Over the weekend he texted me once. Nothing really interesting, just what I was doing. I replied and asked him the same thing. The conservation ended after that.

It’s Homecoming week and everyone is dressing up for the week. Today is pajama day. You couldn’t pay me to wear pajamas. I don’t think I’ve even had any since I was five. I normally just sleep in my underwear or sometimes a shirt too.

Marco picks me up and we talk about him and Kayle. During the first period I didn't see Matthew. He sits in the back and I’m all the way in the front. So I didn’t find anything weird about not seeing him. While in World Mythology he avoids looking at me. During the whole class he looked down at his desk or at the teacher. He didn’t even talk to Troy or Kayle. Felt off because he’s always getting in trouble for talking during the 2nd period. 

While sitting with Troy in our 3rd period we don’t talk. He had his headphones in and was playing a game on his phone so I didn’t bother him. I put my bag on the table so I could lay on it so that my face didn’t touch the tables.While I was daydreaming I hear two girls sitting behind us talking about Matthew asking someone to go to prom with him in the morning before school started and how they were mad it wasn’t them. That’s why he was avoiding me! He probably thought I knew and would say something to him. 

The rest of my two periods are normal. While walking to lunch I was trying to decide if I should sit at my table or go to the girls table. I didn’t want to eat and feel out of place the whole time. I decided to go and sit with the girls. After I throw away my plate and come back to Monica telling the group how Matthew asked her to go to Homecoming with him. I felt my face go red even though I couldn't see if it had. I could just feel my face heating up with nervousness. One of my friends is going to be my sneaky links date. It’s not that I feel guilty for hooking up with him per say. Technically I was hooking up with him first so I didn’t break any code. But it’s still something I wouldn’t like to be doing and would have to stop. And it’s not like I could tell her either that would be wrong to out Matthew. I know they weren’t dating when we hooked up but he might have been talking to her. 

On Tuesday, he texted me in the morning. I guess after not saying anything on Monday he thought it was cool. I would reply too because he’s single but then again Monica is my friend. So I ignore it. On Wednesday he tries to fidget with my pencil and Chromebook the whole class. Pushing my screen down a little after I put it up. I don’t pay attention and keep ignoring him. For lunch I go back to how things were before, just talking to Mark,Troy and Chris. Marco of course but that should just be obvious. 

In our Foods class 6th period we’re cooking now. We’re making chocolate chip cookies. We get our bowls ready and all start to pour the ingredients in them when Troy grabs the milk. It was the last thing we needed. Matthew notices and tells them that I don’t drink milk. It surprised me. I kept a blank face so as not to show it. The teacher overhead the same for the rest of the class. She stepped over to ask me. I told her that It’s true that I don’t drink milk but that it was fine and I just wouldn’t eat. She asks me why I didn’t tell her before. I replied just telling her I choose not to but that it’s not that I’m allergic or anything. She then tells me she’s going to try and look to see if she has another type of dairy free milk. I stop her before she leaves telling her not to bother because I don’t like chocolate either. Yeah I know. I shouldn't be a picky eater. I promise I’m not. 

We got back making them and put them in the Fridge when we were done. We will be cooking them tomorrow. Stephine asked Mattew how he knew that I didn’t drink milk. That she didn’t even remember. 

“Oh umm at lunch he doesn’t drink the milk and I asked him why once.” 

I guess I wasn’t the only one that was good at lying on the spot. Then again I didn’t know if that was a lie it could have happened or he could just see I didn’t drink my milk. 

“Oh yeah.” Troy blurted.” You don’t drink the milk you give it to Marco or one of us.” 

The next day Mattew tries to mess around again. When walking to my 1st hour. He comes up and walks with me but I had my headphones in. After that in our 2nd period he grabs my foot with his feet. It was kinda not that different than any other day because he’s so tall his legs go all the way to my side anyway. He then takes my phone and takes pictures on it of himself then Kayle and himself. During Foods we put the cookies in the oven and start to make some cream type of topping we can pop on the cookies if we want. He tries to put some on my face and the teacher yells at him. I don’t know how he thought she wouldn’t see him like he doesn’t stick out of the crowd. 

Thursday passed and I think he got the memo that I wasn’t going to talk to him like that anymore.I hadn’t replied to any of his texts this week. Friday was the same thing he stopped trying to get my attention. It was our last game today being a home game for Homecoming. At the end of the day there was a mandatory pep rally. I didn’t leave after 6th period like my friends so I was stuck having to go because once they let us leave the classrooms teachers and staff all blocked the exits to leave. 

I make my way with all the other students. They start calling out pods to go so it isn’t a struggle to get to the gymnasium. Once I get inside I go to the section for the seniors. I sit three rows up with Marco and Kayle waiting for everyone else to arrive. Once everyone settles down all the cheerleaders leave to do your prep rally stuff doing their routines and cheers to hype everyone up. They make Marco give a speech because he’s the quarterback and after they all play some games going against the grades. Mostly everyone around me was now on the basketball count. Either because they were cheerleaders or participating in the games. 

First was a pie eating contest. Our grade chose Mathew. Once the person from every grade lined up they put the pies in front of them and rang the horn. All four contestants started going crazy. Mathew and the juniors finished so close it was hard to tell. Mathew's face was covered in the fake pie that was just whip cream. He still looked handsome even with his face covered in food. He started liking it off and they gave him a towel to clean it off. 

They decided to let the students decide who wins so whoever got the most cheers and claps would win. It honestly wasn't fair because A. They kinda always let the seniors win because it’s out last year. B. Mathew is liked by a lot of people and was really popular. Mathew is the type of guy you would be nervous to talk to because of how he looks you would think he would be stuck up, rude, cocky or judgemental. But in reality he was nice once you talked to him. He was very confident so it could be intimidating but he talked to anyone who would talk to him didn’t matter who they were.

Mathew ends up winning and they go to the next game. Being a relay race. Our class wins again. The last game was a four way volleyball game with a huge ball. It’s lighter than you would think but heavier than a beach ball for sure. Probably 5-6 pounds. Every grade but the seniors were allowed to pick any teacher to help them. The game starts our grade having picked all varsity  athletes from football, basketball and volleyball. They start it off with the freshmen having the ball. They mess up by hitting it to our side. They put Mathew up front on the net and he doesn’t even have to jump to stop the ball. He blocks it over and over and over again. He ends up getting tired and just spikes it down. This is how the game pretty much went after that. The team would get the ball if it ever got over to our side and Mathew would spike it down on the other grades with the help of a girls of variety volleyball team lining it up.

We win again and they announce the couples for homecoming king and queen for each grade. They start with freshmen making their way up to the seniors. Marco and Kayle are one of the couples. The second couple is Troy and Hannah. The last couple is Mathew and Tori. After that we all get dismissed and leave.

I decided to go to the game, it being my last one ever. It was school spirit so most of the girls wear school colors and some type of crop top or tied shirt to show their stomach and the guys wear school tee or shirtless. I decided I wanted to be scandalous and not wear a shirt. I wasn’t  ripped or anything. I have some muscle enough to look masculine but also feminine. I would say I have toned arms, pecs and abs.

Honestly as soon as I was there I regretted it. It was cold and I got cold quickly. I put on Troy's sweater that Tori threw me from the track. She and the other girls were on the cheerleading team. Stephine and Nina were too before they quit because they were going to get drug tested. So it’s just Kayle, her friends from the group and Tori. 

The game ends. We won! Surprisingly.I asked Stephanie  and Nina if they wanted to go to Troy's kick back because he was going to be having a bonfire. They say no because they didn’t want to deal with Angelica or Hannah. Troy is a huge flirt and would probably end up flirting with them starting something. I tell them ok and that I’ll just give him his sweater. I run to Troy before they go into the locker rooms to change. When I’m taking it off I can see Mattew looking at as he’s walking up being one of the last one off the field. He scored the winning touchdown. Troy’s the running back but sometimes Mathew runs it too. Being huge,he’s hard to stop and also fast but I don't really know anything about the positions he technically plays. 

Troy grabs it, wiping the sweat off his face. 

“Are you coming?”

“No,Stephanie and Nina don't want to. They're waiting for me in the car.”

“Just drop them off and come. Or I’ll pick you up when I’m done here.”

 He’s not giving up on getting me to go. Troy is the type of guy that just makes you happy when he’s there because he’s always happy. He can tell I’m going to say yes so he starts to jog inside. 

“I’ll pick you up in 15 then!” He yells from the door.

*******

Troy picks me up and we get there before the rest. I’m guessing they went home to shower first. The girls get there after us and Troy goes to shower and we set up the fire. Marco’s friends are cool and all but we’re just cool. It’s not like I don’t have fun with them, I just have more fun with my friends. But I also like hanging out with Troy and Tori as well. And sometimes Chris and Mark when they join. 

It starts to hit around midnight and the girls leave. Tori heads to her room not wanting to deal with six guys. Troy told me to tell him when I wanted to go home so I kinda just nudged him to tell him. He gets the clue and we stand up. 

“Ima take Alexis home you guys can stay here or go inside.

They all just nod. They were all sleeping over because the group was going to go to Homecoming together. I didn’t stay because I was going with Nina and them. He takes me home and now we wait for tomorrow.