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Exits and On-Ramps

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she mumbled for the countless time.

In Ouray she had never thought of anything but having a good time. But here all she could think of was what could go wrong, and how she would look, playing in a neighborhood game where she barely knew anyone. The fact that she didn't already have a core group of friends outside her family changed everything.

Vicki sat on the floor of her room and grabbed up her sneakers.

Andy poked her head around the door, asking "What's taking you so long?" When she saw that Vicki didn't even have her shoes on, she came in with hands on her hips. "Vi-vi, quit procrastinating. Steven and Max are already down there, since you didn't want us all arriving together, so get a move on! There's no way I'm going to call this off."

Vicki continued to tie her laces. "I'm not going to rush just because you want to get there in a hurry." And she thanked God that Steven would be there to give her moral support and possibly keep her from making a total fool of herself. Max and Andy wouldn't be any help.

"Vicki, you're not going to make a fool of yourself."

Vicki looked up rather sharply, eyes wide. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

With a shake of her head, Andy crouched beside Vicki and lightly scratched her sister's scalp. "Vi-vi, it's more than a little obvious after your confession the other day. In my opinion, which you probably don't want, you're worrying too much about what other people will think."

Giving a self-conscious shrug, Vicki tightened the bow on her laces. "Good impressions are important," she mumbled.

"I know," Andy said. "But you just can't try to make everyone happy. It's not only impossible, it's totally unfair to you and your real friends."

Standing to her feet, Vicki knew Andy was right. Andy was almost always right. But as she made her way from her room and down the stairs to the front hall, Vicki just couldn't get herself to say 'I know, but I can't stop myself.'

At the front door, Andy presented Vicki her lightweight windbreaker. "Just try and not think of anything," Andy suggested.

Vicki stared down at her windbreaker for a moment before giving a slight nod and slipping into it. Then she wordlessly followed Andy outside, unable to confess that she didn't know how she could simply 'not think' when there were so many things that wanted to be thought.

The park was down a half-block and across the street, the main part of the park at least, so it took only about a minute - at the most - to get there. The game had already started when the two of them arrived, with Max and Steven in the heart of it. The curly haired guy Vicki had noticed the previous day blocked a powerful shot from Steven and received a roar of applause from both his teammates and the watchers on the side-lines. Boy, he's good, Vicki admitted. Coordination was the guy's middle name.

"Hi."

Vicki and Andy turned to face the tall redhead met the previous day.

"Hi, Eric," Andy said, smiling. "Sorry we're late."

He waved it aside, his green eyes shifting from Andy to Vicki and back again. "Don't worry about it. They're all going to a party after this, so they're calling the game in a second or two."

"Party?"

"Yeah, one of the guys reminded me." Eric motioned to both of them. "You should go."

Andy glanced over at Vicki before nodding. "Sure, Eric. We'll be there. You're going to be there too, right?"

Eric smiled, his green eyes twinkling as he crossed his arms and shook his head. "I wish I could, but...."

"What school is it at?" Vicki absently asked, still watching the curly haired guy make yet another great shot. He's really good, she corrected herself, and immediately wondered why he hadn't played before.

"It's at one of their girlfriend's, or so someone said. Since I don't know him, I kind of feel bad just inviting myself."

Andy laughed. "You just want us to go instead?"

Eric chuckled. "Girls are always invited."

Vicki rolled her eyes and nearly sounded a scoff as she continued to watch the game wrap up and Steven start talking with a small group of the players.

"Well, couldn't you get one of the others invite you to come," Andy suggested. "I mean, you play with them all."

"It's okay." Then, digging car keys out of his pocket, he motioned toward the two girls. "Anyway, I've gotta go. But, hey, we'll see each other again if you plan on going to New Life Foursquare. That's where I go every Sunday and Wednesday. It's in Canby."

Andy smiled again and nodded her head. "That sounds great, Eric. We'll talk to the parentals and see about going once we're all moved in."

Eric gave a nod. "Coolness. See you guys around, then." He gave a finger tap to his forehead and then crossed the street to his car.

"I suppose you're going to make me go to this party," Vicki mumbled as Andy gave Eric one last wave.

Andy focused on Vicki with the usual Modine Mischief smile. "If Steven and Max wrangled invitations, you bet your dual braids I am."

This time Vicki did scoff. "I should have known." She put her hands on her hips as she faced down her sister. "Don't get your panties in a twist. We don't know for sure that they did get invitations. Who knows? Maybe Steven took one look at the guy and said 'No way.'"

"Steven say 'no' to a neighborhood party?" Andy scoffed. "Please."

I can always hope. "I'm still not going to count on anything until Steven says-"

"Guess what, ladies?" Steven asked, smiling as he approached the two girls at a jog.

Andy and Vicki both focused on their older brother, Andy brightening and Vicki showing dread while they both asked, "You got invitations to the party?" in stereo.

Steven slowed and then stopped, resting hands on hips as he regarded first Andy and then Vicki. "Okay. That was a complete weirdness episode."

Andy laughed and gave Vicki a gentle shove. "Don't mind Vicki. You know how she freaks before a party and then is fine."

Vicki frowned and crossed her arms in protest.

"Heh." Steven focused on his younger sister. "Come on, Vicster. It'll be fun, and you know it." Then he motioned across the street to the house. "Go on and change. I'll wrangle us transportation to and from, and then try to convince Max the Magnificent not to complain when I say he's too young to go."

Andy laughed "Good luck," while placing both hands onto Vicki's shoulders and turning her back toward the house. Vicki went without further protest. Andy regarded her with shock. "Are you serious? No fights? No whining? You're just going to go?"

Sending a glance over her shoulder to the guys still playing soccer, Vicki simply shrugged. "Sure. Why not? If I make myself the loser of the school.... Everyone has to be good at something."

Laughing, Andy followed Vicki into the house and up the stairs. "It's the curly haired guy with the muscles, isn't it? Don't deny it."

Vicki scoffed as she tried to hide her reddened cheeks. "I don't know what you're talking about," she informed haughtily. Then, to keep Andy from diving headfirst into the prospect of proving otherwise, Vicki stepped into her closet and focused solely on finding something to wear. It probably wouldn't work, this focus on her wardrobe, but she was willing to try.

"Vic-"

"Letter, Vicki," their mother said, peeking around the doorway while waving a small letter and offering a smile. She had caramel-blonde hair only a little darker than Andy's and dark-blue eyes that always seemed to hold a smile. Straightening, she came the rest of the way into Vicki's room. She had dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans and a green, zip-front sweatshirt over a white t-shirt. It was her usual 'cleaning business' uniform. "Bed?"

"Sure, Mom. Thanks."

"You're welcome, sweetie." She tossed the letter onto the bed and then regarded her daughters with a small smile, hands tucked into the back of her loose-fitting jeans. "Vicki, you're focused on your wardrobe with more purpose than usual. Something happen?"

"Hm? Oh." Vicki shifted her focus back to her closet, stepping forward to claim a long-sleeved blouse of dark-blue. "We got invited to a neighborhood party. Well, Steven got us invited." Thanks a lot, Steven. Bleh.

"Heavens. He works fast for you two, doesn't he?" Elizabeth Modine observed, laughing softly.

Sending Vicki a glance, Andy asked, "Is Dad downstairs?"

"Yes, and I'll go warn him that the four of you will be coming to ask for permission, with puppy-dog eyes and everything." Turning to exit, their mom motioned to the letter. "Don't forget the letter, Vicki."

"I won't, Mom. Thanks." Andy and Vicki both made their way to the letter on the bed as their mom closed the door behind her.

"Who's it from?" Andy asked. "I can't read the writing."

Vicki's smile slowly vanished as she absently set aside the shirt and scooped up the letter. She immediately frowned. "It's from Kyle."

"What's he writing you for?" Andy asked harshly. "The jerk! Always hanging around and wanting to do stuff with you. Spending hours on the phone and calling to talk to you all hours of the morning and night. Then he tells you that you're a great friend! Here he is, acting like he's your boyfriend, and then he talks to you about every single good-looking girl in the school and doesn't care that it hurts your feelings!"

Vicki rolled her eyes. Oh geez. Here we go again. "Andy...."

"I don't want to hear it. Okay? That letter is probably him finding another way of ripping your heart out and feeding it to you!" Andy strode to the closet to pick out a long denim skirt. "You're better off without that jerk, Vicki. I don't know what you ever saw in him."

"I know you never liked him. But he wasn't always like that, talking about girls and being selfish. He really wasn't. He always talked to me about his life, and I thought I was helping him."

"Yeah. Helping him make you feel sorry for him and do whatever he wanted." Andy scoffed and stormed over to the bed to swipe up the long-sleeved soft-pink knit 'sweater shirt' and deposit it and the long denim skirt into Vicki's lap. "Talk about a walking double-standard. He could hurt your feelings anytime he wanted and just tell you to 'loosen up'. But if you showed any kind of sense of humor at all, he acted all insulted and basically blew off your friendship until you 'kissed up to him' or whatever." Andy pointed at the outfit. "Get dressed and read the letter later."

Vicki stared down at the letter as Andy stormed out of the room, finally mumbling, "Fine," before tucking it into the journal on her computer desk.

Andy and Vicki descended the front porch after Steven, exchanging amused glances as he laid out the plan for the evening. He's such a geek. Needing to control everything so that each and every possibility was covered, it used to drive the girls nuts. But when his planning kept them out of trouble and got them to go to parties and events like this one? Both had learned to live with it.

"Once we get there-"

The door quickly opened, Max practically tumbling out the front door as he struggled into his jacket. "Wait for me, you guys!"

Andy and Vicki stared at him, shocked, and Steven put his hands on his hips. "You're kidding. They're letting you come?"

Max finished wrestling with his jacket and sent the trio a scowl. "Yes. They owed me one for doing the moving sale all by myself that Saturday."

Steven raised his hands in a mild showing of defense. "Sorry, Max. It wasn't anything personal."

Vicki giggled and stepped up to give Max a hug, which he fended off with a darker scowl. "I'm glad you can come, Max. Now you can protect me from Andy and Steven's 'plan'. I hate being their pet project."

"Pet project?" Max's eyes widened in surprise before he focused on Steven and Andy's innocent expressions. "Dude. You guys need to get a hobby."

Laughing, Steven motioned down the sidewalk. "I have one. It's called 'drive my sisters nuts'." He laughed harder, not seeing Vicki's protruding tongue aimed at the back of his head.

Andy smirked. "You've got to stop doing that, Vi-vi. It's not very attractive."

Max scoffed and gave Vicki's arm a tug, pulling her into step behind Andy and Steven. "Come on, Vicster." He sent her a mischievous wink, his blue eyes twinkling as his cute and freckled face broke into a grin. "We should dump 'em at the party and do our own thing... Only Dad said if I did that, I'd be grounded for a week. Dang it!" He frowned.

Vicki laughed, wrapping her arm around her younger brother's. "I guess we could 'dump 'em' without looking like we did. We just need to keep them in our visual range. Right?"

Max's face brightened. "Right! Rock on!"

"They're plotting, Stevie. We're in trouble now."

Steven chuckled. "Since when have Vicki and Max's plans worked?"

Vicki and Max scowled at their older brother. "Steven, we're going to get you one of these days," Max promised.

"Bring it on. Prank Wars is best when consensually expected.... Although I don't think that's a word."

Max and Vicki both rolled their eyes.

"So what was the plan, Steven?" Andy prompted. "You were interrupted before."

"Ah. That's right." Steven turned, continuing down the sidewalk backwards. "Well, it's at one of the soccer guy's girlfriend's house. Thompson, I think is the girl's last name. The dad is chaperoning, which is one of the main reasons Dad and Mom agreed to let us go, and the dad's also keeping a close eye on who comes in. Which means it's not going to be overflowing with questionables. Except for you," Steven added with a wink at Max and Vicki.

Vicki playfully frowned. "Yeah. I'm so questionable."

"This is what I'm saying. Anyway, one of the guys said that there will be music and munchies like at any party, just not blasting so loud that your ears bleed. Also, the minute anything gets broken, we're out. So no hanging from chandeliers, Max."

"Aw man!" Max and the others immediately laughed.

"That's pretty much it," Steven finished, giving a shrug for effect. "Nothing too major, and still giving us enough space to play without risking your good names."

"Music?" Vicki's smile vanished. "That means dancing."

"Usually does, Vicster. Duh."

"Shut up," she protested, slugging Max's arm. "You don't look so smooth dancing either."

"What? You're insane. I look cool dancing."

Andy laughed. "Yeah. On Mars."

Scoffing in protest, Max kicked a pebble at his eldest sister. "You wouldn't know coolness if it patted you on the head."

The four were still laughing and teasing one another when they finally arrived at 'the soccer guy's girlfriend's house' only about three blocks down from the Modine house. The party had probably been in full swing since at least an hour before, so there was a full symphony of laughter, chatter, and teen music coming from within as well as without. In fact, the porch was full of a mixture of familiar - from the soccer game earlier - and non-familiar faces of guys that loitered around the railing and on the folding chairs shooting the breeze about their summer and what they were planning for school.

Vicki edged a little closer to Max, who sent her his usual mischievous smirk. "There's no stalkers, Vicster. Geez."

Flushing, Vicki gave him a shove. "Excuse me for not liking big parties," she protested under her breath. "You know how I get when I'm nervous."

"Why do you think Andy and Steven drag you to these things?"

"I know, I know." She pointed at him, Steven and Andy already making their way into the crowd and barely being in the required visual range. "Just don't leave me alone! I'll get you if you do," she vowed with a meaningful look.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Just don't hang all over me." For effect, Max pulled her arm from around his. "Sheesh. Girls. All clingy."

Vicki stuck her tongue out at him.

Max smirked. "You really want to do that here?" he asked, gesturing into the house with a brief nod of his head.

When she caught sight of 'the curly-haired guy' from before, Vicki flushed a deep red. "Oh. Right." He was talking with the guy wearing the Trailblazers shirt, and he didn't look happy. I wonder why he looks so mad? "I've got to break that habit anyway," she said absently. Oh man. I hope a fight doesn't break out. That would really be a bad thing-

The guy said something final, jabbing the Trailblazers fan in the chest, and then turned and stormed out of the house, roughly brushing between Max and Vicki on his way. The two stared after him, muttering, "Dude," at the same time. Then they blinked and focused on one another, laughing as they stepped farther into the house.

Vicki, though, kept looking toward the front entrance.

The party had started at about three, and much to Vicki's surprise, she didn't mind staying as long as she did. Steven made regular check-in calls to their parents on his cell phone, and Andy would occasionally search Vicki out to check on her. There was a movie brought and watched by a majority of the group while the remainder went into one of the other large rooms to play games or sing karaoke. Vicki and Max nearly wet their pants laughing when they heard Steven singing Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel.

He did a great job, but Elvis Presley?

Vicki was allowed to stay in the background, Max or Steven easily deflecting presses to play or sing by doing it instead and then suggesting one of the others to follow. Vicki did get roped into a game of charades, but she didn't mind too much. She had already been at the party long enough to be swept into the party atmosphere.

At about seven, though, Vicki was very quickly losing energy. I need a nap, she complained after what must have been her fifth yawn. That and she was hungry for something other than chips, dip, and fruit/vegetable trays. There had been hotdogs and burgers at the beginning of the party, but those had been devoured a long time ago.

Vicki shielded another yawn, this one noticed by Max.

"Yeah. Me, too. Sheesh." He stood from the couch and looked for Steven. "Let's vanish. I'm beat, and I haven't finished the final stage on Half Life yet."

"Which one?"

Smirking, Max focused on her. "What do you care? You never remember which one I play anyway."

Vicki laughed. "Yeah. True." She stood beside him and motioned to the door. "I'll meet you out front. Get my blood flowing so I don't fall asleep where I stand. Wow."

Max nodded, heading into the crowd where Steven was discussing something with a fellow that looked to be almost his same age. Vicki got to the front door about the same time Max reached their brother. Permission was granted 'to jet', and then Max struggled his way through the crowd to Vicki's position at the door just as she hid another yawn.

"Stop that," he complained. "I want to play that level!"

"I'm sorry. I can't really help it."

Max opened the door and brotherly-gentle shoved and pushed her out and through the crowd and down the stairs of the porch to the sidewalk below. "Zow it was cramped in there." They headed back to the house, Max sending her a sidelong smirk. "Blast, huh?"

"Not too bad," Vicki admitted, nodding. "Thanks for distracting all those 'idiot moments'. You and Steven were great."

Max shrugged. "I figured you'd find your own when school started. You didn't need it in front of everybody."

"I promise I'll do my best to help you out whenever you need it."

He shrugged again. "Eh. No big."

Vicki smiled, restraining the urge to give him a hug. Max was so funny, embarrassed by public displays of affection. Or private displays, for that matter.

"Oh. I scored a- Oh man! I left my jacket on the couch! Smooth move, Ex-Lax," he muttered. "I'll be right back, but we're just right down there, so you can make it home by yourself."

He jogged away, murmuring something about something as Vicki snickered and continued home. I guess it won't be as bad as I thought. She shrugged. Figures Andy would be right. She's always right. Well, mostly always. I'd like to be right about something every once in a while, God. Not that I'm always wrong or anything. It's just... Well, it would be nice if she'd look at me and say 'Man. I was way off on that one. Sorry, Vicki.' Not that she hasn't ever. She did when I was right on that trivia question, it's only.... Oh I don't know.

A soccer ball in the middle of the neighborhood field grabbed Vicki's attention, so she gave a shrug and made her way toward it. She liked playing soccer by herself. When she could just nudge it along at her own pace and not care about anything else. Vicki sighed and guided the soccer ball a short distance from the goal. She didn't know why Andy insisted that she practice. It's not like I'm going to join a team. She didn't like what competitive sports did to her. She became a little too ruthless.

"I hate that," she mumbled as she thwacked the ball.

It swished against the net.

Vicki jogged up and guided the ball a little farther from the goal. If only life could have been as easy; just aim the shot and let it go. I guess it would be boring, she told herself, launching the ball yet again into the far corner of the net. She gave a shrug and made her way back to the goal, grabbing the ball and proceeding to bounce it from her head several times in a row. Why she could never do it in front of people was something she could never figure out. It would have been a great way of breaking the ice.

Or just looking cool.

"You're pretty good," said a voice behind her.

Gasping, Vicki dropped the ball and turned to face- The curly-haired guy! Up close he was even better looking, with a natural tan that set off his emerald green eyes and white smile. The curls that covered the top of his head were plied with mousse or gel, giving him a boyish look that had Vicki swallowing hard and almost forgetting her name.

Clearing her throat, Vicki confessed, "You scared me," as she bent to retrieve the ball. Your name is Victoria Malorie Modine. You live at 12534 S Evergreen Lane- No. Wait. I live at 15243 SE Evertree...?

The guy stepped forward just before Vicki could get a hold of the ball, nudging it away from her hands and guiding it toward the goal until he gave it a soft kick. It swished into the net and rolled a little way out.

"How long have you played?"

Vicki gave him an uncertain look, absently worrying her lower lip. He almost sounds interested- Vicki, don't do that to yourself. As she stepped forward, the guy made a motion toward the ball with his head. So, she made her way to it and slowly nudged it forward, keeping a wary eye on him. He just moved his weight occasionally from foot to foot, not watching the ball. A slight smile lifted her lips as she guided the ball forward at a quicker pace, making a move to the right. When she caught him starting toward her, she sent the ball skidding the other direction, dodged, and caught the ball to kick it into the net.

It settled into the far corner of the goal with a soft swish.

Vicki sent him a sidelong glance while giving a shrug. "I haven't played that long." Only since she was eight years old.

He sent her a look that clearly said, 'I don't believe you' and then teased the ball forward out of the net. Vicki just stood there with a smile on her face, remembering similar times in Ouray.

"Really?" he pressed, sending her a somewhat deeper examination. "Not long?"

She nodded and then, when he was nearly to her, she made a quick swipe with her foot. The ball sprung forward out of his reach and she guided it away with small but quick steps until she was close enough to the goal to make her shot- The guy came seemingly out of nowhere, stealing the ball and making a shot of his own.

Vicki startled, nearly skidding onto her backside, and then clapped her hands as she came up to him. "That was awesome!" she told him, laughing.

He bent to pick up the ball and then slowly straightened, cradling it in his hands while regarding her with a crooked smile. "Same to you. That steal was choice."

Vicki smiled wider. "You liked that?"

"What's not to like? It was smooth and quick, just like it's supposed to be."

Shrugging, Vicki made her way to a bench on the side of the park near the road. "Yeah, well, my younger brother always whines when I use it. He says it's cheating." She gave a little snicker as she sat down. "He only thinks it's cheating because it always works. He's tried to get Dad to outlaw it I don't know how many times."

"How in the heck did you do it in a skirt?"

Vicki looked down at her denim skirt with a questioning look. "Hm. Good question. It doesn't seem to get in the way. Soccer's all about quick and small steps anyway."

The guy sat down slowly beside her, setting the ball at his feet as he sent her a weird look.

"What?" Vicki asked, still smiling. "Haven't you ever seen a girl play soccer before?"

"Not like you."

"Oh come on," she protested, rolling her eyes. "You can't tell me there's not one single girl around here somewhere that can put two steps together and get the ball in the net."

"Believe me, I'd know if there was." He studied her a moment. "Say, would you sign up if there was a neighborhood team? Just during the summer?"

Blinking in surprise before her cheeks flushed a brilliant crimson, Vicki was finally able to nod her head. "Sure."

He smirked. "Now that the summer is nearly over and there's no risk of being branded an idiot and 'last pick'."

Vicki couldn't help but laugh. "Something like that."

"Man!" he complained, leaning back. "I've been trying to start a neighborhood team since I can remember, but no one ever wants to commit to it. It really bites!"

Still smiling as she watched him, she said, "I'm sorry."

"Eh. Not your fault. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Not like I had a lot of time over the summer anyway, what with jobs and trips and stuff." Resting his foot on top of the soccer ball, he watched the action of rolling it forward and back. "How come you don't really want to be on a team? Besides the 'idiot/last pick' thing."

Vicki absently smoothed the front of her skirt. "Sports is more a 'laugh while looking like a dweeb' thing for me." The guy chuckled, making it easier for Vicki to do the same. Then she shrugged. "Well, it's at least a way to hang out with my friends." Friends she'd had to leave behind. She sighed and mumbled, "Burns stress."

"But you're good."

This time she smiled at him. "Thanks, but I'm only good because there's no pressure to win or anything. Sure I was a starting player back home, but I'd grown up with all of them. It was all for the youth group anyway. The second I feel pressure, I choke and mess up." Vicki shook her head and focused again on the duty of smoothing the front of her skirt. "I can't do competitive sports. Not really."

He focused again on the action of rolling the soccer ball forward and back. "What do you do?"

"Do for what?"

"In school. Extra-curricular."

"I was in the choir back home. Nearly went on the school paper." She flushed. "Chickened out at the last minute. Didn't think I was good enough, and so I didn't turn in the qualifying article."

He absently nodded.

Why in the world is it so easy to talk to this guy? Vicki asked herself, shocked beyond words. She didn't even know his name and they were talking and laughing like they'd grown up together.... Vicki tilted her head slightly, seeing something in his green eyes that didn't seem to fit. Her eyes widened in sudden surprise. Loneliness?

"Well," he said suddenly as he stood with the ball in his hands. "I've got to get going. I just came to get my ball, but I'll be sure to see you around."

Get his name! Vicki stood with the question on her lips. But when he winked at her, she couldn't say a word. Not even as he turned to hike back the way he'd come. How could someone like him be lonely? she asked herself as she stared after him. He could have any girl he wanted! But he wore his whole easy-going attitude like a mask, hiding how alone he really felt. But... But how do I know that? I don't know him from Adam. I... It's impossible to know that about him.... Isn't it?

Worrying her lower lip, Vicki absently made her way across the street to her home, vaguely hearing Max's steps pounding against the sidewalk as he made his way her direction. All she could focus on was the guy's expression and the overwhelming impression that he was lonely.

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