BLUE

23. Congratulations

When the sound of the horn blasted through the speakers announcing that the game was over, everyone on our team started yelling in celebration of our win. Sam came over and gave me a high five and made a pouty face towards Troye and Alex who was on the losing team. They flipped him off and we both laughed. Everyone at the bleachers clapped for us and I made eye contact with Becca, who was standing up and clapping. I gave her a smile and she gave me a thumbs up.

"Alright!" the coach yelled, turning everyone's attention towards him.

"Everyone, huddle up" he said, and we did as told.

"This is it man" Sam whispered to me while placing an arm around my shoulder. I took a deep breath and ran a hand through my sweaty hair.

"You all did great, but unfortunately only a few gets to join the team. If I call your last name you stay and if I don't, you hit the showers and never come back" the coach said. His harsh tone wasn't exactly calming my nerves right now.

He looked down at the paper in his hand and opened his mouth to speak. I held my breath while he spoke.

"Pattison, Michaels and Steven"

My eyes went wide when he mentioned my last name. I was in shock. Everyone around me started cheering while some simply shuffled out of the group towards the showers, looking disappointed.

"Hell yes!" Sam yelled and hit my chest while the other guys shouted and jumped on each other. I smiled and looked over at Becca who had a cheerful expression on her face.

I ran over to her as she walked down the stairs to get to the bottom. When I reached her she pulled me in for a hug instantly.

"Congratulations! I knew you could do it" she said in my ear while hugging me. I held her tightly while thanking her.

I couldn't believe I was on the team. It felt like a dream I never knew I had, coming true. I was excited to play together with the guys and having fun beating the other teams.

I looked over at Sam, Alex and Troye standing in a circle with a few other guys, who were looking directly at me and Becca hugging. Their expressions told me they weren't exactly cheerful about it.

I withdrew from the hug and put my hands on my hips. I could feel their stares on me, judging me. Becca looked at me in confusion.

"Uhm, I'll see you later okay?" I said to her without making eye contact and began walking over to the guys again. The fear grew inside me as I turned my back on her. If the guys saw me with her, more than they already did, they would start to think I didn't belong on the team after all.

"Eyyy Blakey, my man! You were awesome!" Sam said and pulled my head under his arm to nuzzle my hair. I laughed at him and heard the other guys did as well.

When he let me go Alex went over and fist bumped me, and I felt a pair of hands giving me a pat on the back while everyone congratulated me. We all started to walk in the direction of the showers. I looked back to see if Becca was still here, but she was gone completely.

***

I went home quickly afterwards. It was already getting darker outside. The guys had insisted that I went out to drinks with them, but I had lied and told them I had an important family gathering I had to be at. They were disappointed at first, but their attention quickly got redirected towards the cheerleaders when they walked past us in the hallway, and I saw my chance to sneak out.

I opened the door to my house, and everything was completely dark. To my luck, my parents weren't home yet. I threw my gym back on my bed in my room and rushed into the bathroom to shower. I hadn't had the chance to at the school because I was in such a hurry to get out of there.

When I was done, I put on my usual black jeans and white shirt and put on my glasses. I packed my bag with the things me and Becca needed to study and grabbed my keys and jacket. I went out of my room but stopped in my tracks when I heard noises coming from Toby's room.

I walked over to his door that was half opened and peaked in. He was in his usual spot in front of his tv, playing Mario Kart.

"Hey Tobes" I said, trying to gain his attention.

"Hey" he said, not removing his eyes from the screen.

"Do you know when mom and dad are home?" I asked him.

"Mom said around six" he answered shortly. I looked at the time, it was 17:30 now.

"Where are you going?" he asked suddenly. I didn't know if I should lie to him but somehow, I didn't have it in my heart to do so.

"I'm going to Becca's to study" I told him.

"The blue haired one you like?" he said, and I felt myself blush. "Yeah" I admitted and smiled.

"Can you do me a favor? Maybe, not tell mom and dad where I am? Just say that I'm at Sam's house to study" I said, crossing my fingers that he wouldn't ask any further questions. He looked up at me once quickly and then back at his tv screen.

"Yeah, sure" he said, and I let out a breath.

"Great, thanks. I'll see you later Tobes" I said, before backing away from his door and walking down the stairs to the hallway.

I heard a faint "Okay" come from him as I walked away, and my heart broke a little.

I ached for my 11-year-old little brother who did nothing but stay inside all day and play video games, except for when he was being home schooled by Mrs. Jensen. As I walked by our living room, I saw different school books scattered over the table, proving that she had been here today which calmed me.

She was almost the only interaction he had with another human being during the day. Toby didn't talk much, to anyone. He had always been very reserved and quiet. My parents had always thought that he was just shy, and that he would grow out of it, but I could tell it was starting to worry them. Especially my mom, since he didn't even talk to her much anymore.

I tried not to spiral down in a tunnel of worry about my little brother and focus on the fact that I was going to see Becca. I rushed into my car and started to drive the way to her house.

About 15 minutes later I was stood in front of her front door. There was no car in the driveway, proving that her dad was gone.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door waiting for a response. I heard the door open and soon I was greeted with her lovely eyes looking directly at me.

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Thank you so much for reading todays chapter! I hope you liked it! If you did, make sure to vote and leave a comment :)

Hope to see you in the next one.

Yours, Ani