Hold on until May

Chapter 1.

Drew

"Dude homecoming game is going to be so sick!" My friend Robert babbled as he threw his football gear in the back of my 1992 really ran-down Ford truck. "We are going to smash those Westside Weasels!" I hop in and turn the key and get out of park, "Bro! We killed them last year with the Hook Route but coach has been making us work hard on the Screen Pass those damn Weasels won't see it coming!" he bragged. Robert was that jock that would not stop taking about the sports he played. I was kind of quite so I was okay with the fact he never made any real conversation. My problem was that I actually disliked the idea of sports and all my friends where the various kinds of jocks and my best friend was the main linebacker. I don't know how I dealt with this for the past four years of my life but I like the popularity idea behind it. I would be sitting with the low lives if I didn't. "Bro drop me off at the gate I don't want to be late coach would kick my ass if I'm even one second late!" He exclaimed and so I weaved through the school parking lot and dropped him off at the side gate yelling, "Bro I'm going to be yelling 'go maniacs' until I lose my voice!" And I can hear him grab his gear and yell back "Damn straight!"

Are school mascot is actually a big piece of cheese. And we are the "Eastside Cheese Squares." I guess a bunch of people before I was around started calling us Maniacs because are school got a bad reputation when it came to sports. Real tuff I guess, anyways everyone started calling us Cheese Squares Maniacs and so we have been Maniacs ever since.

I made my way to the main gate and I was greeted by Stacey Pond and Amber Spradley working the ticket booth. They're giggling at each other until I cleared my throat.

"Greetings and salutations what makes you work the low life shift?" I raised an eyebrow to Amber.

"Oh the geeks had to go take a piss so we were being nice for once by helping them out." She replied with a smile. "Also it means that hotties like you can get in for free." She stamped my hand and I winked at them both and walked right in. I could hear Stacey gasp, "Ohmygosh he totally digs you!" and I grin and shake my head. She has a cute butt that's all.

I found a seat at the 40 yard line on the top of the bleachers. The game just started. I am now trapped here for two hours. I lean back on the cold metal back and clap when everyone else claps and yell "Gogogogo!" when everyone else does. People see me and give me high fives and fist bumps and I just look cheery with a big spirt. I need a Grammy for best actor of Wisconsin. Why? I mean, just look at me at a football game saying hello to people I don't care about and cheering for a team I'm better off without. The score came up to 17 Maniacs and 8 Weasels once it hit half time. I fished out my wallet from my pocket and got in line for the concession stand. Since it was half time the line was huge and I happened to be at the end of it.

I'm a very impatient person so after a good five minutes of not moving I became squirmy. I grabbed my phone to maybe text someone to pass the time but most of my contacts where sitting in the locker room getting an inspirational speech from their coach or they were doing backflips and holding people on their shoulders as the marching band played loudly. My peevish ways started to annoy the sophomore behind me. After a few drumming on my jean cussing under my breath moments I heard him say, "Chillax man, I hate waiting too. If I'm gone to long my girl gets pissed at me." I turned around to look at him. "I'm Marcus," he put his hand out to shake, I except the hand shake and he squinted and pointed at me, "You're Drew Bates right?" So much for giving me a chance to actual introduce myself.

"Yeah that's me." I nod my head and shove my hands in my pockets. It's starting to get cold out since the sun went down and its mid-October.

"You are one bichin' guy I have to say!" he praised then gave my left shoulder a light push.

A smile tugged my lips "is that what the kids these days call cool?" I thought to myself then said, "Well hey it is all in the brains." I have had a 4.0 GPA since middle school because I was just born smart says my parents. He nodded his head in agreement.

"Damn, yo know shit from Shinola?" He laughed when he saw my face in confusion, "Street words sorry you white folks don't understand most of 'em." He laughed harder and I laughed with.

"Excuse me! Next!" A voice squeaked cutting are chuckles short.

"Sorry, Sugar, I'll get me a nacho and a Mountain Dew." I smirked at the little freshman. Her cheeks turned bright red and gave a soft smile. I'm not a player or a tease I just really like to see girls smile because they are just beautiful when they do.

"Is that all?" She blushed.

"Well since I'm paying I'll get me two popcorns and two Pepsis" Marcus moved next to me. I used to beg them for me to pay or pay them back but over time I learned they don't care they just want to pay for me so they can say they paid for me.

"Aw thanks man I don't think I had enough dough to pay for me since they raised the prices to get in these games!" I lied because one. I didn't pay to get in here, and two. My parents gave me a debit card this summer and 50 dollars in cash this morning so I'm anything but short on cash for a teenager.

"No problem son," He handed me my nachos and Mountain Dew and said, "I got to get back with the girl so I'll see you around!" he waved and I waved my soda and started walking back to my seat and looked over to see the cheerleader girls flipping and chanting. I started focusing on Amber as she cried "Maniacs! Go! Maniacs! Maniacs! Go! Go! Go!" Gosh does actually think I like her because I do, just, I don't want to date- CRASH!

"I'm so sorry! I mess up everything I can help you." I heard the sweetest voice I ever heard plead. I looked down at my gray hoodie and the nachos were all over it but I was too busy focusing on the boney fingers that picked them off one at a time. Her nails were painted a bright red that was so beautiful I was star struck. I never believed in love at first sight but I just fell in love with these frail fingers that picked off chips and a voice that sounded like a wind chime blowing in the breeze. I grab the hands and I look into the eyes they belong too. Her sea blue eyes glimmered in the night sky and her pale face was half shown for the shadow her hood created, just like the moon.

"Don't be sorry for an action a clumsy boy like me made." I said still looking into her eyes. I smiled they gave me a warm feeling in my chest. I let go of her hands and took off my hoodie. It was now really cold out. "Now greetings and salutations, if I may make a proper greeting, I'm Drew Bates and you... are stunning." Those words spilled out and hit the ground below us. She looked at down as if she actually saw them shatter.

Looking back at me she replied, "I'm Arizona Bennett and thanks, I don't hear that often." Her lips are so pink and look so soft I bite my own to hold myself from kissing her right there. She began to blush and she smiled at me, "I was actually about to head home." She shifted her weight and looked past my shoulder.

"I can give you a ride? It's better than a cold walk home." I said brushing my forearm with my other hand to hold my excitement in.

"I suppose that would be better." She chose her words carefully I noticed. I smiled and turned around. She hurried next to me and I couldn't help myself, so I put my arm around her shoulder.

I cautioned her by saying, "Is this okay or weird because I'll keep my hands to myself if you want me to?" She had her hands in her pocket and she brushed her face into my ribs.

"It's okay I'm always okay." I felt like that claim was a lie because her eyes looked like oceans and her lower eyelashes were the shores. I feel like the high tides got to her at night.