Finding Home

Chapter six - Finding tryouts

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Yay!! I have finally edited all chapters, no major changes just grammar mostly. I also changed - or tried to change - everything into present tense instead of past tense.

Hope you like this chapter and feel free to let me know what you think!!

~ madison

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The next morning I am woken not by my alarm but my father. I can hear the front door slam then his stumbling steps down the hall and finally the slamming of his bedroom door. Five minutes later I can hear his loud snores drifting through the paper thin walls. Rolling over I sigh when I realize it's six in the morning meaning my father has been out drinking all night long. How lovely.

Knowing I'm not getting back to sleep now, I reluctantly get up and change into running clothes. I start jogging down the street just as the sun peaks over the tree line. Barely any people are out and about at this hour but I find myself in complete bliss. Nothing is ever as peaceful as a morning run to me.

Half an hour later I arrive back at the house and quickly shower before getting changed into black shorts and a grey and black striped shirt. I finish getting ready by applying minimal makeup and letting my hair fall in waves. Just as I finish making a smoothie the doorbell rings. I place the cup in the sink before going to answer the door.

Surprisingly, it's Charlie. Wearing a coral dress, her hair pinned back and she's wearing brown sandals, all signs summer isn't over yet. As soon as I open the door, apologies are flying everywhere. We both laugh as we talk at the same time.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have pushed the issue so much," Charlie looks down at her feet nervously. Quickly I step forward and wrap my arms around her, she hugs me back tightly.

I step away and smile at her, "You don't need to apologize. I should apologize for overreacting, I got too defensive when you were just trying to be a good friend." She smiles gratefully back at me. We easily slip back into happy chatter, I grab my backpack and we head to school. The entire way there we sing along to random pop songs on the radio.

When we arrive at school we are as close as ever, acting like nothing happened the day before. Charlie walks me to my locker and I grab my books before going to hers. I'm laughing at something Charlie said about some drunk niner at a party when I see Beckett. Well, I hear him before I see him. He walks down the hall toward Charlie and I with a group of about seven boys. Attractive boys. And by the way the halls fall silent and all eyes turn in their direction I know, I'm not the only one who notices.

"Meet the jocks of Creeton High," Charlie whispers and I can practically see her rolling her eyes. The group of boys come closer and I can see Beckett easier now, he is talking to a blonde hair-brown eyed boy who is all muscle but one of the shortest of the group. Just as Beckett laughs at whatever he says, his eyes meet mine and his smile falls. Just as quickly his gaze averts from mine and then they are gone.

I turn to Charlie with a 'what-the-fuck' look and she cringes. Beckett's back retreats down the hall and I glare at it, daring him to turn around but he doesn't. He turns the corner and I can no longer see him or the gaggle of jocks around him.

"What was that? He just acted like I don't exist?" I try, very hard, to keep the hurt out of my voice. Charlie gives me a sympathetic look and closes her locker.

"One thing you should know about my cousin, in front of his friends he is, um, different." She stutters over the word different and I know exactly what she means. He's an asshole around his friends.