The Player

Brielle

3:15 PM

"Are you excited for your dance showcase in a few weeks?" Sam asked, sinking her teeth into her mom's homemade carrot cupcake.

Sam and I sat on the rusted swings in her backyard, trying not to break the old swing-set. Christopher had just asked me out yesterday, and I was dying to tell her.

"I'm a mix of both excited and really nervous." I dipped my fingers into the cream cheese icing on my cupcake before licking it off. With all the Christopher drama, the upcoming showcase had completely slipped my mind.

"Christopher has surprisingly learned a lot, and I feel like I'm ready. But the Joffrey scout is going to be there and if I don't nail it I'm totally screwed." I needed to impress him. If I didn't I could kiss my dreams of going to the Joffrey School of Ballet goodbye.

"Well, I know you'll be amazing," Sam reassured me. I took a deep-breath, trying to keep my stress at bay. "I sure hope so."

I angled my body towards her, a smile reaching across my face. "I actually came here because I have something really exciting to tell you."

She began to bounce on her swing, the joy evident on her face. "What is it? Did you get a car? Did you win the lottery? Did you buy the whole season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on DVD for me?"

My brows furrowed in confusion. "No, no, and what did I tell you about watching reality TV?" She dismissively waved her hand at me.

"The news is that on our date yesterday, Christopher asked me to be his girlfriend."

Sam let out a high-pitched squeal before jumping out of her seat and wrapping me in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you!" she cried.

"Thank you, but..." I bit on my lip nervously. "I don't know, I feel like we might be rushing things."

Her eyes grew concerned. "But I thought that you wanted him to ask you out?"

"I did!" I said quickly. "It's just that I was sitting down today and realized that we've only been on one date, and I don't really know that much about him."

Sam looked at me with confusion. "You guys have been spending so much time together that I highly doubt that you don't know him."

"Well we spend most of the time bickering," I diverted my attention to my feet before looking up at her again. "I feel like I know all of the big things about him but none of the little stuff."

She paused, lost in her thoughts, before finally replying to me. "I just think that you should be honest with him and tell him how you fell."

huff. "That's easier said than

to tell my mom

me, your mom makes the best

"Now text him

in a deep breath before taking out my phone. After

over. We need to talk.

~~~

here. In the meantime, I entertained myself by reading The Hunger Games. It was my third time reading the series, and I still didn't know if I was

my way to the door. When I opened it, I was welcomed

he had done it. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts because

of seeing him so un-put together, I began to talk. "Hey I wanted to

want you to know that I can change whatever you need me to in order to make us work." He grabbed

him, my brows furrowed in confusion. Breaking up? "What are you

the confusion on my face, he further explained.

hit me. He must have misinterpreted my text.

face dropping in the process. "Brielle, you don't send someone "we need to talk" if you don't

I supposed to know

"Everyone knows that!"

I thought, as the memories of those being the universal words for breaking up came flooding back. I didn't mean

time we have

returning. "Now can I come inside, it's freezing

nearly eighty degrees." I

I rolled my eyes and opened the door wider for him, allowing

rolled my eyes, compared to his mansion, I highly doubt that my

told you that you're

my house just feels so lonely and empty sometimes. It's almost

"That is the richest thing I've ever heard." He let out a laugh. "I'm lonely and poor so if

the remote, putting on a football game with teams I've never heard of. "Now what

feel, but if I wanted to have a good relationship with him,

as though we may have

you mean? Do you regret saying yes

"Not at all! It's just that," I struggled to find a way to explain it. "I really like you, and it feels like it was just yesterday that I was hating your