Forward Pass by Lorna Schultz Nicholson

Author:Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: James Lorimer and Company Ltd., Publishers
Published: 2013-02-08T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

In a complete fog, I drove home, clutching the steering wheel like a lifeline. When I pulled up in front of the Reimers’ house, I wiped my mouth with my sleeve before I got out of the car. What if they could tell?

They would hate me. I hated myself. What had happened was wrong. So wrong. Caroline was my coach. Yet I hadn’t run away from her, because she’d said she would stop my chances of being on the National Team. What kind of person was I? I should have pushed her. Run away as fast as I could. I should have phoned Sophia. Now I was as much to blame as Caroline, because I had just stood there with my back against the wall and let her touch me. Everywhere.

My phone buzzed and my hands shook so much I could hardly answer it, but I managed to press the right button. “Hey, Allie,” I said, hoping I sounded okay.

“You still on for a movie tonight?”

“Um . . . I don’t know.” I willed myself not to cry. I didn’t want her asking me what was wrong. I lowered my head and stared at the toes of my shoes, my practical, sensible shoes. I’d always been practical and sensible, a no-fuss girl. Now my life was falling apart in front of me.

“Come on, Parm,” Allie urged. “It’ll be fun.”

I stared down the street, and when one tree blurred into the next, I turned and looked at the Reimers’ house. That’s when I saw Mr. Reimer through the front window and a huge wad of something got stuck in my throat. I swallowed first before I managed to say, “Okay.”

Fortunately Allie didn’t seem to notice that anything was wrong, because she continued her steady stream of evening plans and said, “Jonathon said he’d drive all of us. He can pick you up, if you want.”

Mr. Reimer turned and glanced through the big picture window, and when he saw me, he gave a big friendly wave. My heart sank and my stomach reeled. I lifted my hand and gave him a little wave back. If he knew the truth about me . . .

“Sure,” I mumbled. “He can pick me up.”

I kept my promise and let Jonathon pick me up at the Reimers’ for the movie. I only did it because I wanted them to see that I was going out with a boy. It made no sense, and yet it made all the sense in the world.

“Where’s Allie?” I asked when I looked into his vehicle. I’d expected her to be in the back seat with Donald.

“They’re going on their own. It was crazy to drive all over Calgary picking everyone up. We can meet them there.“

I nodded but my nerves were racing. Jonathon drove an old beater car that looked like a hand-me-down from his grandfather. I got in the front seat and leaned against the door like gum stuck to paper.

“How’s your crew doing?” I asked to make conversation.

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