They clicked. Bailey and Spencer. They just, clicked. 

They laughed at same things and even managed to have the exact same brainfart, both thinking  tipi instead of hammock as 'an object to hang between two trees' during a game of Thirty Seconds. No matter how I tried, I couldn't get myself in-between there. 

I wasn't jealous of Bailey's connection with Spencer in the slightest (in fact, I was happy for her) but I needed his friendship before I could ask him about football. 

How could I pull this off? 

Farah nudged me. "Hey, you alright? You look kinda grumpy." 

I glanced at her, then turned my gaze to Spencer and Bailey, who were picking out a new game to play from the big game-closet Bailey's mom and dad owned. 

"I'm good, just tired," I lied. 

"You're taking forever! Just pick something!" Bailey's twelve-year-old brother, Scott, complained. 

"I want Strat-o-Matic Football!" Brandon, Bailey's other twelve-year-old brother added loudly. 

"We can't play that, dumbass," Bailey scolded him. "That's for two players. The group's way too big. Besides, nobody here wants to play that game." 

I wondered if Bailey was putting up a show, being considerate for Spencer's sake. I knew for a fact that she'd spent way too many hours putting together dream teams in Strat-o-Matic Football, together with her brothers last summer. She'd also never worried about boring me or Farah with her football facts; whether we wanted to or not, Farah and I always received Bailey's live updates from the latest football game on our phone. 

Bailey's brothers were huge football fans and so was Bailey. I straightened in my seat, an idea suddenly popping up in my head. 

Bailey was a huge, huge football fan. And if I was reading the situation correctly, Spencer was a huge, huge Bailey fan.

I couldn't get between him and Bailey. I could, however, use this to steer the conversation and Spencer's thoughts. 

I turned to Scott and Brandon, who were both impatiently waiting in their seat. I could tell they were about two seconds away from leaving the table, bored and wanting to go do something else. 

I cleared my throat. "So, Scott, Brandon. Have you seen some... interesting football games lately?" 

Brandon side-eyed me. "Since when do you care?" 

He remembered that one time when I'd said football players earned way too much money and that he honestly shouldn't care so much about who won or lost. Totally not done to say that to a sports fan apparently - he'd never quite forgiven me for it. 

My goal was halfway achieved already, however. From the corner of my eye I noticed I didn't only have Brandon and Scott's attention - I also had Spencer's. The word 'football' was like the instant trigger button to get him to listen.

"I don't care," I replied flippantly. "Just showing interest, geez." 

But my interest in Scott, Brandon, and football was immediately gone when Spencer turned to Bailey. 

"Are you a football fan, too?" he asked her. 

Bailey grinned. "Absolutely. Our entire family is a football family. We don't see eye to eye about what team and player is best, but definitely--"

"Giants!" Brandon called out.

"Jets!" Scott disagreed equally loudly. 

Bailey rolled her eyes and went "Whatever, punks. You're both wrong. The Saints are better." 

I didn't care about football and those names didn't mean anything to me, but I couldn't help but smile at all the sudden enthusiasm. It only worked to make my point for me even better. 

"There's no way you're ever going to date anything but a pro football player, huh Bailey?" I teased Bailey, but my eyes were glued on Spencer to see his reaction. 

Bailey laughed. "That's the dream. But I don't if he's good. He just has to enjoy the sport." 

Spencer's eyes awkwardly darted to the floor for a split second. There was a reaction, at least. I didn't know what exactly that reaction meant, but the message was definitely received. He'd heard Bailey and he understood. 

We ended up playing a simple game with Godzilla-like huge monsters in Tokyo the rest of the evening. Football wasn't mentioned again, but Bailey's remark had to still be on Spencer's mind. I'd already calculated a full hour before leaving Bailey's house that I'd get a chance to check whether I was right. 

Spencer, being the nice guy he was, had offered us a ride home in his car before the game night had even started. When we finally left Bailey's house I was almost dying with anticipation.

Farah was with Spencer and I in the car when we left Bailey's house, of course, but I lived further away than she did. I stayed quiet in the backseat while Farah and Spencer lightly chatted about an upcoming book report. 

Then, Farah got dropped off and it was just me and Spencer in the car. I slipped myself into the front seat and gave Farah a wave before we drove off. 

The first few seconds I was silent, going over what angle I wanted to take one last time. 

I decided to shoot with sincere. Spencer seemed like the sensitive type who'd appreciate it. Maybe. 

"So, that was the first day of school, huh," I casually commented. "Hope you got through it alright. I can imagine it's quite a big thing, going to a new school in senior year." 

Bingo. Spencer smiled slightly at the road in front of us. "Yeah. Quite. Bailey told me it was your idea to invite me tonight. So, thanks." 

"Of course, no problem. You seemed nice." I glanced at Spencer. "I only hesitated inviting you because you got a lot of attention today because of the football thing and I don't know, you didn't seem that comfortable with it?"

Spencer snorted, shaking his head. "I could deny it but. That noticeable, huh?" 

I mimicked Spencer, snorting as well. "Sorry, but yes. I'd be lying if I said no. Jem's quite on your case, isn't he. But he should understand, of all people, that joining a new team in senior year after years of playing for another team can feel a bit like betrayal, maybe." 

Spencer's eyebrows shot up. "Kind of. You just don't go to another team, usually."

"And you'd probably run into your old teammates on the field if you joined Demont," I added sympathetically, trying to sound sure of myself though I was totally guessing here. "That's rough." 

Spencer was quiet for a moment and I thought I'd shot for the complete wrong conclusion, but then he sighed. "I was surprised Jem wants me on the team here at all. I mean... When my team completely steamrolled Demont last year, well, that didn't end too friendly. Let's leave it at that." 

"Aha." I nodded, forcing my face into a frown rather than the gleeful smile that was trying to fight its way to my lips. 

Now I got it. Spencer had spent years playing for a rival team. He thought he wouldn't get accepted here. And maybe he wouldn't. People always said girls could be petty, but holy shit, the way I heard the football team gossip sometimes those guys could be just as bad. 

I wasn't about to tell Spencer that, however. I was trying to convince him for Jem here. I turned to the side, leaning my shoulder against the passenger seat, looking at Spencer.

"It's not really any of my business..." I started slowly. "But if you want my five cents, why not try out for the football team? I see you perk up every time the word football is mentioned. I mean... you seem on-par with Bailey when it comes to being a fan of the sport." 

Spencer shifted and glanced at me. Football drew his attention, and dropping Bailey's name in there as well completely captured it. 

"You're good, right? If you can help them win Demont's team will accept you, and if they don't you can leave. At least you tried that way." 

 "That's true..." Spencer admitted reluctantly. 

"You'll never know if you don't go to the tryouts," I emphasised again. "And the captain, Jem, obviously really wants you there. So, that's one vote of confidence already. Why not try?"

Spencer breathed in and out deeply, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel nervously. 

"I'll think about it."