Spellbound

Running in Circles

"Come on, Coach, please." I try to beg to the track coach without getting on my knees.

"Look, Finkle, I already said no." He says to me as he starts to walk away.

I follow after him, "Look, I know that I missed tryouts for this season, but that's when I thought I was moving away and I didn't, so can you just please let me tryout. You need me on the team."

He shook his head, "I don't know about this, Finkle, rules state that if you miss tryouts than you miss playing during the season."

"Okay, well why don't you give me an exclusive tryout? I won't tell anybody plus practices haven't started yet, so nobody will know that I didn't tryout when I was supposed to."

"Alright, alright but you get one chance, Miss Finkle, if you are late or don't show up at all we will have to play this season without you."

"Of course, yeah just give me anywhere any time, and I'll be there. You can count on me."

"Okay, this Friday at 5:00 pm. If you still have last years uniform I'd suggest wearing it."

He tried to walk off, but for the second time I stopped him. "Wait a minute, Friday? Like this Friday? But that's when the fall dance is."

He raised an eyebrow, "So?"

I shoved my hands in my pockets, "So, can't we have it like tomorrow or even Saturday?"

"I thought you said I could count on you, Miss, Finkle, I'm very busy this weekend, and Friday is the only time I can schedule you in. But if you can't make it-"

I didn't even let him finish, "No, I can make it. I'll be there trust me. I won't let you down, Coach."

He then walked away to the teachers lounge to do who knows what as I shifted my eyes back up to the wall where the poster was.

At the bottom left the time for the dance specifically spelled out, "5:30-8:00". I cannot miss the tryout this Friday. I need to be on the team.

However, I really want to make Justin jealous as well. If I tried to make it to both I would be very sweaty, and I wouldn't even have time to do my hair and makeup.

The final class bell rang and all the students started invading the hallways space. I could barely find my locker, until everyone started clearing out of the building.

I opened it up as a note sat at the top of one of my books. It read, "You looked really pretty today. Can't wait for the dance.     -Nick"

I looked around the halls until my eyes landed on him with a group of his friends. He looked over my way and gave me a smile, and I returned it back to him.

I could see out of the corner of my eye on the other side of the hallways Justin, standing by his locker, was watching us.

He started walking up to me.

"Hey, listen Jess, I'm sorry for acting the way I have around you. I know I have been kind of a jerk lately, but if you don't have a date to the dance I will come with you."

"Don't you already have a date?"

"Yes, but I feel bad for the way I've been acting, and I want to make it up to you."

I closed my locker then folded up my note and slid it down in my pocket, "I'm sorry, Justin, but I asked Nick to the dance already."

"Wait a minute, Nick Grey? Jess, why would you even want to go out with him? He's bad news."

I shrugged, "The person I really wanted to go with turned me down at the time, so I decided to ask him. I'm sorry I didn't ask for your permission."