The Camp Read Free Page A

excuse of getting her out of harm’s way before the other seniors arrived. From that moment on, they seemed inseparable. She could be seen wearing his letterman jacket at every game.
    She still had a couple minutes before the last bell, so she lifted her phone to read Steven’s text for the tenth time.  
    No FB prct must talk snr pk lt.  
    Something was wrong.
    No football practice. Must talk. Senior parking lot. He'd spelled out ‘must talk.’ Maybe he'd been kicked off the team. Or his parents were punishing him for some imaginary transgression that only they were aware of.
    She squatted, dropped her cell in the big pocket of her pack, and checked her watch. She stared at the buildings that made up Ashland High School, knowing that at any minute, students would crowd out the doors and head off in a thousand directions. It always reminded her of bees leaving a hive.
    The final bell brought her up and alert. She nervously checked her watch again
    At six foot one, Steven was tall enough that she spotted him by his haystack of blonde hair before she could see his face.
    Something was definitely wrong. His broad shoulders were slightly forward and there was no sign of swagger in his walk. When she waved, he didn't return the gesture with a smile as was his habit.  
    When he reached her side, he didn’t touch her, take her arm, or embrace her. Instead, he looked around nervously.
    “Let's go over here.” He indicated the direction with a nod of his head.
    She looked over at the lot. They were moving away from his old Subaru.
    He finally stopped at the far corner of the senior lot by the hedge. He stepped around so her back was to the lot. He seemed to be waiting for something.  
    She could hear the distant chatter, slamming of doors, the starting of engines. Throughout all of the hubbub, Steven never looked up. Then, when the parking lot was quiet, he looked her squarely in the eye.  
    Oh god. She could feel her dread rising as he squirmed and shoved his hands in his pockets. She couldn't stand it any longer.
    “Steven, what is it?”
    It was as though he was waiting for the verbal cue. “I need to break it off.”
    He danced around like he had to go to the bathroom.  
    She couldn't believe what he was saying. Need to. I need to. He needs to?
    She crossed her arms over her chest. He wasn't looking anyway, and she knew it was something he enjoyed. “Need to? Steven, what are you saying? What do you mean you ‘need to?’ Is this something to do with your parents?” She clutched her pack to her chest and could feel her heart pounding with adrenaline and fear.
    “It’s just that I'm a senior and have to focus on my football career.”
    Funny, last night in the car, he was focused on his dick. Oh my god.
    He was dumping her because of last night. He enjoyed her breasts and she offered them freely. That wasn't enough and she knew it.
    “Steven.” She softened her voice, rolled the words the way he liked. “If it's about last night…” She dropped her eyes to his crotch.
    “That's not it.” He kept his hands in his pockets. “I need my jacket back.”
    This was it. He was dumping her. She dropped her pack and peeled off his jacket, thrusting it out at him.
    “Why? I just need to know why.”
    He hooked the jacket over a thumb, tossed it over his shoulder, and walked straight past her to his car. She turned and was about to call his name when she spotted a teacher watching them from across the street and bit her tongue.
    How could he do this to her?
    The next day passed in a daze. Her route home would take her past all their old haunts, for the last time.
    The miles whirred by as a litany of losses danced through her head. Holding hands, the feel of his closeness on the drive home, texting. Gone, gone, gone. Riding in cool cars, sharing senior talk, cuddling. All gone.  
    Ellen stopped. Sounds of the creek invaded. The musty scent of cattails carried by a gentle breeze brought her around. Images of kissing