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| Frustrated love |
“Janie,” Kimberly said tentatively. “Do you remember when I
told you to get on with your life and forget about Travis?”
Janie looked shrewdly at her friend--or should she say
Travis’ friend? “If you plan on telling me that Travis is currently in love
with you, you best take your head start now because I can’t guarantee I won’t
want to kill you,” she said jealously.
Kimberly hooted with laughter. “Me and Travis? Don’t be
ridiculous! We’re like brother and sister. You know that,” she said
dismissively.
“Doesn’t look like that from where I sit. You’re always
hugging him and kissing him. You’re lucky I haven’t punched you yet,” Janie
replied with a menacing scowl on her face.
“Truly, Janie, we’re
just friends. I like...uh, someone else. But anyway, remember I told you to go
out with other guys so Travis could get to know the real you and not the one
always tongue tied and blushing whenever he came into the room?”
Janie looked at her incredulously and made an impatient
“tiff” sound. “I should hope so. I’m not completely brain-dead from all this
studying. What of it?” she said returning to her books.
“Well,” Kimberly replied slowly, a tiny smile tugging at the
corners of her lips, “I think it worked.”
Janie, looking down at her textbook and adding something to
her notes said, “What worked?”
“My plan. I think Travis likes you now,” Kimberly said
unable to hide her excitement.
Janie blinked several times before saying, “Don’t tease me,
Kimberly. I could very easily break your arm if I get the notion.”
“I know, but I’m not teasing,” she said.
Skeptical, Janie raised an eyebrow and asked, “All of a
sudden?”
“Not so suddenly, no. I first noticed it when I casually
said something about you and Larry having a fight. He seemed unduly interested
and he asked what it was about. When I told him it was because Larry had made
fun of him when he pulled a hamstring at the last soccer game and you got all
pissy with him after that....”
“Pissy? I am never pissy. I decked him. You should have told
Travis that,” Janie said, irritated.
“Whatever, the point is you should have seen the look on his
face when I told him. It was like I’d just told him he was gonna be king for
the day.”
“You’re exaggerating. It means nothing,” Janie replied,
unimpressed.
“I’m not! But I didn’t tell you the rest. He said, “Well,
that’s nothing to break up for.” And
when I said you weren’t broken up yet, that you were just ticked off, his face
fell down to his knees.”
“So?”
“So! Don’t you see? He was hoping you and Larry had broken
up! And when you finally did break up with Larry, Travis was almost skipping
when he heard about it. I’m telling you, he likes you now, Janie,” Kimberly
said earnestly.
“It means nothing. You’re just getting my hopes up for
nothing. He has a new girlfriend every time I blink, each prettier than the
last,” Janie said miserably. The frustration at seeing him going from one girl
to the next was enough to make her scream. Never, not in all the years they’d
known each other did he take a second look at her.
“Janie, ever since I suspected this I’ve been watching him
carefully and guess what?” Kimberly said.
“You’ve decided he’s too cute to pass up and now you’re
going for him,” she replied wearily.
“Oh, for cripe’s sake! I just told you we’re only ever gonna
be friends,” Kimberly said exasperated. “I’ve seen Travis staring at you when
he doesn’t know anyone’s watching.”
“What makes you think he’s staring at me?”
“I can tell. He gets this glazed look in his eyes and smiles
absently and when you move he follows you with his eyes with such a look of
longing. He got hit in the head the other day at practice because he was too
busy watching you.”
“It’s soccer, Kim. You’re supposed hit the ball with your
head. it’s called heading the ball,” Janie said exasperated. “Truly, you are
pathetic when it comes to sports.”
“I very well might be,
but when it comes to Travis I can read him like a nursery book. He wasn’t
heading the ball. He got hit because you were talking to that really tall guy,
what’s his name?”
“Greg?”
“Yes, that’s it. He looked mighty jealous to me. Haven’t you
noticed how he laughs at your jokes and wants to talk and be with you lately?
And don’t you remember what happened last week? He said I should sit up front
with Kevin because he was too tired to talk about the game with him. You know
how your brother always wants to go over every single play ad nauseum,” she said
rolling her eyes.
“Kevin’s very annoying that way. Even Travis can’t stand it.
So what?” Janie said shrugging.
“But if he was so tired that he couldn’t talk to Kevin then
why did he spend all that time talking with you? Huh? Tell me that! I heard it,
Janie....well, heard some of it. I was desperately trying to keep Kevin talking
to me so he wouldn’t interrupt you two in the back. You two were having
yourselves a nice little chat, from what I heard, weren’t you? Laughing and
joking,” Kimberly said smugly.
Janie recalled it quite well. She would never forget it in
fact. It had her floating for days afterward but she didn’t think much of it
until now.
The game had ended spectacularly when Kevin took a corner
kick that went right over the goal keeper’s head winning the game just as the
buzzer sounded. Kevin was exuberant with his single-handed win and just
wouldn’t shut up about it.
“Did you see how the
ball curved right in? It was as if it knew where I wanted it to go!” he shouted
gleefully.
“You were wonderful, Kevin” Kimberly gushed. “Everybody said
so, but that wasn’t the only thing you did the whole game. You were amazing
throughout.”
Janie rolled her eyes. “Laying it on a bit thick, isn’t
she?” she muttered to Travis who laughed.
“That’s cuz she likes him. Has since kindergarten. Don’t
tell her I said so or she’ll kill me,” he whispered to her.
Then he whispered
something to Kimberly and she nodded. Next thing Janie knew they switched
places and he slipped into the backseat with her and Kimberly sat next to Kevin
still praising him endlessly.
Janie couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed how he smiled at
her, how close he sat next to her and how often he leaned toward her to speak
as if to block out the others up front. “We did, I guess,” she slowly said,
astonished. Could Kimberly be right? Did Travis like her now? It was too good
to be true. But surely he was merely being friendly, wasn’t he?
Janie stared unseeingly at her book daring herself not to
hope. It had been five very frustrating years. Why would Travis suddenly like
her now? It didn’t seem possible.
“Oh, hi, Travis,” Kimberly said brightly, kicking Janie
under the table.
Janie’s heart did a back flip. She chanced a glance up and
saw him smiling and coming towards them. He dropped into the seat next to
Kimberly but he was looking at Janie.
“Hi. What you girls up to?” he asked.
“I’ve been doing
research for the project due next week and Janie has a massive amount of
studying to do or she won’t pass mid-terms,” Kimberly said dramatically.
“Of course she will,” Travis said dismissively, “She’s
smarter than anyone here.” He then
smiled at her making her cheeks glow with joy.
Kimberly gave her a look that said, “Didn’t I tell you?”
“Thank you, Travis, but...but I’m not so sure Kimberly’s not
got it right. This stuff’s making me crazy. The more I read it the more
confusing it becomes,” Janie said breathlessly.
“Then maybe you need some time off studying. Travis, why
don’t you take her for a bit of a break? Walk around the building for a few
minutes. Better yet, get some ice cream. It’ll clear your head. Go on! Come on,
Travis, get her out of here before her brain explodes!” Kimberly said eagerly.
She actually pushed Travis out of the chair and forced Janie’s hand into his.
Then she pushed them both out the door.
She stared after them as they walked down the hall still
holding hands talking softly. She sighed happily, shook her head and muttered,
“The things I do for love.”
“You talking to yourself?” Kevin said in her ear.
Unknown to her, he had come silently behind her and caught
her by surprise. She shrieked and jumped a mile into the air making him howl
with laughter. Big mistake on their part. The librarian, indignant at the
interruption of her quiet, threw them both out of the library.
“Well, that was uncalled for. She didn’t have to throw me
out. It was your fault I screamed.You scared me,” Kimberly whined.
“Sorry, but I was bored. Want to go somewhere with me?”
Kevin said casually.
“Uh...like where?” she asked, astounded.
He grinned slowly, took the books out of her hands, put his
arm around her waist and said, “Let’s wing it, shall we? Could be fun.”
Kimberly gulped. Had he finally figured out she was
desperately in love with him? And more importantly, did he finally like her
too? Had her frustration with love just ended as Janie’s had? Would miracles
ever cease?
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