She Makes Me Smile

Wednesday, February 6th 1

The first time I ever smiled at school was two Wednesdays ago. 2

This tall girl I’ve never seen before arrived early for softball practice and she ran around the field in her bare feet, socks and cleats laying forgotten on the track. I watched, fighting a smile, as she dragged her feet in the dirt on the pitcher’s mound, stirring up clouds of red dust. I was supposed to be getting plastic cones for the basketball coach but I had to go ask someone who she was. The softball coach gave me a half-smile when she said her name. 3

Lisabeth Taylor. 4

Why hadn’t I noticed her before?5

♥6

Thursday, February 7th 7

Today the basketball coach sent me outside to get the cones again. One of the little equipment boys had left them out there yesterday and I pretended to seem real irritated I had to go get them. I hurried to get outside because I knew that softball practice would be over soon. I heard the softball coach blow her whistle and the giggly sighs of the girls as the jogged to the locker rooms. I sped up, hoping to catch Lisabeth before she went inside.8

She was sitting on the fence, facing away from me. Her deep gold hair was fighting its way out of its ponytail, and she finally let the wind have its way, pulling the black ponytail holder out and sliding it around her wrist. She looked so peaceful and suddenly I was scared. 9

I picked up the cones where they had been left and sprinted back to the gym.10

♥11

Friday, February 7th 12

If you hear someone say the name Matt Daly at my school, it will probably be used in a sentence talking about one of the following: one, my basketball season so far, two, my I-don’t-care attitude, or three, the nickname given to me by my basketball coach- Baby. 13

The first topic is quite obvious. Anyone who sees me can tell I’m athletic, and I’m not trying to be conceited or anything here. It’s just a given thing. I’m the point guard which means I have to know everything that’s going on, which off the court is not my strong point.14

The second is famous with mostly teachers. It’s not that I never tried at school, because I did. At least I used to. But school isn’t that important to me- everyone expects me to barely get by and then go to college on an athletic scholarship. That’s fine with me. The expectation I have to live up to is about as small as a sugar snap pea. No one knows that I don’t plan on going to college anyway.15

The third is a popular conversation starter with all the girls. The story goes that after winning a basketball game last year, I grabbed the game ball that I had used to make the game winning three pointer and kissed it, announcing it as my baby. From that day forth, my basketball coach proceeded to call me Baby, resulting in the rest of the school following suit.16

Only Lisabeth has yet to call me Baby. She’s the only one who I really want to say it to me, and really mean it, too.17

♥18

Monday, February 10th 19

Only in Raleigh does it get to eighty degrees in February. The girls ended practice early today because the coach’s daughter got sick. Instead, the team came inside to watch our practice. I kept peeking out of the corner of my eye to see if Lisabeth was looking at me, but she never was. She would always be laughing with her teammates, whispering into their ears, giggling in spite of the hard work we were doing. 20

Mark caught me smiling. Only two things can make me smile. One is winning a basketball game. The other one is Lisabeth, and I found myself hating her for being the only other thing that can do that to me.21

♥22

Tuesday, February 11th 23

I’m in the stupid math class. Most of the boy’s basketball team is. Today the guidance counselor led a girl in. She had a hoodie pulled over her head and I couldn’t see her face until she flipped it backwards. Lisabeth? What was she doing in here? I saw the guidance counselor lean in to talk to Mrs. Macowel, the stupid math class teacher. She smiled and turned back to the class.24

“Matt? Mark? Michael?” she called three of the basketball players in our class up to her desk where she, the guidance counselor, and Lisabeth stood. One of the cheerleaders in our class yelled out “Triple M!” which was our nickname. We were the three highest scorers on the team.25

None of us said anything. Mark and Michael looked at Mrs. Macowel with sleepy, waiting eyes. I played with the strings on my hoodie, avoiding Lisabeth’s eyes.26

“The three of you have been chosen for a special study buddy program,” our math teacher said, gesturing towards us. “Even though all of you are incredible athletes, playing basketball will not propel you through the rest of your life. Lisabeth, who as you know plays softball here, has been assigned to you three to help you in math class this semester.”27

I looked up and saw Lisabeth smiling at us. I tried not to smile back but I couldn’t help myself. The two other M’s saw my half-concealed grin and they lightly punched me on the arm. 28

♥