The Story of E & A

Yarn Ball Mania by Naomi

Drew POV

For the fourth day in a row, we were doing the "Pass the yarn ball" activity in gym. I could really care less about it on a good day. But Ev wasn't here so I could care even less. Ms. F had just told us to get in our lines and I had started to put the yarn balls in the green bucket.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Katie joked. In response I rolled my eyes so far, I saw the back of my skull. I just kept walking and saying the lyrics to the rap song playing on my airpod, hoping that they would get the message. But look who I'm talking to. Katie wouldn't get the message If I wrote it out and taped it to her face.

"Where is he, Drew?" Katie asked again and of course when the ring leader starts, the other clowns have to join.

"Did he skip?" questioned Ella.

"Did he ever, like, come to class?" Eva quizzed.

"Hello? Drew? Where's your boyfriend?" Katie continued.

"He's at lessons," I explained annoyed, "He couldn't skip them,"

I thought that would stop the frenzy of questions. If only they knew the truth... Finally I got annoyed and when Cora hit my shoulder to get my attention to ask another one of her questions. I forgot about playing nice. I grabbed one of the yarn balls and threw it at Cora. This sent the girl squealing and running. I then aimed one for Camie and hit her square in the face. Her head snapped back and once she got her bearings, she was laughing so hard, her face turned red. This was the effect I had wanted. Not to hurt them, but to get them laughing and distracted with something else. It also entertained the class a little and I was nothing if not a comedian. (At least I liked to think I was). I grabbed more yarn balls to throw but the girls were already running. I got in a couple good shots before Ms. F was really insistent on starting the activity.

Obviously, we didn't finish the activity. Partly because we suck at cooperation. Partly because I dragged out the time by being the least helpful person on the planet. I didn't see Ev for the rest of the day. He asked if we could meet up, but I was with Dallas, and he was starting to ask questions about us. Questions that I wasn't ready to answer. At the very end of the day, when everyone had left the building, we met at our spot outside the ninth grade wing. He was on his phone while walking and hadn't even noticed I was already there.

"Hey," I called him.

"Hey!" he called back with a smile on his face. I took one look at his smile and grinned at him.

"What are you smiling at?" he asked, walking beside me.

"Oh it's nothing," I grinned harder and bumped my shoulder into his. He bumped me back in a gesture that was becoming quickly familiar.

"How was gym?" he questioned.

"We didn't finish. It was also super boring without you there," I sighed.

"Trying to win some boyfriend points?" He smiled.

"If it was a competition. I already won," I scoffed with fake arrogance.

"I think you did," He whispered back and looked around. We were practically in the woods, but it never hurt to double check. He put his arm around my shoulders and I leaned into him. This was perfect for me. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. And we may never come out, but this was perfect.