*Chat with Max*
Me: Can u tell Mum I'm staying aftr school today? Please?😃
Max😈: Umm...sure? Why are you so happy? It's a bit scary tbh.😳
Me: I'm joining a sport already!🎉
Max😈: Oh...
Max😈: I'm really happy for you Harvey...
Max😈: Got to go, see you at home?
Me: Uh...? Yeah, of course. Bye...ig😕
*Max😈 has left the chat*
"Yo Mills!" I turned to face a group of guys, all staring. "Are you serious right now? You're joining?" They started laughing.
"That's enough. This isn't just a team, you're a family. So start acting like one," Coach Dubry started pacing in front of the bleachers where we all sat. "And just like a family, there is going to be an infant, someone with less experience, maybe less bravery, muscle. Yes, Mills may be the chihuahua, and you all are doberman, but even the smallest dog can have are ferocious bite."
"Coach!" Someone in front of me raised their hand. "So he's like the little sister?"
Dubry considered this example and nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Mills is the sister," he whispered. Everyone laughed.
"Then why am I here?"
Everyone turned to me. "Excuse me? I didn't here that." Dubry stepped forward.
"I said, if my contribution doesn't matter, then why am I here?" I spoke louder.
"Good question," Xeno, the boy beside me, stated.
"Enough talking," Coach said, trying to change the subject. "Let's see what you can do. I've created a scrimmage game for practice today, just us. I made a few changes today because I added more guys. Unfortunately, some of those guys aren't here today for unknown reasons, and I don't have a backup plan. So, just...I don't know. Do whatever that you feel will make you improve. I ask that you work with someone with an equal amount of experience as you, or greater." He looked at me and frowned. "Who can work with Mills?" No response. "Gonzalez, Portman, Key. Just teach him the basics, run through some plays with him."
Jake Portman approached me hesitantly. "Hey, Harvey right?" He stood a good distance from me. I nodded. "Great! I'm Jake, not that you care. I mea-."
"Mills!" Jake was soon cut off by a boy, running at us. "See over there? On the bleachers?" I turned to where he was pointing. "Girls. They come and stake out the best football guys. Do good and you'll win over their hearts for sure."
"Johnny what are you talking about? You haven't won a girl over ever since you joined the team," Jake laughed.
"'Cause no girl wants his greasy ass," another guy joked.
"It's not grease it's-."
"Gel," the all said at once, we all laughed, even me.
"Johnny Gonzalez. This is Daniel Key, and you've already met Jake," Johnny extended his hand.
"Where did you say you're from?" They all faced me, all with the same questioning look.
"Uh...I didn't? Berkshire actually," I murmured.
"Huh?" Daniel asked.
"England, wise ass." We laughed again.
"So, ya got your eye on anyone?" Johnny asked, winking as he batted his eyes and twirled his hair in a joking manner.
"Me?" I asked, they nodded. "No, not really. I haven't really been here long enough to like anyone."
Johnny laughed, looked over at Coach and nodded. "Be right back." He ran off to Dubry, talking for only a few seconds, he pointed at our little group, explaining something. They both nodded and Johnny came back smiling from ear to ear. "Come on, follow me!"
We all followed, then we realized where he was taking us...to the girls. Jake froze. "What are you waiting for pretty boy? Come on, let's go," Johnny smirked.
"Nuh uh, no way. That's foreign territory. I can't, I just can't," he spoke with wide eyes, words rushing out.
"As foreign as Mills, now come on!" Daniel laughed, grabbing his arm.
When the girls saw us, they stopped laughing and stared. Johnny jumped the fence and crawled through the bars that supported the edges of the bleachers. The rest of us took the stairs. Daniel looked back at me and laughed. "I know what you're thinking, yeah, he's got hops," he nodded in Johnny's direction. "You gotta when you got a name like Gonzalez, it's in your blood." I didn't really understand his joke, but nodded anyway.
"Hey Danny," a girl squealed, running up to Daniel and hugging him. She noticed me and grinned. "Who's your friend?"
"Oh! Right, this is Harvey. He's new, from England."
"Nice," she laughed, taking us to the rest of the group. "Oh giiiiiiirls! This is Harvey, my little babies, say hi!" They all said hi and smiled. They all began to return to their previous conversations until...
"Harvey sweetie, you can sit. We won't bite," Daniel's girlfriend told me, patting the bench. They chuckled.
I pushed off the rail I was leaning on and sat next to a girl with her head leaned against the side fencing. My original plan was to strike up a conversation but that didn't seem to be happening. She just sat there, as if I never approached her, as if I didn't exist. It began to get awkward so I spoke up...
"So...? I'm Harvey, what about you?"
She raised her head. "Jade." She smiled.
"What's up with...? Uh I mean why is she so...?" I tried to ask, but everything that came out sounded harsh.
"Danny's girl? That's Nikki, she's always been like that, ever since I can remember. There's not a day that passed where Nikki didn't smile." We both looked at Nikki and Daniel.
"Amazing right? She doesn't see negative in life. They seem so perfect." I nodded at her statement. "Anyway...this is getting depressing." We both laughed.
"Well...what else can we talk about?"
"Well," she lifted her bag from below us. "I need help on my homework," she looked at me for a moment, "If you don't mind."
"Sure! I can't guarantee any of my answers will be right though," I laughed.
"Same though!" We both laughed at that as she pulled out a large black binder. "Okay...so what are the three types of chemical bonds?"
"Covalent, ionic, and James Bond."
"Ha! That's great, but seriously. What is it?"
"Uh metallic, sorry I couldn't resist." I looked down at my shorts, thinking of how I screwed up any chances...of anything, ever.
"One more? Which is stronger?"
"Um...covalent? Not sure to be honest. You know Max," I asked.
"Yeah, he's actually my Chem partner but..." She trailed off.
"But what?"
"Nevermind. It really doesn't matter." She turned her head and looked down. "I'll be back. Can you watch my stuff? Please?" She gave me the most childish, yet adorable, pouting face that I just couldn't say no to. I nodded and smiled. She laughed and grabbed me in a warm hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much Harvey!"
Hey guys! This is my longest chapter yet! Aren't you proud of me?😅 This is my little Christmas present to you guys! Love you so much, thanks for the support! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!
Love,
Harvey ❤ (and Tills!😂)
