Chapter One
Summer passed quickly and in what felt like the blink of an eye Donnie was walking into the gym after the first day of school. He felt like nothing could hold him down. All of his hard work had paid off and he had swept his half-brother’s team over the summer. He clapped his hands together, enjoying the memories of the saves he made against Jason and everyone else who dared to take a shot on him. Word had spread quickly around the area and by the end of the summer girls from all grades were coming to watch the wars between him and Jason. He loved it.
“There’s our summer star,” Donnie said to Bennett as he lazily strolled into the gym.
“Summer’s over,” he grunted, dropping his bag to the floor.
“It is,” Donnie said, “but I can still smell it, you know? The grass, the heat, the—”
“The sweat?” Bennett finished for him. “Ugh, I can’t believe we’re back in school. This sucks. I don’t want to be here, I’m so over high school.”
“For Clark, I don’t think summer could’ve ended soon enough,” Donnie said.
“I don’t want to hear about that sucker and his crush on Heaven.”
“I think we’re talking about a bit more than a crush, Bennett. I think he’s in love.”
“Love?” Bennett snorted. “Love is for old biddies and those who feel that no one can love them. It’s for those who cling to the idea that beauty is fleeting—”
“Beauty is fleeting—”
“Not at eighteen it’s not.”
“I’m sure Bea would disagree with you.”
“I’m sorry, did I mention her? Beatriz would leap at the chance to disagree with me about anything,” Bennett said, lazily tying his shoes as a few straggling freshmen and sophomores started filing into the gym. “And as for fleeting beauty, I don’t think Beatriz has anything to worry about.”
“Bea is beautiful,” Donnie said defensively.
“I didn’t say she wasn’t—”
“In fact, I was thinking about asking her the Harvest Dance.”
Bennett stopped fumbling with his laces and turned in Donnie’s direction. “You…what?” he asked. “We’re not going to the Harvest Dance.”
“Yeah, you and I aren’t because I’m not planning on asking you, Bennett,” Donnie said. “I said I was going to ask Bea.”
His look grew even more perplexed. “But…why? It’s senior year, why tie yourself down to anyone, let alone her? You have the pick of the litter—”
“And I choose Bea,” he said. “You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
“You know he does,” Clark said from the doorway. “Not that Bennett would ever admit it.”
“There’s nothing to admit,” Bennett said. Feeling Clark and Donnie’s eyes on him, he quickly tried to change the subject. “So what about you?” he asked as Clark set his bag next to them. “I know that you usually carry a blank stare like most women carry designer purses, but you look even more confused than usual. What’s up?”
“Heaven,” he said.
“Heaven?” Bennett repeated before realization crept into his features as he looked at the ceiling. “Oh, Heaven! Why yes, often when Beatriz tells me to go to Hell, I find comfort in thinking that a quiet Heaven may exist.”
“I don’t mean the Heaven with angels and harps,” Clark said. “I mean my Heaven.”
“Heaven George?” Bennett asked, feigning idiocy.
“You know who he means,” Donnie said.
“So you’re still on about this?” Bennett asked.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Do you really believe you’ve found love in Heaven’s arms?” Donnie asked, smiling.
“Or in her legs?” a new voice piped up. Bordin - one of Jason’s friends – stood in the doorway looking at them with mock disinterest. His dark hair was slicked back against his head, revealing his strong, sharp features, his chin jutting forward as he smiled.
“What’re you doing here?” Donnie snapped. “This is a team practice and you were cut earlier this summer.”
“That was only one opinion,” Bordin grunted.
“Yes, the coach’s,” Bennett said. “But don’t worry, Bordin. We all think you suck.”
“Shut the hell up,” Bordin said. “Or perhaps I should say the same to Bea? Maybe I could finally find a use for that busy mouth of hers—whoa!”
Bennett lunged forward suddenly, but Donnie and Clark each caught an arm, holding him back. Bordin chuckled at the scene.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” Donnie said.
“Whatever,” Bordin said. “I’m only checking in.”
“You mean, checking on?” Donnie snapped. “Spying for Jason? Get a life, Bordin.”
“Oh please, like I don’t have other things to do,” Bordin said.
“Then prove it by getting the hell out of here,” Bennett said, pulling down on his sleeves once he was released by his friends. “And if you talk about Beatriz like that again, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Bordin said. “Bore me to death with your attempts at wit or your lectures? Please, when I need some sleep I’ll take one of my mother’s Xanax. Enjoy your practice, losers,” he said, spinning on his heel and exiting the gym.
Bennett was still seething with anger. “I can’t stand that guy. He’s been pissed since coach cut him from the team.”
“Leave him, he’s not worth it,” Donnie said. “Jason’s still pissed because he lost the tournament over the summer and Bordin is the only connection he has to us. He’s hoping…” he trailed off with a frown in Clark’s direction. Tall and serene as always, their left-halfback lowered his chin to look at his teammates with a puzzled expression.
“He’s hoping for what?” Clark asked.
“He’s hoping that this thing you have going with Heaven will affect your play,” Donnie explained. “I talked to my dad. Clark, you better not lose focus this season.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “Don’t worry about me, worry about yourselves.”
“How is that whole thing going anyway?” Bennett asked. “Are you really taking her out?”
“I’m going over to her house after practice,” he said. “We’re going out for ice cream.”
“Diabetes,” Bennett choked out, feigning a cough.
Donnie ignored him. “So you’re going to talk to her dad?”
“I’ve talked to him before—”
“Not with the intention of taking his daughter out,” Donnie went on, starting to stretch. “He’s gonna look at you through different eyes now.”
“It’ll be fine,” Clark said. “It’s not like I’m going to make out with her in front of him. I’m a decent enough guy.”
“Decent? Is this the same decency you showed us over the summer at the after-game parties?” Bennett asked, chuckling at his friend’s expense.
“That was different. Summer’s over,” Clark snapped. “I only have eyes for Heaven now. She’ll be mine this year.” He heard Bennett scoff. “Bennett, you could always use me as an example and start up with Bea again.”
“Beatriz can do as she wants, because I know that she’ll have nothing to do with me,” Bennett said, crossing his legs to stretch his thighs. “Besides,” he said, glaring at Donnie, “this one’s wandering eye has settled on her.”
“You can’t be serious,” Clark said, surprised. “Donnie?”
“If Bennett wants to pretend that there’s nothing there between him and Bea, then at least someone decent should get her. I’ll treat her well, Bennett.” He glanced over, smiling at his friend’s discomfort. “Oh come on, if you don’t want me to date her then—”
“I need some water,” Bennett said abruptly, standing up and leaving the gym.
Clark turned back to Donnie, frowning. “Why do you do that shit, man?”
“Do what?”
“You know what,” Clark said. “Don’t get him all stirred up like that.??
?
“I’m trying to give him a push,” Donnie said.
“And if you keep pushing him like that you’re going to push him right off a cliff.”
“He’ll be fine.”
“You’re not really planning on asking Bea to the Harvest Dance, are you?” Clark asked.
Donnie stood up, stretching his arms over his head. “I guess that’s for you and Bennett to find out,” he said.
The two of them stretched in silence for a few minutes. When Bennett sauntered back into the gym he looked much more calm, and he joined them to finish up their stretches before their run. As he started to work out the kinks in his legs, Clark tried to get in some last minute conversation.
“Did you guys see Heaven at all today?”
“I saw her,” Bennett said.
“And?”
“And what?”
“What did you think about her?” Clark asked impatiently. “She looks different, right?”
“She looks the same.”
“She’s changed,” Clark said. “When I look at her, I can tell Bea was right. The summer has treated her well and she looks amazing with a tan.”
“Do you want to know my honest opinion?” Bennett asked.
“As if I could expect anything less—”
“Are you sure you mean that?” Donnie said, smiling. “If you ask him to speak the truth, be prepared – our boy can be blunt. We all know that Bennett is hardly capable of censoring himself.”
“Do you want me to speak plainly or not?” Bennett asked, turning to Clark.
“Yes.”
Rolling his eyes, Bennett stretched out his thighs. “Heaven, in all honesty, is a little too short for me—”
Clark grinned, undeterred. “I like her height.”
“I’ve always admired fair skin, and the summer has not been fair to her—”
“I think that’s a good thing—”
“I will say this,” Bennett snapped back, annoyed that he wasn’t able to get a full sentence in without Clark interrupting with his lovey-dovey defensiveness, “Heaven looks fine the way she is, if petite is what you’re looking for, though I will say that I do not care for her personally.”
“That’s what you have to say?” Clark asked. “Bennett, could it be that you only have eyes for one special—”
“I have eyes, Clark. I’ll agree with you on that. Why are you asking me, though? Are you seriously planning on going out with her?”
“If Heaven’s interested, yes.”
“You’ve been creeping her for long enough, Clark,” Donnie said. “I think you’ve been patient enough. Do you really think discussing your intentions with her father will go well?”
“I don’t see what could go wrong.”
Bennett grumbled, standing up and starting to stretch his neck and arms. “What’s with you guys lately? It’s senior year and all we’re doing is talking about females. You,” he said accusingly, pointing a finger at Donnie, “all summer you were talking about soccer this and soccer that and now you can only talk about taking Bea to that damn fall dance. And you,” he continued, jutting his chin towards Clark, “you expect to score with Heaven just because it’s your senior year? We graduate this year, guys. There’s no point in starting up anything serious. What is the most that we can expect? A fling? A long distance relationship where you call each other over video chat and make awkward small talk? Count me out.” He stormed out the door to join the rest of the team for their run.
“What’s his problem?” Clark grunted. “You’d think we were talking about joining the army rather than dating a chick.”
“Leave him,” Donnie said. “I think going out with Heaven’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“She deserves it. Heaven’s cool and she has morals and stuff. Not to mention, she’s pretty hot, in that generic sort of way.”
“Heaven’s not generic,” Clark said.
“Whatever. The point is I’m happy for you. I can see how she looks at you.”
“Are you sure?” Clark asked doubtfully. “She always seems so preoccupied—”
“It’s you who’s preoccupied. You spend so much time sneaking looks at Heaven that you don’t even notice that Heaven is doing the same to you.” He stood up. “Come on, let’s see if we can catch Bennett before he starts.”
“He was already out the door.”
“I’ll bet that he’s still there, pouty as always. Haven’t you noticed? It goes with his image this year.”
The two laughed when they saw that Bennett had not actually started his jog but was simply barking orders at nearby freshmen, telling them to go setup the water jugs after their run. Clark walked up to his friend and rested a hand on his shoulder. He felt Bennett jerk up in surprise but he didn’t pull away.
“I like her, Bennett,” he said.
“And I know Heaven feels the same,” Donnie chimed in. “Why are you being so moody this year? You don’t have to act this way, because I’ll tell you, we can see in your face and in your dress that you think the world is out to get you.”
“Lay off,” Bennett grumbled, jerking his shoulder away. “I told you. I think women are a waste of time. They make you lose focus.”
“The right woman will make you feel otherwise,” Donnie said.
“She’d need to have a lot right to convince me to quit the sweet bachelor life,” Bennett said.
“How about the right wit?” Donnie asked, smiling. “Bea has the wit to match yours.”
“Beatriz has the wit to match the devil himself,” Bennett said.
“Bennett, one day you’re going to come to your senses and figure out what a cool chick Bea really is. You shouldn’t assume she’ll always be there.” Bennett snorted in response. “Can’t you see how perfect you two are for each other?”
“She’s a girl.”
“And you’re a guy,” Donnie said, laughing carefully. “It kinda goes with the territory.”
“Men will always be deceived by women,” he said, starting to run with his friends flanking him on either side. “Listen to me. Women have their place. I love my mother and I thank her every day for raising me to be the man that I am, but I am not looking for another woman to thank for the rest of my life, which is all a woman wants. They dress well? They desire thanks. They say they love you? They want thanks. They let themselves go and so you cheat on them and then they want an apology because you strayed. I’m telling you guys to avoid chicks at all costs and save yourselves the money and the heartbreak.”
“Before we graduate I’ll see you find someone who will change your Neanderthal ways of thinking,” Donnie said.
“Perhaps she is already out there,” Clark noted. “Bea—”
“Please stop saying her name. Beatriz—”
“Beatriz,” Clark said, jogging ahead and turning to run backwards to face him. “You’ve always called her by her full name. To me it sounds like someone has a thing for Bea—”
“I’m so sick of this conversation,” Bennett said. “I do not have a thing for her, or any other girl for that matter.”
“Then I’ll just have to spoil Heaven to make up for guys like you,” Clark said.
“Well you’re already making me sick, so you’re halfway there,” Bennett said. “Just let it be known that I warned you,” he said, pulling ahead of the pair and rounding a corner.
“He gets so upset when we talk about Bea,” Clark said, staying in sync with Donnie. “I know Bennett doesn’t approve yet, but I’ve known my feelings for Heaven for many years now. Only now I feel that I can do something about it.”
“So don’t stress about what Bennett says,” Donnie said. “Bennett’s a grouch. You care about Heaven, even I can see that. I’m happy that you’re finally going to do this.”
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you really going to take Bea to the dance?”
“As if it w
as that simple,” Donnie said. “You know how she is. She only has eyes for Bennett…even after all this time.”
“Really?”
“Really,” he said. “But come on, have you thought about how you’re going to act around Leo tonight?”
“I’ll admit I’m a little worried,” Clark said, relenting.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Donnie said, picking up the pace. “Leo’s always been a reasonable guy. I’m sure he’ll be able to see that your intentions are honorable.”
The two rounded another corner, Bennett no longer in sight. Clark sighed loudly, picking up the pace so he was only able to grunt out the words, “I hope so.”