Head in the Clouds

3

I wake up to hear my mom yelling.

"Come on Erin, we don't want to be late for Brandon's basketball game!" she screams through my bedroom door.

Even though the game's in two hours, my parents were really excited and wanted to leave early.

I immediately sit up. I get out of bed, dragging my feet to the bathroom.

I go to the bathroom and splash water on my face to wake me up. I put my hair in a braid and put on a touch of makeup because my parents said I shouldn't be going out in public looking like a 'slob'.

I go back to my room and find a white blouse with jewels on it that I wear only for special occasions and a pair of jeans that aren't ripped.

Once I'm ready, I find a pair of runners, before heading to the place where the game is.

Right when we're just about to leave, my phone buzzes.

I check my phone and realize I got a text from Leia,

Hey, Erin
R u still coming to South Shore so I can give u a tour of the school like u asked? I have time around 2pm today if ur available. C u soon

Leia

I look at the text. I totally forgot about the tour. I look at my phone.

If Brandon's game starts at 1:00, and the tour starts at 2, I won't make it in time.

"Erin," my mom says, turning around with her hand out. She looks at my phone.

I hand her my phone, angrily.

The minute she turns around, she places my phone in her purse which is on the ground beside her seat.

I roll my eyes.

I hear my phone buzz again and I'm eager to check it. I try to reach over and secretly check it when I see Brandon staring at me.

"Sit properly," he says loud enough for my parents to hear.

"Erin, you're not getting your phone until the end of the day."

I give Brandon a dirty look. He smiles.

My phone buzzes again.

"I bet that was Australia calling to complain," I say to Brandon.

"I bet that was Australia calling to complain," Brandon says, mimicking my voice terribly.

"Oh sorry, Amanda." Amanda was a girl in Brandon's kindergarten class that he hated because of her high pitched voice.

My dad turns the radio even higher which is what he always does when Brandon and I are too loud.

When Brandon's asleep, and my parents aren't looking, I reach over and grab my phone, which has a ton of texts from Leia.

I quickly respond.

Don't worry, I'll be coming, but I might be late

I slide my phone back into my mom's purse, but realize that she's asleep.

I sit back, almost waking Brandon up. He opens his eyes and looks at me.

"What are you looking at," he says in a  rude tone.

"I don't know, but I think it's some sort of monster," I reply. After all my arguments with Brandon, I've gotten pretty good at comebacks.

When it feels like forever, we finally reach the stadium where Brandon was going to play at. I jump out of the car, stretching my arms and legs which almost became numb.

The minute we enter the stadium, Brandon rushes onto the court, along with my dad.

I follow my mom onto the bleachers, who then goes to sit with some of the other parents.

I sit nearby the group of parents, trying to avoid Ethan, one of Brandon's teammates brother.

When we unfortunately make eye contact, he signals me to come sit with him. I quickly turn away, but my mom sees him and makes me sit beside him. I take my phone from my mom's purse and see texts and missed calls from Leia.

"Wow. She must be really excited to see me," I say as Ethan leans towards me to see what I'm doing.

He casually puts his arm around me. I glare at him. He immediately moves his arm and brushes his hair back, looking at me. I slide over to the seat beside me, accidentally bumping my mom.

"Watch it," she says angrily.

Brandon's teammates go into their positions on the court. I lean back and watch as the game begins.

The lights get bright as the ref tells two players to come up for jump ball.

***

At least ten minutes after the game starts, I ask my mom if I can go to the washroom. The minute she says yes, I sprint out of the stadium all the way to the bus stop.

When I get there, I take out all the change left in my wallet. I pay the bus driver and find a seat beside an elderly lady who smiles when I sit down. I begin to pant, putting my hands on my lap.

"Are you ok," the lady asks me politely.

"Yeah," I reply softly.

In so tired that the minute I lean back, I fall fast asleep.

***

I'm suddenly awoken when I realize a man took the lady's seat. I look at the next stop and realized that I missed my stop!

Once the bus comes to a stop, I hop off, sprinting but stop.

Wait! I was supposed to get off at the next stop. So I didn't miss my stop.

My hands are in fists as I walk back to the bus stop. Since the next stop is far, I can't walk there. Even worse, I have no money left in my wallet. I hide in the group of people huddled together who are also waiting for the bus.

When it arrives, I sneak on without paying and come off quickly at the next stop, hoping no one notices me.

I run to the school to find Leia getting into her car, tears in her eyes. I stand by a bush and listen to her talking to a person in the car.

"I thought she would of wanted a tour. Plus, I was really excited to see her again."

"Maybe she's just late," the person in the car says.

Leia looks at her watch. "I don't think she would be an hour late," she says, closing the car door.

I look at my watch and realize the time.

"Leia," I call out to her when I finally have the courage. But it's too late. The car drives away, leaving me all alone at the school.

Thanks for reading this chapter. I dedicate it to my friend monicascorner who's birthday is today!!! Please check out her books, Campus Cupid and Now I Know Why.

~Monia