The Player Game

Chapter Six

I was sitting at my usual table at lunch when Ashley ran up to me extending a pink envelope, with a big grin on her face.

“What’s this” I asked

“You’re invited to my birthday” She answered, still with a grin on her face.

“Isn’t that like still a while away?”

“It’s next week silly.”

“Oh”

“So you’re coming?”  She asked

“Of course, how could I miss your birthday Ash. Who else are you inviting?” I asked gesturing towards the stack of pink envelopes in her hands. “It looks like there is enough for the whole school”

She laughed. “Not the whole school jus-”

She was interrupted by her boyfriend Nathan, who placed a big smooch on her cheek.

“Hey love” He said.

I rolled my eyes. I bet the only reason he called her love is because she’s British. But they were also unlike any other couple in school. They hardly ever did any PDA. Sometimes it didn’t even seem like they were dating.

“Hey Bailey” He greeted me.

I nodded my hello.

I noticed Liam coming over from the corner of my eye.

“Hey dude, there’s a emergency football meeting after school today” Liam said as he was coming up to Nathan.

“Oh, here Liam, you're invited to my birthday party” Ashley said, holding out a pink envelope.

“Cool, when is it?” He asked examining the envelope.

“November 24th, its on Saturday” She said.

His face instantly fell.

“Dude, isn’t that like the day of the funeral?” Nathan asked.

“What funeral?” I asked instantly

No one answered my question.

“Sorry Ash, I don’t think I can make it” He said.

Her face fell in disappointment. “Oh well, that’s alright, I guess I’ll go hand the rest of these out” She and Nathan walked away leaving Liam and I alone.

“So...” I started awkwardly as Liam took a seat next to me.

“What’s up?” he asked, stealing a french fry off my try.

“Did a family member pass?”

“Kind of.” he answered looking up at me. He seemed to be studying me. “You’re looking at me like I killed someone, is something up?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. I was dying to ask him who Sarah was. Or who that guy that he punched as, and why he punched him. Just ask Bailey. I kept repeating to myself. He was giving me a puzzled look.

“Who’s Sarah?” It came out before I could stop it.

His eyes widened. “How do you kn-? Who told y-? She’s a umm, old friend.” He kept stuttering.

“Oh, it’s just that the guy at the movies, the one that you, umm punched. He just-”

“Landon?” I could tell he was angry. Liam look like he wanted to punch someone.

“I don’t know his name.” I reply, almost in a whisper.

“What did he say?”

“He asked me if I know about Sarah.”