Running Into You

Chapter 8

Emma

The next week at school Coach Barnes is back at his desk. Yes, Coach Barnes. It's Coach Barnes and will always be Coach Barnes!!! Now it is polite smiles and he treats me like the rest of my teachers do. I think I need a weather forecast when it comes to him. I smile back and say hi as I walk by him quickly.

When I make it inside the basketball court there are banners all over the walls "Go Lions" "Stomp the Red Tops". It is homecoming week. Everyone is dressed in ridiculous outfits to show their school spirit. I have never participated in any of the festivities that are a part of homecoming week and I am not going to start now. Scott is really into school spirit. He has a list of what outfit to wear on the refrigerator at home. Mom helped him get what he needed to dress up this week from things we had around the house. I notice that some of the football players are wearing their jerseys. A few of them will wear them all week. Against one of the walls a few cheerleaders are painting signs. I take a seat on the bleachers and pull a book out of my backpack and start to read.

"Hey, Em" I look up to see Caleb standing in front of me.

"We still on for this afternoon, right?"

"Yeah, History right?"

"Yeah, of course. See ya, then," he smiles and runs to join his football friends.

I don't know what that was all about. I guess he thought we would skip our tutoring sessions because of homecoming week. Some of the teachers are more lenient this week especially on football players. I forget about it and go back to my book.

After school I head to the picnic benches beside the playground outside the lunchroom. A few kids are playing on the swings, enjoying the fall weather. Caleb meets me, after sitting down he gets his textbook out with his notebook and pencil. Before he opens his book he stares at me with a huge grin on his face.

"What's so funny?"

"What? Nothing. Hey I was wondering if you would go to the homecoming dance with me this Saturday?"

"Caleb wouldn't you rather go with one of the cheerleaders? I overheard Kelly say she wanted you to ask her."

"I know, she asked me, but she is so flaky. I would much rather go with you."

"Why? You know I'm not any fun."

"Are you kidding you are loads of fun."

I give him a deadpan stare.

Laughing, "Okay maybe, not at school, but if you were there with music and friends you would really loosen up. Besides I love talking to you and hanging out.  We could go as friends. What do you say? It is your last homecoming. You can't finish school without going to one dance."

I know it would make my mom happy if I went. "Okay, but only as friends okay?"

He puts the oversized grin back on his face, "Yes, of course." With that we start studying.

Caleb said he would pick me up at around 8. I know I only live a block away, but with my three inch heels I am grateful.  He has always been kind and sweet to the point I might take advantage of it. I have never wondered what it would be like to be his girlfriend. I know there are some people who assume we are an item. Sometimes I think my mom does. We get along great, he's cute and bright in a less book smart more street smart kind of way. I know a few of the girls at school that have asked him out. Even a couple of cheerleaders. I don't know why he is not taking one of them. Ever since I started tutoring him, when we were in the seventh grade, I have only known of three girlfriends he's had and most of them didn't last more than a few weeks. I think the longest relationship he's had lasted three weeks.  He's never found a girl he likes more than football. He spends all his time practicing or lifting weights. We've been friends for so long I don't think I'll ever see him as anything else. I have never had any friends that were girls. Anytime a girl would talk to me or ask to hang out it was only to get closer to Caleb and once he blew them off they would stop talking to me or sitting with me at lunch. I personally had rather read books then go to the mall or talk about boys anyway.