Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher Read Free Book Online Page B

lanky form. She had said she’d meet me here, but it looked like she had other plans. Maybe her parents had refused her, or maybe Tammi had tattled. Or she just didn’t want to go.
    It didn’t matter. It’s not like I’d been looking forward to this all day. Not like I’d rushed home in order to take a shower and shave before the game. Not like I’d spent myemergency fund on a new shirt. Not like I’d spent the past hour barking at anyone who tried to take the seat next to me.
    “Hey, Logan.” Tim had joined me. And, shockingly, he had what appeared to be a female with him.
    She was a skinny girl with deep blue eyes, the only feature that kept her from being a true albino. Her short hair was almost white and her skin seemed to have no pigmentation at all. She was the sort of person who might catch fire on a sunny day.
    “Logan, this is Dawn. Dawn, this is Logan.” Tim was grinning as if he’d just pulled her out of a hat.
    I shook her hand. “Don’t I know you?”
    “Maybe. I work at the Forum Eight snack counter.”
    Ah, so that was where Tim met her. With the amount of money he poured into that place, I was surprised they didn’t provide him with a wife.
    The cheerleaders eventually finished their routine, and the basketball team thundered back onto the court. Jack, who was not a starter, had been put in for the second half. He wasn’t especially good at passing, but the guy moved like a gas molecule and could dribble the ball like a jack-hammer.
    The cheerleaders had converged near the exit. I recognized Tanya’s circular shape. I watched as a strange boy approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her neck. She turned and kissed him for an entire Boyer time-out. Apparently, I’d missed the boat with her.
    Five minutes into the third quarter, Jack’s wildly flailing elbow connected with a Spartan’s face. A couple of theMoberly players didn’t seem to think it was accidental, and for a few seconds, it looked like there was going to be a brawl.
    After the two coaches defused the situation, I turned to Tim to make a joke. Then I quickly turned away. For once, Tim had his lips wrapped around something besides a corn dog.
    That was my cue to leave. Not only had Sage stood me up, but now Tim and Dawn were exchanging closed-mouthed little kisses and giggling. I grabbed my jacket.
    “Hey, you leaving?” asked Tim when I stood up.
    “We’re getting stomped. I’ll see you guys later.”
    “You sure? We’re going to Mr. Pizza after the game.”
    That had
third wheel
written all over it. I slouched out of the gym building and into the cold autumn night. The whole parking lot was filled to capacity with pickup trucks and vans. Every other vehicle had an NRA bumper sticker or one of those decals of Calvin pissing on something. I buttoned my jacket and prepared for the mile-and-a-half walk home.
    I recognized Brenda’s car parked alone over by the middle school. That ugly gold Saturn with the unnecessary spoiler and the little clown head on the aerial. I allowed myself a sad smile, remembering the backseat. Parking lots, dirt roads, Brenda’s driveway—our lips never separating, even as Brenda firmly shoved away my exploring hands. I’d been patient; I’d figured someday she wouldn’t man the defenses. I just kind of assumed I’d be there when it happened.
    Brenda was around here somewhere. I thought maybe I should try to find her and say hi. Just walk by her and say,
Oh, hey, didn’t see you; how’s it going?
Let her know I was okay and bury the hatchet. Unless she was here with that new boyfriend. Then I’d just bury my fist in his face.
    I was eighteen, alone, unloved, broke, and, I suddenly realized, seconds away from being hit by a car.
    The driver didn’t have his lights on. I only realized he was barreling toward me by the sound of his squealing tires and the shadow of the vehicle against the parking lot lights.
    I deftly went sprawling into a handicapped space as the car, a