Free Covering the Carolinas by Casey Peeler

in my face.
Brett is a good guy, and I don’t want that to impact our
future.”
    I can see Carleigh beginning to fume, and I know
she’s about to blow. “You mean to tell me you’ll tell Brett but not
GC?” She waits and I say nothing. “That’s fucked up. There’s no
other way to put it.”
    Without saying a word, I turn to go back to my
room and I scream. Yes, it’s fucked up, but it’s my choice. GC has
moved on, and it’s not like he’s ever going to see Gunner. He’s in
Gaffney, and I know GC plans on moving back home after school, or
at least that was his plan.
Going to my closet, I pull a small plastic container from the top
shelf. Opening it, I take a deep breath as I look into it and
remove the necklace GC gave me. I place it in my pocket so I can
tell Brett all about my past.
    GUNNISON
    Taking the court against Gardner-Webb, I know
this game isn’t going to be as tough as some of our others, but
each time I step onto the court I give one hundred percent. I take
a minute to take it all in just like I do every game, but that’s
when I see her. Taking a
double take, my breathing begins to increase and my heart begins to
soar when I see not two, but three Anderson sisters talking in the
crowd. Her hair isn’t blonde anymore, it’s caramel just like her
sisters. As my eyes focus on her, trying to process that she is
actually here, I notice her starting to laugh, and when she smiles
there is no doubt that’s my Marleigh. As quickly as it soars, my
heart plummets when I see that her full attention is on
Brett. Fuckin’ A!
    “ Del Valle! Let’s go!” Coach yells and I know
that regardless of what I’m feeling, I’ve got a game to play, but
I will talk to her after.
There is no way in hell she’s leaving this gym without talking to
me. It takes every ounce of focus and self-control to pull myself
together, step on the court, and not run to her. Play for her. Show her who you’ve become and what
she’s missing.
    After warmups, I wait for the starting lineup
to be announced. When I hear my name, I walk out on the court and
get ready to help bring home another victory. As the clock begins
the first half, we dominate the other team. We don’t give them an
inch, but we take a mile. Every time the ball is passed my way,
I’ve already found the next pass or shot. We are on fire. I try my
best not to look in the crowd, but I can feel her watching me. Refusing to look, I play
with more heart than I have in a long time.
    As the buzzer sounds for half time, we exit the gym
as the cheerleaders take the court. “Hey, Del Valle, you okay?
You’re grinning like an opossum, and I’m pretty sure this has
nothing to do with the game,” Wade says as we enter the locker
room. I try to shake it off, but then he has to keep talking. “So
you and Summer getting that serious?” Crap, I wasn’t even thinking
about her at all, so much for moving on.
    “ I’m not going there. We’ve got a game to
win,” I state as we listen to Coach and get ready to start the
second half.
    The second half feels like an eternity with each
tick of the clock. I’ve never been as ready for a game to be over
in my life. As the final moments come into play, I risk it all as I
look into the stands for Marleigh, and when my eyes catch hers, I
wink and terror flashes across her face as she turns to her sisters
to avoid me.
    The buzzer sounds. I don’t think; I sprint to her.
Hearing my name in the distance, I know it’s Summer but I don’t
care. I’ve got to get to her.
    As I reach the stands, I can see how nervous she is
while she tries to remain calm and get Brett and her sisters to
hurry up. Carleigh and Tinleigh vanish from the stands quickly, but
Brett is in a conversation with one of his teammates.
    “ Mar!” I shout. She tries to ignore me, but I
don’t allow her. Taking two bleachers at a time, I come face to
face with the girl who stole my heart and never gave it
back.
    “ Marleigh, when did you get here?” I