Focused, p.16
Focused, page 16
part #2 of True Images Series
“I’m glad you came tonight, Lee. This is way better than going out. I like talking to you like this.”
“Me too.”
“I wish we could do this all night.”
“Maybe someday we will.”
Chapter 16
Sienna
Frustration was about to get the best of me. How could I have been so stupid as to not check both of my batteries before I left home? I’d almost drained one battery during the girls’ game, so I put my extra battery in my camera to check its charge. It was only about half full. I was going to have to be careful about my pictures. I couldn’t afford to snap everything. Especially in this tournament where every game seemed to be going into overtime.
I didn’t even want to be taking pictures anyway. And who’d have thought that would ever happen? But the thing was, I never got to see Lee anymore. We’d barely seen each other the last two weeks. Even when we saw each other, Lee was so tired and stressed out, it wasn’t exactly sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows.
All I wanted to do was watch him play and gorge myself on how gorgeous he was. That was hard to do when I was taking pictures. For one thing, I couldn’t just watch him. I had to get shots of the other players too. For another, I spent so much mental energy composing and anticipating shots while keeping an eye on the game that I had very little left over to enjoy it.
I was tired too. I’d worked a full morning at Foster’s before coming to shoot the final games of the District Tournament. It wasn’t my idea of how to spend a Saturday.
The girls finished playing their final game, which they won. I was excited for Marisol. She’d about killed herself helping her team pull out the squeaky tight victory. Hopefully the boys would win too.
Although, if they lost, Lee would be done with basketball for the season and… Okay. That was a horrible thing to wish for. Lee would be devastated.
“Having trouble there?” someone asked from behind me.
I turned around quickly and saw Layton Palmer walking towards me. After Lee had told me that the guy was checking me out at that first game, it had been easy to see for myself. He spent as much time flirting with me during the games as he did taking pictures. It was weird that it both made me uncomfortable and made me feel good at the same time. I mean, you can’t help but be flattered if such a good looking, older guy thinks you’re attractive, but I did have a boyfriend. And he knew it.
I liked talking to him though. He was funny and knew a lot about photography. Sports photography was a stepping stone for him. He wanted to get into covering the harder stuff like crime investigations. He’d done a little bit but hadn’t managed to score the big story that would get his name out there. More than once, he’d hinted that he’d be out covering the dark and dangerous underworld of Haskins, Oklahoma if he didn’t like hanging out with me under a basketball goal better. The last thing I needed right now, though, was Layton flirting with me right when Lee was about to come out for warm ups.
So, I smiled as casually as possible and said, “I’m worried about my batteries. They’re almost out of juice.”
“Man. I wish I had one to loan you, but I doubt we use the same kind.”
“Probably not.”
“Yeah, that’s how they get you. Pretty smart of the camera manufactures to make every camera need a different battery.”
I nodded, only slightly interested. I closed my camera case and set it back against the wall where I could keep an eye on it. When I stood up, I saw that the team was about to run out. My heart beat a little faster at the thought of seeing Lee. I wondered if he would look for me. He usually did. Not that we could talk or anything, but it was nice to know he was thinking of me.
When I finally saw Lee, I could tell by his expression that he was tense. I don’t know if it was nerves over the game or something else, but something had him keyed up. When the rotation of their warm up routine brought him to my side of the court, I tried willing him to look at me, but he didn’t. Or maybe he wouldn’t. It was disappointing, but he was about to play an important game after all. I decided not to worry about it.
Deciding to skip shooting the pregame formalities since I was low on battery, I moved to get into position under the basket. When I took a step back, I bumped into Layton. I hadn’t realized he was standing that close to me. I nearly stumbled but I grabbed hold of his arm and regained my balance.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize you were there.”
“I know. You were too busy watching your boyfriend out there.”
I shrugged and said, “You got me there.”
We were still standing close, so I shifted a few steps to the side and was trying to go around him, but he wasn’t moving. The only way around him was to step out on the court, and I wasn’t about to do that. “Um, sorry, but can you let me by?”
“Sure, if you say the magic words.”
Really? Were we going to play that game?
Before I could say anything though, I heard Lee’s voice next to us saying, “You’d better back off, man.”
I looked around in surprise, but Lee wasn’t even looking at us. He stood a few feet away, waiting his turn to do a layup. His shoulders were tense though, and he glanced once at Layton with his eyebrows up, obviously questioning why he hadn’t moved yet. Layton took a couple of jerky steps backwards and I walked passed him.
Finally under the basket, I watched Lee, wondering if he was going to look at me, but he never did. I was embarrassed about the whole thing, but I was oddly comforted to know that Lee had been paying attention to me even if he wasn’t letting on.
The game started and it was clear from the beginning that Haskins wasn’t going to get an easy victory in this game either. The score was close through the whole first half and into the second. Lee was playing hard though.
I lost track of how many times he stole the ball from the hotshot he was guarding. He was missing some of the control that usually marked his playing though. For the first time that I remembered all season, he was in foul trouble by the end of the third quarter and the coach benched him to save him for the end of the game.
With Lee out, the lead slipped to a narrow margin. The crowd was anxious for Lee to get back in the game and started chanting “Franklin, Franklin!” to encourage Coach Webb to get him back in the game. I was about to go nuts too. I hated the anxiety of close games like this.
There were three minutes left in the game and only three points maintaining our lead when Coach finally subbed Lee back into the game. As soon as the ball was inbounded, Lee was tearing up the court. With his leadership and sure shot, the score stretched out to a more comfortable margin. I was beginning to relax when the unthinkable happened.
One minute Lee was driving towards the basket, and the next he was on the floor in a tangle with a couple of other players. When he got up, I was appalled to see that he was limping. He took a few tentative steps and caught the ref’s attention.
Lee’s face was a mix of pain and frustration – mostly the latter. My heart sank for him. The last thing he needed was an injury right now. The team didn’t have a good track record without him on the court, and there was still time left for the other team to catch up.
The assistant coach and trainer immediately got busy taking off his shoe and examining him while Coach Webb called a timeout. Taking advantage of being out on the sideline, I moved over so that I could check on Lee.
His jaw was tense and his hand was shaking where it rested on the back of the chair, but otherwise, he looked composed. I wanted to go over to him and hold his shaking hand, but I knew I couldn’t. I barely noticed as the game resumed because I was so focused on Lee. Layton, of course, was there too, snapping pictures. I wondered if it was his photojournalist streak or his wounded pride that motivated him most.
I was close enough to hear the questions the trainer was asking Lee as he examined his ankle.
“Can you turn it this way? Okay, tilt your toes up. Now down. Can you rotate it for me? Good. Good. It’s just a slight sprain.”
“Can I play?” Lee asked, his eyes on the scoreboard. The lead had slipped to six with a minute left to play.
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“Let me stand on it.”
The trainer and assistant coach gave him a hand each and hauled his 6’3” frame out of the chair. He stood on both feet, gingerly at first, and then with more confidence. He took a couple steps and sank back down.
“What do you think?” the trainer asked.
“I’m good. Just wrap it up really tight.”
I shook my head at Lee’s stubbornness, but I wasn’t surprised. It would take more than a sprained ankle to keep him off the court at a time like this.
The trainer grabbed his ankle wrap supplies and got to work, his hands flying as he expertly wrapped Lee’s ankle, occasionally checking to make sure it wasn’t too tight. Luckily, the fouls were flying right and left out on the court so the game had been slowed down. With three people working to get Lee’s shoe back on, he was back out on the court in no time.
It hurt me to watch him play with his stride a little stiff. He was obviously favoring his hurt ankle. But even without being able to move or run like usual, it was his leadership that was needed out there. That was the thing that put Lee’s playing ahead of the other players. He was captain and commander on the court.
The win wasn’t an easy one, but it was all the more exciting because of that. When the buzzer sounded, the whole team converged into a screaming, jumping knot of celebration. I smiled as I watched through my lens, sucking up the last of my battery to get the best shot of the night.
Of course, it wasn’t the last picture I needed to take, and that posed a problem. The kids on the school paper would want shots of the team getting their trophy and cutting down the net. With two dead batteries on my hands, I only had one option. Layton.
I glanced over at him, weighing the possible consequences of asking for his help. It might pull me into a closer involvement with him than I needed with Lee’s jealousy flared up. On the other hand, I hated to not deliver the pictures I was expected to get. It was even more unprofessional than not making sure my batteries were charged.
I groaned and looked around for Layton. He wasn’t hard to find. In fact, he was right behind me. How did he keep doing that?
“Oh, hey. There you are,” I said brilliantly.
“Yep. Need something?” His eyes flicked over me warily, but he couldn’t hide the spark of interest in his eyes.
“Actually, I do. You know how I was worried about my batteries?” When he nodded, I continued, “Well, they’re gone. I was wondering if you might be willing to share your pictures of the trophy ceremony—and the net cutting.”
He raised an eyebrow and considered me a moment. I couldn’t help wondering why he needed to study me quite so thoroughly before he could decide. “I probably could. I can’t help wondering what’s in it for me, though.”
“I don’t know. Are you wanting me to pay for them? I thought you said once that we could share pictures if one of us missed something important.”
“Yeah, but that was before I knew you had a boyfriend.”
My mouth dropped open. I couldn’t believe he was coming right out with it. “Are you serious? I’m still in high school.”
“Sure, but not for much longer.” He stopped for a minute and rubbed his chin. “Of course, you may not have a boyfriend for much longer either.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Only that relationships don’t always work out. Come on, Sienna. You really think it’s going to last once he hits the big time?”
He wasn’t being cruel. I could tell by the note of sympathy in his matter-of-fact tone that he thought he was only pointing out the obvious, as ugly as it was. Maybe if I hadn’t thought the same thing myself a hundred times, I could have shrugged it off. As it was, my resentment burned hot.
“How dare you make assumptions like that? You don’t know anything about us. You don’t even know anything about me.”
He held up his free hand in a calming gesture. “Whoa. Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Maybe the guy’s not as big of a lunk head as I think he is, and he’ll realize you’re a keeper. But jocks aren’t usually that smart. They go after any piece of bootie that walks by.”
“You’re disgusting,” I said, turning away. I didn’t care about the pictures anymore. It wasn’t worth it.
He followed me though. “I’m not saying you’re a piece of bootie. I’d never think that about you.”
“Yeah, well, obviously you think that about some girls. Lee never would. That’s why he’s worth a hundred of you.”
I walked over to my camera case and started putting away my camera. Layton was still following me though. Sheesh. What was it going to take to shake him off? I looked at him, making sure he saw my cool expression. “Uh, Layton, they’re about to present the trophies.”
He looked torn about needing to go and wanting to say, “Sienna, I’m sorry. Can we pretend that conversation never happened?”
“I doubt it. You’d better go. There’s no point in both of us missing the shot.”
He cursed under his breath and turned to leave. I shook my head as I buckled up my camera bag. Hopefully he wouldn’t be traveling to the Regional Tournament next week. That would be awkward.
The one benefit to not being able to take pictures anymore was getting to sit and watch Lee’s team get their trophy. I smiled and cheered, but I couldn’t help noticing the tightness on Lee’s face. He smiled for the cameras flashing around him and anytime someone made direct eye contact with him, but it wasn’t his real smile. His ankle was probably hurting him more than he was letting on.
When the festivities were over and the crowd dispersed, I got up and headed over to the locker rooms to wait for Lee. His parents were there and, of course, his mom was looking anxious to see him.
“Hello,” I said as I came up to them.
They turned immediately, welcoming smiles lighting their faces. I loved the way they made me feel like I was one of them—not just some girl Lee happened to be dating.
Mrs. Franklin put an arm around my shoulders. “Lee’s ankle is going to be fine,” she said to reassure me. But I could hear a question mark dangling at the end of her sentence and knew that she was the one who needed to be reassured.
“No doubt about it. You’ll probably have a hard time keeping him off it tomorrow.”
She laughed a little, but it sounded more exasperated than amused. “I know it. You’d better come over and spend the day with him. You’re the only person he might sit still for.”
Her confidence in our relationship helped me relax a little. It wasn’t till then I realized how tense I was over my conversation with Layton. He’d dug out all of my insecurities and made them raw again.
When Lee finally emerged, he looked tired and his limp was slightly more exaggerated than it had been during the game. The adrenalin that came from playing had probably masked some of the pain, and now that it was gone, he was feeling the full impact of his injury.
I stood back as Lee’s mom grabbed him in an overwhelming hug. Lee bore it patiently, but his eyes searched for me over his mom’s head. I smiled a little at him, but he didn’t smile back. I knew him well enough that I didn’t think he was mad at me or anything, but dark storms were churning in his eyes.
He turned away, stepping back from his mom. He spoke gently to her. “Mom, I’m fine. Stop worrying about me. Okay?”
“I’ll try—if you’re sure?”
“I’ve sprained my ankle before. It’s no big deal – just terrible timing.”
She nodded and said, “Well, let’s get you home and get some ice on it.”
“Sure. But I’m driving home.”
“Not with your ankle hurt, you’re not.”
“Mom, it’s my left ankle. I can still drive.”
Lee’s dad stepped in, taking his wife’s hand and pulling her away. “Come on, Vi. He’s fine.” Turning briefly back to his son, he said, “Don’t take too long getting home, Lee. You know she’ll worry until you do.”
Lee nodded, but his attention was on me. He held out his hand and I took it, but I was surprised at the way he clenched on to me. Not painfully or anything – more like he needed to assure himself that I was there. “Are you ready?” he asked.
I nodded and we left. But as we walked out to his truck, I could feel something in the air between us—something powerful, like a wave about to break, and I wondered if I was ready.
Chapter 17
Lee
As I pulled into her driveway, I glanced over at her. Neither of us had talked the whole way home. She looked tense sitting there, clutching her coat on her lap like it was her only security. I wondered if she could sense my feelings, or if she was dealing with her own. The truck jerked to a stop when I threw it in park before it had come to a complete shop, and Sienna’s head bobbed forward. She braced herself against the dash, and when the truck was finally still, she looked at me.
Her eyes were big in the darkness. The porch light barely illuminated her bare arm as it stretched out in front of her, still braced against the dash like she was expecting another jolt. I reached out and traced the line between light and shadow on her pale skin, trying to calm myself down. There were too many emotions, too much I wanted to say and do. I didn’t know where to start or where to stop.
“Lee, can I ask you something?”
I jumped at the chance to not be the first one to speak. “Sure.”
“I’m not just a passing—well—thing, for you, am I?”
I laughed at her question, it was so ludicrous. The harsh sound of it surprised both of us. “What are you talking about? Of course not.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Never mind. I know I’m not.”
But she wouldn’t look at me, and I knew it went deeper than that. “You don’t sound like you know. Can I prove it to you?”
