For the next two weeks, things are great. Brooke has been having more time, since her cheer coach is on vacation, so practices are shorter with the sub coach. She has been splitting her time basically in thirds between me, Antoine, and the boy who she just got with today, the footballer she met at the pool, who, as she has learned and told me, is named Henri. She is also doing very well, and she has told me all about Henri. He really does seem like a romantic, which I think is just what she wants.
At the soup kitchen, Antoine has continued to avoid me, as I avoid him, but he seems like he's in a good mood. Which annoys me. I don't like him in a good mood. I guess I don't ever like him, though... He has said a few teases, but both times I just flipped him off, and he stopped doing that. He seems to be acting very respectful to Officer Brink and Mrs. Toussaint.
Officer Brink. He has been so charming. I love going to the soup kitchen, simply to be able to see his respectful smile and hear his lighthearted comments. I can casually strike up conversations with him, and it is not awkward at all. I'm sure Mrs. Toussaint has picked up the fact that I have a huge crush on him. Antoine might have picked up on that, too. At the same time, though, I don't know. Antoine is a guy. And he's pretty stupid. I don't think he picks up on most things. Maybe that's a biased assumption, though, simply because I hate his guts.
At school, Antoine has been careful to stay away from me, too. We never make eye contact. I don't exist to him and he doesn't exist to me.
My grades have been better, because I don't have to worry about being scared of Antoine. I've been happier because I have a wonderful friend who does so much for me and a crush on a really hot police officer. Things at home have been good.
So everything has been good, in short.
Really, really good.
Perfect.
Antoine's Perspective
Despite being out of football for these weeks, I actually am doing great. Because I love football too much not to, I have been practicing whenever I can, bringing my ball to the school field whenever I can and I know that there isn't anything else going on there. I practice dribbling and shooting and footwork by myself. I ask some friends to come out with me. We practice assists, passing, steals, and tackling. It is a blast, because unlike real practice, we can kid around and tease. Make fun of each other and not be completely serious like the coach expects us to be in practice. One day the guys tell me that the coach heard I've been do devoted to practicing by myself, despite my suspension, and that he was really impressed with me for my devotion and loyalty to the sport. I thought that was funny. I play football because I freaking love it. I love my team, but I play football for football, not for the coach or for the team or anyone.
Brooke is my dream come true. She spends so much time with me. She doesn't consider me overly romantic or too clingy. She listens to me talk, but also is engaged, responding with things from her own past and experience. She is gorgeous. She talks to me. She actually seems to care about me. She makes me feel loved, and that is really what I care about. Not to mention, I love the feeling of her lips on mine. I kissed her for the first time, and she said it was the best kiss she'd ever had. She likes my flirty teasing too, which comes to me so naturally. I really do feel we're the perfect match.
I said sorry to Louis as soon as I could. I didn't cry, because I hate doing that if I don't have to. He cried, but I don't know why. I hugged him, which isn't really what brothers do, so it was stiff, and it didn't seem right, real, or authentic. But I said sorry, and he accepted my apology, and that is really all that matters.
I also said sorry to my mother. I knew she would be scared to see me. I wore gentle colors and made sure I looked nice- unlike that night I yelled at her. She cried also, and I shook, because I was stressed. But she forgive me. After almost having a panic attack. I don't know if you've ever experienced it, but it really isn't nice to see your mother, trembling in fear at the very sight of you. Either way, though, I did it, it's over with, and we are all on good terms now. And that is all that matters. So it's good.
Because life is so good for me, I try to push out the suspicion that something bad is going to happen. It feels too good. Like, perfect.
I'm sure nothing bad will happen. If I don't suspect something is going to happen. So I'm just not going to think about it.
I'm good at dread.
But when I think about it, I don't have to be. Everything is good, and it doesn't look like it is going to be changing any time soon. Might as well not worry. Worrying never did anybody any good, and especially not me.
When things are good, I should just enjoy it. It's good.
No, no, it's not good.
It's more than good.
It's perfect.
~ Author's Note ~
I hope you guys cringed as much as I did while I was writing Antoine's perspective in this chapter. Because we all know what is freaking coming.....
I was about to write down my plan for this story, simply because I'm excited, but I guess I probably shouldn't, considering the fact that you probably would like to just figure that out when you read the part.
