“Maddy?”  Trent stops at the opening of the field.

I pick up my head.

“What if I lose?  What do you want?”  He asks.

“You won’t” I say.

Trent smiles and runs out to the field.

I was right.  Trent brought the championship back to Belcrest that night being the lead scorer six to three.  After the game, we all went back to the hotel including the Bigs to celebrate.   We ate pizza and discussed the highlights of the game.  Trent was gleaming from ear to ear making me ecstatic for him.   He was so excited and happy that he would be bringing the first soccer state championship trophy back home.

The adults grew tired and wanted to relax.  They allowed us to go down to the pool to soak in the hot tub.  We use the boys as an excuse to relax their muscles.  Mackenna and I went into our room and changing into our swimsuits.  We both wore our bikinis and I couldn’t help but think how different it is this time.

We walk into the poolroom with our cover-ups on.  Some of the boys are in the pool and others in the hot tub.  Kenna and I are used to being the only girls since it has been like that most of our life but I am nervous to take off my cover up.  Trent and Bryan are in the hot tub so we make our way to a table by them.  Kenna takes off her cover-up sauntering into the hot tub showing her black and white bikini.  A couple of the boys look but don’t make a big deal of it so I have high hopes it will be the same with me.

I take off my white linen cover-up displaying my pink and blue polka dot bikini.  Looking at the hot tub Kenna has a huge smile on her face staring up at me and Trent’s mouth is open in awe.

“Man, what a difference from last time.”  A little screams from the pool.

“Shut the fuck up little.”  Jack yells back at him.

“Sorry man” the little apologizes to my brother.

The noise makes me look towards the pool and I notice the boys gawking and my brother scowling.  I rush into the hot tub next to Kenna hiding under the bubbles.

“It’s like they’ve never seen breasts before” Bryan exclaims making me turn redder.

“Let’s not talk about it.”  I request to him.

“Yeah, let’s talk about how next Saturday you two are on your own.”  Trent points from Mackenna to Bryan.

“Why?”  Kenna looks over to me and I shrug even though I know where Trent is going with this.

“Cause we won the championship.”  He says matter of fact.

“Is there some special celebration I don’t know about?”  Bryan asks.

Trent scoots closer to me putting his arm behind me.  “You could say that, right Maddy?”  He grazes my shoulder with his fingers and my body racks with goose bumps in the ninety-five degree water.

Mackenna and Bryan stare at me confused.

“Oh for heaven’s sake, Trent and I are going on a date.  From what I gather it is next Saturday.”  I divulge the secret.

“Finally,” they both shake their heads back and forth.  We all start laughing.

The next Saturday I wait outside my house for Trent to pick me up.  I don’t want him to come in since my mom is getting ready for one of her ‘dates’.  He pulls up at six thirty parks the car and comes walking up the driveway.  He is wearing jeans and dark Henley thermal with his Adidas soccer shoes.  I always love the way his jeans hung low on his hips.  I walk up to meet him.

“You look beautiful like always.”  He leans in giving me a kiss on my cheek.

“Thank you.”  I look down at my jeans and sweater not thinking much of it.

“You ready?”  He takes my hand leading me to the house.

“Yeah, let’s go.”  I start pulling his arm towards the truck.

“Hey” he brings me closer putting a hand on my face.  “I have to talk to your mom before taking you out.  It’s only right.”  He looks into my eyes trying to reassure me.

“You don’t understand Trent.  She’s getting ready for a date.  Its fine, she doesn’t care.”  I plead.

“I do Mad, come on.”  He starts walking up the walkway to the front door.

I reluctantly follow him.  I open the door to my house thankful I cleaned it today.  I call up to my mom in her room but she doesn’t answer.  I leave Trent in the living room and run upstairs to get her.

She is blow-drying her long blond hair.  She turns the dryer off.  “What do you want?  I thought you left.”  She snaps at me.  I cross my fingers hoping Trent can’t hear her.

“Trent Basso is here to take me out on a date and is asking to talk to you first.”  I whisper to her.

“Isn’t he Mr. Proper?  Just like his daddy.”  She says loudly putting liquid black eyeliner and five coats of mascara on.

“Please Mom, it will just take a second.”  I beg.

“Alright, give me a second.  I have to get dressed.”  She shoos me out of the bathroom.

I go downstairs to wait with Trent for my mom.  Trent has never seen her like this.  He is used to Jack’s mom version, which was more toned down than Madeline’s mom now.  My mom frequents bars out of Belcrest city limits meaning a lot of people in town don’t know her extracurricular activities, making me happy.

My mom strolls down the stairs fifteen minutes later and my head falls when I see what she is wearing.  Her skirt is barely covering her ass, she has red high heels on and a tight black blouse showing her bra.  Her bleached blond hair is damaged and stringy.  I bite my lower lip in anticipation of what is to come.

Trent gives me a despairing look and turns to my mom.

“Hi Mrs. Jennings.  I just wanted to let you know I am taking Madeline out for the night.”  He puts his hand out for her shake.

Thankfully she shakes it back.  “It’s Ms. Jennings now.”  She corrects him.  “Have fun you two.”  She nods her head towards both of us.

“I will have her home by midnight Ms. Jennings.”  Trent assures her not knowing that she could care less.

“Ok, but I won’t.”  She giggles and then straightens up quickly.  “I just mean I won’t be waiting up for her.”  Did her motherly instincts kick in thinking she just told two hormone crazed teenagers they had the house to themselves tonight?

“Well we should get going.”  I pull on Trent.

“It was nice seeing you again Ms. Jennings.”  Trent waves goodbye as I drag him to the door.

“You too Trent.  Give your dad my best…and your mom.”  She adds.

Finally we are out of the house and my body relaxes.  I can’t get to Trent’s truck fast enough and away from my mom.  He opens my door helping me to get in walking around to his side.   When he climbs in he takes my hand in his squeezing it tight.  He always has subtle ways of telling me he understands and is there for me.  The tears in my eyes are in danger of falling and that is the last thing I want on our first date.

“So, where are you taking me?  If you expect to cop a feel your date better be good.”  I joke changing the mood to fun instead of serious.

“After what I have planned, you might give up the whole package.”  Trent smirks at me.

“Uh huh.  Tell me?  What is going to make me want to strip my clothes off and scream take me?”

“It’s a surprise.”  He finally starts the truck backing out of the driveway.

Twenty minutes later Trent pulls up to a pumpkin farm.

“Why didn’t we just go to Ghords Pumpkin Farm in Belcrest?”  I ask

“I didn’t want us to be bothered.  I knew if we went there we would end up hanging out with our friends.”  He gets out of the truck and I wait for him to come and get me out.

He grabs my hand leading me towards the haunted hayride.

“Oh no you don’t” I pull away trying to walk the other way.

“Come on” he tugs me back to him.

“Trent…” I sigh at him.  He knows I hate anything scary.  Sitting on a barrel of hay in the pitch dark waiting for people to jump out at me making me scream is not my idea of fun.

“I won’t let go of you.”  He puts his hand up placing his other like it is on a bible.

“Promise?”  I ask him.