Caught Up In You by Kels Barnholdt Page A

walking
into one of Nathan’s basketball games completely done up. I have my hair long
and flowing and a smoky eyed look going on that I could never pull off in real
life. I would wear something tight that showed off all my curves, or I should
say the curves I used to have. (I’m still trying to put weight on since I left
the wellness center but this is my dream so in it I have the body I’ve always
dreamed of.)
    Of course, I would have some huge
earrings on with a sparkle just in the middle, maybe even a pink one. And
Nathan would be running down the court right before he’s about to make the game
winning shot. He would stop as soon as he saw me though, and the whole world would
freeze around us like we were the only people that the other could see. The
only person at that moment we cared about.
    Then he’s running to me, swinging me and
kissing me right then and there in front of everyone. Sigh. The whole thing
just sounds so wonderful, exactly how my fairytale would end.
    “Victoria!”
    Suddenly, I realize I’m not standing in
the middle of the gym wearing a Gucci dress and getting swept off my feet by
the man of my drams to live happily ever after. Instead, I’m in the middle of
the hallway at school running on no sleep and practically wearing pajamas.
    The man of my dreams is still here. But
he doesn’t look quite as happy to see me as in my daydream. In fact, he looks
kind of annoyed. Yikes.
    “Hey.” It comes out as more of a squeak
than a reply. “I didn’t see you there, ha-ha.” I reach up to run my hand
through my hair self consciously before I remember that it’s up. Shit.
    Nathan has on a pair of black pants with
a white button up shirt and a pair of dress shoes. His hair is freshly gelled
with not a lock out of place. He’s even wearing a tie. It must be a game day. I
immediately feel about two feet tall next to him.
    Nathan looks at me like I’ve completely
lost it. “But I was standing right here the whole time.”
    “What whole time?”
    Nathan waves his hands around as if to
prove his point. “This whole time! Calling your name for like twenty seconds
while you stared off in space like some kind of freak!”
    Oh good, mean Nathan is back.
    I take a slow sip out of my coffee and
remind myself to not freak out on him. “Sorry, I kind of have a lot on my mind
these days.”
    For a second I think I see a flash of
sympathy come over his eyes but just like that it’s gone. “Yeah, well, give me
your new number.” He pulls his phone out of his bag in a flash. “I’ll text you
the address.”
    “The address?”
    Nathan rolls his eyes. “Yeah, the address
of the pickup game tonight, Angelina said you were planning on coming to watch
how I work for the article.”
    “Angelina? Where is she?”
    Nathan lets out an annoyed sigh. “Are you
even taking this serious? Because it seems like your minds everywhere but
here.”
    I surprise myself by reaching out and
putting my hand on his shoulder. “Nathan. I will be there. I have this
completely under control. But right now I need you to tell me if you know where
Angelina is. It’s very important that I speak with her.”
    He hesitates for a second before finally
answering. “She was just at her locker but-“
    I’m already taking off before he has a
chance to finish his sentence. “I’ll see you tonight!”
    “But the address!” he calls after me.
    “I still remember your number. I’ll text
you soon!”
    Now normally I wouldn’t be so quick to
leave Nathans side, but this is different. I’m desperate to talk to Angelina.
    Please let her still be at her locker.
Please let her still be there. I’m saying the words over and over in my head as
if somehow the universe will hear me and answer my calls for once.
    And they do, because suddenly as I round
the corner, there she is. Standing at her locker, as if she was waiting for me,
like she knew I was coming. Her crazy curly hair is pulled up in a high
ponytail and she’s wearing a