Wheels

Chapter 4

I was sitting in the auditorium in those movie theater type chairs when our director walked in. He looked fairly young unlike most teachers at our school, most teachers here are at least in there 40's he looked as if he was 20.
"Hello everyone I'm Mr. Buckle and thank you so much for coming to this years musical callout meeting."
I immediately turned to Clyde
"Clyde I thought this was a play." I asked
He just laughed nervously.
I focused back at the teacher who was explaining this years musical isn't based off a Broadway musical it's about a group of friends who form a band and perform at many different Venus most are small like a carnival or something until eventually they get discovered and go on tour and stuff like that. Pretty cheesy if you ask me.
"Any questions?" Mr. Buckle asked.
When no one raised there hand he finished the meeting off by handing out audition packets with scripts and permission slips attached to them.
"Auditions are this Friday make sure to practice a lot and tell all your friends to come and tryout."
I grabbed my bag and started to walk out of the auditorium when Clyde rolled up to me.
"Sorry for lying. I just thought if I told you it was a musical you wouldn't of come." He said a bit bummed.
"Hey it's fine." I said while crouching down besides him.
"Besides this just means I get to spend more time with you. As friends of course though." I mentioned
He blushed "yeah as friends of course."
"So who are you gonna audition for." He asked while riding next to me while I walked down the hallway to the exit.
"Umm I don't know, maybe Lexi?"
"Yeah she's a good fit for you, I'm gonna audition for Kevin, the wheelchair kid who plays the bass guitar. I think I'll be a good fit for him." He said while laughing.
I couldn't help but laugh "Yeah you definitely have his personality." I said jokingly.
"So I was thinking, want to practice lines together?" He asked while I held the front door open while he rode past me.
"Umm yeah sure that'll be fun." I told him.
"Where at your house?" I asked
"Well you see my parents are kinda protective and embarrassing so if I bring a girl over you know they'll definitely show you all my baby albums." He said while reddening.
I let out a small laugh "well my brothers are the same way, maybe we should go to the library instead."
"Yeah that'll be better. How about Wednesday that way it gives you 2 nights to prepare or practice" he said while laughing.
"Ok sure. There's my brother, I should probably get going but I can wait with you if you want" I asked
"Nah go ahead. See you tomorrow." He said while waving.
I waved back while hopping into Austin's truck.
"Uhh who is he?" Austin asked
"He's just a friend." I told him
"That's what they all say" he teased
I ignored the comment and pulled out my phone and scrolled through Instagram.
Once we got home I ran inside and upstairs and pulled out my packet and looked over the lines. While focusing on my lines my concentration was ended when I heard a knock on the door
"Hey Claire." My mom said
"Hey mom, thanks for breakfast this morning."
"Yeah no problem, how was school." She said sitting while next to me.
"It was surprisingly good." I mentioned
"You don't have to hide it..."
"Excuse me?" I said
"You still have feelings for Craig even though he broke up with you and it's ok-"
"Mom I broke up with him"
"Oh thank goodness"
I gave her a confused look.
"Well ever since Lily broke up with Austin and  a couple years ago and practically broke his heart I said to myself I never wanted to see one of my children like that again."
I laughed while mom got up and walked to the door.
"Wait mom."
"Yeah?"
"Can you sign this."
"What is it?"
"A permission slip for the school musical."
"You act?"
"No that's why my friends helping me."
"Who?"
"A new guy named Clyde."
"Ohhh is he cute?" My mom teased
"Mom we're just friends." I said strictly
"Ok sure... Now where do I sign?"
***
It's been a day since mom signed the permission slip and as the day approached closer and closer I've been asking myself was this a good idea? Honestly I think it'll be good for me to try new things but am I brave enough to do it now, I have no idea.
I crawled out of bed and into the bathroom and changed into a floral knee length dress. And light brown boots. I looked at the clock and I had extra time so I decided to curl my hair and put a Barrett in to pull back the extra strands of hair.
I walked downstairs happily knowing that tonight Clyde and I are going out... as friends of course!
I opened the fridge and grabbed some juice and an yogurt.
"Claire you ready to go?" Austin said walking in while taking his last bite of his Apple.
"Yup." I said while grabbing my bag and walking to the car.
***
Once we arrived at school I saw Craig and his friends surrounding a dumpster laughing hysterically.
"Stop the car!" I yelled.
The car came to a halting stop.
I immediately exited and ran over to him.
"What are you laughing at?!" I yelled
"None of your business" one of Craig's friend said.
I heard someone grunt from the dumpster.
Don't ask me how I got the courage to do it but somehow I pushed past all these football players and got to the front to see who or what was in the garbage. At first I saw nothing then I saw a bag move a little so I pushed it aside and saw Clyde and someone I didn't recognize trapped in the garbage. I looked straight at Craig and marched up to him
"Whatcha gonna do slap me again?" He asked
Then I did something I never thought I'd have the guts to do.
I kicked him in a place no boy ever wants to be kicked in. He dropped to his knees in pain while his friends gathered around me.
"Whatcha gonna do hit me?" I mocked
"Man, you know we can hit a girl." Another one of his friends said.
"Your lucky this time Claire!" They said while walking away. I ran to the hatch on the dumpster and unlocked it revealing a not so good smell but also a friend.
"Clyde are you okay?" I said while pulling his chair and himself out.
"Thanks Claire." He said while rubbing his eyes.
"This is my friend Hudson." He said pointing to him.
"Hi. I'm Claire."
"Not meaning to change the subject but dose anyone have wipes this stench is gonna ruin my new Gucci jacket!" He panicked.
"Hey it's okay." I said while grabbing his shoulders
"A girl with two brothers comes prepared." I said while pulling out wipes and some perfume.
"Your a lifesaver." He said while opening the cap to the perfume and grabbing the wipes and practically drenching himself in smell good items.
"You might wanna say goodbye to the perfume because it'll be gone by lunch." Clyde whispered
"Never really liked the smell anyway." I shrugged
"Sorry with what happened with Craig." I said while walking next to him.
"Eh it happens I understand..." He mumbled.
"Have you been practicing your lines?" He asked.
"Yes have you?" I questioned.
"Oh you don't have to worry about me I got them down pat." He said while patting a cool rhythm on his textbooks.
"Great so it's a date..." I said without even noticing I said date.
"Date?" He questioned while raising an eyebrow that followed by laughing.
"You know what I meant." I said while blushing.
***
The rest of the day was a breeze even lunch I don't remember much of.
Besides for the fact that Hudson joined us and Clyde was right he used all the perfume and it was strong smelling. One kid who clearly was having a hangover walked by him to throw his trash away and threw up everywhere which caused us all to burst out laughing.
"Drink responsibly!" Hudson yelled.
That's about the only thing I remember from lunch or the whole day basically.
I walked to my locker at the end of the day and noticed something on it that really changed my mood...