Catching Fireflies

Eighteen

C

"Aren't you supposed to be having practices before the camping trip?" Monday rolled around which meant it was right back to school and leaving the weekend behind. I hadn't slept much since that night with Ashley but there was nothing new there. Maria was having trouble keeping me awake though.

"Coach decided to wait till after since it was becoming a pain to get everyone to get to practice." I yawned for what seemed like the thousandth time and rubbed my eyes in hopes to be able to keep them open.

"That's odd, even for him," Maria mumbled and I nodded in reply too tired to really have a conversation about what's off about Coach and why he postponed practices. I didn't think about it too hard.

"I'm sure we will find out when we get there. I have to get to the office now." Maria and I separated while she went to her class and I went to the front office and sat in my regular corner until I was given something to do. I was too sleepy to draw and not entirely awake to study either. The secretary didn't have anything for me so I opted for naptime.

A part of me hoped to see Ashley in the office that day but he ditched then too. I figured for a while that I was apart of the reason as to why he did and that I was avoiding him, but considering we shared a kiss on top of my balcony the other day, I would think that maybe he'd show up for once. But he didn't and I was alone in my corner hoping that he would eventually walk through the door and take a seat next to me.

I had missed his company so much.

I tried to doze off and rest my eyes but I could never actually sleep no matter how tired I was. I left the sweatshirt that Ashley gave me at home and I wished I brought it with me to school. It was best that I had left it though.

School went by in a low blur. I somehow made the drive back home with no memory of even driving the way back but I found myself parked in my driveway anyway. I wasn't as tired as I was when I first woke up that morning but I still made myself a cup of coffee anyway.

"Dinner is almost ready, don't eat too many sweets." Mom said as I snuck a cookie passed her. I cursed under my breath. She wasn't supposed to see that.

"It's just a quick snack don't worry," I muttered and ate my cookie along with my coffee. Mom rolled her eyes as I walked back to my room. I closed my bedroom door behind me and set my coffee on my desk. I spotted Ashley's sweatshirt on my bed and was about to put it on when I saw Maria's name pop up on my phone screen.

It was a text from her saying she was going to come over for a little while before she spends the night at Isaacs. Again.

It's like they're obsessed with each other.

I replied back saying the front door was unlocked and I found her walking into my bedroom minutes later. I was sitting at my desk hunched over my sketchbook and she scanned my room briefly before sitting down on my bed.

"What brings you over?" I asked as I closed my sketchbook and swung around in my desk chair. Maria was playing with one of my pillows that moved onto her lap.

"I hardly ever come over anymore, thought I'd come over and steal some dinner." She grinned and we both laughed.

"It's not my fault your always hiding at Isaac's." I laughed and she giggled quietly. Something flickered there, something I almost didn't catch, but I did. It was a weird feeling that lingered in the air for a brief moment. I saw her facial expression twitch and falter before they went right back to normal.

"He makes me happy," She said with a soft smile.

The smile was familiar. In a way that I saw myself in it whenever I lied. I looked at her again, but that time her expression seemed real.