Too High For The Net

10| Company

Tonight is the opening night for the middle school play, and I promised Rowan that I would watch with her. Some kids I tutored last year are in it, but I also chose to go because someone else is watching, too.

"Hey," Rowan gives me a side hug, "I'm sitting on the back row in the front section. I saved you a seat."

"Thanks. Where are you going?" I ask her as she lets go to walk somewhere else.

She points over her shoulder with her thumb. "Snacks, duh."

I rolls my eyes with a smile as I walk over to our seats. I place my purse on my seat and look around, trying to find a familiar face I could talk to. Before I spotted one of my classmates finding a seat, I feel a tap on my shoulder.

Turning around, my eyes meet a familiar pair. "Zion!"

"Gael," he beams at me. "What a coincidence."

"Yeah," I glance behind me, silently looking for an excuse to leave. "Wha—what are you doing here? Just watching for fun or—?"

He nods at the stage. "My little sister's in the play."

"Right, Lia, right. I forgot she still goes here," I tell him, bobbing my head. "So, how's Camber? Still egotistical freaks right."

He perches a hand on his chest. "Ouch."

"Oh my gosh, sorry, I didn't mean—"

Zion laughs, showing off his bright smile. "Nah, I'm just messing with you, Gael. This 'egotistical freak' is doing fine in his new school."

"Well, that's nice," I add, a figure behind him catching my eye. Hugo, Jonah, Leon, and Xiao walk in, escorted by some of the stage crew. Wherever they are on campus, people will always fawn over them. That group. They take a turn and disappear in the stairwell, no doubt going to their "VIP" area.

Not really VIP. It's just a special place they'd sit at, and apparently that gives off a whole only-people-with-social-significance-can-sit-there vibe. And everyone went along with it.

Ridiculous, but I find it amusing.

I didn't realize how long I was staring at the second floor until Zion follows my gaze, saying, "My parents are sitting up there. If you want to, you know, sit with us. You could."

"I've never sat up there before," I tell him.

"Really?" he raises his eyebrows. "At all? Not even during concerts?"

"I've always been stuck down here," I say, and over his shoulder I see Hugo appearing back on the first floor with his phone in his hand. The doors open, and he grins at a girl who walks in. She pulls him in for a hug, and he gestures for her to go upstairs with him.

Something inside me drops, and I feel a little bit...disappointed. I pull out my phone to text Rowan.

G: I'll be sitting upstairs for this one. You can join me. ;)

I look back up at Zion. "I will take up your offer on that."

His eyes widen. "Really? I actually didn't think you would."

"Well, I am now," I jerk my chin. "Lead the way, Maddox."

As I follow him up the stairs, he glances over at me. "Listen, I want to apologize again for my behavior after that game. That wasn't cool of me to just attack you like that."

"It's fine," I wave a hand, and we make it to the second floor. "I mean, I guess when you hang around a bunch of egotistical freaks..."

His jaw drops. "Okay, Gael."