TEA! (es)

CHAPTER THREE!

-Friday, after drama club rehearsal- **I know football season doesn't start until the second week of school, but for the sake of my plot, I changed it up a bit

     Elaine grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. Just as she was about to walk out the door, a finger gently tapped her. She turned around to meet with deep brown eyes. Cedric Williams was tall and very attractive. Nearly everyone thought so, too. He was Oliver's best friend, which is what earned him his creds. 

     "Hey, I was just wondering if you were going to the football game tonight? All of the drama club is going." He asked, smiling. 

     "Oh, uhm, yeah! I'll be there." She responded, pushing some hair behind her ear.

     "Great! See you then?" Cedric asked, walking backward. Elaine nodded, smiling softly. He smiled back, running off towards the stage. Elaine turned around, a permanent smile plastered over her face as she walked out of the double doors.

     "What are you so smiley about?" Ramona asked as Elaine stepped outside into the schoolyard. She was smoking a cigarette, something she had picked up. It was only cool in Ramona's mind because Oliver did it, otherwise, it wouldn't have even mattered to her. Brennan stood next to her, minding his own business, black clout goggles covering his blue eyes.

     "Nothing," Elaine yelled, already past them and running down the front steps. She ignored whatever else they had said and ran to her car, dropping her things in and speeding off. Her heart was beating so fast she could feel it on her face. If she was really going to hang out with Cedric tonight, she needed to look nice.

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     Tossing her keys into a catchall, Elaine sped off to her room, rummaging through every drawer for something that looked appealing. Becka was the one with the sense of fashion, so she had picked out next to every item Elaine owned, but that in no way meant Elaine could put together the whole ensemble. This resulted in Becka coming over, picking out the correct clothes.

     "It's just a football game, so don't overdo it," Elaine warned, raising a finger at Becka. Becka raised her hands sheepishly, almost like she was in defeat. Putting together an outfit came effortlessly to Becka, just like how it did for Ramona. Becka and Ramona had arguably the best sense of fashion at Boring High, but there was no way Elaine was calling Ramona for help. She wasn't the type of person you called when you wanted things like this.

     "Here," Becka said, her back turned to Elaine. "Wear this." She threw some clothes at her, a very grunge set, something Emaline Addario might be caught wearing. It wasn't too far outside what Elaine would usually wear, but not two pieces she would have thought to put together.

     "Thanks," Elaine replied, changing into it. The two left, walking over to the school with thirty minutes to spare. They went to the only place they knew would let them in: the band room. They could volunteer to carry equipment and get in for free, which was way better than paying their way in. Plus, they'd get to hear the ever-so-famous cadence that the drumline passed on like an heirloom. 

     Upon entering the band room, they saw band kids of all kind struggling to zip the back of their uniforms, or trying to find matching shoes. Olivia was setting up her marimba, putting all of her mallets into their holder. Ramona was struggling to get her sousaphone bits unstuck, probably so that she could be in tune for once. Jess was tuning herself, trying to decide how far out she needed to pull her mouthpiece. The three of them did not notice the two girls walk in.

     "Hey, Mr. Ayers!" Becka shouted, waving at the band director. He smiled back, walking over towards them.

     "Hey, it's my favorite non-students. We're about to get in score, will one of you grab the cymbals and the other grab the coolers?" He asked, greeting them. They both nodded, walking off. Elaine grabbed the cymbals, as she didn't trust Becka with any two-hundred dollar instrument.