Vince's first Varsity football game 2017
My family and Vicki sit in the middle of the crowded bleachers focusing on the field where Vince sits on the bench because he's a sophomore, but my dad believes because of his abilities and all of the work he's put in he might get to stand up. Harper and I are leaning against the fence of the bleachers trying to understand the play going on. Easing our confusion and lack of football knowledge someone scores a touchdown and everyone on our side of the field goes wild.
"Woah those cheerleaders are so flexible!" Harper says. She isn't seeing the field or any of the football players, instead her eyes are glued on to the cheerleaders who in this nightly breeze are in the shortest blue and white uniforms.
''Yup they sure are," I say. I place my face in my palm and gaze off at the cheerleaders who's thin legs make sme cross my chubby ones that are hiding under my big black hoodie. If I had to guess why Harper is so infatuated with these high ponytailed cheerleaders I would say it's because next year when we're in highschool she's going to be the first person in line at tryouts. Then again I've seen her stare at the volleyball players in their shorts, swimming team in their tight one pieces, and basically every other female team.
"Oh my god it's half time," Harper gushes. She claps and jumps up and down as the cheerleaders begin to start dancing on the track in sync. While she cheers them on my eyes wander over to the field where the players are downing their water bottles and being crowded by the trainers with towels. There's so much blue it's blinding, and I look back to Vince on the bench. He's no longer by himself and standing over him is Chase or to me the star of this game as his caramel skin glows and he strokes his curls. He's also on the bench with Vince and the reason I've been able to focus on the field.
"Aww someone has a little crush," Harper coos and my eyes move from Chase. Chase is way too good looking for someone like me to crush on him, I don't have a crush on him I just like to picture myself being beautiful enough to be with him. Other than that with my frizzy straight hair and clothes from the plus size section I know my place.
"Do you want to get something to eat?" I ask.
Harper's eyes don't leave and her mouth is slowly opening as one cheerleader reveals her under shorts while doing three backflips.
"I'm good." It's probably because I'm bored and love the taste of food, but I' not good and I start heading off the bleachers to the snack stand. I get in the semi long line and fiddle with the five dollar bill in my pocket. The choices are basic football game fast food which I know I don't need, but all of the seven people in this line don't need them either. I'll settle for the veggie chips, unlike the people who are in the front of the line getting hot dogs drowned in every condiment.
"Hey Daya," Someone yells, and I turn around. Not too far from the line is Unna and she's with some boy whos has a skateboard and sandy blonde hair. She can pass for a cheerleader with her long legs and her micro braids in a high ponytail. I put my frizzy damaged bangs behind my ear and give her a little wave. She giggles and grabs the boy's hand and leads him the opposite way of the field. Suddenly I don't want veggie chips even when they're low sodium.
Instead of waiting in line I go into the bathroom which is all clean and nice for the game. I stand in front of the mirror and look myself up and down. There are so many things wrong with me between my hair that needs to be straightened again to my collar that's awkwardly fitting making me. It looks like I should be in one of those half washed commercials. Hiding my wrinkled Target shirt I zip my hoodie up some more, clean my glasses, and give myself one pout before walking out.
I start walking, but stop to take a sip of water. I make sure none of my hair touches the water fountain as it definitely doesn't need any water contact.
When I lift my head up there's a guy leaning against the wall next to the boy's bathroom. He's the definition of a guy hiding out in the shadows with a black leather jacket that matches his skin tone and cornrows. There are not the slick nice cornrows, but the frizzy ones that could use some eco gel.
I start walking but he looks up at me and his husky voice stops me. "Hey you look cute,"Â he says. Eww I don't, and he looks like he can legally get into a bar. I keep on walking because guys who hang around the bathroom are never good to have conversations with. "Uhh come on, don't do me like that baby," he says. I keep on walking, but I stop when I see Unna and her group talking not too far from me. Hopefully this guy isn't a rapist or murderer because I turn around and stand by the water fountain with a good amount of space between me and the guy.
"Ahh now you come back, what's your name shorty?"
"Daya," I say.
"Daya so you're parents are on some creative art shit," he laughs. I look over to Unna and her and her group., they're still there looking beautiful and intimidating keeping me here with this weirdo.
"No not really."
"You want to know my name?"
"I'm good."
His forehead creases and he's no longer laughing. He sticks his phone in his pocket and walks closer to me. I shiver and there's no longer that much space between us. The worst part about this is this bathroom area and the water fountains are pretty much deserted, and it's just us.
He towers over me, and I can feel his hot breath coming down one me. "It's alright you don't need to know my name." God please don't let this man tell me his name is bend over.
"Ok I have to go." I take one step to my side, but he follows and gets in front of me. He takes his index finger and thumb and squeezes my cheeks. A smile spreads across his face at the fact he's now silenced me or it's the appearance of how much fat are in my cheeks.
"You know what they say about girls with a lot of fat in their cheeks, they give the best -"
"Yo whats going on here!" Vince's voice booms and the guys hand drops. The guy takes a step back and I'm about to let out a breath, but Vince is charging to the guy.
"Yo mans is this your girl? my bad" The guy says and raises his hands.
"She's my sister," Vince yells. The guy has several inches on him, but Vince overpowers him and grabs his neck to bang the guy against the wall. No one else is around and I just stand off to the side by the bathroom conflicted on what to say or do.
"Aight man I'm sorry don't you got a game to pay?"
"You bet I do so I'm going to make this quick, touch my sister or any 13 year old girl again those nappy cornrows won't be your only problem," Vince hisses and his grip seems to get tighter around the guy's neck.
"Vince stop," I scream over the loud people by the food stand. Vince looks at me and then back at the guy.
"Do we have a deal," Vince yells again. The guy nods and Vince throws him to the side. The guy stumbles off and Vince's scold is now directed at me. He throws his arm over my shoulder and looks down at me. "You ok?"
"I'm fine."
"What did he say to you?"
"That girls with fat cheeks give better you know what."
"No one says that." That's exactly what I was thinking. As we walk Unna and her group are gone and I wish I could've had the confidence to walk past them instead of getting my cheeks squeezed which sounds dirty as hell. Before Vince goes back onto the field he drops his hand from my shoulder and turns to face me. "We're not going to speak about this ok again?"
"Ok," I nod. Vince patts me on the shoulder and runs back onto the field where he sits back on the bench. I walk back to the bleachers and Harper is staring at the cheerleaders like I never left. I go back to the same space where Jessica Hamlin is now smiling at the field and clapping up and down. I knew Vince and I are close, but I never thought he would do that for me. I thought he was only capable of being aggressive on the field, but now I know he'll be willing to treat anyone like an opponent. What's crazy is I never thought I was pretty or valuable enough for Vince to fight for me, and it's certainly a bittersweet thing.