The Ocean by Mia Castile

work anymore.
    “No, Travis is the first guy who has shown interest in me since Jesse.” Abby knew the Jesse story. She had lived through hours of my obsessing and blaming him for no social life al through junior high.
    “No, Blake liked you, remember, last year,” she corrected me.
    “That doesn’t count. Blake was a friend, and I couldn’t have a boyfriend while my mom was sick,” I countered.
    “He stil showed interest. But maybe Travis was right and you weren’t ready, last night. Don’t try to rush it; it wil happen, and when it does, it wil be magic.” She went back to her drawing.
    I went back to my art work and then navigated the rest of the day. When I got out to my truck, there was a note sitting in the driver’s side seat. I put it in my bag and went home.
    I came in through the kitchen. I cal ed out to Oliver. There was no answer. I went to my room and sat down on my bed, took out the note, and read it.
    Gia,
    I wonder how OK it is for me to have such strong feelings for you, but I do. I feel very vulnerable sharing them with you, too. I thought about what you said yesterday, about thinking too much about the game. It’s the first game of the season. And it seems trivial to care so much when there is so much more going on in the world. I guess this is my big deal. I keep thinking that if I play well enough, I can get a scholarship and get into a good school, and maybe become a lawyer or something that my mom would be proud of. She has sacrificed so much. She’s a nurse you know.
    She puts long hours in at the hospital and is raising my sister and me without any help from my father.
    I might be thinking too much about our relationship, too. I don’t want to over analyze it. I want to enjoy my time with you. I feel like I would have a huge hole in my life if I lost you. It’s like there was something that was always missing, but I didn’t even know it until I met you. I hope you understand what I mean and it makes sense to you, because it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. I guess that’s all I can say now. It’s time to go to practice. I will not be thinking about the game though. I will just enjoy practice. It’s because of you. I can’t wait to see you.
    Travis
    I held the letter to my heart as I fel back on my bed and rested in my happiness. I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Alex was sitting beside me on my bed.
    “We warmed up the leftovers. Are you going to come and eat?” I blinked as my eyes focused on him, momentarily confused as to what he was talking about. “Dinner is ready Gia.”
    “I’l be down in a minute.” I sat up and rubbed my eyes. He stood and left my room. I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess, and I had raccoon eyes from my mascara. I went to my closet and took out a square tin box and put the letter in it with al the other letters he’d written me. I went to the bathroom and washed my face, pul ed my hair into a pony tail, and smoothed my shirt and jeans. I went downstairs and ate dinner with my brother and Travis. Then Travis and I went upstairs to my room, and we did our homework. We actual y did it without many distractions. He was in a very good mood. He told me that he’d gotten his rhythm back. He said I was right, and he was grateful for me. After he told me goodbye, close to nine o’clock, I went upstairs and to bed.
    On Friday, the last two periods of class were cancel ed. We al filed out onto the footbal field. Abby and I found a seat somewhere in the middle while Kiarah and a few of her friends sat around us. Final y, when al the students were out there, the cheerleaders bombarded onto the field. They did a dance routine before the marching band came out and played a song. The principal introduced the whole team, al the players one by one.
    Then a few players and the cheerleaders did a few skits. We laughed at them, more because they were real y ridiculous than funny. I saw what Travis meant by “you’l see.” He