[Portion of a chapter]
Chapter Two: Jake Dylan Is Not Your Happily Ever After
So, the next day, everything was going smoothly, much like the events of the day before. Yesterday, practice ended slightly early and Coach had dismissed us just as the cheerleaders were finishing up. This had given the more popular lacrosse players time to chat with the girls. I had glimpsed Mandy talking to Jake about... I don't know what. I had rushed to my next period soon afterwards, ending up five minutes late anyway.
My second to last period today was again lacrosse, and then I had a free block. I did not know if Jake and I were still on as he was kind of vague about it yesterday and not very available after that. After practice, I'd have to check up with him. If he decided he didn't want to, well, I actually did have something to do that would provide as a sufficient backup plan. I definitely did not plan on being motionless in my free period, that's for sure.
"Shandon! Focus!" Coach's voice spiraled into my subconscious, whizzed through my attention, and finally reached me in my dream state. Today was a boring, going-over-game plans day and I was not up for another lecture. But Coach had other ideas: he wanted us all to participate.
I yawned. "I'm with you, Coach." Now let me return to my blissful slumber.
"Try to be with me while you're awake, Shandon," he snapped.
Some kids snickered (not Jake, who I peeked at using my superpower, peripheral vision) and when Coach had turned away, I rolled my eyes at him. The problem with the field was that there was no working clock and I had absolutely no clue what time it was. Unfortunately the only watch I had somehow always ended up staying in one place in my bedroom -- I was never a jewelry type anyway.
After what felt like hours of pointless bossing around, Coach let us go. There were no distractions, er cheerleaders, out today so I didn't feel bad if I could have Jake spare a minute to talk to me in, say, Mandy Conan's place. On our way to the locker rooms, I fast walked to catch up with Jake and waited sometime for him to notice me in the crowd he was surrounded by.
For goodness sake, would he ever notice me? I was about to give up in exasperation and completely let go of the plans we might have had when, miracle of miracles, Jake called my name.
My eyes flew to him questioningly.
~
