Saturday, September 25
The splatter of the eggs and bacon was the only sound in the kitchen at that very moment. Neither of us could say anything. What would be appropriate to say?
“Is that what you and Skyler were talking about the other day?” I finally asked quietly.
Paul stiffened. “So you heard us?” he asked, turning to look at me. There was a pause, and then I nodded. “You, Jack and I were best friends in preschool and kindergarten. I moved across town and never saw you again until middle school. You had already forgotten about me and Jack, so I just moved on as well. The past six years Jack and I walked the same halls as you and you never even noticed us.” Paul went over to get plates for breakfast, and I just stared at the pictures. “It’s in the past now, so don’t worry. We’ve got less than a year left of school and then we’ll be off to college.”
Paul brought two plates over and I closed the album. I didn’t say anything as we ate our breakfast. The bacon was nice and crispy, and the egg yolk went well with the toast. I could feel Paul glancing at me every ten seconds, and I couldn’t blame him. There were so many thoughts and questions in my head, I didn’t know what to ask first. After we finished eating, I helped Paul clean the dishes. We both stayed in the awkward silence.
“How long are you staying here?” Paul asked as we headed back up to his room.
“I was thinking all day,” I started, “but now I think I’m going home to think.” I went over to the bedside table and checked my phone.
Four missed calls and nine messages from Skyler.
Just then my phone started buzzing and I quickly clicked the answer button.
“Oh so now you answer?” Skyler asked. I felt like I could feel her anger through the phone. “Travis arrived in your car, and he has no clue what the hell your doing so I got a little worried. After he said you were with Paul, I relaxed a bit. When you didn’t call or text, though, that’s when Mom and I started to worry.”
I cursed. Mom always had every other Friday off. I totally forgot.
“I’m sorry,” I said to her. “I was just tired from the game, and fell asleep as soon as I lay down. I’ll be home soon, so please don’t worry.”
“Ok, but I’m not protecting you from Mom’s wrath.”
A shiver went down my spine as I remembered how angry Mom could get. “Thanks for letting me know.” I hung up, and then went to messages to text Travis. He already texted me that he was on his way to pick me up.
“Thanks for breakfast,” I told Paul, walking towards his bedroom door.
“You owe me now,” Paul said, pointing his finger at me. “You slept over my house uninvited, and I made you breakfast. I feel like letting you off the hook today since you did a good job in yesterdays game, but just remember you owe me.”
“Sounds fair,” I smiled at him.
I left his room, walking downstairs and finding my shoes in the mudroom. I saw Travis carefully and slowly pull into the driveway and left Paul’s house.
“Ok you can’t just do that to me, man!” Travis exclaimed, getting out of the drivers seat. “I was totally freaking out!”
“Don’t be such a child,” I said, buckling the seat belt. “You were fine.” I drove out of Paul’s driveway and headed down the main street towards Travis’s house. “In fact, how about you drive yourself to tonight’s club practice?”
“What!?” Travis gave me a bewildered look. “That’s all the way-”
“Don’t think you can handle it?” I taunted. Travis hesitated, thinking.
I pulled onto Travis’s street and went all the way to the end of the street where the last house was. Travis lived in a nice two story house with him and his parents. We said our goodbyes and I started driving home. It was a warm Saturday and Mom was home, so as I was pulling into the driveway, I saw her and Skyler in the front yard doing doing yard work. When I got out of the car, Mom had her hands on her hips and a frown on her face.
“I know what you’re going to say,” I sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t contact you last night, and I’m sorry I didn’t show up to the party I was supposed to host.”
“Your friends are much more responsible than you, Alex,” Mom responded, still looking upset. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t show up to the first party of your senior year.”
“Again, I’m sorry.”
“Today you will help clean the yard until your practice this afternoon.”
“Fine.” After heading upstairs and putting my soccer bag and backpack on the ground, I took a quick shower and change clothes. I was probably going to be stuck outside all day so I chose a grey T-shirt and shorts. Mom loved gardening, and she did it every time she didn’t have work.
The morning went by with me, Skyler and Mom fixing up the plants in the front yard. We trimmed the bushes and pulled the weeds. I mowed the lawn, hoping it would the the last time I would need to until next spring. Skyler and I raked the leaves in the back yard, and Mom made us turkey sandwiches for lunch. I was a little grateful that I was working all day. I didn’t have to think about Paul or anything else about that subject at all.
I had club soccer practice later in the evening from 5 to 7 with Declan, Travis and Charlie. We’d been doing the club every Saturday night since freshmen year. In the winter and spring, it was Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and in the summer it was every weekday. For the four of us who loved soccer with our entire mind, body and soul, it was perfect.
“-ex. Alex. Alex!” I looked to my side where Skyler was standing. “You’ve been staring at that patch of grass for the past five minutes. Are you alright? Do you want to take a break?”
“I’m fine,” I answered. “I just got lost in thought.”
“About what?”
“Nothing that concerns you.” I walked away, and heard her whine loudly.
By late afternoon, both the front and back yards were taken care of. I went inside, plopping down at the table while Skyler went to get a snack for the two of us. Mom was putting the gardening equipment back in the shed.
“Should I make dinner tonight?” Skyler suggested, tossing me a can of Sprite and a granola bar. “Mom’s been working all day, and she made lunch for us.”
“Make mac n’ cheese,” I said, finishing the granola bar in three bites. I got up to get another, and Skyler grumbled some complaints. I knew she would end up doing it, so I didn’t bother making any comments about her complaining.
I went up to my room to relax a bit, and remembered how messy it was. There were clothes thrown on the floor, and papers and books scattered around my desk and bookcase. After taking my school soccer uniform out of my soccer bag, I picked up the dirty clothes all over my floor and put them in my laundry basket in the corner of my closet. My club soccer jacket fit perfectly over a T-shirt and shorts.
As I went over to my desk, I opened my backpack to check what I had to do for weekend homework. I had some Calculus and Chemistry, and my part of the French project was due on Monday. I had it mostly figured out, but I would have to check with Travis tonight. With a sigh, I sat at my desk, starting my Chemistry homework.
“Alex! Wake up!”
I sat up, frantically looking around. I fell asleep doing my Calculus homework, and I looked at Mom.
“What time is it?” I asked, looking at the clock on my desk. It was almost 4:30. “Ahh! I’m gonna be late!!”
“Did you eat anything?” Mom asked as I hurriedly changed into the uniform. I grabbed my soccer bag and flew out of my room and down the stairs. Skyler was in the kitchen, adding cheese into a pan. She saw me panicking, and sighed.
“Did you fall asleep?” she asked and I glared at her. “You didn’t set an alarm, did you?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I groaned. “I’m a stupid idiot who’s going to be late.”
“Drive safely,” Mom said. “Please don’t get yourself killed.” I gave her a kiss on the forehead before hurrying out of the house. As soon as the car was on and I was buckled, I was on my way to club practice without breaking the speed limit.
It was 4:56 PM when I arrived at the indoor facility. I saw Travis, Declan and Charlie all warming up. Declan just laughed at me when I hurried over to the bench.
“Mr. Tardy over there was the last to arrive,” the coach said, making me look at the taller man. “Five punishment sprints around the field.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, tying my cleats. I stretched my arms and legs, going to do my punishment running. This was my first time running as a punishment. I was usually early to any practice, but I guess I was tired for some reason. Declan was the captain for club, and Charlie was the vice-captain.
As I finished my last sprint, Declan started the warm up passing drills. After the passing drills, we did a few sprints and then gathered around Coach to get practice started.
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