Ball Games
By Aileen Zalameda
Huffing and puffing after her basketball practise, Shannon quickly ran to the bench where she left her things and grab her water jug.
“Nice game Shan.” Her coach, Joanna Mendez said patting her shoulder.
Shannon smiled and looked up at her coach with tired hazel eyes, “Thanks Jo. I thought we’d never get finished there.”
Joanna smiled back and sat down beside her, “Just remember, keep your eye on the ball and don’t let what the crowd says bug you.” She reminded, patting her lightly on the shoulder.
“I’ll try to keep that in mind, but the intramural will be on in just a matter of weeks, do you think I’m going to have all the time I need for practise? I mean, my team-mates are counting on me in softball too.”
“And not to mention volleyball.” Joanna added.
Shannon growled. Why must she be so athletic? “Yeah, and that too. Geez, I don’t think I can accomplish practising all of them in just a matter of three weeks!” She exclaimed.
“I don’t think so, you’re now down to two and a half weeks.”
“Oh man…” Shannon groaned, burying her face in her towel.
Joanna smiled and patted her back lightly, “Don’t worry. Are you ready for your tennis practise?”
“Sheesh!” Shannon bolted up from her seat and paced in front of her coach back and forth impatiently, one hand resting on her waist while the other was holding her water jug. “I almost forgot that! My Dad will wring my neck if I lose in tennis! I begged him to let me study tennis ‘coz I want to join the intramural.”
“Don’t worry, I know you can manage to win tennis – if not all the games you’ve joined.”
Shannon stopped pacing back and forth and looked at her coach. Joanna Mendez was twenty-eight years old and still looked like a twenty-one year old lady with long, shiny blond hair, sparkling blue eyes and a smile that was ever so sweet and gentle. Joanna was a good mentor and Shannon’s best friend. “Do you think I have a chance in this intramural?”
“I know you have. Just remember to concentrate and don’t let anybody distract you.”
“That’s easy. The only thing that can distract me is if I fail in one of my subjects ‘coz I put too much time in practise.” Shannon said bitterly, irritated that there was too much pressure surrounding her at that very moment.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.” Joanna encouraged.
“I hope so.” Shannon took a deep breath and smiled at her coach.
Packing the things she would needing during her stay at her cousin’s house, Shannon checked if she had everything packed in her duffel bag during her two week spring break stay at her cousin’s place. She had to make herself loosen up a bit. This whole intramural thing was making her go nuts!!!
There was a light tap on her door a few minutes later and soon her mother’s face poked through the small crack, “Are you ready?” She asked.
Shannon bit her lower lip and looked around her room to see if she had packed everything. “I think so. I have my tennis racquet with me. My softball and bat and gloves… I also have my volleyball and the most important thing… Oh my God!” Shannon’s hazel eyes widen and she turned around abruptly and face her mother, “I forgot to inflate my basketball!”
Lou Lawson smiled and entered her daughter’s bedroom, which was going to be vacant for two weeks.
“I called Agnes and she said that her stepbrother has a spare basketball.” She informed.
“You knew I forgot to inflate my basketball?” Shannon asked wide-eyed.
Lou nod her light brown head and smiled, “Shall we go now?”
“Oh God, I don’t think I’ll be able to enjoy my spring break over at Nes’ place!” Shannon exclaimed sounding exasperated.
“It was your idea.”
“Yeah, I know. But I promised Agnes that I’ll be spending this spring break over at their place – she spent hers here last year.”
“I know, I know. Let’s go, your Dad’s already waiting outside and any minute now he’ll be honking his horn.”
You don’t know how happy I am to finally have you here. I mean, I never thought we’ll be seeing each other again!” Agnes exclaimed the moment Shannon stepped into the coziness of her bedroom.
Shannon arched an eyebrow and sighed, “Geez Nes, we’ve only been separated for four months and yet you’re acting as if we haven’t seen each other for years!” She joked.
Agnes dropped her things on the spare bed she had and turned to face her cousin, “That only shows how much I’ve missed you! God, I can’t believe your Mom and Dad let you spend the whole break here!”
“Neither do I. But, I don’t think we’ll be having much fun this year than last year – I’ll be here practising for the intramural.” Shannon reminded, annoyance creasing her beautiful forehead.
“Oh, you don’t have to think ‘bout that now. Even though you’ll be away from your coach for the whole two weeks, you’ll have a temporary one to replace her, although your ‘temporary’ coach isn’t a ‘she’ but a ‘he’.” Agnes informed her cousin uncertain on what type of reaction she would receive from Shannon once she figured out who her ‘temporary’ coach would be.
“You mean… Tell me it’s not him, please Nes, tell me it’s not him!” Shannon shrieked.
Agnes bit her lower lip and gave her cousin a very apologetic look. “I’m sorry Shan, but he’s the only one available to coach you around here. Believe me, he’s the best! He coached me last year and I became the highest scorer in basketball last intramural.”
“Even though! Agnes, you know I hate his guts!!! I couldn’t hardly stay in one room with him.” Shannon complained.
“He’ve changed Shan, trust me. And the impression he passed on to you the last time the two of you met wasn’t the real him. He was heartbroken last Christmas that was why he acted like a grouch during our get-together dinner.” Agnes explained.
“I don’t care if he’ve changed or not. You know how he treated me last Christmas!”
“And he’s sorry for that.”
There was a light tap on the door and without Agnes’ permission, the door opened and a dirty blond head poked inside. Shannon’s expression went from anger to fury!
“Excuse me ladies, but Aunt Lou and Margaret are calling you.” He said politely, his blue eyes smiling behind those really cool eyeglasses. His gaze collided with Shannon’s and his smile broadened. He nodded curtly in greeting at Shannon and looked back at Agnes, “Are you going now or do you want me to tell them that you’ll be late?”
“Tell them… Tell them we’ll be late. Shan and I have some important things to discuss here for a while.”
“Okay, just don’t be late.”
“Yeah, thanks Brian.”
“You’re always welcome.” He said and closed the door after him.
“The nerve…” Shannon hissed the moment the door closed after him.
Agnes spun around abruptly and smiled, “I told you he’ve changed.”
“He’s still the same arrogant jackass I’ve met last Christmas.” Shannon said crossing her arms in front of her.
“Shan… Brian’s the only one who can coach you around here. Even if his Dad is willing to coach you, he can only spare some time to play tennis with you.” She explained.
“He’d better be a gentleman when we’re practising.” Shannon muttered marching towards the door.
“Shan…” Agnes grabbed her cousin’s hand and turned her around, “You’ll like him, I know you will.”
Shannon rolled her hazel eyes and mimicked, “Whatever.” Before marching back towards the door.
Agnes took a deep breath and followed her outside; wishing to God that World War III wouldn’t erupt when Brian and Shan started practising.
You’re late.” Brian said glancing at his wristwatch the next morning when Shannon joined him in the garage to have a quick bike ride to the park where they would practise basketball.
“Sorry.” Shannon answered dryly.
“Having a bad hair day today?” Brian tried to tease.
Shannon shot him a furious glance. She wanted to strangle him right there and then, but she kept her poise. Squaring her shoulders a little bit, she marched right down to Agnes’ bike and took it out of the garage and parked it near his. “Shall we go? Nes and I have some shopping to do this afternoon and I don’t wanna be late.”
“Shopping? Gee, why can’t you girls live without shopping?” He said, shaking his dirty blond head that was covered with a white Phoenix Suns cap.
Shannon arched an eyebrow and stabbed a stake right through his heart in her mind, Airhead! She told herself and followed him down the street.
Minutes later Brian was parking his bike on the bike rack in an empty public park where there were only a few people around and the basketball court was deserted. He glanced over his shoulder and winced when he saw Shannon taking all the time in the world to get on the bike rack. “Hurry up, slow poke.”
Shannon stabbed him with another stake through his heart and even sewed his mouth in her mind. He was really getting on her nerves!
Slowing down near the bike rack, Shannon got off the bike and locked hers a few racks away from his.
Brian arched an eyebrow and looked at her, “Funny, we’re the only two people around here and you parked your bike five racks away from mine.”
Shannon glance at him sideways and let out a rugged sigh, “If you don’t shut up this instant, I’ll be forced to walk out of here and leave you to practise by yourself!” She threatened.
“Suit yourself, I am not the one who’s going to play in the upcoming intramural.”
“Airhead!” She said aloud, clenching her fists tightly and thinking of some brutal things that she could do to him if she were a boy.
Brian’s upper left lip twitched and he grinned as if she hadn’t insulted him. “Airhead?” He echoed, “Geez Shan, thanks for telling me that. Until now I didn’t really know that I’m an ‘airhead’.”
“Twerp.” She hissed and turned her back to him, fixing the strap of her backpack over her shoulders as she walked away from the bike rack.
“You know, you look pretty when you’re frowning.” Brian said over her shoulder.
That does it! She told herself and spun around abruptly, slapping him with her right hand and leaving a bright red mark across his cheek.
“What was that for?” Brian asked, surprised at her sudden act of rudeness and touched his aching cheek.
“Get a life.”
“I already have one.”
“Then go to hell.”
“I already am in hell!”
“Then find somebody that will flirt back with you. I came out here with you this morning to practise, not to be insulted.”
“I didn’t insult you.”
“You didn’t? Ha! It may not occur to you yet but from my point of view, you’ve already insulted me and that’s more than once, mister.”
“More than – since when did I first insulted you?”
“Last Christmas.”
“I’ve…” His voice trailed off as he tried to remember what exactly happened last Christmas for Shannon to hate him that much. He knew he was in a bad mood then because his long time girlfriend had just broken up with him and ran off with another guy who was a senior.
“Hi Brian!” Shannon greeted him, her face bright with mirth.
Brian looked her up from head to foot and snorted, “What do you want?” He asked tearing his gaze from her and back to the empty street outside.
Shannon arched an eyebrow but let that insult slide, since she knew he was in a bad mood. “Agnes and I are playing monopoly upstairs – wanna join us?” She asked politely.
“I don’t have the passion for money – I am not the ‘business man’ type.” He answered dryly.
“Same goes for Nes and me.” She smiled.
Closing his eyes and wishing her to just go away and leave him alone, he rose to his feet and towered over her. Shannon cringed and wished that she could be at least five foot eight and not five foot two, so she could look like a giant at least and not a dwarf beside his six foot two height. Looking at her from head to foot once again, Brian then turn his back on her without another word and went inside to disappear into the kitchen.
Brian also remembered how Shannon treated her after that encounter that night. Her jolly and friendly attitude towards him turned bitter to sour and soon she was no longer on speaking terms with him.
Standing right in front of him, the petite light brown haired girl whom he insulted without him actually meaning to was spitting fire at him. He knew that she was doing so even without her saying anything to him. Her action was loud enough for him to hear what she was screaming about inside.
“Now what are you staring at?” Shannon asked her arms crossed in front of her.
Snapping back into reality, Brian shook his brown head for a while and kept his blue eyes closed for a few seconds, giving himself a well deserve shake back into reality before opening his eyes and looking straight into a pair of hypnotic hazel eyes. “What do you want to practise first, basketball or softball?”
Shannon shrugged and sighed, “Whichever you want.”
Brian arched an eyebrow and grinned, “I’m giving you the chance to choose which ball game you want us to practise first.”
“Okay, let’s start with softball. I don’t really give a damn about basketball ‘coz that game has serious body contact.”
Smiling at her, Brian shook his head and threw the basketball at her, “Keep that beside your bag and then take out your gear.” He ordered.
“Don’t you have any gloves or whatsoever?” She asked catching the ball he threw.
“You have a glove don’t you?”
“Yeah, I brought mine.” She nodded.
“Then I’m gonna use that since you’ll be practising more on hitting and throwing.” He said, making it sound as simple as that.
Shrugging the backpack off her shoulders, Shannon winced and looked for a nearby bench to discard her things.
“Don’t take all the time this time, Miss Lawson.” Brian teased.
Shannon’s eyes squinted and she looked over her shoulder to glare at him. Brian just chuckled and shook his head, waiting for her to discard her things and threw him the glove and ball. I hate him. I hate his guts, his manners and… I just hate him so damn much!!! She kept on telling herself that until she reached him.
“Ready?” He called after she went to the assigned place he told her to go.
Shannon checked her ponytail before looking at him and nodding her light brown head. Brian put his cap on backwards and pushed his eyeglasses over his nose bridge and threw the first pitch.
“Ouch!” Shannon yelped when Brian almost hit her hip.
“Are you okay?” Brian called, alarmed when he heard her screech.
“Okay?! You almost me!” She yelled at him.
Brian grinned and nodded his dirty blond head, “Serves you right.” He mocked.
Shannon became furious again and gripped her bat a bit tighter this time. That was why on his next pitch she had hit a home run!
“Whoa…!” Brian said following the ball with his eyes. He smiled and looked back at Shannon giving her two thumbs-up. “Nice hit!” He called.
“Don’t mention it.” She said in a low tone patting the bat on the soles of her shoes.
The next two hours were like hell to Shannon, but fun. Brian taught her some tricks on how she should throw a ball so it could be a strike and even taught her on how to hit a dead ball and on how to pitch one as well. He's not that bad at all. She found herself saying to herself on their way home from practise.
Brian promised to teach her some basketball tricks this afternoon if she’s not going out with Nes to the mall, and she gladly accept it.
Brian told me that you’re not a bad student like me.” Agnes said once Shannon was lying face down on her bed. “Yo Shan, did my brother gave you a hard time?” She asked sitting at the foot of her bed.
“No.” Shannon grumbled under her pillow.
“What?”
She took the pillow from her head and answered with her eyes closed, “No.”
“Good. He also told me that you’ve cancelled our date this afternoon.”
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“ ‘Coz I’m going to practise.” Shannon shrugged.
“With Brian?” Agnes echoed, not believing what she had just heard.
Shannon prop herself up using her elbows for support, “Got a problem with that?”
“No, no problem at all. It’s just that… Haven’t you told me that you hate my stepbro’s guts?”
“Yeah, I said that and I still do. Just this morning I slapped him out of his arrogance.” Shannon admitted proudly.
Agnes’ jaw dropped and she stared blankly at her cousin. “And after that he didn’t ditch you?”
“Why would he?” Shannon asked frowning.
“Shan, the last time I slapped Brian accidentally because he really pushed me to the limit, he walked off the court without saying a word and left me there!”
“Sounds more like him.” Shannon agreed, remembering the first time Brian did that to her last Christmas.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing.” She said and fell on her back again.
“C’mon Shan, what do you mean ‘sounds more like him’?”
“Nothing. Forget that I said that.”
“Shannon…”
“Agnes…”
“Shannon!” She shrieked, shaking her back and forth.
“Ag-Agnes! S-stop s-shaking me! Please!”
“Tell me what you mean ‘bout what you’ve just said.”
“It means nothing, I swear it means nothing.” Shannon insisted.
“You’re lying – liar.” Agnes accused.
“Agnes… Okay, what I mean about that is – he always walks out on you without saying something. He did that to me last Christmas and no wonder he did it to you.”
Agnes stopped shaking her then and stared at her face for a long while. “Brian did that to you?”
“Yes.”
“Is that – is that the reason why you hated him so much?”
“Yes.” Shannon answered again without opening her eyes.
“And you never told me about what he did?”
“No.”
“Shannon…! How could you?” Agnes bolt out of her bed and pace her room back and forth with her hands on her hips.
Shannon felt her bed rock and so she opened her eyes and saw her cousin pacing their room back and forth impatiently.
“If you just told me the real reason why you hated him then I would have talked to him,” she said stopping at the foot of her bed and looking down at her cousin.
“What the hell are you talking about? Nes, if you were in my shoes last Christmas and one of your guests did that to you, would you still have the courage to tell his stepsister about what he did to you?”
“Yes! I would have the courage to confront his stepsister.”
“Well we’re different, and besides, I didn’t make a big deal out of it because I knew he was in a bad mood. But looking me down from head to foot and then turned his back on me is an insult!”
“He did that?”
“Yeah he did, but I didn’t tell it to you because you were praising your stepbrother and I don’t want to ruin your night by telling you how rude he is.” Shannon shrugged and closed her eyes.
“Man, I can’t believe Brian could be that rude.”
Shannon shrugged and shook her head, thinking of the way Brian looked her down from head to foot that night and then turned his back on her. He didn’t do that to her once but three times! The first time was when she was asking him to join them upstairs to play monopoly. The second was when they were opening gifts under the tree and she casually handed him his gift but didn’t bother to greet him ‘Merry Christmas’ because she was already angry at him, and his response infuriated her even more. The third time, she was mad as hell and she almost slapped him there and then when she was asking him to join them to sing a few Christmas carols since Agnes said he was a good guitarist. He was standing by the stairwell and Agnes and her were on the steps outside plucking some chords on the guitar when she looked at him and called him to join them; he arched an eyebrow and went upstairs and locked himself in the room that she prepared for him!
Trying to shoot a few hoops into the basket into the ring which Brian put up outside their garage, Shannon didn’t know that somewhere in one of the windows on the second floor Brian was watching her, smiling when she had a lucky shot and frowning when she missed one.
“She’s pretty cool, isn’t she?” Agnes asked over his shoulder.
Brian straighten up and hide his true emotions and pretend that he’s not interested in Shannon’s little match with herself. “She has a few errors.”
Agnes arched an eyebrow and smiled, “You’re not looking at the way Shan is playing. You’re looking at the player.” She teased.
Brian arched an eyebrow and slowly looked over his shoulder, “I’m looking at the way Shan is playing not at Shannon.”
Agnes arched an eyebrow and passed her stepbrother a teasing look and tried to tiptoe just so she could look over his shoulder to see Shannon play.
Shannon felt that she was being watched so she stopped for a while and stole a sideways glance over at the hallway window and saw a tall figure standing behind the not so tinted windows. She smiled the moment she recognized whose figure it was and resumed playing.
Shannon had been practising with Brian for almost a week now and each day that passed by only showed her and Brian how she had improved so far. She already knew the tricks in basketball that he taught her, plus the tricks in playing softball.
“Nice game!” Brian called after they were through with softball.
Shannon smiled and let out a sigh of relief as she ran across the ground to meet him at the center, the glove and ball tucked under his arm, his white Phoenix Suns cap still on backwards and he was wearing a smile on his face. “I did okay again today?” She asked still catching her breath.
“Yeah, you did great. Tomorrow we’ll start with volleyball, that is, if you and Dad don’t have tennis lessons.”
“Uncle Jack told me to have a ‘day-off’ tomorrow.”
“Great. We’ll go down the beach tomorrow morning so you can practise.”
“The beach?”
“Yeah.”
“We’re going to play on hard court.”
“We don’t have any ‘hard courts’ here and the beach wouldn’t be crowded tomorrow. If you want we can tag Agnes along and afterwards we can have a dip into the water.”
“You gotta be kidding. The water is still freezing by this time.”
“But not as freezing as last winter.” He wriggled his eyebrows up and down mischievously.
Shannon got the message and rolled her eyes heavenward. “I don’t know, but we’ll give it a shot. But I know we will play volleyball on ‘hard court’.”
Brian laughed and placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him as they walked side by side back to the bench where they left their things.
“I’m really pooped!” Shannon exclaimed, slumping on the bench beside her backpack.
Brian smiled and sat beside her, her backpack separating them. But that didn’t bother Brian even a little bit. He leant back on the bench and extended his arms over the back of the bench making Shannon use it as a pillow.
Brian felt her weight on his arm and glanced at her sideways, “Tired?”
“Hm… Not really.” She shook her head, making her soft curls tickle his arm and put a smile on his face.
He looked back on the sky and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, he fell asleep for a couple of minutes only to be awaken when he felt Shannon’s weight no longer on his arm.
He straightened up from his slouching position and looked around for her, but she was no where to be found.
“Shan?”
No answer. Where could she be? He asked himself getting up from the bench and rotating his neck in search for her.
“Shan?” He called again, a little louder this time.
Still no answer and it worried the hell out of him. Taking a couple of big, haughty strides, he was away from the bench and still he couldn’t see her. He glanced over at the bike rack and saw her bike still there, so where could she be?
Walking cat like behind him, Shannon tried not to make a sound as she crept from behind him, intending to surprise him.
Now standing right behind him, she’s ready to make the kill when…
“Bo!”
“Aaaaah!” She screamed and Brian caught her arms and pulled her closer.
He was laughing like crazy as he slowly dragged her towards the bench. “Thought you could scare me eh?” He said letting go of her hand.
“How did you know?” She asked once he let her go.
“Know what?” He asked innocently.
“That I was right behind you?” She asked sitting beside him.
“Simple, I heard your footsteps.” He shrugged and closed his eyes again.
“Heard my – but I was as quiet as a cat when I approached you!”
“I have very sensitive ears.”
“Liar.” She hissed and threw the glove at him.
Brian caught it just in time before it hit his face and smiled, “I told you I have sensitive ears.”
“You just got lucky.” She hissed and fell back on the chair.
Diving into the sand just to save the ball, Shannon failed and ate a mouthful of sand instead. For the past hour that they had been playing, Shannon couldn’t manage to score against Brian. She couldn’t get his serve, his spike, his wallop, his underhand pass, and overhead pass! And most of all, he was giving her power balls and it hurts when it hit her arm.
“Time out!” She called after her last dive.
“What? Giving up already?” He teased, stooping under the net and helped her up.
“I can get up on my own, thank you.” She said pushing his hand away.
Brian arched an eyebrow and stepped back and watched her get on her feet. She dusted her sandy shapely legs and cut-offs. Brian tried to ignore the invitation but the scene was too tempting.
Shannon felt his eyes boring down on her legs and she quickly looked up at him and flared, “What are you staring at?” She demanded.
Brian grinned and slowly raked his gaze from her shapely legs to her enticing face, “I never thought that you had such beautiful legs.”
“Liar.”
He arched an eyebrow and looked at her straight in the eye, “You don’t believe me?”
“Why would I? I know my legs aren’t that beautiful and stop looking at them!” She snapped and took three steps backwards so Brian would look up and meet her gaze, but her plan failed. Brian was still drawn to her legs and it was making her uncomfortable! “Brian, please don’t stare at my legs.”
“Okay, but you still have the most beautiful legs.” He insisted and took the ball from her.
Shannon tried to argue with him but she didn’t bother. Knowing how Brian loved to argue she just let the subject dropped and waited for his serve patiently.
“Brian!” A petite brunette shrieked just a couple of meters away from them and made Brian miss his serve.
He frowned and slowly looked over his side and winced when he saw the brunette approaching. He tucked the ball under his arm and signalled Shannon to take a break for a while.
“Oh God it is you!” The girl shrieked again and jumped at him, flinging her arms around his neck and showering him with kisses that made Shannon looked away with disgust.
Now I know what love can do to people. She told herself as she fell down on the beach towel she brought along with her and watched the calm sea and the few people swimming. She stole a sideways glance at the couple and saw Brian frowning, but he was forcing himself to smile as he talked to the brunette who interrupted their practise. Who could she be? If she’s his friend, how come he’s not too enthusiastic to see her? Or is she his girlfriend? She asked herself and felt her insides churn as the thought of the brunette being his girlfriend. I hope she’s not his girlfriend. She wished, Wait a minute, what am I talking about?! Why would I care if that girl were his girlfriend or not? Sheesh man, stop talking weird. She told herself and glanced up at Brian and the brunette and found them walking towards her, the girl’s arm around his waist but Brian doesn’t seem to care whether his arm was around her or not. He just walked towards her with a blank face.
“Shan, this is Tash.” He introduced the girl to her.
Shannon smiled at her and reached her hand out, “Nice to meet you Tash.”
The girl smirked and reached for her hand as if it was dirty. Brian saw Tash’s reaction and he nudged her lightly making her smile at Shannon a little, but Shannon already saw her reaction and quickly pulled her hand away.
Brian took a deep breath and looked at Tash, “And Tash, this is Shannon Lawson, my stepsister’s cousin from Los Angeles.”
“Hi!” Tash greeted a bit more enthusiastically.
Shannon arched an eyebrow and got up to her feet, she looked her up from head to foot and tore her gaze from her face and looked at Brian, “I’ll be at the court practising if you need me.” She said and picked up the ball beside her.
“There’ll be no more practise for today Shan. Wait for me at the bike rack.”
Shannon stopped from moving her foot and looked at him bewildered.
“What?” She asked almost a whisper.
Brian tore his gaze from Tash and spoke to her with huskiness in his tone, “I said there’ll be no more practise for today – wait for me at the bike rack, this won’t be long.”
“But…”
“Please?”
Shannon didn’t say another word nor asked why practise was over. She stooped down and picked up her backpack and folded the towel.
“Leave it there – I’ll pick it up after I’m done here talking to Tash.” Brian ordered.
“I’ll be waiting for you at the bike rack then.” She said and slung her backpack over her shoulder and walked away.
Brian waited until Shannon’s out of ear shot and turned to face Tash with the same blank face he gave Shan a while ago and the huskiness in his voice was still there. “Don’t do that to me again.”
“Do what? All I did was kiss you.” Tash pouted.
“I don’t want you to shower me with kisses in public!”
“Brian…”
“What do you want Tash?” He asked trying to finish their conversation as fast as he could.
“I want you, Brian Wolf. I’ve always wanted you since the sixth grade and I want you still.”
Brian rolled his blue eyes and sighed. “We broke up, remember?”
“No we didn’t. We broke up against my will!”
“No, we broke up because our relationship seems to be the only thing that was bugging you and so I gave it away – even though it left me shattered and not myself for the next couple of months.”
“You love me.”
“Loved.” He corrected, “I loved you, Tash. I have a life of my own now and a new love.”
“And who could she be? That chick you’re with today? Is she the one, ha – ha?!” She demanded. When Brian didn’t answer her query, Tash already knew the answer to her question. “You’re not gonna get away with this easily, Brian Wolf.” She threatened before turning her back to him, “You’re not gonna get away with this!” She shouted and ran away as fast as she could.
The incident at the beach that morning made Brian’s day miserable. He was no longer the cheerful person he had been for the past week. The ride home from the beach was filled with utter silence as Brian tried to end the question Shannon kept on bringing up with a shrug or a sigh, but no verbal answer.
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with your brother, Agnes, but he’s definitely getting on my nerves again.” Shannon complained joining her cousin outside at the poolside.
Agnes smiled and took off her sunglasses, “That’s just like him.”
“No, that’s not like him at all! I mean, he’s been a great guy this past week and I’m beginning to like him and now he turned back into the grouch that he was before.” Shannon said sulking in the chair beside her.
“Shan… What happened this morning?”
“I don’t know. Brian and I were playing volleyball when this brunette named Tash came out from no where and ran towards him and showered him with kisses – I think that infuriated him.”
“A brunette?” Agnes echoed.
“Yeah, and her name was Tash – sounds more like trash to me.”
“Oh my God…” Agnes hissed and bolted out of her seat.
“What?” Shannon asked suddenly straightening up from her slouching position.
“Tash Wilken, Brian’s ex-girlfriend.”
“Brian’s ‘ex’? Boy, she sure doesn’t act like his ‘ex’ to me.”
Agnes barely heard her. She paced back and forth in front of Shannon with her hands resting on her waist and her expression blank.
“What’s wrong Nes?”
“She can’t be back in town. I knew she left town after they split-up.”
“Well she’s in town and she acts as if they’re still ‘on’.”
“What did she do?”
“I dunno. All I know is that when I left the two of them alone, Brian was furious as hell and the same goes for Tash when she left Brian. I think they argued over something and when I asked your dear ol’ brother he wouldn’t even condescend to acknowledge me!”
“Did you hear what they talked about?”
“How would I? Brian sent me to wait for him at the bike rack – I could only see their faces.”
“Have you talked to him?” Agnes asked stopping in front of her.
“What do you think I’ve been doing since this morning? Of course I did! Brian always shuts me out whenever I try to ask him what happened and I hate him.”
“Don’t hate Brian, hate Tash. She’s the cause of all these trouble.”
“What trouble?”
“Brian’s moodiness.”
“Tash can do that?”
“She can do anything to make Brian act like a grouch. You see, Brian loves her a lot, but after what she did, I don’t think Brian can ever forgive her.”
“What did she do?”
Agnes took a deep breath and sighed, “Brian went out on a camping trip with his friends last summer, and when he returned he found out that Tash went steady with his brother.”
Shannon’s hazel eyes turned from interest to fury. How could she do that do Brian? The poor guy… She told herself, “I can’t believe the nerve that girl has in her body. What happened next?”
“The usual. Brian was hurt so he part ways with her and then went to live with his Dad – his parents were already divorced and that his Dad was married to my Mom by then.” Agnes explained.
“Oh, and then what happened?”
Agnes took a deep breath and shrugged, “The two brothers never talked to each other up to now and Tash moved out of the state after her split-up with Brian.”
“She split up with Brian’s brother too?” Shannon asked, Why are you curious? A voice inside her head asked.
“I dunno. All I know is that Brian and Tash and Dave – Brian’s older brother – doesn’t want to see each other anymore.”
“Have they seen each other again – Brian and Dave I mean?”
“I suppose so. Brian went to visit his Mom last Valentines Day, maybe the two of them have seen each other.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Did they talk?” Stop snooping around.
“Ask Brian.”
“Oh yeah, like I could get an answer from him. He wouldn’t answer me!”
“Correct.”
“Huh?”
“I asked Brian what happened during his visit and he didn’t answer me, so you’re right he wouldn’t answer you too.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“Keep our fingers crossed and hope that he’ll be back in his jolly mood again.”
“Agnes…”
Shopping downtown with Agnes the next day, Shannon went out on her own and looked at some new line of clothes that was displayed on one shop at the other side of the mall. She agreed to meet Agnes at the food court in an hour after she’s done shopping.
Checking out each store that has a new set of clothes on display, Shannon was enthralled by the beauty of the clothes that’s why she didn’t realize that she’s being followed.
“I see you’re shopping all by yourself.” A girl behind her said.
Surprised to hear her, Shannon turned around abruptly and almost knocking her off. “Hi Tash! I didn’t expect to see you here.” She smiled.
The other girl didn’t bother to smile back. Instead she looked her up from head to foot and snorted. “No wonder Brian likes you. You have shapely legs and he likes that in a girl, but that’s the only thing he likes in a girl.” She stood straight and looked at her straight in the eye, “Brian Wolf is nothing but a player; using every girl as his passing fancy. He’ll move on and leave you after he’s done with you, you know what I’m saying?” She said with malice seen through those blue eyes of hers.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Shannon answered shaking her head.
“Oh don’t play innocent with me, Shannon Lawson. I know you and Brian have a relationship, and he’s just using his sister as an excuse.”
“Excuse for what?”
“He said you’re his sister’s cousin, but I doubt it.”
“He’s not lying, he’s telling you the truth.”
“Truth or not, I don’t give a damn. I want you to stay away from Brian.”
Shannon noticed the challenge in her voice and straightened up, “And if I didn’t, what will you do to me?” She challenged.
Tash arched an eyebrow and took a step closer to tower over her, “You’ll regret that you ever messed up with me.”
“Oh I’m scared.” Shannon mocked.
“If I know Brian, he already has what he wants from you.”
“And what’s that?”
“Your virtue.”
Shannon’s hazel eyes widened and she took a step backwards, “And who told you that?”
“Brian himself. He told me that during our brief encounter yesterday at the beach.”
Shannon could have had slapped her right there and then, but she didn’t. She held back all the restraint left in her body and with her chin held high, she briskly walked away from Tash.
You bastard!” Shannon said hitting Brian with her closed fists as hard as she could once she caught him alone near the pool later that evening. “Liar!” She cried, hitting him hard against his chest.
Brian caught her wrists and stopped her from hitting him even harder. “Shannon…”
“Liar!” She shouted at him again and snapped her head up to meet his gaze, “How could you tell such a lie! I’ve never slept with you and you damn well know it!”
“Shan –” Brian tried to say something but Shannon cut him off.
“How could you broadcast to the entire world that I’ve slept with you?! You must have been sick enough to tell somebody that you’ve slept with your sister’s cousin who is – supposedly to be your cousin as well! Brian, that’s absurd! How could you tell such a lie?!” She said and tears started to stream down her cheeks and Brian gathered her in his arms, embracing her and trying to calm her down.
“Stop crying, Shan.” He whispered and kissed the crown of her head.
“I hate you!” She screamed and pushed away from him, meeting his bewildered gaze. Holding her chin high, she spoke with tears running down her cheeks, “I don’t think I’ll ever like you in spite of all the good things you’ve done to me during this past week, but this one, this one I won’t let pass.”
“Shannon… What are you talking about?” He asked with bewildered blue eyes.
“The hell you know what I’m talking about! I’m talking about the lie you fed Tash yesterday morning that’s why when she left you she was angry as hell! How could you tell her that I’ve slept with you while the truth is I never even thought to sleep with you! I thought you were different, I thought – I thought you were a great guy, I began to like you even after all that has happened between us in the past. I’ve already let the incident last Christmas pass, I liked you and trusted you, Brian Wolf, but you let me down.”
“Shannon, I swear I never told Tash that I’ve slept with you – I swear!”
“Liar.” She hissed.
“I am not lying, please believe me.”
“How could I believe you? I don’t know who to believe anymore. I wanted to believe you but I can’t, I can’t ‘coz I’m angry and furious at you and Tash and… I just don’t know what to do now.”
“Believe me, I swear to God that I never told Tash such thing!”
“Liar.” She accused him again.
“Shannon please believe me! Why can’t you believe me?”
“Because… I don’t, I just don’t.”
“Shan…” He took a step forward but Shannon put up her hands and fend him off.
“Don’t come near me.” She warned.
“Shannon…” He took another step forward and Shannon back off.
“Brian, I told not to get near me.”
“I swear I didn’t tell Tash what she told you – it was a lie so you could hate me and leave town so she can have me back, but I don’t want her anymore. I told her – I told her that I loved her then, but now I’m in love with somebody else and she guessed that you’re the one I said I love and so she cooked up a plan for you to hate me, and she succeeded.”
Shannon shook her head and looked down to her feet. Why can’t I believe you, Brian? Why can’t I? She asked herself.
Tilting her head up to meet his gaze, Shannon was baffled to see love and concern his blue eyes were telling her. And she even found it much harder to admit to herself that somehow, during her brief staying here, she fell in love with this beguiling guy whom she swore she hated from the very beginning. “I’m – I’m leaving tomorrow.” She informed and closed her eyes to avoid anymore eye contact with him.
“Shan…”
“Don’t try to stop me. Spring break is almost over and I want to spend some time back in my old neighbourhood and see my coach. I still have to practise for tennis and I need to see our ball captain.” She said and turned her back on him.
Walking back into the house, Shannon felt a hand clamp on her arm and turn her around, making her crash against the wall on Brian’s chest. Her head snap back abruptly and not making her argue about that, Brian’s lips descend on hers in a long, passionate kiss. It made Shannon’s insides churn and made her want to pull away.
“Don’t go.” Brian whispered against her lips.
Shannon moved her head to the side to avoid his lips.
“I have to go.” She said and pushed away from him even though her body was still shattered by his kiss.
“I swear to you, I didn’t tell Tash that lie. She’s the one who cooked that up.” He said still holding her arm firmly.
Shannon closed her eyes again to fight back the tears that are threatening to fall. Shrugging his hand off her arm, she walked back into the house without saying another word to him.
Waiting for the umpire to start the game, Shannon sat back in her chair and tried to concentrate. This was the championship game, she had led her team mates to victory so far by helping them win in the basketball, volleyball and softball game, and now she had to win this match between her and three time tennis champion, Margarita Velasco.
The umpire signalled the start of the game and both players went to their respective places and the lines men, ball girls and ball boys, plus the one who was looking at the net were ready.
Shannon’s the first one to serve. She took a few deep breaths and scanned the crowd to see if her parents were there. Closing her eyes once she saw her mother, she tossed the ball and hit it -- another ace.
The first set was a 6-love match, in her favour. The second set was starting and Margarita’s the one who was serving. Shannon waited patiently to receive her serve and hit it with an underspin backhand, which made Margarita run forward fruitlessly to save the ball.
The game was good so far, but something inside Shannon’s head was still bugging her. The kiss she’d had with Brian a week ago still bugged her. Why had he kissed her? What was his purpose of doing that? He had no right or whatsoever to kiss her, so why did he?
Brian called her three times a day since she left and she didn’t bother to entertain even one of his calls. She made up excuses to avoid him and so on. One day, before their intramural began, Brian showed up in their front door looking good as ever.
“Can we talk?” He asked in his low and husky voice.
Shannon gulped hard and showed him in, not knowing what to say to him and what was his intention of being there. “Are your parents home?”
“Um, no. Dad’s at work and Mom’s baby-sitting for the Bradfords.” She answered showing him into the living room.
Brian tucked his hands in his back pockets and looked around.
Clasping her hands together, Shannon took a deep breath and managed to say something. “You must be tired, why don’t you sit down while I get you something – soda or water?”
Brian looked over his shoulder and smiled, “No thank you. Can we talk?”
I knew it. She told herself and she clasped her hands even tighter. Forcing herself to smile, she asked, “Why?”
“We need to clear things out. I know you were as surprised as I was when Tash told you a lie. You weren’t yourself when you confronted me that time, and I was really taken by surprise and I didn’t know what you were talking about.”
“And-and what do you want us to talk about now?”
“That night.”
Two words, and they made such an impact on Shannon.
“W-why?” She stuttered.
“Because I did something I know I shouldn’t have.”
“If you’re referring to the kiss, I can forget it, in fact, it’s already forgotten.” She smiled making a gesture with her hands and put on an innocent face.
Brian smiled and turned around to face her fully. “I know I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I know you didn’t mean it. You were – that’s the only alternative you can think of so we could talk and to calm me down.”
“No, I didn’t think of that as an alternative. I was going to say more to you that night but you just turned your back on me and when I woke up the next day, Dad had already driven you home – back here, to the safety of your humble home.” He said looking around him.
“I know what you’re going to tell –”
He cut her off, “No you don’t. Shan…” He took a couple of steps forward to stop a few inches from her, “I know I couldn’t make you believe me that night when I tried to explain the things Tash told you. You were upset and I knew that whatever I would say, you would not listen to me or believe me,” He began.
Shannon’s quick intake of breath made her body quiver as she watched him slowly, noting every expression on his face.
“That night, I was thinking of… I was thinking of how to say to you the things I’ve been wanting to tell you since the first time I saw you again. I – I love you, Shannon. And I’m sorry if I made such a bad impression on you the first time we met, and believe me, I was really impressed on the way you reacted when I ‘insulted’ you the first time. I thought about it over and over again and how I wanted to turn back the time and make amends for what I did, but I know I couldn’t so I told myself that I’m gonna make it good this time. You were – you were still the same girl that made me forget all about my problems with Tash last Christmas, and you haunted me still after we left and went back to San Diego.” He explained.
“But you kept on looking me from head to toe that night and walking away from me without saying a word, and I take that as an insult.”
Brian smiled and took a step forward, making Shannon’s hear skipped a beat.
“I did that on purpose because I wanted to block you out of my mind but it seems like that’s kinda hard for me to do since you’re around all the time.”
“You could have at least tried.”
“I’ve already tried, but I always failed.”
“Brian – you can’t be serious.”
“Shan… I’ve never been serious in my entire life.”
“But Brian, we’re suppose to be cousins.”
“But we’re not really related.”
“I don’t know – this is all coming too fast for me.”
“Shannon I love you. I’ve fallen for you since we first met, and I went crazy the first time I saw you standing inside Agnes’ room the day you arrived at our house. I was watching you shoot hoops into the basket I made in the garage every afternoon and I treasure the times we’ve spent together. I’ve been wanting to tell you what I feel but I didn’t have the courage to say it, and then came Tash and… I told her that there’s no more ‘us’ and that I’ve already met someone else… and that someone was you. I didn’t tell her that, Tash put two and two together and got her answer. She insisted that there is still an ‘us’ and so she went out to ruin your life and mine by telling you the lie she made up. That night when you confronted me, I was thinking of some ‘strategy’ on how I will explain to you what I feel, but then you started accusing me and I don’t know how to say it anymore.
“When you left I thought that it’s all over and that maybe it was just infatuation that I’ve felt, but it wasn’t. I tried to fight the feeling but I couldn’t. I know I love you and I know I’ll always will. I loved you then and I love you now. And I’ll love you forever, Shannon Lawson.” He vowed, reaching out his hand to touch her, but Shannon backed away.
“Brian…” She trailed off and closed her eyes to gather enough courage to tell him what she had been dreading to tell him since he stepped into this house and started telling her about his feelings for her. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I feel the same way you are feeling towards me.” Liar. She scolded herself.
She open her eyes to see his expression and it even hurt her more when she did. His face is full of expectation and now it all drain from him. “I’m sorry Brian.” she apologised. “I – I don’t want to hurt you but it seems like it will be hard for me to have a relationship with-with my supposedly cousin.” She explained, her voice shaking as she spoke.
Brian opened his mouth to say something but then he closed it and placed his hands in his jeans pockets and walked towards the door. Tears streaming down her eyes, Shannon turned around and followed him with her eyes, wanting to stop him from leaving and tell him that she loved him too, but she couldn’t.
Pausing to open the door, Brian stood straight for a minute and took a deep breath, “Good luck in your game tomorrow – remember what I taught you.” He reminded and then went out.
The game was pretty tough this second set. Margarita kept the lead with 4 to 1 and Shannon was trying her best to take the lead, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
The second set went on with a 6 to 2 score and Shannon wasn’t happy about that. Concentrate, dammit! She scolded herself, Don’t think of anything else, just concentrate. Don’t blow it this time, please! She told herself, closing her eyes and tried to erase the thought of Brian’s visit and unexpected phone call last night…
“Hi Shan! I just called to say good luck. Nes’ going there to watch your game tomorrow.”
“Uh –”
“See ya.” He said and then hung up.
“Damn.” She hissed and slammed the phone down. “Just when I’m sure about my feelings and want to sort things out he hangs up! Great.” She muttered and got up from the sofa.
It was the start of the third set and Shannon had the first serve. She had to concentrate. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she kept her position and tossed the ball and hit it hard. It was an ace! Good. She told herself and moved on to the other side and hit another ace. She won this game, and she had to win this last match to break the tie.
The game sure was a tough one. Margarita knew she was rattled, and so she was taking advantage of it, but Shannon kept her guard up. They were on for a tiebreaker now and Margarita was leading with 5 to 3. Concentrate! Shannon told herself.
“Fault!” The linesmen called.
“Fault? That’s not a fault! It’s an ace!” Margarita complained to the umpire.
“It hit the middle line but the ball touched the other box.” The umpire said.
“What?!”
The umpire ignored Margarita’s protest and told her to resume the game. Shannon got all the chance she had. She knew that when Margarita was upset, her play wasn’t at all that good. This was her chance.
Hitting a couple more aces and a few ins, Shannon won the championship game, leaving Margarita dumfounded and upset with her playing just because of that call.
The expectators from the bleachers came down and greeted the two contenders with hugs and kisses, but Shannon’s parents were the proud ones.
“Nice game, sweetheart.” Lou Lawson greeted.
“You were rattled but you managed to get through it – I’m proud of you Shan.” Fred Lawson hugged his daughter.
Shannon smiled and kissed her parents lightly. “Thanks guys. I never thought I can make it.”
Lou smiled and said, “Agnes is here, she’s waiting for you outside.”
“Why outside?”
“I don’t know – she just told me to tell you to meet her outside.”
Curious, Shannon excused herself from her parents and slipped outside to look for her cousin, who seemed to be missing.
“Bo!”
“Aaaaah!”
Agnes laughed and came out from behind her and gave her cousin a well-deserved hug. “Congratulations! I never thought you would make such a nice recovery after a horrible second set.”
“Thanks.”
Agnes pulled away from her looked her down from head to foot, “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“What?”
“Close your eyes.”
“Why should I?”
“Please? It wouldn’t be a surprise unless you close it.”
“Okay.”
Too excited to find out her cousin’s surprise to her, Shannon did what she was asked and soon she felt she was being turned to face the other side. “Can I open them now?”
“Not yet.”
“When?”
“Until I say you can.” Agnes said looking left and right and couldn’t find her surprise.
“Agnes…”
“In a minute. I didn’t know where I put it.”
“Agnes…”
“Okay, open them… now!” She said quickly moved away from Shannon then and left her cousin with her surprise.
“Nes…” Shannon’s voice trailed off when she saw Agnes’ surprise for her.
Standing right in front of her, clad in blue jeans and green oversized T-shirt and a hazel topsider, Brian looked as handsome as ever. He smiled and nodded his head in greeting, the same thing he did when he saw her standing in the middle of Agnes’ room two weeks ago. “I heard you’ve won, congratulations.”
“T-thank you. I-I thought you’re not coming.”
“I planned on not coming, but Agnes forced me to, saying that she couldn’t drive.”
“So you just drove her here?”
“Yeah. I intend to leave the minute she got off but then she stopped me and forced me to stay and watch.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Shannon looked disappointed and bent her head down to check her feet. “Are you leaving now?” She asked, looking up at him.
He nodded but hadn’t bothered to say another word. She bit her lower lip and looked on both sides before taking two long strides to stop right in front of him and held his gaze to hers for a long moment.
“Why do you have to go?”
“I’ve got other things to do back home.”
“It’s a Saturday, you can do that tomorrow.”
“I’m afraid it can’t wait.”
“But-but…”
“See ya Shan, and congratulations again.” He said and placed a hasty kiss on her cheek before turning his back to her and walked away.
“No, stop!” She called and grabbed his arm before he could take another step away from her.
Brian looked at her hand clamped on his arm and slowly raked his gaze up to rest on her face. “Why?”
“Don’t go.” She pleaded.
Brian grinned and shrugged her hand off. “I think I’ve said that to you before.” He mocked.
Shannon bit her lower lip and looked down, “I remember.”
“And you still walked out on me.”
Her head snapped up and looked at him with hypnotic hazel eyes that were pleading to him, asking him not to go. “I-I love you.” The words came from her mouth before she realized it, and it took him by surprise.
Brian stared at her in awe and looked her from over the rim of his eyeglasses. That gave Shannon the courage to continue. “I’ve loved you since… since – before I could realize that I have feelings for you too. I-I don’t know how or why, but it just happened and no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I can’t. Brian,” She looked at him straight in the eye and saw that his expression was still the same, “there are things that just happen to someone, and this feeling that I’ve felt just happened without me realizing it; I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve-I’ve wanted to listen to your explanation and when I did, I don’t know what came over me and I just told you what I did and I know that that’s not the truth. I love and I don’t think I can ever live with a lie. I know you’ll always stay here in my heart even if I try to block you out – I already did and it didn’t work, I still love you no matter what and… please don’t look at me like that.” She pleaded when Brian didn’t shift his gaze and instead bore his blue eyes into her face and made her stomach churn.
He straightened up and hooked his thumbs in his pockets and strode towards her, stopping just an inch from where she was standing and Shannon had to rake her gaze up from his chest to meet his gaze. His expression remained the same as he spoke, “Do you expect me to believe that?” He asked hoarsely.
Shannon gulped and removed her gaze from his face. She looked over his shoulder, but even as she did, his shoulder blades blocked her view. Brian quirked an eyebrow and bent his neck a little bit to meet her gaze, but Shannon was looking away from him.
“I’m waiting.”
“Airhead.” She hissed staring at his arms.
Brian smiled and removed his thumbs from his pockets and chucked her under the chin. He lifted her face to meet his gaze, “And I love you too.” He whispered and covered her lips before she could make any protest. “I love you then and I still love you now.” He added while he was kissing her.
Shannon couldn’t help on not to smile and it made it difficult for Brian to kiss her while she was smiling.
“Stop smiling.” He ordered, his arms moving around her waist and pulling her closer.
Shannon’s arms closed around his neck and pulled his head closer to savour his kiss and whispered “I love you too.”
Brian smiled against her lips this time and it made it difficult for her to kiss him. “Stop smiling.” She ordered this time.
“Now you know how I feel when you’re smiling while I’m kissing you.” He said pulling away from her kiss.
Shannon arched an eyebrow and frowned, “Did I just tell you that I love you?”
“More than once.”
She made a face and sighed, “I take it back. I don’t love you anymore but I want you.”
“You mean it?” He asked with malice seen through his blue eyes.
Shannon started to shiver in his arms and she buried her face on his chest, her shoulders trembling as she controlled her laughter.
“Shan…?”
She bit her lower lip and looked up at him, “You really want me badly, don’t you?”
“I’ve never wanted anyone as bad as I’ve wanted you.” He admitted.
Shannon wrinkled her nose and looked away, “Hm… I think you’ll just have to wait – I’ll just stick to loving you instead.” She teased.
Brian smiled. “Liar.” He hissed before his lips claimed hers once again.