in.”
Kelly felt smug. “Anyone still out on the track is going to get soaked.”
“For sure,” William said. “I actually swung by there looking for you. Saw your friend Jared running like a mad man.”
“He’s not my friend,” Kelly said. “Not anymore.”
“Oh.”
The car interior was silent until William pointed out his house. Kelly pulled into the driveway so William wouldn’t have to get too wet. Maybe he was waiting for the rain to stop entirely, because after unbuckling his seatbelt, he didn’t move. Eventually he shifted in his seat to face Kelly.
“I don’t get it,” he said.
“Get what?” Kelly asked.
“You and Jared. Last week you’re ganging up on me in the hall, trying to get me to drop out of the race. Then you show up at the pool this morning, acting friendly. I figured maybe you were doing a little reconnaissance for Jared, but then it turns out that you’re also in the triathlon and you guys aren’t even friends any more. Is that why? Did he get pissed because you entered too?”
“I don’t think he knows yet. But when he does find out, he’s going to freak. And when I win...” Kelly made an evil face.
William shook his head. “You guys are intense. It’s just a race. You know that, right?”
“Then why did you enter?”
“For fun!” William said in exasperation. “Now I feel like I’m caught up in some sort of sports mafia or something.”
“I just really wanted him to win.”
“And now?”
Kelly exhaled. “He doesn’t like who I am. And I like him a little too much.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to come inside?”
Kelly glanced over. William’s cheeks were red. Was he trying to be nice? Or prove that he wasn’t like Jared? Surely he understood what Kelly had meant. Right?
“It’s okay,” Kelly said. “I should probably—”
“Really,” William insisted. “We can hang out. It’ll be fun.”
Kelly wasn’t sure of that, but it beat going home and moping around the house. He killed the engine, feeling apprehensive as he followed William up the walkway. He didn’t know much about the guy, but he did seem nice. Kelly’s aunt always said that God didn’t take a dump without opening a window. Or something like that. Now he was entering the home of a person who had been his mortal enemy just last week. And it smelled like cookies.
Kelly wasn’t particularly proud of his own house, since he had very little say in its appearance, and not a single dime of his went into its purchase. Regardless, he couldn’t help but compare it to any other home he entered for the first time. His own had high ceilings, large open spaces, and an abundance of natural light. This house was smaller, the rooms stuffed with furniture and shelves filled with knickknacks.
Curtains made of thin fabric covered each window, which would probably be cozy when holding back the glare of summer sun. On a rainy day like today, it made the house too dark for Kelly’s liking. Despite being a little cluttered, the home had a mellow vibe, much like William himself. And not at all like his mother.
“Willy! I didn’t expect you home so soon.” Mrs. Townson was tall and lanky, the same beanpole build that Kelly remembered William having when he was younger. Her hair was blonde, her smile bright as she rubbed her hands together self-consciously. Or maybe she had just applied lotion. Either way, the same nose as William’s sat above a broad smile. “And who’s this?”
“Kelly,” William said. “He’s a new friend of mine.”
“Oh, nice to meet you!” Mrs. Townson walked over and offered her hand, which was indeed soft and moist. Kelly could smell the fragrance from the lotion after they had shaken. Afterwards she hugged her son, who groaned like he was embarrassed but smiled over her shoulder. “Cookies and milk?” she asked.
“I would,” William replied, “but we’re going to hang out upstairs.”
“You’re a big boy
Kelly felt smug. “Anyone still out on the track is going to get soaked.”
“For sure,” William said. “I actually swung by there looking for you. Saw your friend Jared running like a mad man.”
“He’s not my friend,” Kelly said. “Not anymore.”
“Oh.”
The car interior was silent until William pointed out his house. Kelly pulled into the driveway so William wouldn’t have to get too wet. Maybe he was waiting for the rain to stop entirely, because after unbuckling his seatbelt, he didn’t move. Eventually he shifted in his seat to face Kelly.
“I don’t get it,” he said.
“Get what?” Kelly asked.
“You and Jared. Last week you’re ganging up on me in the hall, trying to get me to drop out of the race. Then you show up at the pool this morning, acting friendly. I figured maybe you were doing a little reconnaissance for Jared, but then it turns out that you’re also in the triathlon and you guys aren’t even friends any more. Is that why? Did he get pissed because you entered too?”
“I don’t think he knows yet. But when he does find out, he’s going to freak. And when I win...” Kelly made an evil face.
William shook his head. “You guys are intense. It’s just a race. You know that, right?”
“Then why did you enter?”
“For fun!” William said in exasperation. “Now I feel like I’m caught up in some sort of sports mafia or something.”
“I just really wanted him to win.”
“And now?”
Kelly exhaled. “He doesn’t like who I am. And I like him a little too much.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to come inside?”
Kelly glanced over. William’s cheeks were red. Was he trying to be nice? Or prove that he wasn’t like Jared? Surely he understood what Kelly had meant. Right?
“It’s okay,” Kelly said. “I should probably—”
“Really,” William insisted. “We can hang out. It’ll be fun.”
Kelly wasn’t sure of that, but it beat going home and moping around the house. He killed the engine, feeling apprehensive as he followed William up the walkway. He didn’t know much about the guy, but he did seem nice. Kelly’s aunt always said that God didn’t take a dump without opening a window. Or something like that. Now he was entering the home of a person who had been his mortal enemy just last week. And it smelled like cookies.
Kelly wasn’t particularly proud of his own house, since he had very little say in its appearance, and not a single dime of his went into its purchase. Regardless, he couldn’t help but compare it to any other home he entered for the first time. His own had high ceilings, large open spaces, and an abundance of natural light. This house was smaller, the rooms stuffed with furniture and shelves filled with knickknacks.
Curtains made of thin fabric covered each window, which would probably be cozy when holding back the glare of summer sun. On a rainy day like today, it made the house too dark for Kelly’s liking. Despite being a little cluttered, the home had a mellow vibe, much like William himself. And not at all like his mother.
“Willy! I didn’t expect you home so soon.” Mrs. Townson was tall and lanky, the same beanpole build that Kelly remembered William having when he was younger. Her hair was blonde, her smile bright as she rubbed her hands together self-consciously. Or maybe she had just applied lotion. Either way, the same nose as William’s sat above a broad smile. “And who’s this?”
“Kelly,” William said. “He’s a new friend of mine.”
“Oh, nice to meet you!” Mrs. Townson walked over and offered her hand, which was indeed soft and moist. Kelly could smell the fragrance from the lotion after they had shaken. Afterwards she hugged her son, who groaned like he was embarrassed but smiled over her shoulder. “Cookies and milk?” she asked.
“I would,” William replied, “but we’re going to hang out upstairs.”
“You’re a big boy
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