Chloe

•CLASS•

"Chloe!?" Someone's muffled voice "wakes" me. I slowly open my eyes and see Keaton kneeling next to me. As I regain my focus, I see Drew leaning against the wall, looking up at the ceiling probably pretending that I'm not even here.

"You okay?" Keaton asks as I slowly sit up.

"Yeah, I'm fine, what are you guys doing here?" I ask rubbing the back of my head.

"I was just going to Mrs. Jolers room. I'm a TA this Period." Keaton holds his right hand out, allowing me to grab onto him for support.

"What about him?" I ask nodding my head towards Drew.

"Oh, he's just on his way to the principle's office. He started a fist fight with Jake Samuels....... For no apparent reason!" Keaton explains loud enough so that Drew could hear the disappointment in his tone.

I look up at Drew and see that he has small specs of dried blood on the knuckles of his clenched fists.

"There was a perfectly good explanation for his face to meet my fist, okay!?" Drew shouts back trying to defend himself.

"Oh yeah? Try telling that to the principle while Jake is in the room!"

"Uh, guys....... Can you please just shut the hell up for a few seconds and direct me to the nurses office?"

"I'm sure Drew would love to!" Keaton replies, obvious sarcasm dripping from his tone. Drew glares at Keaton for a few seconds, and starts to slowly walk away.

"Ugh! I always have to do everything around here!" Keaton groans quite loudly. He was just a bit over-dramatic.

I give him a sympathetic smile, and wave to him, to show him that I'm dismissing him. "I was just being hard on you guys, I'll just walk myself to the nurse's office. Go to class, I'll see you around!" I start to walk in the same direction that Drew was headed. He was way ahead of me already.

I turn my head back towards Keaton and see him quickening his pace. He must be late to class. He's a TA, so he probably won't get in trouble..... Right?

Anyways, I turn back around, and continue to walk back to my destination.

Why am I walking so fast? I have plenty of time to kill! I don't really have anywhere to be........
----------------------------------------------

"How you feelin'?" Keaton asks nudging my shoulder. School just ended, and I guess Keaton decided to come see how I was doing.

When I got to the nurses office, I decided to fake everything. I mean, sure I had the biggest headache, but I kept telling the nurse that my stomach hurt, and I felt like puking. I did not feel like going to class today!

"I'm fine, I just have a bad headache." I explain, rubbing my head.

"Do you feel fine enough to play at practice today?"

"Of course! How is that even a question!?"

"Umm.... I don't think that's a good idea Chloe, you don't seem to well." Mrs. Carlten, the nurse, added.

"Wait, what!? No! I can't miss practice! Look I'm fine!" I exclaim jumping up and down and flailing my arms.

Why did I have to lie! Whenever I lie, something bad always comes of it!

"No, I don't think you should play basketball today. It won't be good for you!" Mrs. Carlten explains, trying to persuade me to not go to basketball practice.

Who does she think I am?  Basketball is basically my life!

Keaton's gaze meets mine. I turn my whole body towards Keaton so that Mrs. Carlten can't see my face.

I mouth: "watch this" and I give him a sneaky smirk.

I turn back to Mrs. Carlten, and give her slight puppy dog eyes. Not too obvious. "Ok." I say turning my head towards the ground, trying to look disappointed.

"Chloe......." Mrs. Carlten pats my back. "I'm so sorry, but you really shouldn't, it's not good for you in this condition! You just need to rest. Go home, and keep an ice pack on your head, you hit your head pretty hard."

Ugh! It didn't work!!! Damn it!

Mrs. Carlten grabs Keaton's arm, and she grabs my arm, to usher us out of the nurse's office. "Bye!" She shouts as she pushes us out of the room, and shuts the door.

"Wow! Nice goin' you really did a wonderful job of persuading the nurse." Keaton exclaims sarcastically, as he lightly elbows me in the side.

"Whatever!" I nudge back, starting to walk towards the gym.

"Um..... Where do you think you're going?" He asks, speed walking towards me, and then he grabs my arm.

"The exit is that way!" He exclaims pointing towards the door.

"You think I'm actually going home!?" I ask a little louder than I intended.

"Um.... YES! Didn't you hear what the nurse said? You cannot go to practice today!"

"I've already missed way too many practices! The team needs me!"

"Too bad! You need to rest! You took a pretty bad fall this morning!"

I stare at Keaton for a few seconds, trying to decide what to say.

When I don't say anything, I come to a decision. "I'm going to practice whether you like it or not!"

Keaton doesn't talk......... It's a little awkward!

"Fine." He finally speaks up. I'm actually quite surprised. He didn't even argue with me!

When he doesn't speak again, I turn away and walk into the locker room.

I change into my gray basketball shorts, and just a plain black work out t-shirt. While I change, I start to get a small pain in my head.

Ugh! I don't even care anymore!

I just ignore the pain in my head. And tie my basketball shoes. Time to face my coach!