Chapter 26

Andrew

After struggling up into my passenger seat, Gina awkwardly twists her legs around each other to hide the smattering of light hair on her leg.

Jake’s teasing causes her cheeks to blush deeply, and she throws her bag into the back seat, aiming at his head. I glance down again.

It really isn’t that noticeable, her hair is so fair, not like when my mom doesn’t shave.

You’d think being blonde, her leg hair would be blonde too, but it is a darker brown, and she always curses the fact that it grows through so quickly.

Gina flashes a grateful smile my way when I tell her not to worry about it.

I pull up outside their house, and Jake quickly disappears inside.

I can see Gina struggling with getting down from my Jeep, so I jog around to help her, lifting her out holding under her armpits.

She blushes again and mumbles, “thanks.” I reach around and scratch the back of my neck, feeling my cheeks go slightly warm too.

“S’okay.” My voice comes out kinda raspy.

We walk slowly up to the front door, Gina limping slightly still. I hover behind her as we walk upstairs, worried she might lose balance and fall if there is no one to catch her.

From Jake’s room comes the familiar sound of superhero movies, and Gina tuts loudly.

“Some best friend, huh?” she says to me over her shoulder.

“I am the bestest of friends, ~actually!~” Jake emerges from the bathroom and stands in front of us with his hands on his hips.

He takes Gina’s hands and leads her into the room. He’s running her a bath, bubbles already threatening to cascade down the side.

A smile graces her face, and she flings her arms around his neck. Jake winks at me over her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her waist and swinging her around.

“It’s okay, Smidge. I’m sure I can get over your doubt in my friendship abilities someday.”

“Shut up, you dork.” Gina smacks him on the shoulder. “And both of you get out so I can get into this luxurious bath you’ve so lovingly prepared for me.”

***

The rest of senior year seems to fly by, and soon enough, it’s time for the last game of the season. It is against our biggest rivals, and the whole school is pumped.

Last year, we’d lost by a point. A single fucking point! So we are eager to beat their asses this time.

It is lunchtime, and I am lying on one of the bleachers listening to my friends bad-mouth the other team.

Gina and Katy are sitting a few rows behind us, Gina trying to help Katy do some more SAT prep. Both myself and Gina took our SATs at the beginning of the year. She had annoyingly scored 1600.

So did I, but I wanted to be the only one in our graduating class to get top score.

My phone cuts through the conversation. Jake changed it to play “Super Freak” by Rick James, and every single time it goes off, he pisses himself laughing.

My mom’s name flashes on the screen.

“Hey, Mom, what’s up?”

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry…”

I sit up straight. “What is it?”

“Both your father and I have been called into work. I know this is bad timing, but we’ve got no one to look after the girls.

“I can’t get hold of any of the usual babysitters. The neighbors are on holiday this weekend…”

“Fuck!” I rake my fingers through my hair.

“What’s wrong, dude?” Jake touches my knee.

I cover the mouthpiece with my hand. “My folks have got to work, and there’s nobody available to have Lottie and Sammy.”

“Well, you can’t not play!”

“I can do it.” Gina’s soft voice comes from behind me.

“What?” I turn to her. In my ear, I can hear my mom asking what’s going on.

“Your sisters loved me. Your mom knows who I am. I can look after them.” She shrugs.

“Are you sure?” She rolls her eyes in exasperation and snatches my phone from my ear.

“Hi, Mrs. McGabe, it’s Gina. Yeah… yeah. I’d be happy to help. Okay. Yeah, I’ll get the address from AJ. No worries. Bye!”

She hangs up and hands my phone back with a smirk. “Let me know the address of their preschool and give me your house key.”

My friends laugh at her bossy tone, and I feel my ears burn as I prise my keys from my tight jeans pocket.

I drop them into her outstretched hand. “I’ll take them home and feed them. Then we’ll come watch you play, and you can take them back home with you after.”

“Okay. Th-thanks, George.”