TOM

Chapter 5

At 11:00 AM I left my house to go visit Tom at the motel. Since it was Saturday, there were plenty of other teenagers out and about. I emerged from my neighborhood and walked down 8th Street. 8th street was kind of like other town's "Main Street". That was where all of the good shops and diners were.
It was a sunny day with not a cloud to be seen in the sky. The street was bustling with adults, kids, pets, cars, and crazy people trying to jog up and down the street. Some people were so ridiculous, why did people try to get an exercise on this street on the worst possible, busiest day, when they could go and run in the park where it was more peaceful. That was at least what I did every Monday morning, but I guessed I would have to change my schedule because I was starting school again.
I was walking with the crowd, some people cutting me off here and there to go into and come out of stores, when I came up to my first destination, Denny's.
Denny's was Tom's and I's favorite place to eat, so I figured I might as well bring him some brunch. I walked in and there were people everywhere. Great planning on my part. I go stand and wait in the "To-Go" line, when I hear a familiar voice.
"Brynn!" It was Catherine. She was standing with a bunch of other guys and girls who were wearing lacrosse team shirts. She walked over to me and told me she had heard that I was going to be back in actual school Monday.
"I can't believe it! I'm so excited!" she said, "Hey you could join the lacrosse team!"
I laughed, "yeah right. I've never actually played on an actual team, only with other teenagers and Catherine in the park. We would meet up and play games.
"Your amazing though."
I rolled my eyes, "very funny."
"Come on, let me introduce you to the others."
She brought me over to where the other teenagers were standing.
"Hey guys! This is Brynn. She's coming to school on Monday and is gonna try out for lacrosse."
The others nodded with approval, and a couple slapped me on the back. I recognized a couple of them from our games in the park.
"Hey," a voice said behind me. I turned around and saw a girl with two guys behind her. The girl who approached me had short blonde hair. She was a lot shorter with me, about 5'1. She was very pretty. The guy too her left had brown hair and was well-built. He looked around 6 foot and wore glasses. I looked at the guy to her right. I had seen him many times before, around town and in the park. I had never known his name, however. He had dirty blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. He was very tan and about 6'3 in height. He seemed like a nice guy and always gave me a smile.
I snapped back to reality when I heard the girl's voice.
"I'm Olivia," she gave me a smile, "I think I've seen you in the park before. We're excited for a new addition to the team."
"Thanks, I guess." I shrugged.
"Well anyways, this is Michael," she pointed to the boy on her left, "and this is James," she pointed to the boy on her right. "We're super good friends with Catherine."
"Cool," I said, "what positions do you guys play?"
"I'm goalie," James spoke up, "Michael and Olivia are forwards. What about you?"
"Defense."
He gave me a smirk. He was pretty attractive, I mean, really attractive. But then again, there was no way in Hell did I want to have a relationship that year.
I heard the bell ring signaling for the next customer.
"Oh, that's me, see you all Monday," I said, starting to walk to the ordering booth.
"Are you going to the concert tonight?" Olivia called out.
I turned around. "I am, as a matter of fact."
"We should all sit together."
"Sounds good, " I waved and walked up to the register and bought Tom and I's food, then walked out without saying another word to anyone.

I arrived at the motel. It was a old, worn down place. It was called America's Motel, very original. It had been around since the 50's and still had the flower sheets and pink walls. 40 years can change a lot about a place. The main lobby was a small building. The rooms were in a separate building that looked like a strip mall. I walked inside, inhaling the dusty air, and asked which room Tom Richards was staying in. The old man at the first desk opened up the log book and told me 9. I walked back outside and headed towards the "strip mall". I found room 9 and knocked on the door. Sure enough, Tom answered it and was so excited at the sight of the "To-Go" bag.
I entered the room that smelled like mold and dust. We sat down at the small desk and started eating.
"There's a free concert tonight out in the park," I told him, "I'm going with Andrea, Catherine, and some lacrosse players. Wanna go?"
"Sure, sounds fun."
Tom liked the lacrosse team because the lacrosse team actually respected him, at least most of them. He told me about one incident with one of the old goalies who was a year older than us. The guy hid Tom's clothes in the trash can outside the locker room when they were all showering after gym. He sounded like a bitch to me. Turned out, the coach found out what he did and the goalie was kicked off the team.
Then I remembered something that I forgot to tell Tom, "did I mention I'm going back to school?"
He turned and looked at me. "Really??"
"Yup." I smiled.
"That's great Brynn! Junior year together?"
"Yup and maybe Senior."
He grinned.
We threw our trash away and Tom said he was gonna go back home. He thought that maybe his dad wasn't home and maybe his mom was at work. I gave him the details for the concert and told him "see you later" then walked out the door back through the "strip mall" to my 1970 beat up Ford. I look at my watch; 1:23. The concert started at 7. I couldn't wait.