Oh, Heather

Chapter Thirty-five

It was the day before graduation, most of the seniors hadn’t shown up but the few that had were granted access to the basketball court. It was the school gym, it was actually pretty big. The floors had been recently polished and everyone who decided to play basketball kept sliding along the floors, some even face planted but kept playing anyway. The cheerleaders were doing cheer moves on the side lines, despite being cheerleaders for football, not basketball. Everyone who showed up seemed to be enjoying themselves. Heather, Miley, Leo, and Jada were sitting in a corner on the bleachers, watching the 4 kids who were playing basketball slide across the floor or get hit by the basketball, it was clear none of them actually played the sport.

“I mean, basketball can’t actually be that hard. Especially if you’re actually athletic. How are they failing that bad?”
“Jada, maybe you should teach them how to play. You were really good for the year you played.”
“Sure I was, but that was also how I broke my ankle, remember?”
“Oh right. But it’s better now, so go teach them.” Miley encouraged.
“Wait, you played basketball?” Heather asked, squinting her eyes at Jada.

“Yeah, for two years.”
“Why didn’t I know about that?”
“Well we forgot,” Miley said.
“And I purposely never mentioned it. I’m not cut out for sports.” Jada continued.
“They said you were really good.”
“I was, but that was only because nobody else was fast or tall enough to even be able to shoot the ball. I didn’t know anything about the sport and I never showed up to practices.”

“Then shouldn’t they have taken you off the team?”
“There were only 5 players. They couldn’t take me out otherwise there would have been no girls basketball team.”
“Oh that makes sense. I played soccer for 8 years but I quit playing last year when they merged the boys and girls team.”
“You played soccer?” Leo questioned, taking his eyes up from a college letter he got earlier that day.
“I did. There’s a lot you three don’t know about me.” She answered, smiling at the three of them.

“Like what?” Miley asked.
“Well for one, neither of you knew that I liked drawing, you didn’t know I played soccer, you don’t know anything about my dad, you don’t even know I like math.”
“The rest of that is cool and all, but you like math?”
“Yeah. Trig is not that hard if you pay attention. Plus, I love learning.”
“You’re so weird sometimes.” Jada joked, lightly shoving Heather with her shoulder.
“I want to know about that stuff now. Tell us about your dad.”

“Well, he died just after Corey was born. So around 4 years ago. He’s where I got my love for learning. When he’d get back from work he would make me read books about science and math, but I loved doing it because he was with me. When he died I kept reading those books. I had plans to read them until I graduated but I lost them when I moved here.”

“I’m sorry, Heather. I knew he died but that was all you told us. I thought it was a long time ago.”
“It’s okay, I accepted it shortly after he died.”
“It’s good that you were able to accept it that quickly, most kids can’t.” Leo said.
“Yeah I know. I just wish Corey remembered him. My mom tried showing him pictures and stuff but Corey was only 4 months old when he died. He would’ve loved how Corey turned out.”
“I bet he does.”

They continued talking about Heather’s dad and her relationship with him, as well as anything else she could remember. A few hours had gone by when the announcements went off, dismissing the students for an early leave.

“I’m so ready to get home and finish this school year out. We should meet up tomorrow night and talk about college and everything. I know it’s not what you guys wanna talk about, but I think it’ll be a good time. Since Miley’s decided that she’d be going to the University Of Nebraska, I want to know what everyone else’s plans are.”

“I could make that a short conversation. I’m not going to college, I’m not going through 4 more years of school. I’ll live as a cashier or something.”
“I kind of figured you weren’t gonna do anything, but you ended the year with a 4.0 GPA, maybe you should consider it.”
“I have, and I’m not going.”
“Hold on, Jada ended the year with a 4.0? How did she do that?”
“Because I’m just naturally smart.” She joked, tossing her hair behind her shoulder.
“Yeah that’s why you almost failed every class last year.” Leo replied.

She punched his arm, smiling at him as they walked into they parking lot.

“Hey, that actually hurt!” He whined, rubbing the spot where she punched him.
“Oh boo-hoo.” She teased.
“Seriously, where’d you learn to punch like that?”
“I was on the boxing team, did you forget that too?” She replied.
“Why am I just learning everything about you? You’re my girlfriend, I think I should know some of this.” Heather said, leaning against her moms car.

“Well, I know as much about you as you know about me.”
“True, maybe I can show you guys some stuff I’ve drawn. I keep dates on everything so you can see how long I’ve been doing it.”
“Maybe that will make our conversation tomorrow less boring.”
“We better get home, I want to graduate and standing here talking isn’t gonna help anyone.” Leo said.
“I think you’re trying to get rid of us because you have somewhere to be. A date maybe?” Miley replied, crossing her arms.

“I’m not going on a date, Vance and I didn’t break up that long ago and plus, I’ll be working full time at the coffee shop now so I can’t be worried about dates.”
“You’re always worried about dates. You say that, you’ll be dating a new guy in the next 2 month.”
“Oh, you want to bet on that?”
“God, you are such a child, but why not. 20 dollars that you’ll be dating someone within the next two months. It doesn’t have to be official, but if you go on a date during that time frame, I get my money.” Miley smiled.

“Okay. I’ll be 20 dollars richer in 2 months.” He replied, walking off to his car.
“Well, I have to call one of my moms to pick me up so I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“I can drive you home.” Heather replied.
“Do you even have your license?”
“Is that really important?” 
“Yes, I don’t want to die yet!”

“Miley, how do you think I get to and from school every day? I won’t be in a car with Matthew and my mom has to be at work every day.”
“You walk? You’ve told us before,” She said, “But fine. If I die I’m gonna come back and haunt you.” 
“You got it. Jada, do you need a ride too?” Heather asked.
“No, Taylen’s gonna drive me back to my place.”
“Okay great. Be safe.” She smiled, swinging her keys around her finger before climbing into the driver’s seat.
“I mean it, Heather. I’ll haunt you.”
“You won’t die Miley.”

She pulled the car into reverse, slowly backing out before peeling off into the highway. She was happy with how this school year ended, and how this day did too. She got a girlfriend, she made 4 new friends, and she got accepted into an art academy. She made progress. Her dad would be proud.

The End.
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This was such a fun project and I'm so glad of the outcome. I hope you all enjoyed this story.