Tricks to Sticks

part six

"You know, you should come on Friday," Julie suggested Tuesday morning as the girls put their shoes on.

"What's happening on Friday?" Taylor asked confused.

"We have a game," Julie said.

"What about try-outs?" Taylor asked confused once again.

"Cancelled. They decided to just stick with us Ducks, I guess," she explained as the two left their room.

"I don't know. I'm not exactly a big fan of hockey," Taylor explained.

"Just think about it. I'm sure Charlie'll be there." Julie teased with a smile, before turning right, heading for her locker.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes with a smile before walking into Algebra. 

When she entered she saw Adam and Charlie talking.

"You know, maybe it would be easier if we just switched seats," Taylor said to Charlie as she sat down.

"No, why should we do that?" he asked.

"Because you guys are always talking, and I'd ha-"

"Forget it, Taylor." Adam interrupted, "We don't mind."

"Anyway, are you guys coming on Friday?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah," Adam replied.

"What's happening on Friday?" Taylor asked.

"Okay, so basically they canceled try-outs, and now we have a game on Friday," Charlie explained.

Taylor already knew this, but she'd decided to tease him a little, "I'm sorry. Try-outs? Game?" she said with furrowed eyebrows, "On Friday?" she chuckled.

Charlie looked extremely confused, almost as if he was lost for words, "Oh, come on. The JV team has a hockey game on Friday," he explained with a smile.

"Wait," she said as if she realized something, "You play hockey?" she asked confused.

Adam just smiled to himself, he loved it when Charlie was confused, it just meant that his huge ego would flatline for a few seconds.

Charlie then smiled, "Nice one TJ," he laughed, but her confused look didn't falter.

"I'm being serious. I have no clue what you're talking about," she continued.

"Okay, class. Find your packets, and work on pages fifty-two till page eighty-six. I expect you to be finished with the pages by the end of class," the teacher said.

"Fun fact," Charlie said, forgetting about the whole thing for a second, "She was my principal in sixth grade," he smiled.

__________________

As soon as the bell rang, Taylor was on her way out of the classroom, leaving a confused Charlie.

"Hey, Jones! Wait up!" he yelled, stuffing his papers in his backpack, it amazed her how he could fit so many things in it, "What do you mean? You know I play hockey," he said once he'd caught up to her.

"Yeah, now I do," she continued.

"But-" he started.

"If you pass the quiz in math tomorrow, then I'll go to your game on Friday," Taylor accepted stopping at her locker.

"But I thought you said you didn't know about the game?" he said confused.

"What game?" she asked.

Charlie chuckled, "You know what? I give up," he said.

"She's messing with you," Fulton said quickly walking past the two, which gravely confused Taylor since Adam was the only one who'd been there during the two's conversation.

"How did..." she trailed off confused pointing in the boy's direction.

"Things spread like wildfire," Charlie shrugged.

"Don't give up. I was just messing with you," Taylor admitted.

"But deal. If I pass, you'll come," he said.

"Bet," she said and the two shook hands.

___________________

"How's it going?" Logan said as he caught her in the hall.

"I'm sorry. Who are you?" Taylor asked.

"Drop it," he said being used to Taylor acting as if she didn't know him.

"Drop what? I don't have anything to drop," she said, not even giving him a single glance.

"Your attitude," he said.

She almost burst out laughing if she hadn't suppressed her laughter, "My attitude?" she asked, "You should be happy I didn't spend too much time with you when we were younger," she insulted.

"What's wrong with you? I ask you how you are, and you blow me off," he said.

"Yes, to annoy me. Not because you actually care about my well-being. You just want everyone to know that we're related," Taylor said.

 "What's so wrong with that, huh?" he asked.

"Because you're the definition of worst brother ever," she said before turning into her Chemistry class.

"Hey, Jones," Charlie greeted, "Long time no see."

"Don't call me that," Taylor said under her breath.

The boy thought he heard something, but brushed it off, "So, I was thinking we could go to Mickeys tonight?" he suggested.

"Can't. Sorry," Taylor said.

"Hey, is something wrong?" he asked, not understanding the girl's sudden change of emotions.

"Yup, I'm fine," she said with a smile, "I just have a lot of homework, and I have to practice," she explained, "But, maybe another time," she said just as the bell rang.

________________

After classes, and trying to avoid as many of her friends as possible, it was finally dark outside, which meant Taylor could go on her late-night walk.

She was wearing a pair of dark green sweatpants, a white hoodie, and her usual black converse.

She walked down to Mickeys to get a shake, hoping that neither Casey - nor Charlie in that case - would be there. Thankfully neither were in the little diner.

She sat down in a booth in the corner.

"Hey Taylor, are you ready to order, or are you waiting for someone?" the waitress asked.

"Nope, it's just me today, Jeannie," Taylor said with a smile.

"Anything I could get you then?" Jeannie asked.

"A vanilla shake, please," Taylor answered.

"Anything else?" she asked.

"No that's all," the girl replied with a smile.

It didn't take very long before the treatment had been served.

"There you go." 

"Thanks, Jeannie," Taylor said.

She didn't exactly know why she'd ordered it. It wasn't like she was in the mood for anything. She just felt tired and exhausted. She didn't know if it was because of her new school, her new friends, or what it was, but she just felt tired.

After a good ten minutes of not touching, and barely even looking at her shake, the girl walked up to the counter, placed a ten-dollar bill on the counter, and left without a word.

On her way back to the school, she saw Logan, along with all of his new friends. She hurried across the road, hoping that her jock of a brother wouldn't see her. 

Her plan worked since she didn't hear her name among the loud conversations the varsity hockey team was conversing about.