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Chapter 23: So we're doing this
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Keeping Score Chapter 24: No one said it would be easy
NATEI knew something was wrong the minute I opened my eyes that Friday morning. Hot. Hurting. Can't breathe.My eyes wouldn't stay open, no matter how hard I fought. I'd just let them drift shut again when I heard my mother's voice, coming as though she was a long way away. She was saying my name, the worry in her voice growing each time she spoke.Nate. Nate, come on, it's time to ...Nate? Baby? Oh, God ...Nate, come on, honey, wake up. Just before I slid into oblivion, I remembered that I was supposed to ride to school with Quinn today. She'd texted me late last night, saying she had the car and asking if I wanted a lift. Quinn. Yes, I want ...Quinn.The tightness in my chest was getting too much to bear, and I let go of my tentative grip on awareness. The last thread of consciousness that slipped through my fingers was her name. Quinn.***QUINN"Well, someone looks bright-eyed this morning." My mother poured her coffee and smiled at me. "I heard you come in last nig
Keeping Score Chapter 25: Just like Romeo and Juliet
QUINNBy lunch time, apparently word about Leo and me had swept over the campus. I might not have noticed if it hadn't been for the cheerleaders being more hostile toward me than usual and more than a few curious looks from other students. Still, nothing really bothered me until we were in the cafeteria. Leo met me at my locker, coming up from behind and startling me with a kiss on my neck as his arms circled my waist. "Hi." He released me, grinning. "Did you have a good morning? How was the math quiz?"I smiled back. "Morning was good, quiz was so-so. I hate math so hard."Leo laughed. "Some things never change, huh?" He slid his hand down my arm to link our fingers. "C'mon, let's eat. I'm starved.""Some things never change," I teased back. "Are you still the guy who's going to take my slice of pizza when my back's turned?""No." He touched the tip of my nose with his index finger. "I'm the guy who's going to buy us each an extra slice so I can eat them." He patted his flat
Keeping Score Chapter 26: Why didn't I give in months ago?
LEOI hated this fucking hospital. We'd been coming to it for way too many years, almost always to see Nate; although I'd had my share of broken bones and mild concussions, none of them had called for a hospital stay. "I hate this place," I muttered to Quinn. "It smells funny and people die here." As soon as I said the words, I could've bitten off my tongue. I knew how worried she was about Nate. But to my relief she only smiled and shook her head. "Tell you what. If you're a good boy, I'll give you a treat when we're finished here." The sideways glance she shot me gave a hint about what that treat might be. Oh, baby. The ICU was on the fifth floor. We were silent in the elevator, although Quinn gripped my hand a little tighter the closer we got to that floor. I could practically feel her nerves. "Baby, remember, I need to use this hand for catching the football tomorrow night. Don't break my fingers, okay?""I'm sorry." She tried to tug her hand free, but I wouldn't let her
Keeping Score Chapter 27: Go big or go home
QUINNNighttime football games had a special kind of magic to them, and tonight, the energy was heightened: this was an important game, one that would determine whether or not the Eatonboro Eagles would advance to Round Two of the conference playoffs. We were underdogs, for sure; Gatbury was one of the best teams in our area. Gia had saved me a seat, so I sat on the bleachers about halfway up from the field, mashed between two girls. I wasn't complaining; it was especially chilly tonight, and I was glad for the extra body heat. "So how does it feel to know it's your boyfriend playing out there tonight?" Gia grinned and poked me. "Pretty exciting, huh? Are we going to see some spontaneous cheers about the Lion roaring?"I rolled my eyes. "Don't hold your breath. I might be dating one of the team's stars, but I'm here for the game, not just to moon over the players." "Oh, check her out. It's all business. That's our Quinn-she's a tough cookie." Gia laughed. "Give her a few weeks,
Keeping Score Chapter 28: This is news I didn't need
NATEMy recovery from the virus that wouldn't quit was slow. I was in the ICU for nearly a week, and then spent another five days in a regular room, arguing with whoever would listen that I wanted to go home. And even once I was released and got home, I was still so weak that I couldn't go back to school right away. It was frustrating as hell.The only bright spot during the whole time was that Quinn came to visit me every day. She didn't stay long, but she was always there, entertaining me with stories and making me laugh. I was glad to see that she seemed to have gotten over the whole deal with Leo and Sarah Jenkins. As a bonus, she rarely mentioned Jake Donavan, which I hoped meant she'd stopped dating him. I hadn't been sure what was going on between the two of them, but more competition was not something I needed. There was something different about Quinn, though. She was somehow softer, and there was a glow in her eyes that I'd never seen before. I was afraid to even think
Keeping Score Chapter 29: You've been warned
NATEAs it turned out, Leo came over that evening, after he'd dropped Quinn at her own house. I hadn't seen him in weeks, and I couldn't remember the last time he'd actually been at my house. He looked bigger than ever when he appeared in the living room where I was sitting, and that irritated me. Leo had a way of making me painfully aware that although I was technically older than him, I looked younger. I always felt immature and behind the curve when he was around."Nate." He hesitated in the doorway, as though he was afraid I wouldn't let him come all the way in. "You look good.""Thanks." I motioned to the sofa. "You can sit down if you want."He sank into the couch, right in the center, spreading out in that way he had. He just sort of sprawled, then sat forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "I'm glad you're better. You scared the shit out of all of us." I shrugged. "It's all part of the disease." I was echoing what I'd been hearing the doctors say for the last mon
Keeping Score Chapter 30: Patience is a virtue
QUINNAfter the euphoria of the round one game, the rest of the conference playoffs felt anticlimactic. Eatonboro rolled through games two and three, and we were riding high when we reached the championship match up, pitting us against Franklin Township once again.I saw Leo between practices and team meetings, brief snatches of togetherness sandwiched by football. On days when it worked out, he'd pick me up for school, and we'd sit in the car, in the parking lot, talking a little and making out a lot. We ate lunch together, still with the football team; most of the guys seemed to have accepted me, although I noticed that Matt Lampert didn't talk much when I was around. I knew he and Leo were close friends, so I tried to draw him out, but he kept stubbornly silent."Don't worry about him, babe." Leo nuzzled my neck, touching his tongue to the pulse that thrummed at the base of my throat. "Matt's just ...he doesn't have a lot of people in his life he can count on. He's a little posse
Keeping Score Chapter 31: Tonight it changes
QUINNNate had returned to school about a week before the championship game, and he'd agreed to sit with me at the stadium. I knew Sheri was worried about him being out in the cold, but the day had actually dawned a little more temperate, and although the air was still chilly, the sun was warm. I promised Sheri that I'd keep my eye on Nate and get him home if he began feeling bad. It felt as though the entire school was crowding the stands, but Gia had saved seats for us. The girls greeted Nate as though they were all long-lost friends, although they didn't know each other well."Dude, about time you're here." Gia folded Nate into a hug. At first he stood stiff, but no one was immune to Gia, I'd found, and in a few seconds, he patted her back, smiling faintly.I introduced him to Gia's friends, and then there wasn't time for anything else. We stood for the anthem and stayed on our feet for kickoff. This time, there wasn't any drama on the field. Matt and Leo played the game as t
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