Page 9

It looks like they were serious.

My doubts about the statement "we're making everyone come for this historic moment" stem from the fact that all visitors came during my shift.

The event started with young children but as the night went on older kids arrived until my grade filled the room by nine o'clock.

Felix and Hazel were no jokes. The entire class showed up at the parlour at the same time.

The situation grew even more stressful because my coworker proved to be even worse than expected. Jaxon and I managed to keep our insults under control while dealing with families and their little kids until they left and so did my patience.

The constant arguing between us seemed endless while new kids entered continuously. After finishing at the register, I returned to process another customer's order. "Nolan..." I uttered after spotting him as the upcoming customer.

It's unexpected to see you working behind the counter Emerson. He makes a joke about my shirt.

I roll my eyes with a laugh. The turnout here is unbelievable. I started a conversation.

"He admits with a shrug that people decide to come here when they learn you two share the same location."

I smiled slightly because his observation was accurate. Looking back at the prior hour makes his words seem right.

The guys received their orders from me while the girls stood by waiting for Jaxon to take their orders. They're so desperate, I swear.

I see no issue with your behavior but believe it serves no essential purpose. You decide against placing an order to initiate dialogue with a jerk.

He's nothing special.

Shaking my head I turn my attention towards Nolan once more. "What can I get you?" I ask, making my tone extra polite. Nolan answers with "Cookie dough" while giving me a friendly smile as Tristan stands beside him.

He interrupts the line to ask her for cookie dough too. "Cup or cone?" I ask.

"Cone." they both say.

After leaving the counter I proceed to the cookie dough container. I grab a cone and extend my hand into the freezer when someone pushes me aside.

My eyes meet Jaxon who is also grabbing for the same ice cream flavour. "Excuse you." I roll my eyes before pushing him aside.

I reach out to grab something from the freezer but get pushed aside yet again.

"Jaxon," I say, standing up.

"Emerson," he responds while stretching his hand for the ice cream. I move him aside, stating that I must take care of another customer.

"Well, so do I." he counters, pushing me away.

"Nolan and Tristan are waiting." I retaliated.

"So is Nina." The name makes me frown due to Nina being a living breathing bitch. And one of Jaxon's many conquests.

"I value friends more than any woman who manipulates people," I whisper cuttingly as I insult her. He rolls his eyes, but I notice a slight upward curl of his lips. "Whatever." he sighs, backing up. My smile stretches wide as I express sarcastic gratitude to him. After placing two scoops on the cone, I walk back over to Nolan and Tristan.

I stretch across the counter to deliver his cone. "Where's mine?" Tristan asks in a whiny tone.

I glare at the giggling girls from across the parlour and tell Tristan to stop acting like a baby because I'll fetch his ice cream in a moment.

The girls' swarm around Jaxon makes me roll my eyes with annoyance. The combination of their outfits and how they talk causes me to cringe even more.

They try too hard.

Tristan checks his phone and states with confidence that Em has posted something on the school page again.

"Why?" I ask, turning to him.

He turns his phone toward me so I can see a video of Jaxon and me having a pushing match from earlier.

I mutter "Oh my god" quietly.

As I walked away Tristan and Nolan burst into laughter. I picked up another cone and place two scoops of ice cream on top. As I finish ringing up the previous customer, I brace myself when another patron reaches the register.

I say her name "Nina" in a quiet voice. She calls out "Emerson" in a sweetened voice which always feels forced to me.

I explained her total debt while taking note of her scant clothing. The top she wore was so low-cut it was the lowest I had ever seen paired with jean shorts that seemed bound to cause a wedgie.

Her bra hung completely outside her body just like her breasts. I already mentioned that they gave him their full attention.

I sighed with relief when she left. I glanced at the clock and frowned because I still had another hour ahead.

Kill me now.

My wishes were not fulfilled yet I managed to endure the terrible sixty minutes. The job was amazing; however, every night wouldn't match this experience.

The experience was draining because I endured the piercing shrieks of some girls which felt like scratching my ear drums.

Their giggling wasn't much better.

But now it's Saturday. And it's game day.

The sound of the front door slamming shut was what brought me out of sleep. I settled back onto my pillow thinking El and Ty had just departed.

Since the game started at two it meant that the current time was likely twelve.

The realization brought an audible groan from me before I pushed my head back and began to get out of bed.

I sleep too much sometimes.

When I go downstairs to the kitchen space, I spot my parents who appear neatly prepared. They are fully dressed for the day and prepared to leave with their morning responsibilities completed.

Me, I'm nowhere close to that. I enter the kitchen with my hair in a messy ponytail and pajamas while feeling hungry.

"Morning, sweetie." my mom says, sipping her coffee.

"Morning, Mom," I say with a yawn.

I move into the pantry and take a box of cereal from the top shelf to grab it. I fill a bowl with cereal and find a spot to sit at the counter.

"So, when are we leaving?" I ask in between bites. My dad looked up at his phone. "One-thirty. Do you want to drive?" he asks with a smirk. I smile. "Of course. I'll be extra careful."

I spent most of my time in my room during mornings which were quiet as usual before we left. When I arrived at school for the day my parking spot turned out to be way down the line.

The game attracted a large crowd, and I noticed schoolmates who were leaving their cars to walk toward the field.

There were no available spaces in the stands except for those at the top. The game lacked the intensity of an in-season match yet provided sufficient experience for the season's conclusion.

The game kicked off right after we arrived while Hazel and Kylie arrived shortly after. We walked away from my parents whom I adored to stay with my friends instead.

During the first half I felt sorry for the opposing team. They showed promise but our team performed at a superior level.

I understand that this may come across as arrogant, yet it reflects reality.

The scoreboard showed 35-14 as the third quarter concluded. No additional points were scored by either team for the remainder of the game. We won 49-28.

The stands erupted with hoots and hollers while loud applause and cheers sounded throughout.

When I asked to speak with some players my parents allowed me to reach the ground.

The parents consented and walked away to chat with the other parents.

Their constant talking gives me extra time in many situations, so I appreciate their inability to stop speaking.

Both teams took their positions at the field ends while the opposing team said goodbye from the bus before driving off. Even though our team members scattered they all approached us. The situation seemed normal to me while we stood on the track yet not a single person broke away from the group as they approached.

The approaching group looked like a massive mob heading towards us and I'll admit I would be terrified if I didn't recognize each and every one of them. It wasn't very comforting.

Elijah led his group forward and I attempted to understand the reason behind their actions.

As I looked toward Kylie and Hazel they appeared to share my confusion. The moment I saw Elijah's wide smile I realized what everyone was planning.

The crowd parted to display Felix, JAMIE, Camden, Jaxon, and Tristan who stood together holding letters that spelled PROM? Nolan received an extra question mark to be included in the end which resulted in a humorous inclusion.

I turned my gaze to Kylie who was frozen in astonishment. She hadn't said a word yet.

"So?" Elijah asked her.

Another moment of silence.

Felix insisted loudly that her answer should be yes. The room erupted in laughter, yet everyone paused their breath to await Kylie's response. I informed you not to invite such many people. She hid her face with her hands as parents and children gathered around them.

"That's not the answer I'm looking for." Elijah subjected her to pressure until she delivered the answer he wanted.

She slowly uncovered her face from beneath her hands. "I hate you, but yes." she smiled.

"Yeah, you know you love me." The assumption made by Elijah causes Kylie to display a broader smile on her face.

As they move toward one another to share a kiss my face transforms into a joyful smile.

God, they are adorable. I love both, yet I admire their relationship. My introduction to Kylie came about when El showed interest in the new girl during my sophomore year.

After two years their status as our grade's It Couple is undisputed. No matter how much Kylie tries to refute it they remain the recognized Couple and stand as the only healthy relationship in our grade right now.

This situation leaves space for another couple to emerge as Hazel and Felix start to show interest in each other.

But I can't rush that. Eventually this will take place because time will bring about.

The whole team erupts in celebratory jumps and actions as though they've just claimed another championship victory. The moment only lasted several seconds yet gave me immense pleasure.

Hazel and I managed to distinguish the Couple from the mass of people to capture their photograph. I posted it immediately.

Kylie received a hug from me while I attempted a fist bump at El and he hugged me instead. "Ok, ok, you're sweaty!" As he presses on me, I plead about my sweat.

He quickly let’s go and joins me in laughter.

I clean off my chest but refuse to smell my skin. I approach the other guys and recognize their sweatiness from the smell that isn't offensive. I accept Tristan's refusal of my fist bump and move on.

Camden became the next person to be hugged. The first time I met Camden was during our fourth-grade year. Reflecting back, I realize that his name became subject to groundless rumours.

Everyone thought Camden stood for Camden or Camden but showed up as Camden himself.

Our friendship began as soon as El extended an invitation to him.

JAMIE has always been around. El played flag football with him during elementary school but they became closer friends in sixth grade because he attended another school.

When Felix gave them hugs, he interpreted their response as permission to hug them back. "So, we're all getting hugs?"

"I guess." I shrug.

After giving him a brief hug I backed away. My smell must have been awful, but I was likely the only person who noticed this problem. The rest of the group received affection from both Hazel and Kylie.

Every one of us expressed happiness after our victory. "I have some good news guys." JAMIE announced that their dad gave permission to take the boat out next weekend. he announces.

I gasp. "Yes! Finally!"

I loved that boat. The boat became our essential Savannah destination where our friend group held their secret gatherings.

Most weekends we spend our time either on the water or at the beach.

I am so ready for Savannah.

All of us decided to gather at our chosen spot next weekend. Our house was chosen as tonight's gathering location after El and I suggested which everyone accepted.

I went to tell my parents about El and my plans but then I saw someone who vanished right after the proposal made.

"Rowan." I address him by his last name.

The sunlight reflected off his face while he remained seated on the bench. "Yeah?" He removed his wristband from his wrist and put it down next to him.

"Where'd you go?" I ask.

I felt obligated to speak with several individuals. he responds. I wanted to know if you planned to come over to our house later since everyone else is already here.

"Is your mom making pasta?" he asks with a smile. "I can ask her." "Good. He lifts his jersey to show his padded torso and belt and states, "I'll likely arrive late but I'll definitely make it." Although I couldn't care, I asked, "Why?"

He stops loosening the belt and looks up with an intense stare. "Because I have...stuff to take care of, Em."

He halts his belt loosening and fixes me with an intense stare. Em, there are things I need to attend to. The small pull of his lips revealed he was heading towards another direction. I responded with my most indifferent answer to block out his thoughts.

"Ok." I shrug and turn around.

His voice calls out behind me "Hold on."

I briefly smile but conceal my expression before facing him. "What?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?" He asks me a question while his hand directs attention to the scoreboard. After reviewing the score again, I grasp his meaning. I refuse to give him such a simple victory.

"What do you want? A big 'ol congratulations?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I'm waiting," he smirks. I approach him while he remains seated on the bench. "You did a decent job." He chuckles and pulls his shoulder padding over his head. I performed much better than just decent according to both of us. I shrug. "Debatable."

He rises to stand with just the lower part of his jersey and his compression shirt covering him. "Debatable, how?" he asks.

I honestly did not know so I shrugged once more. "I've seen better."

"See better where?" he asks quickly, stepping towards me. "At another game." I will give him a short reply.

"Which one?"

"Crestwood." I smile as his face drops. Although you lost to them you cannot deny that quarterback really stands out.

He gets into a bad mood whenever someone brings up the loss. Crestwood stands as our primary competitor whom we defeated during the season. "What's his name again? Bennett—something Bennett." I continue.

"No one of importance, Bennett." He interrupts my flow, and I find myself laughing silently. "Oh c'mon, I just wanna know." I push him. He rolls his eyes and his frown gets more pronounced.

"Don't be such a baby." I laugh, reaching his face. "Turn that frown upside down, grumpy. You won today." My fingers pull at his mouth corners to create a fake smile before he walks away.

"You're annoying," he mutters.

"And you're any better?" I raised a brow at him.

He started to answer but had to stop when his name was called. "Rowan!"

The voice makes us both look toward the source. Nina appeared together with one of her friends.

They waved at him while completely ignoring my presence. He waved at them while giving his trademark charming smile.

I roll my eyes at the sight. He looks at me again and his face shows clear annoyance. Sighing, he rolls his eyes.

I laugh. Will you handle that task later?

"Nina, no," he answers. The pause in his speech occurs after he says "But her friend" as I glare up at him.

I knew for sure he would arrive late to that meeting. Seeing the conquest in person took me by surprise before it occurred.

"But her friend..." I repeat his response.

"I'll see." he shrugs without care.

I let out a breathy laugh and shook my head as he walked off. Oh, brother.