Grey Skies

Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty Four 

I'm trying to be a nicer person. Well, Davis told me I should try so I'm trying to be nicer to Carly. Today I decide to sit next to her on the bus. She stares at me for a while, either shocked or disappointed, and then slides over. Beth is doing Val's hair in the seat across from us. 

"I'm so happy I chopped all mine off," Beth says. She uses her fingers to detangle Val's thick hair. Val winces and rubs her head. 

"Just because you chopped yours off doesn't mean you gotta pull mine out." 

Beth bites her lip. "Sorry." 

We're sitting in the middle of the bus. I can see the heads of Coach Serris and White at the front. I've been thinking about Davis and how he said that Coach Serris had my position wrong. Maybe that's why I haven't been doing so well. Maybe if I went to midfield I'd be able to get back in the spotlight instead of being Carly's shadow.

I tap against the seat cushion. Val keeps arguing with Beth about her hair. She did it crooked and pieces of hair are falling out of the braid. Coach Serris and White are flipping through pages and marking up the paper. They're deciding the starting lineup and formation. I stand up and slowly walk up to the front, using the seats in front of me for balance as I walk. This is my only chance, and what's the worst that can happen? Maybe I get benched? It practically feels like that anyway, except I feel like Carly's personal bench that's meant to follow her around and only be useful when she needs me. 

But this isn't about Carly, and I'm supposed to be nicer. 

I practice my smile before approaching them. Smiling people are happy people, and happy people are nice people, and nice people get what they want. At least they better, cause I swear if there is nothing that comes out this "nice thing" the first person I'm being mean to is Davis. I catch my expression in the bus's mirror and immediately stop. No smile is better than a creepy smile. 

Coach Serris and White stop talking when I reach them. I sit across from them and put my hands between my thighs. 

"What's up, Iris?" Coach Serris asks. 

"So I was thinking about my role on the team, and I think I might be able to contribute more at midfield." 

"I already have my mids." 

"I know, but you can have a better one." 

He laughs. "Is that so? What do you think Jerry?"

I stay silent as they discuss it and look at the charts. I didn't want to ruin my chances by opening my mouth, something I did with Davis while he was my coach. When I think about it, I was disrespectful towards him, and he didn't deserve that. He deserved an apology, really. 

"We'll let you know, Iris." 

I decide to listen to music for the rest of the bus ride. If they do let me switch positions, it means that I can't mess up. I have to perform better than they even expect, but it's been two years since I've played mid.  

Once we reach the stadium, we look for the locker room so we can use the bathroom and get fully prepared. I'm the first person out and place my bags by our bench. I look up at the stands and see Davis leaning against the railing. He's in a black baseball cap and grey Adidas shirt. I run over to him and hug him. He's been coming to most of my games so long as they didn't overlap with his schedule. 

"I asked to play mid today," I say.

"Oh really? Who gave you that idea?" 

"I don't know, probably some nobody." He smiles and flicks my ear. "I don't know if I'll get it, but I did ask."