Dusting Off A Heart

Chapter 11

The kids were swarming in the hall like usual. But something is not usual today. Every pair of eyes were trained on Lauren.

Or more likely, to the person beside her.

"Have my head grown into two?" asked the floppy haired kid beside her.

She sighed. "No, it's just rare that the king walks with some kind of a trash."

Cote furrowed his eyebrows, making wrinkles on his forehead. "What do you mean by that remark?"
Lauren was about to open her mouth to explain it to him, sometimes the smartest person in class is not that smart outside the class.

But it seems like Cote understands what she meant because he cut her right off.

"You can't mark yourself as a trash." His face softened after, "You're much more than that."

Lauren looked up to see Cote's smiling face. How she wonders, a person as sweet as Cote can be a good friend to someone's as unpleasant as Dane.

His smile do infectious, seeing that Lauren is also smiling. Although it's a small one.

She rolls her eyes and returns her gaze to the exit door. "I suppose I should say thanks"

"Yeah, well that's what most people would say...

But I guess, you're not most people."

~'~

Sweat trickled from his temple as the hot sun shone brightly above his head, for he is now running his 32nd lap during his soccer warm-up.

"Come on suckers! I've reached 32!" he shouted on top of his lung as the rest of the team were panting behind him.

"How-can-you-be-so-fast-", pant Jaden as his shirt was drenched by the too much amount of sweat. His dark-skin was glistening with sweat and the shine of the sun.

Dane stopped in his track and turned to face Jaden and the rest of his team. He puts his index finger on his chin, pretending to think.

"Umm...working out every day might help." He said smugly.

"Oh! And chatting up with Cindy Bryant might also help..." Dane said innocently as he glances towards his friend.

"Don't you dare talking to Cindy."

"Why? Jealous?" Dane shot one of his eyebrows up, challenging the pissed off Jaden.

Jaden avoid his friend's challenge and looked the other way. "One day, when you are finally jealous of someone, tears will well up in my eyes, as I am laughing my ass off."

Dane replied his friend with a chuckle. "Oh boy, bad news for you Jaden, because I, Dane Steiner, will never, ever, ever, get jealous of someone." Dane replied with laughter on his tone.

"We'll see..." said Jaden while he smirks at the ever arrogant Dane.

~'~

The-ever-arrogant Dane ran a few more laps with his team mate and went on to the soccer match simulation. It was team Dane versus team Jaden. They were running around chasing down the ball, and team Dane was, obviously, winning.

Jaden was exhausted and tired, yet the team captain himself were smiling ear to ear. He had enough of this turd's arrogance. Not letting himself to be mocked anymore.

He flew his view outside the field, and saw two figures chatting joyfully and intensively, holding books in their hands as they were walking towards a black car.

He realized who the figures are, and an idea flashes his mind.

"Yo, Cote!" he screamed on the top of his lung, causing the team players and the two figures turned to him. "Having a date with Lauren Snow, I see!" he screamed as he glances to Dane's direction.

Jaden felt very satisfied as he saw in his peripheral vision, that Dane's body stiffen, as his palm are balled into a fist, but he facades his true feeling by looking not bothered. His eyes on the two figures and his chin held up high.

"Study date!" Cote replied Jaden with laughter lingered on his voice. His eyes were averted to Dane for a moment, also wanting to know how his friend will react towards the mocking from Jaden.

Cote turned back towards his car, and marching away with the confused-but-not-bothered Lauren.

~'~

"Practice's over early." Said Dane as he gulped the content of his bottle. Few of his teammates turned their faces towards the captain. It's not usual that the person who keeps on pushing you around to practice harder, suddenly announcing that you will, finally, catch your favorite tv show due to going home early.

"Wait, what did you say?" asked Jaden as if he was presenting the whole team's confusion.

"I said," he puts his bottle down, "We're going home early." His voice was stern and commanding.

Jaden is more welled up in confusion. "Why?"

"Because, we had enough. That why."

"Had enough? Of practice?"

He ran his hand through his hair. "Of cucumbers. Of course it's practice, dumb-ass."

"Since when you had enough of practice?", Jaden said as he crossed his arms on his chest.

Dane replied with a huff. "Since the downfall of my math's grades."

"You care about your grades?"

"Of course I do, prick. I want to graduate."

"Are you sure it's about your math grades?" asked the kid with too much eyebrows.

Dane rolled his eyes, "I'm sure!"

Jaden narrowed his eyes. "Okay...", he said it although he didn't believe a word that Dane said.

"Okay then, let's go home." The caramel haired kid said as he picked up his duffel from the bench.

"Home?" Jaden asked with his signature smirk. "Since today is the day that the dictator decides we go home early, I think I want to celebrate it."

The remark were replied by excited shouts and approval shouts from the other team members.

"How about La Pazza's Pizza, guys?" Jaden turned to see approvals from the others.

Dane tried to calm his anger. And fortunately, he succeeds. "Well, drive me home first, Turner." He said as he towered over Jaden.

"Sorry to break it down to you, Steiner." Jaden plastered his innocent face. "But we're using my car, so I decide where we are going."

Dane looked away, trying to extinguish his anger.

Come on, Dane. You love celebration. Why not now?, a voice in his head said.

Yeah, why he doesn't love celebration and party as much as he used to, now?

Dane sighed in defeat as he rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. Let's go."

And that remark was replied by excitement shouts as they're heading towards the pizzeria.

The place where Lauren and Cote are studying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Me got no chocolate but I got a cheese snack as big as Jupiter (thanks to my moom). I'm sorry for not updating last week and the week before that. School is my top priority and things get tough. So here it is! Thank you SO SO MUCH for voting or even a simple comment demanding me to update :P

The song's name is Black is The Color of My True Love's Hair by Nina Simone. I like it very much and it kind of fits the situation *wiggles eyebrows*.

Remember! You're awesome and there's nothing you can do about it C: /hugs/

-Deedooweeedoowee *transform into a TARDIS*

(don't mind my absurdity)