Saturday, February 14th 1:17 P.M.
Massie wrapped her new green-and-gold-striped scarf around her head so that Derrington would have a better chance of seeing it from the soccer field. Wearing Grayson’s team colors to the finals game instead of Briarwood’s was the least Massie could do to repay him for breaking her heart and depriving her of the Cupid Award.
It wasn’t like she wanted to sit in the freezing cold on an overcast Saturday afternoon and cheer for a bunch of guys who’d spent the last two weeks trying to humiliate her and her friends. But of course, her mother had forced her to go, to support Todd and his ah-nnoying tuba. When was someone going to support her?
“Massie, no.” Claire stopped walking down the concrete stadium steps and started heading back up to the top.
“What is your problem?” Massie asked.
“I’m not sitting that close to the field. What if Cam sees me?”
“That’s the whole idea.” Massie pinched Claire’s cheeks to give her pale skin a burst of color. “Let him see what a good time you’re having without him.”
“What if he thinks I’m stalking him?”
“Just look away if he looks at you and make sure you’re smiling,” Massie advised. “Always look like you’re having fun.”
Claire sighed. “I can’t believe I’ll never get my kiss.”
“You will,” Massie assured her. “It just may not be from Cam.”
Claire lowered her big blue eyes and Massie searched for something more positive to say. She walked up two steps to meet Claire and then put an arm around her.
“Look at all of the guys out there. Just pick someone else. Pretend we’re here to shop for boys. That’s what I’m doing. The spring dance is right around the corner, and I am not going alone again.”
“I guess that could be kinda fun.” Claire looked into Massie’s eyes.
“Totally,” Massie said. “Remember, keep smiling. We have to show them that they can’t get to us.”
“’Kay.” Claire forced herself to grin before she followed Massie down the steps toward their friends.
“Sorry we’re late,” Massie said as she slid past Kristen and Alicia. They were seated in the front row, right behind the Briarwood locker room. “We had to pack up Claire’s stuff because the movers are coming today.”
“Are you excited to move into your new house?” Kristen asked as Claire climbed over her knees to get to her seat.
“I’m excited that I don’t have to sleep in Massie’s bathtub anymore.” Claire sat down.
Alicia and Kristen looked at Massie to see if Claire was joking, but Massie kept her eyes focused on the game, pretending not to notice. Derrington was standing in the goalie net, biting his thumbnail and watching the ball.
“What are you wearing?” Kristen asked Massie. She looked disgusted.
“I was just about to ask you the same thing,” Massie fired back. Kristen was dressed in head-to-toe Briarwood Tomahawks gear again. If her hair had still been long, her look might have passed for tomboy chic, but there weren’t any cute wispy pieces of blond hair peeking out of her cap, so she looked like one of the players.
“At least I’m showing a little team spirit. You look like you’re rooting for the other team.”
“I am.” Massie leaned back and drenched her lips in a thick, delicious coat of Caramel Fudge Sundae, her newest arrival from Glossip Girl. She handed the tube to Claire and made her apply a coat.
Kristen grunted and folded her arms across her chest. She had nothing more to say.
“That smells ah-mazing,” Alicia said to Massie.
“I know,” Massie said. “They’ve started sending good flavors again.”
“Maybe your luck is changing.” Claire handed the tube back to Massie.
“Doesn’t feel like it,” Massie said just as Derrington saved a goal. The whole crowd jumped to its feet and cheered for him. Massie rolled her eyes. “See.”
“A saved goal is a good thing.” Kristen looked down at Massie, who was the only one in the crowd still sitting.
“I wish he’d gotten hit in the face instead.”
They all looked at her in horror. “What?” Massie asked innocently. She ran her finger along the purple rhinestones of her M brooch that was attached to her white Michael Kors pea coat.
“You should take that back,” Kristen said.
But Massie refused to apologize. After all, Derrington had hurt her first.
“So, did Nina ever make it home last night?” Massie changed the subject. She was tired of them looking at her like she was a serial killer.
“By the time I came home, her bags were packed and her plane ticket was already booked.” Alicia chuckled. “We drove her to the airport this morning. And her angry sisters will be picking her up when she lands.”
“Gone,” Massie said.
“Gone,” Alicia said.
“And gone,” Claire said. The girls giggled and high-fived each other.
Just then Cam looked toward the bleachers. He noticed Claire and smiled shyly. She looked away.
“Nice move,” Massie nodded. “That was perfect.”
“Cool.” Claire’s mouth smiled but her eyes didn’t.
“Now wave at another player when he’s looking,” Massie said.
Just then, Josh Hotz looked their way and Claire waved at him. Josh smiled and waved back.
“Nice.” Massie was impressed by Claire’s confidence around boys.
“Great.” Alicia rolled her eyes. “Now that Nina’s gone, why don’t you go for him?” she said to Claire. “Gawd knows he doesn’t like me.”
“Really?” Claire said. “You’re over him?”
“Oh, sure. Why not?” Alicia threw her hands in the air.
Claire tightened the strings on the hood of her blue coat until it pinched her face and squished her eyebrows together.
“You two would be perfect together,” Alicia said. “He loves Kenny from South Park.”
Claire pushed the hood off her head and rolled her eyes.
“Look,” Massie said. “Josh keeps looking at you now. My advice worked.”
“Oh, how great for you both.” Alicia rolled her eyes again.
“Who needs Nina’s advice when we have Massie?” Kristen said.
“I’ve been trying to tell you and Dylan that for weeks,” Massie said.
“By the way, where is Lydan?” Kristen asked.
“She’s on major bed rest.” Massie flipped open her phone. “Look at the text message she sent me.”
DYLAN: Can’t go 2 the game. My
throat is on fire. I can’t even eat. How great is that? I feel
lighter already. Have fun. 
“She is so not fat,” Alicia said. “I swear she can be so ah—”
A loud pop came from the field and drew their attention back to the game. As soon as Massie saw what had happened, she covered her mouth with her hands and immediately turned away from Kristen.
“Derrington just got tagged in the face!” Kristen jumped out of her seat to get a closer look. He was lying on his back in front of the goalie net, rubbing his nose and writhing in pain. “You willed it,” she said to Massie. “You did this.”
“I did not,” Massie said, wondering if maybe she really had.
“Did too!” Kristen shouted. “Now we’re going to lose and it’s your fault! You’re like some sort of crazy witch.”
Massie held her palm in front of Kristen’s face. “Calm down, sir.”
“Witch.” Kristen pulled her hat over her boy cut.
“Male,” Massie shot back.
“Witch.”
“Male.”
Two referees carried Derrington off the field and sat him down on the bench. He was rocking back and forth, but it was clear he was going to survive.
“Hey, you!” the Briarwood coach shouted. “Hey, number 22!” He was jumping up and down and waving.
“Kristen, I think he’s talking to you,” Alicia said.
“Huh?”
“What are you doing up there?” he shouted. “Get down here! We need you.”
“No way,” Kristen muttered under her breath. “That jerk thinks I’m a dude.”
“Don’t be upset. I think it’s the outfit, not the hair.” Massie suddenly felt bad for calling Kristen a male. “But you are wearing their uniform. You can’t take it personally.”
“Upset?” Kristen said. “I’m stoked!” She dropped her pink-and-black velvet Juicy Couture bowling bag on Massie’s lap. “Watch this for me.”
“Are you serious?” Massie asked.
“Totally.” Kristen winked. “It’s a guy thing. You wouldn’t understand.” She hopped over the fence and ran onto the field, her arms punching the cold air above her head. “I love my haircut!” she shouted back at her friends.
The crowd exploded when they saw her. Even Massie was on her feet now. Number 14 stepped into the net and Kristen took his place on the field. This game was finally getting interesting.
When the horn signaled halftime, Grayson Academy was winning, 1–0. Number 17 scored a goal despite Kristen’s impressive attempt to stop him. But, as the announcer said, “They don’t call him Lightning Legs for nothing.”
The halftime show began and Massie couldn’t help giggling when she saw Todd march across the field. The chin strap on his hat was pressing down on his nose, and he kept waving his tuba the wrong way and hitting the guys next to him.
“What a doof,” Claire said.
“Speaking of doofs . . .” Massie checked the display on her vibrating phone. “Derrington just sent me a text message.” Her voice was surprisingly calm.
“Oh my Gawd, what does it say?” Claire was ten times more excited than Massie. “Is he with Cam?”
Massie bit her bottom lip, squinted, and shook her head.
“Sorry. I’ll stop.”
“Thank you,” Massie said as she dropped her phone back in her coat pocket.
“Aren’t you going to read it?” Alicia said.
“No,” Massie said. “We’re done.”
“You’re so strong,” Claire said. Alicia nodded in agreement.
The truth was, Massie was too afraid of what the message might say. What if Derrington just needed someone’s phone number or the name of a good hairdresser? Then she’d be even more embarrassed and hurt than she already was, and she didn’t want anyone to witness that. She would have to wait until she got home.
Suddenly, Alicia began giggling uncontrollably.
“What’s so funny?” Massie asked.
But Alicia was too busy scrolling through Massie’s cell phone to answer, “‘Massie, meet me behind the visitors’ bleachers ASAP,’” Alicia read.
Massie’s heart started pounding and her hands became clammy. She couldn’t tell if she was reacting to Derrington’s message or the fact that Alicia had swiped her phone and read it without her permission. All she knew for sure was that she wanted to punch Alicia and hug her at the same time.
“What can I say?” Alicia shrugged. “I guess stealing runs in my family.”
“Lemme see that.” Massie grabbed the phone. Claire leaned in to get a closer look. They read the message again.
“You have to go. We need answers.”
“I say make him suffer,” Alicia said. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
Massie had no idea what to do next. She agreed with both of them.
“Where are the hearts?” she asked Claire.
“Gone. I finished them ages ago. But they don’t work anyway.”
The sound of the marching band suddenly seemed louder to Massie, like it was purposely trying to distract her from making the right decision. It was impossible to think clearly, especially with Alicia and Claire staring at her.
“I know,” Claire said. “I’ll flip a coin. Heads you go, tails you don’t.”
“’Kay,” Massie agreed.
Claire tossed the quarter. They watched it hang in the air, then tumble back down into Claire’s open palm.
“Come on, tails,” Alicia said.
Don’t listen to her, Massie silently begged the Coin Gawds.
When the coin landed, Claire smacked her free hand over it.
“Well?” Massie and Alicia looked at Claire encouragingly.
Claire peeked under her hand. “Heads.” She quickly stuffed the quarter in her back pocket.
Massie could tell Claire was lying, because her face turned bright red and she lowered her eyes to the pavement.
“Well, I guess I have to go.” Massie stood up. “How do I look?” She took off her Grayson scarf and casually dropped it in Claire’s lap.
“Perfect, as usual,” Alicia assured her.
“Good answer.” Massie smiled and waved goodbye. Then she turned and ran up the stairs, two at a time.
She stopped a few feet short of the visitors’ bleachers to check her hair and makeup. Her cheeks were naturally rosy from the cold, and her hair was shiny and full—not a frizz to be found. Break his heart, she told herself as she clicked her Chanel compact shut. It’s showtime.
The grass was stiff with frost, and it crunched under Massie’s feet as she walked under the metal bleachers to their meeting spot. She could feel her stomach locking with every step she took. Did she look as nervous as she felt? What did he want? Would she still think he was cute now that his nose was all busted up?
“Mass?” he mumbled.
She felt her heart drop when she saw him. It seemed like ages since she’d been allowed to openly look at his face. He was better looking than she remembered, even with the swollen purple nose. His shaggy blond hair was messy in a good way, and his cheeks were rosy from the cold. The expression in his twinkling brown eyes was sweet and kind, nothing like the mischievous butt-shaking, shorts-wearing clown the rest of the school saw. Massie immediately tried to harden her eyes so Derrington wouldn’t know what she was thinking.
“Do I look like Bozo?” He touched his nose lightly. It was so swollen, his full lips seemed tiny.
“You wish,” Massie said.
Derrington chuckled and then held his jaw. “Ow.”
Massie clenched her teeth to stop herself from smiling. She didn’t want Derrington to know she was happy he’d laughed at her joke.
The crowd started booing. Massie assumed Grayson had scored another goal.
Derrington looked down at his brown Pumas and rubbed his forehead until his sweaty bangs stuck straight up in the air.
Why did she find him so ahdorable? He was actually kind of dirty.
“It wasn’t even worth it.” Derrington lifted his hands toward his chest and yanked on the straps of his backpack.
Massie had no idea what he was talking about.
When she didn’t respond, he raised his eyes without lifting his head and looked at her.
“What?” Massie knew she sounded impatient but didn’t care. She had every right to. “What wasn’t worth it?”
“The Spanish soccer spell,” Derrington said flatly, as if Massie should have known exactly what he was talking about.
“Are you poor?” Massie asked.
“No,” Derrington said. “Why?”
“Because you’re not making any cents,” Massie said.
Derrington grabbed his jaw again when he smiled.
“You know, the spell Nina put on me, Cam, and Josh before the game,” he explained.
Massie shook her head.
“We couldn’t talk to our . . . . Well, you know, we couldn’t talk to you guys before the game. If we did, we’d lose the finals. If we stayed away from you, we’d win. It’s the same spell Becks uses.”
“Huh?” was all Massie could say. Her brain was trying to catch up to his mouth.
“Apparently David Beckham doesn’t talk to Posh Spice for weeks before a big game. But it works for him. It totally didn’t work for us. Grayson is kicking our butts.” He paused. “And my face.”
“You actually bought that?” Massie wasn’t sure whether she wanted to hug Derrington or smack him for being so stupid.
“What do you mean?” Derrington asked. “Nina said you, Claire, and Alicia were all for it.”
“Oh yeah. We were. You know, if it works for Beckham, then . . .” Massie let her voice trail off. There was nothing left to say. Everything suddenly made sense.
“Except it didn’t work for us,” Derrington mumbled. His brown eyes looked childlike and sad. “Not only are we losing the game, but I’ll never get the MVP pin now that I’ve been taken out.
“And we couldn’t go to the dance together.” Massie couldn’t resist.
“Yeah,” Derrington said. “That was the worst part.”
That was all he needed to say. Massie’s insides started to tingle, like an electrical current was running through her veins making her feel alive and squirmy at the same time.
“At least you won the Cupid Award.”
“Oh yeah.” Derrington slid his backpack off his shoulder and let it fall to the ground. “I almost forgot.” He reached inside and pulled out the gold statue. “This belongs to you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.” Massie grabbed the cold statue from his warm hands. Then her smile faded.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just that . . . well, no one will know I have it. So it’s not like I really won it.”
“You’ll know.” Derrington put his hand on his heart. “Isn’t that enough?”
“It would be if this was the end of a cheesy Disney movie,” Massie said.
Derrington chuckled with his mouth closed and Massie could tell he was hurt.
“OMG, I’m totally kidding,” she lied. “Of course it’s enough.” She reached for the M brooch on her lapel and unpinned it. Then she leaned in toward Derrington and grabbed him by his soccer jersey. It was wet with sweat, but she pinned it on him anyway.
“What’s this?” Derrington pulled his shirt away from his chest and looked down at the brooch.
“It’s your MVP pin. Just without the V or the P. Its way cuter than the boring silver ones your coach gives out.”
“Thanks.” Derrington managed to smile without holding his face. “I’ll wear it forever.”
“Promise?” Massie asked.
“Promise,” Derrington said.
And she believed him.