In Real Life there are no prince charming's or fairy godmother's. There is no happily ever after. In fact I'm not a princess and I do not live in a castle. I have no talking animals that guide me through life. And I certainly do not have a wicked st...
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I hurry to the football field to see practice finishing up. Gabe stands at the sidelines talking to the coach, as I make my way over, the two turn in my direction and wave me over.
"Edith, how're you?" Coach Brennan says in his deep country accent.
I smile back at him, "I'm fine. And you?"
He tells me how he is before saying goodbye to Gabe and walking away to chat with some other players. Not a second goes by when Gabe licks his bottom lip prior to biting lightly down on it with his top jaw while burrowing his eyebrows, "I'm going to assume that I have to do something?"
I nod, "Yeah, I need to pick up your jersey, but I think it's a tad bit too sweaty for the pep rally."
He laughs, "I agree, but the pep rally isn't until friday. Why do you need it now?"
"I have no clue, but Shumate is insisting I get it ASAP," I quickly give him an answer. I discreetly wipe my sweaty palms on my whitewashed ripped jeans, "it's fine though, I'll just try to ignore him until Friday."
He nods, "Alright, I'll try to have it washed for the team before them, but I make no promises, just an attempt."
"Um, okay," I nervously respond to my crush, "I'll see you then."
I quickly turn my back and take a small step forward just hoping he would stop me and continue to speak. I just want to hear his voice on repeat all day because I know that when I get home, my life changes and I don't want to ruin this beautiful day.
* * *
Nora cheekily skipped down the corridor with colorful streamers elegantly flying behind her. I tilt my head sideways and let out a small chuckle, "What's that?"
She stops dead in her tracks, her jaw dropping, "Girl, don't tell me you forgot,"
Shrugging, I try my best to put a fake smile upon my face, "Are you kidding? How could I possibly forget that we were--"
I glance around the room quickly and find a poster with the words 'HOMECOMING - GET TICKETS NOW' and 'PEP RALLY'.
"That what?" She asked me already knowing that I forgot.
"Alright," I say in defense putting my hands up to about my shoulders, "I forgot that we volunteered to decorate the gymnasium for the events this week. It's just that--um--"
"Well, what is it?"
I flip my hair to the other side, "Gabe and I talked today."
Nora raised an eyebrow, "Edith, you know he has a girlfriend and he isn't interested in you at all. I don't want to break your fragile, little girl heart, but I don't want him to break it. It sucks, trust me."
"Okay, okay," I nod my head agreeing with her words. "I understand that he is in love with Vanessa, but I have liked him since the seventh grade. And I want to kiss him so badly!"
"Calm yourself," Nora puts her hands flat out and steadily lowers them a few inches, "How about you find another guy to fuss over."
"Like who?"
Nora whips her head around to look at the lockers in the hallway, "Well, I heard Liam is looking for a date to homecoming, and in a way he's kinda cute."
"In a way," I say distorting my entire face, "he looks like a lumberjack with that full grown beard. And to top that off, he dresses like one, too. Any other ideas?"
She shakes her head while pushing her plump lips together, "Sorry, but everyone else is taken."
I grab a roll of pink streamers from my best friends hand and turn myself around to walk into the gymnasium to prepare for the once in a lifetime experience. Or, we'll, many times in a lifetime if someone else invites you before it's your year to go. Kicking one leg in front of the other I turn left into the large empty space of beige colors and maroon bleachers stuck together as they are stacked upon each other in the two walls.
The time passes oddly quickly when my phone buzzes alerting me of a text. I put the scissors on the ladder ledge after I carefully climb down from it. Picking up my phone, I realize my mom texted asking about what time I would be finished for today.
I look around the room and notice all of our hard work of streamers, ribbons and the metallic globe in the center of the room that is full of silver and gold glitter. I respond to mom with, "I'll be done in about ten minutes."
I notice the moving gray dots that appear to be jumping up and down before I get her reply saying, "👌."
Nora calls my name and I start to walk in her direction, but of course I have to bump into the person standing behind me and as the two of us begin our quick journey to the ground, I try to pick myself up by grabbing a large can of silver paint. This, by far, would probably be the most awful experience of my life because the paint can tipped over the right edge of the table it sat upon not even five seconds ago and it splashed all over me and the other person.
The can clunked to the gymnasium floor and the entire room of people looked in our direction. Their eyes all opened wide, their jaws dropped twelve feet underground and I slowly turned myself around to see who else I got into this terrible mess.
