Always Upbeat / All That by Stephanie Perry Moore Page A

class in ninth grade, but since Blake and I started dating, he spoke to me sparingly.
    I wanted to say, “Could you talk to your son? Could you tell him he’s making a huge mistake? Can you make sure he knows I’m the only girl he needs to be with, and he’s messing up his life? These girls just want to get with him, give it up, and give him something. Come on, Coach, help me out …” But I knew it was not my place to share Blake’s business with his father. Blake had serious issues with his dad. Since my mom and I weren’t close, I understood. Blake and his dad were surely night and day. It was dark or light, never sunset, and if there was any chance the two of us could get back together and work things out, I knew I needed to keep my mouth shut. Certainly I would not say anything to Blake’s father to get him into trouble.
    â€œYou know, I got a younger daughter at home,” Coach Strong said. “She’s just going into the seventh grade, but I’m going to tell you like I tell Lola. No joker is worth losing yourself, and I know how you feel about my son. If he breaks your heart, if he doesn’t act right, if he mistreats you, move on … always someone more deserving of you. Right, Brenton?”
    And I jumped because I did not even realize his nephew was on his other side. I certainly needed to come out of my daze. I was desperately trying to keep it together.
    â€œSee y’all later,” Coach Strong said, not waiting for either of us to say anything.
    He yelled out to Blake, “Straight home, son! You got some chores to do.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Blake called out quickly.
    â€œCome on, Brenton. Dang,” Blake shouted across the parking lot at his cousin.
    A part of me thought he did not want his cousin talking to me. Another part of me realized he was probably just taking out his frustration on his cousin because he was embarrassed about his dad calling him out.
    Either way, Brenton jogged off. Then he turned back to look at me and said, “My uncle’s right, you know. Always somebody better waiting …”
    He turned back around and was gone. I wanted to say, “Coach Strong said somebody more deserving , but if that’s what you want to think—that you’re better—that’s fine.” Then I saw Jackie head over to Blake with her girls. Blake was all standoffish until his dad pulled out of the parking lot. Then he pulled Jackie real close and kissed her hard. I do not ever think we kissed like that before. I realized that this breakup was going to be extremely hard.
    I felt Brenton’s heart trying to console me. Maybe someone else was waiting? Maybe someone else was better for me? Maybe I didn’t deserve to be hurt so badly?
    Blake saw me standing there. Why would he just disrespect me like that? He knew I still loved him. He looked my way and kissed her again. I couldn’t get to my car fast enough. I could feel Hallie, Ella, Eva, and Randal’s eyes on me. I looked up, and I was correct. But they offered no sympathy. They piled into Hallie’s car and drove away.
    When I saw Blake tell Brenton to get out of his car and find another ride home, and Jackie got in the car with him, I could not stop the tears from falling. I did not want anyone to see me broken, but the truth was I was more than broken. I was shattered.
    I barely listened to any inspirational music on the radio. Usually I had to have the latest jamming numbers blasting, but as I drove home, I needed the uplifting songs to mend my spirit. However, when I replayed Blake’s crazy actions in my mind and visually saw him all into everybody but me, I turned the radio off.
    I was not used to seeing my dad’s car in the driveway, but it was there. I was mad at him. He did not need to say anything to me. He did not need to call my name. He did not need to try to act like everything was all right because I knew things were not good,