The Game Changer: The Final Score

Teaser #1
(Luke)
“Yeah, sure… I’ll catch up with you at home.” I say to Mikey as he heads out of the locker to meet up with everyone after the game.

As I stand here by myself, I get the idea that maybe I can just steal a quick look. The hallway is crowded, there’s no way I can be seen with everyone moving about. I watch from afar as the five of them stand there and talk. “Traitors,” I think to myself as they all huddle together with this Frank guy who seems to have taken my place. I laugh at myself for stalking them… alright, stalking her. Deep down, I know I have to be patient. The timing has to be right.

But, when I see her going off on her own towards the restroom, it throws a wrench into my plan, and I lose all sense of good judgment. I don’t think of the consequences, all I think about is seeing her alone while everyone else seems to be enjoying each other’s company.

I’m waiting off to the side as she exits the restroom. Her head is down and she’s searching around in her purse. A woman with a small child cuts in front of her, causing her to spill her purse all over the floor. The woman rudely keeps walking without apologizing. JJ kneels down to collect her things.

Without thinking, I rush towards her, kneeling by her side. She looks so pretty when she’s frazzled, I’m unable to remove my eyes from her face. I pick up her lipstick and a pen. My heart is pounding so loudly, I hear nothing else around me. I’ve dreamt of this day when I can be so close that I can actually touch her. Her focus is on gathering the contents of her purse and she has yet to notice that I’m kneeling beside her.

“Hey JJ.” I whisper.

****
(Jesse)

It takes only a moment for my brain to calculate what I hear. And in that same moment, I feel my heart violently slam against my chest. It’s the same silken tone that whispered my name a million times before. I feel a pain so deep I can’t breathe. To convince myself that it is real, I slowly raise my head till my eyes meet his.

His deep brown eyes tear into me with the same intensity I remember. I have every inch of his face memorized and the time apart hasn’t changed much. I want so badly to reach out and touch him to be sure that he is real. But, I don’t dare...


Teaser #2
(Mikey)

I ditch the blonde a few minutes before midnight. I’m not in the mood for company. While I talk with the guys, I see De slip away, alone, and head downstairs. I look over and spot Jeffrey tied up talking with some other douche bag like him near the bar. I discretely grab two flutes of champagne and follow behind. I stay back and watch as she walks through the now cleared out private dining area where dinner was held earlier. She steps out onto the dark vacated veranda. She sits on the edge of the cement wall, looking out to the darkened sky. A faint sound of music is heard from the upstairs club.

“Hey.” I say, startling her.

“Oh God, you scared me.” She smiles.

“Sorry.” I sit down beside her and place the glasses on the ledge beside me.

“What’s up? You okay?”

“Yeah, it was a really beautiful night, wasn’t it?”

“Awesome… What are you doin’ out here by yourself?”

“I just wanted some fresh air. Can you believe it’s January and we can sit outside and enjoy this night without freezing?”

“That’s Florida.”

“It’s nice.”

“So, where’s Doc Jeffrey?”

“Where’s your blonde bimbo?”

I laugh. “Why do you do that? I’m just askin’. I’m not with anyone tonight. I came here alone.”

“Where’s Lora Rae? I thought you would have brought her.”

“You thought wrong… again. She’s in LA. This is a family thing, something special. I didn’t want to bring her.”

“You’re mean.”

“No… I’m not. I just like what I like, and I want to keep the two things separate.”

“So what are you doing out here? How did you find me?”

“I saw you walk down the steps and I realized we didn’t wish each other a Happy New Year yet… so… ” I hand her the flute of champagne, kiss her on the cheek and clink my glass to hers. “Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year.” She says, looking up and giving me a gorgeous smile.

“How’s the long distance thing goin’?” I ask hesitantly.

“I’ve only been here a little over a week and now he’s here… so…”

“So… how’s it goin’?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I don’t think he’s going to be able to handle it. I mean, not too many people can.” She shrugs as if it’s not a big deal.

“Maybe that’s because they don’t love the person they are with enough. I believe that if you love someone, you love them always, whether they are close or far away.”

“I know, but mostly everyone I know, ends up, breaking up, once they are separated from each other.”

“Maybe it’s not love and they just think it is.”

“Maybe.”

“Are you happy?” I ask, staring into her chestnut brown eyes.

“I am now.” She says looking at me intently.

“I like when you’re happy and havin’ fun. Don’t lose that okay?”

“Okay.” She says giving me a smile.

I get caught up in the moment. I reach up with my free hand, resting it on the side of her face. I tilt her head towards mine as I lean down and kiss her on her cherry colored lips. It’s a gentle, meaningful, lingering kiss with partially parted lips. Not how I would kiss a friend. Actually, not how I would kiss any girl, other than someone that I love. I hope she feels it the way I do. My body trembles inside. When I slowly pull away, our eyes remain locked on each other. I almost kiss her again, but, we're interrupted by a familiar voice.

“There you are… I was looking for you.” Jeffrey says sounding uneasy.
De jumps.

“Hey… I’m sorry, I came out to get some air and Mikey joined me. We were discussing how nice everything was tonight.”

I stand up, feeling very uneasy myself.

“Yeah, it was a great time.” Jeffrey says trying to sound enthusiastic.

“Well, I’m gonna head back in, I’ll leave you two alone.” I say casually. I bend down and whisper in her ear before leaving. “I never cashed in on my bet. Don’t think I forgot."