The Underground Kids

The Football Game

"Jess we have to hurry up. Its already 6:55 we're gonna be late. I dont want them thinking we stood them up."

Me and Jess were in the car driving to the football game that we were gonna met up with Leroy and Vinnie.

"Jas calm down, they're not gonna think that. They know we're coming."

"But how? They dont have our phone numbers." I said worryingly.

"Well lets hope they dont get them." Jessica whispers to herself.

"What?"

Jessica sighs. "Nothing." She continues to drive.

We pull up to the football game and see that there are no parking spots open.

"Crap." jessica munbles.

"Just park in the back of the school."

"We cant. They blocked it off."

"Well where the hell are we gonna park?"

"Don't worry i have an idea."

Jessica turns the car around and starts parking in the grass next to the football field.

"Jessica is this even legal?"

"I dont know. But you know what? Life is full of spontaneous events and trying new things. Whats one more?" She says.

She puts the car in park and proceeds to get out. I shake my head as i follow. We walk through the gate of the football game and see Leroy and Vinnie standing by the Concession stand. I smile as i see Leroy and begin to walk towards them.

"There they are. I was starting to think you guys stood us up." Vinnie says.

"Nah i could never stand you guys up." I said looking at Leroy.

He looked at me and let out a soft laugh and put his head down.

"So what are we waiting for guys? Lets go watch the game." Jessica insisted.

We all followed behind and made it to the bleachers.

   It was almost half time and none of us were really paying attention to the game. We were all just getting to know each other. Jessica and Vinnie were hitting it off and me and Leroy were connecting. We shared a few laughs, a couple of jokes, and even shared a popcorn.

"So how come you dont claim Shred?" I asked.

He shook his head.
" i just don't believe i need to be categorized"

"But your okay with being called a skater? im confused."

" Ight so look. Im okay with being called a skater because its something i do. Its something i enjoy doing and its apart of me. Shred is different. Its a clique. That clique defines who you are based from what the entire school views Shred as. So if people see Shred as some low life losers, then they have that glued to them as a group. Im an individual. I dont need to be apart of a group or a clique to find my belonging. My belonging is with myself."

   Hearing him explain his sense of loneliness really got me to see him in a different light. He stayed to himself. He wasnt into groups or cliques or big gatherings like parties or football games. He was chill and i liked it.

As i was engaging with him, the referee blows his whistle and calls halftime. I look towards the score board and underneath it was a big stage. There were instruments on it and big stage lights. It was all for Luke & his band. I was having so much fun with Leroy, I forgot that Luke was performing. I saw him and his bandmates getting on stage getting ready to perform. Luke steps to the mic.