Invisible Popularity ✅

Phase 1: Preparation [Ch5, P1]

Chapter 5: PHASE 1 – PREPARATION

"Jay, you are going to be late. Junior's waiting."

"I'm coming," I say grabbing my bag and running into the lounge room, "Bye mum. Come on Junior let's go."

Junior and I hold hands on the way to Ellie's house. Ellie is waiting for us outside and we walk over the oval and into the school grounds.

Stuart meets us outside our home classroom and Junior greets him like another one of his mates. Following the example of Junior, the rest of the footy team were very friendly to Stuart as well. I stay by Junior the whole time kissing his cheek and playing with his hair. When Chad arrives Ellie plants one huge kiss on his lips. Chad was shocked at first but then hugs her and kisses her long and hard, back. Chad doesn't have a clue what is going on. Since the rest of the footy team seemed to be friends with Stuart, Chad was at least pretending too. We continue this all day Ellie kissing, hugging and lying on Chad and me doing the same with Junior. By the end of the day Stuart was one of the most popular guys in our grade.

3.30pm meant the end of a Thursday and the beginning of footy training. Ellie always stayed to watch Chad and Junior asked me to stay and watch. Stuart also stayed as the guys had invited him. The three of us sat on the grand stands. 4.30pm meant the end of footy training, the end of 'Phase One' but only the beginning of Chad's test.

Stuart, Chad and most of the guys headed for the train station. Others got picked up and Ellie, Junior and I walk.

"How do you think Phase 1 went, Ellie?" Junior asks Ellie as he grabs my hand.

"I think it was fun and perfectly planned," Ellie says grinning, "He won't know what hit him."

"Definitely." I agree.

We walk Ellie right up to the front door; Mrs Hart comes to the door on our arrival.

"Is everything still ok for tomorrow night Jay?' Mrs Hart asks me happily.

"Yes," I reply, "everything is great."

Junior and I say goodbye to Ellie and continue to walk to our street.

"Tomorrow night?" Junior asks curiously.

"Yep Ellie is sleeping over," I answer, "You can come over if you like."

"I think I will." He says and puts his arm around me. Junior walks me to my house. "You go get changed, get Bella and I will get Oscar and meet you in the park." He says and I run inside.

I dump my bag, get changed and put a lead on Bella. I meet up with Junior outside his house. Behind Junior I see Thomas scuffing his feet.

"I'm really sorry, mum said I had to let Tom come." Junior says sadly.

"Yeah so NO smooching" Tom sniggers; Junior hits him and then kisses me as though to prove a point. We walk to the dog park where Bella and Oscar have the time of their lives. Tom bought a tennis ball so he plays with the dogs while Junior and I sit on the park bench.

"Hey you know how Chad talks to you has he ever done it before?" Junior asks quietly.

"Yeah all the time, until this term I used to sit be myself. Ellie didn't even know my name. But I guess things change."

"Yeah I guess."

We sit on the bench watching silently as Tom plays with Bella and Oscar.

"Hey more kids, they look our age have you seen them before?" Junior says pointing to the gate of the dog park. I look over my shoulder to when Junior is looking and I see it, my worst nightmare.