"I love you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
I love you more today than yesterday
But only half as much as tomorrow"
The familiar strains of the Spiral Staircase song echoed in her mind during tennis practice warm-ups. It was a little slow, but stretching and running a mile meant taking your time and pacing yourself... and it was purely coincidence that "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday" was just one of many songs in the jukebox of her mind that helped her prep-time.
Clair liked oldies. It had started on the long morning drives to school with her father, when they'd roll down the windows and sing Mungo Jerry's "Joy to the World" loud into the wind together. It was better than coffee -- it woke them up and made them happy. Clair had missed those mornings with her father once she'd learned to drive and her father had gotten a job in a different direction from the school she attended. She played the same station every morning anyway.
Of course, Chase would have to be elected the tennis captain. It seemed to genuinely surprise him -- but no one else. He was well-liked, fair, people listened to him, and he practiced harder than anyone. He was often one of the first to come to practice and was one of the last to leave. Clair still spent more time on the court than he did... but she was a freshman... and underclassmen had to pay their dues.
One humid afternoon after classes, Clair and Chase arrived at the courts at the same time. He'd offered to run together while she stretched. She thanked him but declined. I don't want him to see me gross and sweaty. Clair groused to herself, half wishing she had opted to run with him. Then added, Plus, I don't want to make things weird with Julie either. I mean, she is my friend. He really doesn't think of things like that at all, does he? She rationalized with a smile.
Everything else went smoothly during practice, until the coach pitted Chase and Donnie's doubles team against Clair and Christy's. If the boys were going easy on the girls you'd never tell it. Clair always liked when coach paired them off against the fellas though. She felt like she became a stronger player because the boys pushed her team's limits. This day had been no exception. Tennis balls had rocketed over the net and the competition got so fierce that both teams had begun to aim directly for their opponents bodies for game points. Donnie had spiked Christy in the head after she'd blocked one return into his face, and Chase had bruised Clair's thigh with a serve after she'd scored a lucky point off the rim of his racket. Before long, the entire team had settled in to watch who would win. Clair and Christy had put up a fight, but lost. Chase and Donnie played to win every single time - that was why they were the best.
After the match they all shook hands smiling and asking if they were okay. Everyone laughed it off and started their cool down drills. Of course, everything was still a competition and Donnie and Chase still had to win... so they finished their sprinting drills faster than everyone else and went around encouraging the slower teammates to hustle.
Clair had just begun her last back sprint when something tripped her and sent her sprawling backward onto the ground. Chase had seen it, called out, and tried to make it to her in time, but she'd fallen to the ground before he'd gotten close enough to catch her. Everyone, every single other person, had laughed at Clair... including Clair and coach. The only person who had not laughed was Chase. Sincere panic met her eyes when she looked up from her fall, he'd been scared for her.
"That's what I get for tryin' to run backwards." Clair joked, attempting to soften his reaction. He didn't even smile.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine." Clair answered. "Really." She emphasized, suddenly confused by his concern, as he helped her stand. Why did he care so much? Why was he the only one that had run over to help her? Why hadn't he laughed like Christy and Donnie and Julie and coach and literally everyone else? The thoughts raced through her mind. I'm not even his girlfriend! Apparently, in that moment, keeping up appearances in front of a girlfriend was the last thing Chase cared about.
Thoughts of "why" and "what just happened" continued to plague Clair for the rest of the day. Once she'd completed her homework and had gotten ready for bed it was still on her mind. she concluded, I'm overthinking this. Still, it's no wonder so many people think he's wonderful. It was kind of him to be so nice, and it felt pretty special to feel so cared for. I think it's safe to assume that we're close friends now. She hoped so anyway.
But not as much as tomorrow
I love you more today than yesterday
But only half as much as tomorrow"
The familiar strains of the Spiral Staircase song echoed in her mind during tennis practice warm-ups. It was a little slow, but stretching and running a mile meant taking your time and pacing yourself... and it was purely coincidence that "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday" was just one of many songs in the jukebox of her mind that helped her prep-time.
Clair liked oldies. It had started on the long morning drives to school with her father, when they'd roll down the windows and sing Mungo Jerry's "Joy to the World" loud into the wind together. It was better than coffee -- it woke them up and made them happy. Clair had missed those mornings with her father once she'd learned to drive and her father had gotten a job in a different direction from the school she attended. She played the same station every morning anyway.
Of course, Chase would have to be elected the tennis captain. It seemed to genuinely surprise him -- but no one else. He was well-liked, fair, people listened to him, and he practiced harder than anyone. He was often one of the first to come to practice and was one of the last to leave. Clair still spent more time on the court than he did... but she was a freshman... and underclassmen had to pay their dues.
One humid afternoon after classes, Clair and Chase arrived at the courts at the same time. He'd offered to run together while she stretched. She thanked him but declined. I don't want him to see me gross and sweaty. Clair groused to herself, half wishing she had opted to run with him. Then added, Plus, I don't want to make things weird with Julie either. I mean, she is my friend. He really doesn't think of things like that at all, does he? She rationalized with a smile.
Everything else went smoothly during practice, until the coach pitted Chase and Donnie's doubles team against Clair and Christy's. If the boys were going easy on the girls you'd never tell it. Clair always liked when coach paired them off against the fellas though. She felt like she became a stronger player because the boys pushed her team's limits. This day had been no exception. Tennis balls had rocketed over the net and the competition got so fierce that both teams had begun to aim directly for their opponents bodies for game points. Donnie had spiked Christy in the head after she'd blocked one return into his face, and Chase had bruised Clair's thigh with a serve after she'd scored a lucky point off the rim of his racket. Before long, the entire team had settled in to watch who would win. Clair and Christy had put up a fight, but lost. Chase and Donnie played to win every single time - that was why they were the best.
After the match they all shook hands smiling and asking if they were okay. Everyone laughed it off and started their cool down drills. Of course, everything was still a competition and Donnie and Chase still had to win... so they finished their sprinting drills faster than everyone else and went around encouraging the slower teammates to hustle.
Clair had just begun her last back sprint when something tripped her and sent her sprawling backward onto the ground. Chase had seen it, called out, and tried to make it to her in time, but she'd fallen to the ground before he'd gotten close enough to catch her. Everyone, every single other person, had laughed at Clair... including Clair and coach. The only person who had not laughed was Chase. Sincere panic met her eyes when she looked up from her fall, he'd been scared for her.
"That's what I get for tryin' to run backwards." Clair joked, attempting to soften his reaction. He didn't even smile.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine." Clair answered. "Really." She emphasized, suddenly confused by his concern, as he helped her stand. Why did he care so much? Why was he the only one that had run over to help her? Why hadn't he laughed like Christy and Donnie and Julie and coach and literally everyone else? The thoughts raced through her mind. I'm not even his girlfriend! Apparently, in that moment, keeping up appearances in front of a girlfriend was the last thing Chase cared about.
Thoughts of "why" and "what just happened" continued to plague Clair for the rest of the day. Once she'd completed her homework and had gotten ready for bed it was still on her mind. she concluded, I'm overthinking this. Still, it's no wonder so many people think he's wonderful. It was kind of him to be so nice, and it felt pretty special to feel so cared for. I think it's safe to assume that we're close friends now. She hoped so anyway.
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