No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Thirteen - Twenty-Five Percent

KATIE'S POV

"Yesterday was a great game." Coach Sherbert says as she sets two tubs of ice cream on the fold-out table. "So, as promised, ice cream. There are Cookie-Crumble and Vanilla-Bean." Cassidy, our team captain, sets out a stack of disposable bowls and a box of plastic spoons.

The rest of teammates and I line up and one-by-one get our helping of ice cream. After getting my ice cream, I take a seat in the circle my teammate has formed on the gym floor. For a short period of time, all of us talk a bit as a whole as we enjoy our special treat for winning last night's game.

Gradually, the single conversation dies down and breaks into several separate conversations amongst smaller groups breaking off from the whole. I find myself pulled in to a conversation with Sharlotte and Amber about a couple of the new shows on television. "Do not judge, but I ship Zac with Mara." Amber gushes blushing a bit.

"No judgment, only respect but I ship them too!" Sharlotte replies. "Do you remember the scene between them in episode six or seven, in the cafeteria? I kept screaming at my television begging them to kiss, my mom thought I was insane." Sharlotte gushes.

Amber and she quickly begin to fangirl over a couple on a show they both adore, and I find myself looking for other conversation.

When I spot Jena just arriving, I excuse myself, though Amber and Sharlotte have already moved past our group conversation, and walk over to Jena. "Did you finish the free response for Mr. Wallance's class?" I ask her initiating conversation.

She lets out a laugh as she gets her bowl of ice cream. "F*ck no, I think I maybe answer the first two and IDGAFed it." She replies. "What about you?" She asks.

I give a sheepish smile. "Finished and already turned them in." I admit.

Jena gives me a thumbs up, "Awesome." She says. We walk over and find a place to sit down. For a while, we both silently eat our ice cream while looking around the gym. I gather up my courage and make an attempt to imitate conversation once more. "Have you seen any good movies or started any good shows lately?" I ask.

  Jena puts a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth, she covers her mouth with her hand as she replies, "I recently saw Broken Steel."

"Oh, did you like it?" I ask.

"Yes and no." Jena answers. She sets her bowl down on the floor beside her. "Broken Steel is undoubtedly my favorite book in the Steel trilogy and the movie had most of my favorite moments," she says gesturing with her hands. "but, as crazy as this may sound, there are some things you can read in a book and not think anything of. But on the big screen, hearing the dialogue, it's really cringy."

I hold up a hand and smile, "Say no more." I say. "I have experienced my fair-share of book-adaption movies." I say, expressing the mutual understanding. "Okay, without thinking, worse adaption you have seen." I say before beginning a short countdown from three.

"Devotedly." We say in unison. We both make sounds of surprise and then laugh.

   We begin talking more about movies and television series, finding lots of common ground between one another. We laugh, theorize, gush, and rant. Energy surges through me as our conversation continues, I could stay in this conversation for days and not even notice or care. An hour passes by in a length that feels only like a couple minutes and I feel a wave of disappointment flood over me when Coach Shebert announces that today's practice is over. 

  Jena and I dispose of our trash and she walks over with me to grab my backpack. "My family and I might be going to the movies this weekend, I might be able to talk my parents into letting me bring a friend. Would you be free or interested in coming?" she asks.