What The Jocks Want

Carnival Carnivore

What the Jocks Want 4:

Chapter 4: Carnival Carnivore

Was I really going to do this? Go to Ted's house, where his family and... Him live? These thoughts swirled around my mind the whole time as I walked from school to Teds house.

I know where he lives of course, he's popular, everyone knows where the famous Ted Davies lives. Even social outcasts like myself. I realise that I'm doomed from the moment I see the porch to his house.

I dithered about the situation, debating whether or not to call the whole thing off, or grow some metaphorical balls and walk up the path to do a project. That's all this is, a project.

I amuse myself sometimes, I really do. Here I am getting all stressed and worried over a social studies project. Wow, how lame am I?

Shaking my head at my stupidness, I marched to Ted's door, and knocked. All of a sudden, it swung open, and I found myself staring at a small girl. When I say small, I mean that she is smaller than me, and also younger than me.

She's dressed in jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. Over the t-shirt she's wearing a baseball top that's too big for her, and a matching baseball cap. She looks up at me from underneath the rim, with a bored look I have only seen on one other face; my own. I decide I like this girl. Especially when I look down at her feet and see she's wearing converse.

"Can I help you?" She asked, clutching a leaflet in her hand. Her thumb, with the nail bitten and painted black, is covering the title, so I can't tell what it is advertising.

"Yeah, I'm here for Ted, we're doing a project tonight" I explain briefly, not really too happy to be here, and the small girl's face crumples. I suddenly feel very nervous, I'm not good with little people, especially not little people that are crying. The girl looks about 9-ish... Not very little, true, but still young enough to make me feel uncomfortable.

"But Ted promised!" She wails, and I suddenly feel very, very uncomfortable indeed.

Heavy footsteps come down the stairs moments later, and I see Ted flopping down each step with the grace of an elephant. He goes and stands beside the girl I realise now is his heavily disappointed sister. I wonder why she's disappointed?

"Hey Jones" Ted says briefly, before his sister thrusts the leaflet she was holding into his hands. Ted looks down at the crumpled piece of paper, and his eyes widen in realistation. I see his mouth forming into an expletive, but he quickly changes his mind when he remembers his little sister's stood next to him.

"Oh...Sugar...Tara, I'm sorry, I'll...Maybe I could...." Ted tries to explain but Tara punches him in the stomach. Ted doesn't double over, but Tara still looks pleased with herself. Ted looks as if he's trying to think of something last minute, but Tara still looks unimpressed. Her bottom lip begins to tremble, and suddenly she bursts; letting it all out.

"You promised!" She wails louder, and Ted suddenly looks cross with himself. He glances between Tara and I like he's trying to make a decision. A decision about what though?

"Oh yeah... Well Jones could come with us?" Ted offers to his sister, and her face breaks into a smile almost immediately. She's obviously pleased. About what? What's going on?!

"Yes!" She yells happy again.

I'm really confused.

"Jones"

I look at Ted, and although he looks to be wearing an awkward face, he's smiling at me. Smiling very creepily at me might I add. He looks very pleased with himself, like a dog that's managed to poop in the tumble-drier.