Page 10 of Penalty Shots
“So,” I say, slipping my hands into my pockets. “A little birdie told me you have no interest in school spirit.”
She looks up from her book only briefly before returning her gaze to the page she’s reading. It’s from our English Lit class. I know this because I’ve already read it.
“What’s it to you?” she says snarkily.
I shrug. “It’s just… my girlfriend seems to consider you a friend. Crazy, I know. What kind of friend doesn’t come out to any of her events and refuses to participate in the things that are important to her, right?” I scoff sarcastically.
She shuts the book and stares at me. It’s dark, but I can tell there’s heat in her eyes. She’s trying to shoot lasers that we both know she doesn’t possess. It’s cute that she’s trying, though.
“Rina, would you please join us in taking off our clothes and jumping into a freezing body of water in nothing but our underwear so that my girlfriend can be happy and I can get laid tonight?” I beg.
“That entire statement is the reason why I don’t particularly like you, Landry.”
I put my palms together in prayer hands and give her my best rendition of puppy dog eyes.
She sighs, then stands up, brushing the back of her sweats with one hand, and pushing the book she was just reading into my chest. “I’m a damn good friend, okay? Don’t mistake my disinterest in participating in group activities as a failure to be there for people that I care about.”
“So you’ll do it?” I ask. “For Jenny?”
She lets the hand holding her book fall to the side. “Onlyfor Jenny,” she says.
“Cool,” I smile, motioning for her to lead the way. “I guess I'll finally see you lose those sweats,” I play.
She stops walking, and I bump into her. Looking back at me over her shoulders, she declares, “I seriously hate you.”
I put both my hands on her shoulders and push her to keep walking. “I’m no fan of you either, party pooper. I’m just trying to keep my girl happy.”
“Well, you suck at it. Because I’m not jumping.”
I laugh, still guiding her forward from behind. “Yes, you are.”
“No,” she says. “I’m not. I’ll dip my toes, but I amnotswimming.”
“It’s called a plunge for a reason, Rina. You let go of your clothes and inhibitions and ring in the new year doing something carefree. And I think you could use a little shaking up in your world.” I attempt to shake some life into her shoulders as I say it.
She shrugs out of my hold and turns to me.
“I can’t swim,” she finally admits as we near the area where Ryker and the team are waiting. Jenny is now on the megaphone.
“Seriously?” I ask her. “Are you just saying that?”
“No, I don’t know how to swim, and I’m not about to start the new year by drowning so…”
“Fine, we’ll jump together. Ryker and I will be on either side of you to make sure you don’t drown. Okay?”
She groans.
I lean in so she can hear me over the chants that Jenny leads the crowd in.
“Let loose, Rina. We’re only eighteen once. We don’t get these years back.”
We reach Ryker just as Jenny and her girls finish the New Year’s cheer. The crowd bursts into applause. There’s more beer-can spraying from the soccer team.
Jenny hands the megaphone back to JR and comes up to us.
“Getting you to do anything fun is like going fishing with my bare hands,” Jenny says to her roommate, nudging her with her hip.
“Yeah, well. How can I miss an opportunity to get half-naked in front of my entire school?” Rina deadpans.