12. Boston

TWELVE

boston

I pushed open the door to the locker room, a blur of commotion and jumbled hair darting past me. The girl was throwing on a large shirt and sprinting out. Bailey smiled at me, smug as ever as he leaned against the lockers, his arm still outstretched from holding the door open for her escape.

"Cutting it close, aren't we?” I asked, eyeing him as I beelined to my locker. The echo of shoes tapping against the concrete floor signaled the rest of our teammates' arrival.

"Almost getting caught is part of the fun," Bailey replied, his lips twisting into a grin.

I shoved my bag into the locker. "Yeah, and coach kicking your ass would also be fun."

Our teammates began to file in, the locker room swelling with the sounds of locker doors slamming and muffled conversations. I scanned the room as it started to silence, catching Bailey and Reese exchanging barely-contained smirks. I followed their gaze to see Coach striding in, a pen in his hand, a bright orange thong dangling on the end.

I fought back a smile that I knew would piss off Coach. Around me, shoulders trembled and snickers were hastily smothered. Bailey's nonchalance stood out amongst the stifled amusement around him—he lounged back, arms crossed over his chest, trying his best to portray innocence.

Coach's glare swept across the room like a lighthouse beam, fierce and warning. "How many times do I have to tell you all this clubhouse is a gift," he barked, the thong swinging from the pen with each punctuating gesture. "If I catch any of you fooling around in the locker—," he paused for effect, "—room, you will be benched. And I'm not messing around this year."

Coach's eyes narrowed slightly as they landed on Bailey, but he continued undeterred.

"Try me," he added with a steely edge, "and all of you will take turns wearing this at practice." Coach shook the fluorescent undergarment one last time for emphasis before tossing it into a nearby trash can.

I risked another glance at Bailey, his expression now unreadable. When Coach finally walked out of the locker room, the rest of us erupted in uncontrollable laughter.

Coach didn’t take it easy on us. We ran drill after drill. Bailey's little stunt had earned the whole team an afternoon of agony.

"Alright, hit the showers!" Coach bellowed, wiping his brow. "Don't forget, two hours from now, you're back here for Devils’ Day Out. No excuses!”

Groans echoed around the field but Coach's glare silenced all complaints. "I don't want to hear it," he snapped. "Cry to your pillow, not to me. Now, get out of here!"

"Riley!” Coach yelled, catching me off guard. “You stay back. My office. Now."

I followed behind him to his office. He didn’t say a word on the walk.

"Sit down," he said, pointing to a chair opposite his cluttered desk.

"Coach, if you think I had anything to d?—"

"Would you just sit?" he cut me off.

I obeyed, sinking into the chair while he rummaged through the papers on his desk. Finally, he found what he was looking for and slid a packet across to me. "Don't say I never did anything for ya."

Confused, I picked up the packet. "What is it?"

"Open it and see for yourself."

The words Chicago Cubs were printed at the top of the first page, and my breath caught in my chest. Plane tickets, itinerary—it was all there. A dream, laid out in front of me.

"Chicago... They want me to visit?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You'd be perfect for their organization," Coach said with a nod. “They’re one of the best, and they’re interested in you for the draft.”

"Coach, this is..." a wave of disbelief crashed over me, and I slowly sank back into the chair.

"Enjoy the moment, kid. You've earned it," Coach encouraged, leaning back in his chair with satisfaction. “Only downside is that you’ll miss the Bayside Ball, but duty calls.”

"Thanks, Coach.”

I looked down at the envelope again and Chandler's face flashed in my mind. I hadn’t realized until that moment how I felt about it—I wouldn't have the chance to ask her to the ball, to finally have her on my arm. Did I really have to miss that?

"Now get outta here." Coach gestured toward the door.

I lingered long enough to avoid the rush for the showers, then got in and out and changed quickly. As I was walking out of the locker rooms I heard a high-pitched voice.

"Hey, Boston!"

I turned to Caroline, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger.

"Caroline," I acknowledged with a nod, ready to make my escape.

She pouted playfully, stepping forward. "Haven't seen much of you yet this summer. Was hoping you'd be giving me more attention."

Her tone was flirty. Caroline was hard to ignore—girls like her usually were—and if this was last summer, she would have had my attention.

"Sorry, it's been busy," I shrugged, thinking that ‘busy’ was an understatement. Between practices and the complicated Chandler situation, there wasn't much room for anything—or anyone—else. “I’ve had a?—”

"Lot going on? I know." She cut across me with a dismissive wave of her hand. "But you're here now, and since you're part of the team, you're part of all team activities."

"Right," I agreed, unsure where she was going. But I knew better than to argue—especially knowing how pissed off Coach already was. "Devil's Day Out, huh?"

"Exactly," she confirmed with a smile that suggested she was pleased to have captured my attention, even if only for a moment. "And I need your help."

I let out a resigned sigh. "Okay, what do you need?"

Her expression softened, and she rewarded me with a pleased smile. She handed me a pile of small envelopes and then a pile of large ones.

"Here. These need to go inside this." She tapped a finger on the large manila envelopes. "And don't peek."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I whispered, wondering what the hell I was doing this for. Taking a seat in the chair nearby, I started stuffing envelopes, the paper shuffling softly with each motion.

"Thanks, Boston. You're a lifesaver," she squealed.

"No biggie," I said with a half-smile, wondering if Chandler would be roped into this event too. "But, um," I paused my envelope stuffing. "Why are you doing all this anyway?"

Caroline halted mid-step, turned back to me, and sighed. For a moment, she looked almost vulnerable. "My mom," she began, her voice tightening. "She’s convinced I'll mess up being the president and won’t do the job as well as she did." A shadow crossed her face as she added, "So I have to prove I can not only handle this, but outdo her."

"Got it. Moms... they're great, aren't they?" I tried to keep the tone light, but something about her disappointment felt familiar.

"Right?" Caroline chuckled, shaking her head. "Right. I get it. They come with the family package, but there should also be a therapist thrown in there somewhere."

When she let her guard down like that, Caroline wasn't so bad. We continued to work on her project, slipping into a comfortable silence. Soon, the room began to fill up with teammates and committee members. I caught sight of Chandler and Willow toward the back, heads together in quiet conversation.

"Coach kicked our ass today." Parker slid into the seat beside me, his eyes scanning the growing crowd.

“When does he not kick our ass?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Suddenly, a piercing whistle cut through the noise, and the room fell silent. Caroline stood at the front, confidence radiating off her. With a flick of her wrist, she commanded attention like a pro.

"Alright, everyone!" She lifted her chin and shoulders. "Each player teams up with a committee member. Inside your packet, you'll find envelopes—each one is numbered."

Curiosity rippled through the room as Caroline continued. "You must complete each task listed inside, and you need to submit photo proof in the group chat. First team who submits all photos and followed directions wins," she said, pausing for everyone to process the instructions.

"Let's make this Devils’ Day Out one for the history books," she concluded, a spark of determination lighting her eyes. The excitement and chatter in the crowd rose again.

"Five minutes," Caroline announced, checking her watch. "Then we open our envelopes and may the best team win!"

I glanced around, hoping I could get Chandler's attention and that she’d partner with me, but I also wondered what kind of tasks were inside the envelopes. I knew this was going to be more than a game—we were all competitive, and the committee took anything Blue Devils related very seriously.

Reese's voice cut through the buzz as he pushed off from the wall and stepped into the circle that had formed around Caroline. "And winner gets what?" he asked, suspiciously.

Caroline's smile broadened. "Great question. I’ve talked with Coach and the winners get a room upgrade next week for the away tournament," she declared with emphasis. "Both members on the winning team get their own suite." A collective cheer rose, and I understood the excitement. Last year I had to share a tiny hotel room with Parker, and we were practically on top of each other.

A designated committee member began passing out the envelopes as Caroline continued to speak. “Willow," she gestured toward her, "will create a group chat and add everyone.” The crowd shifted, moving closer to grab their envelopes.

"First one completed must have all photos in," Caroline added, "and type 'Blue Devils' once completed. We will review all photos at the end of the day and make sure the winner has completed each task. Any questions?"

I turned toward Chandler, but before I could get her attention, a firm grip grabbed my arm.

"Boston, you're with me." Caroline's tone left no room for argument, her fingers squeezing assertively just above my elbow.

"Uh, sure, Caroline," I managed, taken back by her sudden claim on me.

I shot Chandler an apologetic look hoping my expression conveyed to her that I’d have rather been her teammate. Chandler's smile softened, understanding and forgiving as always.

Parker stood up before he said, "So, which of you ladies wants to have me all to themselves today?"

"Ew, not I," Chandler quipped, a grimace on her face.

Willow stepped forward. "I'll oblige, but just so we're clear, I am very competitive. We win or we don't do it at all."

Parker's grin was instant. "Lead the way," he said before they disappeared into the crowd.

"Come on, we've got to strategize," Caroline tugged at my sleeve impatiently, her eyes filled with competitive fire. I let her pull me away, but not before casting a lingering glance back over my shoulder.

Reese had his arm casually draped around Chandler's shoulders. My stomach tightened. I knew that meant they were partners. They would have to spend the day together. After last night, I couldn’t stand the thought. I know Reese said he was stepping back, but could I really trust him? Last year, he’d used her to get to me. What if he was planning to do it again?

"Okay, you drive. I'll keep track of the envelopes," Caroline instructed with an assertive nod that snapped me out of my thoughts about Chandler and Reese.

"Sure," I replied, shaking my head slightly to refocus on the task at hand. As much as I tried, thoughts of Chandler getting into Reese's truck, her laughter mingling with his, kept intruding.

I walked over to Caroline's side of the car and opened the door for her before making my way around to the driver's side.

"Thanks," Caroline said as she settled into the passenger seat. She wasted no time pulling out the first envelope from the stack she was cradling.

Curiosity got the better of me. "Don't you already know what's inside?"

She tore open the seal and peeked inside with a smirk. "As a matter of fact, I don't. Some of the committee members helped organize this part. Keeps it interesting."

"I see," I said, turning the key and stealing one last glance toward Reese's truck. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, forcing myself to look away. Today was about winning the prize, nothing else.

"Ready?" Caroline’s excitement brought my attention back to her and whatever we were about to take on. We had a mission, and I needed to focus on that... and only that.

"I guess so. What does it say?" I asked, glancing over at Caroline as she pulled a folded piece of paper from the envelope, a playful smirk on her lips.

"It says to write your partner's name and something others might not know about them on one of these sheets of paper," Caroline read aloud, her eyes scanning the instructions. "And then hold it up in front of their favorite view in Bayside."

"Sounds simple enough," I shrugged, trying to muster some enthusiasm. "Where's your favorite view?"

"That's easy," she replied, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Go straight, and I'll tell you when to take a left."

I nodded and then shifted the truck back into park just before we left the lot. "Actually, since we're here, we should probably do mine first."

"Okay," she said, looking intrigued. "What's your favorite view?"

"Right here." I pointed toward the ballfield.

"Here?" Caroline's voice was surprised, but she quickly put on a smile. She scribbled something down on the small paper and stepped out to take a photo, leaving me alone with my thoughts for a moment.

When she got back into the car, I couldn't help but ask. "What did you write?"

Caroline just winked, placing her phone down. "Oh, you'll find out."

The engine hummed softly as we cruised down the main street of Bayside, but inside my mind was adrift. I couldn't shake off thoughts of Chandler. I knew her favorite view would be the lake. She always had to see it as soon as she got to Bayside, and then again before she left.

"Stop right here!" Caroline's voice pulled me back to the present, and I hit the brakes, in the middle of a busy street.

"Here?" I asked, looking through the windshield at the row of storefronts. "Your favorite view is this street downtown?"

She snickered. "No. Get out of the car, silly."

Stepping onto the sidewalk, I followed her finger as she pointed with enthusiasm to a massive painting across a brick wall. It was a vividly-colored mural, the word Bayside in large letters in the middle.

"Look at this," she said. "This painting has everything from Bayside in it. There's the baseball field, there's the lake..." her voice trailed off as she gestured toward the familiar landmarks depicted on the mural.

"Even Mrs. Patsy’s pet pig," I chimed in, laughing as I spotted the little guy peeking through some bushes. The whole town, captured in swirls of paint—it was unexpectedly really cool.

"Exactly!" Caroline beamed, pleased with my reaction.

I took the piece of paper, scribbling down her name with the words, “going to run the world someday” on the paper. I could see her not just being the president of the Blue Devils’ committee, I could easily see her bossing around the staff in the White House. Holding it up, I snapped a photo with the mural in the background.

"Okay, on three we'll send our photos in the chat together," she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Ready? One, two..." she counted as we sent in our photos.

We pressed send simultaneously, and within seconds, our phones buzzed with incoming notifications from the group chat. I couldn't help but let out a laugh as I scrolled through the string of photos and notes on them.

Reese's photo for Chandler was of course a picture of the lake.

Chandler gets overly excited about seeing heart-shaped rocks - Reese

I smiled. I could picture her, eyes lighting up as she found one that made her squeal.

Chandler sent a snapshot of the same part of the lake, taken from Reese's boat. The sight turned my stomach.

Reese has an annual Disney membership… for himself - Chandler

Willow is feisty but sleeps with a nightlight - Parker

Parker is kinda cute but cries at Christmas movies - Willow

The thread continued with hilarious facts. Bailey had apparently hooked up with two roommates, who were both on the cheerleading squad.

And then I saw it—the note Caroline wrote about me. I blinked at my phone screen, unable to speak for a second.

Boston is great with his tongue - Caroline

I turned to face Caroline, seething with anger. "Why the fuck would you write that?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice level.

She laughed as if it was no big deal. "It was supposed to be funny, Boston," she said, her tone dismissive, as though my irritation was nothing but an overreaction.

"Really, Caroline?" I clenched my jaw.

"Come on, lighten up," she said, still smiling, still not getting it. "This day is just about having fun."

But it wasn't funny—not to me. Messages from the group chat started rolling in as I glanced back at my phone.

Crew

BOSTON, MY BOY!!!!

Parker

Show off. I got cries at Christmas movies. Who the fuck doesn’t cry at Christmas movies?

Bailey

Pointers, now! Drop em’ in the chat.

Reese

We all know Bailey doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing with his tongue.

I put my phone back in my pocket. "Caroline, you can't just—" I started, but she cut me off with a wave of her hand.

"Relax, Boston. It's just your teammates and the committee members who saw it. They're my best friends on the cheer team," she said dismissively. “Plus Willow and Chandler.” Her eyes flicked to mine, looking for a reaction. "Is that why you're upset? Chandler?" she asked, her voice suddenly taking on an edge. "Didn't she hook up with Reese last summer? Why do you even care?"

The mention of Chandler's past with him pissed me off, but I pushed the thought aside. "That's not the point."

"Please," Caroline scoffed. "Boston, everyone knows we hooked up last summer. And let's be honest, we'll probably hook up again this summer." She gave me a look that was meant to be enticing. "It's not a big deal."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words—completely over the entire thing. "Caroline," I said, lowering my voice, hoping she understood I meant every word I was about to speak. "It's not going to happen. Ever again."

She folded her arms across her chest.

"Yes, we hooked up last summer," I continued, "but I made it clear before anything happened that it wasn't going to go anywhere. And it isn't."

Her eyes, once playful, flashed with anger then. "Fine," she spat, turning on her heel and leaving me standing there. "I'll meet you at the truck."

Relief and unease coursed through me. What the hell was going through Chandler's mind? I knew she'd see that note. Knowing how stubborn she was, I wasn’t going to be surprised if this one incident made her hate me all over again.