing department again and thank her for putting us together freshman year.”

“Is she even still there?”

“Last I heard, she was.” I said as we both started to laugh.

We spent another 30 minutes just talking about random things, but not Sidney. It was nice to have that girl-time again. She and I had grown so close since freshman year when we were randomly assigned to Room 112 in Parker-Adams Hall. It’s hard to believe that August would mark the first time in four years we haven’t lived under the same roof.

When Jen left I climbed into bed and dialed Sidney’s number.

“Hey, I can’t talk long. I really need my sleep tonight.”

“That’s ok, I understand completely. Did you and Jen have a good time?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Colby and I spent some time talking while you two were doing the same.”

“Oh. I see.”

“I know you need your sleep. Just hearing your voice is enough for me, just for tonight. Tomorrow night I expect to be celebrating a national championship with you.”

“I’m going to do my part, that’s for sure.”

“Well, you get some sleep, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Ok. Goodnight, Sidney.”

“Goodnight, superstar.”