In the Band

Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Carson’s P.O.V.

“…and due to troubles with Jefferson’s coaches, the new date for the championship football game is to be announced.”

A set of groans from the majority of people in my homeroom came as a result of the announcement on the loud speaker.

“This is bullshit!” Allison didn’t hide her distaste of the news.

I looked at her. She seemed a bit more tired than usual. It struck me as unusual that after all that time of ‘not being able to go home’ (as she put it), Allison was able to just leave my house and go to the place she’s been ‘dreading’. All I want to know is what happened. Every time it seems like an opportunity to ask, I think of how much it would upset her and chicken out.

One of the weirdest things that I’ve noticed about Allison lately is her clothes. Not that she’s wearing weird clothes or anything, but she seems to be wearing the same things over and over. That’s odd because if there is one thing I absolutely know about Allison, it’s that she owns a lot of clothes. It’s not the easiest thing to tell because we wear the same uniform to school every day, but I have.

I ignored the useless complaining about the ‘big game’ and walked to class. Lately, I‘ve been catch several people staring at me around school when I’m just going about my usual business. Maybe I’m just seeing what I want to, or making a big deal over something that’s not, but it’s been happening ever since I got back with people I’ve never really realized that were there before.

I got to English class and took my seat next to Nick.

“Can you believe that the game’s been moved?” he asked me.

I withheld from rolling my eyes, “I honestly don’t care about handegg.”

“Why do you call it that?”

I sighed at his naïveness. “Football in other countries is called that because it’s played by kicking a ball with your foot, but in this country ‘football’,” I made quotations with my fingers, “is mostly played with your hands and the ‘ball’ (if you could even call it that) is shaped like an egg. Therefore, handegg.”

A couple of people around me were chuckling from my words, but I felt no shame.

“Oh, Carson,” was all Nick said.

“Alright students get out your books and turn to page 325,” Mr. Goodman started class.

When I got to lunch, Allison and Nick were talking about the game. Figures.

I sat down and got my brown bag lunch out of my back pack.

“What are they thinking? We’ve been practicing our asses off for Friday! The next date isn’t even decided yet.” Allison said.

“I know!” Nick said something else on the matter, but I tuned him out and sighed dramatically.

They both looked at me.

“Why does everyone care so much about some stupid game?” Both opened their mouths to argue with me, but I held up my hands and stopped them. “Never mind, I don’t care.”

An awkward silence settled amongst our booth.

“So, Carson, how are the boys?” Allison asked me.

“What boys?” Nick asked suspiciously.

Allison covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot you didn’t tell-“

“No, it’s okay.” I stopped her. I had to tell Nick sooner or later.

“Tell me what?” He seemed a bit angry; Nick doesn’t like being out of the loop.