Chapter 29
If a toady frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his ass
Rude~ A phrase that advises against wishing for impossible or absurd things to happen.
• o 🦋 o •
We had a match that day. It was a week before Riley’s birthday and while I won’t lie and say I’d been doing great, I was much better now. My brother kept telling me to forget about Mica but.. I just couldn’t. I couldn’t accept that we were over just like that.
He was my first love. My first time and I believed he would be the last. I didn’t want anyone else and while things were hard now I won’t believe it’s the end until I die, dramatic as it might sound.
“You ready, kid?” My dad stuck his head in the room.
“Yep.” I said, snapping my soccer socks against my calves.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
“I’m fine, dad. Seriously. No worries.”
My dad smiled and nodded.
My parents drove me to the football field.
Riley jumped into my arms when I’d made it there.
“THERE YOU ARE! FINALLY!”
“I’m literally on time.”
“I know but still.. It was boring without you.” She pulled away. “Are you ready for the game?” She asked.
“Yep. I’m totally psyched!”
“Me too! We’re gonna win today! I can feel it!” Riley grabbed my hand and me dragged towards the dressing rooms. “So guess what?”
“What?”
“Eek! Dax and I! Things are going so well! I think he might propose soon!” She swooned.
“Eh?”
“Definitely within a year.” Riley smirked. “We’ll be together forever.” She sighed. “He keeps buying me gifts and I tell him not to but he insists and I like how he recites poems and sends me cute texts.. Ahh.” She sighed.
I was really happy for her but right now hearing about how well her relationship was going was kind of sad. After my relationship had gone straight down the drain only two weeks ago.
“Speaking of which, how are things with your mystery girl!” Riley asked.
“Oh, we broke up. Like a long time ago. Don’t worry about it.”
“What? Really?” Riley gave me an apologetic look. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“No. I just wanna focus on the match and positive things.” I suddenly lifted Riley in the air.
“Ahh!” She shrieked.
“Muhaha!” I laughed as I ran around with her on my shoulder.
“Put me down!!!” She yelled.
• o 🦋 o •
We were winning. We were totally winning. The other team didn’t know what hit them. Thanks to my great team playing skills, Riley’s leadership and one of our stars, Erik’s soccer chops we were three points ahead.
I looked into the crowd at my family who happily waved at me. But then I became frozen in place as I laid eyes on someone else.
Mica walked onto the bleachers and sat down at the last row. He was dressed to the nines as always but what really caught my eye was the scarf he was wearing. It was freaking July and while it was windy and cloudy, it was hardly cold enough for a scarf.
He was here. I hadn’t seen him in what felt like forever.
“Jay! Jay! The ball!” Riley yelled.
“Huh?” I looked up and the ball flew right past me into our goal.
“What are you doing!” Riley yelled.
“I’m sorry!”
I glanced up at Mica again. He was watching me. Could it be.. Was he here to apologize? Was he here to make up with me? Were we finally going to be together again?
“Hey!” Riley slapped me on the head.
“Ow!”
“Dude, you’re going to lose us the game.”
“It won’t happen again, captain.”
Riley punched my arm, making me cringe in pain. That girl was strong.
The game ensued and we actually won! By one point, thanks to my handy work but hey, a win is a win!
Everyone was jumping around and celebrating. My family congratulated me. I told them to go on home since I was staying a little longer with my team mates.
“We. WON!” Riley cheered, shaking my body.
I watched Mica as he made his way to me. My heart thumped. I knew this would happen. I knew he would come around.
“MICAAA!” Riley screamed, jumping into Mica’s arms.
He smiled at her.
“I’m so glad you came!” Riley said.
My heart sank. Oh. He wasn’t here for me.
“Yeah, of course. Good job out there.” He said calmly. He glanced at me for a short moment.
“I’m so glad we made it despite this one here.” Riley kicked my shin guard. “He’s such a dreamer.” Riley sighed.
Mica nodded and smiled faintly.
Well, this was awkward.
“Ooh! I’ll be right back! I have to go talk to Erik before he leaves!” Riley ran off leaving me alone with Mica.
We both seemed to not know what to say. Mica just kind of looked around awkwardly. This whole situation was just painful.
“How are you?” I asked after a while.
Mica nodded. “I’m okay. You?” He wasn’t even looking at me! It was like he didn’t even want to talk to me at all! Did he seriously not care? At all?!
“Yeah, I’ve been great.” I said sarcastically.
Mica met my eyes for a short moment before looking away again.
“Why are you acting like this? Are you seriously just going to shut me out-”
“James..” Mica frowned.
“No. Don’t you think I deserve at least a conversation with you?”
Mica fumbled with the ends of his scarf, his expression pained. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
I scoffed bitterly. How could he say that?
I looked at him. He looked sad. He was lying. He was pretending like our relationship meant nothing to him. And all that because of his monster of a dad.
I looked at his scarf and my eyes glazed his neck. I saw a little bruised skin peek up from under the scarf. I was going to vomit.
“Did your dad do that to you?” I accused.
Mica’s sad eyes finally locked on mine but before he was able to say anything Riley returned, wrapping her arms around both of us.
“I’m baackk!” She said cheerfully.
Neither of us said anything.
“Everything okay?” Riley pulled away and watched us curiously. Mica looked like he was close to crying.
Just talk to me, please!
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Mica laughed through the tears. “It’s just been a long day. I think I should go home.”
“Yeah, or you could stay at Riley’s. Have a sleepover.” I said pointedly.
I didn’t want him near George right now.
Mica gave me a look.
“Yes! That would be so fun!” Riley grabbed my wrist.
“I- I can’t. I really wasn’t supposed to be here either. I should go.”
Riley sighed.
I just looked away and shook my head.
“Alright, bye Mica! Call me!” Riley flung her arms around Mica.
After they were done hugging Mica looked at me. He opened his mouth. To say bye, I’m sure. I just walked away.
• o 🦋 o •
Kyle and I were chilling in my room. Well, I was sulking, staring out the window and Kyle was being the annoying brother he always was.
“Listen, I get that it’s your first break up and all but I’m really starting to worry about you here.”
“No need.” I sighed.
“I really thought that Mica was a good one but look at what he’s done.”
“No.. it’s not his fault.” I grumbled. It’s his satanic dad’s.
“Where’s he live? I’ll pay him a visit.”
“No!”
“Come on! Let me talk to him! No one hurts my bro like this!” Kyle rose from his seat.
I sighed. “Kyle, there’s nothing you can do. It’s over, okay? I’ll.. cheer up. In time.”
That was an outright lie. I could probably get over the break up. Maybe in a year I’d feel better about it but I just couldn’t feel calm until I knew Mica was safe. And the bruise on his neck proved that he wasn’t. And that’s what hurt me. But of course I couldn’t tell anyone that.
I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I began to sob.
“Hey.. Hey..” Kyle wrapped his arms around me. His voice was gentle and he stroked my back as I cried.
• o 🦋 o •
Three days before Riley’s birthday I decided to go to the grocery store. It was my comfort place, okay?! I loved food and the grocery store was basically like an endless magical fridge with infinite possibilities.
With a basket full of yum, I left the store feeling a bit better.
Then across the street I saw Mica. He looked so good. He was wearing a suit. He looked so freaking elegant. He stood in front of the doors of a restaurant. My heart ached. I opened my mouth, I wanted to at least say hi but then someone came out of a black car.
Orlando, Mica’s ballet teacher. I frowned. He was wearing a suit too. He smiled when he saw Mica and he complimented him. I squeezed the basket.
Orlando kissed Mica’s cheek.