Free One Trip Around the Sun by Amy Roe Page B

you, Brady. I don’t know why, but she does.”
    “Wow. What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “No, that came out wrong. Reese doesn’t think she deserves much, so she doesn’t let herself go there with guys. If you tell her I said that, I’ll kick you in the balls the next time I see you.” She starts backing away down the hall. “I have to get going.”
    I follow behind her. “Why doesn’t she think she deserves much?” I knew I wouldn’t get an answer. I just wanted to see her reaction more than anything.
    “If you’re really interested in getting to know her, you’ll figure that out for yourself. Thanks for the help in class.”
    I call after her one last time, “Chelsea?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Do your own homework tonight.” I smile at her and head down the senior hallway.
    Okay, so I didn’t get much out of Chelsea, but the confirmation that Reese does like me is all I want anyway.

Tomorrow is the big night, so I’m at The Pit to find Matt. I know he hangs out here on Fridays, and I saw his car when I pulled in. As I’m walking alone down the path leading to the fire pit, I’m nervous.
    Never having been here on a Friday night, I didn’t realize how crowded it would be. There sure is a lot of commotion. As I make my way into the clearing, I take a step backward, almost falling on my ass.
    On the opposite side of the bonfire, there’s a fight. I’ve seen several fights down here, but most of them don’t usually make it much past a few punches before someone breaks it up. Nobody is even trying to break up this one. People are cheering them on instead. I stand, shocked and afraid, as everyone jumps up and down, screaming.
    Finally, when my curiosity gets the best of me, I take a couple of steps toward the crowd. I can barely see over them, so I can’t make out who is fighting. A girl runs away from the crowd as she answers her phone. I move back before stopping near where she’s standing.
    “Hey, Mom. I’m at a basketball game,” she lies to her mom.
    Basketball game, my ass.
    I look at her, and she shrugs her shoulders as she smilessheepishly.
    “Okay, I’ll call you later,” she says before hanging up.
    As she passes me, I call out to her, “Hey, what happened?”
    She shakes her head, confused by my question. “What do you mean?”
    I raise my eyebrows and nod toward the fight.
    “It’s Friday,” she says matter-of-factly.
    “And?”
    “There are always fights on Fridays.”
    “Oh. Why are they fighting?”
    “I just told you. It’s Friday. I’ve seen you here before, right?”
    I’m so irritated. “Yes.”
    “Okay. Then, you know Fridays are fight nights,” she says.
    “I’ve never been here on a Friday.”
    “Oh. Well, it’s kinda kept on the down low, so don’t go blabbing to anyone.”
    “I won’t.” But I actually can’t wait to tell Chelsea.
    “Brady is gonna win. He always wins when he fights.”
    “Brady?”
    “Yeah, Brady Fisher. You know him?”
    What in the actual fuck is going on with my life lately? Am I just blind?
    “Yeah, kinda.” I guess not as much as I thought.
    “Well…” She motions with her eyes until I finally understand that she wants my name.
    “Reese.”
    “I’m Tara. I gotta get back to my boyfriend. Don’t go telling our little secret, okay?”
    “I won’t.” I shake my head.
    I make my way into the crowd, so I can see better, but I instantly regret it. It is brutal.
    Brady is wearing tight black shorts under a pair of white baggy shorts with blood on them and no shirt. He’s got a swollen eye, blood dripping down from it. He’s moving gracefully though, like he did when we boxed at the gym.
    The other guy punches Brady so hard in the ribs that I gasp and turn away. A feeling of nausea comes over me. I can’t watch anymore.
    Wandering away, I find a seat near the fire. I see several girls who, like me, probably couldn’t stand to watch the fight either. Sitting on a log away from everyone else, I’m trying to gather my