Page 403 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

I spot his sneakers,

stuff those inside next.

I bag up his bat,

sling the strap over my shoulder,

the half-empty Gatorade under my arm.

Then I return to my spot,

collapse the folding chair,

slip it into its sleeve,

swing it over my other shoulder.

I snatch the greasy donut bag last.

I collect every stupid, scattered piece of him ‘cause I can’t collect his answers: why his blood boils at the sight of Gino, why he still lets Mrs. Robinson touch him, why he’s still wearing that gold chain, and who the fuck is You still mine?

Is it her? Has it always been her?

And if he’s still hers, whoever her is,

what the hell is he doing with me?

As I walk through the tunnel, the strap of the chair bag bites into my shoulder, the bat bag swings back, banging against my shinbone, and the overstuffed duffle slams into my thigh.

My arms are burning.

My muscles are aching.

My palms are sweating,

I feel stupid.

Worse, I look stupid.

I should’ve just run after him.

Would’ve been a lot less humiliating.

While Mrs. Robinson chased him like a worried girlfriend, I’m carrying all his shit like a mom yelling⁠—

Andrew, dear, you forgot your cleats!

From the lobby, a crossfire of shouts echo, the acoustics of the tunnel blowing up the panic. “Get him outside, or I’m calling Waldwick PD.”

“I’m not leaving without her,” I hear Andrew spit back, raw and bleeding with adrenaline. “Where is she? Yo—get off me. Petey, I’m fuckin’ serious, get your hands off me.”

The moment I step into the lobby, Andrew is feral, restrained by two of his boys as he argues with the guy wearing a crimson STAFF polo, sweat shining on his throat. Blood’s smeared across his jawline, his brow, painting his knuckles red.

Mrs. Robinson is right on top of him, frantically grabbing his wrist, smoothing her palm over his heaving chest. “Andrew, come on. You’re bleeding. Let me look at you.”

Andrew lifts one warning finger, brows high. “Don’t fuckin’ touch me,” he grits out. “Don’t touch me.”

Then he’s in Peter’s face, lashing out at him. “I said I’m not leavin’ her in there,” he snaps, cheeks red.