The Player

Brielle

3:15 PM

"Are you excited for your dance showcase in a few weeks?" Sam asked, sinking her teeth into her mom's homemade carrot cupcake.

Sam and I sat on the rusted swings in her backyard, trying not to break the old swing-set. Christopher had just asked me out yesterday, and I was dying to tell her.

"I'm a mix of both excited and really nervous." I dipped my fingers into the cream cheese icing on my cupcake before licking it off. With all the Christopher drama, the upcoming showcase had completely slipped my mind.

"Christopher has surprisingly learned a lot, and I feel like I'm ready. But the Joffrey scout is going to be there and if I don't nail it I'm totally screwed." I needed to impress him. If I didn't I could kiss my dreams of going to the Joffrey School of Ballet goodbye.

"Well, I know you'll be amazing," Sam reassured me. I took a deep-breath, trying to keep my stress at bay. "I sure hope so."

I angled my body towards her, a smile reaching across my face. "I actually came here because I have something really exciting to tell you."

She began to bounce on her swing, the joy evident on her face. "What is it? Did you get a car? Did you win the lottery? Did you buy the whole season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on DVD for me?"

My brows furrowed in confusion. "No, no, and what did I tell you about watching reality TV?" She dismissively waved her hand at me.

"The news is that on our date yesterday, Christopher asked me to be his girlfriend."

Sam let out a high-pitched squeal before jumping out of her seat and wrapping me in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you!" she cried.

"Thank you, but..." I bit on my lip nervously. "I don't know, I feel like we might be rushing things."

Her eyes grew concerned. "But I thought that you wanted him to ask you out?"

"I did!" I said quickly. "It's just that I was sitting down today and realized that we've only been on one date, and I don't really know that much about him."

Sam looked at me with confusion. "You guys have been spending so much time together that I highly doubt that you don't know him."

"Well we spend most of the time bickering," I diverted my attention to my feet before looking up at her again. "I feel like I know all of the big things about him but none of the little stuff."

She paused, lost in her thoughts, before finally replying to me. "I just think that you should be honest with him and tell him how you fell."

out a big huff.

my mom that her carrot cake is

dropped. "Are you kidding me, your

commanded. "Now text him before you chicken

took in a deep breath before taking out my phone. After typing, I quickly clicked send, not

need to

~~~

laid face down on my sofa, waiting for Christopher to get here. In the meantime, I entertained myself by reading The Hunger Games. It was my third time reading the series, and I still didn't know if I was Team Peta or Team Gale. When the doorbell finally rang it took me by

over and made sure that I looked presentable before making my way to the door. When

knew it wasn't the first time he had done it. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts because it took him a few moments to finally notice me in front

from the shock of seeing him so un-put together, I began to talk. "Hey I wanted to

finish, he quickly cut me off. "Look, I don't know why you want to break up, but I just want you to know that I can change whatever you need me to in order to make

furrowed in confusion.

me." Sensing the confusion on my face, he further explained. "The one where you said that

before a wave of realization hit me. He must have misinterpreted my text. "I just meant

his face dropping in the process. "Brielle, you don't

to know that?"

"Everyone knows that!"

thought, as the memories of those being the universal words for breaking up came flooding back. I didn't mean to scare

next time we have to talk I won't actually say:

returning. "Now can I come

nearly eighty degrees."

rolled my eyes and opened the door wider for him,

room. I rolled my eyes, compared

you that you're a really

house just feels so lonely and empty sometimes. It's almost too big. Do you know

face void of expression. "That is the richest thing I've ever heard." He let out a laugh. "I'm lonely and poor so if I were you I wouldn't

on my couch and grabbed the remote, putting on a football game with

deep breath. I always found it difficult to tell people how I feel, but if I wanted to

just feel as though we may have moved a little too

mean? Do

to explain it. "I really like you, and it feels like it was