A Year Away

Chapter 4

It's been over a week since Erik and I's argument and my night time breakdown. The two of us make polite conversation while at home, but besides that don't talk. He still shows up after my classes to make sure I get to my next period okay- he tries to be discreet, but he's hard to miss. He hasn't tried to talk about what happened that night, though, and I'm thankful for that.

I'd tried out for the exy team and found out on Thursday I'd made the team. I'm one of three of the team's backliners. We had practices every day for two hours after school.

"Hey, America," one of the guys called as I made my way out of the locker rooms. He had bleached white hair and blue eyes. There was an earring in his right ear that had initially helped me remember he was the team captain, Fynn Müller. "You did good today."

When I first showed up to tryouts last week, everyone had been hesitant. I don't think anyone wanted to worry about having to translate all the directions to the exchange student. But as I started talking to the coaches and players more they realized my language wasn't a problem. I liked it, they hardly spoke English to me at all.

"Thanks, Captain." I put my racquet over my shoulder. "It's nice to know the sport doesn't change with the country."

"Are we better than the States?" He asks smugly, nudging me with his elbow.

"Better than where I'm from," I say honestly.

"Where are you from?"

"Columbia, South Carolina."

"Are the teams better else where? Like to the east of Carolina?"

"No, I don't live in the south of Carolina, I live in South Carolina. That's the state's name."

"Why 'south'?"

"Well, there's two."

"Two?"

"Yeah, a north and a south."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I didn't colonize America."

"Bummer." He says with feeling.

We walk to the parking lot and Müller stops to get his keys out. "Is that Klose?" He asks, looking out into the parking lot.

I follow his gaze and my shoulders fall. Of course Erik is waiting at the edge of the parking lot for me. He's sitting on the planter boxes bordering the school working on some homework.

"Hey!" Müller calls. "Klose!"

Erik's head pops up and he tucks his homework under his arm while he starts toward us. "How are you doing, Fynn?"

"Ah, I'm alright. The teams looking pretty good so far, though it's too early to tell. You know if you were going to stalk the exy team, you might as well join it."

Our starting goalie slaps Müller on the back of the head. "Come on, man," She, Ida Sulc, teases, "we're not that desperate for new players."

Erik laughs and Müller shakes his head. "Klose isn't that bad, Sulc. He and I used to play together."

"When we were ten." Erik adds, rolling his eyes.

"Maybe you still got it."

"He's still got the muscles." Ida says, eyeing Erik. "If only he put it to good use." She makes a tisk sound with her mouth. "Anyway," She musses her light brown hair and pats Müller and I on back. "I've gotta go. See you boys tomorrow. Nice seeing you, Klose, and good work today, Hemmick."

"Thank you," I say. "You too!"

"I should probably follow suit." Müller says, giving a wave to me and Erik. "I have a history test tomorrow, already. Barely three weeks in and they already want to watch me crumble. See you two!"