1 Distraction, 1 F

Chapter 1

Sometimes I think I see Jared looking back at me. But then what girl doesn't imagine her crush looking at her.
"Claire, you know to eat the green beans, you actually have to move your fork into your mouth right."
Lily's voice shakes me out of my trance.
"Yeah I know," I say as I shuffle green beans into my mouth.
"Uh huh. Did you even hear what I was saying? Of course you didn't. You were thinking of him again, weren't you?"
"Yeah, but what's up with you? You always have something new."
"What do you mean? I don't always have something new."
"You have something new don't you? You have that crazy sparkle in your eye."
She grins and shoots out the words.
"Well so you know that cute boy from biology? Alux?"
"Oh you mean Alux Jennings, just soccer captain and cutest on the team."
"That's the one. Well, so today in class a student asked a question and the class looked at him. As I turned to see the student I saw Alux looking at me before I moved my eyes. Then after class,"she continued narrowing her eyes at me," when you ditched me, he came up to me. He asked me to be his girlfriend and go to the movies with him on Friday!"
"Yay! Wait that was this morning, you didn't tell me until now. Why?"
"I tried but little miss space out wasn't paying attention."
"Oops sorry."
This was proceeded to to be interrupted by Alux.
His sparkling white smile and his blond hair caught the attention o everyone as he entered the cafeteria. He walks to our table and stands behind Lily.
"Hey Lily, do you mind introducing me to your friend?" He asks as he leans over and kisses Lily's cheek.
"Sure thing, Claire meet Alux Jennings, my boyfriend. Alux meet Claire Manders, my best friend."
Alux walks over to my side of the table and picks up my hand raising it to his lips.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Manders."
"The pleasure is all mine Mr. Jennings," I reply a small laugh escaping my lips.
After returning to his seat Alux clears his throat and says,"But really, it's nice to meet you, Claire."
"It's nice to meet you too."
"So I was wondering if you girls would like to come to the soccer game this Saturday. I'm sure I can arrange some seats close to the team if you like."
"I'd love to. What about you Lily?"
I cross my fingers for luck because if we don't go I'd be stuck at home to think about him.
"Yeah babe. I'd love to," Lily finally says.
-
This is insane. Why am I going to
the game again? Oh wait I have friends there. This is going to be awful.
"Dude. Do I have to go with you to your game Saturday? You know I get bored watching soccer!" I ask.
The voice comes from across the line,"Yeah you said you would."
The phone clicks. Obviously he's done talking.
-
He's sitting there alone. There isn't much room anywhere else! What am I going to do? I can't sit next to him!
"You have to go sit by him! I mean this is your chance," Lily whisper screams pushing me towards,"besides I am going to sit near the team."
Great my best friend is abandoning me.
"What ever. But if I die of embarrassment my sprit will come and haunt you for eternity."
My legs shake as they move towards Jared.
"Hey mind if I take a seat?" I hear my voice come out without permission.
"Uhh sure. But if you try and talk soccer, I may move,"he replies finishing with a laugh.
I laugh and sit down,"Obviously you don't know me. I don't have a clue about soccer. Now if you want to talk books and or movies I think I can help you there."
I turn to him and smile.
His blue eyes sparkle as his head bobs up and down laughing.
"Is that so? Have you read 'The Chronicles of Narnia'?"
"Yes I have. I loved the diverse population and symbolism in the books."
"Oh, I didn't read them. It was just the first series to pop into my head."
My cheeks burn as he laughs.
"Oh."
"Yeah," he coughs,"well um, how are you enjoying the game?"
"It's good. I'm going to go get a pretzel now because they are the best. Do you want anything?"
"How 'bout I get our drinks and food and you save our seats?"
"Um but you don't...,"I stutter getting quiet as he walks away," have to do that."
I see Lily get up from her seat on the bench behind one for the players and half run, half jog over here.
"Hey. Where's lover boy?"
Her eyes sparkle; she grins evilly.
"He went to get us snacks. Are you okay because you look evil?"
-
We are actually talking. Okay, wow. ...
"Hey Jared. Are you going to order or just stand there looking pretty?"
I look up at the person behind the counter and see my best friend Jordan.
"I'll have two pretzels and two cokes."
"Whoa, dude that's more than enough for one guy. Even if that guy is you."
"It not all for me."
"Is she hot?"
"I guess you could say that,"I mumble as I grab the food.
I hope she likes coke. Of course she likes coke everyone does. If they don't they aren't human. And I can't like something thats not human. What am I doing? Okay ready? I shake my head; I have to pull myself together if I want to talk to Claire. I hold up her pretzel and coke and take my seat as she grabs it.
"Here I wasn't sure what you wanted to drink."