The Final Shot (Book 1)

-12-

Fortunately, my ankle was just sprained. Unfortunately, it was a more serious sprain, so I wasn't allowed to practice for at least a week, so I spent that time doing upper body workouts and watching film with Laurance. It also turned out that Aphmau wasn't sick. She had skipped school to hang out with the Shadow Knights, which was odd, because that wan't her typical crowd. In fact, they were NOTHING like her crowd. She didn't deny it when we saw her a few days later, but she acted guilty about the whole situation, which was suspicious.

"I-it... wasn't my proudest moment." Aphmau hung her head low as she told her story. I frowned as the others said things such as "it's not your fault" and "one bad action doesn't make you a bad person". She was keeping something from us.

I skipped studying with Laurance to find Aphmau, but was unable to do so until we ran into each other on the way to Art. I grabbed her and pulled her aside on the way to class. "Aph? Are you keeping something from us?"

"W-what do you mean?" She bit her lip trying to cover her nervousness.

"Come on, you're obviously hiding something about the other day. Spill."

She opened her mouth, but closed it again, thinking twice. "Look, I'm not ready to talk about it. Maybe later I'll be ready. Just... not yet, okay?"

"But-"

"Please." She pulled at my arm. "Don't push this."

"Fine. But know that I'm here if you need to talk to someone."

"Thanks. I appreciate it." Garroth and Laurance were already there when we took our seats. Me and Laurance completely ignored what happened in the nurse's office the other day. The two of us were in a good place, and I don't think either of us wanted to ruin that. "Hey, guys!"

"Hey Leona! Hello Aphmau, how was study hall?" Garroth leaned towards her and she responded by turning beet red. It seems Laurance was right, Something must've happened.

"Hey Blue, Aphmau." Laurance grinned at us.

"Sorry I didn't join you for Study Hall. I was busy with a project." I rubbed his back, resulting in a confused look from Aphmau. That's when it clicked to me that Aphmau hadn't heard about me and him, yet. Although it had only been about a week of our "relationship," my endearing actions towards him had already become automatic to me. I wondered if they were that way to him, too?

"What's going on between you two?" Aphmau asked us.

"Oh! Sorry! I forgot you weren't at lunch with us on Monday." I sat straight up and smiled.

"Ah! Me, too!" Laurence said. "We're... kind of a couple now."

"Wair, r-really?" Aphmau looked back and forth between us, seemingly bewildered. 

Me and Laurance faced each other, an adoring look on my face. "Yeah! I'm such a lucky girl!"

"Please, I'm the lucky one." He patted my hand softly. "You're a treasure."

His eyes looked so gorgeous and genuine, I almost believed him for a second. I turned back to Aphmau. "Sorry, again! It must've just slipped my mind!"

"No, you're completely fine. I get it."

I hit Laurance's arm. I had the perfect idea. "Ow!"

"Sorry! Kind of, anyways why don't you and Garroth come to the movies with us on Saturday? It would be fun!"

Garroth blinked. "Really? Are you sure you both wouldn't want to be alone?"

"Of course not! Laurance is probably sick of me already!"

"I am not!" He looked back at them. "But she's right it'd be fun."

"Are you free Saturday, Aphmau?" Garroth faced her.

"Um, yeah! I think so. I'll just have to check with my mom."

"Great! I can't wait!" I threaded my arm through Laurance's as class started. As much as it hurt me to try and set the two of them up, I knew that that would be what was best.

-

"Katelyn! I need help!" I yelled from my closet.

"Nope! I'm not helping you with anything that has to do with you situation!" She yelled back.

"What situation?" 

"Agh!" I hit my head on one of the shelves. I turned around rubbing my head. "Kacey!"

He stood in my doorway and studied me. "Are you wearing makeup?"

"Uh! No!" I turned away. "What do you want?!"

"What's your situation?"

"It doesn't matter, Kacey! Get out of my room."

He took a tiny step back. "I'm not in your room."

"Oh joy, technicalities." I walked over. "Bye, Kacey!" I slammed the door.

"If this is a date, I wouldn't wear a dress! It makes you look like a try hard!" He yelled through the door.

"Shut up!" I scowled at my clothes and put up the dress that I had taken out. Eventually, I settled on a cropped, bright striped tank top and thrifted high waisted jean shorts. I threaded a leather belt through the loops and slipped on my white Doc Martens before getting a text from Laurance, saying that he was out front. I fluffed my hair and put on a final layer of lip gloss before texting him that I was coming out. I opened my door and stopped in my tracks when I saw Kacey and Katelyn talking outside of my door. They turned their heads and froze when they saw me. 

We stood there for a moment before anyone spoke. Kacey opened his mouth. "Wow. Somehow you still look like a try hard."

Katelyn jabbed him in the ribs and I glared at him. "Gee, thanks, baby brother. I gotta go." I brushed past him and started to make my way down the stairs. 

"Wait! Leo!" Katelyn called down from the banister. "Don't listen to our idiot brother. You look good, have fun."

"Thanks, Katey." I gave her a warm smile and walked out the door. When I closed it and turned around, I saw Laurance leaning casually on the hood of his car and scrolling on his phone. He looked really good even though he was wearing a basic outfit- blue jeans and a white tee shirt under a brown leather jacket. He didn't notice me until I was half way towards him, but when he looked up, he did a double take. I waved at him when he staired without saying a word. "Hey Laurance."

Still nothing.

"I-is something wrong? My hair look bad or something?"

"N-no! No!" He cleared his throat and stood up straight. "No. You look..."

"Like a tryhard?"

"No! Definitely not. It's just, you look good. You look good!" He staired at me again."

"Umm, thanks. So do you." I gave him a soft smile, waiting for him to say something. Anything. When he didn't, I took a deep breath. "Anyways, you ready to go?"

"O-oh! Right! Yeah!" He shook himself off and opened my door for me. 

I sat down. "You're nervous."

"Am I?" His eyes darted away from my as he closed the door.

When he sat down in the driver's seat, I laughed a little and continued. "Yeah! You're off your game. No pick up lines or anything." He glanced at me quickly before he looked back at the road. "Are you really that anxious about seeing Aphmau?"

"Right, Aphmau. Yeah, that's it." He re-adjusted himself in his seat and I looked out the window. Well, if he wasn't going to give me anything to talk about, I was just going to enjoy the ride.

Thanks for reading!