Hopeful and Hopeless

Seven.

"I've got to admit it's getting better. A little better all the time." - Paul McCartney

Monday, March 19th, 2018

"I'M HOME!" I SHOUT THROUGHOUT THE APARTMENT, closing the door behind me. I put down my bag on the kitchen bench and take off my coat, hanging it on the coat rack by the door.

"And I'm right here!" Tilly shouts from the living room and I flinch. The living room is joined with the kitchen so she is about 6 feet away from me.

"Holy crap, I didn't see you there, sorry." I join her in the living room, sitting next to her. "How would you like to go to a college football game?" I ask and her face instantly lights up. I'm not surprised. Just like most 16-year-old girls, she's boy crazy. Especially college-football-boy crazy.

"Is that even a question? Of course. But, why are you going to one in the first place? You only ever watch soccer games and that only because you love cheering on Willa when she yells at the other players." She questions me.

"Yeah, well, we always go to Willa's games and Julian is our friend too so I figured we should go to show him some love." I bend the truth slightly. Yeah, we are going and we are gonna cheer Julian on. But, there may be a hidden benefit. I don't really know why I was so drawn to Lukas' offer this afternoon. For two weeks I have been rejecting him but I have honestly found myself enjoying his company more and more.

"Fair enough. When are we going?" She asks. I glance down at my watch.

"In 15 minutes, we better get moving!" I jump up from the couch and she follows me in sport. We each go out separate ways into our rooms to get ready.

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"What has come over you Em? Going to college football games and everything. You're crazy." Willa says as Tilly and I meet her at the front gates of the school. After she found out Tilly and I were coming, she took it in her liberty to meet us out the front so we didn't get lost on the school grounds. Not again.

"I'm not that crazy, just trying out new things."
"That's crazy for you, Em," Tilly adds and I scoff at her, not appreciating their remarks. I try new things sometimes. I am always open to new foods, that counts. Right?

"Willa, should I have come in my chair? I just thought it was a bit of a hassle so I didn't want to use it." Tilly asks as we walk through the school. There are a lot of people around too, heading in the same direction as us. It is already dark outside but up ahead I can see the bright lights of the football field.

"Oh no way, you made the right choice. You want to be able to sit in the bleachers so you have the best view of everything." I can't help but tune out as Willa and Tilly delve into a long conversation about the college football experience.

We finally arrive at the field and it is bustling with people. The bleachers are about halfway filled. One side of the bleachers is a sea of green and yellow, obviously full of supporters of the opposing team. One thing I know from attending Willa's soccer games is that Berkeley's school colours are red and white. Everyone here that isn't in the bleachers is either lining up at a hot food stand or just standing around, socialising.

"We need to get a good spot in the bleachers," Willa says, dragging the two of us along with her. As we walk through the crowds I can't help but look around for the familiar face of Lukas. He did invite me after all. The two teams are on the field warming up, running back and forth with their knees high. I reluctantly follow Willa up the steps of the bleachers.